Notes: This is meant to be a little slice-of-life holiday ficlit; it takes place after "Sands of Time and Space" but before "Class Reunion" in my Season 2 timeline; it also takes place just before my New Year's oneshot from last year, "And Give a Hand o' Thine."

Also, I know Daphne's childhood butler was Jenkins in Pup, but I consider Pup part of the WB timeline (since the WB timeline makes frequent reference to it), so I had Klaus, the Blakes' butler from "No Thanks, Masked Manx" be her childhood butler, as well, as he is from this original HB timeline.

Daphne sighed in contentment as she watched the snow whirl around outside the study window. She didn't mind snow—on the other side of the window, at any rate. It did mean that stargazing was out of the question, but tonight, she preferred the snow.

"Daphne?"

She turned to see Vincent Van Ghoul, carrying a tea tray; he held it out in silent offering.

"Oh, thanks!" she said, keeping her voice down—for Flim-Flam had fallen asleep on the couch.

She took her tea as Vincent glanced at Flim-Flam, debating on whether to wake him or not; in the end, he decided to let him rest. He placed the tea tray on the table, took his tea, and sat in his armchair by the fire, near where Daphne was sitting on the hearth-rug.

"You know, there is still time for me to teleport you to your parents' manor," Vincent reminded her. "Or to Shaggy's parents' place."

"I know," she said. "I really don't mind staying here for Christmas. Freddie and Velma are spending it with their families, too—just like Shaggy, Scooby, and Scrappy. I wouldn't want to impose. And, anyway, we're all meeting up for New Year's next week."

"…And your family…?"

"I thought about it," she admitted. "And I decided that after everything that happened over the summer, I'm not quite ready to stay there alone. …It's not as bad as it sounds, but I'm trying to keep it from getting bad… if that makes sense."

"I think it does," Vincent replied.

"And, anyway," Daphne continued. "You and Flim-Flam are my family now, too. Even if the two of you don't celebrate Christmas like I do, I still enjoy spending time with you." Vincent owed his allegiance to the ancient Olympian gods and goddesses—Athena in particular, and Flim-Flam was Hindu, though he enthusiastically took part in the more secular aspects of the holiday season. "You never fail to make time for me if I need it, after all."

There was something in her voice that made Vincent realize that there was more to this than just avoiding the current argument with her parents about their reluctance to accept her chosen career path. There was a tinge of… almost bitterness in her last sentence that was clearly directed at her parents.

"…This isn't the first holiday you've spent without your parents, is it?" he realized.

"Far from it," she confirmed. She stared at the fire for a few more moments. "…Do you mind if I vent a little?"

"Go right ahead."

Daphne drew in a breath, but continued.

"I don't want you to get the idea that I've always had trouble getting along with my parents," she said. "But, well… you know how my father prioritizes his soap company. It's everything to him—how he made his wealth and how he got to the position where he is today. And my mother vowed to be there by his side for all of it." She paused. "That didn't really change much after I was born. And, well… the holiday season is when a lot of companies are focusing on getting those last-minute sales." She glanced over her shoulder at Vincent, who was looking back at her with sympathy. "They tried to make time for me during the holidays—they really did. And some years, it was great, and we did get to do things together as a family. But there were times when they had to prioritize the company and had to go to last-minute sales meetings, and I'd be stuck at home with Klaus—he's our butler." She glanced back at the fire and sighed. "Shaggy, Freddie, and Velma would always make sure I didn't have to spend Christmas alone, though—even if it was awkward that I was barging in on their family celebrations. But it's why my loyalty lies with them before my parents—and it's also partly why I never wanted anything to do with that stupid soap company after seeing what it did. And you know all about how my parents wanted me to take it over even though I'd told them it wasn't what I wanted."

"Yes, I do indeed," Vincent sighed. "Forgive me for prying, but have things improved in that area, or…?"

"There's been some slight improvement, I think," Daphne replied. "But, like I said, I wasn't ready to go back this year." She paused again. "…They still don't know about the magic lessons you've been giving me."

"Yes, I imagine it would be an even more bitter pill for them to take that not only did you refuse to take on the responsibilities of their legacy, you chose to take on those of mine," Vincent mused. "I'm sorry to have put you in that position."

"Don't be," Daphne insisted. "I didn't want anything to do with my parents' world, but this is a world that I wanted to be a part of."

"And you've fit in seamlessly—even Miranda and the others agreed that your progress is incredible for a mortal who had no prior magical experience."

Daphne smiled, and then a thought struck her.

"You know, you never gave Miranda a reply to her question," she realized.

"Which question was that?" Vincent asked.

"You said you would let her and the others know if you would join them at Terror Tech for your class reunion," Daphne reminded him.

"Oh, that…" Vincent mused. "Well, it's not as though I don't see my old gang now that I'm past my self-imposed exile."

"But a reunion is something different—something special, and the chance for it doesn't happen often," Daphne said. "It's still too early for my class to have our reunion, but the moment I get a chance to, I'm going."

"She's right; I think you should go, Vince!" Flim-Flam chirruped. The boy blinked as Daphne and Vincent looked his way. "…Oops…"

"How long have you been awake?" Vincent asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Long enough," he said, sitting up with a yawn. "I didn't realize that Daphne had it so rough with her parents."

"Well, like I said, it wasn't like that every year," she said. "And like I also said, I always had my friends—and now I've got you guys, too. Flim-Flam, you're the little brother I never even knew I needed. And Vincent… You've been more of a father to me these past two years than my actual father."

"I merely endeavored to treat you as I would my own daughter," Vincent replied. "I suppose that the benefit of being able to conjure anything one might need means us mages don't feel the compulsion to chase monetary success as mortals do. I believe your parents' intents were to secure a future for you. In doing so, it would seem they missed out on quite a few precious moments with you without fully realizing it."

"Well, I turned out alright in spite of it, didn't I?" she asked.

"Yes, you have—and you've got a lot more growing yet to do," Vincent said. "…And don't give me that look—you mortals are far from fully mature at this age, in spite of your insistence upon it."

"Well, I'm not a child," Daphne pointed out.

"No, but you're still far too young to be set in your ways yet," Vincent reminded her. "There is much out there for you to learn and to experience—and all of that has yet to shape you. And believe me, it will—especially all that lies ahead in the magical world. But you don't have to worry—my guiding hand will be there, as well, if you wish."

Daphne nodded, fighting back a growing lump in her throat as Flim-Flam looked to Vincent.

"For me, too?" he asked, hopefully.

"But, of course."

Daphne looked back into the fire now, trying to keep her emotions in check. She knew that, in their own way, her parents loved her; they'd fumbled in showing it at times, and were a little out of touch as a result, but they meant well, even if some of their choices and decisions weren't things that she could agree with.

But Vincent loved her, too—and he believed in her and trusted her to make her own decisions in a way that her parents never had been able to. And he was always so proud when he pointed out that she was the heiress to his magical knowledge; Daphne knew that it was a magical rite of passage usually reserved for a mage's children. As far as Vincent was concerned, she was as valid as though related by blood. And that meant the world to Daphne.

There had been a couple of rare instances, in the darkest moments of her frustration with her parents in the last months, that she'd privately wished that Vincent had been the one to raise her as a child. She hadn't voiced these sentiments out loud—she knew it was her emotions getting the better of her, plus she didn't want Vincent feeling awkward.

She cleared her throat and managed to find her voice.

"I'm glad you're here," she finally said.

"He lives here, Daphne," Flim-Flam said, incredulously. "Where else would he be?"

"I don't think that's what she meant," Vincent replied, and it was his gentle tone of voice that made Daphne realize that he perfectly understood what she'd meant. She looked back at him, returning his wan smile as he continued. "I'm glad you're here, as well."

"…Well, I'm glad you're both here," Flim-Flam said, still confused. "And I'll be glad when Shaggy, Scooby, and Scrappy come back here, too."

They didn't bother to explain it to him yet; he'd understand when he was a bit older as to the full significance of an I'm glad you exist, and that I'm a part of your life sentiment.

For now, they would enjoy each other's company on a rare, peaceful night.