The Alpha Gang HQ was more crowded than usual. It was Christmas Eve; the most enthusiastic about it was Ellie, however, right now she couldn't do much to decorate and help due to her being very close to giving birth. Instead, Helga and Alpha Droids did everything she said.

The blonde was sitting at the table, ordering all droids how to exactly decorate; it ended up in a disaster. The Alpha Droids hanged lights onto anything they could, including people. Dr. Z was tangled by them several times.

"Could you stop, you stupid droids?!" he snapped at them.

"STOP!" All droids expect the one with its head being damaged froze in place.

"What is the meaning of this?" Dr. Z asked Ellie as Ursula, Daniel and Sally untangled him from the lights.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to help with decorating," Ellie replied, "the Alpha Droids can get a little too enthusiastic about it. They're so adorable."

Ed smiled at his girlfriend adoringly and walked over to her. "You're unbelievably dedicated." He picked a mistletoe up and put it over Ellie's head, kissing her cheek.

She blushed. "You know that I'd do so much to make a happy mood, my marshmallow teddy bear."

He just chuckled as his face turned red from the nickname.

"The decorations turned out fine for being done by the droids," Laura admitted.

"I expected a bigger mess honestly," Rod chuckled.

"They can be talented sometimes," Ellie giggled.

Meanwhile, Helga extended her hand to hang mistletoe above the door.

"Oh, no way we're having any mistletoes hanging around here," Ursula groaned, clearly disgusted by any possible accident caused by that. After all, there was no one she'd happily trick under one to get a kiss, otherwise, she'd be down with it.

"It is a tradition," Helga objected.

"It's not a big deal," Sally said with a huge smile on her face, "nothing but harmless kisses. And almost everyone who is coming is in pairs anyways."

"Yeah. What's the worst that can happen, sis?" Daniel wondered, grinning at Ursula.

"Just note that I am not walking through that door until that thing's hanging there."

Soon, the Ancients came in with Jonathan in the lead; he met with Helga in the doorway right below the mistletoe.

"I don't like where this is going..." Dr. Z sighed.

While Ellie had her hopes up. "Do it... Do it, do it, do it, do it!" she squealed in a whisper.

Jonathan bowed down. "May I-?" He was suddenly grabbed by the female android and got pulled in—an actual android kiss. The two of them moved from the door.

Before stepping in, the Ancients shared a soft kiss as well and smiled at one another. They were soon followed Reese and Zander and he pecked her forehead.

Next, Seth came in with Gelly and stopped below the mistletoe. "Whose idea was this?" He frowned, pointing at the plant.

Ellie's eyes shifted nervously.

"What is the issue?" Gelly wondered.

Seth sighed. "A stupid tradition."

She titled her head. "Tradition? What kind of tradition?"

The blue-haired blushed. "Nothing you should worry about."

The Gel Jark woman glanced from him to her guide of the human world, Ellie. The blonde smiled at her. "Remember the ritual you asked me about the other day?"

"Yes."

"That should be done under a mistletoe."

"Oh..." Gelly looked up at Seth and he glared away, but Gelly kept her eye on him. He was still frowning, not looking at her. He rolled his eyes and leaned down to Gelly. The Gel Jark had no idea what to expect, she's never experienced a kiss herself.

He was so close to kissing her when she noticed the damaged Alpha Droid, the only one still hanging the lights, falling from a ladder, tangled in the lights. She rushed to it quickly instead—she has learned some compassion from Ellie or more learned that she should help anyone.

Seth froze in place, confused by what just happened. He quickly shook it off as if nothing happened.

Gelly formed her arm into a sharp knife-like shape, cut the cord around, freeing the Alpha Droid while all lights attached to that cord died out, and she patted its head. "Are you okay, Droid?"

"O-o-Ok...KaY!" it answered in a glitchy voice.

She smiled at it.

Seth walked over to Ellie. "It's incredible how much you taught her over such a short period."

"She's a fast learner," Ellie told him, "her determination to know more about us is why she does her best."

A smile crossed Seth's face as he watched his assistant. "Yeah..."

Ellie smiled as well, but her face cringed. Ed rubbed her shoulder. "You okay?"

"No need to worry..." She sighed.

"...you sure...?"

She nodded and looked up as her brother walked in. "Hey, I hope you did not start the party without me!" Jeremy called with a huge grin on his face.

"No. You're just in time-" Ellie stood up, but suddenly stopped, holding her belly.

"Ellie?"

"...It's here...Eric is coming..." she murmured.

"WHAT?!" everyone gasped.

—

Ellie was quickly brought to the hospital, followed by Ed, Zander, Reese, Ursula, and Jeremy. The rest stayed behind, the five of them were already enough. All three guys were visibly nervous.

Being Ellie's partner and the father of her child, Ed and Zander went into the room with her, leaving others behind.

Jeremy was pacing through the corridor for two hours by now, pulling his hair. He felt pressure in his stomach; he was clearly worried. He was able to handle many stressful situations as a bartender; rushing from place to place, dealing with drunks, but this was something else—his sister was involved this time.

"Could you shut up?!" Ursula snapped at him.

"No!"

"This won't help anything, Jeremy," Reese told him.

"I-I know! I can't help it!" he squealed in frustration, trembling.

She walked up to him. "Sit down and take deep breaths." She grabbed his shoulder.

"I can't!" He jerked her hand off him. "...sorry... I'm just freaked out!"

"There is nothing to be freaked out by. It's a normal reaction, but you have to calm down and put yourself together; Ellie needs you to be strong."

"...right... You know enough about this, don't you?"

"I went through similar panic when I was eight when my sister was born; just don't worry."

Jeremy nodded.

Soon, Zander left the room and headed to them. He smiled sadly.

Jeremy gulped and shook in fear. "Did something happen-?!"

"Everything's alright," Zander reassured him, "it might take a while though."

"She has complications?!" Jeremy gasped.

"No, no. Eric is just taking his time; Ellie is going to alright for sure."

"Right..."

Zander walked over to Reese. "Maybe you should head home and rest, this is going to take a few hours."

"I know. We can even wait until tomorrow," she told him.

"I'll stay here with Ellie and Ed and I'll call you as soon as Eric is born, I promise."

"Just don't drink too much coffee while waiting."

He chuckled at his fianceé's concern. "Okay, I won't." He pecked her lips.

"I guess that the next time we see each other, you're gonna be a father."

"Yeah... I guess..."

"I'll be fine." She smiled at him and looked at Jeremy.

He grinned at her softly. "I'd rather stay here," he said.

"Yeah, rather be here than on a stupid party that's gonna fall apart without our little ray of sunshine," Ursula murmured.

"I'll head home then." Reese and Zander smiled at each other as she backed away.

—

Leaving the hospital, she called Rod to know how the party is going.

"So, is everything alright back there?" she wondered.

"As alright as it can be with this group..." Rod sighed.

She frowned. "What happened this time...?"

"Nothing important, but without Ellie, you can't avoid arguments. Seth can't be in the same room with anyone. The Ancients already left. And how are things going over there?"

"Everything's fine. It just seems to take some time. It's getting late, so I'll visit the Black Pearl and then head home."

"Don't you wanna join us again?" Laura asked her.

"No... I am not into parties; Zander dragged me along in the first place. I'd rather just go home."

"But it's Christmas!"

"I'll be fine, I swear. I'll see you tomorrow." She ended the call and summoned both Sarah and Amour to keep her company.

Appearing on the ground surrounded by snow, Amour snuggled into his partner scaredly while Sarah examined the snow bravely. Amour yipped worriedly as his partner walked to touch the snow. He followed her and sniffed the snow. He stepped on it and jumped scaredly away.

Reese picked Amour up, stroking his head, soothing him. "It won't hurt you, scaredy-cat."

The green-crested Saurolophus looked up at her.

"Well, it makes sense that you'd like spring and summer more. Let's go."

First, they headed to the graveyard for Reese to visit her family.

When they later entered the Black Pearl they were met with the Ancients and Jonathan.

"I should have figured you'd be here." She smiled at them and put Amour down.

He and Sarah wondered around while the humans were talking.

They headed to all the other dinosaurs. Sarah was in the lead since Amour had a hard time socializing with others. Sarah nuzzled him reassuringly and he licked her cheek to thank her for her concern.

Reese told the Ancients everything, including her plans to be by herself for tonight. "I only wanted to stop by so Sarah and Amour can visit the other dinosaurs. I'll head home soon."

Cretacia grabbed her shoulders. "And what about staying at our place tonight?" she offered.

"I wouldn't want to disturb you, especially tonight."

"Nonsense! We'd love to have you there! Come on, I'll make cookies and even a cake you're gonna love-"

"Alright then..." Reese smiled.

"We have a spare room for you," Trias told her, "and we'd be glad to have you there."

Reese could hear that bittersweet tone in his voice; they clearly wished to spend this day with Rex instead of her.

"Thank you."

Soon, Jonathan brought Sarah and Amour back. The Saurolophus couple jumped over to the scientist of the past; they climbed on her head and shoulder respectively. Reese sighed but smiled—they just loved to cuddle her like that.

As they all headed home, Trias pulled out a glass cup with a cover on it. Inside there was a tiny lavender-pink blob with a chip sticking out of it.

"What is that?" Reese asked him.

"The reason why we were on the Black Pearl in the first place. Rod mentioned that he helped Minmi with a project; the premise of it sounded interesting."

"Recreating Gel Jarks..."

"Exactly. It is not perfect, so far—the chip sends slight electric impulses that can change its state—it is very impressive."

"Yeah! Minmi's so dedicated and curious, just an amazing!" Cretacia agreed.

"She is a Taylor after all," Reese chuckled, "the excitement seems to run in the family."

They arrived home soon and settled down. The dinosaurs moved on Reese's lap, laying down.

Cretacia brought a plate full of cookies and placed it on the table.

The Saurolophus sniffed the cookies but Sarah pulled away.

"You don't really have a sweet tooth, Sarah, do you?" Reese rubbed her head.

Unlike his mate, Amour reached for the cookies and bit one, pulling it in the lap, chewing on the cookie. Sarah nuzzled him.

Reese looked up at the Ancients. "Thank you for inviting me. I actually meant to ask you something..."

"What is it?"

"I would like you to take the place of my parents during the wedding," she said.

"...what!?"

"Are you sure about that?" Trias wondered.

The purple-eyed researcher smiled. "You've always been there for me ever since I came here. You are the best choice."

"You can count on us!" Cretacia replied, "and I can do even more! I'll make sure to help you with everything you need or I'll take care of everything right away!"

Both Trias and Reese glanced at her confusedly but smiled.

"And have you and Zander planned the date yet?" she suddenly asked.

"Not exactly," Reese answered, "we agreed on the end of April, that's all."

"Isn't it around your due date? Do you think it's a good idea?" Trias questioned.

"It is, but due to everything that happened, we don't think we should rush in. And the end of April is when my parents had their wedding, so I feel like it's the best time to choose."

"Understandable."

"I'll be careful; I would never purposely endanger my child..."

"Oh, and do you have any names yet?" Cretacia got up, jumping around Reese.

"We do." Reese nodded. "Zander and I agreed on keeping the gender a secret. For a boy, we thought maybe Nathaniel and for a girl...Parie. An unusual name, I know, but it feels...fitting."

Sarah nuzzled and licked Reese's belly. She stroked her head. "I hope that everything settles down before I give birth. Things could possibly calm down once Eric is born."

"You know we're trying not to start any conflict with Seth," Trias told her.

"Well, he was apparently the reason you left the party, so I have my doubts about the attempts," Reese replied.

"Hormones do not excuse that tone."

She smiled at that. "You really sound like my mom."

"Anyways, we'll do our best to be nice to Seth if he's nice to us," Cretacia said, "and if he's not, we have a special cardboard box jail just for him."

"Good-Wait, what?!"

A cardboard jail...? Why is she even surprised?

—

Despite all of Reese's reassuring, Jeremy fell into panic once she left.

Ursula was sitting on a chair, watching the bartender pacing over the corridor. The longer this went on the more annoying it became.

"I know what she said, but things can still go wrong. Very, very wrong. I'm not used to stressful situation-! I-!"

"Shut up!" Ursula snapped at him.

He stopped, frowning scaredly. Before he could turn around she rushed behind him. "I can't help it! I'm just easily freaked out! There's still some chance of things going horribly wrong and-"

Out of nowhere, he felt a sharp slap on his cheek.

"Get a hold of yourself! I am sick of listening to you mumbling nonsense. It helps no one and nothing. Ellie has Zander and Ed with her who aren't really the calmest people in a situation like this. If she finds out that you're panicking, it won't help her."

"But..."

"You really think there is anything that your sister wouldn't get through without a smile on her face? There's nothing she can't handle."

—

Meanwhile, Ellie was whining trough the contractions, occasionally swearing at the two men. They were used to this treatment from their sister, but Ellie acting like that came out of nowhere.

This is indeed the one thing she couldn't get through with a smile.

—

"Come get a drink." Ursula grabbed Jeremy's arm and dragged him to the vending machine. She bought a can of lemonade for each and tossed one to Jeremy.

"Just do what Blondie said and calm down," she told him and drank the lemonade.

They very slowly headed back.

"I'm trying!" he snapped, but then turned away, lowering his head, "it's...it's not that easy... I'm worried because anything can happen and...her biological mother died when she gave birth, which increases the chance of the same happening to Ellie. I can't lose her too... Not after losing my parents to their simple ignorance and disrespect."

"Parents can huge assholes," she agreed, "no matter how old you are."

"Yeah, tell me about it... They disowned me just for wanting to be who I am, now I only have Ellie."

"And those two numbskulls and I are air or what?!"

"Would you even care if Ellie wasn't my sister and you didn't know her from the orphanage?"

She stopped and glared at him. "Where did this edgy attitude come from?" She bumped his head with her fist.

"Ow-! Can you blame me?" He rubbed the spot she hit, stopping as well.

"Of course I can't, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna listen to you whining about unrelated stuff!"

Jeremy frowned and drank some of the lemonade. "I'm just starting to realize how much screwed Ellie over. My parents didn't want anything to do with me when I finally came out, so I moved in with Ellie who barely financially supported herself since she just left home. ...and then I, as the selfish bastard I am, spent all our money on my transition. We're poor because of me... That's not exactly the best setting to raise a child in..."

"Look, you're not the only one who had an unpleasant life, idiot," she growled, "but whining is a waste of time; no one cares anyway," she added quietly.

He knew exactly what she's referring to; this wasn't a simple attempt to make him feel better...It was her going over her own experience of that feeling of neglect and pain.

He couldn't let her think about that.

"That unpleasant life was made bearable mainly by you," he admitted, blushing.

Ursula turned away, her cheeks just as red as his. She grinned, turning back to him while flipping her hair. "Well of course! I was and still am amazing!"

"I've always adored the courage, the determination, and the way you don't give a fuck when something isn't about you. People didn't necessarily love your personality, but you were popular and...I wanted to be like you."

"I'm not surprised. You're not the only one who wanted some of my fame." She shrugged.

"I didn't want the popularity."

"Then what the hell are you talking about?"

Jeremy chuckled softly. "I already told you; I've always adored you, not your popularity. Poor 14-year-old Jane Komatsu was so lost in her life, so she hoped that becoming someone as strong, confident, badass, and beautiful as you would help her. Being like her crush-I mean idol made her feel a bit better, but not quite."

"Jane made the right choice to be who he really is instead of trying to be me, even though it flatters me."

"Yeah... But Jane looked pretty great while being like you, I mean, black hair with green streaks don't look that bad." He grinned teasingly. "I guess that I pulled off your hairdo way better than you do."

Ursula grabbed him by the collar and pulled him closer, glaring at him. "There can only be one beautiful diva." She smirked at him.

"Oh, I know, dear~" He smirked back. "But that spot is taken and you deserve a higher rank anyways, my gorgeous diva~"

Her expression softened. "...What...?"

And his face turned red when he realized what he said. "WHAT?! ...um...nothing...?" He bit his lip while they both stayed silent.

After a while, she spoke up. "Call me that again..." she whispered.

"What...?" His blue eyes widened; he never expected her to react like that. He was sure she got called that on a regular basis, she is gorgeous after all... People can't keep their eyes off her... So then why would that have any effect on her? Was she starving for compliments so much...?

"...my gorgeous diva." He felt her grip on his collar loosen. She was staring at him, not angrily as she stares at others, but rather uncharacteristically softly.

Ursula suddenly pulled him in by the collar and her scarlet lips connected with his. Jeremy was in such a state of shock at first, his heart almost racing out of his chest. He leaned up to her, wrapping his arms around her waist, kissing her back.

They soon pulled away for breath; his lips had a slight shade of red from her lipstick.

"Did we just...?"

"What did it look like?" She grinned at him teasingly.

"Not sure, but it felt absolutely amazing..."

"Of course it felt amazing." She placed her finger on his lips. "Not bad for the first kiss," she told him.

He smirked back. "Yeah..." His cheeks flushed slightly. "So, your first kiss?" the teasing question only resulted in her fist hitting his head once again.

"That isn't important, is it?" She crossed her arms on her chest.

"And...did it mean anything...?"

"Who knows," she replied positively, giving the man some hope.

"You just don't wanna admit it, do you?" He smiled adoringly. "You did a great job at stopping me from stressing out," Jeremy chuckled and headed back in front of the room where his sister was, drinking from the can. "Thank you, gorgeous."

Ursula just stood there, watching him walk away.

Does that idiot have a crush on her? Well, she was aware of his admiration for her, but she never thought it was actually related to any romantic feelings...however, what just happened between them made it so obvious.

Maybe chasing after men who don't want to have anything with her isn't the way.

Maybe we really overlook what's right in front of us...

She smiled and looked up. There was a mistletoe hanging above her. "Heh... What an irony," she chuckled to herself and pulled out her phone.

—

"You did this to me!" Ellie growled, grabbing Zander's shirt, glaring at him.

"I-I'm sorry...? I didn't plan that..." he murmured, almost crying, "I'm so sorry!"

Ed took Ellie's hand in an attempt to calm her down. "Please, don't hurt him, Ellie... Killing Zander won't help."

"I know...!" she whined, "...I can't help it, okay...?! I'm not the only one to blame for this torture..."

"I already said I'm sorry!" Zander whimpered panickily, "I can't give birth instead of you..."

"Why not? This is unfair-Aaah!"

—

In the corridor, Ursula walked over to Jeremy and sat beside him.

"You can home and go to sleep, I'll stay here," she told him.

"No way. You go..." Jeremy told her.

"Then I guess we're both spending the night here."

"Alright with me." He grinned at her.

It was late in the night and as they said, they both stayed there together. Jeremy was the first one to fall asleep, leaning his head on Ursula's shoulder.

—

"Ursula! Jeremy!"

"Hey, wake up," they heard in the early morning.

Ursula opened her eyes just to see her brothers. She frowned at them. "I hope it's worth it..."

Ed smiled. "It definitely is."

"Yeah! Time to meet your nephew," Zander said.

"So, the little brat's out already, huh?" Ursula turned to Jeremy, pushing him off her shoulder to wake him up.

He jerked quickly and snapped his eyes open. "...make it double-!" he gasped before realizing he was woken up. He shook his head. "Wait, what-?"

"You're an uncle, Jeremy," it took a while until those words hit him, but a huge smile formed on his face.

"Really...? And do others know? And can I see Ellie and Eric?" he questioned.

"We called everyone already, don't worry," Zander reassured him, "and Ellie actually wanted to see you two."

"You should have said that right away!"

They all headed to the room where Ellie was. They walked in and saw her holding a baby boy with short dirty blond hair, small burnt umber eyes, and a few freckles on his nose.

"Hey..." Jeremy whispered and approached his sister, tears running down his cheek.

The baby's eyes fell on him.

"That's your uncle Jeremy, Eric," Ellie said softly, "and over there's your aunt Ursula."

The green-hair smiled softly.

"Wow, that's rare."

"Yeah, I haven't seen you like that since Laura was born," Zander and Ed chuckled, immediately receiving hits to the head.

"If you dare tell that to anyone," she growled.

"Yeah...we get it..." they mumbled.

"Would you like to hold him?" Ellie wondered.

Ursula glanced at her confusedly. "Me?" She pointed as herself, not sure if the blonde actually means it.

"Of course..." Ellie smiled and Ursula walked over to her, taking the baby.

She frowned nervously at Eric; she didn't really do well with children. She was pleasantly surprised that he didn't cry, but she still didn't feel comfortable holding him like that.

"Hey, I'll take him now, okay?" Jeremy spoke up.

"Y-yeah. Take him." Ursula gave him Eric carefully, glad that she's free.

"...I'll work my ass off to earn as much money as needed for this little guy," Jeremy said, "I hope he'll be okay in our home."

"Don't have to worry about that," Ursula told him.

"What do you mean?"

She folded her arms, turning away. "Well, I called Dr. Z last night and asked if, you know, it'd be okay if you two could move in. Since Zander and Blondie moved out, there are two free rooms, so... Anyways, he didn't seem to mind."

"Does it mean...? We can live with you, guys?" Jeremy gasped.

"You have financial problems, so... Just don't mention it."

Ellie took Ursula's hand and pulled her close, hugging her. "You're amazing, Ur!"

"You promised to never call me that again."

"You're just really, really, REALLY amazing!"

The green-haired grinned at her softly, not protesting.

—

A Christmas chapter in the middle of summer?! Hell yeah!

The name of this chapter was taken from the song Oh No! by Mariana and the Diamonds, which is Jeremy's theme song.

Well, this was a mess and I hope you enjoyed it!