Um, yeah, whatever.

The family trudged into the familiar house. Instantly, the senior Fentons ran out to greet everyone. Danny and Sam were both crushed in a hug from Jack before he moved on to his grandkids. Maddie lightly hugged everyone.

"Hi, Grandma and Grandpa!" Jack and Abby greeted simultaneously.

"Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad." Danny greeted as well.

"Isn't this great? We'll all get to spend Christmas with the whole family." Maddie said with a slightly false joy when she mentioned the "whole family."

Sam laughed. "Mrs. Fenton, you don't have to fake it. We all know that we don't want my parents here."

Everyone was either giggling or laughing whole-heartedly at that.

"True, but we won't let them know that. Maybe we can finally call a truce." The oldest woman responded.

"And maybe ghosts will stop attacking." Sam added sarcastically, making her point.

The little get-together was interrupted by a knock on the door. Jack opened it with amazing speed for someone his age (not to mention size and weight).

"Danielle!" He exclaimed joyously, crushing the woman on the other side in a huge hug.

Dani laughed lightly. "Hi."

"Oh, Danielle, we're so glad that you could make it." Maddie admitted. There were a few times when she hadn't, leaving Jake and Abby bored out of their minds.

Now, it was Jake and Abby's turn to choke their aunt in hugs. Abby gave Dani a brief hug before Jake gave her a long, tight embrace. After all, she did help keep his secret.

"Are the ghost fights making you stronger or are you just happier to see me?" Dani joked quietly enough so that only her nephew would hear.

"Both." He whispered before letting go.

"Hey, Dani!" Danny welcomed, sharing a short hug as well.

"Talk about a warm welcome." She chuckled.

Abby went to go talk to her Dad and everyone else while Jake went to go talk with his Aunt Dani.

"So, how's the Abby situation?" Dani prodded her nephew.

"It's weird. It seems like the more good I do, the more she hates me." Jake replied, his mind reeling with possible reasons.

"Have you ever thought that maybe she's jealous? Kind of like how you used to be jealous of her?" The woman questioned.

"Jealous? Why would she be jealous? Everyone in the town loves her, but most of them still hate me." Inquired the Goth boy.

"Well, for one, I know that your Dad has begun to take a liking to your ghost half and he enjoys your help. Abby probably feels like she's being neglected. Usually, all of Danny's attention is on her, but now it's not. Also, she's probably afraid that, if everyone does see you as a hero, you're going to take her position." Dani explained.

"You're starting to sound like Aunt Jazz." Jake joked.

Dani simply smiled and rolled her eyes. "Speaking of Jazz, I think she's here now. Let's go greet her."

Jake nodded and the two walked out to the living room where, sure enough, the red-headed woman was standing. Beside her were a twelve-year-old boy and an older man. The kid had semi-neat red hair, freckles, deep green eyes, a green and white striped T-shirt, baggy jean shorts, and green and white sneakers with white socks sticking out of them. The man had tanned skin, perfect brown hair, the same green eyes of the child, a tight blue long sleeve, jeans, and brown work-shoes. Jazz herself had short red hair held back by her old teal headband (she had declared that it was lucky), a teal blouse that had wide sleeves, and a black skirt that nearly covered her white shoes.

"Hey, Aunt Jazz." Jake welcomed.

"Jake!" Jazz squealed, grabbing him and locking him into a hug.

"Jeez! You only saw me, like, a few weeks ago." The black haired boy chuckled.

"You're sounding more and more like your mother every day." She muttered with a smile.

"Heya, Jake!" The tall man greeted heartily.

"Hey, Uncle Dave." The younger male said coolly.

"Jake! Nice to see you!" The red-headed boy exclaimed.

"What's up, Kyle?"

"Nothing much. Seventh grade's a drag, though. You?"

"Um…I guess everything's the same." Lied the half-ghost.

"Well, at least it didn't get worse." The twelve-year-old tried in his optimistic manner.

"Alright, now all we're missing is…" Maddie started, but was cut off by a rapping on the door.

Everyone's faces dropped.

"Maybe if we all stay quiet, they'll leave." Sam suggested in a whisper.

"Sam." Maddie scolded playfully.

The younger woman took the hint and went to go open the door. Sure enough, Pam and Jeremy, Sam's parents, were standing there in their usual bright attire.

"Samantha!" Her mother greeted cheerfully, wrapping her daughter in a light hug.

"And…Daniel." Pam added, wearing a fake smile.

"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Manson." Danny welcomed as cheerfully as he could. "And call me Danny."

"Danny, you should know that won't work. Even after all my years of pestering them to call me Sam, they're still calling me Samantha." Sam whispered.

"Can't blame a guy for trying." The man responded.

"Samantha, Daniel, whispering isn't polite." Pam reminded them.

"Sorry, Mom." Sam amended with false sincerity.

In the background, Abby and Jake were attempting an escape. Almost unnoticed, they were creeping toward the hall.

"Jacob! Abigail!" Jeremy finally spoke in a happy manner.

The two teens halted in their tracks and visibly cringed.

"Darn it! There goes the escape plan." Abby muttered morosely.

The twins then plastered phony grins on their faces and approached their maternal grandparents.

"Hello, Grandmother, Grandfather." They greeted through clenched teeth.

"My, don't you two look so much older." Pam cooed, making Jake and Abby sick. "Oh, Jacob, I see you've taken to your mother's type of clothing."

Jake balled up his hands into fists and tried his best to keep his happy act up.

"And, Abigail, I've heard that you've started your ghost fighting." She continued.

"Yep." The girl responded, much to Pam's disappointment.

"Jake, Abby, could you help me with something?" Dani requested while making her way to the door. She was obviously trying to save her niece and nephew from the torture that they were being put through.

"Sure, Aunt Dani!" They replied before making a mad dash out the door. One outside, they took a deep breath of air and let their cheery act drop. "Thanks."

The aunt laughed. "I don't think you two could have lasted another second."

"You've got that right." Abby agreed. Then, she began shivering. "Brrr. It's kind of cold out here. I should've got my jacket."

Dani then held out a red jacket. "All part of the plan. Now follow me. There's a really good sledding hill a few blocks from here."

They all turned to leave when Dani bumped into something. Suddenly, Danny became visible right in front of her. He was smirking.

"Come on, Danielle. I know you too well. Besides, Mom needs you, Sam, and Jazz to help make the dinner." He reported.

"Fine, big bro. You win." She surrendered. "But what about Jake and Abby? We can't leave them in therewith Sam's parents."

"Don't worry. Abby, Jake, and Kyle are going to be upstairs. I'm not that cruel."

The three turned around, knowing that there was no way out of this.

"Besides, you can go sledding later." Danny said right before they walked in.

"Were you…" Dani started.

"No. Like I said, I just know you too well." Danny cut her off before they went back inside.

Later, the three kids sat in Danny's old bedroom. Everything was still blue, but all of Danny's rockets, posters, and junk had been removed long ago. Now, his room served as a second guest bedroom.

"This…is so…boring." Kyle moaned.

"Would you rather be down there with my Mom's parents?" Abby questioned.

"No!" He shouted instantly. There was no way that he was going to spend a single minute with those snobby rich people. Even if they were his aunt's parents.

"I…think I'm going to go and see if Grandma needs more help with dinner." The older boy excused, getting up and leaving the room. Once he was out, he checked to make sure that no one was watching before transforming into Shadow and taking off. He really needed some fresh air.

Not a minute after he left, Abby looked out her father's window and saw Shadow flying around.

"What the heck is he doing here? He's supposed to be in the Ghost Zone! It's Christmas!" She muttered.

"Wow! Abby, look! It's Shadow!" Kyle exclaimed, rushing to the window. He was completely oblivious to his cousin's attitude toward the ghost.

"Kyle, stay here. I'm going to go take care of him." She ordered.

Before Kyle could protest, she let the two blue-white rings wash over her, transforming her into Abby Phantom. With quick reflexes, she phased through the wall to go get Shadow.

Meanwhile, Shadow was doing little loops in the air, letting the winter wind wash over his face. He half considered taking off his bandana so that he could feel its full force. He was just coming off of a loop when he was blasted in the back.

"Ow! Wha-Oh. You. Can't you leave me alone? It's Christmas and I'm not doing anything." He snapped.

"Why aren't you in the Ghost Zone?" She interrogated.

"Because I don't feel like it." He answered irritably.

For that, she zapped him again.

"What?! All I'm doing is flying around!" Shadow spat.

"Can't you do that in the Ghost Zone?! Seriously, I want to have just one day when I don't have to put up with you!" Abby shouted.

"Fine, fine. I'll go." He muttered in annoyance, taking off.

"Did you see that? She broke the Christmas Truce!" A creature with an eye for a head reported to another.

"Yes. She must be dealt with."

Cliffies are fun,

Cliffies are great,

Cliffies assure me

That you'll anxiously wait.