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Christmas Eve. A night of merriment, good food, and stress. Well, at least stress for the host. 

This year, Jeongyeon, now Duchess of Greenshire, has taken on the responsibility of hosting her family for Christmas Eve. To say that she has been worried is a gross understatement. 

“It is already 5 o’clock, our guests will be arriving in half an hour. Where are the poinsettia arrangements?” Jeongyeon asks, giving the room a once over while wringing her hands together. 

“Mr. Jennings told me that they should be prepared momentarily and will be ready in time for dinner,” Seungmin tells her calmly as he follows behind his wife. 

“And where are the children?” Jeongyeon asks, fidgeting with the cloth hanging over a side table in the foyer. 

“Their maids are readying them for tonight. As I told you, my darling, everything will go accordingly,” Seungmin says, calmly coming up behind Jeongyeon and smoothing his palms over her shoulders. 

“Have I ever told you how exquisite you look in purple,” he says as he brushes away a tendril of hair and presses a soft kiss to the skin below her ear. 

On a normal day, Jeongyeon would blush, perhaps even let out an endeared chuckle but today, she could not shake the stress from her shoulders. “Seungmin! This is not the time for such indulgences!” 

“You worry too much.” Seungmin’s palms slide down her arms. 

“And you not enough,” she huffs, breaking away to rush down the hall towards the large dining room. Staff rush by her, some pausing for instructions or updates, others hurrying past to put the final touches on the decor. 

Seungmin sighs. 

“I will go check on the children,” he calls out to her but receives only a distracted hum of approval. 

Seconds slip into minutes and soon a resounding knock seems to reverberate through the manor. Jeongyeon brushes her palms off on her dress before hurrying to join her family in the morning room. She can hear the front door open and the murmured voice of one of her brothers. Junho, their eldest son tugs on the restricting collar of his shirt as Seungmin fusses with their daughter. 

“My graces, your parents, the Viscount and Viscountess of Draycott, and the honorable Chan and Minhee Bang,” the butler introduces. 

“Everything looks beautiful, dove,” the Viscount says, bringing Jeongyeon in for a hug and shaking Seungnmin’s hand. “It truly does, darling,” her mother follows suit. Jeongyeon thanks the two but is cut off by her brother. 

“Dearest sister!” Chan calls with a wide smile on his face, meeting Jeongyeon halfway for a hug. “I am excited to see what you have in store for us this year!”

“Oh you should have seen her! She has been frantically running around the manor all day,” Seungmin jokes. Jeongyeon lightly smacks his arm. 

“You didn’t have to go through all of that trouble for us Jeongyeon,” Minhee says. Her own 2 sons run after their father and her daughter remains at her hip. 

“I assure you, it wasn’t as bad as my husband is making it out to be,” Jeongyeon squeezes Seungmin’s arm a bit tighter than necessary. 

It does nothing to wipe the amused grin from his face. 

“And who is that? Surely it can’t be Junho! You must be another head taller since the last time I saw you!” Chan jokes, moving past Jeongyeon to bring his nephew into a bear hug.  

“Uncle, you saw me just last week!” Squeals Junho. 

“And I swear you grow each time I do,” lifting the 7 year old into the air and spinning him. 

“What about me, Uncle Chan?” A higher voice calls out. 

Placing Junho down, he turns to his niece, barely past 5 years old. 

“How could I ever forget about you, Geumseong?” He says, arms stretched to the side for her small frame to run straight into. 

A small smile creeps onto Jeongyeon’s face for the first time all day. The stress of the morning and afternoon is already starting to pay off. All she has to do is enjoy herself… and also make sure every element of the night goes as planned. 

Sigh. 

A new voice breaks through the joyful chatter. “There certainly is a dreadful chill out there!”

“Uncle Jisung!” Every child in the room squeals as they all but tackle the man. 

“Children! You must be careful! There is now a baby in the room!” Minho scolds. 

“Here he is!” Felicity’s sweet voice introduces the newest member of the Bang clan. The baby boy is wrapped in warm swaddling bands 

and bundled in a thick blanket. Jeongyeon and Minhee flock to Felicity. 

“Oh isn’t Peter absolutely darling!” Jeongyeon coos, brushing a finger across the baby’s cheek. 

“How have you been fairing, Felicity?” Minhee asks. 

“Well! I don’t want to jinx myself but Peter has been a rather easy baby so far.” Felicity says, bouncing the boy in her arms. She looks around the room. “Changbin and Hyunjin haven’t arrived yet?”

“Of course not. Are you surprised?” Minhee asks sarcastically. 

“I shouldn’t be,” Felicity giggles. The three women join the rest of the family. 

So far so good Jeongyeon thinks. Everyone is chatting and drinks have been passed out. But minutes go by and the last Bang sibling and his family are nowhere to be found. Usually, she wouldn’t give it a second thought and would joke along with the rest of her family about why they may be late but it’s suddenly less funny as a host. 

Noticing his wife’s stress, Seungmin stands lifting the champagne flute in his hand. 

“Shall we all retire to the parlor downstairs while we wait for dinner? The fireplace is roaring and Jeongyeon went to exceptional lengths to make the tree look its most handsome this year!” He addresses the group. 

Hums and excited murmurs of affirmation dot across the group and Seungmin asks the butler to show their guests downstairs. Holding his arm out for Jeongyeon to wrap her own around, they follow the group. He leans in. 

“Now what is going on in that head of yours? You mustn’t worry too much. It is only your family, after all,” Seungmin whispers. 

“But Christmas has to be perfect. Mother and Father always made sure that there was not a single hair out of place or shirt untucked. If I am to inherit the yearly Christmas festivities it simply must go perfectly,” Jeongyeon responds. “Where is Changbin?” She mutters under her breath. 

Seungmin pulls her to the side and into a small room. He cups her cheeks and presses a peck to her lips. Her eyes grow wide and her thoughts go blank. 

“I am sure it always seemed like everything was perfect but I doubt it was. It doesn’t matter if the night is perfect. As long as the family is together and everyone is happy,” Seungmin whispers as if they’re not alone in the empty room. 

He’s right. And she knows he’s right. But it’s hard to remember that when the rest of society is telling her the opposite.  

“This is awfully forward, your grace,” Jeongyeon says lightheartedly in an attempt to break the tension. 

“My love, we are married. We have earned the right to be forward with each other whenever we please,” he leans into her neck. 

She lets out an amused scoff, gently pushing him off and twisting her fingers with his own. “Come, we must catch up with our guests, lest they wonder where we’ve been.”

Seungmin groans but joins her with feigned reluctance. 

Downstairs, the jovial laughter continues and the children run around the room, amusing themselves with a variety of toys. The butler enters again and announces the long awaited arrival of the last Bang sibling. 

“Hello everyone!” Changbin comes into the room, followed by his wife and 3 children. 

“Did you get lost on your way here, Brother?” Jisung asks, causing the rest of the group to laugh. 

“Yah! As a loving husband, father, uncle, son, and brother I must make sure that I provide my family with all of the joys the world has to offer… in the form of gifts,” a couple of the house staff enter from behind Changbin holding stacks of gifts for the family. 

Gasps of wonders escape the children and the Viscountess brings her hands together charmed by her middle son. 

“Yes, and he also nodded off in the chair in the parlor,” Hyunjin says, causing the viscount and his children to laugh. 

Changbin guffaws at his wife. “Betrayal?! I was waiting for you and the children!”

Before Hyunjin can rebut, Seungmin says, “alright, alright, let's just say that you’re both terrible at keeping track of the time and call it a day!”

“I resent that!” Changbin tries to defend himself but the rest of the guests laugh him off and motion for him to sit. 

It’s not too long after that when the butler enters the room and invites everyone to the dining room for dinner. The table is laden with delicacies: meats and puddings, a variety of roasted vegetables, and savory pies to boot. Hands stretched out along the table, serving themselves and children around them and passing plates to others. Joyful voices laughed and teased and drinks were raised in the air. Jeongyeon’s Christmas dinner was truly a carefree and raucous event. 

“Well that is simply not true! I never said I didn’t like Seungmin,” Chan exclaims, as Jisung flings a roasted carrot at him from across the table, earning the grown man a smack on the thigh from both his mother and his wife.

“Yes you did!” Jeongyeon, Jisung, and Changbin speak at the same time.

“No, I believe the word you used was detested,” Jisung jokes. 

“It’s like I told you Jeongyeon, one day he will deny ever having disliked me!” Seungmin says, smirking at the older man who continues without much luck to try to defend himself. 

“Well I for one am thankful that the two of you wed! I was so worried that Jeongyeon would never be able to find a man with her three guard dogs hounding every young suitor,” their mother says, sending a good humored but pointed look at her three sons who look away.

“Blame Chan. He is the one who used to go on and on about protecting our baby sister from the prying eyes and rakish personalities of the ton,” Jisung teases. 

“I do not believe I enjoy this line of jokemaking at my expense. If I remember correctly, you two were just as protective as I was. And besides, I was trying to protect her from people like you,” Chan says, pointing a fork towards Jisung. 

“Me?!” Jisung says, as Felicity bursts into laughter beside him. “I am nothing if not an upstanding member of the community!”

“You spent several months sabotaging my courtship with the Earl of Walden,” Felicity states. 

The Viscountess sighs, rubbing her temple in embarrassment as the Viscount stifles his laughter. 

“That was because he was no good for you. Now that was a man who was truly a rake, and not in a good way either,” he mutters the last bit away from his mother. “Besides, there was a much better suitor waiting for you.” Jisung holds her hand over the table. The children make faces at the display of affection. 

“A rather cloying display, don’t you think?” Minhee teases. 

“If you were waiting, why did you not call on her yourself?” Hyunjin challenges. 

With bated breath several of them look back and forth between Jisung and Hyunjin who are currently locked in a staring contest. 

“Well I think it’s time for games in the parlor,” Jeongyeon says, standing and tapping the edge of her glass with a spoon. 

“Out of the suds this time, dearest sister in law,” Jisung says. 

“I do not believe I was the one in the suds, dear brother in law,” Hyunjin says, wrapping an elbow around Changbin’s arm and walking back to the parlor. 

“She’s just teasing you, honey,” Felicity says. 

“I know but it doesn’t make it any more palatable,” Jisung pouts, following the rest of the crowd with his wife. 

The adults lounge in the sofas in the candlelit room, the children once again flitting around. Jeongyeon stands in front of the fireplace, explaining the rules of the game. 

Riddles. A tricky game for anyone. Words that seem to mix like water and oil but once answered come together like the last piece of a puzzle. A Bang family classic. 

“On one sofa sits Chan, Minhee, Changbin, Hyunjin, and the Viscount. On the other, Jisung, Felicity, Seungmin, and the Viscountess. 

“The rules are as follows, one person will read off their riddle and whoever guesses correctly first wins a point for their team and reads the next riddle,” Jeongyeon says. 

“As the host, you ought to go first, Jeongyeon,” Chan says. The room is filled with encouraging words and Jeongyeon nods bashfully. 

She swirls folded scraps of paper around in the mahogany box on the side table close to her. Plucking one out, she unfolds it reading it to herself before addressing the room. 

“Alright, my first dispels the darksome gloom,” she begins. “You love my next wherever you roam.” Thoughtful hums escape several mouths. “My whole with cheering ray from far, gives comfort to the wandering tar. What am I?”

“What on earth is that supposed to mean?!” Jisung whines. 

Chan immediately pulls his group in for a huddle to discuss. 

“Well the first part must be light,” Changbin says, causing the rest of the group to shush him. “Hold your tongue, son!” The Viscount laughs. 

“No, keep it going, Brother!” Jisung laughs. 

“The whole gives comfort to wanderers… I’ve got it!” Felicity shouts. “You are a Light House!”

“Correct!” Jeongyeon says, eliciting groans from the other group. 

“Felicity is too good at this game,” Changbin complains. 

“I call foul! They’re on the same team. How do we know you two didn’t conspire beforehand?” Chan half jokingly says. 

“Oh, let them have the point,” Minhee scolds halfheartedly. “And besides, they won’t have Felicity for the next round since she’s reading.”

Felicity hands Peter to Jisung and stands, trading places with Jeongyeon and reaching her hand into the box. She clears her throat. 

“Everyone ready?” Excited ‘yes’s prompt her to read. “Ooh this one may be tricky. A mischievous urchin may soon do my first if he meets with a teapot or ewer. My second brings on us both hunger and thirst,” both groups nod along with each clue. “My whole thirst and hunger will cure. What am I?”

“Do my first with a teapot? Break?” He confers with his group. 

“Yes! That must be it! But as for my second…” Changbin ponders. 

“Hunger and thirst… and the whole will cut the two. Break…” the Viscount says, trailing off after the first part. 

Hyunjin gaps, turning to Felicity. “You are Breakfast!”

“Correct!” Felicity says. 

“Wait, how does that make any sense?” Jisung exclaims. 

“Teapots can be broken. Fasts bring on hunger and thirst. Breakfast cures both!” Hyunjin says, smiling at Jisung like the cat who got the cream. 

“Absolutely brilliant, Flower!” Changbin praises. 

“This one is for all the marbles,” Jeongyeon says as Hyunjin stands to pick another slip. 

“Alright, my first is an animal’s coat. Many trees in my next you may place. My whole, to your grief, will denote that time has made work with your face,” Hyunjin says.

“Can you repeat that?” Seungmin asks. Hyunjin does so. 

The two teams are both able to easily decipher the first part: ‘fur’ but the second part has them stumped. 

“Are you a frown?” Chan asks. 

“Frown isn’t made up of two independent words,” Minhee scolds. 

“Fur… fur… oh I know! The answer is furrow!” Seungmin says. 

“Ugh he’s correct,” Hyunjin says dejectedly. 

Seungmin’s sofa cheers as Chan’s begins to point the blame at each other for missing the point. 

They’re taken out of their own world by a tugging on the Viscount’s pant leg. He looks down to spot Aster, Changbin and Hyunjin’s eldest child. She looks up at her grandfather with big eyes. 

“Grandfather, will you read us the Christmas story?” She asks with a drowsy voice. 

“Shall we need the games for now?” The viscount asks. 

“It is getting rather late. I think a book reading is an excellent idea, Father,” Jeongyeon says, fetching the copy of “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

“Alright little ones, settle in,” he begins before clearing his throat. “‘Twas the night before Christmas…” he reads with a left but clear voice. 

Everyone sat, watching Grandfather. Aster, Briar, and Amaryllis by Changbin and Hyunjin’ feet. Junho and Geumseong sat in Jeongin and Seungmin’s laps. Chan and Minhee fondly watch Minji, Yeongsu, and Hyunwoo sit front and center for the story. And of course, baby Peter, resting in Felicity’s arms, his eyes fighting sleep as they flutter shut. 

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night,” he says, closing the book softly. By this point, most of the children were fast asleep or nearly there. 

“I think we will be taking our leave now,” Hyunjin whispers, reaching down to lift her son into her arms. Changbin, already cradling Amaryllis after she had crawled into his arms midway through the story, leans down to allow his eldest daughter to hold onto his shoulders as he lifts her up. 

They each decide to head out after that, the ice having been broken by Changbin and Hyunjin. By the time the last sibling has left the manor, the children had been taken upstairs and put to bed. 

Jeongyeon breathes out a sigh of relief. 

“It’s over,” she says as Seungmin chuckles. 

“That wasn’t so bad, now was it?” Seungmin says. 

“It was stressful but I am glad everything went well,” she says, holding her skirt as she ascends the staircase with him. 

The manor is nearly silent for a few moments as they walk to their room. The door is closed, clothing is changed, and the two get comfortable in bed. Seungmin pulls Jeongyeon close to him, wrapping his arms around her waist. 

“Perhaps I should show my beautiful wife how much I appreciate the hard work she put into making the night perfect,” Seungmin whispers into her skin once he lowered his forehead to rest against her own. 

She lets out a bashful chuckle. 

“Perhaps you should,” she replies, pressing her lips softly against his own. “Merry Christmas, Darling,” she says. 

“Merry Christmas,” he replies. 

~~~~~~~~

Chan closes the door to their shared bedroom, looking to his wife in adoration. Her long hair was down and he couldn’t help but admire it as she brushed it out. She sat on the edge of the bed in her nightgown, waiting for Chan to join her. She looks over and Chan swears that it’s possible to fall in love with a person a thousand times over. 

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asks, her brow quirked and a grin playing on her face.

“No reason, I just love you,” he says. 

She huffs out a laugh and rolls her eyes. Chan doesn’t bother to fight the smile forming on his face. He approaches the bed and practically jumps on, wrapping his arms around Minhee’s waist and looking up at her with bright eyes. A moment of silence passes peacefully as Minhee brushes her hair.

“My love, don’t you miss having little feet running through the halls?” Chan breaks the silence, looking away nervously as he traces shapes into her skin with his finger.

Minhee stops her ministrations and looks down at Chan with furrowed brows. She places the brush on the bedside table and turns to sit properly on the bed. Her fingers brush through Chan’s hair, his head now resting comfortably in her lap. He continues to avoid eye contact. Then finally she responds. 

“Darling, our youngest is only 4 years old.”

Chan finally makes eye contact once again, big round eyes making it hard for Minhee to think. She sighs, her resolve slipping.

“Though, I would be lying if I said seeing young Peter didn’t endear me to the thought of another little one of our own,” she says, looking away from him as a blush takes over her face. 

Chan abruptly sits up. 

“Do not kid,” he says, excitement bubbling in his chest. 

There’s a pause as they stare into each other’s eyes, the room suddenly becoming more serious, more charged with tension.

“I wish to have another baby with you,” she confirms, quieter this time. 

A smile breaks out on Chan’s face. He once again wraps his arms around her waist and maneuvers her onto her back, eliciting a surprised gasp. 

“Chan!” 

“Your wish is my command,” he says, leaning in.

______

The riddles were all from this website!