At one o'clock, finally, lunch was served. Ferdinand pulled both Josie and Miriam with him to make sure he was the one to sit in between his favourite aunts, making the two women exchange amused looks.

With her nephew to her right and Harvey to her left, opposing Mike and Grammy, Miriam felt very much at home. Everyone was chatting away happily and surprisingly enough, Harvey did not yet have to answer any stupid or embarrassing questions – but Miriam was sure this was still bound to happen. Especially after they would have dropped the bomb.

Everything seemed nice enough, Miriam was glad to see Harvey get along with her big brother, as they talked about basketball with Mike throwing in a few comments now and then, while she herself cut Ferdinand's food into pieces.

"You should try the roast", she whispered to her fiance, not to interrupt her brother going on about the Knicks "and take some of that stuff, you'll love it."

He nodded and smirked while he did as she told him.

"Miriam, don't whisper", Emma said from her seat at the other side of the table "It's impolite."

"Sorry, Mum", Miriam sighed, going the way of least resistance "I was just telling Harvey about…"

"Well, you don't have to whisper for that, do you?", Emma said, but at the mentioning of Harvey's name, her face had softened a little.

"Right. Sorry", Miriam muttered.

"So, why don't you tell us about the movie you and Manuel want to make?", Emma said.

"You're making a film?", Josie asked and looked up raising her eyebrows "With Manuel?"

"That is exactly what I just said, isn't it, Josephine, dear?", Emma said sourly.

"Mum…", Miriam sighed before turning to Josie: "We're making an adaptation of my novel. But we don't have a company yet to found it."

"So, Manuel is coming to New York?", Josie asked.

"Yeah, in January, probably, for a little visit, and then he'll stay at his condo beginning March", Miriam shrugged.

"Well…", Josie said but got interrupted by Emma.

"So, why exactly haven't you gotten on with selling the rights?", she said.

"Emma, dear, give her a break", Edith sighed.

"No, Grammy, it's all right", Miriam smiled at her beloved grandmother "It's just that stuff came up at Harvey's work, and with Manuel still being in Germany or Spain or wherever that guy hangs out, it didn't make sense to put any more pressure on it."

"Harvey seems like he would be capable of coping with a little pressure", Emma said, raising an eyebrow.

"He is, but that doesn't mean I have to put it on him", Miriam rolled her eyes.

"Now, don't you roll your eyes at me, young lady", Emma said loudly, making the rest of the table stop their conversations and look at the pair of them.

"I won't if you don't stop treating me like I was a child. Maybe you should put a little more thought into what the child who is still living with you is doing with her life."

"Miriam", Kurt said threatingly.

"What? Come on, it's true. You're spoiling Livy and treat her like an angel just because I…"

"Don't you pull me into this now, Mimi", Livy said, narrowing her eyes.

"You don't get to call me Mimi anymore, I thought I had made myself clear on that one when you were in New York", Miriam said coldly.

"No, you have not", Olivia said crossing her arms "I apologised and you said it was all right."

"Miriam", Harvey said quietly and put a hand on his fiancee's arm "I think that's enough."

"Please, let's just have one meal without a fight", Ina said exasperatedly and quickly thought of a change of topic "Kurt, how is your photography going?"

"Are you OK?", Harvey said softly so the rest of the table couldn't hear him.

"Sure", she shrugged "this is just how it always ends. I always do something wrong."

She sighed, took a sip of her wine and went back to eating quietly.

Meanwhile, Harvey exchanged a pointed look with his associate, which Mike answered with a shrug. And with Miriam seeming so quiet, Harvey decided that he should talk.

"Well, Emma", he said with his most charming smile "To answer your original question: My firm had to work a very big, very important case, which, luckily, we managed to win, but we certainly would not have if we hadn't all of our best attorneys on it. It was the right decision."

"But was it her decision?", Kurt wondered critically.

"You know your daughter, so you tell me if you think I could tell Miriam what to do", Harvey shrugged and leaned back in his chair, one arm over Miriam's back rest.

Kurt mustered him intently before he started to chuckle: "I like that answer. By the way, I noticed you are one of the only people who actually call her by her name, and not Mimi or Amy or whatever else she comes up with. I like that as well – after all I chose it."

"It's a nice name", Harvey grinned "And I'd rather introduce her as Miriam Specter than anything else. It has a nice ring to it."

"Miriam Specter?", Emma said amazed "Is there something behind that?"

"Actually, there is, Mum", Miriam sighed giving Harvey a deadly look, but her fiance laughed it off "We are engaged."

"What's an engaged?", Ferdinand asked while his food fell off his fork.

"Since when? And you're only telling me now? I am your mother, Mimi!", Emma said.

"You know, usually people would congratulate me", Miriam said, crossing her arms.

"Don't you dare sass me now, Mimi!"

"Well, it's been about two weeks, I guess", Miriam finally said.

"TWO WEEKS?"

"Emma…", Edith said.

"Oh, and of course you knew", Emma snapped "Of course. And I guess Daniel knew it as well."

"I only learned the news yesterday, Mum", Dan sighed "And Mimi's right you know, usually one would expect congratulations from their family."

"Well, I for one didn't know", Ina said "And I'm very happy for both of you, Miriam, Harvey."

"Thanks", Miriam sighed "You know Dan said you'd be pissed…"

"Mimi", Daniel shook his head as his wife rose an eyebrow "Thanks a lot for that."

But Emma wasn't done yet: "Did you know about this, Mike?"

"Well, I was actually listening in", Mike grinned "So, yeah."

"No way", Miriam said, looking at her cousin surprised.

"Way", Harvey sighed "…Donna."

"So I guess Donna really is listening in on all of your conversations?", Miriam chuckled "I thought it was more of a joke when you told me."

"No, it really isn't. Donna knows it all", Mike said "That's why she's Donna."

"And who is Donna?", Edith asked curiously.

"I told you, Grammy. She's his secretary", Mike said quietly.

"Am I the only one truly surprised by this?", Emma asked "Jason?"

"Sorry, Mum. She told me the same day."

"Just because he called me that afternoon!", Miriam said.

"Well, that really hurt my feelings just now", Dan chuckled.

"And you?", Emma finally asked her husband, who almost choked on a sip of wine "Oh, well, that is just lovely – my own husband keeping secrets from me."

"I only received a call from Harvey asking for my blessing and I gave it to him", Kurt shrugged "He asked me to keep quiet."

"You hardly know him! And you just agree to Mimi marrying him like that?", Emma said with a shrill voice.

"Emma. The whole thing with asking for the father's blessing is quite outdated if you have forgotten", Edith said, jumping in for Kurt "I find it rather lovely and considerate of Harvey to ask."

"Well, if it's of any consolation", Livy said, putting a hand on her mother's arm "I didn't know either."

"That's hardly surprising", Dan laughed, earning deadly stares from both his mother and his youngest sister.

"Now, come on, Ems", Kurt said "It's not that unusual not to tell everyone on the first day…"

"I'm not everyone! I'm her mother, I have a right to know", Emma said and got up "Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I need a moment."

"I'll come with you, Mum", Livy said and followed her mother.

"So… That went well", Miriam said after a while.

"Seriously, Mimi", Jason sighed "what did you expect?"

"What is an engaged?", Ferdinand, who had patiently waited for the adults to finish, repeated his question a little more loudly which Josie answered in a hushed voice.

"I'll see if your mother has calmed down again", Kurt sighed and raised from his seat "Thanks for lunch, Ina, it was splendid."

"You're welcome, Kurt", Ina smiled politely.

"I don't know what I expected", Miriam said to her younger brother, while she took Harvey's hand, and even though they had established that public displays of affection were not exactly their cup of tea, he let her "but certainly not this."

"Well, Mimi, dear", Edith smiled "Don't worry about it now. It's too late anyway, and after all you're already wearing that beautiful ring."

"Did you already set a date?", Ina asked and took a sip from her glass.

"No, we did not", Miriam shrugged.

"Do you already know where you want to get married? Because if you want to do it in New York, you better make sure to tell us in time", Josie said "After all, we don't want to miss it."

As they arrived in their room, Miriam just let herself fall onto the bed, letting out a long: "Uggh."

"So, what do you want to do until dinner?", Harvey asked, standing in the room, his hands in his pockets.

"Well, there's not much going on at the moment, I think. I'm not exactly in the mood to chitchat with Ina, and I know that Josie and Jason went for a walk. And Dan's putting Ferdinand away for his nap, which means he'll probably dose off himself. And don't start with Mike, because I know that this will just end with you working again. You know, the most essential part of family holidays is to not spend every minute with them, because then things can get tricky very, very quickly", she said and sat up right.

"None of this is answering my question", Harvey grinned.

"I know", she smirked "I was thinking we could go for a walk with Bobby later on."

"Later?", he cocked an eyebrow.

"Yeah", she said and took hold of his sleeve pulling him down towards her "Later", she mumbled, just before they kissed.

When they returned from their walk with Bobby a few hours later, Miriam had already forgotten about the big fight. That is until they entered the living room. There were Dan, Mike, Josie and Jason chatting away and they greeted them friendly enough.

"Where's the rest?", Miriam said, and sat down between Mike and Harvey, with Bobby laying down on her feet.

"Grammy's still resting. I heard Mum and Paps fight a few minutes ago, so I guess that's something", Dan said "And Livy's still in her room."

"Oh goddamnit. I knew it, I knew something like this would happen", Miriam sighed and leaned against Harvey.

"Don't worry", Jason said "You have no idea how much they fought about me and Josie. It happens."

"Your parents fought because of us?", Josie grinned "Kurt's the man."

"Yeah, you know, my mother is not such a big fan of your hair. Whatever she means by that", Jason said.

"Well, love", Miriam said in a motherly manner "I hate to break it to you, but your wife has been changing her haircolour every week, since I've known her."

"Not every week, though", Josie grimaced.

"That's interesting, dear Mimi. Pray, what colour does she rock now?"

"Blue", Miriam said.

"How can you be so sure she rocks it?", Dan asked jokingly, making his little brother sigh: "Because I don't need to see, to know that Josie is the most beautiful woman I ever met", he leaned in to kiss but only earned an "Eww", from his wife.

"See, this is what I get for being romantic", Jason sighed dramatically.

"At least now I know", Harvey chuckled.

"Know what?", Mike asked his boss, with the rest looking at him curiously.

"Where Miriam's big mouth originates", Harvey sighed, making Dan chuckle.

"Well, that is hardly surprising news, Dan", Jason grinned.

"The funny part is, I doubt the poor fella knows what he's gotten himself into", Dan said "You know, all of us make stupid jokes and yeah, sarcasm runs in the family. But Mimi hits right where it hurts – in any way imaginable."

"I gathered that", Harvey said, earning a nudge from his fiancee.

"Play nice, Dan", Miriam said.

"Just telling the truth, Mimi", her older brother shrugged.

"He is", Mike agreed, earning a nudge himself now.

Dinner went by surprisingly quietly, with Emma making a point of being overly polite – not that any of them minded, after all, most of the people around the table where used to it.

"Schatz?", Ina said suddenly "Did you hear the doorbell?"

"We're eating, Ina. Let Marina get it", Dan said with a grin.

"I know that grin", Miriam quietly said to Harvey "Dan knows exactly who it is. He's up to something."

"But who could it be? The evening before Christmas, and at this hour…", Ina wondered.

"Yes, who could it be?", a male voice said in a London accent, making Miriam jump up in excitement.

"James!", Kurt said "How lovely to see you."

James Brandon was, as Miriam explained after dinner as they sat in the living room, something of a surrogate son to Kurt. He had grown up in the same neighbourhood they lived in back in England and was one of Dan's best friends as children, ultimately being like a brother for Miriam.

"I can't believe you're here", Miriam smiled.

"I just returned from my yearly skiing trip", James said and prepared himself a drink "And Dan offered me to spend the night. Naturally, after learning that you are here, dearest Mimi, I could not refuse."

"That's what I like to hear", Miriam grinned.

"And you're the lucky bastard that gets to marry her?", James said and sat down in an armchair.

"That I am", Harvey smirked.

"The luckiest bastard of them all", Miriam laughed, suddenly falling into a stronger version of her accent "Of course, you'll have to come, James."

"I'll try to", James smiled and looked at his watch "We should go change soon, I guess."

"The rest's already upstairs", Miriam shrugged "But I'd rather catch up."

"Well, we'll have plenty of time to do that", James smiled "but first and foremost it's Jason's birthday."

"It's Jason's birthday?", Harvey asked his fiancee.

"Yeah. Well, it is tomorrow. But we always meet up around ten the evening before and—you'll see."

And he did see. At ten pm on December 23rd the living room was once again filled with Harolds and Ross family members, all dressed very elegantly. Curiously Harvey watched his fiancee sit down by the piano while Dan stood up next to her and asked everyone to take a seat.

"It's that time of the year again. Another 365 days have passed and in a few hours, Jason will turn 28 – hopefully this year he'll finally grow up", Daniel said.

"Look who's talking", Jason laughed "you didn't manage to grow up in 36 years."

"Yeah, well, you're expected to do better, lad", Kurt said "Continue, Daniel."

"First, let me give you a little background. It all started in 1951, when Kurt Harolds first saw the light of day."

"Oh come on", Josie said.

"All right, all right", Dan grinned "Well, to explain things quickly for Harvey, Mike and Grammy: Back when Paps still had his band – which Livy won't and Jason will hardly remember – they used to have a little jam session every year on the 23rd. But then they broke up, and a few years later we moved to Germany. And when Jason's eyesight turned bad, Mimi here and I, amazing as we are, had the wonderful idea to bring this tradition back into life – and I'm proud to say, that this is the 18th year we're keeping it up. Well, it is the 16th with Mimi."

"Ouch", Miriam cringed "that really was uncalled for."

"Anyway", Dan said and picked up his guitar, sitting down back to back with Miriam, "luckily for us, Jason is a great lover of music, just like Paps."

"Well. To shorten your little speech, Dan: Basically we sing what ever comes into our minds until midnight. We used to do this all the time when we went camping, remember?", Miriam grinned at Jason "You loved it when you were a kid."

"I did. Believe it or not, I also love this stupid tradition you're so proud of", Jason chuckled "So, bring it on, Mimi."

"I sure will. Just let me say this, I'm sorry, Harvey, but I told you, Christmas gets crazy around here."

"It's all right", Harvey smirked, his drink in his hand "As long as you'll forgive me for not singing."

"No one's forced to do anything", Miriam grinned "Dan, would you introduce the first song?"

"Why, yes, Mimi. It's an all time classic by a little band called Queen and over the years the Harolds mastered the art of singing it perfectly. And because it's one of Jason's favourite, we'll start with Bohemian Rhapsody."

Harvey was in awe of how much this family, which had been bickering for most of the day, was in harmony (and not only musically) once they had begun with their musical evening. Even Emma, who he had always thought to be quite uptight sang along – she especially seemed to love Stevie Wonder -, and even Livy only looked at her phone now and then.

"And they really do that every year?", he asked Mike quietly while Kurt fetched his guitar to support his children when they decided to play some songs by the Beatles.

"I have no idea", Mike shrugged.

"They do", Ina sighed and sat down next to Harvey, downing her glass of champagne "I just prepared everything for midnight."

"It's a big deal for them, isn't it?"

"Well, Christmas itself is", Ina said "One thing you have to understand before marrying into this family, Harvey, is that they love each other a lot. And they enjoy big gestures and celebrating and joking and just being together, even though they don't always admit it."