Maralyn laughed. If her husband could spar with his cousin, she could spar with Peter's girfriend. Just cookies with Hershey Kisses and some have M&M's." She playfully challenged, "Let's see you make something."

Peter teased to Jen and Nate, "man those twenty somethings sure like to pick. I say they are PICKY!"

Jen looked around quickly, searching for some reason to escape... "Oh, look, there's Justin! I'd better go so hello! I'll just take one of these..." She plucked a delicious looking cookie from the plate and smiled her thanks, then went off to see Justin.
"Hey, Merry Christmas!" she called.

Justin laughed at the energy of the young girl, reminding him of his younger sister. Merry Christmas. Don't think you need any choclolate though."
Peter rolled his eyes, "He says that about all middle schoolers."

Justin playfully pointed at Peter. "Especially that one. You hide it from him."

In a sing-songy voice Peter replied, "But I will find it. I always do."

Maralyn teased, "Hey! Those were for Nate!"

Jen rolled her eyes playfully. "Oh, c'mon, he can spare a cookie! Or two..." She smiled at the plate of cookies.

The front door was suddenly flung open and snow swirled it from the icy storm outside. Then, like a ghost, Lyneya appeared in the doorway.
"Merry Christmas!"

Miley arrived at Jen's house, with Chrissa and Kayla and rang the doorbell.

Peter's eyes widened. "Lyn?"

"LYN!" Nate yelled he nearly dropped his bag of cookies as he ran to hug her "I'm not sure if I'm going to hug you forever or kill you forever! What did you do that to me for??"

This time, Jen had already allowed Miley, Chrissa and Kayla in. They heard Nate talking to Lyn, but Miley couldn't see her. Strangely, Peter saw her too. Miley wondered if the boys were going crazy because of the trauma over the past year. She looked at Jen, "What is going on?"

With Lyn right before her eyes, Jen thought it strange that Miley, Justin adn Maralyn were looking so confused. Still, she ignored it. "Lyn!" She ran to the girl, who she gave the dress to right before the dance. She put her hand on Lyn's shoulder. "Never leave us again, okay?"

Lyneya smiled the biggest smile, bigger than was possible, and hugged Nate back. "Am I allowed to say sorry before you kill me? And I promise, Jen. I'm here to stay this time."
Jen smiled twice as big as Lyneya. "Good."

Miley walked further into the room and there she saw Lyn, "Oh hey! Sorry! Didn't see you there?"

"Lyn!" Kayla stepped closer to give Lyneya a hug. "Why, I haven't seen you in ages."

Nicole was playing a game of Monopoly in the living room with her sister Gwen. She figured that Kayla and her friends were celebrating together and having fun right now. But she tried to tell herself that she didn't care. She was having fun with Gwen right now.

"Lyneya" said Nate "I have questions that need answers: first off why did you go and where did you go to?" he said as he held her at arms length.

Lyneya shook her head. "I promise I'll tell you, but not right now. I don't want to ruin everyone's good mood. After all, it's Christmas! Oh, it's CHRISTMAS! I forgot about presents!"

Peter laughed, "That's okay. Didn't know you were coming anyway. Had I known..." He ran ahand through his hair. "And my hair is growing back now. No more bald spot ,which I am very happy for. IF only it will get as thick as it once was..."

Miley patted her cousin's shoulder. "It will." THen, Miley truned to Lyn and gave her a hug. "I missed you like crazy!"

Kayla stepped closer again to smile at Lyn. "I'm so glad you're back!" she exclaimed.

"Helloooo? Earth to Nicole!"

Nicole blinked. Gwen was waving her hand in front of her face. Nicole pushed it away. "Okay, okay," she said grumpily. "What is it?"

"It's your turn!" Gwen said in a "duh" tone. "Are you gonna roll the dice or just stare at it?"

"Oh. Sorry," Nicole muttered. She glared down at the Monopoly board and rolled the dice. Her thoughts had been far, far away. She was still stuck between Miranda and her friends. She wondered how Kayla's day was going.

Miranda got Peter's year book picture and snapped it onto her phone. Then, she hooked her phone to her computer and copied it. "Since you like hair so much I hope you don't mind it long." Then she used a picture she found online with hair past shoulders and made it blend in with Peter's medium, mid neck length hair. "Oh I know it's against your beliefs for guys to have long hair, but I couldn't resist." She emailed the picture to Nicole, saying all she needed was to make it look like he was wearing a dress.