"CJ, vamanos! Everyone is going to start coming soon," his mom said, popping her head in the room door.

The woman in her early 30s was still in her cooking apron and her curly dark hair in a haphazard bun. CJ arched his brow, very reminiscent of his abuelo. "What about you? You look like a kitchen wench."

His mom narrowed her eyes a little at him. "Get ready. And no more reading Shakespeare for you. You're 8," his mom said as she hurried away to get back to her station in the kitchen. CJ could smell the food cooking from upstairs. He sighed as he looked at what to wear. He really did need to get dressed and downstairs. He had friends coming over for dinner. Their parents were on location working on a film and had been left with the nanny. Not to mention his mom's sister and her husband and their three kids. And the rest of the family too.

CJ almost dropped his sweater as he realized his friends had never met his títí and tío. He had mentioned them of course. How could he not? His títí and tío were amazing actors and musicians. His títí had Emmys, Grammys, and a Tony among other awards. The same for his tío. But his friends didn't really know how they were. His mom's sister and her husband were not what one would expect. And from the outside looking in, one would not expect them to work together. He hoped it went well.

CJ welcomed his friends, the Rodriguez siblings, Nicki and Jaime. "Hey, welcome to the Velasquez family Christmas party," CJ proclaimed.

"It's not going to be a party until your tío and abuelo get here," his dad said, coming to take Nicki and Jaime's things for them.

"Elvis, don't jinx it," his mom warned. "Come in. You can relax, Mariana," his mom said to the Rodriguez's nanny. Mariana smiled and walked towards the den of the large house.

CJ's dad shrugged. "I thought it was pretty funny."

Nicki and Jaime looked to CJ for an explanation. "Uh....Christmas decorating accident..." He wasn't sure if they believed him or not.

His mom rolled her eyes. "Thinks because he played Tarzan that he can swing from my roof."

His dad snickered. "I mean your dad did get him down."

Nicki arched her brow. "Christmas decorating accident?"

CJ sighed. "It's a long story." But it always was when his tío was involved.

The Velazquez home was filling with family from both sides. CJ's maternal grandparents had gotten there along with his mom's first cousins on that side and their kids. He could also see his dad's younger sister getting herself all prepped with make up. "My namesake," he heard.

CJ jumped up and rushed to hug his tío. "Bonjour oncle! Joyeux Noel." He was wrapped in the man's arms and picked up into a bear hug.

"Babe, put him down," CJ's títí said, coming up carrying their youngest, Ollie.

His tío loosened his hold on him letting him land back on his feet. His tío looked like he always did with shaggy light brown hair that got a little more blond at the end, a band shirt, up cycled jeans, his mismatching socks, and a pair of hiking boots. At least this time he had on pants.

The 40 year old man was in contrast to his wife that looked like she stepped off a runway wearing a green cashmere dress that clung to her body that was complimented with gold jewelry and her curls pinned back with snowflake barrettes.

CJ looked to his friends who were staring between his tío and títí. "Guys, meet my Títí Madison and my Tío Charlie."

His cousin RJ had joined him in helping to get ready for the annual Kids Variety Show. "Sorry we were late. Ollie drank too much water so we had to stop so Mama could take him to the bathroom."

CJ shrugged. "It's okay. Ollie is only 3. I just feel bad for Tío. Títí Jane still acts like she can steal her away from Títí."

RJ rolled his light brown eyes. "Please. Papa worships Mama. Has since they met. Well that is what Abuelo says."

The 62 year old man in question walked by the two boys. "It's true. Boy was a mess when Madison looked at him. Hasn't changed in twenty years."

CJ and RJ laughed as their grandfather walked off like he wasn't spilling his son in law's secrets.

"What are you two doing? Get the curtain for the stage," RJ's older sister said with her father's same exuberance. The 13 year old had her dark curls held back with a headband but CJ could tell she was going to put it in under a hair cap for a performance.

RJ rolled his eyes. "Calm down V. The show is after dinner." The oldest of the three narrowed her hazel eyes on them with her lips in a severe straight line like her mother's. "Uh...we're on it."

"Merci." She flashed them a smile showing off the Reyes family tooth gap.

RJ looked around then. "Wait...where is Simone," he asked of CJ's kindergarten aged sister.

Despite there seemingly being more food than one could eat, there was still food to cook. Or rather barbecue. "You seriously are going to go out there to turn on the grill," CJ's mom asked her brother in law.

His tío tilted his head as he tended to do when he was confused. "Of course. Why are you surprised by that Megs?"

CJ's mom shook her head. "Oh I don't know. Maybe because it is 28 degrees outside. Unless you want to get hypothermia."

Tío Charlie just chuckled. "I'm Canadian. That's nothing. Besides, Dad said he'd help."

Abuelo looked up from chewing on the appetizers that had been set out. "I'm helping with what now?"

Títí Madison was glaring at her dad. "Char says you are going to help him barbecue outside." She had that 'mom' face on. You'd think that it came with having three children but she had achieved it before that. Her husband and two bandmates were overgrown children. CJ had spent time with the two others and could attest to the insanity the three got into when not supervised.

Abuelo looked properly scared of his oldest daughter. "In my defense, he said he wanted help making stuff. I didn't know he wanted to freeze his balls off."

Títí narrowed her eyes. "I'd rather his balls stay intact, thank you."

RJ facepalmed next to him. "Can I have a normal family for one day," he mumbled to himself.

Nicki and Jaime looked at them. "Your uncle isn't serious, right? He doesn't really want to use the grill with it being so cold and snowy outside, right?"

CJ and RJ looked between each other. "Completely."

"At least he has clothes on this time," Elvis commented.

Títí and Abuela blanched. RJ shivered. "Look on the bright side. He knows to put on cream now," CJ tried.

His mom shook her head furiously. "Nope. I don't need to see a naked Charlie covered in a rash again."

CJ's friends had wide eyes. "He was filming the Tarzan sequel and lost his loincloth. He was making a campfire. Something he touched in the Gambian jungles broke him out in a rash." This only made their eyes widen more. "What? That's not the worst that has happened to him."

Títí Madison pinched the bridge of her nose. "No. That would go to him getting fish hooks stuck in his foot. He still has the scars from the stitches on the bottom."

His tío started pulling off one of his boots. "Yeah the scar looks really gnarly too. Want to see?"

"Charlie," his títí snapped, annoyed.

Her husband looked at her, not understanding why she was stopping him. "It's not bad. It's not like when I accidentally flashed some Fantoms in your live."

Venus was mortified next to him at her parents. That particular incident happened when she was a baby but was well known. "Lo siento, prima."

"Pretty sure they are trying for another one, too," RJ commented as the kids watched the adults go back and forth about the Canadian actor and musician.

CJ felt bad for not having prepared his friends for what it was like with his family. His Títí Jane was conveniently locked in the garage after practically shoving her chest in his Tío's face. CJ was surprised that his Títí Madison didn't whoop her for that one. And Abuelo and his dad were singing...something. Apparently someone really dumped the rum into the coquito this year. He was still trying to figure out how Venus and RJ rigged up Simone to a harness that came down from the ceiling. When his mom found out about that one....yeah he was going to be absent for that part of the show.

"Hey are you zoning out like my dad," RJ asked his partner in crime. They were going to turn Ollie into a chicken.

CJ shook his head. "I'm fine. Where is that glue?"

RJ smirked, looking like his dad with mischief twinkling in his eyes. "In the art room. I'll get Ollie away from the dogs."

CJ smirked. "Perfect. This is going to be awesome!"

"Thank you ma famille for being here for our variety show. The next part of our show will be how Mama and Papa met 20 years ago," Venus announced like the natural performer she was.

CJ snickered as Simone stepped out with glasses sans lenses and in an outfit reminiscent of her aunt's. Everyone was in for a surprise. Venus had rushed to dress as Tío Kenny to introduce 'Madison' to 'Charlie'. CJ and RJ had to clamp their hands over their mouths as they heard the gasps from the family.

"Owen Louis, que paso," Títí Madison shouted in shock.

The toddler looked at everyone, not understanding anything. He scratched his feather covered head. "CJ and RJ said it was Old MacDonald," the innocent boy said with big green eyes.

The two 8 year old tricksters paled. Curse the always honest boy! "Carlos Ricardo," his mom roared.

"Richard Patrick," his títí howled at the same time. CJ looked at RJ.

"RUN," they screamed at each other and ran for the stairs.

"Come back here right now! You will get this papao!"

As the two boys ran to save their skin, they saw their dads guiding Ollie away to get the glue and feathers off. "Maybe we should have never mentioned that Mads thought I looked like a chicken when we met," his tío said to his dad.

CJ was laying down in the den with his cousins and friends. "So that's how your family celebrates Christmas," Jaime asked.

CJ blushed. "Uh...well all holidays really. I would understand if you thought it was too much to handle. My family is kind of a lot."

Jaime looked to his sister who nodded to him silently. They were two years apart but seemed to share one brain at times. "Are you kidding? This was the best invitation we've ever had. Your family is a riot!"

Nicki agreed. "I love how crazy your dad, your tío, and your abuelo are together."

CJ smiled in relief. "My abuelo always wanted to have sons. And once my mom met my dad, she knew he would fit right in with the family. Títí had Tío wrapped around her finger from the start.

Nicki practically swooned. "That is so romantic."

Jaime rolled his eyes. "Anyway, we are going to be here for a few days. So...what does your family do for New Year's?"