Santa and Cake >>Ads, Katie, Sirius, Bri...Open<<

[Regulus Black]

On Christmas Eve, all was quiet in the Bell-Black flat. It was about one o'clock in the afternoon, and preparations had been made for the party that was to follow on Christmas day. Not just a party for the holiday...a party for Katie as well. She'd had her birthday about half a week before, and Regulus and Adriana had laughed while they taught her how to blow out a candle haphazardly pushed into a cupcake. The three-year-old was energetic as ever, not truly understanding Christmas, but thrilled at the idea of getting presents after her birthday presents. Of which she'd yet to tire--Katie's new favorite toy was a magical little doll that sang softly when she rocked it back and forth. A discovery that Regulus and Adriana had made together, on one of their joint shopping trips to Diagon Alley.

The star of the evening was entertaining herself in her room at the moment, and Regulus could faintly hear the sound of the doll from the living room. He was glancing through a book, brushing up on some Defense Against the Dark Arts material. Not that he didn't know all about it already, but...he figured it'd be better to be safe than sorry. Most of what he was reading, he'd seen or experienced firsthand already.

He yawned, shaking his hair out of his eyes and leaning back against the couch. It was going to be a long day tomorrow...

[Sirius Black]

Sirius grinned as he stuffed all the presents into a sack to take to Regulus and Addie's. He would be sleeping on their couch tonight, so that he was there to open presents when he woke up. Sirius loved Christmas, the presents the food, the friends, and this year, family. He had only just finished wrapping the presents about five minutes ago, and now they were all in the sack ready to go. Straightening up he grinned down at the sack,a ll he had to do now was pack a clean t shirt for tomorrow, and make sure he hadn't forgotten any presents, and he was ready to go.

This final check didn't take very long, and Sirius had soon heaved the sack onto his back, and was preparing to apprate to the bush near Regulus and Addie's.

He arrived with a pop, and Sirius made his way down the street, towards the flat. He was soon knocking on the door, and waited patiently for it to be opened.

[Adriana Bell-Black]

The scent of a holiday dinner sailed through the house as Adriana once again opened the over to monitor her Ham. She was careful to put an extra effort this year, as it would be the first in which they were able to share it with people other than themselves. Katie would finally get to experience what Christmas should feel like, especially since she was beginning to understand more and make stronger memories. Walking around the kitchen, she flicked her wand around checking on the other dishes, and a small cake in which she had Katie help her with. The nauseatingly bright green frosting was smeared with the occasional fingerprint clearly visible and concentrated spots of bright red sprinkles adorned the cake. Smiling at her daughter’s creation, Adriana made her way out of the kitchen to hunt for said witch and dress her properly for the occasion.

Fluids steps as silent as a preying lion’s, Adriana snuck up on her unsuspecting daughter and tickled her into submission. After having won the tickle battle, she carried her giggling witch into the bedroom where she quickly removed the tattered overalls-Katie’s favorite- for a beautiful Navy dress, sequined around the bottom, making snowflakes on the bottom half of the dress. Quickly charming Katie’s hair into simple curls, she kissed her daughter on the forehead bringing her down from the changing table. With Katie’s hand in hers she made her way into the living room to leave Katie with Regulus under some sort of supervision.


Just as Adriana stepped into the room, a knock was heard. Quickly reaching the door, she opened it with a bright smile enthusiastically hugging Sirius. “Thank goodness you’re here, I was beginning to think you’d found better things to do.” She said sheepishly. Adriana was just as excited as Katie possibly was, she had always been a fan of Christmas and although this was no giant party by any means but it was special none the less. “Come on in, I’ll put your bags in our room so Katie can’t get into them.” She said with a proud grin, Katie was a very curious child, much like her mother and if given the chance she would explore through everyone’s belongings ruining any surprise.

[Sirius Black]

Sirius grinned at Addie as she opened the door and engulfed him in an enthusiastic hug. "Better than spending time with my family? I'd be hard pushed to fins something that would drag me away." Sirius nodded at Addie's suggestion of putting his bags out of the way, especially as one of them contained a certain little inquisitive witch's present (or two or three).

Sirius followed Addie into the flat, and dumped his bags in a corner of the bedroom. Shutting the door behind him he felt something collide with his legs, and was very glad that Katie wasn't any taller. He grinned down at the curly haired tyke, and reached down and picked her up by the arm pits, and swung her round, before squeezing her and putting her down again. "How's my favourite niece doing this fine Christmas Eve?"

[Regulus Black]

Regulus glanced up from his book as Adriana and Katie walked into the living room. While his beautiful girlfriend went to answer the door, Regulus automatically took over toddler control. Marking his page, he sat up and set the book aside. "Wow, Katie, did mum do your hair for you?" he asked.

Katie nodded enthusiastically and said, "Lookit this, daddy!" She began to spin in circles so that the hem of her blue dress poofed out around her legs. Katie giggled and spun uncontrollably, and Regulus leaned forward to catch her as she spiraled close to the coffee table. He looked over at the door as Adriana escorted Sirius into the flat.

"Merry Christmas, Sirius," Regulus said politely. Adriana led Sirius into their bedroom to hide his belongings and presents from Katie, who immediately began to wriggle her way out of his hands.

"Daddy, lemme go, I wanna see Uncle Sirius," she whined. Regulus smiled and released her, following slightly behind Katie's streak and watching as she threw herself around his brother's knees.

He leaned against the door-frame of the bedroom and said, "Katie, why don't you show Uncle Sirius your new singing dolly? I bet he'll have a really good name for her." Regulus himself had run out of ideas for Katie's plentiful dolls long ago, and unless she wanted a collection of Bettys, she'd have to rely on her uncle to humor her. And he couldn't resist letting his suave older brother be bullied into playing pretend dolls by a three year old little girl. Sirius hadn't been that imaginative and humoring even when he and Regulus were children.

Katie jumped up and down in excitement and tore out of the room to find her latest toy. Regulus looked over at Adriana. "Need help finishing dinner, love? Setting the table? I am at your command." he offered.

[Adriana Bell-Black]

Adriana watched happily as Regulus came into view shortly after a giggling little witch. So far, this Christmas was becoming the best, most her loved ones under one roof. Taking advantage of a distracted little witch, she made sure Sirius's presents were completely hidden before walking over and wrapping her arms around her boyfriend.

Giggling at the relief clearly across Sirius's face that Katie wasn't any taller, she agreed with Regulus's suggestion that Katie keep occupied, even if it ment subjecting Sirius to her latest torture device. “Thats a great idea darling, Katie can show Uncle Sirius the dolly, which will give me enough time to finish the trimmings and set the table.”

Taking a step back from Regulus she made to exit the room. “Yes love that would be fantastic. You could set the table as I plate everything. All the trimmings are just warming with the Ham. Everything else is already ready to go.” Glancing back at the other Black brother. “Do you think you can handle her Sirius? Just for a few minutes so that we can ensure that you can eat, last time Katie was left loose lunch ended up everywhere because she pummeled me from behind running from Regs as I was plating it.”

[Sirius Black]

Sirius rolled his eyes, if Regulus thought this was going to be torture he was wrong. Addie had been right, Katie had done a better job of Taming him than any other girl had done, ever. He had no problem listening to Katie babble about her dolls, it was cute and if that was what made her happy he wasn't going to complain. It was better than listening to fan girls gush incoherently about 'like everything' as he frequently had to put up with.

"Sure Addie no problem. Where's this new dolly then shortie?" He said kneeling down to Katie's level to talk to her. "How comes you haven't named her yet?" Katie grabbed his hand and dragged her towards his bedroom he laughed. "Save me before the food goes cold." he called over his shoulder as he diappeared through the doorway.

He found himself commanded to sit in the middle of the floor, as Katie made the doll sing to him.

"She need a name." said Katie, with a small pout that looked so much like Addies he laughed. "Daddy won't help." and the pout became more pronounced. He looked down at the doll, it was quite pretty as dolls went, curly brown hair, and a flowery dress. If you stretched your imagination it could have looked like Katie.

"What about... Katerina?" he said after a moments thought.

[Regulus Black]

Regulus cheerfully began to lay out the place settings, wishing only briefly that he could flick his wand over the table and finish the chore in an instant. Living with his beautiful girlfriend had taught him to occasionally enjoy basic tasks the muggle way. At his parents' home on Christmas, Kreacher would have done all this while he and his brother avoided getting in the way of the adults. The Black family always had a very traditional view of children being seen but not heard.

Listening to Sirius and Katie chatter in the next room, Regulus reflected happily that this was another aspect of his upbringing he wouldn't be encouraging in his home. Now that he was watching Katie grow up, he began to see that his parents weren't quite interested in he and Sirius in the same way. They were accomplishments waiting to happen, feathers in the Black cap that should have made the line proud. Instead, well...Regulus thought that all those ideas were antiquated anyway. Kids should be kids, and he was happy to see his daughter be happy.

He glanced up at Adriana as he finished laying out silverware and dishes. Katie even had a miniature placesetting for herself this year. The love of his life was certainly outdoing herself in the kitchen this year, from the delectable fragrance wafting throughout the apartment. Regulus took his chance to sneak up behind her as she focused on plating some side dishes, slipping his arms around her waist.

"I do believe this is the best Christmas I can remember," he said cheerfully, with a little kiss on her left cheek.