AN: Merry Christmas.

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Chapter Question:

This series will catalog the Prentiss family through at least a year of holidays, but I am opening it to other important events. What are some things/events you would like to see these characters do?

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Mattie looked at the target with a smirk. "Well I'll be."

Ethan looked down at the ground as he fidgeted nervously. Emily joined the group and quirked an eyebrow. "This is defiantly unusual."

"I think you're more like Uncle Spencer than you think," Declan commented.

Ethan let out a frustrated sigh. "Guys stop it; I know I suck."

Jo clapped a hand over his shoulder. "Don't be so blue. It was your first time."

"Hey, you did hit the bullseye once," Mattie pointed out.

"Once, everything else barely hit the target," Ethan reminded them. "You guys only hit the bullseye."

"We've also been at this for almost seven years," Jo replied.

"And I'm a federal agent, so it's kind of my job to hit my target," Emily said with a reassuring smile.

Ethan's frown remained. "I still suck."

"It'll take some practice, but one day you'll be just as good as us," Declan told him.

"I hope so."

Emily decided to brighten the mood. "It's time to go pick up the rest of the crew."

Jo turned to Ethan. "After that we're making cookies."

"Fun," Ethan replied.

Mattie grinned. "You have no idea."

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"Emma please stop," Emily urged as Emma sent flour flying everywhere.

"Loosen up Mom," Mattie said sending a cloud of flour in Emily's direction.

Ethan took a few hesitant steps backwards; away from the flying flour. "Em's right, maybe we shouldn't make such a mess," Alex said imagining the clean up afterwards.

Ethan watched as Penelope snuck up behind his mom and Emily. "You know I think Mattie's right." With that Penelope let a hand full off flour cascade down Emily and Alex's heads.

Emily huffed. "You've done it now." Before anyone could react Emily grabbed a handful of flour and sent it flying at Penelope.

Penelope smirked. "It's on. Any kids on my team get an extra cookie before dinner."

Emma, Link, and Mattie quickly jumped to Penelope while Declan teamed up with Emily. Ethan watched as his mom stood frozen watching the exchange of fire. "We can totally win this," Jo said joining Alex's side.

Alex smirked. "I have a plan."

Ethan didn't know which side to join. Penelope already had enough people so that left his mom and Emily. In the end he chose Emily. Within minutes the kitchen was covered in flour; the cookies long forgotten. So caught up in their flour war no one noticed as Alex and Jo snuck off towards the bathroom. It wasn't until they were all dripping wet did they realize Alex and Jo had snuck off to fill a bucket with water. Jo high fived Alex. "That was a great idea Mo."

Alex couldn't help the smile that grew across her face.

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"This isn't fair!" Mattie exclaimed as they sat in the living room playing charades. "Our moms are profilers."

"Well technically-" Penelope starts, but is interrupted by Emily.

"Trust me, profiling does not help us with charades," Emily informs her.

Declan decides to join in on calling the other teams out. "You and Jo are twins which defiantly gives you an advantage."

"We can't read each other's mind," Jo and Mattie say at the same time.

Declan rolls his eyes. "Sure you don't."

"Well what about you and Ethan. You guys keep getting the easy ones," Jo accuses.

"Maybe we should play something else," Alex suggested.

"Candy Land!" Emma shouted.

"You know where it's at," Emily told her as she stared clearing off the coffee table.

Ethan allowed a true smile as he watched Emma and Link almost trip over each other in their race to the game closet. Maybe he could get use to this whole family thing.

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"Okay, everyone pick the one gift you get to open tonight," Penelope announced as Alex and Emily finished cleaning up Candy Land.

Ethan stood frozen as all the other kids rushed forward grabbing for the presents on the smaller side. "What about this one?" Declan asked holding out a neatly wrapped box.

Ethan took it with a thankful smile. "Which ones do you want us to open tonight?" Emily asked.

All the kids, including Ethan, huddled together discussing their options. "What about..." Declan suggested his voice trailing off to a barely audible whisper.

"Yes, totally," Mattie agreed.

"Perfect," Jo added.

The huddle broke up as Mattie, Jo, and Ethan grabbed three identical boxes. "You guys go first," Declan instructed.

They opened their gifts to reveal travel coffee mugs. Penelope's was purple with a unicorn and a sparky rainbow. Emily's was black with red writing up the side saying, 'Boss Lady'. And Alex's was white with a check list 'Ms. Miss. Mrs. Dr.' with the Dr. box checked.

"These are perfect," Penelope exclaimed.

"You're welcome," Mattie told them.

"Our turn?" Link asked eagerly.

The three women nodded. The kids immediately started unwrapping their gifts. Emma's method was impatient ripping large chunks at a time. Link revealed his gift a little at a time with smaller sections being ripped off. Declan and Ethan had a similar style of neatly unwrapping their gifts. While lastly Mattie and Jo were much like Emma with an added race against each other.

Mattie was the first to get her's open hugging the sketchbook to her chest. "This is perfect. I just filled up my last one."

"Yeah," Jo sighed, "Another book for her to fill up with pictures of Billy."

Everyone paused as Mattie turned to her sister with a glare. "Remember I know everything about you."

"Who's Billy?"

"Do not threaten your sister at Christmas."

Penelope and Emily said at the same time. Mattie sent Jo one last glare before addressing their parents. "Billy is a friend in one of my art classes."

"Wow!" Emma exclaimed breaking up the tension between the twins as she proudly held up the largest box of crayons Ethan had ever seen.

"152, I would have loved that as a kid," Mattie said.

Emily chuckled. "If I remember correctly you enjoyed paint at that age. Specifically to paint on the Ambassador's walls."

"That's her fault for having boring walls," Mattie defended herself.

"Is this from Grandpa Dave?" Jo asked holding up a cookbook.

Emily nodded. "Apparently you are the only one he trusts to cook using his recipes after all the incidents."

"Incidents?" Ethan questioned.

"I substituted tofu into one of his recipes," Penelope replied.

"I used the wrong wine in one," Emily admitted, "then burnt it."

"And I caused a fire," Mattie added.

Jo nodded letting Ethan know they were telling the truth. Link was the next to proudly hold up a video game. "This is awesome."

"Can I play after dinner?" Declan asked holding up his new piano book.

"We'll see," Emily replied.

"Thank you," Ethan whispered as he revealed a book.

"You're welcome," Alex told him.

Emily stood up. "While you guys clean up all this wrapping paper I'm going to order Chinease. Any special request?"

Ethan turned to his mom in shock. "Really?"

"Of course," Penelope spoke, "your family now and families share traditions."

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After dinner they were all once again seated in the living room. "Which movie do you guys want to watch?" Penelope asked.

Instantly six answers were thrown her way. "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," Jo suggested.

"Elf," Mattie suggested.

"Home Alone," Declan suggested.

"Santa Clause," Link suggested.

"Rudolph!" Emma suggested.

And finally Emily. "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

"How about we let Ethan pick the first movie," Penelope suggested.

Ethan hesitated but a reassuring smile from Declan broke his hesitation. "The Polar Express."

"Yeah!" Emma and Mattie exclaimed at the same time.

"Perfect," Penelope said.