then
1978

now
2014

"Remind me again why ya didn't come to Dad's for Christmas and we're celebrating five days later."

Bryler rolled his eyes behind his sunglasses as he pulled the last of his luggage out of the trunk. Lee had been asking him the same question ever since Christmas Eve, and every time, Bryler had given the same answer.

"I fuckin' told ya! Didn't want to deal with Stephanie - and don't tell me she wasn't there 'cause I got a mole," he answered with a point toward his daughter whose keen senses caused her to lift her head and give her uncle an innocent smile.

Lee sighed, "I don't know why ya two just can't put yer shit aside and get over it."

"Dad, come on. Stephanie's a bitch," Axl quipped in. On cue, both brothers reached over and smacked the nineteen-year-old boy upside the head. "Ow!"

Again, Bryler gave his older brother a look. "Ya see what I mean?" Dismissing the subject for now, he turned his attention toward their driver. "Thanks for the ride, Mary. Here's the house key. Ya know where everything is. Don't let the fury demon kill ya." A few other thanks were muttered behind him as the key was dropped into her hand with a sly smirk. "Don't do anything stupid or ya know what happens." It was a serious warning that was finalized with a quick smack to her ass as she turned to get back into the driver's seat.

"Yo Dad," Axl's voice spoke up as they walked into the airport, "where are we going anyway?" His eyebrows raised in question at his father as the foursome made their way to the check-in lines for Aeromexico.

"You guys didn't tell him?" Mia asked trying to hold in her small chuckle. "Why don't you look at the airline and figure it out, genius?" Axl made a face at his younger cousin, which started a who-can-make-the-ugliest-face match between the two.

"Seriously, man," Lee started, aiming to bring the conversation back to their previous topic, but Bryler stopped him before he could get the question out again.

"Look, ya know Christmas has never been my thing. Ain't never given me any good memories. Ain't never been much fun. Ya know the last time we all got together all hell broke lose, and I don't wanna deal with that bullshit anymore. This is better than nothin', right? We're goin' to Mexico. We got the kids. We'll celebrate a late Christmas with me if Mia really wants to, but this is her Christmas and birthday present, and she doesn't seem to have a problem with it. So would ya just fuckin' drop it already?"

Lee stared at his younger brother long and hard before glancing over at his son and neice, who currently had the older boy in a head lock. "Alright, man, alright," he sighed in defeat.

"Plus, we're goin' fishin'."