This is a quick author's note! Thank you to everyone who has read my story so far, I am really excited to read all the comments and would like you to know that I do read them! It's very encouraging to get such positive feedback. Thank you also to those who have favorited and liked it! I wanted to try something new with the story of Tom and Zia, and I'm glad it's being received so well. I'm enjoying writing this, and I hope it's as enjoyable to read. Thank you and on to the chapter!

-Pneuma

The fire snapped cheerfully in the hearth, warming up the sitting room in Nana Mary and Papa Charlie's little home. Tom and Papa Charlie were both on the ground, meticulously (as meticulously as an almost-two-year-old can get) constructing a model train set to go around the base of the Christmas tree that filled one corner of the room. Nana Mary and Zia were discussing Christmas Day menu plans, debating over whether they wanted breakfast on to include sausage or bacon, of which they had both. The rest of the menu had been complete and the refrigerator was well stocked for the next day. Dinner tonight had been delicious, but they had made sure to keep it simple in preparation for all the food tomorrow. Zia was keeping an eye on the two excited boys as the train set gradually made its way around the tree, Tom's little face intent on laying track in just the right way.

Tom seemed excited for the holidays, and she hoped that he wouldn't be disappointed at the small gifts she got for him. Although they lived comfortably enough, there still wasn't a lot of money. She knew that Mary and Charlie got him some nice things, but she just couldn't afford anything fancy, especially with his birthday coming up so soon after. She had spent a lot of time arranging everything for his birthday present, and she knew that he would like it, but the Christmas presents she had been able to afford weren't as exciting. Several gifts were already under the tree, but the rest would go under after Tom was in bed. Glancing over at the clock, then over at the now completed train, she stood up. Nana Mary, also noticing the time, stood with her.

"Tom, it's time for bed," she called. He pushed himself up to his feet and walked over to her, in his little striped flannel pajamas.

"Now?" he asked. Papa Charlie got up now too, and ruffled Tom's hair.

"You've got to go to bed now so Santa Claus can come," he remarked. Tom looked up at him, eyes wide.

"Are you sure he will know we are here and not back at our apartment?" he questioned, worried. Papa Charlie smiled down at him.

"Of course! Santa has been doing this for a long time, he has a very good system," he told the anxious child. Tom nodded and Zia reached down and picked him up, carrying him into the spare bedroom. Nana Mary had outfitted the room with a small bed next to the large one, complete with a little green bedspread, since it was Tom's favorite color. It was pointless to put him in a crib, and he had expressed his desire to sleep in a bed like his Aunt, so Tom now slept in his own bed in their apartment.

"Auntie, I hope you like my present tomorrow," he said after he was tucked in. "I made it," he added. She bent down and kissed his forehead.

"I know I will love it, especially if you made it." With that he closed his eyes, and she switched the light off before closing the door. Nana Mary and Papa Charlie were waiting back in the other room. They had all agreed to wait one hour before setting out the rest of the presents from Santa under the tree. Papa Charlie smiled as she walked in, and Nana Mary's eyes twinkled at her.

"It's nice to have a family again," he said, and Nana Mary nodded her agreement. "After our son died, the house felt so lonely during the holidays. He was our only child."

"You and Tom bring life back into the house," Nana Mary told her gently. Zia shook her head.

"I don't know what I would have done without both of you; I wouldn't have found Tom or at least been able to take care of him without all the help that you two have provided," she explained.

"Family is important for everyone," said Nana Mary. They were all silent for a moment. Then they began a conversation about the plans for next day. This carried them until it was time to place the other presents under the tree, and soon everybody was in bed. Zia listened to the sound of Tom's breathing, smiling at how worried he had been over Santa's ability to find him, then fell asleep.

She felt a little poke on her arm. Then another one. It felt like early morning, but she didn't want to open her eyes.

"Auntie!" came a semi-frantic whisper. "Auntie get up! It's Christmas!"

"Okay I'm coming," she mumbled, opening her eyes and blinking slowly so her eyes could adjust. Tom's excited face came into view, as he tugged on her hand to get her up.

"Come on! Hurry up!" he ran over and grabbed her bathrobe, holding it up for her. She took it, put it on and saw that her slippers were already positioned on the floor. She smiled at Tom's excitement, and stood up, letting him tug her into the sitting room. He pulled her to the tree, pointing out the new presents from Santa, then over to the stockings, which were now filled. "Papa Charlie was right, he did know," he said.

"Of course I was right! I've been around long enough to know about how Santa works, you see," Papa Charlie's voice sounded almost as excited as Tom's. Zia turned to watch as Papa Charlie and Nana Mary both entered the room, smiling merrily.

"We'll open stockings now, then have breakfast. After breakfast we can work on the rest of the gifts," Nana Mary said, sitting down on one of the couches with her husband. "Tom first, since you're the youngest." Tom ran to his stocking, unhooked it from its place on the mantle, and brought it over, sitting on the floor in front of Zia. He reached into the stocking an pulled out a little bundle of candy canes tied together with a green ribbon, smiling up at them all excitedly. Mary nodded encouragingly, and he continued to pull various treats out until the stocking was empty and he was surrounded by things like fruit, Christmas fudge, and peppermint bark. Then, in order of age, the rest of them went through their stockings, pulling out things similar to his. After this, they went in to eat breakfast (it had sausage and bacon, they decided to use both) and traipsed back into the sitting room.

They opened their gifts in turns, one person at a time. Zia received a new coat from Nana Mary and Papa Charlie, Tom a new pair of snow boots and an umbrella for rain. Zia gave Tom a pair of green crocheted mittens to match his scarf, a tie for Papa Charlie, and a new stirring spoon for Nana Mary since she always said she needed more. From Santa came a variety of wind-up toys for Tom. Zia enjoyed watching each of them open their gifts; she had always liked to watch others open up presents just to see how happy they looked. They quickly got through all the presents when Tom got up and ran to the back bedroom, then came back with a little package.

"Here," he said handing it to Zia. She remembered what he had said the night before about making her a present and she was curious as to what he could have made her.

"Should I open it now?" she asked him.

"Yes!" he exclaimed enthusiastically. "Open it!" She opened the outer wrapping and then removed several layers of tissue paper to find what was nestled inside. She took it out of the tissue paper with trembling fingers.

It was a necklace with a large wooden charm with a coiled snake carved onto the front. The carving looked difficult and intricate, but she didn't want to think about him holding a carving tool in his chubby little hands. He leaned forward to whisper into her ear, "I used my special skills to do it. Nana Mary and Papa Charlie think I bought it with saved up money." She instantly felt relieved. Then she noticed something and turned the necklace to the side.

It was a locket. A heavy locket with a snake on the front. Immediately, her stomach knotted itself up.

"Open it!" he urged. She did and saw a tiny picture of him inside, and written in tiny letters 'to Auntie Zia, love Tom.' She looked down at him, and saw that his round face was anxious, as if he wasn't sure that she liked it or not. "Auntie? Do you like it?"

"I love it." She smiled down at him and he gave her a hug. Nana Mary and Papa Charlie were smiling too.

"It's a snake!" he said excitedly.

Zia smiled. His birthday gift would be perfect.