Okay hope you like!

Chapter 2

Kirsten crawled over to the heap of Chrismukkah decorations. She pulled out four stockings. The first one had a Star of David; Sandy's, next had candy canes; Seth's, the next had three bells; hers. When Kirsten came to Ryan's stocking with three white stars she stopped. She could remember when Seth had given it to him. He didn't seem to acknowledge it. He acted as though he didn't care but when he hung it on the mantelpiece alongside everyone else's she saw his face light up. She didn't think anything could top that until Chrismukkah day arrived.

It was Christmas Eve and Kirsten and Sandy were in their room lying on the bed sipping eggnog. Kirsten snuggled into her husband and he wrapped his arms tightly around her. Ryan and Seth both lay on the end of the bed. A bowl of popcorn sat between them. A Muppets Christmas Carol was playing on the wide screen TV. Ryan turned to Seth, "Hey man why are we watching this in your parents room."

"I've been doing it since I was three years old. We always watch a Christmas movie on Christmas Eve before we go to sleep. It's a Cohen tradition." Seth turned back to the movie. Ryan turned around to see Kirsten beginning her third glass and Sandy dropping a kiss in his wife's forehead. Ryan turned back.

Kirsten set her empty glass on the bedside table and reached for the remote control. She checked the clock: 10.30, before switching off the TV and ejecting the DVD. Sandy collected the used bowls and glasses, "Okay kids. Bedtime." Ryan frowned and checked his watch, "Really?"

"Yeah. How'd you expect Santa to leave you presents if you're awake?" Sandy said enthusiastically. Seth sighed and pushed himself off the bed. "Okay Ryan just replace the word "Santa" with the word "us" and you'll get it." Ryan laughed and began to follow Seth out of the room. "Night guys. Just wake me up when you're ready okay." Ryan said. Seth turned on his heel, "Uh no Ryan not gonna work. You see you have to be IN the house for the Christmas day routine to go ahead and you in the pool house is just uh no not gonna work. You'll sleep in a guest room tonight. Or you know you could bunk up with me." Ryan shot Seth a look, "Uh okay I'll help you set up the guest room."

"Why do I have to be IN the house Seth?" Ryan asked perplexed but Seth replied only by putting his finger to his lips, closing his eyes and shaking his head. Ryan rolled his eyes. "See you two in the morning." Sandy called from the other side of the room. Both boys yelled goodnight over their shoulders and made their way to their bedrooms. Or in Ryan's case the guest bedroom. Seth suggested he sleep in the bedroom next to his. When Ryan went into the room he found that it was ready for him. The bed sheets were fresh and a glass of milk and four chocolate chip cookies were on his bed stand. Seth was grinning madly behind him, "It's a tradition man." Ryan smirked and sat on his bed. He ate the cookies and drank the milk. He pulled off his sweatpants and climbed into bed. He was falling asleep before his head touched the pillow.

Ryan hadn't opened his eyes yet. He'd had a really good sleep. The bed in the guestroom must be better than in the pool house. He wanted to check his watch but that would mean he'd have to wake up. He felt his bed dip to the side slightly. He opened his eyes to find Kirsten on the edge of his bed, "Hey honey. It's still early but I just wanted to say Merry Christmas."

"Huh?"

"Well we finally finished with the presents downstairs and I always come up after and see Seth. So here I am."

"Huh?" Ryan didn't understand why she was visiting him at; he looked down at his watch, three in the morning. Kirsten laughed softly and brushed Ryan's hair from his eyes. "Go back to sleep. I didn't mean to wake you." She leaned down and dropped a kiss onto his forehead, "Merry Christmas Ryan."

"Merry Christmas Kirsten." Ryan smiled. Kirsten got off the bed and silently closed the door. He could hear her padding down the hall toward Seth's bedroom.

Ryan sat up in bed and checked his watch. It was almost nine. He wondered whether Kirsten had actually come into his room last night or whether he just dreamt it. He didn't have time to ponder on that before he heard a familiar song being blasted all over the house.

"You better watch out

You better not cry

Better not pout

I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town..."

Ryan got out if bed and pulled on his sweats. And yanked the door open. He found Seth in the hallway wearing a Santa hat singing and dancing along to the music.

"He's making a list,

And checking it twice;

Gonna find out who's naughty and nice.

Santa Claus is coming to town..."

"What's going on?" Ryan yelled over the music. Seth noticed Ryan standing in his doorway looking puzzled. Seth danced toward him and grabbed his elbow, "Come on. Presents!"

"He sees you when you're sleeping

He knows when you're awake

He knows if you've been bad or good

So be good for goodness sake!"

Ryan managed to make downstairs without falling despite Seth tugging at his arm. He dragged him into the living room where they found Sandy twirling his wife on the spot. They were both singing along to the music.

"O! You better watch out!

You better not cry.

Better not pout, I'm telling you why.

Santa Claus is coming to town.

Santa Claus is coming to town."

"Hey!" Sandy said, "You're up! Did we wake you? I'm sorry." Kirsten was laughing. She wrapped her arms around both of her boys at the same time. Sandy came up and enveloped his family in a bear hug. "Merry Chrismukkah everybody." Sandy yelled laughing. Just as he said that the song changed to Bing Crosby's White Christmas, "Ugh depressing!" Seth said and motioned to switch the song but Kirsten grabbed his elbow, "No! I like this song. Anyway it's just background music. Now hurry up and start opening!" Ryan looked around to find the entire floor was covered in gifts, "How many people did you buy for?"

"Oh uh there's a few that aren't for you two. Uh one's for my Dad and there are a few for the newpsie's. And one for Jimmy." Kirsten said while scanning the floor, "Just check the tags." Seth dove into the middle of the room and picked up a small box. He checked the tag, "Oh uh Ryan this is yours." He said handing him the box. Ryan took it. He looked at Sandy and Kirsten who were both grinning wildly. "Open it!" Sandy urged. Ryan opened the wrapping paper carefully. Inside was a long cardboard box. He took off the lid and found a new bike chain. He frowned. He already had a bike chain that worked fine. But he was pleased nonetheless, "Guys thanks. That's really great. But you didn't have to get me anything really." Kirsten smiled slyly. "Ryan that's not your actual present. It was too big to wrap so we set it up in the kitchen. That was just a little clue." Ryan turned to Seth who had refrained from opening any gifts. He wanted to see Ryan's face when he got his big present. Kirsten pushed Ryan toward the kitchen where waiting for him was a brand new bike. Ryan had been admiring it a while back when he was out shopping for clothes with Kirsten. It was a silver BMX and he knew how expensive it was. Ryan stood transfixed, "Hey I... I can't take this. It's too much."

"Of course you can. The bike you've got is falling apart and we already told Seth that we aren't buying you a car so... we compromised." Kirsten explained still, grinning. Ryan didn't know what to do. He turned to Kirsten, "Thanks," he said smiling. He leaned in for a hug and wrapped his arms around her. He did the same with Sandy. "Your welcome." They all went back into the living room and Sandy handed him another box. "There's more?" Seth laughed. "Ryan there's like twenty boxes here with your name on them now hurry up."

After the boys had finished unwrapping they sat and admired their loot. Ryan got lots of new clothes and a few video games. He also got a year subscription to Legion. He'd actually grown to like comic books. Seth had gotten much the same but his big present was a record player. He had wanted something that he could play vinyl's on for ages. They were both thrilled and Ryan was speechless. He definitely didn't expect so much. Kirsten and Sandy were on the couch, "Okay our turn." Sandy said excitedly, "And I think I'm gonna start with that rather large surf board shaped one from your mother." Sandy ripped the wrapping paper off of the gift and exclaimed, "Honey! You shouldn't have!" Ryan stood up and handed a long rectangle shaped gift to Kirsten, "Marissa helped me pick it out. If you don't like it... well you know I kept the receipt."

"Ryan I thought we said no gifts for us."

"Yeah well. Sorry." Kirsten smiled and unwrapped her gift just as carefully as Ryan had. She took the lid off of the box and found a silver bracelet inside. "It's not silver." Ryan said quietly, "It's uh white gold." Kirsten stared down speechless, "Ryan I love it! Thank you so much." She stood up and embraced him. She kissed him on the cheek before trying it on, "It's gorgeous."

"Okay Dad your turn." Seth yelled from the other said of the room. He was carrying a large heavy box with some difficulty; Ryan helped him over to his father. "Now Dad Ryan and I clubbed our money together so this is a joint effort okay? And also Mom helped out a little too since... well we were a little short." Sandy bent down and ripped the wrapping paper off to expose and plain brown cardboard box. He frowned confused and opened the box to find a brand new set of golf clubs, "We put it in a big box so you wouldn't know what it was." Seth said.

"Oh no! No way! That's way too much for you guys."

"Hey man it's cool. We wanted to. Right Seth?"

"Yeah totally. Enjoy."

Kirsten stood up and wrapped her arms around her Husband's waist, "Did you boys check your stockings yet?" Ryan and Seth both exchanged glances before tearing toward the mantelpiece. They both plunged their hands inside and pulled out black leather watches, "Wow Armani. Very classy. Good call." Seth said in an excited voice. He could barely contain himself. Ryan looked down and found that his was a Versace. He was again rendered speechless. He slid the watch into his wrist and sat down. "Thanks," was all he could muster.

Later that night after Christmas dinner Sandy led his wife up to their room. "I have one more gift for you but I couldn't in front of the kids." Kirsten closed her eyes not wanting to imagine what he had thought up. He sat her on the bed and handed her a flat rectangle gold box wrapped in a red ribbon. She untied the ribbon and took the lid off of the box to find lingerie inside. "Sandy!" she laughed.

"Well you said that I never bought you any so there it is. You can get off my back about it now." Kirsten continued to laugh and only stopped when her husband leaned in and kissed her gently on the cheek.

Kirsten threw the last of the old decorations out of the attic. Now the top right corner of the room was in order. She looked around to see where she would go next.

I know Kirsten mentioned the lingerie in The Heartbreak, which was after the Christmas episode, but hey does it really matter? Didn't think so.

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