It was Christmas Eve on Tracy Island. They had spent the day celebrating Connie and Matty's birthdays, the two newly two-year-old cousins having enjoyed opening their presents and the cakes they had been made.

Brains, a long-time friend and employee of the Tracy Family Patriarch Jeff, was up on Thunderbird Five. He had volunteered to do so, allowing all the Tracy Family to be together for the holidays. In the past, his son Fermat had joined him. This year, Fermat's girlfriend, Fee Grantham, was also on Tracy Island for Christmas, having come to the Island with Fermat when students were allowed to return home at the start of December.

x-x

Now, it was time for bed. Cookies and a drink had been left for Santa, along with a couple of carrots for the reindeer. They had even left some hand sanitizer for Santa to use. After baths, the children had all put on new pyjamas and assembled in the sitting room where Fee, a singer-songwriter had sung a couple of carols to them. Grandpa Jeff had then read them all a story. Saying goodnight to their Grandpa, Fee, and Fermat, they had then been taken to bed by parents, and goodnight hugs and kisses given.

By midnight, they were convinced the children were all out for the count and they set the presents out under the tree. There was a pile for each of the children. Some were from Santa, others from parents, grandparents and other relatives. Presents for the adults had been set against one of the walls.

x-x

Scott and Hope pretended to be asleep as their eldest, five-year-old Nate, barged into the room at five in the morning on Christmas Day, his little brother Matty close behind. They had also recently announced that Hope was pregnant again, and due in the summer.
"Mommy, Daddy, wake up! Santa came!" Nate called, tugging on his mom's hand as Matty went around to their dad's side of the bed. "Come on!" Scott opened his eyes, lent over the side of the bed and scooped his younger son up as Nate climbed up next to his mom. The boys submitted to brief hugs before insisting they go to open the presents.

John and Lou had likewise been woken by seven-year-old Tyler and his little brother Riley, who was three, running into their room and jumping onto the bed with excited exclamations that Santa had been at the same time. Like their cousins, Tyler and Riley submitted to quick hugs before dragging their parents out of bed and to the sitting room.

Virgil and Evie woke to their eldest daughter Connie knocking on their door at half past five as well, before cracking it open and sticking her head around the door. She had had a smile in her face as she approached the bed.
"Can we see if Santa been?" Connie asked. Climbing out of bed, Virgil took Connie by the hand as he led her to the sitting room. Smiling, Evie had got out of bed as well and gone to get their younger daughter Patsy, who was around nine months old, from her room before following the others.

Gordon and Pippa heard a giggle then a light knock on the door. A glance at the clock showed it to be around half past five in the morning. The door then slowly opened and their three year old daughter Zoe came in, leading her little brother Kieran, who was a little over eighteen months, by the hand. Sitting up in bed, they picked their children up and cuddled them close.
"Shall we go and see what Santa's brought?" Gordon whispered to his daughter. Zoe grinned and nodded before jumping off the bed and running to the sitting room. Gordon ran after Zoe and Pippa followed, carrying Kieran.

Alan and Tin-Tin woke up at just gone half five and could hear two year old Liam talking to his little sister Molly. The pair climbed out of bed and went through to Molly's room.
"Liam? Shall we go and find Grandpa, and Nenek and Datuk?" Alan asked, referring to his dad and Tin-Tin's parents, Onaha and Kyrano, who worked as Housekeeper and Groundskeeper on Tracy Island. Nenek and Datuk were the Malay for Grandma and Grandfather. Liam ran to his dad and took his hand, leading him to the sitting room. Picking up six-month-old Molly, Tin-Tin followed.

From his bedroom, Jeff Tracy could hear his grandchildren waking up their parents. Smiling, he got out of bed and made his way to the kitchen to make coffee and tea for everyone. He wasn't surprised to see Onaha and Kyrano already there.
"Merry Christmas" he greeted the couple.
"And to you, Jeff" Onaha replied, smiling. It was only recently that he had got them to call him that. They soon had tea, coffee, hot cocoa, milk, and biscuits ready to go through to the sitting room, to be consumed whilst the presents were being opened.
"Found them" Liam called from the kitchen door.
"Good job, Buddy" Alan said, picking Liam up. "Now, I think Uncle Fermat and Aunt Fee need to be woken up."
"Yeah!" Liam exclaimed and Alan walked off with his son.

Fermat and Fee smiled at one another as they woke up. It was a little before six o'clock in the morning.
"Merry Christmas" Fee said.
"M-merry Christmas" Fermat replied, kissing his girlfriend. They were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"We're ah-awake" Fermat called back. The door opened to reveal Alan, Liam on his hip.
"Santa been!" Liam called.
"Has he now? Guess we'd better come and see what presents he brought us then" Fee replied. Climbing out of bed, the couple followed Alan and Liam to the sitting room.

x-x

Once everyone was in the sitting room, they began opening presents. The children had got toys, art and craft supplies, books, and clothes. The adults had got practical items, books, things to do with hobbies, as well as a few silly things. The parents helped set up the toys and the children had then began playing together. Some of the adults had then gone off to prepare the Christmas Dinner.

x-x

Dinner consumed, they had all assembled in the sitting room once again. Virgil was at the piano, and Fee had her guitar out. They sang carols and other Christmas songs. The girls had all sighed upon realizing Gordon had taught the older children silly versions of a few of the songs. Video-calls had also been made to other family members. They then settled down to watch a film.

A lovely ending to a lovely day.

AN - I hope you had a lovely time celebrating Christmas. Last year, I was literally at work on Christmas Day. Had New Year off though. This year, I was at my in-laws house. We relaxed, watched TV. Was a nice chilled day.

Anyway, Happy New Year.