"It's the most wonderful time of the year
With our grandma yelling
And Scotty is telling you be of good cheer
It's the most wonderful time of the year"

"Gordon, shut up. It is five in the morning. You know that Grandma said we are not getting up until seven!" Scott throws an ornamental snow globe at his younger brother's head, who ducks before fleeing the room giggling and calling back "It is seven o'clock somewhere!"

"GET OUT!" Scott screams before jumping out of bed and slamming his door closed.

"Brothers are the worst pains in the world" Scott mumbles as he climbs back under the Christmas themed duvet. This years is red with a silhouette of Santa and his reindeer flying across the night sky. The only other thing on the bed is Scott's old teddy bear, who is lying on the other side with his head resting on the spare pillow. The top of his list this year is a week of peace and quiet!

He is just drifting back off to sleep when his alarm starts to screech. "Why me" Scott groans as his grabs either side of his pillow, holding it over his ears and rolling over onto his stomach and pressing his nose into the mattress. He knows it won't be long and he silently starts to count.

"One… Two… Thr…"

"SCOTTY! COME ON IT'S CHRISTMAS"

Scott knows he has no more excuses.

"Okay Grandma. I am up" he replies yawning heavily. "Do I have to get dressed?"

"As long as you aren't in your birthday suit Scott, then no. It is Christmas and your dad is making pancakes."

Now she has his full attention. Scott will do anything for pancakes!

His brothers are already gathered around the tree eyeing on the large pile of gifts with their names on. Jeff is in the kitchen cooking up the promised breakfast with M.A.X helping out, whisking the batter for him.

"Gordon, wait until everyone is here" John admonishes.

"Just one" the blonde begs, turning to the redhead and fixing his deep amber eyes on him.

"You know that doesn't work on me, try Virgil!" John reminds him with a grin.

"Virgy please" Gordon pleads. "Alan help me out here"

Alan too turns his charms on Virgil, and they can both tell that he is about cave in record time, when Jeff arrives with the stash of pancakes. "Touch those presents and I will chop your fingers off!"

"You used to say that about catching us smoking" Alan says grinning.

"And quite right too" Kayo says from her own spot on one of the sofas.

Scott is still half asleep, gazing aimlessly out at the still dark sky. There is a glazed look on his face as he is lost in his own thoughts.

"What ya doin'?" Gordon asks, abandoning his breakfast and wandering over to the window where his elder brother is standing.

"Thinking" Scott replies.

"Oh that's what the smoke it, I thought dad had set the kitchen on fire again!"

"It is Christmas, so I will let that go. Call it your get out of jail free card and your Christmas present" Scott tells him with a grin.

"You mean I can't keep the aquarium you got me for my room?" Gordon asks crestfallen.

"How did you know about that?" Scott asks with a facepalm.

"Scott I was here when you and Brains were looking at the plans." Gordon reminds him with an eye roll.

"I am going to need a lot of vodka to get through today!"

Gordon laughs before grabbing Scott's hand. "Come on, it isn't a family Christmas without you"

Scott knows when he is beaten, sitting down on the floor near the overly decorated tree, he takes a pancake from the plate and takes his first look at the presents under the tree.

"That's better" Alan announces. "This is going to be the best Christmas ever"

"Really?" Kayo asks. "What was your best Christmas ever?"

It is Scott who answers for him. "Easy the one before Virgil was born and I was an only child!"

A hurt look flashes across Virgil's face before he brightens up again. "No way, it was the last one we had in Kansas where Gordon accidentally broke his leg trying to climb the roof to catch Santa"

"How is me hurting myself your favourite Christmas?" Gordon replies indignantly.

"Simple, while you were in surgery, we got to go to a restaurant for Christmas dinner, instead of Grandma's burnt offering we got real Christmas dinner!" Virgil says.

"What was your favourite Christmas dad?" Alan asks.

Jeff joins Scott and Gordon on the floor, squeezing his way in between the two boys.

"Well. My favourite Christmas was…"

TBC