Since I got so many wonderful reviews, I kept going!! So enjoy!

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Ryan put his stocking up on the fireplace. Why they needed a fireplace in southern California was beyond him. The stocking was the last of the Chrismukka decorations to go up.

"There. We are finally done." Sandy smiled looking around at his family.

"I'll go get the eggnog. Non-alcoholic of course." Kirsten smiled and went off to the kitchen. Ryan, Sandy, and Seth took seats around the room.

"I love Chrismukka!" Seth exclaimed.

"Tell us something we don't know." Ryan said smiling to show he was joking. Seth threw a pillow at him. Sandy laughed.

"Ok boys here you go," Kirsten said handing out the eggnog. Ryan took a glass and put his head back on the couch trying to relax a little bit. This was his second Christmas...sorry Chrismukka with the Cohen's and he still couldn't believe a holiday could be somewhat a happy event.

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11-year-old Ryan sat watching a Christmas special on television. He wished his Christmases could be somewhat like he saw on TV. Hell Tiny Tim had a better Christmas then he ever had. Christmas was tomorrow and there was a sorry looking tree in the corner decorated with a string of lights, half of which were out, tensile and a few cheap red and green balls. His mom and her boyfriend of the week were out at some party and Trey was no where to be found. He was home alone eating stale crackers watching 'A Christmas Carol'. He didn't mind too much being alone because this way, he wasn't getting his ass kicked for no reason.

Ryan went to bed around 11pm. No one was home yet.

He woke up the next day around 8 am and went in to the living room. Having a small ray of hope that there would be something under the tree for him. He looked but as usual there was nothing under the tree. Ryan slumped his shoulders and put his head down and turned to go into the kitchen. He looked through the refidge and the cabinets and came up empty.

"Merry Christmas Ryan." He said softly to himself. He checked the house and saw his mom and boyfriend passed out in their bedroom. Trey still wasn't home. Ryan went back to the living room and turned on the television.

A Few hours later his mother and her man emerged from the bedroom. Ryan looked over at them and saw them both go for the liquor.

"Merry Christmas Ryan." His mom said to him.

"Yea, Merry Christmas mom." He said back turning to the TV. John, the man of the week, took a seat on the couch.

"Ok hand over the remote." He said to Ryan.

"I'm watching something." Ryan said still looking at the TV.

"I don't care! Hand it over!" John said, his voice raising.

"Let me just finish watching this and you can watch what you want." Ryan said still not taking his eyes away from the movie. John didn't like that answer. He got up and went over to where Ryan was laying on the floor. He picked the boy up by the arm. Ryan was startled and looked up at the man. He could tell John was still somewhat drunk. He hadn't slept it all off.

"I said I want to watch TV now." John said through gritted teeth. Ryan winced as John squeezed his arm hard.

"John, come on. It's Christmas." Ryan heard his mom slur.

"So?" Was John's answer. Ryan was scared but he tried not to let it show. He didn't want to give John the satisfaction. "Tough guy hey?" John said then hit Ryan in the face. Ryan groaned in pain and tried to get away. This pissed John off more. He hit Ryan again, this time in his stomach. Then his back. After a few minutes of this Ryan spoke.

"Please....stop." It came out just above a whisper but John heard him and got on his knee next to him.

"What was that?" He asked with a cocky grin knowing that Ryan was begging him to stop. Ryan closed his eyes.

"Please stop. I'm sorry." He said again and he felt John put his hand on the front of his shirt by the neck and taking it into a fist.

"You better learn your place boy," He said quietly but menacingly. "Next time will be worse." He said getting up and going back to the television. Ryan, still on the floor, opened his eyes and looked from John to his mother. His mother was sitting at the table, head down. She was already passed out. Ryan slowly got up and walked into the bathroom to clean up, then headed to his room where he would stay the rest of the day.

At 8 that night he heard his bedroom window open. He looked over and saw Trey climbing in.

"Hey lil brother." He said. "Why are you sitting in the dark?" The only light coming from a street light. Trey went over and turned the light on. "Shit." Was all he could say after seeing his brothers bruised face. He sat down on the bed and looked at Ryan. "Are you hungry?" Ryan looked up and noticed that Trey was holding a bag. He nodded. Trey handed him a hand burger and some fries. Ryan took it and ate pretty fast.

"Slow down dude." Trey laughed. Ryan just looked at him. "I'm sorry I wasn't here to help you with him." Trey said sadly. Ryan just looked at him.

"It's ok." He said softly, mouth full of food. Trey went over to his bed and laid down.

"Merry Christmas bro." He said wishing it would have been better for him.

"Merry Christmas Trey. Thanks for dinner." Trey nodded falling asleep. Ryan realized he was probably out parting all night. He is surprised Trey even brought him dinner. When he finished eating he threw the wrappers out and went to bed himself. Maybe next year would be better. He could only hope.

IIIIIIIII

Ryan sat watching Seth open his presents.

"All right! The new play station game!" He exclaimed then looked at Ryan. "You and me, game later!" He said and Ryan just smiled and nodded. Seth handed him a smaller box. "Here you go." Seth said smiling.

"You didn't have to." Ryan said and Seth put a hand up signaling Ryan to stop talking and start opening. Ryan opened the box to find a new watch. An expensive watch. "Seth, wow, You really didn't..." He was cut off by Seth.

"Shhhhh....I wanted to and I hope you like it." He said smiling.

"I love it Seth. Thank you." Ryan said giving his brother a hug. The clan continued to open gifts and Ryan was taken back by what they had bought him. New clothes, cd's, his own laptop. It was all too much. Ryan didn't know how to pay them back. He put his new things away in the pool house when Sandy knocked at the door.

"Hey kid."

"Hey Sandy." Ryan said sitting on the bed.

"Have a good day today?" Sandy asked sitting on the chair across from Ryan.

"Yea. It was great." Ryan smiled. "You didn't have to get me all that stuff. I am fine with what I have." He said.

"Psh, it was done cause we wanted to." Sandy said waving his hand. Ryan looked down smiling a little.

"You know" Ryan started and Sandy looked at him, still not used to him starting conversation. "I'm not used to holidays being this good." Ryan stated. "Guess I'm not sure how to react."

"Well, just accept the gifts, like Seth does so eagerly." Sandy laughed and Ryan chuckled. "And there you go." Sandy finished.

"I guess I'm not used to NOT being hurt on Christmas, for as far back as I can remember...I...I always got my ass kicked." Ryan said looking down, glancing up at Sandy here and there. Sandy was thrilled that Ryan was opening up to him and saddened that he never really had a merry Christmas.

"Well Ryan, all I can say is, that will never happen again while you're here." Sandy stated standing up. "Come on. Time to watch 'A Christmas Carol' Family tradition and since you're family you must come and watch." Sandy said as Ryan got up. He put an arm around the teenager and was happy when Ryan didn't pull away like Seth would.

Ryan sat on the couch in between Seth and Kirsten and Sandy sat on the end. Sandy hit play on the DVD.

'Looks like Tiny Tim got his Christmas wish after all.' Ryan thought to himself.

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