The Hopper house was filled to the brim with party dressed people. Moving slowly from room to room, mingling and drinking, laughter and voices spilling through the windows and doors. Somewhere in the background music was playing, and the scent of perfumes and rarely worn clothes mixed with the Christmas scents of mulled wine, oranges, vanilla cookies and cloves. Breathing it in, feeling the warmth he always did to realize it was his favorite holiday again Rufus looked around. He saw Flynn talking to Mrs. Merriweather, probably flirting happily if the old lady's pink cheeks and glittering eyes were anything to go by. Merry was regaling a crowd with a story about a professor at her university, her gestures wide and her face alive as she kept the crowd in stitches. Clare was in the kitchen, her cheeks prettily rosy from serving the mulled wine and was seemingly keeping three different conversations going. His father was in a corner, talking to Marco and David, a stupidly grinning reindeer adorning his sweater. He'd bet his mother had made him wear that. She was stunning in a red dress and her hair swept back with glittering clips standing out against her still dark hair. Her trademark lipstick and mile high heels had more than one man take a second look but her eyes kept trailing back to his dad, wherever she was, she'd look up, see he was there, smile and then return to her conversation.

"Cee?" His wife looked up from where she was picking which cookie looked biggest, one half-eaten already in her hand. Eating for two seemed to have kicked in already and careful to not mention it he continued. "I know we said we'd wait until after Christmas to tell anyone about the baby, but I…I think we should tell them tomorrow."

"Are you sure? I mean it'd take all the focus off Christmas and your parents and your siblings being home."
"I know that's what we said but I want to tell them when they're all here. Merry and Flynn will only stay until New Year's Day and…" Putting down the cookie she put a hand to his cheek.

"Okay. I understand you want to tell them in person."

"Thank you. I knew you would get it. So…tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow."
"Are you ready to not have anyone in my family let you lift a finger for the next six months?"

"Bring it on."

o.O.o

Clare brushed a strand of hair off her face and tensed as Peter Dormier made his way over. The son of Aurora and Phillip he was tall, dark and with a perpetual dark stubble. He worked under Emma at the Sheriff's station and Clare had been in love with him for more than half her life. He was nine years older than her and seemed to think of her as some type of honorary little sister as he was friends with Flynn and Rufus which made the case absolutely hopeless but Clare's heart didn't seem to listen to reason. Conscious her cheeks were flushed from standing over steaming pots all evening and that her hair was a mess from running her hands through it, she smiled shakily.

"Hi, Clare." At least he didn't call her Little. Like most of her brothers' friends he had been part of her life for as long as she could remember, always running in and out of the house. But he was the only one she had been in love with since she was six.

"Peter, how are you?"

"Not bad. I had some of your cookies. They were fantastic, like everything you do. Cook, I mean." Her heart sped up at the compliment.

"Ah, thank you. Can I get you some mulled wine?"

"I've probably had my share." He leaned against the kitchen island. "Oh, go on. I'm not working tomorrow. Emma's the only one crazy enough to accept being on call on Christmas Day." He held out his cup and though she knew she was ridiculous she brushed her fingers over the rim where his lips had touched. Filling it, she handed it back.

"You look nice today, is that a new dress?" What could you do when someone had seen you almost everyday of your life and still didn't really see? He had seen every single thing in her wardrobe, he had seen all her haircuts, good and bad, had seen her horrible braces phase. And still he'd never really noticed, never really seen that if he'd just give a word she'd do anything for him. Instead she got a brotherly "You look nice". Even Flynn had managed better when he'd said, "Looking good, Little." But she should be used to it by now. Damn Merry for getting her hopes up, convincing her it wasn't as hopeless as it had always been because of one night, one dress, one stupid tube of lipstick.

"Thank you. It is, to me, I mean. It's one of Merry's old ones." She stroked the deep blue velvet sleeves and wondered if he could stop smelling so nice. She just wanted to climb his tall frame and bury her nose in the crook of his neck and inhale. Then take a bite and let her hands reach for the buttons of his shirt, tear them open and…

"Clare?"

"What? What, sorry?" A blush rose in her cheeks.

"I said Merry looks good today too." Her heart sank and she looked over to where Merry was entertaining a large section of the party singlehandedly. Vivacious, funny and quick she stood out like a burning flame in the crowd with her striking hair, dramatic black dress and miles of leg.

"She does."

"It's nice to see her home again. It's been a while." Clare's heart continued to shrink.

"It is. I like having her home." Though maybe not so much in this particular moment when Peter's eyes were trained fondly on Merry's red hair. Clare's hair would never look like it had life of its own; never catch the light like gold being licked by strings of fire. Looking away she turned back to the stove, half-heartedly giving the mulled wine a stir.

"Is something wrong?" She hadn't heard him approach and when he put a hand on her shoulder she jumped. He rarely touched her, barring a teasing tug of her hair or a nudge when they were jointly teasing one of her brothers and the warm weight of his hand on her shoulder sent sparks of electricity chasing down her nerves. Turning, she couldn't help notice how close he was standing, how she could see the pulse beating in his throat, how she'd neatly fit under his chin now that she was wearing heels.

"No, no nothing's wrong I…" She made the mistake of looking up, of meeting his deep green eyes and helplessly she got tripped and fell into them, deeper and deeper until there was nothing but his gaze. Unconsciously she opened her mouth to say something, anything to stop herself from just closing the distance between them forever.

"Clare, it's time." Her brother came to her rescue and turning her attention to Rufus she took a step back.

"Hmm?"

"I said it's time to play."
"Where are mum and dad?"

"Oh, somewhere. They'll hear it and come back." He smiled and went to join Merry and Flynn where they stood by the piano.

"I… I have to go."

"I know. I look forward to hearing you sing every year." Something tender she had never heard in his voice before set her heart galloping. "All of you, I mean. The Hopper Kids' Annual Christmas Recital."

"Right. Well, I hope you enjoy it." Then she went to her siblings. Sitting down by the piano she drew a deep breath and didn't dare to sneak a look at him but she could feel his eyes trained on her. Flynn was sitting bent over his guitar, tuning quietly. Merry and Rufus were joking as they took their violins out of their cases and the voices around them were buzzing in anticipation.

o.O.o

The dark laundry room was cooler than the rest of the house and Ruby shivered, both in cold and delight as her husband's hand trailed down her side. The mistletoe he'd fished out of his pocket lay forgotten on the floor as she wound her arms wound him. His lips tasted of wine and sweet cookies and she wanted more of it. Deepening the kiss and running her hands through his hair he mumbled in approval and lifted her against him. Wrapping her leg around his waist she felt the beginnings of arousal stir through her blood, rising like flickering flames under her skin.

"Jiminy…"

"Mm?"

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Most definitely, if it regards me having you in here, right now."

"You always did read me well." Feeling his chuckle reverberate though her he hoisted her higher, setting her down on top of the washing machine. His lips trailed down the side of her neck and she arched under his ministrations, feeling the flames burn higher. Then the weeping notes of a single violin seeped through the air. In a moment a second one joined it.

"Wait. Wait, they've started." Jiminy looked up and tilted his head,

"They have. Shall we continue this later?"

"Most definitely. Let's go hear our children play." Sliding off the washing machine she straightened her dress and took Jiminy's proffered hand. Slipping out of the laundry room they made their way to the living room. At the front of the room Flynn was sitting, picking notes on his guitar. Clare sat at the piano, her fingers dancing over the keys and between them stood Merida and Rufus, their eyes closed as they drew the hauntingly beautiful melody form their violins.

As always Ruby felt the tears clog her throat that something as beautiful as the music her children made together could exist. Since they were little they had performed every Christmas for their friends and family. She still remembered the first time when six year old Flynn and four year old Rufus had performed a horrendously out of key "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and she'd still been as proud then. Now the four of them could make a sound she could scarcely believe was them and not a band on a CD.

Feeling Jiminy's arm around her shoulders she leaned against him, as always marveling at the sheer talent they had. It had all been passed from him, she was sure, she had no musical talent barring shouting Bon Jovi songs in the shower so it seemed all the more extraordinary to her. She still got weak at the knees whenever Jiminy played for her but he rarely played at Christmas, claiming he didn't want to steal the spotlight from the children. She didn't think he could do, because the spotlight was shared between them, all they did was as a unit. With or without their father they always performed as one. A look, a thought, a feeling seemed to steer them as Rufus stepped forward, his solo weeping and bleeding though the air. Ruby heard Cecilia's sigh next to her and knew exactly how she felt. Though both Rufus and Merida played the violin they made such different sounds, she always the teasing, dancing, passionate notes and he the pure, beautiful sweeping tones that tugged at your heart. Though she had heard the Christmas song a million times he put something in it that made you believe, hope and wish. She heard longing and she heard starlight in the music he made and saw her other children heard it too as they enjoyed their brother's sole music. Then he stepped back and Merry winked at him in appreciation before joining him in harmony. Clare slid back in, the piano joining the two of them before she picked up the lyrics and sang.

Her Little had always sung, as a baby she had even sung herself to sleep. Now she sang at home, at the Diner, in the car. Always there was a song ready to spring form her lips. Though she didn't think of it as more than singing along with the radio while she worked Ruby knew she wasn't the only one who heard the magic in her voice.

Letting her take over, Rufus and Merry stepped back and Flynn's guitar and Clare's voice the only sounds in the room. Ebbing and flowing they played together and took turns and for half an hour the music held the audience spellbound. Then as one they finished on a soaring note and the disbelieving quiet reigned for three seconds before the applause broke out. Bowing jokingly and laughing with each other her children accepted the praise. Flynn got up and slung an arm around Rufus' shoulders claiming he would kill for a beer. Then a voice was heard in the back.

"That was too damn depressing, can't you play something happier?" Everyone turned to see Grumpy, a little red-eyed from a few traitorous tears running into his beard. At this Merry laughed and teased out the first bars of "Whisky In The Jar" on her violin. And from there the party started. Playing tirelessly her children had the whole party dancing. Couches and tables were pushed back and the floors rang with the weight of the dancing crowd. Trading instruments with each other and taking turns dancing and playing. Though they all had their own they could handle each other's and she laughed as Merry took over on the piano from Clare who was swept up to dance by Flynn and when Rufus' handed his violin to Flynn to dance with his wife. She enjoyed the butterflies that fluttered in her stomach when Jiminy was brought up to play, him Rufus and Merry putting on a show she didn't think anyone would forget for a long time. She blinked back a few tears when Flynn switched to his electric guitar and sang "Livin' on a Prayer" with Clare for her. She danced with most people of Storybrooke but none she treasured more than the dance with Jiminy. She lost her breath when Merry and Rufus almost dueled out "Rolling in the Deep", their bows dancing on the strings and felt her heart swell when her daughters did a duet of "The Book of Love".

Then after hours of dancing people started heading home, all much later than they had planned and Ruby looked around with a laugh. The room was in chaos. Setting her hands to her hips she caught Flynn and Rufus about to head upstairs from the corner of her eye.

"All right, everyone left is helping with clean up."

o.O.o

Clare slipped out for some air, the room behind her stiflingly hot. She'd finished off by playing Merry's violin and though she was nothing compared to her sister or Rufus on the strings she enjoyed it all the same. The party had been great, she'd danced, played, sung. Nothing made her feel like her siblings were home more than playing together and every year the look in her mother's eyes when they did was worth it. Leaning against the wall she enjoyed the cold air against her heated skin. The door opened and seeing Peter step out she sighed inwardly. She didn't want to finish such a great night by going to bed unhappy he still saw her as a child. That he'd never see her as anything but his friend's little sister. He crossed the porch and leaned against the porch rail.

"Great party."

"It was. Louder than it has been in the past."

"A real celebration." He looked out over the snow-covered garden and she took the opportunity to drink in the sight of him. The tall, lanky frame, his long legs, the wide shoulders under his shirt and jacket. The dark hair that curled slightly over his collar, the straight nose, high cheekbones and the deep green eyes. She was sure that if he'd wanted to he could have been a model or an actor. Had she said so she was sure he would have laughed. But he'd always been beautiful, even as a child. She remembered weaving pretty dreams over his face when she was till young enough to believe in fairy tales. Had believed he was the happy ending of hers. He'd been a pre-teen then but it had been all the same to her heart.

"Sometimes you make it really hard, you know." He was speaking but his eyes were still trained on the oak tree at the other side of the yard.

"Sorry?"

"When you laugh and dance. When you wear pretty dresses or run a hand through your hair the way you do. Then you make it really hard for me to help myself." Clare's heart began thundering in her chest.

"Help what?" He pushed off the rail and closed in on her. Towering over her, she dragged her eyes from his lips to his eyes, saw them deep and focused.

"Wanting to do this," he leaned forward, his hand braced on the wall above her head. With the other one he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, gently touching her cheek. Clare felt herself melt inside like chocolate and her breaths shuddered in and out of her lungs. Her legs felt weak and the scent of him was making her head spin. "I know I shouldn't. I know you're much too young for me. You're my friends' sister. But you're so damn beautiful, Clare. I just can't help it." Then he pressed his lips to hers and she felt happiness explode in her stomach like fireworks, glittering and shining as they fell. Sighing in bliss she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed him tighter. Feeling his hard chest pushed against her, the stubble on his cheeks against her tender skin, the dark taste of him on her tongue she suddenly understood all her mother's warning as about being careful and not losing control. Never before had kissing someone made her frantic for more in seconds. She didn't even really know what the more was, had never gone past second base in her life but now as a pounding, rushing need filled every cell of her body, heated her blood and made it run faster through her she wanted to know. Parting her lips under his she felt him growl and his arms wound around her waist, pulling her closer and lifting her off her feet. Pressed between him and the wall she felt deliciously trapped and instinct drove her hips to roll against his. With a gasp he tore his lips from her and stepped back. Sliding back down she suddenly felt cold, not having the warmth of him pressed against her anymore.

"Shit. I…God, I'm so sorry, Clare. I have to…I…just…Sorry." He stepped back again and again before swinging himself over the porch rail and leaving, his head bent and his hands deep in his pockets. Her heart began to slow down and in wonder she put her fingers to her lips. He'd kissed her. Peter Dormier, the man of her dreams had kissed her, put his hands on her and wanted her. She'd felt it. And then he'd left.

"Clare, if you think you can escape clean up by hiding out there, you're severely mistaken." Her mother's voice trailed out through the door. Pushing off the wall she willed herself to walk inside. "What happened to you? You look like you were asleep." And in a way, Clare thought, hadn't she been? Never knowing this was what wanting a man felt like. She wanted him with an intensity that was slightly scary.

"Just tired."

"We're almost done." Her mother put a hand to her cheek. Like he'd done, yet it had been so different. "If you just unload the dishwasher you can go to bed after."

"Okay, thanks mum." She left and missed the sharp look her mother gave her when she walked past.

o.O.o

Christmas Day dawned quiet and sparkling with fresh snow. Flynn for some reason had not been able to sleep and making his way downstairs he avoided the steps that creaked. In the kitchen the scent of coffee met him and surprised he saw it was his sister who was up. The one who hated mornings.

"What are you doing up?"

"I could ask the same of you."

"Too excited about presents?" She laughed and sat at the kitchen island, a half eaten Christmas cookie already in front of her.

"Yeah, me too." He poured himself a cup, added the cream he liked (though he mostly drank it black as he never had any cream wherever home was that night) and sat opposite her.

"Great party last night. Did you see Granny dance?"
"I did. Boy, she might be a hundred but she can rock it."

"She'll probably kill you if call her a hundred to her face."

"Fairy Tale Land years are different. I think." None of the Hopper children had ever been to where their parents were from, to them it still seemed slightly fantastical.

"What do you think it's like?"

"Like it has no indoor plumbing." Merry finished her cookie and reached for another one.
"For real. I've been thinking lately if maybe…Maybe why I needed to get out so bad was because I was looking for roots. Real ones, not the town I was born in because a curse placed my parents here. I mean we're actually from a different world and we can never tell anyone. It's bizarre." Merry narrowed her eyes as she chewed.

"I always forget you're actually smart behind that pretty face. It could be. Looking for a real place to belong." She put the cookie down and looked out the window. "You know lately I've been thinking it actually is here. Isn't that funny?"

"I'd laugh but I've been thinking the same." He was quiet for a while, spinning his coffee cup by the ear. "They're looking for a music teacher at the school, Snow told me."

"Oh?" Merry wasn't at her best in the morning and it took her a minute to connect the dots. "No way. A music teacher? You?" He shrugged.

"Could do worse. Nice pay, summer hols off, doing music."

"What about making it big? Being a rock star? That's your dream, Flynn."

"It hasn't been going so well so far. It's been seven years of playing gigs and getting close, getting my hopes up and deals falling through, I'm just feeling a bit…done with all that." He put his cup down and ran a hand through his hair. Just because he was done trying to make it happen didn't mean it hurt any less to let go of the dream.

"Are you sure? Cause if you come back I think mum and dad will be thrilled through the roof. Especially cause I've decided to come back here too when I'm done with my degree. I want to take over dad's practice when he's done with it." He leaned back. He was just as surprised s by Merry's wish to move back as he had been to realize his own.

"Really? Small town psychiatry? It thought you wanted to unravel the secrets of the disturbed mind, travel around to meet serial killers and the like."
"Too much TV. I just want to help people, really. And I want to come home."

"I think we may have just found the best Christmas gift ever for our parents."

"Well, we are their favorites after all. The other two are just pale imitations."

o.O.o

Rufus stopped in the doorway, taking in the scene. His parents were sitting together on the couch, curled against each other, watching Merry, Flynn and Clare sitting on the floor going through all the presents, joking what could be in them and who would get coal. Music was playing quietly, the fire was lit and the stockings above hanging from the mantle were bulging. He knew they had picked the perfect time and squeezing Cecilia's hand they joined the nice picture.

With paper scattered around them and his mother wearing the vintage concert Led Zeppelin t-shirt Flynn had won in a poker game in Oregon, paired with the necklace from their dad, Merry wearing the hat Rufus had found in a thrift shop that made him think of her. Clare was already paging through the recipe book Merry had gifted her and Flynn was wearing the scarf their mother had knitted for him. Rufus gathered his courage and took a small package from his pocket.

"There's just one more."

"More?" his mother asked and accepted the gift. "For me?"

"Well, it's for the whole family I suppose but I think you and dad should open it." Sitting back down with Cecilia's hand clasped on his lap they watched as his parents opened the small box. Inside was a little Christmas stocking. Holding it up he saw his mother furrow her brow.

"A new stocking for the family?" Then it seemed to make sense to her. "Oh my god, do you mean? You're, you and Celia, you're…?" Rufus nodded and the smile broke out.

"Yes, we are. In July." As one the whole Lucas-Hopper clan got up as one and both Rufus and Celia got buried under hugs and well wishes. Laughter and tears mixed as his mother hugged him close.

"Baby, my baby. I'm so happy for you. So happy." His dad had a tear at the corner of his eyes too as he hugged him hard.

"You'll be great, Fuss. You'll do great." And that, Rufus knew, that faith in him, was the best Christmas gift he would get.

o.O.o

In the cold evening the family stood on the porch for another family tradition. It didn't always happen on Christmas but when it did, it belonged. It was a clear full moon on the evening of the 25th this year and one by one the Lucas-Hopper children stepped forward, slid into wolf shape and bounded out in the garden. Ruby went last and with a happy bark they tumbled in the snow, wrestling and chasing each other. Standing on the porch with his hands in his pockets Archie felt the love he held for them bloom in his chest with ferocity. Here he had everything, he had his Red, his wonderful children, his house and soon, there would be a new life in the family. A welcome addition, a baby to nurse and watch grow up. A little girl, Rufus had said, in July. Jiminy couldn't wait to hold his first granddaughter, watch her first steps, hear her first words. Know his son would get to take part in the magic he could not believe how happy he was for him. It was right, somehow, that Rufus would be the first to know. He would be a great dad, Jiminy already knew.

Sitting down he watched as Ruby in wolf form parted from her children with an affectionate head-butt and came back to him, in one moment wolf and the next shimmering back into her usual form. Behind her the four wolves howled in delight and set off into the forest and they both knew they wouldn't be back until dawn. It was something else the siblings shared. Joining him on the porch, Red sat next to him.

"I didn't think I'd have to be a sexy grandmother so soon."

"Makes it easier to be sexy though, doesn't it?" Ruby laughed.

"Indeed. Oh, Jiminy, how did we get so old so fast? Where did the years go?"

"I was already old when I met you so…"
"Oh, rubbish. You were not old. In fact I remember you were rather vigorous…" She wiggled her eyebrows at him and he chuckled.

"I had to be to keep up with you." She sighed and found his hand.

"You always did. Do you know how grateful I am everyday for having you?"

"I know. I feel it too."

"And now we're going to have our next adventure. A grandbaby. Granddaughter. Oh, I can't wait to share a granddaughter with Belle. We're going to have to fight over babysitting hours."

"I'll have to get in on that with Rum as well. He's going to spoil her rotten."

"And when we don't get to have her we'll have Merry and Flynn back. Can you believe it? Both deciding to move back home soon."

"It'll be great to have them around again."

"And we'll only lose Clare for a little bit while she goes to school. I think." Ruby furrowed her brow and looked out over the garden.

"What do you mean?"

"Yesterday after the party I…I smelled a man on her, Jiminy. She'd been kissing someone and she hasn't told me who it is. She always tells me."

"She might not be ready to yet."

"That's what scares me. This time it means something. She's so young, Jiminy, I'm not sure she's ready for what I saw in her eyes." He felt his heart twist in worry. His baby, his youngest had taken another shaky step to becoming a woman, no longer his little girl, no matter how he felt.

"We can only trust her at this point, Red. She's old enough to make her own choices."

"But what if she gets hurt? She's so…tender, so different from Merry when it comes to those things. She's easily bruised."

"We can't protect her from life, no matter how much we want to."

"You're right, I know that but I can't help it. She's Little, she always will be."

"We're never going to stop worrying. Since you told me Flynn was on the way I haven't had a fully peaceful breath."

"I know that feeling. Oh, Jiminy, I don't think I could have done this with anyone but you."

"This?" He gestured questioningly.
"Four children. I have never regretted a moment of it, never really struggled because you've always been there. I think with you by my side I could have faced absolutely anything." She got up and he opened his arms letting her settle on his lap, curling against him.

"And it's not over yet."
"Thank god for that. I'm not done with you yet. In fact, I still have one more gift but it takes unwrapping upstairs." He heard the now familiar tone, the sexy teasing note in it and knew the fruits of her online shopping were about to be uncovered. Feeling arousal and expectation warm his veins he smiled.

"You definitely spoil me."

"I hope you'll think so when you see it." He certainly did when the last layer fell and blood pounded so loud in his ears he barely heard her say

"Merry Christmas, Jiminy."

A/N: And Merry Christmas to all of you! I hope you enjoyed it, I know I did. I'm now a massive future!Storybrooke fan and ship Clare/Peter like you can't believe. I hope to pull something else Red Cricket Christmas Bash prompted together, we'll see how it goes….Until next time, S.D.