“Why do I have to be player two!?”

Lance’s complaining blended in well with the sounds of the rest of the family. The adults were working hard in the kitchen, suppressing curse words as the littler ones came in and ran around between their feet. Nadia and Silvio were little hellraisers, getting in the way of cooking, tugging on their mom’s skirt for attention, trying to worm their way in between the older kids on the couch. Lance leaned to the side like it was only habit to allow Nadia to jump up on the couch and settle squished between the teens, still bickering with Veronica about the console game.

It was the picture of a perfect family holiday.

Too many people, the thick smell of cooking food and the sound of petulant arguments, the clear warmth of a big happy family. A big tree sat in the corner, looking beautiful save for the clusters of ornaments that Nadia and Silvio had done themselves.

“You’re hardly older!”

Despite his arguing, Veronica was moving through the menu without a care. Marco and Rachel were just sat there laughing at him and doing most of the work to entertain Silvio and Nadia as they tried to act like bigger kids than they were, hoping for a spot at the grown-up table.

Their game began, and by the second round Nadia had left with Rachel to go help out in the kitchen at aunt Lisa’s request. By the third round, Lance’s voice had reached the highest pitch it could, expressions almost shockingly animated as he and Veronica took turns pulling just ahead of each other in a close race for first. The two of them were equally matched, having been playing this game against each other for as long as they could remember. An unstoppable force and an immovable object.

Veronica won by a hair.

“Oh come on! It’s input delay, my controller’s messed up!”

"Nuh-uh." Veronica pushed back, playfully bickering like siblings should.

"Yes-uh, it's why you gave me this one, I bet it is!"