If this chapter feels rushed, it's because it absolutely is :T

Merry Christmas, everyone!

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Christmas Revelations

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"Keep doing that and you'll end up on the Naughty List."

Jack and Jamie looked up from where they'd been attaching an antler-adorned Abby to Jamie's sled. Mrs Bennett stood at the backdoor, arms crossed and brow raised; the picture of disapproval.

"I will have you know I'm already on the Naughty List," Jack told her with mock offence. He'd worked damn hard to get there, too. North was becoming more lenient towards him, and it was starting to make it hard to maintain his record.

While Mrs Bennett blinked at him in obvious surprise, Jack returned his attention to Abby, throwing tinsel around her for 'reins'. Abby ignored him in favour of gnawing at an itch on her hind leg.

"I would have thought a Guardian would at least try to get on the Nice List," she finally replied.

Jack shrugged. "I'm all for good deeds and kindness, don't get me wrong. It's just more fun being on the Naughty List." He gave the reins a yank to test the knots he and Jamie had tied. It held firm, much to his excitement. "What do you think, Jamie? Ready to give her a run?"

Jamie grinned at him, taking a seat at the front of the sled while Jack climbed on behind him. "Ready!"

"Boys," Mrs Bennett warned. But it was too late. Jamie threw the tennis ball and Abby took off after it like her very existence depended on it.

As far as sledding went, it wasn't anywhere near as fast as North's sleigh, or even just a regular sled down a hill. Jack and Jamie's combined weight slowed Abby down considerably, but she didn't seem to mind tugging them along with her in her single-minded determination to get the ball.

Unfortunately, it didn't last long. Their cries of elation quickly morphed into panic when Abby caught the ball and staggered to a stop just short of the fence. The sled, not having any breaks, continued on until it crashed, taking Abby, Jamie, and Jack with it.

Jack was the first to emerge from the wreckage, quickly followed by Jamie, who was too busy laughing to be bothered by any scrapes or bruises he might have gotten. Abby started rolling around in the snow, trying to tear off the tinsel that had gotten wrapped around her leg.

"Are you done?" Mrs Bennett stared them down, somehow even less impressed than before.

"Yeah," Jamie said, righting the sled and freeing Abby from her festive shackles. "There's probably no salvaging this."

Jack was inclined to agree. Abby probably wouldn't let them try again, and, in hindsight, throwing a ball to get her to run probably wasn't the smartest idea they'd ever had. Maybe one day he'd convince North to let them have a ride in the actual sleigh.

"Good," Mrs Bennett said. "Now stop terrorising the dog and come inside. We're going to start putting up the decorations."

"Aren't you leaving it a little late?" Jack frowned. Christmas was only a week away now, but the Bennetts hadn't so much as put up their lights yet. Given Jamie and Sophie's usual Christmas hype, it was a little weird to say the least.

"We've been waiting for you," Jamie explained as they marched up the back steps and into the house.

"Me? Why?"

Mrs Bennett levelled him with a look that made him feel vaguely stupid. "Why do you think?" she asked.

"Uh… because you needed my expert decorating abilities?"

"No."

"…You want to use me to make putting up the lights easier?"

"No." A pause. "Well, yes, that would be nice, but no."

"Then I have no idea."

Jamie nudged him in the side with his elbow. "Sophie and I told her."

Jack frowned at him. "Told her what?" From his tone, it didn't seem like they'd just told her to wait. But what else could have convinced her to put off a family tradition for – He stopped dead in the living room doorway. "Oh."

"Yes, oh." Mrs Bennett gave him a light push forwards towards where Sophie was cleaning up the pine needles that had fallen off their frankly ridiculously fat tree. "And just when were you planning on telling me we're related, Uncle Jack?"

Jack couldn't hold back a grimace. 'Uncle Jack' sounded cute coming from the kids but somehow hearing it from Mrs Bennett, even sarcastically, felt… weird. "I was gonna… get around to it," he said at length. It was probably a lie. Truth be told, he'd completely forgotten that she hadn't already known.

Mrs Bennett didn't look convinced, but blessedly let it slide. "We waited for you because Christmas is about family, and this will be our first Christmas together as a family."

The last time Jack had put up decorations with family – hell, the last time he'd put up decorations at all – had been a long time ago with his direct family. Flee had always insisted he lift her up so she could put the tree-topper on. It was strange, he thought, that the Bennetts filled him with that same warmth.

"Thank you," he found his voice, discreetly wiping the budding tears from his eyes.

"That's what family's for."

"Come on, slowpokes!" Sophie called, ruining the moment. "I've waited two whole weeks to decorate this thing and I refuse to wait a minute longer!"

They spent the rest of the afternoon decorating, and at one point Jack was coerced into putting the lights up (not that he minded). He was even forced into baking gingerbread – or, at least, decorating gingerbread. Unfortunately he wasn't much good with a piping bag. He left – winter needed his attention – in the late evening, and not without the three Bennetts extracting a promise from him to come back on Christmas Eve.

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They camped out in the living room. Even Mrs Bennett herself had insisted on waiting up for North (and wasn't the poor guy going to be in for a shock when he came down the chimney? Jack, wedged between Jamie and Sophie on the couch, couldn't repress a grin at the thought).

"What are you smiling about?" Mrs Bennett asked. She set a tray of hot chocolate down on the coffee table and started passing the mugs around.

"Just picturing North's face when he realises you can see him," Jack replied before blowing on his drink.

As if on cue, there was a loud thud from the roof.

"Speak of the devil."

Mrs Bennett sprang up from the seat she'd only just taken, mug clasped tightly in anticipation. Jamie and Sophie sat up straighter where they were – they were as excited as ever, but they'd done this enough times now that the shock factor had worn off. Soot started raining down from the chimney, and, in the next instant, there was North, brushing himself off as he hauled himself and his sack into the room.

"Jamie, Sophie," North grinned as soon as he spotted them. "And Jack, my boy!"

"Hey, North," Jack waved, simultaneous with the kids' twin cries of "Santa!"

"I know Jack has not been," North sent a pointed look Jack's way, "but have the two of you been good this year?"

"Yes!"

"Good! Then Jack has not rubbed off on you too much!"

"I resent that," Jack said. He glanced at Mrs Bennett. She was as pale as a sheet and her eyes were practically bulging from her head.

North must have noticed his divided attention, because he turned, finally spotting her. He froze almost comically, expression morphing to match hers.

Jack watched them stare each other down for a long moment before loudly clearing his throat. "So, uh, North, meet Mrs Bennett."

Mrs Bennett thrust her hand out, only to realise it was the one still holding the hot chocolate. She quickly switched it. "Hi," she breathed. "You're real."

North blinked, snapping out of his stupor. "Hello," he returned the gesture. He looked quickly from her to Jack, eyes questioning. Jack had never seen him look so confused or out of his depth. He almost felt bad for having instigated it. Almost. "I have never met an adult believer."

"I daresay I wouldn't be one, but, well," she gestured vaguely at Jack.

"Yes," North agreed, clearly not realising what she was implying. "You have very good children."

Mrs Bennett smiled – the same smile she'd gotten when she'd revealed to Jamie and Sophie that she could see Jack. It was knowing, mischievous. Jack liked to think he was somehow responsible for it. "I do," she said. "All three of them. Though I've recently learned that one of them is technically my uncle, give or take several 'greats'."

Jack didn't know whether to laugh or bang his head against the coffee table. He hadn't actually gotten around to telling the Guardians (or anyone, for that matter) that the Bennetts were related to him. This wasn't really how he'd pictured it going down, either. And North – poor, poor North – looked like his brain was about to fry from information overload.

Jack jumped up from his spot, putting his mug down on the table. "Um, so there's something I should probably tell you," he said sheepishly.

North nodded, visibly distracted. "Yes, my boy, but perhaps it can wait until tomorrow," he suggested reluctantly.

"Right. Deadline."

"You are coming to party, yes?" When Jack nodded, he continued, "Good. We will discuss then."

By the time Jack got to said party, he had no doubt that the other Guardians would already know everything. North was probably the spirit world's biggest gossip. But he supposed it was probably time they knew.

"In meantime," North dug into his sack and pulled out two immaculately wrapped presents, which he then cheerily passed to Jamie and Sophie, "I have presents to deliver! Merry Christmas!" And then he was gone, back up the chimney and on his way as quickly as he'd come.

As soon as the sound of hooves faded, Mrs Bennett sagged bonelessly into her chair.

"Are you okay?" Jack asked nervously. Had he just indirectly broken her?

But Mrs Bennett only beamed at him. "Santa! He's actually real! And… Russian?"

Jack let out a silent sigh of relief. He would probably still hold off on introducing her to the others, though. If she was confused about a Russian Santa, she was definitely not ready for an Australian Easter Bunny, Indian Tooth Fairy, or a star Sandman. From the looks on Jamie and Sophie's faces, they whole-heartedly agreed.

Guest Review Responses:

Crazy Fan: También ha pasado un tiempo para mí - esta actualización es muy tarde ... Sí, Jack mantuvo su pelo blanco, etc. en el mundo de los espíritus. Escribí el capítulo pensando que su familia había podido vigilarlo desde donde estaban, por lo que ya sabían lo que él había estado haciendo y lo que le había sucedido :) Trataré de trabajar cosas como lo que has sugerido en donde puedo! ¡Gracias!

Guest: Awww thank you! Lleu's interaction with Jack is a lot of fun to write, too haha Your requests sounds pretty similar to an early chapter (I can't remember the number but it's called Alone Together). I think it would be a bit repetitive to write another chapter so similar, you know?

Mandi: Thank you! I'll definitely still be writing for RotG after this series ends, and I do have one fic (an AU) in mind that I'd like to do that has the seasonals in it :) Your request has been added to the list!

xoxo: I'm sure I can fit that in! Hahaha you're a sadist like me, then? XD

EriTheBear: I didn't end up doing your request as a Christmas chapter (which you've undoubtedly noticed by the time you read this haha) but I have added it to the list :)

Guest: Oh my gosh I'm sorry! I did a RIDICULOUS amount of research for that chapter, and I guess I just completely forgot that you guys wouldn't necessarily have all the knowledge I'd suddenly gained D: If you like, I'd be happy to explain anything you're confused about!