King Robert's office was big enough to hold his entire family, with a huge oak desk, a library surrounding the office, and photos of the family, including a portrait of his mother and father. Leaning back in his chair as he waited for his children, he turned to his wife, a worried look on his face. "I hope Abigail understands that it's good for the country to spend Christmas with the van der Hoffs." he said with a sigh.

Queen Eleanor took a sip of her tea and nodded. She had been worried about her youngest daughter since the breakup and then her diabetes, and she was glad that she was doing well. But there was something about Micah that seemed to get on Abigail's nerves to the point that she didn't want to be anywhere near him at all. But now that they're going to spend Christmas together... "Dear. Don't you think this might be too much for Abby?" she asked, placing her teacup down. "Remember the last time she was in a room with him?"

"I know," Robert sighed as the butler came in and bowed.

"Your Majesty, your children are here." he announced.

Robert nodded. "Send them-"

"Dad, please tell me you didn't invite my ex-boyfriend here to spend Christmas with us, did you?!" Abigail asked as she walked in and crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't want to see him or spend any part of the Holidays with him. So please, rescind the invitation and we can spend Christmas here, with everyone else-without Micah!"

Robert opened his mouth to say something else, but then Thorne, Katherine, Percy, and Victoria came in, and he took a deep breath. "I know you didn't want to see him, Abs. But we must uphold our alliance with the Netherlands, and they are coming to spend Christmas with us. I'm sorry."

Her father's words made her take a step back. "Sorry?" she repeated, her hands shaking as she took a step back. "You're sorry that my ex is coming here, and you want to uphold that stupid alliance?"

"Abigail!" Eleanor gasped. "I know you don't want to see Micah-"

"I don't want to be in the same room as him!" she snapped. "I don't want him near me, mama. I want him back home where he belongs."

"THAT'S ENOUGH, ABIGAIL!" Robert shouted. "I know you're angry at this decision. But you must understand that we have to do this."

"Father," Thorne said, cutting in after sitting down on the sofa. "I have to be with Abby on this. Prince Micah cheated on her with a duchess, and she's been trying to get her life back together. Seeing him again might hurt her or worse-send her back to the hospital. Do you want that?"

Katherine nodded. "I'm also with Abby on this as well, Father. Micah hurt Abs and him being here..."

Robert sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Everyone, I know seeing Micah again means that Abigail might wind up in the hospital. But we have to save face in order to secure this alliance with the van der Hoffs and try and have a peaceful Christmas." he told them. "If there's anyone you want to invite, now is the time."

"Well," Percy said slowly, taking a deep breath. "I would like to invite someone."

"Oh?" Eleanor perked up at that. She hadn't heard her son say or ask if he wanted to invite someone to a family event, mostly his friend Prince Noah Cunningham or some other friend from Cambridge. "Who?"

"My-" Percy started to say, pausing before he said the word "boyfriend" to his parents. "Friend, Weston Allencourt. He's the son of the Duke of-"

"Thornton, I know. I've seen him around a couple times, and he seems like a good person..." Robert said, thinking about it. "Very well, he shall come to Christmas with us."

A small sigh of relief escaped Percy as he nodded, glad that he was able to invite his boyfriend without them even knowing. He turned to his siblings, who nodded in approval-even Katherine did a little thumbs up. "Anyone else have someone they want to come to the celebration?"

Katherine bit her lip. She was thinking of inviting her friend with benefits Sylvestre Thériault, a billionaire that owns nearly half of the casinos in Las Vegas and was opening up a bar in Samphire. Besides, she was the princess, she could invite whoever the hell she wanted. "Sylvestre," she said, making everyone look at her. "I want to invite Sylvestre."

Eleanor sighed. She really wished her second daughter wouldn't invite the man. Something about him she didn't like-like all he was was some kind of money grabbing, title seeking bastard. But if it'll make her daughter happy..."Very well, he can come. Abigail?"

"Get rid of Micah," she repeated coldly. "I don't want to see him. Ever."

"I can't do that, Abigail. I'm sorry."

Abigail sighed, turning on her heel. "Very well, father." she said, storming out of the office.

***

Micah stopped packing when his phone started to ring. Picking it up, he saw that he was Abigail, and automatically he picked it up. "Hello?"

"When you come here, you won't speak a word to me," Abigail growled. "You won't even look at me, won't speak my name, won't do anything of the sort. You will stay the hell away from me and you will never sit next to me during photos."

He sighed. So now there are rules when he goes to Samphire..."Very well. But what about our feelings for each other?" he asked bravely, grinning. "What if I drag you to a corner and kiss you? You used to like that."

"Lay one hand on me or drag me off to a corner like you did her, I will cut your fucking head off."

"Abigail, about Octavia...we're not together anymore. She left me for a Emperor and became his mistress."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"Pretty much, yeah."

"Good for her. Now stay the hell away from me, and we'll have a very good Christmas, ya?" she said before hanging up.

Micah stared at the phone, smirking. Oh it'll be a good Christmas, alright. He will find a way to kiss Abigail-maybe even find a way to get her in bed with him. "Oh Abigail," he said, tossing his phone back on the bed and went back to packing. "Hope you're prepared for the best Christmas, because I'm going to give it to you." he said to himself as he finished up packing.

***

The van der Hoffs got on their plane and left the Netherlands for Samphire, and once they got there, it was already snowing. Micah was already excited to get to the slopes near the castle, and, of course, to see Abigail again. He was glad to see the rest of the family, even though Katherine and Percy all wore glares the moment he got out of the car, but it was expected.

But seeing Abigail again felt like he just made it a tiny bit better-even if she wore an Attack on Titan TShirt, jeans and boots. "Hello Abigail." Micah greeted, giving her his winning million dollar smile.

But Abigail just glared at him and turned away, muttering a hello to Maryse and his family before she excused herself and went back inside. King Robert just sighed as he watched his daughter leave, and Micah walked in behind his sister, who hung back to look at him with wide eyes.

"What did you do now?!" she hissed as they gave their coats to the footmen and the maids before walking into the huge foyer. "Why is she looking like th-holy shit that's a huge tree."

"I didn't do anything." he whispered back as he turned to see the huge tree in the middle of the foyer. It was decorated with silver and gold trim and ornaments and baubles that could make the tree in Highclere Castle cry. Micah could see the little touches of Abigail on the tree; the cute small angel ornament holding a french horn, a chibi-sized Nezuko Kamado wearing winter clothes ornament near the star. Everything on the tree was just perfect for the plan he had in mind-to make Abigail fall for him again just kiss her under the tree-and before he could say anything, Maryse's elbow dug into his side, making him flinch. "The fuck, Mar?"

"Don't do anything stupid while we're here, brother." she hissed at him. "Including coming up with a plan to make Abigail fall for you again."

"What? Me? Never," he promised with a little grin before the familiar screech behind him made him jerk and turn around.

Marcella Pershing, the Duchess of Albion, came in, heels nearly making her fall on her face. "Why hello there cousins!" she shouted in glee. "Guess who's back home from France? And look who I bumped into?"

Coming up behind her was none other than Sylvestre Thériault, Katherine's friend with benefits and also the businessman Micah had seen once or twice at the polo matches, cozying up to royals any chance he'd gotten. He knew that Sylvester was a slimy bastard, and wondered what he was doing here-when he watched Katherine go over and hug him.

Fuck.

This was going to be the longest Christmas ever.