(A/N: Oh wow! We've gotten to Chapter 8! I can't believe we've made it this far! Alright, let's see what's happening!)

It was Christmas Eve in the city of Petropolis. Unless you're a bad guy, everyone's happy, 'cause everybody knows that this is the night that Santa Claus comes. And I know one place where his arrival will be greatly anticipated. Yup, we're going to Dudley and Kitty's house!

The kids were just waking up, and for a moment, they wondered what day it was. But then they remembered last night, when they crossed off December 23rd, meaning that today was Christmas Eve!

"YEEEEEESSSSSS! It's finally here!" George shouted, startling everybody.

"George, please don't shout like that!" Summer told him.

"Aw, come on! It's Christmas Eve! You know what's happening tonight!" George said.

"A night orphans either wish didn't exist, or that they have a family by now." Max said.

"You know, Max, you haven't mentioned anything about your past." Molly pointed out.

"And with good reason. I don't wish to talk about my past. I just wanna put it behind me, like Timon told Simba to do." Max said.

"Kinda hard for me to do. It's hard to shake the image of the old bag from your head." Annabeth said.

"We know." Summer said, recalling how the old bag showed up twice during their adventures in the past, trying to reclaim Annabeth just so she could make her life miserable.

"But she's unable to do anything to you now, so let's focus on what we're going to do tonight!" George said.

"Stay up and wait for Santa?" Annabeth guessed.

"No..." Molly said.

"I know! You said that the presents under the tree are opened tonight!" Max said.

"We have a winner!" Molly announced.

"Ooh, I can't wait to see what I'm getting!" Summer was excited.

"We've gotta make time fly!" said George.

Meanwhile, Dudley and Kitty were downstairs, fixing breakfast and talking.

"You know what today is, don't you, Dudley?" Kitty asked.

"Christmas Eve! I can't wait till the lights come on!" Dudley said.

"I know. And the kids inherited your impatience." Kitty smiled.

"Can we help it?" Dudley asked.

"I guess not. I'm looking forward to nightfall as well, but I'm a little more patient about it." Kitty said.

At that moment, the kids showed up, and they were just as excited as Kitty thought they'd be.

"I guess you guys know what today is." Dudley said.

"CHRISTMAS EVE!" the kids shouted in unison.

"The longest day of the year." Kitty reminded the children.

"Awwwwww, man!" the kids moaned. In their excitement, they forgot how long Christmas Eve was. The day had a tendency to drag on forever!

And it does! Can the kids find ways to pass the time? Stay tuned in order to find out!