If you know the Aussie slang, you know it. Some of them might be misspelled, or perhaps wrong. I had to use the internet, so I ask for your tolerance.


Christmas morning dawned in Sydney, Australia with Charles and Kendra taking a cab out to her foster parents' house for brunch and presents. The cottage sat on the very outskirts of the bustling, crowded city with lots of grass and a couple of mango trees that a white and black flecked Heeler lounged under. As soon as Kendra stepped out of the cab, the dog lept up and ran to the fence, barking happily.

"Hey, Peppy. Good girl. Down." Kendra laughed as she let them in through the gate. "You remember Charles, right?"

Peppy wagged her tail and licked his hand.

"Clever girl." Charles smiled as they walked into the house.

"You're just in time." Cora beamed. "Lynnae is supposed to be calling us on Skype any minute now."

"We'll settle in then." She took a spot on the loveseat with Charles, smiling as Peppy hopped up into her lap.

"You should just take her back with you. She has been barely usable with the cattle." Shane laughed. "Barely will listen to me."

"Shush!" Cora admonished, pressing the answer button as their laptop screen lit up with a picture of Lynnae. "Look who's here, Lyn."

The blond woman on the other end smiled widely, her whole face lighting up. "Big sister. I was so happy to hear you would be home this year. Nice to see you again, Charles."

"A pleasure, as always."

"We are dying to hear what has been going on with you and your god of hotness."

"Moooom." Lyn groaned, cheeks as red as the Christmas sweater she was wearing that displayed the very glittery gold phrase: Happy Holidays! "He has a name and an actual calling amongst the Norse deities."

"Someone is in loove."

"Don't you start, Dad."

"Your mum did it first. You gonna tell us or do we have to tease you some more?"

"Are they this bad with you, sis?"

"You are avoiding the question and that tells me something happened."

Thor burst in as if to prove Kendra right. He appeared shirtless, and his flawless golden hair was still damp. "Have I missed it? Oh good, they are on your scrying mirror! Glad Yuletide, everyone!"

Lyn covered her face for a moment in embarrassment, cheeks even redder. "Thor, I have already explained this is called a tablet. You remember my parents and sister, I presume?"

"Shane, Cora, and Kendra, yes. I don't believe I have met the other man."

"I'm Professor Charles Xavier, but please feel free to simply call me Charles."

"Ah, so you are the Charles belonging to her sister. That makes sense."

"Thor, it doesn't-" She sighed as he hugged her from behind. "Never mind. Yes, we are together now. You all happy?"

"Indubadibly."

"Definitely."

"Positively ecstatic!"

"Mom, you promised to try not to embarrass me."

"Sorry, it's just nice to see my baby girl finally with the sort of man she deserves."

"You going to make an honest woman out of my daughter?"

"Dad!"

"I would like nothing more than to take her back home with me and make her my wife and a goddess. However, she seems to think it is too early in our courtship for that and I wish to honor all your Midgard traditions."

"And what about if you end up with a baby, hmm?"

"Mom!"

"What? I want grandchildren before I am one hundred years old."

"I knew this was a mistake." Lyn ran off crying.

Thor frowned. "What can I do, Kendra?"

"Take the tablet so I can talk to her for a moment. Everyone else clear out. Yes Mom, you too."

"But-"

"Maybe this once we listen to our eldest, yeah? We did push Lyn a bit hard in our excitement."

"I suppose you are right." Cora got up reluctantly and left with Shane.

Charles stole a quick kiss before he followed them out of the room.

"Give us a minute, Thor?"

"Of course." He sounded nervous as he handed the tablet to Lynnae. "Just as long as I get one too. Please?"

"I won't go anywhere." Lyn managed in a trembling voice. "Promise."

Kendra waited until she couldn't see him anymore before she said: "What's going on, Lyn? You know we were just all pulling your leg a bit."

"I know. I don't get how you can put up with all of that so coolly. Especially when the person you love is right there hearing them, then Mom goes off mentioning..." She broke down crying again, burying her face in her knees. "I haven't even told Thor yet, though I am certain he knows that I am late. And don't you dare tell Mom, either."

"My lips are sealed. From your reaction, I would guess it's been a while, and you two have been having a naughty for longer."

"I am so scared, sis. This all happened really fast and Thor wants to get married and I am trying to be a rational scientist. Am I wrong to doubt we could work? Should I say no because of fear when I could be carrying his baby right now?"

It broke Kendra's heart to see her sister sobbing, surrounded by snow, and being unable to hug her. "Relationships are not always easy. I have had a lot longer to get to know and be comfortable with all possibilities where Charles is concerned, while you haven't with Thor. I know your mind is telling you to "Hang about", but what does your ticker say?"

"It's bonzer. I never thought I would feel this way again. I am just hesitant because of how my last relationship went."

"Sis, that guy was a complete date. Thor on the other hand is a fair dinkum. I think you running out the door scared him, even if the view is nice."

Lyn managed a small laugh as she rotated the tablet around. "You can see the base of Yggdrasil from here. It's not the beach, but I gotta say the mountains out here take your breath away in winter."

"Must be cold out there with just your sweater. If you feel better, maybe you should pop back in so you and Thor can have a chat too. I'll let our parents know you'll ring when you are ready. Sound good?"

"I don't feel ready. Is that normal?"

"When it comes to love, absolutely."

Lyn took a deep breath as she stepped inside. "Thanks for the advice, sis."

"Anything for my favorite sister." Kendra winked at Thor. "She is all yours, mate."

"I appreciate you a great deal, Kendra."

Kendra waved as she cut the connection, going to join her family out on the veranda. "Lyn will call back when she is ready."

"I guess we crashed into that one."

"She'll be right, Cora. Let's have brekkie."