RichardIII1955 - Lol, I love Merc's family too! And Angelo does have a secret softer side, it just takes the right company and situation to bring it out.

So, here is the final chapter of Lapland. Will they ever get to see the Northern Lights? And also, a very Merry Christmas to everyone who has read this story and enjoyed it!


"There they are!" exclaimed Amparo "Tallulah and Angelo!"

"Tallulah! My baby!" shrieked Gabriel, rushing to the door to meet them. He grabbed Tallulah in a hug, and glared at Angelo furiously "Where the hell have you been?"

"To see Santa!" gasped Tallulah "It was amazing. He's real!"

"What were you doing?" asked Rosaline, storming out "The whole hotel has been looking for you. We've been worried sick!"

"We didn't disappear, she was with me" replied Angelo, as Amparo leant down and clutched Tallulah.

"Why the hell didn't you tell us where you were!" Amparo cried, standing up so that Alexei could hug Tallulah "What were we supposed to think?"

"But mummy, we went to see Santa!" cried Tallulah.

"Jingle Jill said she hadn't seen you" frowned Gabriel.

"No, Granddad took me on a sleigh!" exclaimed Tallulah "It was so fun!"

"A sleigh?" frowned Rosaline.

"Yes, aunty Rosaline, a sleigh! We went down a hill, and then he pulled it all the way to Santa's Grotto!"

"You pulled a sleigh all those miles?" gasped Gabriel "Oh my God, what were you thinking? You had cancer a few years ago!"

"Yes, Gabriel, I had cancer a few years ago. Ten, in fact. But that's the point. I had it. It hasn't come back. I'm healthy, and I don't see why I can't enjoy my health with my grandkids" replied Angelo.

"You still should have told us" said Amparo angrily "I've been worried sick. Alexei's been feeling guilty, worried it was his fault. Natalio's been fussing. How could you be so selfish?"

"He's not selfish!" cried Tallulah "He's the best Granddad in the world! You're selfish, you and dad just wanted to lie in bed"

"So you've found them" grunted Tybalt, storming around the corner "See, I told you they'd turn up"

"No thanks to you and your moaning" retorted Rosaline.

"What's happened with you two?" asked Angelo.

"Oh, my husband has only been playing with Jingle Jill's jingles" Rosaline snapped.

"I didn't touch her!" growled Tybalt.

"Oh, but she touched you" seethed Rosaline.

"Be quiet!" interrupted Angelo "Look, we're all here, we're all safe. I've had a lovely day with Tallulah, and I don't want you lot to spoil it"

"Fine" Gabriel snapped, and turned around to leave. However, the door of the hotel opened, and Juliet walked in.

"Where have you been?" asked Tybalt.

"The hospital" replied Juliet, shaking her hair free from her hat.

"Hospital? Why?" gasped Tybalt.

"Romeo's there. He has hypothermia" explained Juliet "Last night, after his attempt to find the Northern Lights, he got too cold and passed out. A security guy found him, and he was airlifted to hospital. The manager recognised him and came and woke me up. I've been there all day with him. He's expected to make a full recovery"

"So you've found them!" said Hermia, hurrying down the stairs "Good. Now, has anyone seen my sister?"

"I'm here" replied Juliet.

"Oh, where've you been?"

"The hospital"

"Wait, what?" asked Hermia.

"I've been at the hospital. Romeo has hypothermia"

"What, hypothermia? Why?"

"Because the idiot passed out looking for the Northern Lights" grumbled Tybalt "What a complete..."

"Language" hissed Rosaline.

The rest of the family came charging down the stairs. They'd spent Christmas Day separated from one another, following their own pursuits quietly. It wasn't until Amparo and Gabriel realised that Angelo and Tallulah were well and truly missing before they'd raised the alarm amongst their group.

"What's happening, have they been found?" asked Benvolio.

"They're fine" replied Gabriel "But you may want to know where your cousin is"

"In the hospital, with hypothermia" sighed Juliet.

"Hypothermia!" gasped Benvolio "Oh my God, is he ok? He'll get better, won't he? When did this happen?"

"When he was hunting for the Northern Lights" replied Juliet.

"We ought to go and visit him" said Mercutio "Kids, get your coats on"

"It's past visiting time" said Juliet.

"Who cares?" shrugged Mercutio.

"I've been there all day, he'll be all right" Juliet answered "I think we all ought to get some rest now"

"Great idea, I'll just go and prepare the sofa for Tybalt. I'm feeling merciful enough to allow him into the hotel room now" Rosaline sulked.

"I told you, we weren't doing anything!" growled Tybalt.

"Cheater" pouted Erin.

"Bad-present-giver" added Didier.

"See? Now look, she's even turned the kids against me" snapped Tybalt "This has been the shittest Christmas I've ever had. Even shitter than the one I spent lying in a hospital after that twat-" he jabbed a finger at Gabriel "shot me in the stomach. Even shitter than the one Hermia broke my new bike, and even shitter than the one where mum had a turn and nearly set the house on fire. I wish I'd never come"

"Shut up, Tybalt" Lord Capulet snapped "So much for no arguing. This has just been pure hell!"

"Fine then!" sobbed Juliet "You know, I just wanted us to have a good time. I just wanted us to be happy. I just wanted to enjoy spending time with my family before I started my own. I'm going outside, I've had it with all of you!"

Juliet fled outside. Hermia rushed after her.

"Don't cry!" urged Hermia "I've had a fun time. My kids have all enjoyed it. They love seeing you and everyone. It's just...this sort of thing isn't for everyone"

Juliet sobbed into her hand. Upon hearing Hermia's words, she raised her head and looked up "Hermia!"

"What?" Hermia turned, and then gasped "Oh!"

"Just look at that!" whispered Juliet "There they are"

"The Northern Lights"

"Get them! Get them all! They're not going to want to miss this!"

Hermia's face broke into a grin "Call Romeo! Tell him to look out the window. He's not going to want to miss this!"

Juliet frantically dialled her mobile as Hermia rushed inside. Soon, the whole party assembled out in front of the hotel, gazing at the beautiful green and blue lights.

"They're amazing" murmured Mercutio.

"Is this it?" grumbled Rosaline "Romeo got hypothermia because he was just so desperate to see this?"

"Just stop moaning!" yelled Tybalt "Just shut your face! The whole family is sick of you"

Rosaline was silenced for a moment, but then she looped her arm through his.

"Sorry"

Tybalt leant his head over hers "I'm sorry too"

"You know what they remind me of?" Benvolio whispered into Hermia's ear.

"What?"

"Your eyes"

Hermia blushed pink "Aw, Benny, don't make me blush. Don't make me...oh damn it. Thank you"

"They're just like your stories, daddy" said Vittoria, hugging Mercutio's waist "They're like Queen Mab's magic. Are they magic?"

"Of course they are" replied Micro.

"I thought someone was too old to believe in Santa" Allegra ruffled Micro's hair and wrapped an arm around Rocco.

"Yes" said Micro "But I'm not too old to believe in magic"

"As long as you kids are around, there will always be magic" replied Mercutio.

"They're so pretty" sighed Erin.

"Are you glad you came now, kids?" asked Regina, holding Didier and Erin's hands.

"Little bit" mumbled Didier.

"How elegant, how graceful" mused Gabriel "Like ballet, in fact. I ought to choreograph a dance in which to express it. Yes, I must do that. I'll tell Rene my plans. And then I shall perform it next winter season, and inspire people to travel north. Yes, yes, I shall do it"

"What do you think, kids?" asked Angelo. In one arm he held Tallulah, and his other arm was wrapped around Alexei's shoulders.

"They're so pretty" Tallulah sighed sleepily. She snuggled against Angelo's shoulder "Best Christmas ever"

"Really?" asked Angelo, surprised after all the hell that the families had put one another through, she still thought so.

"Yes" said Tallulah "Because I got to spend it with you"

"Thank you, Tallulah" Angelo kissed the top of her dark curls, and squeezed Alexei's shoulder. Even if he'd never got things right with Gabriel, and even if he never would, he knew he still had five, almost six, grandchildren, to make it up to.

"Can I sit next to you on the plane home again?" asked Alexei.

"You're very welcome to" replied Angelo.

"Oh no" groaned Benvolio "We have to fly home. I have to get on a plane again!"

"Don't poop your pants!" teased Eliseo. Saffiro giggled.

"Eliseo!" scolded Benvolio.

"Can you see them?" asked Juliet to Romeo down the phone.

"Yes! Yes! Oh, they're amazing! Just like how I imagined! Take a picture for me!"

Juliet smiled, relieved, the tears vanquished "Merry Christmas, Romeo"

"Merry Christmas, Juliet"