"Oh Ludwig that's coming out real nice," Karla said as Ludwig finished frosting a cookie. It was a snowman one and Ludwig had just added some red for a scarf.

"Thanks, Mom, could you pass me those white sprinkles next to you?" Ludwig asked pointing to a shaker of them. He looked down at the cookie his mom was decorating. "Are you making a gay pride flag?"

"What I can't support my son with a cookie?" She looked at her cookie. It was a Christmas tree with frosting stripes of red, orange, yellow, and green on it.

"Well no, it's just something many people don't do." Ludwig went back to decorating his cookie. Gently shaking some sprinkles on it.

Karla shrugged off his comment and went back to frosting the cookie. Ludwig took his own and placed it on the center plate. He turned around and grabbed a random one. Staring at it for a moment. This one was a classic gingerbread shape. Despite staring at it for a few minutes. All he could think of was the classic gingerbread man with the stripes, face, and little buttons. Looking at the center plate, he saw that the cookies that his mother and aunt made were more creative. Aside from his mother's rainbow Christmas tree, there were snowmen in unorthodox colors with different branches for arms, Christmas trees with a large variety of patterns, and gingerbread people in different outfits. His mother and aunt were conversing and joking with each other. He sighed and went back to decorating. Choosing not to interrupt them.

"Wow the cookies are looking great this year," Gilbert said reaching out for one. Karla quickly slapped his hand away.

"Ludwig gets first pick when we're all done." Karla crossed her arms and nodded.

"You say that every year." Gilbert sighed staring at the cookies.

"Well maybe if any of you boys helped us too then maybe one of you get to pick first for once." Their aunt said still focusing on decorating her cookie. Ludwig held back a laugh.

When all the cookies were completed they organized them on a festive plate. With his aunt taking the head on it. The plate was moved to the center table and Karla gestured to Ludwig. Looking over the plate he reached for the rainbow Christmas tree. Karla immediately grinned as he grabbed it. Ludwig moved to the couch and pulled a blanket over himself. Everyone else started sitting around and getting comfortable. Karla pulled out an iPad and started scrolling through it.

"Oh, just something many people don't do," Karla smirked a little as she looked at her iPad. She turned the iPad around for Ludwig to see. Looking at it he saw an array of gay pride-themed Christmas cookies.

"Well it's a first for me," Ludwig said before taking another bite from his cookie.

"I knew there had to be something like this." Karla turned towards her sister in law and started showing them to her. Ludwig sighed and leaned back a little. Looking out the window he saw small dots of white fall down.

"Looks like we're going to have a white Christmas this year," Ludwig thought to himself as just watched the snowfall.

"I look hideous," Feliciano said to himself while looking at his reflection in the mirror. He was wearing a frilly shirt and a nice pair of pants. Looking over he saw some of the other outfits his mother had brought out for him to wear. This one was the most tolerable.

"That is not a good look for you," Lovino said walking in the doorway.

"I hate it," Feliciano said bluntly. He crossed his arms and sighed. "I can't wait for tonight to be over."

"Children hurry up we don't want to be late," their mom called from downstairs.

"Just a minute," Lovino called and rolled his eyes.

"If you're not in the car in five minutes we're leaving without you." The two heard the door slam.

"Maybe I can just stay home this year," Feliciano said as he walked over to his bed and sat down on it.

"You and I both know Mom is bluffing." Lovino sat down next to him. "And if she wasn't. Do you really want to deal with her and Dad yelling at you for hours."

Feliciano sighed and picked up his tablet. "No matter what it's lose-lose."

Feliciano reached down and grabbed his backpack. Carefully he removed the pins would cause controversy. Gently he placed them on the nightstand.

"At least I'll have you," Feliciano said looking at it. He felt Lovino push him a little and Feliciano couldn't help but laugh.

As he rode in the car, Feliciano remained quiet. Both of his parents were talking to each other as his father drove. Occasionally they would bring either of the three boys into their conversation. Each time they called out Feliciano, he shuttered. Every response he kept short and sweet. If he tried to put in his earbuds, his mother would scold him.

Once at his relatives' house, Felciano said his quick hellos. Many of them kept him there and asked him questions about his college experience. A few of them quietly snarked about his decision to go to art school. With his parents standing very closing to him, Feliciano remained quiet. When all of that was done Feliciano grabbed a plate of food. He quietly snuck away from his parents and found an empty room. Quickly he moved a table closed to him. He placed his plate on it and pulled out his tablet. The first thing he did was open up his special drawing. Giving it a final look down, he added a few final touches.

"Hey, are you okay?" Lovino asked walking into the room.

"Just trying to avoid family," Feliciano said as he saved the recent changes to his drawings.

"When are you not," Lovino laughed as he sat down next to him. He took a quick look at what was on Feliciano's tablet. "That's a cool drawing."

"Oh thanks," Feliciano looked it over a bit more. "It's a gift for a friend of mine."

"It's beautiful," Karla said looking out the window. Over the previous night, the snow had covered the landscape and was shining in the sun.

"It really is," Ludwig said as he looked over the new books he had received.

"Did I get you the right, book?" Wolfgang asked sitting on the couch.

Ludwig looked down at the three books he had received. He picked up the one his father gave him and examined it. "This is the right one."

"Glad it is," Wolfgang took a sip of his coffee.

Ludwig smiled and gathered up his books. He walked upstairs to his room and looked them over again. Taking the one that peaked his interest the most and set it aside. The other two were placed in his bag for safekeeping. As he stood up he felt his phone buzz. Pulling it out he saw a text from Feliciano

Merry Christmas Ludwig! The text message had a few Christmas themed emojis by it. Ludwig couldn't help but smiled as he read it.

Merry Christmas Feliciano Ludwig moved to sit on his bed.

I know this may seem sudden but I made a little something.

You didn't have to do that. Ludwig sighed a little and shook his head. Still, he kept on smiling.

Oh, it was nothing.

Right after that message was sent, Feliciano sent a digital drawing. What immediately stood out to Ludwig was the familiar figure of a dog. Slowly he tapped on it. The dog figure grew in size. It was standing on some sort of cliff looking back. Despite looking very realistic, Ludwig could tell the dog was smiling. As he examined it a bit more, two grey wings hovered above the dog's body. After seeing them, Ludwig took a closer look at the dog's face. There he saw a familiar-looking collar around the dog's neck. A red collar with a silver diamonded shaped dog tag.

Is, is that Aster? Ludwig asked after looking at it for a few moments. The memory of the dog started filling his mind. He felt a few tears starting to form in eyes and wiped them away.

Yes I remembered how you said how much you missed him. And I wanted to find a way to immortalize him.

I don't know what to say. Thank you

You're welcome I'm really glad you liked it