Conclusion

And so for the next two and a half weeks, classes and activities continued. With Ron's ankle healed, workouts resumed normal pace. Yori continued to consider other weapons in addition to her fans. Kim and Rick tried their best to ignore Bonnie, taking out their frustration on Dementor and DNAmy.

For all concerned, Chez Ronald's holiday feast proved a humungous hit. With the help of Yori, Rufus and a half dozen of their ninja classmates, he orchestrated a smorgasbord which either in the Japanese dining room (or in doggie bags to the American classmates who couldn't make it) brought the house down.

Life was good…..

[Three Weeks Later—Possible Household, Middleton CO

A fresh coat of snow whitened the neighborhoods of the mile high town as kids and kid at hearts alike helped each other to enjoy the surroundings. Stores bustled with holiday traffic. The Middleton HS Holiday pageant was a blast.

At the Possible house, Yori admired the scene in front of herself, blending the best of the Christmas and Jewish traditions. While the latter holiday had passed, she noted the electric menorah sitting on the mantle above the fireplace. On that same fireplace, a row of stockings for everyone involved in the activities hung under the menorah. Fifteen feet away from them, a large balsam fir pine laden with ornaments, lights and other decorations added to the collaborative message: peace and collaboration between all faiths and peoples.

She smiled while gazing upon those things including—as quite the surprise—her own stocking. While it might seem a window-dressing item to some, as an orphan, it marked another level of inclusion and acceptance into a closely-knit circle especially since it hung in the house of her former rival for her heart's affections.

"Real cool, isn't it?" Ron asked her as he, the Possibles and Rick joined her out there.

"Yes. It is." Yori turned to face the host family and bowed to them. "Thank you for including me as such. It is an honor."

"We're delighted to do so, Yori," Anne assured her. "For everything you and the others do for Ron, it's our pleasure."

"Right on, Mom," Kim agreed while hugging her boyfriend and smiling at her other friends.

"Well, since Slim, Joss and Nana won't be here until tomorrow, let's get on with the Christmas music and the feast in the other room, shall we?" Jim supposed.

"Not yet, Dad," the twins suggested while smiling suggestively at each other.

Kim sighed. "Tweebs! What now?"

"Us? Spoil things?" the younger Jim asked.

"Not us," Tim denied.

"Boys, what have you been up to?" Anne asked with an edge to her voice.

The twins pointed up toward the ceiling.

Kim, Rick, Ron and Yori found two battery powered rockets hovering above their respective positions with a piece of mistletoe hanging from each.

"Boys," their father chided.

"Aw—come on, Dad!" the twins complained.

"We can talk about this later. Right now, I think it is in the spirit of things," Anne noted to her husband.

Rick winced, not wanting to end up down a black hole or worse.

"It's…okay for this once," the elder Jim conceded.

"Thanks, Sir," Rick accepted gratefully while facing his GF. "If it is with you."

Kim brushed her lips across his.

Ron waited for KP's moment to end. Then he faced his GF. "You mind?"

"I would like to, Ron San," Yori agreed before embracing and laying one of her Earth-stopping lip locks on him. When they finally came up for air, she smiled warmly.

Mr. Dr. P. cleared his throat and whispered to his wife, "Rain check?"

"Just try and say no, Dear," she whispered back.

The elder Jim smiled in anticipation before inviting, "Food's on the table and so's the egg nog. So let's hop to it! It's a great holiday all the way around!"

As the family and invited friends sat around the table, they all thought about their shared blessings and the combined good will they shared. It had been a great year and they had a future to look forward to as well.

THE END (for now)