Week of December 25th 1985 Swan Ranch: Forks

The twins first words collectively were naming Geoffrey and Helen as their grandparents.

Lia, who Geoffrey always could be seen with, named him, "Pa".

Teddy, Helen's little Teddy bear, named her "Mi-mi".

Hazel told everyone she wasn't jealous but secretly she was just a bit. But she couldn't fault the lovely smiles of her children as they reached out for their 'Pa' and 'Mi-mi'. Or the shock on Charlie's face when he heard them call his parents that for the first time.

Geoffrey and Helen celebrated their wedding anniversary every week of December 25th. Their family didn't celebrate Christmas but instead made the week about celebrating family. Hazel wondered if the long celebration was imprinted from the time they once celebrated Yule (though that was a 12 day celebration not a 7).

Since Charlie would have school off for that week the family would often vacation somewhere. Since graduation their health had deteriated and so they hadn't gone on a trip since nearly 5 years ago. They were long overdue for a trip but the year Hazel and the twins came they decided another at home celebration would be best. Charlie only had 3 days plus the weekend off at the Academy.

Gifts were given to every person in the family and despite Geoffrey and Helen telling her she was family she never assumed she'd be included.

The days leading up to the days Charlie had off were spent baking and prepping, for the large meals that would be on the 24th-28th, beside Helen as Geoffrey tended to the kiddos. The home got a nice refresh of interior design the previous week, the living room especially looking like a cozy combination of the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor common rooms.

A couple of large soft red couches adorned with chunky knit blankets in a soft yellow, embroidered pillows with botanical themes, vines hanging from book shelves laden with books from around the world, the stone fireplace roaring with a beautiful wood mantel showcasing family photos, a chess set in the corner by the windowseat. And everything baby proofed.

When Charlie walked in on the 25th he was greeted by the lovely smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls, carrot cake and Geoffrey's new favorite cupcakes that smelled like butterscotch (butterbeer flavored).

He stoped on the threshold taking in the new decor, and breathing in the lovely smells before he brushed off his coat of snow and hung up his outer jacket in the hall closet.

As he rounded the corner, Hazel greeted him with a smile as he walked in and the twins who rolled on their bellies and looked at him almost simultaneously chimed, "Ee!"

His jaw dropped and he looked at Hazel for confirmation, "Did they just...?"

She giggled, her dimples making an appearance, the light from the fireplace catching in her eyes causing them to almost sparkle. And the twins called for him again.

"I think the twins are happy to see you, Charlie."

He kneeled beside them, "Hello, Teddy and Dahlia, how are you doing today?"

They laughed and gurgled, Teddy reached out trying to grab Charlie while he smiled at both of them. Hazel watched as he told the twins about his week, their eyes following his gestures, smiling when he did, and Hazel felt happy. Content. More at peace than she'd ever been her whole life.

When Geoffrey and Helen came in view, Charlie's jaw dropped when the twins called out, "Pa!" "Mi-mi!" collectively.

Hazel turned serious for a moment and looked at Charlie, "I hope you don't mind."

"Why would I mind?" Charlie gave a smile that reached his warm chocolate gaze. "Plus," he leaned in conspiratively, "It will keep them off my back about giving them grandchildren anytime soon."

Helen laughed and then teased her son, "Oh we'd at least wait until after you ranked up after rookie for that."

"Well then..." Charlie shrugged and throwed his head back laughing. Hazel got distracted for a moment from watching and blushed looking away when Gregory cleared his throat beside her with a knowing grin on his face.

The rest of the evening was lovely. A gorgeous roast for dinner. Fresh steamed carrots with herbs from the garden. Stuffing. Gravy. Gloriously smooth and buttery mashed potatoes. Homemade bread. The long family table was laden with the food. After the twins were fed and set in their play pin, the rest of the family dug in. Happy hums and moans around the table as the food was devoured.

When it was time for gifts Hazel excused herself and went up to put the twins to bed before she was brought down by Helen.

"You didn't think we'd exclude you, did you?"

Hazel decided not to answer instead shook her head and went to grab the gifts for the Swans from her bedroom having resized them earlier after hiding them in her beaded bag (nostalgia always visited her when she saw the bag remembering the sister she left behind in the the other dimension). Shaking her head she carefully made her way down the stairs with her stacks of gifts.

It would seem she truly had not expected what the Swans had in store.

As they all gathered and sat on the couches. Charlie and Hazel on one and Geoffrey and Helen on the other.

"I'll start first!" Charlie stood and got three gifts from where he had hid them in the hall closet earlier in the evening. He handed one to his mother, giving her a kiss on the cheek, before handing one to his father and then when he sat beside Hazel he put the last one in her lap. She looked at him in surprise.

"I hope you don't mind the twins gift should arrive by next week." (It ended up being a pair of rocking horses, crafted by a local La Push craftsman).

Charlie ran a hand through his hair nervously.

It was her turn to gape. Oh this sweet man.

Gregory grinned across the way, "Well go ahead and open it, Hazel."

"I hope you like it. I have the receipt if you don't."

It was a book, a rather thick book, called "Welcome to Clallam County!" It had a categorized list of places to visit including a whole section on fun trails in the area.

"I know you haven't been able to explore much with taking care of the twins but I thought this might give you some ideas for when you are ready."

"Thank you Charlie, that's very practical."

"Oh no," he groaned, "That's bad isn't it. No woman wants a practical gift."

Hazel sat up straight, her chin up, "Well I can't say anything for other women but I love these kind of gifts the best." And she did, give her something she could use or even wear any day over something that was only supposed to bring beauty any day.

Hazel then promptly set Charlie's gift in his lap.

"I heard how much you liked to fish and I heard you usually borrow this when you go out so..."

"You got me a boat!" He had a manual in his lap for an Albemarle 24. His features shuddered down, "I can't accept this, it's too much."

"Well technically it's a shared gift between you and your dad. I was worried you'd mind."

Charlie stared at Hazel until she shifted nervously, "This is the best gift anyone's ever given me."

Hazel looked away, "I'm sorry if it made you uncomfortable. I ... don't really have a good concept about money." Hurriedly seeing Charlie looking upset again, "Sorry that's the wrong way to phrase it. What I mean is I have loads of money, I might secretly be one of the richest people in the world right now...don't spread that around." A gobmacked Charlie nodded. "But the thing is I grew up having basically nothing. Everything was handed down to me begrudgingly and so when I found out at 11 that I was actually rich I didn't really understand the concept. That's why thoughtful useful gifts mean more to me, because for so long even after I had supposed wealth I was treated back at my aunt's like I was nothing." Hazel took a breath, having said that all in one go. "So what I'm trying to say with all that is I tend to give gifts just thinking about what my friends want or need and don't really think about the value or price because to me that's not what matters most."

Charlie looked earnestly at her for awhile, "Thank you for trusting me with that and thank you again for the gift."

Hazel was relieved now she hadn't gotten both Geoffrey and Charlie their own boat. Helen had informed her ahead of time Charlie might be overwhelmed if that was the case, when she'd consulted her.

The rest of the evening went well.

Helen enjoyed the 'exotic' (codeword for magical) seeds, Hazel had gotten her.

And after the last gifts were exchanged the Swans introduced Hazel to s'mores. A delightful treat she decided was a new favorite of hers.

And when the night came to close and Hazel stared at the ceiling above her bed she couldn't help but sigh in absolute happiness. So this is what a home was supposed to feel like.