Who doesn't long to be held?

It was once again Christmas at the Stewart household, and as always Madeline had invited everyone to come and join them. Isobel and Christian had come home the night before, laden with gifts and laughter. There were things to be caught up on, games to be played with Ainsely and homework to be gone over with Jake. The family was complete once again, and everyone seemed perfectly happy, despite some of the difficult things that had occured in the past year. Some subjects, like Izzy's baby, were avoided entirely.

Isobel herself seemed unusually cheerful. Which was quite a feat, considering that she was typically a happy person. The guest list was enormous. Every teacher from CBA had been invited. Julie had come early to help with cooking, dragging Derek in tow. The two had been an odd couple for a number of year now, but Julie seemed to have leashed the wandering man. Mostly. Alyssa was there, with her little girl Twyla. Her husband was working somewhere, wherever in the country his music had taken him this time.

David and Alaster were, as always invited but they would arrive later. Aidan and Josephine, had arrived not so long ago. Their children were in Italy, and the couple would be flying out to join them the next day. Vivianna was there too, and with her boyfriend. Aidan kept looking daggers at him, and Isobel felt sympathy for the boy.

The party was going at full swing. Nine year old Ainsley had commandeered Twyla, who was exactly her age. The two girls were playing ponies and having a grand old time. Josephine and Julie were in the kitchen with Madeline, having tossed out all of the males. Except for Jonathan, who insisted on staying and completeing his tradition of always cooking the dinner. Morgan, Aidan and Tetsu were all sharing stories about kids and running off anyone interested in them. Derek hovered near the conversation, totally in agreement with everything said. Alyssa sat on the couch, chatting with the twins and Jake.

As if the house wasn't full enough, the door opened once more to admit Bailee and Jenny with their little baby, Valentine. Isobel swooped down on the baby, relieving Jenny of her burden. Alyssa and Jenny gravitated towards each other, talk of marriage and babies first on their minds. Izzy returned to Chris, holding the baby boy, cooing all the while. Bailee followed her, striking up a conversation with her twin, only pausing when Ainsley and Twyla wandered over to show off their beautifully styled manes. The newcomers had just settled in, when the door opened for the final time. Three people squeezed into the house, David and Alastar quickly joining the men of their own age. David had claimed his grandson, so Isobel walked over to Viviana and her boyfriend. They chatted for a while, adding Roo to their number.

It was a few minutes into the conversation, that Edgar (Vivianna's date), cleared his throat and pointed above Isobel's head. She blinked and looked up, staring stupidly at the twig that dangled from the ceiling. She kept staring at it, until someone's hand touched her face. She looked at Roo, and felt her stomach sink. They'd not yet shared with anyone their relationship aside from Christian.

Roo's smirk spelled doom for Isobel, but she wondered if doom had ever looked so good before. She smiled back, and placed what could pass for a chaste kiss to his lips. Roo, however, had other ideas. He pulled her close, deepening the kiss. Somewhere behind her, she heard Chris groan. She knew that at least one glass dropped, and what was Alyssa wolf-whistling them. That was all before she began to kiss Roo back. It was a few minutes before Isobel pulled away. She looked at Edgar, who was staring at them in horror.
"It was like kissing family." She reassured him. In the background she heard Chris smack his palm into his forehead, and heard Jake mutter 'she better never kiss me like that'.

However, it was the ominous sound of her father's throat clearing that had her turning with dread. Roo took her hand, and she clasped it tightly.
"Don't tell me I forgot to tell everyone." She said meekly.

(OOC: My inspiration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLMJtmFfxf8 )