Carmen hadn’t seen you in years — and now, suddenly you’re right in front of him. Merry fucking Christmas to him, he thinks. He thought they weren't doing presents this year. How did you even get invited?

It’s not like you and Carmen hated each other. Friends drift apart, and that’s what happened between you two. Carmen travelled the world and went to culinary school, and you stayed in Chicago — that’s how you got the invite. You stayed home, keeping in touch with Carmen’s family while his life busied.

Christmas was always a disaster for the Berzatto’s, and with you reappearing in his life, he was sure this one would be the same. Reconnecting with his old best friend was sure to bring some sort of bad luck, right? Maybe he was just overthinking.

Yeah, definitely.

He could see you in the kitchen, talking to Donna and Sugar as the feast of the seven fishes was prepared. With all the changes in your life, you were glad Donna made the same meal every year for Christmas. You had barely changed — you just… got slightly taller. He guesses that the growth spurt he always teased you about finally came.

When Carmen eventually looked away, solely because Mikey called him a creep, he mulled over things to say to start a conversation with you. What do you say to your old best friend who you pretty much ghosted one day? Why couldn’t you just come up to him? No, he knew you wouldn’t, not after he stopped talking to you. Knowing you, he assumed you would’ve thought he suddenly hated you.

Unbeknownst to him, you were glancing over at him from your spot in the kitchen, the same dilemma going through your head. Do you pretend he doesn’t exist, or do you talk to him?

It seems the latter won, because you slowly made your way towards Carmen, giving him an awkward smile and a little wave. You both used your icebreakers pretty quickly, leaving you with nothing else to say. Then, Carmen spoke up with an air of sincerity in his tone.

"It's, uh... good to be home. Good t'see you."