We’re going on vacation!

The car came to a slow stop in the driveway of the castle. Its gothic towers loomed high above us, silhouetted against the fading afternoon light. Despite its grandeur, it was home a place of warmth and chaos.

Rowena killed the engine, and we both stepped out. Ember was perched on one of the higher towers, her orange-red scales catching the sun as she watched us with a curious tilt of her head.

"You better have fun explaining everything to Mom and Mama," Rowena said, smirking as she stuffed her hands into the pockets of her hoodie. "You know Seraphine's gonna lose it."

"Thanks for the support," I said dryly, clutching my bag to my chest. My nerves were tingling. I was excited to share my success, but knowing my mothers, this was going to be… an experience.

As soon as we stepped into the castle, the smell of something delicious wafted through the air probably Riley's doing. She had a talent for making even the most intimidating castle feel like a cozy home.

The warm, golden glow of the chandeliers lit the hall, and before we could take two steps further, I heard the sound of hurried footsteps.

"There you are!" Riley's voice rang out as she appeared from the kitchen, her green eyes bright with curiosity.

Behind her, Seraphine followed, her crimson hair flowing dramatically like a queen making an entrance. It was overkill, but also… kind of perfect for her.

"You're late!" Seraphine exclaimed, her hands on her hips. "What took you so long? Did they hurt you? Did someone insult you? Did they make you cook something disgusting?"

"Mom, please," I said, holding up a hand to slow the avalanche of questions. "I'm fine. It went great!"

"Great?" Riley repeated, her expression softening into one of pride. "Tell us everything, sweetheart!"

I launched into a retelling of the day's events, starting with the stern woman who had inspected my paperwork, the chaotic cooking test, and finally, my triumph.

As I spoke, Seraphine's expressions morphed from outrage to delight, her emotions as transparent as glass. Riley listened quietly, a steadying presence beside her more animated wife.

"And then," I said, spreading my arms for dramatic effect, "the woman tasted my dish and couldn't get enough. She even admitted it was good before telling me I passed!"

Seraphine gasped, clutching her chest like I'd just announced I was crowned queen. "My baby! You're amazing! I knew it you're a prodigy! They don't deserve you! Did she bow to you afterward? She should have bowed!"

"Mom, no one bowed," I said, laughing despite myself. "She was impressed, though."

"That's practically the same thing!" Seraphine declared, throwing her hands in the air. "Oh, my sweet, talented little chef. I bet she'll regret not groveling at your feet."

Riley chuckled, shaking her head. "Calm down, Sera. Let the poor girl breathe."

"Calm down?" Seraphine turned to her wife, her eyes wide. "How can I calm down? Our daughter is a culinary genius! She deserves a parade, a feast, a—"

"A nap, maybe," Rowena interjected, dropping onto one of the couches and pulling out her phone. "I had to drive her around all day, and I'm exhausted."

"Rowena!" Seraphine snapped, glaring at her. "How dare you diminish your sister's triumph with your laziness?"

I snorted, trying not to laugh as Rowena shrugged, unfazed. "I'm not diminishing anything. I'm just saying, I did all the hard work."

"Oh, please," I said, rolling my eyes. "You sat in the car playing games while I slaved over a hot stove."

"Exactly," Rowena said, grinning. "Driving's hard work."

Before I could retort, Seraphine clapped her hands together, her voice rising above the din. "Enough bickering! This is a day of celebration! Rhiannon, you've proven yourself to be exceptional, as always, and I couldn't be prouder."

I smiled, warmth spreading through me at her words. Despite her theatrics, Seraphine's love was as genuine as it got.

"And now," she continued, her tone shifting to something more serious, "we need to reward you properly."

"Reward?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow. "You don't have to do that. Getting into the program is reward enough."

"Nonsense!" Seraphine declared. "We're going on vacation!"

The room fell silent for a moment as everyone processed her announcement.

"Vacation?" I echoed, my brain scrambling to keep up. "What kind of vacation?"

"The relaxing kind, of course," Seraphine said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You've worked so hard, and now you need a break. We all do. Somewhere sunny, with beaches and excellent food."

"Uh, Mom," Rowena said, sitting up slightly. "You do realize I'm not the one who needs a vacation, right?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Seraphine said, waving her hand dismissively. "You're coming too. It'll be a family trip."

"I'm pretty sure we just had a family trip to the mountains," I pointed out.

"That was work," Seraphine argued. "This is leisure. Completely different."

Riley sighed, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You've already decided, haven't you?"

"Of course I have," Seraphine said, her expression both proud and mischievous. "We leave in two days."

I blinked. "Two days?"

"Two days," she confirmed, nodding firmly. "I'll handle all the arrangements. You just focus on packing and getting plenty of rest."

"Rest?" I repeated, laughing. "With this chaos? I'm not sure that's possible."

"You'll thank me later," Seraphine said, wrapping me in a tight hug. "This is going to be perfect, trust me."

As chaotic as the moment was, I couldn't help but feel a surge of affection for my family. They were unpredictable and over-the-top, but they were mine, and I wouldn't trade them for anything. 

"Alright, vacation it is," I said, leaning into Seraphine's embrace. "But I'm not packing until tomorrow."

"Procrastinator," Rowena teased from the couch.

"Lazy driver," I shot back, grinning.

And just like that, the chaos resumed.