Chapter Text
The sun had just started to rise by the time Sam parked in front of her mother's house, and she took a moment to appreciate the sight before getting out of the car. She just barely stopped herself from running up to the door, but she couldn't keep her knocks short and polite, nor could she stop bouncing on the balls of her feet.
A second passed, then two. Sam knocked once again and rolled her eyes. He had promised he'd be up in time to let her in, because she had lost her key - the little asshole was probably passed out on the couch with one of his video games still making noise in the background.
She raised her hand to knock again, but then the door swung open to reveal Anthony and his disgruntled face. Immediately, most of her irritation left, and she laughed in delight. Apparently absence really did make the heart grow fonder - even when it came to dumb little brothers who had the audacity to have a growth spurt in the single semester their sisters were off at college. She couldn't resist making the joke.
"Sorry, do I have the right house? I was expecting a three foot hobbit, you see, not the jolly green gia-" The door shut in her face. She snorted.
When the door didn't open again after a few seconds, she tried to do it herself, but found it was once again locked. That little menace. She slapped her hand on the door.
"Anthony?" She jiggled the doorknob. "Anthony!" She banged on the door twice, just barely catching the faint giggles on the other side. It was time for the secret weapon.
"I'll yell! I'll wake up Mom and Dad and then after they're done scolding you, I'm gonna karate kick you to the ground, you little -" she let out a string of Italian swears, proud when she didn't stumble over them despite only half remembering them.
The door swung open. "Dad would be so disappointed in you. You're gonna be demoted and I'll be his favorite any day now."
Sam rolled her eyes. "As if. And anyway, stop being greedy, you already have Mom." She shoved him aside with an elbow, pleased when he made a small oof sound. That would show him.
"You could at least say excuse me," he complained as he shut the door.
"You could at least say excuse me," she mimicked in a high voice. She rummaged around the kitchen, getting a mug and pouring herself fresh coffee that Anthony had probably just brewed. Thank God, because she had been up since four and knowing her family and friends, she was going to need the extra energy.
She turned back around in time to see Anthony exhale gustily in faux disappointment. "You've changed. No longer will they say" - he affected an old lady voice - "'Oh that Samantha LaRusso, such a nice girl.' Instead they'll say, 'That filthy degenerate, she'll end up in the gutter any day now!'" He waved a hand in the air. She slurped her coffee, unimpressed.
"You and Johnny have been watching soaps again, haven't you?" She smirked when all he did was stick his tongue out at her. "And a degenerate? That's homophobic."
"Oh my God, shut up, you're the worst. We don't want you here. Go stay with Tory, she probably misses inhaling your gross mouth germs by now."
"We left the dorm like, barely two hours ago."
Anthony nodded gravely. "Exactly. A whole two hours? I'm surprised you haven't melted by now, you clingy monster."
"At least I have a girlfriend; what was it you said the last time you wanted to ask someone out?"
"Hey!" He pointed at her. "That's off limits, dickface."
She held up a hand. "Fine, fine, I'm sorry. Truce, before we actually wake up Mom and Dad."
"And Carmen."
Sam raised an eyebrow and set her mug down. "Carmen's here?"
He shrugged. "Yeah, she was helping Mom with wrapping presents, because she fell behind schedule, because she wanted to make sure all our plans were set for when you got here."
Warmth filled Sam. She would never wish stress on her family, but it was nice to know they missed her as much as she missed them.
"No Johnny?" She asked after a beat of silence.
"Nah, Dad had his stuff ready weeks ago. You know how he gets about Christmas." They shared a commiserating look. Suffice to say Daniel LaRusso was a Christmas fanatic. "He helped me wrap my presents."
"Of course he had to." She rolled her eyes fondly.
"Guess I just wasn't looking forward to seeing your ugly Bowser face again," he said, grinning.
"Fuck off, you love me more than anyone in this house does."
A beat. And then: "Well you don't have to say it, God."
"You're my favorite too. Even if you are a pain in the ass."
"I'll kick your ass -"
"Oh yeah? Let's go, right now -"
"Ok but don't cry when I shove you back out that door -"
"You got taller, not stronger, you - you limp noodle -"
Damn. It was good to be home.