"First up on my list is Donna." Theo said to herself as she walked up the path to the Beneviento mansion. She shoved her hands into the pocket of her black hoodie and looked out over the estate.

It looked much different than the last time she had visited the doll maker. A thick blanket of snow replaced the green grass. The flowers that had once covered the area, winding up the iron bars and concrete fence, were nowhere to be seen. The tall tree to her right sat barren and leafless.

Stepping up, Theo's hand hovered a few inches away from the door. Before she got the chance to knock on the door, it cracked opened. A black mourning garb peeked around the corner. "Hello Theo."

"Hiya Donna." Theo gave a small wave. Donna pulled back the door, letting the redhead inside. She pushed the door shut with a soft click. Donna walked past Theo, the latter following behind. They reached the second room, where Donna took her seat on one of the two couches. Picking up the white teapot, she poured herself and her guest some tea.

"What brings you here?"

Theo reached into her hoodie's pocket. Pulling out a small black item, she extended it out to Donna. "I wanted to give you this."

Donna examined the offering. It was a simple black envelope. Her name was written in gold ink on the front. Flipping it over, she noticed it was sealed with matching golden wax. The imprint of House Dimitrescu's insignia imbedded into it, holding the envelope closed.

"What is it?"

"They're invitations to a little gathering we're having at The Castle. I have one for Angie, too."

Gently, the brunette pulled open the envelope. Her eye scanned the invitation inside.

A familiar miniature bridal gown caught the redhead's attention. Angie walked towards her maker. Without missing a beat, Donna reached down, placing the wooden doll on her lap.

"What's Friendsmas?" Angie asked.

"It's kind of like Christmas. It's just a little get-together for everyone. We're going to have dinner and do a gift exchange if you're interested."

"That sounds like fun!" Angie said excitedly as she turned to Donna. She enjoyed spending time with her dear cousins. Theo was sure that if the doll were able to, she would have stuck her lip out. "Can we go?"

"Yes. We'll attend. How do you plan on doing this exchange?"

"Just pick a name out of this bag!" Theo explained as she pulled out a small maroon pouch. She shook it a couple times, wanting to mix the names inside up as best as she could. Opening the pouch, she held it out to Donna. "Whatever name you pull is who you'll have to get a gift for."

"Do I get to pick one too?"

"Naturally."

Angie reached in first. Her wooden arm wiggled around for a second before she pulled out a piece of paper. "I got Casandra!"

Without hesitation, Donna followed suit. Plucking out her own piece of paper, she unraveled it. "It seems I have Alcina."

"Make sure you don't tell them. You'll give them their gifts on the twenty-third. But I have to head out, I still have to stop by the others' places. See ya!" Theo said as she picked herself up off the couch and headed out the door. Her next stop: The Factory.

"You want me to do what?" Heisenberg asked, not taking his eyes off the half mechanical body in front of him.

After she had arrived at the Factory, Karl had invited her in. He even went as far as taking her down to his experimentation room. Though, she wasn't sure if he was trying to test her comfortability or just simply wanting to continue his work. Theo guessed it was the first option, considering he hadn't actually done any work, and just poked and prodded at the soldat.

"Come to the party we're having!"

The tools that floated around him stopped in their places. Karl looked up from his contraption. Theo had explained everything on their walk down. If he were being honest, he thought she had been joking with him. Surely, she didn't walk all the way to his place just for that. "Like hell my sister wants me there."

"Of course, she does. So do the girls! It's just your pack she doesn't want in the castle." Theo assured. He gave her a blank stare, or at least, he did his best to give that impression. His glasses blocked his eyes, after all. They stared at each other for a minute. Theo gave a smug smile, the perfect idea popping into her head. "There'll be wine."

He did like wine. And he couldn't deny that his sister made the best.

"Alright. Give me a name." His muttered. Theo held the pouch out and he plucked his own piece of paper. Unfolding it, his eyes scanned the name. "What in the fuck am I supposed to get Daniela? The little gnat has everything she could possibly want. They all do. Alcina sees to that."

"I'm sure you'll figure something out."

"Yeah sure. Easier said than done." He muttered, leaning up against the wall. His eyes raked over the redhead. He could see how she had managed to catch his sister's eye. Theodora was far from a typical girl. Her strength and speed were terrifying. He guessed she also had some higher level of endurance, considering she had just tromped though the raging blizzard in just a black hoodie and jeans.

Just to invite him to some stupid party.

In his time with Miranda and his siblings, he had never been invited to a party. Let alone one at his sister's castle. The closest thing to a party that she had involved her wine and new vendors. Even then, it rarely happened.

He weighed his pros and cons. He could skip, and face the wrath of the redhead, and possibly his nieces. Or, he could make an appearance, drink some wine, eat some food. Even if he didn't want to admit it, the maids at Alcina's castle made pretty damn good food. "You better not be lying about the wine, Red."

"I would never."

The elevator's ding echoed throughout the cave. Stepping out Theo looked around, trying to sense the fish lord in his den. Thankfully, before she left, Alcina had given her a rundown of Mordeu's reservoir. From what she gathered from Alcina's explanation; it wouldn't take her long to reach him.

Following the directions her Lady had given her, Theo reached a set of wooden steps. It took her seconds to reach the top of them. Looking through a small glassless window, Theo found her target.

A cloaked figure sat on a less than comfortable looking mattress. His attention was focused on the old box television that sat in front of him. Theo moved to get a closer look. A wooden board squeaked beneath her, alerting the attention of Salvatore. He turned quickly, looking her way. "Who's there?"

"It's me, Theo." Theo said as she leaned against the window frame. She gestured to the static that danced around the television screen. "Whatcha watching?"

"Nothing." He muttered, standing from his position. If there's one thing he had managed to retain from his past life, it was definitely his manners. He shuffled closer to his guest. "Sadly, it seems the only thing I can get on this thing is Karl."

"You can talk to him through the tv?"

"Yes, it has something to do with his magnetism powers."

"Cool. Anyway, I came here to give you this." Theo pulled out yet another envelope and handed it to Mordeau.

His eyes traveled from the envelope, to Theodora, and back again. "What is it?"

"Open it!" Theo said excitedly. "It's an invitation to the celebration we're having at the castle. We want you to come."

Mordeau wouldn't meet Theo's eyes. Instead, he stared at the rocky ground. He twisted his webbed hands nervously. "I doubt I'd be welcomed."

Alcina had warned her that this might happen. It seemed that Mordeau suffered from a lack of self-esteem. He sheltered himself off from others as often as possible. Alcina and the others assumed it was due to his less than human appearance.

"Why not?"

"I'm not exactly, favorable."

"I assure that you will be more than welcomed, Lord Mordeau."

"You're certain Alcina is okay with this?"

"Why wouldn't she be?"

"B-because, I'm me."

Theo shook her head slightly. She wanted to convince him that he'd be welcome. However, she didn't want him to feel pressured into it. "It's up to you. But, just so you know she wants you there. You guys are siblings. She may be a little rough around the edges about it, but she cares. Besides, the girls seemed to enjoy your company at the fight. I'm sure they'd like to see you again."

Mordeau thought about it for a minute. It did seem like his nieces liked spending time with him. From time to time, they even came to visit him during the summer months. If they truly hated him they wouldn't bother, right? "O-okay."

"Great! Here, you get to pull a name for the exchange!"

He gently reached in and pulled out a name.

"Bela. I think I can handle that."

Theo kicked at the snow-covered ground. She really didn't want to be here. Looking up, she took in the sorry state of the building ahead of her. She guessed the church, at one point in its life, had been beautiful. Most of the stained-glass windows were busted, whether by the elements or rocks, she couldn't be sure. The roof itself seemed to be collapsing. It was nothing more than a safety hazard. Which begged the question of why her next target inhabited it.

Theo walked further into the old church. Two chairs, one Theo guessed was made for Alcina, and a bench sat in the room. An alter sat in the back. Mother Miranda stood at said alter, scribbling something in an open book. The blonde didn't so much as pause her writing as she spoke.

"Why have you come here, child?"

"The name's Theo, not child." The redhead said, ignoring the priestess's self-righteous tone. Honestly, the last thing she wanted to do was invite Miranda. They may not be enemies, but they were far from friends. After she met Miranda, Theo decided to keep her distance from the raven woman. She may have been polite to her, but Theo knew better. The blonde seemed suspicious of her, constantly watching whenever she came around.

She definitely could do without the priestess being there. But she was essentially the Lords' mother, and she didn't want to risk offending her by completely passing her over. She pulled out the last envelope, offering it. "We're having a small celebration. I'm sure the Lords would like it if you came."

The priestess didn't bother to look at the redhead. Her pen continued to scratch along the book's pages. "I have more important things to do than entertain the childish idea of this Friendsmas Alcina is having."

So she knew what the celebration was about. Had one of the others called her? While that could be an option, but Theo doubted it. She hadn't told anyone about coming to invite Miranda, not even Alcina. Which meant that the priestess had found out on her own.

The villagers talked about how the great Mother Miranda could see and hear everything. That's why they would pray to her just about anywhere. Which begged the question, what exactly was Miranda's abilities? It seemed like everyone praised her, revered her, or feared her. All while not having to expose her abilities. It was certainly something she'd have to look into.

Shaking her head, she returned her thoughts back to the situation at hand. "There's nothing wrong with spending time with your family."

"Are you insinuating something?"

"Not at all." Theo remembered the conversation she had with Bela a few months back. It made her want nothing more than to call Miranda out. To figure out exactly what her plans with the Lords were. But it wasn't the time, nor the place, for that. For now, she'd just wait and step in if she became a danger to those she cared for. "I just thought that it'd be nice if you showed up. They care about you, after all."

"You speak about them as if they're children."

"I'd hardly call them children. That doesn't mean that they can't look to you as a mother figure, though." Theo shrugged. She did the polite thing and gave the invitation. Now, it was Miranda's decision. Setting the invitation down on the church bench, Theo took her exit. "Either way, your invitation is on the bench. Have a nice day, Mother Miranda."

"Listen up, heathens."

The trio each looked at her. Daniela was sprawled out on the floor, with her sketch pad open. Casandra occupied the single overstuffed chair, flipping through a magazine. Bela sat on the love seat, a half read in her hand.

"We're having a party, so I need each of you to pick a name."

They all perked up. Each of them turned to her. "Party?"

"We're having a party?"

"We don't have parties."

Theo laughed at the girls' confusion. She expected something along those lines. It was the first time they were actually invited to a celebration, after all. "Well, you are now. Pick a name, the name you pull is who you have to get a gift for."

Theo walked to the loveseat first. She shook the bag around. Bela reached in, pulling out a name. "Aunt Donna."

Daniela jumped on Theo's back, reaching out, trying to snatch the bag. Theo laughed, unbothered by the newly added weight. Completely ignoring the youngest, Theo turned her attention to the brunette. Daniela struggled, trying to snatch the bag. With one hand, Theo pushed back Daneila's face. The other kept the pouch just out of the grasping redhead's reach. Theo laughed at the girl's struggle. It only added fuel to her fire. Shaking the bag, Casandra pulled one out.

"Theo."

"Yeah?" Theo turned back to Casandra. Even without her eyes on Daniela, she managed to keep the pouch just out of her reach.

Casandra looked over her magazine at the pair. "No, I mean I pulled your name."

"Oh. Well, it was supposed to be a surprise. But I guess I didn't think that part through. Guess that's what happens when you're the one planning everything." With her lapse in attention, Daniela managed to get the upper hand, finally taking the pouch. She exploded into a swarm of flies, before reforming on the other side of the table.

"My turn my turn my turn!" The youngest held the pouch up in the air triumphantly. "Ooooh, I got Angie."

"No."

"What do you mean 'no'?"

Alcina was the last one to pick a name. Golden eyes stared at the small scrap of paper, like it had just insulted her. In her mind, it probably did. Theo figured if she glared long enough, the paper might just catch on fire. Which is probably what the brunette wanted. Fates were against her, she knew it. Of all names the vampire had to pull, it was that one.

Karl Heisenberg.

Golden eyes snapped up to meet mismatched. It only annoyed Alcina more that Theo didn't even so much as flinch under her gaze. "Just as I said. No."

"That's the last name, Al!"

"Then exchange with me."

If only it were that simple.

"I would if I could! Buuuut. I can't. I already spoke with Duke about getting Lord Mordeau his gift." Theo had pulled a name first, and she had pulled Salvadore's. On her way back to the castle, Theo had passed by Duke. She already ordered and paid for his gift.

"I hate this." Alcina complained. She resisted the urge to pout. Pouting wasn't ladylike. And she'd be damned if something as little as this broke her.

She knew how much this party meant to her guard. The redhead had done so much for her already. Surely, she could suffer through the embarrassment of getting her younger brother a gift. "I suppose there are worse things."

"Thank you."

A wicked grin formed on blood red lips. "Oh, I have the perfect idea. I'll see to it that Duke orders one of those child seats."