By the time Christmas rolled around a few days later, Rodney was in much better spirits. He announced over dinner on Christmas Eve that he didn't care about getting his parents approval anymore and that he was going to be doing what he wanted. Carson and Jeannie exchanged a glance when he beamed because Peg thought that was a wonderful idea.

Carson was awoken a littler earlier than he would have liked on Christmas due to a very awake Jeannie coming in and jumping on their bed.

"Wake up sleepy heads! Its Christmas!"

"Yes, a day to sleep in," mumbled Carson. He moaned when Rodney shot up and jumped out of bed, thereby leaving a void of warmth.

"Come on Carson, time to get up," said Rodney as he threw on a shirt.

"Why?"

"Presents!"

"Presents aren't until after breakfast, which is not until after I get up."

"What?" The McKay siblings looked shockingly at each other. "Then all the more reason for you to get up!"

Carson just mumbled and buried further under the covers. Rodney tunneled in after his boyfriend and whispered something in his ear that got Carson getting out of bed, slowly, but still getting out of bed.

While Carson was making breakfast, Rodney was looking longingly at the presents that were under the tree. "I can cook slower you know," Carson threw over his shoulder.

"He's just used to getting up at six and opening his presents so he can play with them all day," Jeannie supplied.

"You could go wake up mum. Never mind," he said as Peg came into the kitchen.

"I wasn't expecting breakfast to be almost done," she said as she looked around the kitchen.

"Rodney wanted to open his presents."

"We never really had a Christmas morning tradition," said Jeannie as she poured herself another cup of coffee. "Rodney normally got up at six, opened his presents, and then hid himself in his room until it was time for Christmas dinner."

Peg, after getting herself a cup of coffee, said, "Well, after breakfast you can open your presents. Then we're going over to the Zelenka's for dinner."

Rodney and Carson looked up at her. "What?"

"We were invited since Victor knows that we have no family here and that you boys are friends with Radek. Didn't I tell you?"

"No. Something like that I would have remembered," Carson answered as he put the last of the bacon on the serving plate. "Breakfast is ready."

Rodney and Jeannie could not remember ever having a breakfast like this. Everyone was still in their pajamas, everyone was talking, and no one was yelling. They were both thinking about how lucky they were to be welcomed into the Beckett family.

As soon as Rodney saw everyone was done, he started to get up to open his presents.

"Not yet luv, we still have to clean up," said Carson as he started to clean off the table.

"But you said after breakfast. It is now after breakfast," he whined.

"How long have you lived here?" asked Carson. "You know perfectly well that part of the meal is cleaning up afterwards."

Rodney mumbled to himself but started helping to clear off the table. Jeannie just watched in amazement. She was astonished on how much her brother had changed. This was the first time she had ever seen him clean up after a meal. When she mentioned this, Rodney blushed and the Becketts smiled.

"You should have heard him complaining the first time we made him help with the dishes. I've never heard such whining," Peg commented. When Rodney came up beside her to put some dishes in the dishwasher, she gave him a kiss on the cheek. "He's much better now. Such a lovely lad."

Carson and Jeannie smiled and nodded. "Right. Lovely lad."

"Hey, I'll have you know I'm quite the catch!" protested Rodney.

"That you are, luv, that you are," Carson agreed as he grabbed his face and planted quite a passionate kiss on him that left Rodney a little breathless.

"Apparently he is quite the catch," Jeannie commented. "I always wondered what kind of person would be willing to date my brother. Now I know."

"They are good for each other," commented Peg.

"I can see that."

"Hello, we are in the room," said Rodney as he loaded the last dish in the dishwasher. "My job is done. Presents?"

"What would you do if I told you that you had to get dressed first?" asked Carson with a grin.

"Tell you to get your ass in the shower so we can conserve water," Rodney retorted back.

"You don't have to be dressed first," Peg said as she started the dishwasher. "Carson is just teasin' ya."

Rodney glared at the grinning Scot. "See if I take a shower with you now."

Carson just raised an eyebrow and moved over to the tree to start handing out presents. He would get his shower, even if he had to blackmail to get it.

It was a little after one when everyone was showered (yes, Carson and Rodney did get their shared shower with no blackmail involved) and ready to go. When they arrived at the Zelenka's, Rodney and Carson were a little surprised to see Ronan there as well.

"Ronan, what are you doing here?" asked Rodney.

"His mom is dating my father," Radek supplied as he came over to greet them. "Merry Christmas."

"Since when?" a shocked Rodney asked.

Radek and Ronan exchanged a glance. "Since this summer. They meet at that senior year fling the school threw."

"Why didn't you tell us?"

Ronan shrugged. "It didn't seem like that big of a deal. Plus we didn't really think they were that serious until they told us we were celebrating Christmas together. We were going to tell you all at New Years."

"Well, huh."

"Welcome! Peg, it is great to see you out of the office! Rodney, always a pleasure to see you when you are not trying to get Radek in trouble," Victor said as he came into the kitchen where everyone was gathered.

"I do not get him into trouble. Usually it is the other way around!" protested Rodney.

"What about that time you convinced me it would be a good idea to build a giant volcano in the teacher's parking lot? Or the three times with the rockets?" Radek asked.

Rodney just waved his hand. "What is it with you and causing trouble in the teacher's parking lot?" asked Carson.

"He still has issues with Mr. Davis after he told Rodney that giving speeches was not his strong suit," explained Radek.

"That speech I gave moved people. I don't know what his problem is."

"Yes, it moved people to hate you even more." Radek turned to Carson. "I've tried to tell him many times to let it go, to find somewhere else to try out his newest rockets, but I think by now he is used to the parking lot. But he could try them on the weekends when there are no cars there," he finished as he turned to his friend.

"I think that is what the teachers ordered him to do," Carson supplied.

"I said the same thing," Peg said with a stern glance.

"Oh, right, pick on me, see if I care."

"We tease because we care," Carson said as he gave his boyfriend a kiss.

"Dinner should be ready in a few hours," Victor said. "We have a piano in the other room if you would like to play Christmas carols for us, Rodney."

Rodney blushed and looked over at Carson. "I have heard you play, luv."

"What? When?"

"During your class and after school. You should play more often at home."

"Come on Rodney, I haven't heard you play in years," Jeannie said.

Rodney grumbled but agreed to play. So until dinner was ready, Rodney played carols intermixed with Ronan playing his guitar and Radek playing his cello.

"You should have brought over your bagpipes," Peg whispered to Carson.

"I think not. Rodney doesn't even know I can play." At his mum's questioning glance, he continued, "He thinks they are just for decoration, what with us being Scottish and all."

"Are you ever going to tell him?"

"Maybe, when he stops teasing me for even owning them."

"I can't remember the last time I heard you play," Jeannie said to her brother as they entered the Beckett house later that night.

"It was the night before you left for college," Rodney supplied. "You asked me to play a song for you, to remember the good times by."

"Oh, that's right. What did you play again?"

"Fly me to the moon by Frank Sinatra. It was your favorite song at the time and you made me learn it."

"Huh." Jeannie stood there for a second lost in the memories. "Well, I'm off to bed. See you in the morning."

"Hopefully not as early as this morning," Carson said.

"Oh hells no. You couldn't drag me out of bed before ten tomorrow," she replied before hurrying off to her room.

"Well, I'm off as well," Peg said. "Goodnight luvs." She gave both Carson and Rodney a kiss before locking up and heading to her room.

Carson and Rodney stood in the kitchen. "Bed?" asked Rodney.

"Aye. I'm beat."

"So, no fooling around then I take it?" asked Rodney as they headed to bed.

"Probably not. It's been a long day. And don't give me that look. I put all the blame on you and your get up early tradition. I could have slept in and then had the energy for more," Carson said as he got into his pajamas.

"You can sleep in tomorrow," Rodney said as he wrapped his arms around Carson's waist.

"I'd better. Luv, I really am tired."

Rodney pouted but got relented and changed into his pajamas. "Can I look forward to sex tomorrow?"

"If you're nice and let me sleep in."

"Deal."