A/N: Here's the next chapter! Thank you for all the feedback. I really appreciate it!!!

Big thanks to Mandy Sueeeee for her help in this chapter!

Disclaimer: I own nothing except my own made up characters!


Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

December 24th, 2031 4:45 pm, Aidan's POV

Singing along to the Christmas favorites, we put the finishing touches on our Christmas tree. Dad, Josh, and I had chopped it down this morning before mom and the girls started decorating it.

"What do you think?" mom asked stepping back from the tree as I shook my head.

Laughter escaped my dad's mouth as his eyes grew wide at the sight of the three. "It looks like a frufru tree."

Mack, Belle, Josh, and I all bursted out into laughter after hearing dad's words. "Troy Alexander Bolton . . . this is a tree filled with the drawings and art projects of your children. How dare you!"

Shaking his head, dad held up his hands in innocence. "You asked and I told. Besides the kids know how much I love their art work."

Nodding her head while rolling her eyes, mom grinned before adding another ornament to the tree. "Sure Bolton . . . you're just trying to keep yourself outta trouble."

Looking over at his grin, that was exactly what the older man was trying to do.

Smiling at the ornaments as they were hung on the tree, mom turned her attention to us. "What are you kids doing tonight?"

"Carly and I are hanging out." Shrugging my shoulders, I tried to keep the grin off my face.

"I'm home for the night." Shock crossed my face as I looked at Mack.

"What about Brandon?" Lily asked looking at our older sister.

Shrugging her shoulders, Mack tried to keep the tears hidden. "He's with his family tonight."

Josh grinned ready to change the subject. "I'm going over to Miranda's. She's got something for me."

Chuckling at what a little pimp my brother was, caused mom to look at me. "Something funny Aidan?"

"Not a thing mother."

"All right. What about you Belle?" The smirk on her face caused a few eyebrows to be raised.

"Josh is coming over here; he'll be here in a little bit."

"Cool . . . well your dad and I are taking the little ones to the mall to see Santa." Nodding our heads, it was an annual tradition to do on Christmas Eve before going to midnight mass.

"We're leaving at 11:30 for mass and I expect all of you to be ready." Mom pointed the long finger in our direction before we escaped to our separate meeting areas.

The doorbell caused us to all to look up at the noise. Four individual 'I'll get its' were heard before four pairs of shoes went running towards the door.

"Oh it's you. AIDAN!"

Smiling, I walked into the entry way to see my siblings looking expectantly at me. "It's for you . . . it's your girlfriend."

I shooed them away as they made their kissing noises. Shaking my head, I opened the door and stepped out into the chilly night's air.

"Good afternoon sweetheart. How are you doing on this fine night?"

Pulling me close to her, our lips met in a blissful kiss before pulling back. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting to do that."

"Probably as long as I have been. I'm sorry I couldn't go out to breakfast with you this morning." Rubbing noses in an Eskimo kiss, I heard her sigh.

"I love you Aidan."

"I love you too Carly." Pausing, I helped her sit on the porch swing before changing the topic. "What did you do today?"

"Um . . . finished wrapping presents; I helped mom make some cookies which I brought over for you." Revealing a tin, my grin grew as I took it from her.

"Hmm . . . these are going up in my room for no one to touch."

"Aidan those aren't just for you . . . you've gotta share them." Shaking my head, I held the tin close to me.

"My cookies." I smiled at her as she tried to take them away from me as I snarled at her.

"Don't touch my cookies..." I grinned at Carly as she tried to grab them from me as I tickled her as she squealed loudly. My hands connected with her stomach again as I slowed down, hovering over he as I kissed her gently.

"I love you, Aidan."

"I love you too Carly. Merry Christmas.."

"It's not Christmas yet . . . Not until tomorrow." She giggled lightly, looking up at me.

"You know what I meant. Now, unless you want to have to fight the almighty strong hands of Aidan Xavier Bolton, I would be quiet little miss pretty."

We sat out on the swing, reminiscing on our past moments as we counted down the hours until we could kiss each other underneath the mistletoe.

Mack's POV

I passed the window as I smiled to myself at Aidan and Carly. They are the cutest couple and no matter what I know they will have the best relationship for the rest of their lives.

"What's wrong my princess?" Looking up, I saw dad standing behind me watching Aidan and Carly interact on the front porch.

"You haven't called me that in ages." Standing up, I walked over to the couch to sit beside him.

Shrugging his shoulders, he smiled at me. "No matter how old you may be, you'll always be my princess."

"Now if I remember correctly, Belle, Lily, and Cassie are all your princesses too."

Laughing loudly, dad leaned closer to me. "Don't tell your sisters, but you're my number one princess."

"I thought momma was your number one princess?"

He laughed some more before shaking his head. "Nope she's the queen and I don't mess with the queen."

We shared a laugh before I started playing with the promise ring Brandon gave me. Dad picked up on it right away.

"You've been down these last few days; what's going on Mack?"

Tears rushed to my eyes as I shook my head wishing they wouldn't fall. "Brandon and I had a fight."

Sighing, dad hugged me close to him while rubbing my back. "I'm sorry to hear that . . . you wanna talk about it?"

Weighing my options, I smiled while nodding my head. "Brandon caught me in the gym playing basketball . . . and he called me out on it."

"Mack you know you can't play basketball." Pausing dad looked at me with concerned.

"I know that but I was just shooting the ball through the hoop. I miss it dad . . ." Hastily I wiped the tears away before looking at him. "The day you guys told me I couldn't play again was the worst day of my life. The one thing that I knew was certain in my life was instantly gone.

"Since school started, I've been walking by that gym every day resisting the urge to walk through the doors . . . and finally six days ago, I walk in and shoot the ball around a little and my boyfriend finds me and calls me out on it. I'm sorry but basketball is always going to be a part of my life."

Dad nodded with a smile on his face. "Your mom and I knew that the day we had to tell you. Basketball holds a special place in your heart that can never be replaced. Brandon was scared when he saw you back on that court . . . give him time and he'll come to realize you know how far to push yourself."

Leaning up, I kissed his cheek before pulling back and grinning. "How do you always know the right things to say?"

Smiling, dad kissed my cheek. "Because I'm just good like that."

"Sure you are dad . . . keep telling yourself that."

I laughed as he kissed my forehead before getting up and walking into the kitchen as I remained on the couch, hearing Belle and Josh laughing upstairs.

I looked down at my hands, twisting the promise ring that I had received a mere nine days ago. I smiled as a tear hit my hand, wiping at my eyes quickly.

"What has you crying, pretty girl?" I looked up a little, seeing Brandon standing in front of me as I stood up. I whipped the rest of the tears from underneath my eyes as I looked down at the ground.

"Nothing is wrong, I'm fine." With every word I spoke, I gained more and more confidence in myself.

"Mack, I'm sorry about calling you out on basketball." I looked at him, closing my eyes as I heard him talking.

"Brandon, you just don't know what it's like having the love of your life taken away from you. I had basketball taken away, and I just wanted to be on the high that I feel when I'm in that gym. It's amazing, and I know you know what I feel." He nodded his head as I stepped towards him as he wrapped his strong arms around me.

"I'm so sorry, Mack. I never meant to yell, and I know that you can't have it. It just caught me off guard when I knew that you could injure yourself again, and that wasn't a risk that I was going to let you take."

I nodded into his chest, tears welling in my eyes as I let them flow out.

"I just never thought that I would love the thing that I love second in this world..." I whispered as I looked up at him. He furrowed his brow as I kissed his lips softly.

"What is your number one love?" He whispered, smiling at me as I slowly pulled my lips away from his.

"Take a guess..." I giggled softly as his hands rested against my waist.

"School?" I rolled my eyes, kissing his lips again.

"Does that give you any hint?" He smiled as I giggled, leaning in for another kiss.

Everything was ok again; finally, I'm sure it took long enough.

Josh's POV

Shyly, I placed my arm behind my girlfriend's head as she sighed in contentment. We were wrapped up in a big green blanket as we sat outside on the gazebo. Dad had decorated it with Christmas lights just like he had every year.

"Josh?" Her quiet whisper caused me to look down at her.

"Yeah Aranda?" She giggled as I used the nickname my sisters gave her.

Smiling, I kissed the top of her head before lacing our fingers together. Silently, we listened to the wind pick up around us. "What are you thinking about?"

Cranking her neck, she looked up at me with a smile on her face.

"Everything and how much I love spending time with you right now."

Shock covered her face as I started to freak out a little. "What did I do wrong?"

"You, Joshua Bolton, did nothing wrong. I didn't know you had it in you."

"Had what in me Baylor?" Her sweet laughter rang out as I shook my head.

"You were all sensitive and sweet and romantic. I didn't know you could be romantic."

"I'm a Bolton . . . I learn from the best." Puffing out my chest, she laughed.

Becoming quieter, I looked deep into her hazel eyes. Closing the gap between us, I kissed her ever so gently on the lips. We sat there kissing each other until lack of air pulled us apart.

"That was . . ." Lack of words caused Miranda to blush.

"You don't have to say anything . . . I think I'm in the same boat with you." Leaning over I quickly kissed her again before grinning.

"Josh . . ."

"Yeah?"

"I know we're both 14 but I have a question for you?"

"Miranda . . . you're stalling. Just tell me." Trying to coax it out of her, she smiled slightly before squeezing my hand.

"I've tried to do the whole friends thing and it's not working. I can't just be your friend Josh."

"Then what are we exactly?" Looking at her, I saw a small smile creep onto her face.

"I guess we're together . . . you know. Boy likes girl . . . girl likes boy."

"Who said I like you?"

Her face fell immediately after I said those words. "Oh then never mind what I just said."

She moved to get up but I held her against my body. Leaning closer to her ear, I took a deep breath before whispering the words I'd long to say. "I've loved you since we were babies but I didn't know it. I love you Miranda Grace Baylor."

Tears glistened her eyes as I shook my head. I kissed her before pulling back. "I love you too."

Gabi's POV

I looked at the clock hanging on the living room wall as I paced back and forth, waiting for my children to get ready and be down here. It is already eleven twenty seven, and none of them are done here, including my husband.

"Come on, we have to leave!" I shouted upstairs, hearing fussing as I groaned, stomping up the stairs as I saw a fight breaking out among my children in the bathroom.

"Belle, that's my hairspray, don't use it!" I watched my daughters fight over the bottle as Belle pulled back, the hairspray bottle flying out of their hands as it landed by my feet as I picked it up, holding it.

"Bolton children, I want all of you downstairs in a matter of three minutes. If you are not down there, you will not be receiving your presents tomorrow morning, nor will you be seeing your respective boyfriends or girlfriends this evening..." I paused, looking at the shocked faces looking back at me

"Go, NOW!" I reinforced what I was saying by pointing my hand forcefully to the stairs.

Four small children ran past me as I laughed, hearing them lining up in the foyer as I looked at my remaining four children, having not moved from their spots since I yelled.

"Are you four choosing to not see your respected partners tonight?" They shuffled off to their bedrooms, grabbing shoes and coats as they headed downstairs. I walked back to Troy and my bedroom, walking in softly as I smiled at him, standing in front of the mirror trying to fix his tie correctly.

"Needing some help, Bolton?" I smiled, walking in front of him as I tugged on the tail of the tie, correcting it quickly.

"Thank you, Montez." I smiled as he used the nickname back that we had when we were in high school.

"It hasn't been Montez in 22 years Bolton." Wrapping my arms around his waist, I placed my head on his chest. "Get it right."

"Sorry my queen, I shall try to do better soon."

Laughing, I shook my head. "I love you, Troy."

Leaning down, he kissed my lips before stomping on the stairs pulled us apart.

"You yell at us about being downstairs in three minutes yet you're standing up here making out like two high schoolers waiting to get caught by the parents?"

Turning to the door, we saw Mack standing there with a grin on her face. Shaking our heads, we broke apart.

"Sorry Mack, we're coming."

"Yeah right . . . I'll tell the kids we're going to be leaving in fifteen minutes." Troy smiled down at me before we walked out of our room, heading downstairs.

"Bolton troop, to the car!" Troy directed as I watched our children start laughing at us.

"Momma, why do you two always have to make us late by having your once a year annual make out session?" I giggled lightly as I looked down at Cassie.

"You'll understand when you get older." She giggled as she rolled her eyes, running out to the car as Troy wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Let's enjoy our night as a family." I smiled as Troy kissed my lips sweetly as we took off to another year of Christmas joy.

Troy's POV

Pulling into the church, I turned around in my seat to see eight bright eyed faces staring back at me.

"Remember best behavior Bolton Children." Gabi reminded as I shook my head.

When the last word rolled off her tongue, the doors flew open as we all piled out of the van before heading inside. Watching Jake and J.J. whisper excitedly together, took me by surprise.

"Jacob hand it over." Holding out my hand, I knew he was hiding something from his mother and me.

"Aww dad do I have to?" Pulling out the pink whoopee cushion, he handed it over reluctantly.

"Yes you have to Jake. Now go see your friends but come sit by your mom and me when the service starts."

Watching him run ahead, I waited for Gabi to catch up to where I was before looking over at her.

"What did you just bust Jake of?" Her grin caused me to shake my head.

"He decided to bring his whoopee cushion to church."

"I told him to put that away . . . oh well I'm glad you caught him."

Lacing our fingers together, we headed into the church. I kissed her temple before going our separate ways to greet our friends.

"Hey guys how are you doing?" Walking up to Chad, Zeke, Jason, and Ryan I greeted each of them individually.

"Not too bad. How's life in the Bolton household going?" Chad grinned as I smiled.

"It's going. Just busted the youngest with a whoopee cushion." I listened to them laugh as I shook my head.

"Jake is defiantly your son, Troy."

Realizing Ryan was right, I just shrugged my shoulders. "Yeah he is."

The next ten minutes were spent catching up on what was going on in the last few days. The Christmas music started as we rejoined our families and headed into the church.

"Are all eight kids accounted for?" Walking towards our normal pew, Gabi looked up at me with a bright smile on her face.

"I think so . . . Belle, Josh, Aidan, and Mack are with their respected counterparts; the younger ones are all ready in the pew. We're all set."

I smile at Gabi as we sit down in our normal pew as I look over at Lily and Jake, both their eyes starting to droop.

"It looks like we are going to spend the entire service trying to keep our children awake..." I grin at Gabi as she looks towards the younger kids as she starts to giggle.

"I guess so."

As the service started, I smiled at Gabi as I laced my fingers into hers as she looked at me, grinning back.

As the service went on, I would occasionally look over at our four younger children, smiling as all of their eyes were focused down, probably not listening to the service.

"Kids, heads up and eyes open." Gabi whispered as we watched all of their heads bolt up, looking over at us as we laughed silently.

"Start listening to the service, now!" I smiled as they all nodded their heads quickly.

"Troy Bolton, that was horrible." I devilishly smile at her as she slaps my arm lightly. I growl at her as she giggles as we quickly remember are still in church, not at home in the privacy of our bedroom as we turn our attention back to the preacher.

The rest of the service passing by quickly as we get out of the church, it being a little after one in the morning as we tell our friends goodbye, telling them we will see them later on in the day.

I smile as we usher our kids out of the van and into the house, as we watch the older ones walk up the stairs to their rooms as I look over at Gabi, watching her trying to balance both Lily and Cassie in her arms. I look at the door, watching Jake and JJ walk into the house slowly as the stumble up the stairs, finally making it to the top.

I walk to Gabi as I take the girls in my arms, silently telling Gabi I will be back down in a few minutes. As I walk up the stairs, I smile back at Gabi, winking at her as she giggles softly.

I walk the girls into their bedrooms, laying each of them in bed. I kissed their foreheads before walking out and shutting the door behind me. I walk back downstairs slowly, trying not to make sounds as I find Gabi standing in the place that I left her.

I wrap my arms around her slowly, smiling as I kiss the top of her head.

"What's going on, angel?" I whisper as she looks up at me, smiling gently. Gabi shook her head gently as I smiled back down at her.

"Nothing, I'm just tired, and wanting my husband to lay in our bed and wrap his strong arms around me."

I flex my muscle, not being able to see it because of my long sleeved button down shirt covering my arms.

"I think I can arrange that." I whisper as I pick her up bridal style, carrying her up to our bedroom, wishing us, our family and friends a very merry Christmas.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"


There you guys go!!! Feedback would be awesome. Thanks to everyone who has submitted feedback.

In the next chapter, it's Christmas morning in the Bolton house hold. What will dear Old Santa Claus bring everyone? Tune in to find out!!!