#rivervale_lodge

But the picture of her family , in both seemings, remains

"what the?" Jaymes looks about at the snow flakes "I've heard of goblln parchment that burns when you read it, but snow flakes?"

Dagmar blinks, staying quiet for a bit. "It's magic." As if that's explanation enough.

Jaymes is a grump, and has to confess, "I still don't get it, but... as long as you like the gift" He smiles just abit at the picture. THAT he gets

Tove beams "yes,it is magic." And seems to agree that's enough.

"yeah. I do." A contented sigh before... "Hey, what's for breakfast?"

"Flapjacks"

A ssmile "With Maple Syrup. Oh, and coco just like the Hearth taught me, but wit h a touch of peppermint" Tove beams

"I can help!" Dagmar declares and soon it is a busy family scene in the kitchen.

"Wait, whose flipping these?" Jaymes says

"We'll take turns" Well, it's going to be a busy messy family scene, she dos glance back at the picture, "I need to forgive dad, don't I?"

Jaymes nods. His eyes saying more than many words.

"Fine. ..." A cough "Dagmar, can I call my father over to join us?"

"Well yeah. Christmas is for family."

Tove nods "Just so.." And she calls "Dad, w'ere having flap jacks, would you like to join us?"

the answer on the phone isn't heard, but before ten minutes are passed, Torad Torin and Racer are there.

Dagmar insists on sneaking bacon to the dogs and "helping" with flapjacks AND cocoa AND getting places set....

Twobit loves Dagmar SOOOO much.

"Okay okay, we have to take turns on the flipping of the flapjacks" Tove says trying to maintain order, and wondering how Kerri does it, though secretly enjoying just a bit of the chaos.

"But it's fun! Do the pan thing again!"

FLIPPOPAFLAPPA perfect landing

"Coolest breakfast ever...."

"Ahem, well, I can't compete with flapjacks"

Torrin? Yes, he has a gift "I understand Christmas gifts are expected today. So this one is different from the Yule one"

ANOTHER Christmas gift?Never in her life...

"...I didn't get two for anybody..." Worry!

Torrin nods, "Okay. I knoww what you can do. Once Tove and Jaymes are married, call me Grandpa. I assure you, that will give me enough pride to be worth a present every christmasfor the rest of my life" the old man smile

'Or Grandfather" A sigh "Gramps lacks dignity"

"Dad" Tove says but fights a smile

"Okay, you just call me what you like, it's your gift regardless." Torrin says and hands it over

She considers. "Could be fair...."

Another present! A gluttony!

A trilogy of books? She's not big on books...but what is Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard?

With three books in it, The Sword of Summer , The Hammer of Thor and the Ship of the Dead

"Do these... oh, hey - Thor!"

"The writer is better known for some Greek god stories, or their off spring, but the greek gods are degenerates so.." Torrin says

"Dad!" Tove says

"Well, they are..." Torrin says, "What is there a satyr behind me or something?"

She thumbs through the books.

Hey! Magnus Chase is an ORPHAN! And ..secretly has the blood of a norse god!

Oooo... she goes from skimming to reading, in the middle of breakfast.

She might find her plate gets refilled more htan once if she eats as she reads. Music in the background, and laughter and warmth...

and a boy learning about his true magical nature after two years on the streets

Music, food, laughter, family, stories and puppies and cocoa and Jaymes and Torrin trying to set up the video game system....

"But that's not what it says, it's in Swedish?" "That is NOT swedish, I know swedish and..." "maybe this part needs ..am I holding this upside down?"

And somewhere else... someone resting in a well deserved sleep, manages one soft 'hohoho'

but don't ask me if he's a dougal sidhe, a rotund nocker, of a boggan ...or even a troll. Fights have started over less

(End Scene)

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Where did Christmas go? The book was wonderful, and then the Xbox, and there are movies... and well hey, wrong season for biking but still