If every Christmas you've spent with your father, your mother was the one who picked out his present, it's not easy suddenly having to choose one yourself. You have know idea what he'll like, or need, is he allergic to this type of cologne, is he even a fan of this writer? Did mom get him this from me before? I didn't find it very funny when I was attempting to buy presents for my parents. I found it hilarious however, when Dimitri suddenly found himself in the same situation.

"What about this?" Dimitri held up a DVD of Chris Rock's latest comedy show. I knew Ben would hate it, and told him so. He put it back, sighing. It was the sixth of January, and Dimitri was getting desperate.

"Not so fun when the tables are turned, huh?" I asked teasingly. "It's moments like this, where you just have to acknowledge the awesome power of Karma." Just like when I had been trying to pick out presents for my parents and Dimitri had found my lack of ideas funny, I was 'helping' him pick out a present for his father.

"Can you please just help, and not mock? I'm not even sure I want to get him anything."

"It would be nice gesture, you know."

Since New Year's Eve, Dimitri and Benedikt had come to a sort of truce. Ben kept trying to talk to Dimitri, who now found it more awkward, than a cause for anger. He still didn't trust his father. Ben was persistant however, and seemed intent on having quality time with his son, and daughters. He had also helped Paul coerce me, Dimitri, Karolina and Viktoria into having an epic snowball fight in the park. Viktoria, Paul and I won. Ben was a really indulgent father, and a doting grandfather, who, I noticed, spoiled Viktoria, Paul, Zoya, and Rurik. He always had something for them, everyday, when he came by. He was staying in a hotel downtown. Olena might let him into house, but he didn't stay over. Although they'd gone out to dinner a few days ago. Dimitri had stayed up until she came home.

Browsing through the shelves of the video store, I saw something that I knew Ben would love. It was a set of five Clint Eastwood westerns. I'd bought him another set of five different ones, that I'd already sent to him two weeks ago. Pointing it out to Dimitri, he decided to buy them, having to take my word that Ben would love them. We then hurried back to the house so we could get ready for church. All night Divine Liturgy. It started at eight, and ended at around two, and I was staying for the whole thing. I went to church every Sunday back home, because both Dimitri and Lissa both wanted to go, but neither Dimitri, nor I were entirely sold on the existence of God. I was only going tonight, so as not to seem rude.

Just like at Easter, I found the russian chanting beautiful, but only understood a tiny bit more than I had then. At least I was making some progress. At midnight, Pyotr ended up carrying Paul back to the house, becasue he kept falling asleep in his arms. Karolina, Sonya and Saveliy went too. Because Pyotr wanted to spend Christmas morning with the kids, he was staying in Paul and Zoya's room that night. Saveliy was staying with Karolina, and Sonya and Rurik had moved into Viktoria's room. The was house was fit to burst.

Despite the late night, Paul still woke us all up at seven the next morning, eager for presents.

"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!"

I opened one bleary eye to look at the ten year old demon, bouncing on the bed. Dimitri rolled over onto his front, groaning. We'd only gotten four hours of sleep.

"What?" I grumbled, comtemplating burying my head underneath my pillow.

"It's Christmas! That means presents!"

"Didn't you get enough stuff from Grandfather Frost?" He was the russian Santa Clause. Only, he came on New Year's Eve, instead of Christmas Eve. Also, he was blue.

"Come on, you get presents too!" Paul stopped bouncing, and crawled in between us, trying to make Dimitri look at him. "Dyadya Dima, wake up!" When Dimitri didn't move, he looked at me. "Tetushka Rose, why won't he get up?"

I shrugged, but before I could say anything, Dimitri suddenly roared, lunging at Paul. He pinned him, and blew a raspberry on his stomach, then started to tickle him. After shrieking and frantically trying to get away, Dimitri let Paul up, who tore out of the room, Dimitri chasing him down the stairs. I dragged myself down a few minutes later, to discover Dimitri and Paul having a pillow fight with Pyotr in the sitting room. Not wanting to be left out, I grabbed a pillow and joined in on Pyotr's side. We were laughingly watched, and egged on, by Saveliy and Sonya. Karolina rolled her eyes and went to help her mother with breakfast. Viktoria and Yeva weren't up yet.

Ben came by with his guardians, at eight, just as we finished breakfast. Well, most of had finished. Dimitri had become had an incredibly slow eater since we'd been in Russia. It had been a cause for concern for Olena, as she thought he wasn't eating enough, but I'd quietly explained that he was rediscovering all those flavours, and he just wanted to savour every bite. He'd sped up a little with his eating habits back home since he'd gotten re-accustomed to american food.

We all crowded around the tree in the sitting room, to exchange gifts. Ben did indeed love the DVDs Dimitri had gotten him. He'd also apparently not opened my gift, and had brought it with him to open today. We also went to that morning's Divine Liturgy, before returning back for a delicious meal prepared by Olena. We just hung out together for the rest of the day, talking and laughing, Olena and Ben telling me all sorts of stories about when Dimitri was a kid. That reminded me.

"Hey Comrade," I said, turning to him suddenly. "How come you never told me you were married?"

"What?" he said confused.

"Well, I just want to know if I have to worry about any of your ex-wives."

"What on earth are you – " Comprehension dawned on his face. "Karolina!" He looked round at his older sister, who was laughing histerically. Everyone else joined in at the look on Dimitri's face, except for Saveliy, who just looked confused, but he was saved the trouble of asking when Pyotr cleared it up for him.

"I think I remember this, is this when you and your friends used to dress him up, so he could marry your dolls?"

Dimitri's cheeks went a little red, as we all started howling with laughter. Olena then showed us the wedding pictures. Dimitri just sat back in the chair, his face flushed. I kissed his cheek, and told him looked adorable. He grimaced at that, and begged his mother to burn the pictures. She refused, and poor Dimitri had to spend a good hour getting made fun of by Pyotr and Saveliy. He was rescued by Karolina, who had plenty of funny anecdotes about the two of them.

Sitting there, laughing with everyone, I felt right at home. And seeing Dimitri getting along with his father, was just icing on the cake. I used to feel nothing but resentment, whenever I thought of the fact that I'd been forced to participate in that show every year, but now I was glad I'd done it. I was glad I'd met Benedikt, that I'd been able to help convince Dimitri to give him a second chance. This really was the best Christmas ever.

A/N:- 'Dyadya' is russian for 'uncle', and 'Tetushka' means 'auntie'. For anyone who was wondering, 'Tetya' is 'aunt'.