Based on "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" song. First songfic.

Six-year-old Gordon Cooper Tracy struggled to keep his eyes open. He wanted to wait up for Santa. It was Christmas Eve and the copper-headed Tracy boy may have been the most excitable child his parents had ever met. Not that Jeff and Lucy were debating their four other sons weren't excited. Little Alan Shepard wasn't even two yet and already he knew what Christmas was all about. But every year, they had to erect promises from each of the older children to stay in bed. Otherwise Santa wouldn't come.

Lucy smiled to herself as she checked on eleven-year-old Scott Carpenter, her first born. He'd informed her a few days before that he no longer believed in Santa and hadn't for the past year or so but knew he'd have to keep up the ruse for his younger brothers. Ten-year-old John Glenn had also informed her that Santa was for babies. She'd gently told them that although they may not believe in Santa, Virgil, Gordon and Alan certainly did and she asked them not to spoil Christmas for them. Both older boys agreed.

All three of her oldest sons were sound asleep but when she checked on Gordon, she found him struggling to stay awake. "Honey, what are you still doing awake?"

"Mommy, when is Santa coming?"

Lucy laughed. "If you're a good boy, when you go to sleep." She leaned over and planted a kiss on his forehead. "I love you, my little miracle. Now go to sleep."

The mother stood and moved to the door. "Love you, mommy."

Lucy was sure Gordon fell asleep not long after she pulled his door almost closed. She knew her younger sons had nightmares and sometimes would join her and Jeff in the master bedroom. She had one final child to check on and wasn't surprised to find Alan asleep with half his covers kicked off. It didn't take her long to get them straighten out over her youngest son. She brushed his blond hair away from his face and smiled. Once she had checked on all five children, she made her way downstairs. Once there, she allowed herself to grin when she saw Jeff dressed up in his Santa Suit. It was nearing 9:30 and both parents knew their children would be up at some unearthly hour in the morning. He was busy organising the last of the gifts under the tree and was about to make his way to the stockings. She giggled and Jeff looked over his shoulder at her.

"What are you laughing at?" he asked her.

"Nothing, Love."

"The boys asleep?"

"Gordon was trying to catch you, I guess. He was still awake five minutes ago." She moved fully into the room. "Do you want the milk or the cookies?"

Jeff turned around to look at the plate of cookies and carrot sticks with the glass of milk. He'd just placed the last gift (for Gordon) under the tree. "Cookies. Every time," he said with a smirk. To emphasise his point, he swiped the two cookies off the plate as he walked by to the fire place. Each year, the two of them decided to put two small gifts and a treat in the boy's stockings. These were allowed to be opened before breakfast but while everyone was present. That was a rule in their household. Christmas was a family time, no exceptions.

It didn't take the two of them to finish assigning gifts and finishing off the milk and carrot sticks. As Lucy placed the glass of milk down, she looked up. The couple were standing together on the hearth. Right underneath the mistletoe Lucy had hung earlier that day. She giggled. Jeff frowned at her and asked, "What is funny?" In reply, she pointed up. Jeff followed her indication and joined her laughter. "Who am I to break tradition?" He stepped closer to her and placed his hands on her hips. "May I have this kiss, milady?"

"Of course." She was smiling as their lips met in a tender kiss.

He murmured, "I love you." He had a sudden inspiration. The radio was still playing softly in the background so he decided that the two of them had to have one dance before they retired for the night. She was laughing softly at his antics. Oh how she loved this man. Reaching up, she ticked him under his chin. He pulled away slightly and laughed. "Stop that!"

She giggled again and allowed him to lead her through the final steps of the song before calling it a night. The children slept upstairs while the master suite was on the ground floor. They made their way into their room and Lucy helped Jeff out of the Santa suit. They hid it away at the back of their wardrobe for the following year.

TB TB TB

Gordon woke unusually late for him. He was usually up with the sun, or at least up at 6am. On Christmas, he was generally up at 5. This particular morning, despite it being Christmas, saw him wake a half hour later than his usual time. The older boys were just getting up themselves. Scott had not long left the early morning rising behind and his parents struggled to get him out of bed before 7:30 on a school day. Christmas was another story, however. Every Tracy son knew that the sooner they were up, the sooner they could have presents. As long as it wasn't some unearthly hour before 6 am. Jeff and Lucy had heard their children move around upstairs and as a rule, let them come down stairs before they had gotten dressed. The parents knew it wouldn't be long before Scott led the procession into their room with stockings.

Sure enough, it was five minutes later when the first of their sons (little Alan carrying a too large stocking) came into the room. The last into the room was their second youngest, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Scott and John had brought in Jeff and Lucy's stockings.

"Merry Christmas, everyone," Lucy said.

"Merry Christmas, Mom. Merry Christmas, Dad," Scott said. The other boys soon joined in and then they looked expectantly at Jeff. Jeff raised an eyebrow and took out his first gift. It was a small wooden frame that had seven photos in it. One each of the boys and the centre one was of him and Lucy.

"Thank you," he mouthed at Lucy. She was next to open a gift - a small pendant 'L'. Under the covers, she found her husband's hand and squeezed it. The boys then dug into their presents. Once their parents had opened their one present in their stocking, the boys were allowed to open their own.

Gordon finished opening his first - he'd gotten two matchbox cars and a simple book on fish - and he was looking inquisitively at his mother. He couldn't understand what he'd seen last night. "Mommy," he began. After she'd left him last night, he'd waited for two whole minutes and then crept from his room. He saw Lucy head down stairs and there was Santa! He'd been very careful not to be seen.

"Yes, honey?"

"Why were you kissing Santa last night?"

Scott and John's eyes widened. Then they started giggling. Both thought they knew who Gordon was talking about as they'd seen their parents acting all lovey dovey before. Virgil turned to look at his younger brother and asked, "You saw Santa come last night?" Gordon vigorously nodded his head, his attention still on his parents. Alan didn't really comprehend the question and continued playing with the wrapping paper (which was far more interesting than the cars he'd gotten).

Jeff covered his snort and shot his wife a playful glare. "You were kissing Santa?"

"It was under the mistletoe!" she protested. She turned back to her second youngest, who was waiting patiently for an answer. "I'll explain when you're a little older. And why where you out of bed, young man?"

Gordon gulped, immediately forgetting his curiosity over why he'd seen his mother kiss Santa. He knew he was in trouble for sneaking out of bed. "I wanted to see if Santa really came!"

"And what did I say about him coming?"

Gordon thought back and whispered, "You said if I was a good boy and went to sleep, he'd come."

Lucy was smiling slightly at her next question. "And were you a good boy?" The young boy shook his head in reply. "I think I can dispute that, son. Go have a look under the Christmas tree." Gordon's eyes widened and he made a dash to the living area. The rest of the family followed.

"Presents!

Jeff wrapped his arms around his wife and kissed the top of her head. "Next year, we'll have to be more careful."

They watched as Scott organised the boys and told them they would have to wait until after breakfast to see what else Santa had brought for them. Lucy laughed and nodded. Life was good.

It was two years later that things drastically chanced for the Tracy Boys. After that, none of the boys ever managed to find Jeff Tracy's Santa Suit, or even see their father wear it. Scott was the one who played 'Santa' for his younger brothers, and by then, it was only five-year-old Alan who still believed in Santa. Gordon stopped believing in magic when he didn't receive his wish: to have Lucy alive again.