Chapter 34:

By the time the first of the guests get up in the morning, the whole house is transformed into a winter wonderland. Arthur takes Bella aside and asks her how long the family needs them to be gone, to open presents.

"If you think you and these boys are going anywhere today, you are sorely mistaken. It's Christmas, and even if I am considered a pagan, we will celebrate it. We are not letting those boys miss out on anything, you neither." Bella rages a little. "Now get your butt into the living room, you can help cut out names for the pot."

At his confounded expression, she adds. "We draw names at breakfast for who will play "elves" and pass out the presents."

"How interesting."

"We tend to do things the muggle or mortal way a lot more than as we would have in the past." He smiles gently. "Thank you, it means a lot to me that you would take us in, we really don't know each other."

"Yes, but your family has pledged themselves to my son's service. I don't take allies lightly. My brother in-law will be here this afternoon." Arthur nods and continues to drink his coffee.

As everyone starts to file downstairs, laden down with presents, Edward and Alice stand sentry at the bottom, their arms are extended to receive the presents. Once everyone has handed them the bundles, they calmly walk into the living room and deposit them under the trees. The group watches them speed around like worker bees.

"Okay, now that is done, we need to draw names to pass out the gifts. We usually do stockings then have breakfast, and then we'll do presents."

Carlisle and Esme stand and get the red and green silk top hats with velvet hat bands. The Weasley twins' eyes light up at the sight of them. "Ah, I see that we have some volunteers to pull two names out of the hat." Mars chuckles.

Fred and George jump up, eyes gleaming at being chosen. George reaches into the red hat to pick out a name.

"Bill Weasley." George grins at his big brother.

Fred eagerly follows his twin's example, reaching into the green hat. A grin breaks out on his face.

"Well, well, well, Reyna Mars." Fred recognizes the name as his brother's soul bound mate. He searches for the girl in the room. "She's not here yet. The weather is interfering with her travel." Remus speaks up, grinning at the group of red-headed men. Percy and Jason snicker at the comment. They know that the pegaus that she rides doesn't like to travel long distances. Listening to something that the others can't hear; Remus quirks his head to the side. "I take that back."

The door opens and a raven haired woman strolls in. "Mom, Dad, I'm home." She calls up the stairs, taking off her scarf and coat, revealing a set of Roman armor and purple cape. Her feet are clad in heavy biker boots.

"Rey, we're in here." Bella walks up to her daughter. The women hug and then walk into the living room.

"As always, you show when the food is about to be brought out." Jason snarks at his ex-girlfriend lightly. She turns her light grey eyes, like her father's, on him.

"Thanks to you Uncle Prep and Cousin Seaweed here, I have been beset with dealing with Octavian, the letch!" she shudders visibly.

"What are his stuffies showing now?" Apollo asks his niece, sneering at the thought of the "seer" in the camp.

"Uncle, he tried to tell me that "we are meant to be together" and I should make him my co-head, now that the "knuckle heads" are gone. I told him that between Jason and Perseus, the position has been filled. As for being together, I told him that I was informed by my uncle that I was soul bound to a redhead named William. Only you know when I'll meet him though?" She cried. The sun god fumes and stalks off.

"I take it that my namesake is being a pain." Caius walks up and hugs her. Rey nods.

"Reyna my dear, I would like to introduce you to Lords and Ladies Malfoy and Potter, Doctors Granger, Mr. Weasley, Madame's Bones and Longbottom, Lord and Lady Greengrass, Lord Lovegood, Hermione, Susan, Luna, Daphne, Neville, Theo, William, Charlie, Fred, George and Ron." Bella points to each person. "This is your cousin, Orion and your brothers, Harry and Draco. You know the rest." Rey nods and then turns to the three new boys.

"Well, I understand I have a reputation of being a hard ass, but I still would like a hug from you three." Rey holds her arms out, into which the three rush. Rey's eyes tear up. She then turns to the rest of the room. "Hello everyone, I am Reyna." Her eyes land on Sirius and Remus. She runs to her "favorite uncle and favorite big brother". "Uncle Snuffles, Remy!" The grim and werewolf pull her between them.

"That explains where that came from." Hermione whispers to Harry.

"Rey darling, you and Bill have been chosen to hand out presents after breakfast." Mars tells her. The girl smiles at her father and then nods to Bill, nervously. Her cousin, uncle and brothers are back and she just might have met her mate; this is going to be the best Christmas ever. "This is already the greatest Holiday ever but, Dad did you really need to indulge Mom like this, Pemberly really. You really would do anything to keep Mom's attention." She stands and kisses him on the cheek. "Bloody veelas." she mutters as she strolls down the hall.

"Wow Bill, she is something." Arthur whispers to his eldest.

"I know Dad, she is." Bill whispers back. He is completely enchanted by the raven haired beauty. The armor molds to her body and from his studies, he knows that she is a leader among her peers.

In the kitchen, Rey is quietly asking her sisters, Jane and Claire about the older ginger brother. "That's Bill, he's a curse breaker and is very nice and noble. He and his brother Charlie are trying to help their father to raise the others. Their house burned two days ago."

"What's up with this war?" She asks as she pours herself a cup of coffee. "Black Jack and Porkpie are supposed to get here tomorrow."

"Good, I can't wait." Percy ambles up to Rey. "You just want to be called "My Lord" again." She grumbles.

"No, Dad's coming today."

"Aww, poor little Sea Prince." Rey mocks him. "You finally man up and ask her yet?"

"Yes Rey he did. Claire found a man too. His name is Theo." Claire glares at Jane.

"Thanks Sis." She says sardonically. "Don't let her fool you; our little vampire here has fallen for a "red" also. What is it about sharing an egg?"

Rey walks up to her big sister. "Twin huh?" she whispers. Jane nods. "Mate, but I'm worried about the family issue. Big family." The girl bites out.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Alec cries out from the other room. All four veela and the vampires come running into the kitchen. "Which one?" Alec growls.

"Fred." Jane replies, calmly.

"Wow, congratulations sis." Rey hugs her.

"Thank you, Rey. I'm just lucky that my little sister is mated to the heir." Jane pats her on the shoulder as she ushers the whole group into the living room, with everyone carrying breakfast in the living room to share. Rey runs up to her room, Mom still marks it with her sign from when she was a child. Inside she finds a new wardrobe, Reyna dresses in some skinny jeans, a spaghetti strap tank and a sweater. She steps into some royal purple ballerina flats that match her tank and puts a fake hibiscus hair clip in to hold back her hair on one side. She jogs down the stairs and walks into the living room. Charlie shuts Bill's mouth for him as the older brother seems not to be able. This shakes Bill awake and he digs for a present.

Bill pulls a large box from under the first tree. "To Chief, from Lion."

"Wait who is Chief and who is Lion?" Charlie asks.

"Oh Eddie, you shouldn't have. How are we going to explain this to Bells?" Jake gushes, as he reaches for and opens the box and proceeds to crack up.

"You have enough now to last the year, even if you change twenty times a day. Now put a dammed shirt on, Black!"

"I'll have you know, I look good without a shirt." Sirius cries out. Remus, James and Thant snigger at his ego.

"You know I do it just for you Eds. That and as I said years ago, I am hotter than you." Both men crack up at the private joke, earning a glare from Bells.

"OK guys, my turn." Reyna walks up to the trees. After a moment she selects a present. "To Dragon, from Brains" Hmm, I wonder who they can be? Mom?"

"That would be To Draco from Hermione, dear." Enyo answers. "I guess I need to explain the names here. I went through the tags last night and re-tagged with your call signs. I'll read them off to you in a little while."

Rey hands the present to the blonde. Draco unwraps the gift to find both the book and BBC version of 'Pride and Prejudice". "Thank you, Potter. This is great, but what is this other thing with the book?" No one noticed his slip but Hermione, Draco and Harry.

"That Draco would be the DVD of the story. It's a live version of the book, like a play that you can see anytime you want."

"Cool."

The Malfoys and Weasleys were amazed by how the Mars family went about opening their presents. Before anyone started, Bill and Reyna handed each person a present, after asking Bella about the names.

"Hermione, how about you open yours now." Ares laughs at the collected twins pouting faces.

She delicately opens the package in her lap. "I'm sorry, this paper is so pretty." She slides a jewelry box out. "That's from your parents, honey." Enyo tells her. When she opens the box, she gasps and pulls out a platinum charm bracelet. "Thank you Mum and Dad. It's beautiful."

Bill hands large packages to his younger siblings; Charlie, Fred, George and Ron. "They say to you guys from War and Touch." Inside the boys find a wide range of clothes, boots, shoes, a new winter coat and some things to snuggle up in during the cold months. Plus the coolest book bag they have ever seen. Fred had an orange bag and George a purple one. Ron has a red plaid bag; he nods at the fact that he had new clothes, for the first time in his life.

Fred and George stand together. They walk over to Mars and Enyo. "Thank you Uncle Ares and Aunt Enyo." The twins bow to them. Enyo stands and hugs them, "You are welcome my nephews." Mars nods to them and smiles. Ron is confused.

"Why did you call them that?" he asks the twins when they sit back down.

"Molly cheated on Dad. We are sons of Hermes. He is Ares' younger brother."

They go around with their presents. When it gets back to Hermione, this time it's a gift from Remus. She laughs at the charms of a book and wolf. "Thank you, Remus." She says. "You're welcome, pup."

"Here's one for Moony, from War and Touch." Bill holds up a large box, about the same size as the one Ed gave Jake. "Well, that one is easy." Remus raised his hand. Bill deposits it in the lycan's lap. Remus takes the time to enjoy the wolf print wrapping paper. "You'll never cease to amaze me with where you find this stuff Mum." He quips. Inside the box is a lifetime supply of Wolfbane, a box of 72 petit fours, a Bavarian crème torte, a box of Bavarian and Dobosh bonbons each, Cheesecake morsels, Baklava, Pumpkin Bark, breakfast gift set, a meat and cheese bar set, new dress robes and new clothes; both magical and mundane, bagel chip and spreadable cheese set, rum balls and chocolate truffles. Remus starts to cry. "Thanks Mom and Dad. It's all stuff I can use. Get your own Baklava, Pads." He smacks Sirius' hand.

"Hey, do you know how long it's been since I had Enyo's baklava?" The grim swipes a piece and stuffs it in his mouth.

Reyna pulls an envelope from the tree. She looks at the tag. "To VGW from War and Touch." She walks over to Jasper and hands him the envelope. Carlisle smiles as Jasper opens it. Inside is a certificate and cards to get blood at any blood bank in the world for the life of the holder. They are in the names of Jasper Whitlock, Jasper Cullen, and Jasper Hale. That way he is covered with any name. He looks up at Enyo. "Thank you." There are venom tears in his eyes. She gets up and hugs him. "You are welcome, brother. I can't have my major wasting away. Just keep your morals and you will be fine. They have a list of responsible people who can pick it up for you too. Peter, Alice, Emmett, Esme, Carlisle and Edward and Bella are on the list. Rosie is a little squeamish about it still but we can add her at any time."

"I didn't see how bad it was until Enyo pointed it out to me. I apologize Jazz for not helping sooner." Alice cries in her husband's arms.

The gift giving goes on for hours until it becomes clear that they will need to take a break for dinner as the rest of the family come in.

"Welcome Uncles, Aunts and Cousins, Brothers and Sisters." Mars' voice echoes from the hall. "Please come in and feel free to help yourself."

The whole godly contingent bubble with praise for the house and the decorations.

"Enyo dear niece, where would I find my son and future daughter in law?" Poseidon asks her looking for Percy. "Uncle, they are in the dining room, I imagine 'Thena has found them by now." He hugs Enyo and sets off to save his son from his other niece's wrath.