Hey people! Yes i'm alive! I am so sorry for the delay, but I sort of lost interest there for a while. So i'll see what I can come up with after this.

Hope you enjoy it!

"So, are you surprised that your brother agreed?" Syaoran asked Sakura who was sitting next to him on a private plane on their way to China. He looked at her and could see how exited she was by the way she kept smiling and looking out the window.

"Well, yeah! It's not every day he gives in to what I want. Of course he had to take the long road to the yes part but eventually he got there. I think he's just scared of me living, of growing up."

"But you have to, eventually. It's not like you're going to live your whole life with your dad. I mean he left, why can't you?"

"I'm his baby sister, Syao. And with the things that have happened in my life…Well he just wants to protect me from everything, but I think his finally realizing that he can't that he has to let me go. Plus it doesn't help him knowing that you'll be there." She said giggling making Syaoran blush.

"What do I have to do with anything?"

"Well let's see…you're a boy! Touya doesn't like any boy near me. He likes Mat because he's like part of the family and Eriol because he's with Tomoyo. But you're new to him and here I am going to a different place to your house with your family. Not to mention the fact that he seems to think you're interested in me in some other way besides friendship."

At this Syaoran had to swallow hard and keep himself in check so she wouldn't notice how nervous he was getting. So he decided to play it cool and just grinned at her making her blush a bit. After that they talked about his home and everyone talked abut how exited they were about spending Christmas together.

A few hours later they were stepping out of a huge limo and staring at an amazing mansion in the mountains covered all around with snow. Meiling and Syaoran just smiled at their friends faces.

"Wow! Man this place is awesome! All of this is yours?" Yamazaki asked making Syaoran laugh.

"Yeah. And some of the land further behind. There we can snowboard, skate and stuff like that." At that Yamazaki was in heaven and everyone laughed at his starry expression. "Come on guys let me show you to your rooms so that you can meet the family later on."

Sakura and Tomoyo stayed behind getting their bags out of the car while the others started walking towards the mansion. "It's amazing, Saks! This place is so big and beautiful, don't you think?"

"Yeah! It seems like it was taken out of a dream or something. And all the snow around it makes it even better." Sakura answered as she looked back at the house smiling.

"Now's your chance to get to know him truly, you know." Tomoyo told her grinning. She knew Syaoran was very happy about Sakura making it, so she had to push her friend a little so that this week something would start to develop between them.

"Don't start, girl. Let's just enjoy our time here and let things be what they may. So stop thinking up a plan or anything to push us together."

"You take the fun out of everything!" Tomoyo said pouting making Sakura laugh. A minute later Meiling came back to get them and show them to their rooms.

The girls had decided to room together so Sakura ended up with Meiling and Tomoyo, aRika and Chiharu were in the room across. Down the hall the boys decided to get their own rooms since there were so many of them.

"So where's your family, Meiling?" Sakura asked as she unpacked her clothes.

"Well Aunty Yelan should be here in about an hour or two, Wei went to get her. And the others should get here tomorrow."

"Who are the others exactly?" Tomoyo asked.

"Syaoran's sisters and their families. You should prepare yourselves; they can be kind of…clingy sometimes." She said with a shudder. Just thinking about Syaoran's sisters made Meiling want to be in a whole different country. Sure they were family, but it could get ugly from time to time.

"Sounds like they don't have much in common then." Sakura said making Meiling chuckle.

"They're worlds apart! But they love each other, Syaoran may not show it much, but when it comes to family… well he'll do just about anything to make them happy. I mean look at what he did for me. He went to a whole 'nother country, a new school, new people all so I wouldn't be alone. And I'm just his cousin."

"You are not just his cousin, Mei. You're his friend also, he trusts you." Sakura told her. Meiling smiled knowing that she may be right. Even if Syaoran didn't say or show it she knew she was special to him. He wouldn't move just for anyone.

"Hey guys, we're going to check out the area and stuff wanna come?" Yamazaki asked popping his head through the doorway. The girls smiled excitedly and nodded.

A while later they were all just fooling around in the snow. All you could hear was the sound of laughter as they ran around and threw each other in the snow.

"Mat! Put me down!" Meiling laughed as he had her over his shoulder running around.

"And what are you going to do if I don't?"

"You know I can hurt you, boy. So don't mess with me! Don't you dare throw me in the snow!" She said as she saw all of his intentions in hi eyes. Mat just smirked and started spinning around with her still over his shoulder. He could hear her shrieking and he just laughed. Next thing Meiling knew she was thrown on the snow with Mat laughing on top of her.

"You dropped me! I can't believe you!" She said trying to sound angry but the smile on her face gave her away which only made Mat laugh harder.

"Hey, I took the fall with you. That's gotta count for something. I mean I just showed you I won't leave you alone even in the toughest times."

Meiling couldn't help but blush at his statement. She smiled and leaned up and gave him a peck on the lips. "You better." She whispered making him smile back and give her another kiss.

"Hey, you two! Are you done making out?" Yamazaki asked while throwing snow at them and making the others laugh.

"Man! You sure know how to ruin a moment don't you. Should be giving some love to your own girlfriend, don't you think?" Mat said as he picked Meiling up.

"Dude you're right. Chiharu, baby, come over here and give me some love!" He yelled as he ran towards Chiharu who started to run away laughing.

"I think this will be the most interesting Christmas for my family." Syaoran said as he sat in the snow next to Sakura who was smiling at Yamazaki and the others.

"There's never a dull moment when you have Yamazaki around. You should know that by now."

"I know but I've never seen him this excited and hyper." This made Sakura laugh as she once again looked towards Yamazaki who was having a snow ball fight with Eriol.

"He gets like this every winter. He loves snow and Christmas. You have to see him when his opening presents, it's like watching a five year old. I think that's something I will always love about Yamazaki. He doesn't care about what anyone thinks of him, he's just…happy."

"He shares that happiness with everyone else doesn't he?"

"Yamazaki will do anything in his power to make everyone as equally happy as he is. He's always been like that; I don't think anything can make him change his mind about the importance of his friends and family." Sakura smiled remembering all the times she had been feeling down about something and how it was usually Yamazaki who would come and make her smile and forget about everything. "I feel blessed to have someone like him by my side."

Syaoran looked at her and smiled. The way she looked right now was just peaceful to him. She looked so grateful for her friends that he started to wonder if she felt like that about him too. Just then Sakura looked back at him and gave him a heart stopping smile.

"I'm blessed to have all of you. Unfortunately for me you come with the package." At this he laughed. Syaoran knew she was joking, but he was happy to know she thought of him with the same importance as the others.

"You're not the only one who's suffering the consequences, you know. I have to deal with you and your craziness every single day."

"Oh shut up! You know you love my craziness." She said as she pulled his beanie over his eyes making him chuckle. "So, what are we to expect when your family gets here?"

Syaoran pulled his beanie back to where it belonged and then stayed silent as if thinking how to answer Sakura. It wasn't every day that he brought friends over to meet his family so he really didn't know what to expect, well at least not from his mother.

"Well my sisters are sort of like Yamazaki, they can get a little bit over excited." Sakura laughed, she remembered Meiling's warning and the face she had when she told them.

"So we've been told."

"Don't get us wrong they are wonderful, but they just don't know when to… back off I guess. Then there's mom, who should be getting here soon. She's…" He kept looking for words on how to describe his mother without scaring Sakura but it wasn't easy. "Well mom can be kind of scary. She's always serious, but she's just been raised that way since she's the clan leader right now. She doesn't show too much emotion, so don't get offended or anything if you don't see her smiling or laughing, it's just not normal."

"Well she reminds me of someone we all know. I wonder who?" She said while tapping her chin as is in a thinking manner.

"Shut up. At least I smile!" He defended himself.

"Yeah, right! A smirk is not the same as a smile, Li. You're always so serious, so stoic."

"I'm not always serious."

"Says the guy whose trademark is his frown. You're known around the school because you're always so serious, Syao." She said giggling which only made Syaoran frown even more but he was blushing.

"No one has to know what I'm feeling other than myself, and well now you guys. My life and what I'm feeling isn't anybodies business. I was raised to not show anything, emotions are a weakness to the Elder, especially if you're to be the clan leader. Were taught to deal with our own problems, we don't need anything or anyone else, other than family of course." He explained trying to make her understand why he was always so quiet or closed out from everyone else.

Sakura stayed silent for a while trying to understand what he had told her. She understood that his family was all about tradition, but she didn't understand how you could raise a kid telling him that he doesn't need anyone. If this was what he believed now she could never imagine what his childhood was like. Apparently it had been extremely different from hers.

"Sakura, I know you don't understand, but it's just the way my family is built. We have to put up an image for the world. My family is well known, so the public doesn't need to know about our private affairs. I can't afford to let loose like my sisters and Meiling because I have the public eye on me at all times, I have to take care of the clan one day and take care of the family business. Everything has to be perfect for the Elders, there's no room for error or drama or anything like that."

"That's why Meiling was sent away." Sakura whispered looking over at Meiling who was laughing around with Mat and the others.

"Yeah. But she has a chance to have a more normal life if you can say that. She doesn't need the Elders approval for everything. Like her love life. Mat doesn't need to go and meet with them, as long as he understands that our family is a bit complicated and strict he'll be alright, but knowing Meiling she'll just try to be as far away as possible."

Syaoran was glad that at least Meiling had found someone good. Mat was the right guy for her, he could definitely handle her.

"And you? Do you have the same liberty in choosing who you want to be with?" Sakura whispered not looking at him.

"No." He whispered as well. Sakura was expecting him to continue but he just got up and offered her his hand to help her up. "Come on, mom should be arriving soon. We have to get ready, especially you."

"What do you mean especially me?" She asked as she took his hand and he pulled her up. When she looked up she was so close to him she could feel his breath on her face.

At first Syaoran just stayed quiet mesmerized by her emerald eyes but then he remembered the conversation they were just having and snapped out of it and gave her a smirk.

"Because you my dear friend look like a mad woman, and if my mom sees you like that she'll throw you out for sure! I mean it's not like you can do much about it, but-" Next thing Syaoran knew he had snow all over his face. He wiped it off to see Sakura holding her stomach from laughing so hard.

"That's what happens when you call a girl a mad woman, jerk. That'll teach how to treat a girl right." She said smiling and then started to walk away towards the others leaving a grinning Syaoran behind.

About half an hour later they were all cleaned up sitting in the large living room waiting for Syaoran's mom to arrive. They had all tried to look their best but still in a warm casual way since they didn't want her to know them by what they weren't.

"So do you think I look presentable enough?" Sakura asked as she tapped Syaoran on the back so he would turn around and could look at her. When he saw her his eyes widened for just a few seconds because of how beautiful she looked yet so casual.

She was wearing a pair of skinny jeans with some warm gray boots over them; she also had a white long sleeve shirt. Her hair was up in a ponytail with her bangs almost covering her eyes, and her ears were adorned by some beautiful hoop silver earrings.

"Well?" She asked grinning at Syaoran who had been caught staring at her. He recovered and gave her a grin to match her own.

"Not half bad, you can clean up nicely when you want to." He said but of course he was thinking that she looked absolutely stunning. It amazed him how she could wear something so simple and could still look as beautiful as she did right now.

Sakura came a little closer to him and lifted her hand to move a stray hair from his eyes. "You might be saying that, but your eyes say something completely different." She whispered still grinning. After that she left to join the others who were chatting away next to the fire place in some couches. Syaoran couldn't help but blush a bit at her forwardness, but then he just smirked and walked towards the others.

"Dude I'm starving! We haven't eaten since the plane." Yamazaki said just as his stomach started growling making everyone laugh.

"We'll eat when Aunty Yelan gets here. Dinner should be ready in a few minutes anyway. Miss Sienna has been working on it since we got here." Meiling told them.

"Who's Miss Sienna?" Rika asked.

"Well Miss Sienna has been working for the family for years. She was our nanny when we were younger and she was also the cook. But since she's like family we always bring her with us on vacations along with her family. She insists in cooking even when we're here." Meiling explained, not a minute later the heard the front door opening.

"Kids! Miss Yelan is here!" Wei announced as he came to the living room with luggage in his hands.

Right behind him came a beautiful woman who put her hand on his shoulder and gave him a small smile. "Thank you Wei. You can put my things in my room and then you're free to do as you wish." She told him.

"Thank you Miss. I'll tell Miss Sienna that you have arrived so that dinner can be served." After that he took her bags and went upstairs leaving the kids with Syaoran's mother. "Well you all must be Xiao Lang's new friends."

At this Syaoran stood closer to his mother a bit stiff and started introducing everyone.

"Um…right, so…this here is Eriol, Tomoyo, Yamazaki, Chiharu, Rika, Mat and Sakura. We all go to the same school back at Tomoeda except for Mat he's a few years older than us." Yelan nodded and gave a small smile.

"Well it's nice to meet you all and to see you again Meiling. You kids make yourselves at home. I'll be in my room freshening up for dinner; it should be served in a few minutes."

Everyone smiled at her and nodded. Yelan then left and went upstairs just as a woman around her fifties came out of the kitchen cleaning her hands on her apron.

"Well kids come on over to the dinning room dinner will be served as soon as Miss Yelan comes down."

"Thanks Miss Sienna we'll be right there." Syaoran told her smiling making her smile back at him.

"Boy. how many times have I told you that to you kids I am not Miss Sienna?" She said while putting her hands on her waist but her smile never living her face.

"Guess you'll have to keep reminding him Mama!" Meiling said as she went up to the woman and gave her a hug. Syaoran gave a smirk and walked up to the woman and then opened his arms.

"Get in here!" Miss Sienna laughed and gave him a tight hug making everyone laugh. It wasn't every day that they saw the serious Syaoran turn into a softie.

"You've gotten so big Xiao Lang! But still as handsome as ever!" She said while patting his cheek making him blush. "Now, now! Will you introduce me to your little friends or what? It's not every day that you bring company over!"

"Hehe…well you know me…So that over there with the glasses is Eriol and the girl standing next to him is his girlfriend Tomoyo. The other one who can't stop smiling over there is Yamazaki, you tow will get along great he loves food. Next to him is his girlfriend Chiharu and her best friend Rika. And that hideous thing with the auburn hair is Sakura-"

"Hey! I am not hideous! You should know what hideous is, you have to look at it every day every time you look at a mirror, jerk!"

Miss Sienna started laughing at their exchange. "Look out Xiao Lang she's a feisty one." At this Sakura blushed with embarrassment, but the woman just walked up to her and gave her a hug. "Don't you listen to him, dear. You are absolutely beautiful and if he can't see it, well he must be blind!"

Sakura had to laugh. This woman was so charming that she couldn't help but feel warmth with her around.

"Get use to it mama. They're always fighting and teaching each other." Meiling warned making the woman laugh and Syaoran and Sakura blush. "Anyways ma, I want you to meet my boyfriend, Mat."

"Boyfriend? Well look at you boy! You sure know how to pick them Mei, he's so handsome." Everyone laughed at Mat since he was blushing and scratching his head shyly. "Well, I am glad that you are all here. You can all call me mama none of that Miss Sienna nonsense, do you all hear me?"

"Yes!" Everyone answered smiling.

"Well then come on. Miss Yelan should be down any minute now and you can all eat."

A few minutes later they were all eating the wonderful food Miss Sienna had prepared for them, while chatting a bit with each other without making to much noise since they were sort of nervous with Yelan there. Sure she had introduced herself and had told them to go on as if she wasn't there, but with the way Syaoran was all serious they knew they couldn't go like they usually did. Everyone was surprised when Yelan finally spoke asking what they all wanted to do after they graduated.

"Well I would like to go into business management." Eriol answered after no one seem like they wanted to be the first.

"Sounds promising. I majored in business management when I was your age. Where would you like to go study?" Yelan asked him interested.

"I'm really not sure yet. I applied to a couple of universities, some near home others abroad, but I don't really know which draws my attention the most yet."

"Well if you ever have any questions about it, be sure to ask me. I would be happy to help you decide and guide you." She said smiling. She then looked over to Tomoyo who was sitting next to Eriol as if asking the same question.

"I'll be designing clothes after I leave school. I'm very into fashion, filming and photography so I'll probably do a minor in one of the lasts ones, but fashion is my number one." She explained excited. Every time Tomoyo talked about fashion or clothes it was like candy for a little kid, it was her passion and Yelan could tell.

"Sounds like you're really sure about everything you want to do. I would love to see your designs some day, Tomoyo." Tomoyo couldn't help her smile and nodded excitedly. "What about you Sakura? What would you like to do when you leave school?"

"Well…I'm not entirely sure yet. I mean my biggest passion is dancing, but I don't now if I would like to make it a career. I like many things so I don't really know on what to decide yet. And I'm also modeling for Tomoyo so I can get by with my tuiton and stuff like that." She said giving Yelan a nervous smile.

"I see. But if your passion is dancing why not continue with it? You can be a dance major and do a minor in something else, don't you think?"

"Yes I've thought of that, but I dance as a way to get away, to forget everything surrounding me. When I'm dancing it's just me and music, everything else is gone for a while. If I decide to major in it, it would be something I'm required to do. I think it would take away from it, it would take away that emotion that I get every time I'm at the studio."

Everyone could see in Sakura's eyes how much she loved dancing and how important it had become. It was her way of escaping all the pain she had endured. Even Yelan had to smile with a bit of admiration in her eyes. The passion Sakura showed over something like dancing gave the girl a sense of pride, she was not ashamed of her feelings and Yelan found that she respected that. She might not tell Sakura or really show her, but she liked the girl's spirit. She then looked over at her son who she had noticed looking at Sakura several times since dinner had started. He was smiling. It was strange to see him give such a genuine smile to someone who was not part of the family and even then he rarely smiled at them. She could see the admiration in his eyes and the way Sakura blushed but smiled back at him.

Seems like my boy is growing up after all. She thought while smiling and moving on to the others. I hope he knows what he's getting himself into if he decides to go on with it...

Well i know it's not to long and maybe there's not too much romance. Maybe i'll rerwite some stuff later but i just wanted you guys to know that I'm still alive. Hope you guys liked it, let me know what you think and if I should continue it. Much love Take care!