Ceskia:

I turn my head slightly and smile as I hear the plane fly over the house, beside me Abigail gives an excited laugh as she dries her hands on a tea towel.

"Are you coming out to greet them?" She asks with a smile.

"I will finish peel the potatoes Mother," I tell her but glance at my husband who is watching me hopefully.

"You go Mikkarl," I say the words I know he is wanting to hear. I turn my attention back to the sink full of potatoes waiting to be peeled and smile to myself as I hear both my mother-in-law and my husband leave the room quickly. I have been extremely lucky with my husbands' parents for they have embraced me like a daughter welcoming me into their family and home.

I wait allowing the family to greet their own first, always I have done this since the first Christmas I have been a part of this family. I sigh softly as I remember back then. It had been a bleak time with much sorrow, an empty place at the table eased only by Kyle's presence Christmas afternoon and on the following day. As I remember the seven following Christmas' I work quickly to finish the potatoes. I am on my last potato when I hear the screen door slam and the sound of small feet running through the house.

"Zia! My Zia where are you!"

I empty my hands and turn to face the room waiting for the little tornado that will sweep into the room. Dark flashing eyes like her father and shiny black hair tied back in pigtails she runs into the room and throws herself at me. I scoop her up happily and hug her close. Small hands catch my face and she rains kisses over both cheeks.

"My Melody, my song of happiness how big you got," I marvel as I take in her smiling face, her pink cheeks.

"I get to stay here and wait for Santa!" Melody says in delight before frowning as she looks deep into my eyes.

"You fink Santa will find me here?" She asks seriously.

"Melody Abigail Willoughby, what have I been telling you?"

I glance over her shoulder to smile at Steven, my brother-in-law, as he stands in the doorway with his son.

"Zia?" Melody appeals to me with hopeful eyes.

"Yes Santa find you here," I say to reassure her.

"See Melody, Dad told ya so," Kyle says as he walks over for a hug.

I put an arm around his shoulders and pull him close, I lay my cheek against the top of his head a moment. We have an agreement, no kisses as he is too grown up at twelve for kisses but he is never too old for a hug. Kyle moves aside and Steven gives me a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek before stepping back.

"I'll go annoy my little brother aka your husband," Steven says with a cheeky grin as he turns away.

"Me staying with my Zia!" Melody says firmly as if there is any doubt. Both Kyle and Steven laugh as they walk towards the door. I watch them as they go, Kyle almost a miniature version of his father. For a moment I feel the familiar ache of not being able to give Mikkarl that but the small face that rubs against my shoulder makes me smile. I place Melody on the bench beside the sink and turn back to the potatoes.

"Hey Ceskia," Peter says warmly from the doorway as he comes in. I return his hug and smile as he collects some cold cans of drink from the fridge.

"Why don't you leave those and come out and catch up with everyone?" Peter asks.

"Just last one then I be finish," I say with a wave of my hand.

"Go 'way Uncle Pete, we wimmins are busy," Melody says with a long-suffering sigh.

I can't help myself and laugh at the little imp before giving her a stern look.

"No talk to you Uncle like that," I say firmly even as Peter is on his way out the door.

It isn't long before I have finished peeling the last potato and leave them sitting in a pot of clean water. Melody skips along beside me as I head outside with a small bottle of fruit juice for Melody and a can of lemon squash for myself. We find the rest of the family sitting on chairs in the shade, Steven pats his knee but Melody shakes her head and clings to my skirt as I move to an empty chair beside Mikkarl. No sooner I sit down than Melody climbs into my lap and rests her head on my shoulder and gives a yawn.

"If you'd had a nap like you were told you wouldn't be tired," Steven says as he lifts an eyebrow at his daughter.

"I needed to see my Zia!" Melody insists and all of the adults present laugh.

"Want to come to Nanna for a cuddle?" Abigail asks and I subtly urge Melody to abandon my lap for her grandmothers.

I see the way Abigail wraps her arms around the small body and holds the child to her, Melody sighs softly and pops a thumb between her lips as her eyes blink tiredly. Kyle is sitting between his grandfather and Uncle Andy while Peter watched the three of them working on assembling a model train. Melody starts humming around her thumb and I know every adult here glances at her with a smile. I feel Mikkarl take my hand and squeeze it gently and I look his way with a smile.

"Tomorrow morning is going to be something," Mikkarl murmurs softly. I smile at my love and find myself thanking my lucky stars that I had wandered to Australia.

I stroke the silky soft hair back off Melody's forehead before straightening and looking down at my sleeping niece. Her dark eyelashes cast shadows over her creamy skin, her cheeks are pink from earlier exertion but now she is still as she sleeps. I can see her mother in the curve of her lips, the arch of her brows, but she has the Willoughby dark colouring. In the other bed Kyle waits his good night and I turn to him with a smile. I fuss over smoothing the covers over his chest before giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze, Kyle smiles and reaches his arms up and I bend close to hug my nephew.

"Good night Aunt Zia," Kyle says.

"Good night Kyle," I whisper back before leaving the room. I find Mikkarl in the lounge room with his brothers and parents and I happily sit on his lap when he holds his arms out to me.

"The boys are talking about going for a run shortly," Stephan says as he glances at his four sons.

"You'll come won't you Ceskia?" Andy asks quietly. There are murmurs of agreement from Steven and Peter and I nuzzle into Mikkarl's neck.

"Yes I like night runs," I answer softly and feel Mikkarl's arms tighten around me.

The air is warm and sultry outside as we quickly remove our clothing, I fold mine neatly and place it on the chair I had been sitting on earlier in the day. I move out onto the grass before dropping onto my hands and knees beside my husband as I begin my transformation. When all of us have finished we stretch and move to greet each other's cats. I purr and rub my striped body against my husband as he rubs the scent gland on the side of his face against my front shoulders.

Only Steven is close to my size as a cat but all of the males are happy to let me lead them off into the surrounding night. I trot down to the large dam that was made for my pleasure and walk into the cool water to splash happily. I glance at where the four black forms lap water where a small stream feeds into the dam and rush towards them making water spray up at them. Andy and Pete back away but Mikkarl joins me in the shallow water as Steven watches on.

When Mikkarl leads the way out of the dam I follow happily and follow him as he leads the way through the gum trees. A light misting rain begins to fall and the warm air is thick with the scent of the trees, it is so different to the smells of my native home but I love it here. I pause for a moment beside a large tree before standing up on my hind legs and scratching my mark deep in the bark as high as I can reach. Mikkarl stops to look back at me and gives a soft call, I drop back to all four paws before trotting over to him and rubbing my head against his affectionately. I lick the side of his face and up behind one ear before turning and dashing off at a fast lope, behind me I hear him give chase and purr to myself as I increase speed.

I hear a faint sound that wakes me and I lift my head from Mikkarl's shoulder to look around. There is a childish giggle then a small body flings itself onto the bed with us. I smile as I glance down at Melody, the impact of her body as she throws herself at me has Mikkarl rolling over and looking at both of us with a smile.

"Why aren't you still in bed Miss Melody?" Mikkarl asks and glances at the bedside clock. "It's barely five o'clock,"

"There's presents under the Christmas tree Zia!" Melody whispers in wide-eyed excitement. "You fink Santa been Zia?"

Mikkarl slips his arm around her small body tucking her under the sheet between the two of us much to Melody's dismay.

"Sleep you little Hooligan," Mikkarl says lightly then yawns widely.

"I not a Hooligan!" Melody says indignantly before yelling loudly. "Daddy! Daddy! Uncle Mikkarl being mean to me!"

There is no immediate reply and I have no doubt Melody's yell just woke Steven if not the entire household.

"Daddy!" Melody yells in demand after a few moments of silence.

"Melody," Mikkarl says firmly and Melody hides her face against my chest. "Snuggle in bed for a bit before getting up."

Melody makes a soft noise but cuddles into my side without complaint. I hear the faint sound of footsteps just outside the bedroom door and slip my arms around Melody.

"Hey Mikkarl," Steven says quietly before the door squeaks slightly as it is opened fully. "Want me to take the bedbug?"

"Nar, she'll be right," Mikkarl says easily. "Six okay?"

"Yeah, just give a yell if you need rescuing," Steven tells us with a chuckle. I listen to the faint sounds as he walks away while Melody lays curled up between us. I half expect Melody to fight staying in bed until she is told to get up but she tries to be good and this morning is no exception as she naps with us before her usual wake up time.

The soft notes of the first few early birds brings me awake as does the wriggling of a small body beside me. I glance down at Melody and watch as she rubs the sleep from her eyes, she looks up at me and gives me a smile before glancing at Mikkarl.

"Ready to get out of bed?" Mikkarl asks quietly. Melody nods eagerly and sits up before pausing to look at us both.

"You coming too?" Melody asks eagerly.

"Of course we are munchkin," Mikkarl says. Immediately Melody climbs out of bed and runs from the room calling out to her father and brother.

"We best be up," I say with a glance at Mikkarl. He smiles and leans close to kiss me on the lips, my body tingles reminding me of last night when we retired to bed.

"Good morning Mrs Willoughby," Mikkarl murmurs against my lips.

"My Zia! Uncle Mikkarl!" Melody's yell has us both laughing as we get out of bed. Quickly I pull on a skirt and top before following Mikkarl out to the lounge room. When Abigail walks in from the kitchen everyone is here waiting with Melody standing between Kyle and Steven's chairs literally bouncing in excitement. We quickly sit down and Stephan looks at Mikkarl.

"I think it's time for you to take over handing out the presents," Stephan says in a steady voice. "You are Alpha of our Clan now,"

There is silence for a few minutes and I start to think Mikkarl is about to refuse when he clears his throat and gets to his feet with a hesitant glance around the room. I feel tears pool in my eyes as Melody steps forward to take one of his large hands in her small ones.

" It's okay I'll help you, I remember how to do it from last year," Melody says in a serious voice. Everyone watches in silence as Melody leads Mikkarl to the stool in front of the Christmas tree where he sits down. Mikkarl lifts one of the presents from beneath the tree and reads the tag.

"To Granddad from Kyle and Melody," Mikkarl carefully places the present in Melody's arms and she carries it to Stephan. One by one the process is repeated with every present under the tree, when all the presents are handed out we begin opening the presents. There are excited exclamations from Melody and Kyle as they open their many presents. I glance up when the timer buzzes in the kitchen but Abigail is already on her feet and she shakes her head indicating she doesn't need help. A few minutes later she stands in the doorway and claps her hands.

"Breakfast is ready!"

"I'm starving!" Kyle says bounding towards his grandmother, a box of Lego in one hand. I glance around the room at the discarded wrapping paper only to have Stephan catch my eye and shake his head at me before heading into the kitchen. I walk to the door and pause to glance back at Mikkarl who is the only one left in the room. In his right hand he has one of the small red and white striped candy canes off the tree, he places it on the shelf over the fireplace in front of a picture frame.

"I wish you could have met our niece Celeste," Mikkarl says softly. As he turns towards me I hold a hand out towards him, he walks to me and pulls me close and hugs me for a moment before dropping a kiss on my lips.

"I don't know what I would do without you my love," Mikkarl says softly before kissing me deeply where his sister can watch from the photo-frame.