A.N. This is still Christmas. I wanted to get Miguel's attitude towards Luis and Kay during the Christmas at the Bennett's and also try to get Grace to make an appearance. This chapter also has other families and couples in it. And sorry about not posting this on Monday but I had some important family matters I had to do. But all my updates will still be on Monday.

Chapter 8

Russell's Household

Whitney watches her father and Aunt Liz hold hands and gaze deeply into each other's eyes. It was enough to make her sick, she loves her father and she loves her Aunt Liz but it was wrong seeing the two of them together.

While yes, her mother was dating Julian Crane again, after 20 years, but their relationship didn't sit well with her either. It had always been Eve and TC, Eve the loving mother and doctor, TC the loving father and coach.

Now their family was split apart, granted daddy tried to make this a great Christmas, and on some level it was, but it wasn't the best. The greatest Christmas's she could remember involved her sister, Simone, her mother and her father. Daddy would be playing Santa Claus and handing out everyone's gifts, Mom would be cooking breakfast fit for royalty in the kitchen, and Simone would be finishing up last minute wrapping up in her room.

"Did you like your presents sweetheart?" TC smiles at his daughter, this morning he had asked Liz to marry him and she said yes. Nothing could ruin his good mood.

Whitney smiles tightly, "Yes, I did daddy thank you." She stares at her father suddenly feeling out of place in her home. "Umm, I'm going to go get dressed, stop by the Lopez-Fitzgerald's and give them their presents."

She leaves before TC or Liz can say anything. "I don't think she's very happy about us TC." Liz states.

"Nonsense, Whitney loves you and she's thrilled that you're going to marry me. It's just going to take her a little time to get used to it." TC assures her.

"I hope you're right."

"Of course I'm right." He turns to Simone and asks if she likes the presents that she received.

His young daughter grins. "Of course I did. And I'm happy that you're marrying Liz." She hugs them both.

Lopez-Fitzgerald Household

"Miguel was certainly curt to Luis and Kay today." Pilar comments to Theresa and Fox while they help her throw away wrapping paper that is strewn on the floor.

"It's because Luis has Kay now. Miguel can't handle it." Fox tells his mother-in-law.

Pilar sighs. "But Miguel has Charity, why does it matter to him that Kay is with his older brother?" She moves Little Ethan's toys under the tree and out of the way.

"Well, Kay used to have a crush on him right?" Theresa and Pilar nod. "So now that she's dating Luis she's not mooning over him. I'd say he's got jealousy issues. I mean it's sort of what happened between Ethan and myself. Suddenly Theresa wasn't in love with him anymore and didn't spend her time pursuing him instead she was with me and Ethan didn't like that. Even though he had Gwen he still wanted Theresa." Fox tells them.

"Since when did you get so insightful?" Resa questions her husband.

"Oh I've been insightful for a long while, I've just kept it well hidden." He teases.

"I wonder if Miguel saw them having sex?" Paloma speaks up as she walks into the living room from the kitchen. Her family stops cleaning up after the Christmas chaos and stare at Paloma like she suddenly turned blue and grew an extra head. "What?"

"How do you know they had sex?" Pilar asks.

Paloma gives her mother a look that conveys absolute confusion as to how she missed the signals. "All of you were in the same room with me right?" They nod. "Ok, well, didn't you see how they're closer than they were yesterday? Not to mention the major hickey Kay was sporting and when I hugged Luis the back of his sweater opened a bit and I saw scratch marks on his shoulders."

Fox chuckles. "Yea, if Miguel saw them it would be just one more thing that tells him Kay could care less about him."

Little Ethan comes running out of his mother's old room, which has become his playroom, holding three unopened packages of X-Men action figures. "Open these." He holds the packages up to Fox.

Fox hunkers down on his knees so he can look Lil' E in the eyes. "Now, what do you say?"

"Please?"

"Alright." Taking out his pocketknife he opens the toys that come with such small pieces he knows they'll be lost within the hour. After opening them he hands them to Lil' E and he runs back to his playroom, soon the family can hear noises of fake explosions and 'superhero' lines.

"Mama?" Paloma stands next to her mother.

"Yes, mija?"

"I was hoping that for my birthday I could invite some of my friends and Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler from Mexico. I already have half of the money saved to be able to bring them up here but I'm still a few hundred short."

Pilar stares at her daughter upset that she's going to have to say no. It's not that she minds that Paloma wants to bring her friends and the people that took care of her up to Harmony for a few days but she just doesn't have the money for those kinds of expenses. "I would love to give you that money honey but I just don't have the funds…"

Theresa interrupts her mother. "Well, Mama, I can give Paloma all the money to bring her friends up. After all I am a Crane now. What good is this money if I can't do something for my family."

"I don't know mija…" It's no secret that she thinks that the Crane money is evil but when she looks to her youngest child and the expression of such hope that radiates from her eyes breaks her resolve. "Ok. If you want to give Paloma this money to bring her friends up then I have no objection."

Paloma hugs her mother tightly. "Thank you Mama. So much." Next she turns to Theresa and Fox and hugs them close. "Thank you both, I promise I will pay you back."

"No you won't. This is a gift, if it makes you feel better think of it as an early birthday present from us. You keep that money and spend it how you like." Fox assures her.

Grinning wide she leaves the living room to go call her friends and Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler to invite her to Harmony in March for her birthday. She can hardly wait to see them all again.

Bennett Household

Kay keeps her arms wrapped around her daughter and watches as she struggles a little with the wrapping paper. "Do you need some help honey?"

"No, I do it." Maria's determined to get into her present by herself.

Miguel watches his daughter in Kay's arms, he can hardly believe she was sleeping with his brother. She's hasn't even spared him a glance the entire time they've been at the Bennett's. Not mention that nobody except him seemed to have a problem with Kay and Luis's relationship.

Since arriving here earlier his own daughter hasn't acknowledged his presence. All Maria wants his Kay, Luis, and presents. For the whole evening she's been changing laps, first she sat on Luis's lap, then Kay's, next it was Sam's, and again back to Kay.

Maria even called Luis daddy during dinner, at first Miguel thought he was talking to him until he saw Maria reach for Luis. It obviously wasn't the first time this happened because Kay and Luis acted like it was nothing; they just smiled at Maria, not correcting her about who her father is.

Charity's been trying to get his attention with wedding plans, but with everything that has been occurring today he just can't concentrate on their future marriage. Now they were opening presents and Maria was opening a gift from Sam.

Without warning the front door swings open and smashes against a wall, standing there letting all the cold inside was Grace Bennett, eyes blazing and nostrils flaring with such anger that it could melt the ice outside.

Sam stands up and stalks closer to the doorway. "I told you I didn't want you back here. I will get a restraining order if I have to Grace."

"Sam please, can't you see that Kay, Ivy, and Jessica are trying to break us up. Kay is upset that you don't spend time with her, Jessica is rebelling and causing trouble, and Ivy…well she's always wanted you back."

"You are completely off your rocker aren't you Mom?" Kay speaks up from behind her father. "The dissolving of your marriage has absolutely nothing to do with myself or Jessica. Ivy, I'm not sure because I don't talk to her all that much. However from what I've seen all this falls on your shoulders, so don't be dragging me or Jessica into it."

Luis stands from his seat next to Kay ready to protect her if necessary, he heard about what Grace did to her and Jessica; he saw the evidence of it yesterday and again today. There was no way he was letting Grace anywhere near either of them.

"Stay out of this Kay." Grace yells.

"Don't talk to her that way. Get your ass out of my home or I will have you arrested for trespassing and I will make sure there is a restraining order against you in place for Jessica, Kay, Maria, Noah, and myself. You'll be lucky if you ever see any of us again." Sam growls out.

"But…S..Sam please don't do this. I love you." Grace pleads.

"You have a real odd way of showing it. Now get out, this is your last warning."

She stares into his eyes trying to find some ounce of love for her, but finds none in the depths of his gorgeous gaze. Nodding slowly she backs out of the house and Sam slams it behind her his jaw clenched in anger.

"Are you alright daddy?" Jessica rubs her father's forearm in comfort.

"Yea sweetie, I'm ok." He embraces her and they make their way back to the living room where Kay was making sure Maria was distracted from the argument somewhat. "I'm sorry for that everyone."

"It wasn't your fault Sam." Luis assures him. "Who knew she'd go off her rocker?" He chuckles good-naturedly.

TBC

A.N. Originally this fic wasn't going to be very long. But my muse wanted me to add a new element in the fic, Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler, so now it's going to be a longer fic then I planned. Also I have some ideas for a sequel that I'm going to start doing some basic outlines for soon.