It's the most wonderful time of the year... if you call cramming too many people with conflicting personalities into the Berzatto family home a good way to spend the holidays. The house already feels like it's one argument away from sustaining some real structural damage— if you don't count Fak's elbow going through the wall last Thanksgiving when Teddy shoved him during a touchdown gone wrong on the TV— and every year it only gets worse.

And now with Carmy coming home after his stint in Copenhagen, Natalie's certain shit is going to hit the fan at some point tonight; it always does.

"You okay, buddy?" Mikey's voice sounds from behind, and Nat quickly looks away from her cigarette to watch him and you come down the drive.

Her heart can't help but melt at the sight of you, even after all these years; she's always going to see you as the tiny baby in a pumpkin onesie that Donna brought home after Halloween forever ago. You might as well be Nat's kid, considering she's always been there for you in the ways that mattered. You're her's, no matter what.

"Maybe just, like, don't do it to yourself?" Mikey rasps around his cig while wrangling you between him and Nat, glancing her way as Nat pulls you into her chest.

Don't check up on Donna, which is easier said than done considering she's crazy on a good day. "It's not like I'm trying to," she mutters, smiling down softly at you and your cigarette before rolling her eyes.

"But, you know, when you do that, it just kinda, like... does it to all of us?—"

"Michael."

"Natalie."

It's an established argument you've all heard, but it simmers down after Mikey gets Nat to agree to leave your mother alone for the night. She'll do anything if it means you get a night where Donna leaves you alone and you can be you for once.

"I've got you," she murmurs when Carmy emerges from the house, smiling softly as Mikey ruffles your hair like the dad none of you have since he fucked off ages ago. Any chaos she can prevent, she will— all for you.