Hope ran through the tunnels, easily outrunning Jacob, and made it to the dining hall a good minute before him. She was instantly scooped up into Uncle Hellboy’s arms and tossed into the air a couple of times, shrieking happily.

“Red, please, the rest of us have normal eardrums,” Mom declared firmly.

Chuckling, he set Hope down and said, “Sorry, Furball.”

“Mo-om!” Hope whined. “It’s fun!”

Mom just looked at her, prompting the heaving of a sigh, and coughed, bringing up a hand as Hope turned away.

Wandering over to where Uncle John and Uncle Joe were arguing about something, Hope leaned on John, wrapping her arms around his waist. She loved how him and Uncle Red smelled like each other. It was like Mom and Dad smelling like each other. It meant things were right between them. He smiled down at her, resting an arm over her shoulder and went back to his argument, saying, “But it’s every bit a Federal jurisdiction! How can you even pretend that you’ve got a leg to stand on?”

“Listen, college boy, I know the statutes inside and out and I’m tellin’ you…”

“Boys, boys, save it for later, will you?” Auntie Liz interrupted, leaning against Uncle Joe with a wink at Hope.

Uncle Joe held up a hand and protested, “He started it!”

Auntie Liz shook her head. “Not another word. This is a party and work is not allowed.”

Hope leaned forward and commiserated, “That doesn’t work when I use it, either.”

Uncle John laughed and bent down to kiss the top of her head, which wasn’t as much of a reach anymore since she’d gotten a growth spurt. “Hey, did you grow again?”

Grinning at him, Hope nodded and exclaimed, “Three whole inches!”

“Wow!” he exclaimed back. “You’re going to be taller than me soon!”

“Uncle Red says that he’s going to have to wear a, um, back brace? Next time he gives me a piggy back ride,” Hope said seriously. “Do you think I’ll really get that big?”

Uncle John sighed and shook his head, glancing across the room to where Uncle Red and Dad were talking. “No, honey, I don’t think you’ll get that big. He was just teasing you, which he should know better about.”

“So, John,” Uncle Joe said hastily. “You think you’re going to make that seminar thing next week?”

Distracted, like Hope knew he was supposed to be, Uncle Joe was great for saving Uncle Red from getting into trouble, Uncle John answered, “Probably not. We’ve got a lot going on down at the office.”

“I thought I just said no more work talk?” Auntie Liz repeated, taking Uncle Joe’s tie and bringing him in for a kiss.

Hope grinned up at Uncle John and said, “Dad does that to Mom a lot.”

Turning a little red, Uncle John muttered, “It works, too.”

“Mom says dinner’s ready,” Jacob announced, joining them.

Hope poked him with a nail when his gaze lingered on Auntie Liz and made a face at him. He reached for her and she took off, running for cover behind Dad.

“Jacob, stop chasing your sister,” Dad admonished.

“But!”

“No buts.”

Hope made a face at him from the safety behind her father’s back only to get a large hand covering her face as Dad said, “And you stop provoking him. Dinner. Now.”

Heaving a sigh, Hope nodded and fell into step with her brother as they walked towards the table. She whispered, “Jacob and Auntie Liz, sitting in a tree…”

Jacob let out a frustrated noise and leaped after her only a second after she took off.

“Jacob! Hope! Sit down!” Mom ordered loudly.

Recognizing the tone as one not to be messed with, Hope obediently headed for her seat.

Jacob walked passed, hissing, “You’re dead meat!”

She just smiled at him, knowing she was perfectly safe, and sat beside Uncle Red. Uncle John sat on her other side and she happily took their hands as Dad stood up to say Grace.

“We give thanks today for the health and safety of everyone in our family, new members and old ones. We give thanks for the prosperous year seen Below and ask a Blessing for the coming year as well. Amen.”

“Amen,” rang out around the table and then people started eating.

Partway through, four pagers went off simultaneously. Hope sighed and looked across the table where Uncle Abe was already standing, as were Uncle John, Uncle Red, and Auntie Liz. Hasty goodbyes were said, as well as promises to come back soon, and Hope was personally treated to four kisses on the top of her head before they all left to get back to work. She scooted over to sit beside Uncle Joe and said, “Don’t worry. They’ll be back for dessert.”

He grinned and ruffled her hair. “Thanks, kiddo, that’s good to know.”

Smiling happily, Hope reached for the bread.