It didn't take long for Sarah and Molly to move into the condo. Sarah didn't have many things to move, as she had been living with her mother who owned most of the furniture in the house, leaving Sarah with only having to move her clothes, instruments, and other personal effects. Molly had more things to be moved than Sarah did. It had taken Chuck, Awesome, and Morgan half the day to dismantle, move, and rebuild Molly's crib, dresser, rocking chair, and other miscellaneous furniture along with her clothes, toys, and the toddler-friendly cups, dishes, and utensils that Sarah had amassed over the course of Molly's life.

Chuck had offered to take Sarah shopping so that they could decorate their home together, but she declined, saying that there was no reason to do so just yet. Truth be told, she was holding out until the day they outgrew their space and moved into a home that was theirs from the very beginning. She hoped that day would come sooner rather than later, but there were a couple milestones she wanted to achieve before that, like Chuck officially adopting Molly, getting engaged, and preferably married before adding to their little family. While the bracelet and keys she had received for her birthday, as well as Chuck assisting their lawyer in terminating Bryce's parental right, spoke to them moving in that general direction, she didn't want to assume anything. She'd been hurt too many times by her father, and then later Bryce, because she assumed the would always be around only to be heartbroken when they vanished from her life.

"I think we're just about done up there," Chuck kissed her on the cheek after descending the stairs from Molly's room, Devon and Morgan trailing behind him. "Molly's furniture is put together, clothes, toys, diapers, and other accessories are put away. All that's left to do is decorate it, if we want to. I assume while us menfolk were hard at work assembling furniture for the offspring, you were busy reorganizing our closet?"

Sarah couldn't help but chuckle at his phrasing, "Yeah, I'm unpacked, too." She stirred the tomato soup she had been heating up. "I'm going to make some grilled cheese, if you guys are hungry."

"I'm famished," Morgan sighed, "Do you need any help? I make a mean grilled cheese, if I do say so myself."

"I would appreciate that," Sarah gave her new friend a warm smile, "Devon, what about you?"

"Can I get a raincheck?" He gave her a hopeful smile, "Since we sent Clara to Anne's too keep Molly company, Ellie and I were hoping for a little one-on-one time if you get my meaning." He gave his pseudo sister-in-law a suggestive wink.

"Ugh, that's my sister you're talking about," Chuck protested, he had gotten over Devon's casual references to his and Ellie's sex life long ago, and only responded because it was expected of him to do so now. "I don't want to know about what you do with my sister behind closed doors."

"Would it be better to assume that your sister spontaneously conceived your future niece or nephew?" Devon challenged him good-naturedly.

Before Chuck could respond, a grin split Sarah's face, "Are you two trying for another one?"

"It's under consideration," Devon shrugged, "That is to say, we don't want to put too much pressure on ourselves, but we aren't doing anything to prevent getting pregnant, either."

"That's great," Sarah smiled at her best friend's husband, "I think I speak for both Chuck and I when I say we look forward to meeting your newest addition, whenever the day may be that one comes along."

"What she said," Chuck clapped his brother-in-law on the shoulder, "I don't want to hear about every time you are trying, but I am excited to be an uncle again someday. I know Clara will be a great big sister, if how she takes care of Molly is any indication."

"Thanks, Bro," Devon gave Chuck an appreciative smile, "Well, I'd better head out, Ellie is expecting me home." After exchanging hugs with Chuck and Sarah and a handshake with Morgan, he headed off across the courtyard, an excited bounce to his step that his brother-in-law tried not to notice.

"So, you were saying something about lunch?" Chuck turned back to his girlfriend and best friend who had already turned their attentions back to the stove and were finishing up with the soup and sandwiches that would make up their meal.

Wanting to seem as if he were contributing, Chuck pulled down dishes and bowls, stacking them next to the stove to make it easier to serve up the meal, then set the table with spoons, glasses with ice, and napkins. He then returned to the kitchen to grab a bag of goldfish crackers he'd bought when he'd picked up the tomato soup, and cans of soda, grape for Morgan and cola for himself and Sarah, carrying everything out to the table. By the time he'd finished pouring their drinks, Sarah and Morgan had finished cooking lunch and were carrying plates of sandwiches and steaming bowls of soup to the table.

After the cool temperature they'd endured while moving that morning, the warm food hit the spot. After they'd finished off the last of the soup and cleaned up the kitchen, Morgan excused himself saying that he had plans with Alex. He gave them quick hugs before grabbing his jacket and heading out.

"So," Chuck pulled Sarah to him by her hips, smiling as she looped her arms around his neck and looked up at him expectantly, "Devon and Morgan are gone, and Molly is at the babysitter's with her cousin, and will be until later this afternoon. It appears we have the house to ourselves for the time being."

"Hmm," Sarah let her fingers play through the soft curls in his hair, her charm bracelet, which she had rarely taken off since it had been given to her, making soft tinkling noises in her boyfriend's ear, "You know, I might have a few ideas on how we might pass the time."

"Really," Chuck teased, leaning down to press soft kisses along her jawline and neck as he spoke, "Because I have a few idea of my own. Perhaps we could compare and see where our plans coincide and deviate."

"So long as some of that coinciding occurs in our bedroom," She purred as he nibbled a particularly sensitive spot where her neck and shoulder met, "I think I rather like your plan."

"Me too," He grinned, lifting his girlfriend up, as she squealed and wrapped her legs around his waist, and carried her up the stairs to their room where they took their time, enjoying the spoils of a kid-free afternoon.


"Explain to me again why we are going to the BuyMore to get the girls' Santa pictures taken?" Sarah asked as she slipped a green and red sweater over Molly's head.

"It's been family tradition since Clara's first Christmas," Chuck gave a slight shrug. "Playing Santa is the highlight of Big Mike's year, it's the one thing he says makes being the manager of the store worth it. He supported not only Morgan's and my dream to get into the gaming industry but has supported and mentored so many of his employees to follow their dreams. Have you ever heard of Jeffster?"

"That tone-deaf cover band with the inexplicable following in Germany?" Sarah arched an eyebrow as she tied a pair of little red converse sneakers onto Molly's feet.

"That would be them," He chuckled at the apt description, "They were members of the Nerd Herd at the Burbank BuyMore. I worked with them over the summers during college, really strange guys. Mike found out that they had a dream of making it big and took it upon himself to be their manager since he had a little experience in the music industry when he was younger, something to do with Earth, Wind, and Fire, I dunno."

"I don't know if I should be impressed or concerned," Sarah snickered.

"Both, maybe?" Chuck shrugged, "Anyway, many a BuyMoron, both current and former who have worked for Big Mike, makes it a point to bring the younger generation, whether that be their own offspring, siblings, or siblings' offspring, to visit with Santa Big Mike during the holiday season. What makes it even better is that Mrs. Big Mike will come in to play Mrs. Santa. They only open Santa's Village on the weekends since Big Mike refuses to play Santa unless his wife is there alongside him."

"That's actually kinda sweet," Sarah smiled softly, lifting Molly to her hip, "Could you grab her diaper bag?"

"Sure," Chuck nodded, grabbing the bag and following her downstairs to wait on his sister and her family to join them for the trip to BuyMore. "I hear that the tradition has begun to spread to other vendors in the mall. Lou and George are planning to take their son to Big Mike for this first ever Santa pictures and apparently a couple of the ladies from Underpants Etc. are bringing their kids too."

"That will certainly make Big Mike's day," Sarah nodded, "I've only known Gladys a short time, and she loves kids so much, I think it's a shame that they were never able to have any of their own. Not for lack of trying, according to her."

"They did foster for a while back in Irvine, but all their placements either wound up moving on or being able to reunite with their birth parents." Chuck gave her a sad smile, "They couldn't afford a private adoption on an associate teacher's and assistant store manager's salary, so they turned their love and support toward their nephews, Mrs. Tucker's students, and Big Mike's employees. Kids like Morgan and I were double blessed because we got both of them, even Ellie benefited from their attentions. They knew she took over raising me after Dad left so they worked with Mrs. Grimes to make sure we had what we needed to get by. She doesn't know that I know, but they always made sure she got a little something special every Christmas and birthday. When she graduated with her medical degree, they gave her a pretty nice Timex watch. Originally, they were going to special order a doctor's coat for her with her name embroidered on it but had found out that Devon was planning to propose, and they wanted to give her something that she could use if she decided to change her name."

"That makes sense," Sarah nodded.

"They also gifted Moran and I with pretty nice watches when we graduated college too," Chuck smiled at the memory, "Since the precedent had been set."

"Is that why you and Morgan have the matching Bulova watches?" Sarah nodded toward the silver watch on his left wrist.

"Yeah, Morgan earned his bachelor's degree around the same time I earned my master's," Chuck nodded, "Around the same time the local department store was running a buy one, get one half off, special on some of their mid-range watches. All the watches are engraved on the backing with our school, degree, and graduation year."

"That was a sweet gesture," Sarah agreed as she heard a knock on their door, "Knowing all that, I can understand why you want to give back to him in a way for the support he's given your family. I love this family tradition already and look forward to looking back as our kids get older at their pictures with Santa Big Mike."

"Me too," Chuck smiled at her as he opened the door to his sister, brother-in-law, and niece who was wearing a red and green striped sweater with jeans and a pair green converse shoes. As Sarah followed him out of the house and waited for him to shut the door, Chuck and Devon shared a look as they realized their daughters had been dressed in mirror images of each other by their mothers. "I take it you're ready to go?"

"Yeah," Ellie nodded, and they started toward the parking lot, "And I have another shirt and pair of shoes for Clara for the tree farm."

"I can't wait to go see Santa!" Clara enthused, "I know just what I'm gonna ask him for!"

"That's great Clare Bear," He grinned at the excited little girl. "Are you going to help Molly with talking to Santa?"

"Yep!" Clara beamed, "She doesn't have a big sister to teach her, but that's okay. Mom says a bigger cousin is just as good as a big sister."

"Oh, did she?" Chuck gave his sister a meaningful look only to be met with a superior look from his older sister. Shaking his head with a chuckle, he unlocked Sarah's Corsica so she could get Molly belted in.

Devon had likewise unlocked the minivan and waited for Clara to climb in and take a seat in her booster. She had recently been upgraded from a car seat and was proud that she was able sit in a booster like some of her classmates. She also had learned pretty quickly how to fasten and unfasten her own seatbelt, not that Devon and Ellie didn't still double check that it was latched correctly every time she belted herself in.

Once both girls were securely buckled in, the adults climbed into their own vehicles. Devon and Chuck fired up their engines and exchanged a, "See you there," Before pulling out of their spaces and caravanning to the BuyMore Plaza so that the girls could share their Christmas wish lists with Santa.


When they had arrived at the BuyMore and joined the line for Santa's Village, Clara had insisted she hold Molly's hand as they waited, making the point that when it was their turn, that the grown ups weren't allowed in Santa's village. Since none of the adults could argue with her statement, Sarah set Molly down on the ground, eliciting a promise from her young niece that she would not let go of the smaller girl's hand until they were sitting on Santa's lap for their pictures.

"I promise, Aunt Sarah," Clara nodded solemnly, crossing her finger over her heart before taking her cousin's hand. Thankfully there were only a few families in front of them, so the wait wasn't so long as to test the little girls' patience.

"Ho, ho, ho, who do we have here?" The rotund Santa Big Mike smiled through his thick white beard, "Is that Clara and her cousin Molly?"

"You remembered me?" Clara looked up at him, "And you know Molly?"

"Of course, I know you and Molly," Santa Big Mike assured her waving the girls over and sitting them on his lap, one on each knee, "And I've been watching you. You have both been very good this year, and I am very proud of you, Clara. You have been such a good cousin to young Molly here."

"Thank you," Clara blushed at the compliment.

"Now, what would you like for Christmas?" Santa Big Mike asked. Clara shot a look toward the adults and waved for Santa Big Mike to lean in closer so she could whisper in his ear. The adults watched as the older man nodded along with Clara and then told her he would see what he could do. "Now Molly, do you want anything for Christmas?"

Molly looked up at the man silently taking him in before Clara cut in, "She's still learning," She advised, "She really likes playing with my dolls and tea set, so maybe you could bring her some of her own?"

"That's a very good idea, Clara," Santa Big Mike agreed. "Now I think Mrs. Santa wants to get a picture with us. Can you girl smile at the camera?"

He pointed to where a sales associate in an elf costume stood behind a tripod. The girls faced the camera, and Big Mike lightly tickled their sides to get them to laugh as the picture was being taken. He set the girl's back on the ground with a soft directive to be good before Mrs. Santa gave them each a candy cane and walked them over to where their parents were waiting. Sarah and Ellie took the girls to the restroom to be changed for their trip to the tree farm while Devon and Chuck purchased and received copies of the girls' Santa picture.

Once the ladies had returned, the girls now dressed in sweatshirts, warm coats, and boots, they walked back to their cars and loaded up for the 30-minute drive to the local tree farm. Chopping down a fresh tree had been one of the few Christmas traditions, aside from opening up their pajamas on Christmas Eve that Chuck and Ellie had continued after both their parents left and were so glad that they were able to continue the tradition with their own families. Just as Awesome had been from the first Christmas he'd joined them; Sarah was excited to experience this tradition with them.

Christmas had never held really great memories for Sarah as a kid since it usually involved scamming some charity or the local Salvation Army chapter. She only had a couple Christmases with her Mom after they'd been reunited before she left for college, and while they were a vast improvement over the years before, she always felt like something was missing. She looked back on those two years fondly, remembering assembling and decorating the fake tree her mom pulled down from the attic, and baking Christmas cookies, even opening a few gifts on Christmas day. She was looking forward to experiencing her first Bartowski Christmas, and the first one that Molly was old enough to enjoy.

She was broken from her thoughts as she felt Chuck reach across the console and take her hand, squeezing it gently, allowing the warmth of his hand to permeate her skin starting from her fingertips and spreading throughout her whole body. In the weeks since she'd moved in and as they prepared for the upcoming holiday, they'd discussed their experiences with Christmas throughout their lives, and she knew Chuck had shared a little bit with his sister. The Bartowski siblings had not made it a secret that their goal this year was to heart-warm her and make this the best Christmas ever for her, and the first of many great Christmases to come.

Once they'd parked and crossed the parking lot to the farm proper, the ducked into the barn to get hot chocolate before joining the hayride, which ran every 15 minutes. Chuck and Devon kept an eye out for where they might be able to find a couple good trees as their daughters 'helped' by pointing out a few contenders. Once the hayride had returned to the barn, they loaded up in the car and the van to select a couple trees to cut down. Luckily, the two they had settled on were fairly close to one another, and while Sarah and Ellie kept the girls entertained, Devon and Chuck made quick work of taking a bow saw to the trunk of the trees they would be taking home with them.

After lightly tying the trees to the roofs of their respective vehicles they made their way back to where the trees would be weighed and evaluated. Clara and Molly took great enjoyment over watching as their trees were placed on a stand as one of the farmers held the tree up and hit a switch that made the tree start to shake, leaving a halo of needles on the ground around the tree. Once the trees were paid for, Clara and Molly were loaded back into their seats as the adults made quick work of securing the trees to the top of the vehicles before getting in the cars and heading back to Burbank.

Since they knew everyone in the complex, Chuck and Devon knew they could leave the trees outside for a while as they knew that they wouldn't be decorating the trees until the next day. Not to mention that it was already getting dark since it was nearly dinner time and the girls were worn out from the excitement of the day. It was deemed best to feed and bathe the girls and put them to bed rather than keep them up for much longer which would most likely lead to one or both of them having a meltdown borne of exhaustion.

This was also amenable to the adults as they, too, were tired and waiting until the next day to decorate, it also gave them time to rearrange their living rooms to accommodate the trees they had just purchased. While Sarah and Ellie saw to their daughters, Chuck and Devon saw to the furniture and placing the trees into their stands and moved into their designated areas of the living rooms. Once their preparations were complete, they went their separate ways to kiss their daughters good night and join their respective significant others for a quiet dinner before turning in to sleep off the eventful day.