I am tired as hell, we didn't die and it just happens to be midnight again…oops! I promise I'll do better tomorrow…

Xmas 2032

"RJ! RJ! Wake up!" Billie was bouncing up and down on her brother's carpet. RJ groaned and turned over to face her.

"Bill," he mumbled, "what did I say about knocking before entering?"

Billie sighed, deflating slightly. "That I should always knock before coming into your room unless it's an emergency," she said, obediently.

"Mmhmm," RJ said, "now what is so urgent that you had to come here without knocking?"

Billie started bouncing again. "It's Christmas!" she said, grinning.

RJ groaned and shoved his face back into his pillow. "I thought Mom and Dad already had this talk with you," he growled. "Santa isn't-"

"Santa isn't real," Billie interrupted, rolling her eyes. "I know that! But that doesn't mean that we didn't get presents! Now, come on!" She pulled on her brother's arm, trying to get him out of bed. RJ groaned again and slowly stood up, letting his little sister pull him out of his room, down the hall, and down the stairs where his parents and his other siblings all sat slumped on the couches and easy chairs. His mother was curled up on his father's lap. She smiled when she saw him.

"Morning, RJ," she yawned. "I thought for sure you'd be the one to evade Billie's hyperactivity."

"Evidently not," RJ grumbled, plopping down in between Eva and Holly, who each immediately rested their heads on his shoulders, both wrapped in their robes. "Besides, Billie's got us all wrapped around her little finger. I know it; you know it; Heck, even Billie know it! Don't ya, Bill?"

Billie just grinned at him from her seat in front of the tree. Oh yeah, she knew it, alright.

Neo was the only one that looked even remotely awake as she came into the living room, carrying a tray of coffee and hot chocolate. He handed them out to everyone, before placing the tray on the coffee table and sitting by his parents' feet. Kate absently ran her fingers through his coarse hair.

Billie began handing out gifts then, she gave one each to her sisters, then one to Neo. All the kids had gotten one big gift each that year, except for Billie. To keep the gift a surprise, still, Rick and Kate had them all write a list of the big things that they really wanted and then they would decide which one to choose.

Neo had gotten a new MacBook Air with different skins to decorate it with. Holly had received the newest Kindle, a case, and an Amazon gift card for $500 to get her whatever books she wanted. Eva got the new iPhone, with a case and an iTunes gift card for just as much as Holly had on hers. Billie got many of the toys she'd asked for and her first cell phone, a cheap pre-paid one that wouldn't really be a big deal if she lost it. Kate warned her against losing the phone, though, since she wouldn't be getting a new one unless she paid for it herself.

RJ got a key.

He was confused at first, turning the simple gold key over in his palm, before looking at his parents. "Did you guys get me an apartment or something? Are you trying to tell me it's time to move out?"

Kate laughed and shook her head. "Not at all!" she said, standing up. "But you might want to follow me."

RJ stood, as did all of his siblings and their father, all following Kate outside to the driveway, where a new Cadillac was sitting, shiny and new, with a big red bow on it.

"Oh. My. God." RJ's eyes were wide in shock as he looked from his parents to the car, to the key in his hand, and then back to his parents. "Th-that's mine?" he asked.

Kate and Rick nodded. "Your father's publishers were so happy with his new autobiography that they decided to do him another kindness. They bought this for him as a gift."

Rick nodded. "Yup! But I already have enough cars and I figured since you're going away to college soon, you might want a way to get there. And I know it wasn't on your list, but if you'd prefer a-"

"NO!" RJ shouted. He cleared his throat. "Um, I mean…no thanks. This is cool. Thanks, guys!" He gathered his parents in a big hug before running over to the new car, unlocking it and jumping inside. He looked back at his siblings. "You guys wanna go for a spin?"

They didn't even answer; Eva, Neo, and Holly all ran towards the car, while Billie stayed back.

"Can I go, too, Mommy?" she asked, looking up at Kate with her big blue eyes.

Kate smiled. "Well, you could….but who'd take care of the puppy?"

Billie frowned, quizzically, at her. "What puppy? Santa's not a puppy anymore…"

Kate and Rick smiled, before Rick went to open the garage door, nearly being knocked off his feet by a small chocolate lab pup. Billie squealed and ran to the dog, scooping it up and giggling as it licked her face. "Guys, look! We got a new puppy!" The others cheered and Billie laughed as the puppy's energy knocked her onto her but on the ground. Thankfully, there was no snow.

Rick and Kate came over to kneel next to her, taking turns patting the small head. "So, what are we gonna call her?" Kate asked, smiling as the puppy licked her hand.

Billie looked at the puppy with a serious look on her face; it was the same look that Rick got on his face when he was working on a theory. Kate, too.

"Daddy, what's the name of the dog that you and Mommy once shared?" Billie asked, suddenly.

"Oh, um….Royal, I think it was. Right?" He looked up at Kate. She nodded.

Billie grinned. "Perfect! We'll call her Royal, because she lives with the Castles! Get it?"

Kate smiled and laughed, kissing the girl's head. "I think that's a wonderful name," she said.

Rick agreed. "Welcome to the family, Royal." He pat the puppy's head. "Gee, I wonder what Santa's gonna think of this…"

REVIEWS!