Andrei woke up early in the morning, alarm clock screech, screech, screeching into the dark air: 4:30.

"Will you kindly turn that thing off, Andrei? Some people actually want to sleep in." Voice husky with sleep, Lukas turned over to face Andrei, who grinned.

"Morning, love." A gentle kiss to the forehead, and a quick leap out of bed gave him plenty of time for his good morning kiss and an effective escape from a certain pillow tossed in annoyance. Andrei chuckled, amused.

"Yeah, whatever. What the hell are you doing this early anyway? You don't work today, it's Christmas, sleep in." Lukas fell back over into the bed, sideways, his blonde hair splaying out on the pillow behind him. "And whatever the hell you're planning, if you wake the kids up, I swear to God -"

"Oh, hush, you old worry-wart. I'm not going to wake them up! Relax! Santa is just going to put out the presents before they do wake up, okay?"

"TATĂ!"

"Now look what you've done. You've woken up Alin. Wonderful." Lukas grumbled, and let out a rather loud oof as a small boy jumped up onto the bed, bright red hair flying in all directions (Andrei distinctly remembered a day where Lukas had wanted to cut all of the children's hair, but, no, no, Far, you can't do that, I'll die if my hair goes! Didn't you listen to Gilbert's story about Rapunzel and her mommy and how the lady died without the hair? )

"Far! Far! It's Julaften day!"

"No, Alin, it's Jul* now. Julaften day was yesterday, remember?"

"But isn't this the one we celebrate?"

"We celebrate both, Alin, although your tată likes this day better."

"Oh. Hey, we should go open up presents!"

Lukas saw Andrei's eyes widen, and he jumped to action. "You know what, how about we go to the kitchen and make some breakfast instead? Maybe we can get your sisters and we can all make some?"

"Oh, yes, yes, that sounds fun! But, wait, what's tată gonna do while we're all eating? Isn't he hungry? You're hungry, right, tată?" Alin looked up to Andrei, his blue eyes welling with tears and almost falling down his freckled cheeks; Andrei smiled fondly, bending down and getting to Alin's level.

"Well, now I have to go make sure Mosi Cretuni* left presents, yeah?"

Alin's face filled with excitement, and he burst out the door to wake his sisters; a few moments later, Andrei could hear Relia's annoyed voice cut out the sharp words telling him to let her sleep, for Christ's sake, how early was it, I mean, just, oh, fine Alin, we can make pancakes with Far and Ecatarina and Evaline and Arnkatla, God, stop pulling on my arm! and Andrei smiled down at Lukas, who was still covered in blankets. His hair was mussed from where Alin had played with it.

Lukas glanced up at Andrei, and rolled his eyes. "Stop staring and go, 'Mosi Cretuni'. I'll keep them distracted." And he stood, the blankets falling onto the bed haphazardly. Shaking his head, Andrei grabbed Lukas' wrist and yanked him to himself, planting a firm kiss on Lukas' lips.

"I love you, baby. So much."

A smile against Andrei's lips, and a whisper of "I know." And Lukas was gone to help the children and Andrei was gone to put all of the presents under the tree and to make sure everything was set for caroling, and he was so happy that he had the best family and the best lover in the world. He was so happy. He wouldn't trade any of this for the entire world.

*People in the Scandinavian countries (possible all of the Nordics?) celebrate Julaften day, which is "eve of christmas", aka the day before Christmas. I can't remember why, though...

*Christmas!

*the person didn't use the correct accent marks, so it's written wrong, but it's Romanian Santa Claus :T