(Untitled)

[aveb_feline]

It's Christmas Day in New York City, and the Marquez household is the busiest it's been in a while.

There's a large pig on a spit roasting in the backyard, covered to prevent it from getting snowed on, and the house smells very strongly of very good food - tamales de carne de cerdo, Pavo Relleno con Moros, Fufú, Salsa de Arándano Agrio con Ron,

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[moreofaman]

"Angel, really, this is a family celebration--"

"--and in this family, friends are family," Angel says firmly.

Collins laughs. "Relax, Sara. No point in arguing with him--only Mama Marquez can outstubborn him."

The point is moot anyway. Angel knocks on the door before opening it. "Feliz Navidad!"

[aveb_feline]

"Tio Angelito!"

The five-year-old on Mimi's lap leaps off and divebombs Angel happily.

"Feliz Navidad!"

Mimi stands up, beaming at them. "Merry Christmas, everyone. Sara, I'm so glad you came!"

There is Much Hugging.

[moreofaman]

"Raquel!" Angel squeals, picking her up and swinging her around. The girl giggles happily.

Sara melts under the influence of such enthusiasm. "Thanks for ordering Angel and Collins to drag me."

"Our pleasure," Collins says with a smirk. "Where should these presents go?"

[aveb_feline]

"Oh, in the living room," Mimi says innocently, "near the ones with your names on them."

Then she turns in that direction and calls out cheerfully in Spanish. "Angel's here, everybody!"

Multiple high-pitched squeals result, and a second later the room is swarmed with Mimi's huge family - both parents, all five older brothers and their wives and children, her older sister and her husband and their children, and Mimi's aunts and uncles and their children as well.

They don't all -fit-.