Chapter 31: Guests & Pests

Jack and Maddie Fenton were readying themselves for that year's Christmas. "Isn't that amazing, Jack?" Maddie happily asked her husband.

"Yes, Maddie." Jack replied. "Once again, we're spending Christmas with all of our kids!"

"You forgot to mention my sister, Jack." Maddie pointed out.

"No, I didn't." Jack said with a frown and then remembered he was talking to Maddie. "I mean, I did! Thanks for reminding me!"

"You're welcome, Jack." Maddie replied and then offered something to him. "Have a cookie."

"I never met Aunt Alicia before." Dani commented.

"Consider yourself lucky." Jack muttered and then felt Maddie glaring at him. "...that you're finally going to meet her."

"Jazz says she's worried about her boyfriend meeting Aunt Alicia, Mom." Dani commented. "Do you think she might scare Antonio?"

"Dear, if ghosts couldn't do that, which chance does my sister have?" Maddie sweetly asked Dani.

"Don't underestimate her, Mads." Jack replied and Maddie glared at him again. "I mean, she wrestled down a bear, remember?"

"Point, but I don't think she would do that to Antonio." Maddie conceded.

'I wish she did.' Jack thought.

"Did somebody say my name?" Antonio asked as he and Jazz showed up.

"Where's Danny?" Jazz asked.

"I'm here, Jazz." Dani replied.

"I mean Danny with an "Y"." Jazz explained.

"He's picking up Natasha at the airport, Jazz." Maddie answered.

They then heard the doorbell. "I guess that's him now." Antonio commented.

"Too soon." Maddie replied. "It's likely Alicia."

"Don't jinx it, Maddie." Jack replied and opened the door. "You jinxed it."

"So, that must be the 'clone' I've heard of." Alicia said and then looked at Antonio. "You must be Jazz's boyfriend Antonio."

"Nice to meet you, ma'am." Antonio politely replied.

"I already like you better than I like my brother-in-law." Alicia commented. "So, where's Danny's dainty girl Danny fell in love with?"

"I wouldn't use 'dainty' to describe Princess Natasha, Aunt Alicia." Jazz replied. "And Danny is picking her up at the airport."

"She's a Princess. How can she be anything but dainty?" Alicia disdainfully asked. "But I'll let it slide if she makes Danny a happy Prince, I mean, man."

"You said it, Alicia." Jack agreed with his sister-in-law and internally felt ill for that.

Minutes later, Danny and Natasha arrived. "Welcome home, son." Jack said. "And you too, Natasha."

"Thank you, Dad." Danny said while Natasha said "Thank you, Mr. Fenton."

"Anyway, Natasha, I'd like to introduce you to Jazz's boyfriend Antonio." Jazz commented.

"Nice to meet you, Your Highness." Antonio said, afraid of offending a Princess.

"Nice to meet you too, Antonio." Natasha replied and then turned her attention back to Jack. "Won't you introduce me to her?" She asked while pointing at Alicia.

"Natasha, this is my sister-in-law Alicia." Jack said and then whispered into Natasha's ear "I don't like introducing people to her." He then loudly said "Now that introductions are done, can we eat?"

"Now you're talkin'." Alicia happily replied.

"Natasha, in honor of your visit, we ordered yak meat." Maddie commented.

"Thank you, Mrs. Fenton." Natasha replied.

"You should have brought some yak burgers, Maddie." Her sister told her. "They're delicious!"

"Oh, you also tasted them?" Natasha happily asked. "They're my favorite snack!"

"I sometimes go through Zoravia, Illinois, when I come to Amity Park, Princess." Alicia explained. "What about you? Aren't burgers too common for a Princess?"

"There's nothing wrong with the occasional snack, even for royalty." Natasha answered.

"You said it, Princess!" Alicia happily replied and then elbowed her nephew. "She's a keeper, Danny. You'd better treat her well not only because her father can cut yer head off."

"It's the 21st Century, Aunt Alicia." Danny reassured her. "It can't happen." 'Or can it?' Danny thought in worry. 'I really should check upon Zoravian law.'

"Don't worry, Danny." Natasha reassured her boyfriend. "If push comes to shove, you can just fly back to America and stay away from my Dad's jurisdiction."

"Thanks." Danny replied, deciding he didn't want to know if his girlfriend was joking or not.

"So, should we be ready in case some ghost attacks?" Alicia asked.

"Don't worry, Alicia." Maddie reassured her sister. "The ghosts have a Christmas Truce. None of them will come."

"The one time I want ghosts to show up." Jack muttered.

"What was that, dear?" Maddie asked.

"Uh, may I have some fudge?" Jack asked, trying to make Maddie think that's what he said before. Because of his love for fudge, it worked. "Or can we at least start eating fruitcake? It's Christmas."

"Sure thing, Jack." Maddie gladly replied. "I'll get it."

"No need to bother, Mads." Jack eagerly replied. "Danny, help me, please."

"Sure, Dad." Danny replied and the two Fenton boys went to the kitchen.

"So, Danny, would it be considered a violation of the Christmas Truce if you used your powers to make your Aunt leave?" Jack asked.

"I'm afraid so, Dad." Danny sadly replied.

"Fine, let's get the fruitcakes." Jack said in conformity.

After they ate, they exchanged gifts. "An astronaut helmet? Thank you, Natasha!" Danny said.

"Not just any helmet, Danny." Natasha replied. "Read the name."

"Michael Collins?" Danny was even happier with the gift.

"That's not a football helmet." Jack pointed out.

"I thought he played basketball." Antonio commented.

"There are several people named Michael Collins through history." Natasha explained. "One of them was an astronaut at the Apollo 11."

"And the Gemini 10." Danny added.

"My turn!" Alicia declared and gave the Fentons a bear rug. "I killed him myself." She proudly said.

"Good thing the goth isn't here, Mads." Jack whispered.

Danny then gave gifts. The first was to Jack. "Fudge!" Jack happily said. "Merry Christmas, son." He said and then started eating the fudge.

Maddie then opened hers. "A scarf? Thank you, Danny." She told her son.

"I'm glad the both of you liked your gifts." Danny commented and then nervously turned his attention to Natasha. "Natasha, the gift you gave me is so impressive I'm afraid you'll think mine is lame in comparison." He said and then gave her a necklace.

"Oh, thank you, Danny." Natasha said and her boyfriend was relieved.

End chapter.

Author's note: One of the astronaut's namesakes is an allusion to Ghost Force.

Author's note 2: Antonio is a reference to Jazz's match in Flowerprincess11's The Many Dates of Danny Fenton.