Hey everyone this is a tag-team story brought to you by: kaihil lover and Kawaii-Chibi-Kai. This is taken place a year after her story Bah! Humbug! I have my OC's in here as well here is qick bio on them.

Shelley: Kai's older sister, seeing Hiro Granger

Kari: Kai's younger twin, more outgoing. Her and Tala used to date, they broke up, she dated Johnny, and now is dating Wyatt.

Lily: Ray's older twin taken when she was a child and was tested on, and became more like a cat, better hear, smell, faster. Has cat ears, and a tail. Stronger then the average human. seeing Bryan.

Stephanie: Tyson's older twin, has an IQ of 180, taken as a child. not has outgoing as Tyson, but is best friends with Kari. knows 12 langues. Seeing Ian.

Melanie: Max's older twin sister, lot more cold to people. Taken when she was young at a fair. Carries a gun with her at all times, doesn't miss her target. Seeing Spencer.

if wish for more info please inbox me please and thank you.

Kari: Kai's younger sister.

Shelley: Kai's older sister.

Melanie: Max's sister.

Lily: Ray's sister.

Stephanie: Tyson and Hiro's sister.

Jade: Tala's half sister.

Maria: Tala and Jade's mom.

Kaoru: Maria's fiancé, Jade's father, Wyatt's brother

Chapter: 1

~At the Dojo~

The clattering of knives and forks could be heard in the kitchen of the Granger dojo. The noise seemed very prominent due to everything else being so quiet, everyone was bundled up at home due to the cold weather, and it was only the start of December.

The usually noise filled dojo was relatively quiet; most of its occupant were apparently out. In the kitchen, on the dinner table there sat Hilary and Kai, who had refrained from going to the party held at the Majestic's mansion in Bakuten to spend some time alone, since they never got any thanks to their team mates, and well, there also sat Tala Ivanov who had decided to miss the party because he supposedly wanted to spend it with two of his closest friends knowing how much they'd enjoy his company, but was still being glared at by them, and also his baby sister Jade, who oblivious to the tension in the air was playing with her food.

"Thanks guys for having Jade and I over for dinner, I was in no mood to go," Tala said, putting his fork in his mouth, his voice believably innocent. "Besides you know how much I love spending time with you two. Why'd you guys not go?"

Kai's left eye twitched. He would have said something if the kid wasn't in the room.

"Tala," Hilary began in an acerbic voice, "We never actually asked you to come; we never even told you that we're not going."

"Ah, but I expected you not to." Tala told her in a satisfied voice. "Besides I can't resist Ray's cooking, the only person who cooks better than Spencer, though never tell him I said that."

"Hilary, you know when Santa come to Japan?" Jade asked a strand of spaghetti sticking out of her mouth.

Kai's eye twitched again, and Hilary and Tala chocked on their food, they both began to cough to hide their laughter.

"No sweetie, but I think Kai might know, he has a very close friendship with Santa." Hilary said stifling her laughter.

Jade looked at Kai expectantly, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration.

"She's lying, I don't, and"Kai said flatly,"Besides Santa doesn't _"

"Shut your mouth!" Hilary snapped, hitting his hand and making him drop his fork."Santa doesn't come this early to Japan since we're very far from the North Pole."

"Kai, stop being such a scrooge, what the hell are you trying to do scar my sister's childhood," Tala ranted sounding offended.

"It was an accident; I forgot that the kid doesn't know that Santa is nonexistent!" Kai retorted.

"Kai," said Hilary, her tone slightly sarcastic, "What four year old knows that? I bet even you didn't."

Kai didn't answer.

"He didn't." Tala snorted. "For the first two years he'd joined the abbey, he used to secretly write to Santa, Spencer saw that and would hide the letter so that he thought Santa took them."

Jade was looking from Tala to Kai to Hilary, her eyebrows furrowed and mouth pouty, she was annoyed at not being able to understand what everyone was saying.

Kai was glaring at Tala, who chose to ignore him. "Tala, that is not funny," Hilary said sternly.

"It is," Tala narrowed his eyes. "Tell me do you not think that is funny for him to have done?"

"Fine, it is," Hilary mumbled. Kai gave her a look and she raised her hands defensively. "What? It is."

Kai turned his down towards his plate and resumed eating and after a few moments so did Tala and Hilary. Hilary was rather annoyed at Tala for completely ruining her dinner, but she couldn't help herself from not being angry, it was Tala, and with Tala things like this should be expected.

They bell rang and they all looked at each other. Who would be out in this weather? It couldn't be that the guys were already back, from the party it was only nine.

"I get it,"Jade piped up.

"No Jade, it's late,"Tala told her."I'll get it."

"Well, this was an unexpected turn," Hilary said casually.

"With Tala being here we should have gone somewhere out of the city limits…" Kai stated.

"Kai," Tala called in a sing song voice from the other room. "It's for you."

"If it's a fan girl_" Kai's left his threat hanging.

He stood up from his chair and made his way out of the kitchen. After ten minutes and Kai and Tala still being at the door, Hilary made her way out to the door. Just as she made her way towards the door she saw a middle aged man holding some papers in his hands before Kai shut the door on his face growling a low, "Fine."

"What happened?" Hilary asked raising her eyebrows at Tala who was sitting on the floor leaning against the wall and clutching his stomach and laughing like a maniac.

"Tell Jade that Santa's coming to town tomorrow," Tala said in between fits of laughter.

"What?" Hilary asked perplexed.

"Do you know who that man was?" asked Tala, Kai had already made his way towards the kitchen.

"No," Hilary said, helping Tala to get up.

"That was Kai's first boss," Tala said. "The man who hired Kai as Santa last year."

"So why was he here? And why's Kai so upset?" Hilary asked as the two of them entered the kitchen to find Jade flying an airplane she had made from her napkin.

"Well, the only reason Kai got hired was because no one else applied, so the old man thinking that he might quit to made him sign a contract_" Tala got interrupted.

"Hold up," Hilary cut in. "Just to play a mall Santa?"

"Yes," Kai snapped. "And that's why I didn't read the damned thing before signing it,"

"You didn't read before signing it?" Hilary asked, eyes gaping.

"Tsk, Tsk,Kai-kun," Tala reprimanded, "Boris would be so disappointed at how imprudent you've become."

"Turns out it had a clause saying that I would have to work this year as well." Kai finished, the outrage evident in his tone.

"I think I'm partially at blame here," Hilary said with a laugh, remembering why Kai actually took the Santa job. "Sorry Kai."

Kai sighed. "Hn. It's fine."

"There has to be a way out," Hilary asked, ignoring the still laughing Tala.

"No," Kai said flatly.

"Well, this is another Christmas where we won't get any time together," Hilary pointed out.

Kai just kept glaring at Tala. This was amazing, first Tala barged in on Hilary and him that day, and then he finds out that he would have to work with snot nosed midgets all day again! And this time he didn't even have a motive, to keep himself going like last year. He remembered last Christmas and looked up to smile at Hilary who was looking into her plate.

After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Tala spoke up, banging his fist on the table,"So, what do you guys wanna do?"

Hilary jumped and Kai swore under his breath upon hearing the sudden outburst. Hilary was the first to recover, "What do you mean?"

"Well, neither my team nor you guys' team is gonna be back before at least a few hours, and we can mourn over Kai's dilemma forever, so we should do something. I suggest monopoly."Tala finished cheerfully.

Kai and Hilary were just blinking at him.

"What? Jade is allowed to play only certain games, and I doubt you wanna play passing around the parcel or tag?"Tala asked with satisfaction, "We can also watch a movie, if you're okay with Happy Feet or Strawberry Shortcake movies."

"I wanna watch Strawberry Shortcake," Jade said, but no one responded to her at which she huffed.

"How are you here?" Kai asked incredulously, "I mean who let you? I thought Maria wanted you to take Jade to the party?"

"And Julia was serious about killing you if you didn't go?" Hilary added.

"What mother doesn't know won't hurt her or me," Tala said simply. "As for Julia, she thinks my mom wanted me to babysit Jade at home."

Kai just shook his head and Hilary leaned against the chair.

"So are we gonna talk or are we gonna play?" Tala asked; a challenge evident in his tone.

"I'll be in Tala's team," Jade said happy at finally being able to understand something.

"Well," Tala pressed.

"You're on!" Hilary replied competitively."I'll get the board."

"I'll get the snacks!" Tala said getting up.

The two of them headed out leaving Kai and Jade alone in the kitchen.

Kai put his head in his hands at his situation at which Jade stared at him with utmost amusement.

Why me?Bah! Humbug!

~At the party~

"Why does she have to be dating him of all people?" Ray asked no one really.

"For her it feels right for her to be with him," Mariah said looking at him and kissed his cheek. "Just like it feels right for us."

Ray sighed and looked down at her, and grinned, then kissed her lips. "I'll let it go tonight."

Mariah smiled at him. "I thought Wyatt had said that Maria wanted Tala to bring Jade to the party, but then Julia told me that he was babysitting her at home; she still not very happy about that.

Ray looked at her and laughed some. "He's going to be in so much shit. Now Jade will get whatever she wants from her brother. She knows that her mom had wanted him to take her to the party, and now she's missing it."

Mariah laughed some, and took his hand. "Come on. Let's dance."

Ray smiled at her and he let himself be dragged away by the pink haired girl that he loved so much.

Bryan sighed and looked at Lily, "You do realize that your brother is probably planning my death right now?"

Lily shrugged her shoulders. "He will have to kill me to get to you." Her hair was draped over her shoulder in a braid that almost touched the ground.

The party was' going pretty well, despite the fact that Tyson and Daichi were still at the buffet, it was going pretty good.

Wyatt was over to the side watching everyone. He was sitting alone. He was looking for his niece, and Tala. He really didn't want to go in of the fact that Tala was his nephew... That was just too weird for him.

Raul was sitting at table listing to his sister complain about the red head guy she threatened to kill if he didn't show up, and he never showed up. Now he was going to kill him for making him sit and listen to his sister.

~Elsewhere~

"Don't worry; Wyatt will look out for Jade too." Kaoru said looking at his fiancée and kissed her head.

Maria looked at him and smiled and nodded slowly. "We can always stop by the part after dinner. It will surprise them."

Kaoru nodded his head moved back a bit as the waiter set their food down.

An hour later the two of them made their way to the Majestics mansion in, which the party was being held. One of the butlers led them to the room where the party was being held.

Maria and Kaoru both looked around for signs of Jade or Tala and but could see neither of them.

Maria then began looking for Mr. Dickenson and Grandpa Granger, the only two adults who were supposed to be at the party when she saw Wyatt making his way over to them. "Hey, I'm glad you guys are here," he said in relief. "Do you have any idea where Jade or Tala is?"

"Us? I thought they were supposed to be here at the party?" Kaoru asked.

"You sure they not here, Wyatt?" Maria inquired.

"Positive. Neither are Kai and Hilary."

"Oh that boy, if Jade not with him_" Maria left her threat hanging, and took out her cell phone from her pocket. She dialed Tala's number and waited for him to pick up.

~Back at the dojo~

"Yes, I won hundred Rubbles for winning in a beauty contest!" Tala raised his fist in the air and picking up a 100 card from the pile in the bank.

Kai and Hilary were both giving him weird looks and Jade was giggling. They sat on the wooden dojo floor the game spread in front of them.

Tala's phone started ringing and he took it out of his jean's pocket. He looked at the caller ID and said, "Oh boy, it's mother, stay quiet now all of you."

Hilary and Kai exchanged smirks and Jade whispered,"Tala's in trouble."

"Hey mom,"Tala said into the mouth piece.

"Hello Tala, how's the party going?"He heard her ask.

"Oh, it's great, I'm with Julia right now, Jade's with Wyatt,"he lied; unaware that Wyatt was in front of his mom."How'd your dinner go?"

"Fine dear, we're still at the restaurant. May I talk to Jade?"she asked.

"Oh well, she's on the other side of the room, it'd take some time for her to get here,"Tala lied not wanting Jade to talk to their mom in case she told her the truth.

"No worries, I can wait."Maria replied.

"Right,"Tala said nervously,"Hold for a sec."

Tala took the cell away from his ear and began counting down from ten. When he reached zero he said,"Jade, mom wants to talk to you."

"Okay,"Jade smiled taking the phone. She then stood up and made her way out.

"What the hell?" Tala said watching the four year old walk out. "What kid walks out of the room to talk on the phone?"

"And to their mom," Hilary added laughing.

"Our turn," Kai said picking up the dice and rolling it.

"I'll be in so much trouble when she tells mom the truth.

"Hi momma,"Jade said.

"Sweetie, tell me honestly where are you?"Maria asked.

"The dojo,"

"And who's there with you?"

"Tala and Kai and Hilary,"she said counting them off on their fingers.

"And what are they doing?"Maria asked suspiciously.

"We're playing monopoly."

"Kai's playing monopoly?"

"Yes, but he seem mad, Hilary too, not as much as Kai."Jade said laughing.

"Of course they are,"Maria said more to herself then her daughter,"Jade, now don't mention that you had this conversation with me. If Tala asks tell him that you told me that you're at the party, 'kay?"

"Okay,"Jade agreed happily,"Bye."She was going to have a lot of fun with her big brother now that he owed him for not snitching on him.

Jade walked back into the room smiling mischievously.

"So, I'm betting you told mom," Tala asked her as she sat down between her and Kai.

"I didn't," Jade said sounding offended.

"You didn't?"Tala asked sounding genuinely shocked.

Jade just stuck he tongue out at Tala.

~Back at the party~

"Where are they?" Kaoru asked.

Maria sighed. "At dojo, bugging Kai and Hilary and ruining a supposed to be a date."

"That sounds like Tala," Kaoru agreed.

"Hilary and Kai must be pissed," Wyatt said laughing to himself.

"Why didn't you say anything to him?" Kaoru asked.

"Well," Maria said, and Wyatt could have sworn that he saw her smirking. "I can do to Tala won't be like Jade blackmail him into doing."

"True." Both brothers said simultaneously.

"You go enjoy yourself, Wyatt," Maria said to the boy, "We'll grab a table, and let you kids be."

"Thanks," Wyatt said and walked off towards where Kari was sitting talking to the Barthez Battalion team.

Melanie, Stephanie, Spencer and Ian were sitting at a table, having something to eat. The part was somewhat causal. The guys both had black pants and jackets on with a white dress shirt. Stephanie had a red blouse, with black pants and heels. She was wearing a necklace with a heart on it. She had got it last year for Christmas from her father, saying it was her mother's but it was now hers. Melanie has shocked everyone. She was wearing a black dress that went to her knees. It wasn't low cut or anything.

"Kai was freaked when I told him that I had a new boyfriend." said Kari who was talking with Mathilda. Kari was wearing short sleeve dress that was baby blue and a white scarf around her neck.

Maria watched everyone having fun. She herself couldn't remember having fun like this when she was younger. "Come on let's dance." Kaoru said standing up and holding out his hand to her.

Maria smiled at him and took his hand, as he led them to the floor.

Julia was getting a drink of punch when she saw a woman that looked an awful like Tala, and set her cup down, and walked over to her.

"Hey! Excuse me, but are you Tala's mother?" asked Julia looking at the woman in her mid thirties.

Maria looked at the young girl with orange and brown hair, and blinked. "I am and, who-"

"What's the big idea? You get your son to stay home and babysit your kid, and you show up to the party!" Julia snapped cutting her off.

Maria let go of Kaoru's hand and placed them both on her hips. She didn't know how to tell her in Japanese so she just went with Russian "Excuse me, young lady, but I happen to have told Tala to come to this party with his sister!"

Julia just gave her a blank stare.

"Tala's fucked." Melanie said walking over to them, holding some punch.

"Okay, why don't you tell me what she said then?" Julia snapped at Melanie.

Melanie raised a brow. "Listen bitch, Tala, told you he wasn't coming because his mom had told him to stay home and babysit, when Maria had told him to come to the party with Jade."

Julia looked at them and blinked, and took her phone from her dress and dialed Tala's number. She started walking off, waiting for Tala to pick up, as Maria on the other side decided to leave with Kaoru to go back home the party being too loud for them.

~Back at the dojo~

At the dojo the four of them were still playing monopoly, but after the first game which Kai and Hilary had one, now it was Tala and Hilary against Jade and Kai.

Tala's phone rang again, and he answered it. "Hi Julia," Tala said in a cheery voice.

"I know your mom told you to come here, where are you?" Julia snapped.

"Uh," Tala hesitated.

About two minutes passed with Tala not answering, trying to think of a decent response, when Kai groaned in frustration and snatched the phone.

"Julia," Kai said in a stiff voice, "He's here at the dojo, the only other people here are Hilary and Jade."

"Oh thanks, Kai," Julia said, caught off guard upon hearing Kai's voice.

"Here," Kai said throwing the phone in Tala's hand.

"Hi Julia," Tala repeated.

"Tala Ivanov," Julia growled, "If you're not here by midnight, I swear we're through."

Tala flinched at the sound and with that she cancelled the call.

"Well, I'd better be heading off," Tala said getting up from the floor. "C'mon Jade, we're going to the party."

Kai and Hilary both shook their heads and got up too.

"Julia threatened you?" Hilary asked in amusement.

"Something around the lines of threatening… or blackmailing, I guess," Tala said helping Jade with her jacket.

Hilary and Kai went with Tala and Jade to the door.

"Bye guys," Jade said exiting the house.

"Later, you two," Tala gave his signature wolfish smirk, "Sorry about ruining your romantic dinner date. Hehe."

"Get lost, Ivanov." Kai snapped and shut the door.

"Finally," Hilary huffed. "He leaves. At least we have a few hours on our own before everyone shows up. Too bad the game didn't end I wanted to see your face when I won." Hilary added the last part as an after thought.

"What'd you say?" Kai asked grabbing her arm and turning her to face him.

"I said," Hilary smirked, "that it would be amusing to see your face when Iwould win."

"Is that a bet?" Kai asked closing the distance between them; he was close, dangerously close.

"You're on, Hiwatari." Hilary smirked, getting out of Kai's hold.

They both made their way towards the training room and their unfinished game.

Hope everyone enjoyed this. This will be an on going and slow story. We do have other chapters done, but with kaihil lover in school and myself working its hard to be on at the same time, and that we live on the other side of the plant. Well please review! :)