The scene changed abruptly, and Ignacio found himself in the de la Vega library. A roaring fire filled the hearth, and Alejandro was pacing up and down.

"Will the boy sleep all day?"

Felipe shrugged at the man he considered a grandfather. Ignacio snorted.

"Diego is so lazy."

"Yes, perhaps. He seems to busy himself with the pueblo. Think of the newspaper, and the peons he teaches to read. The farmers he supports, the Indians and their copper mine."

"It's not my business who the man decides to support. If that exhausts him, perhaps he needs to reconsider his priorities."

The giant sniffed a little. "Not exactly lazy…"

"He shouldn't neglect his personal duties."

The giant guided the alcalde through the hallway, and they saw Diego emerge from his room. The young caballero was simply but stylishly dressed. Ignacio was impressed despite himself.

"That man could lead fashion if he had a mind for it."

"There you are, Diego, finally," Alejandro said with a sigh. He inspected his son from a slight distance, and nodded briefly. "Very well done. I didn't realise it took half a day…"

Diego smiled, and chuckled softly. He reached over and hugged his father briefly. "Merry Christmas to you too, Father."

Felipe allowed himself to be hugged briefly before dancing away like any other teenage boy would. Alejandro gave his son a reluctant grin, and laughed as well.

"Sorry I took so long. I went out this morning," Diego said softly.

"What?"

"I had to try…De Soto. I thought I could change his mind, appeal to his better nature," Diego said with a shrug. "No luck. I even asked him here."

"Diego! Surely you didn't? What if he had accepted?!"

"Father, one day a year we can extend some sort of compassion to the man. Surely, Christian charity would extend to the alcalde?"

"You and your Christian charity would have doomed us to a cheerless Christmas."

Ignacio considered the man quizzically. Was he actually defending his right to celebrate with others? What was Diego up to?

"Diego has a kind heart," the Ghost murmured. "Naïve at times, mind you, but kind."

"He's still an idiot."

Mendoza was welcomed as he walked through to them.

"Let's go straight in to lunch," Alejandro said, with a smile and a wink at Diego. Diego placed a hand on Mendoza's shoulder.

"I managed to find some of those beans that you love so much, Mendoza," Diego said with happiness.

"The man is generous in spirit," the Ghost said softly. "He prefers to give, and give without thought to cost to himself."

"It helps to be among the wealthiest men in the territories."

The men ate heartily. All sorts of wonderful food covered the table. The de la Vegas ate moderately, and finished with fruit and cheese. Mendoza ate to his heart's desire, after a little encouragement.

"Thank you, Don Diego."

"Nonsense, you're almost family. Especially at this time of year," Alejandro said cheerfully. Diego smiled, and moved them all into the library with a little more excitement than Ignacio would have expected.

"I have been practicing for weeks," Diego said. He sat at the piano and began to play. Several favourites made the others smile, and Diego encouraged them to sing.

"Childishness…"

"Christmas cheer," the Ghost replied.

"This is a new song from the Continent," Diego said thoughtfully. His eyes grew serious. Did he miss someone in particular, that he had left behind in Madrid? Ignacio could name the expression in his eyes, but didn't understand. Heart ache.

"It's called Silent Night, and it's best played on the guitar," Diego said. "I have found, anyway, with experimenting…"

"You and your experiments, Diego," Alejandro said, good-naturedly. Diego smiled at him, taking it as a joke.

They listened in silence as Diego picked out the tune gently, and sang softly. He stared at the guitar as he finished, and seemed to freeze a little. Then he shook himself and forced himself to look up. A single tear had traced its way down his cheek, but he forced himself to smile.

"Wow, a little too emotionally powerful."

"Diego is too sensitive," Ignacio scoffed, but the others nodded and allowed him to wipe the tear without comment.

"Better than insensitive," the Ghost said thoughtfully.