Emily woke up early, even on the mornings she didn't have to be at the BAU. Years of law enforcement work meant that she naturally woke before the sun...and having young children definitely didn't help the sleeping in cause. Lucy did the late nights, as a career of evening performances had made her a night owl...which meant she was responsible for dealing with nightmares and 'I'm not tired' complaints.

Whereas early mornings used to mean time to drink coffee and wake up in peace, these days Clara never failed to wake up early either. Emily wasn't sure if it was because she was naturally a morning person or whether she just liked spending time with her, but she certainly wasn't about to complain about quality time with her daughter.

Emily yawned, started the coffee maker...moments before the pitter patter of little feet across the floor echoed through the kitchen. Clara flung herself into Emily's arms, squeezing her as tight as her small arms allowed. "Morning, Mommy," she greeted, nuzzling into Emily's neck.

"Morning, Bug," she replied and she could hardly believe how full her heart felt in that moment, how complete her life felt. She picked Clara up and set her on the counter, passing her a juice box and moving to make her breakfast. (Currently the only thing she would eat for breakfast was the 'hatching dinosaur' oatmeal...perhaps not the most nutritious breakfast, but it was a battle they were choosing not to fight.)

"Mommy, know what day it is?" Clara asked brightly, watching Emily with curiosity and excitement gleaming in her eyes. Then, without waiting for an answer, she announced, "Christmas first!"

Emily laughed. "You mean December first..." she corrected, tapping the child's nose.

She shrugged off the correction. "Can I eats my abvemt calemdar now?" she asked, pointing to the calendar of chocolates that had been relocated to the top of the fridge upon realizing two preschoolers couldn't be trusted with chocolate.

"Not yet, Bug – we have to wait for sissy and Mama," she said gently.

Her bottom lip jutted out in a little pout and she sighed dramatically before changing the subject, "Oh. Well, can I writes to Santa?"

"Well, it's only the first," Emily said. But Clara looked so adorable as she begged with her big blue eyes and batting lashes that she couldn't help but give in. "Okay, Bug. I'll get you some paper."

Clara sighed dramatically. "But you hafta help 'cause I dunno my words yet..."

"What?" Emily said with fake surprise. "Aren't you in high school yet?"

She rolled her eyes in a dramatic emulation of Lucy's mannerisms. "You're so silly, Mommy!"

Emily tickled her ribs until she giggled. "And you're a silly Bug." She winked. "Okay, Mommy needs coffee first, then we'll write to Santa."

"Can I haves coffee?"

Laughter bubbled up. "Not a chance." She ruffled Clara's bedhead hair. "You're way too hyper already."

"So, Bug..." Emily said, setting pen and paper in front of Clara. "What do you want to ask Santa for?"

Clara made a dramatic show of thinking the matter over, tapping her chin and narrowing her eyes in what might've been an emulation of her mothers. "How 'bout a puppy?" she said, flashing a toothy grin.

"A puppy?" Emily repeated, brows leaping up her forehead. "Why do you want a puppy? We have you and Aurora...isn't that enough chaos?"

Clara pouted. "A puppy would be my friend," she mumbled, almost shyly.

Emily stroked Clara's hair back, rubbing the spot behind her ear that never failed to make her sigh with contentment. "How about I be your friend, Bug?"

Clara's eyes turned sad. "But you hafta be my Mommy, that's not a friend."

"Can't I be both?"

Clara shook her head firmly. "Nope."

Emily sighed softly. "I just don't know if Santa is going to bring a puppy to someone who is still so little," she said gently.

"But I'm not little!" she declared. "I'm almost five!" She pouted more dramatically now.

"I know," Emily murmured. "You're a very big girl...but taking care of a puppy is a lot of work – you don't want to have to pick up its poop, do you?"

Clara thought on that for a moment, ultimately deciding no, she did not. A few moments passed, then suddenly, her eyes lit up again. "Instead, can Santa bring me a baby brother?"

Emily tried not to groan aloud at the demand. "You want a baby brother?"

She nodded vigorously. "Then you hafta clean the poop."

Emily laughed. "Well, that is flawless reasoning. But babies are lots of work too. They cry all the time and needs lots of attention from me and Mama. They're not very much fun when they're babies."

"I'd help!" she declared. "I helps with Rory too, right?"

"You've been a really great help," she assured her. "But I think that's something Mama and I have to discuss, alright?"

She nodded sadly.

"But," Emily prompted, "You've been such a good girl this year that I know Santa will want to bring you something special – something just for you."

That seemed to soothe Clara some. "How 'bout a doll house?" she suggested, "So my Barbies have a home."

"That's a fantastic idea," Emily agreed.

From the next room, there came soft footsteps. Then, a soft, "Mommy?" in Aurora's butter soft voice.

Clara and Emily looked up to find Lucy standing in the doorway with Aurora on her hip. "Morning, you two," Lucy said. "What have you been up to?" Aurora started wiggling in her arms to be set down so she could run over to Emily to greet her.

"It's Christmas first!" Clara exclaimed. "So, Mommy helps me write to Santa!"

"Wow!" Lucy said. She shared a smile with Emily that said just how much she loved watching her be a mother to their children. "What are you going to ask Santa for?"

A wide grin split Clara's face. "A doll house and a baby brother."

Emily just groaned, catching Lucy's eyes and sharing quiet laughter.

Lucy shook her head. "In that case, Santa better bring us lots of coffee too..."