"What time is it?" Sarah groaned into her boyfriend's shoulder when his alarm started going off.
"Seven-fifteen," Chuck murmured, pressing a kiss to her head as he turned off the alarm.
"'S too early," Sarah pouted, snuggling deeper into Chuck's embrace.
"We have to be at Ellie and Awesome's by eight," Chuck reminded her, "Which means making sure your mom and our daughter are awake and ready to head over. At least we don't have to change out of our oh-so-festive Christmas jammies just yet."
"Thank God for small favors," Sarah sighed, but still did not move.
"Ellie will have cinnamon rolls and coffee waiting when we get there," He sing-songed.
"Okay, okay, I'm up," Sarah rolled off of him and slowly sat up. "You get the munchkin and I'll go wake Mom."
"Okay," Chuck slid out of bed and started for the door but paused and turned back. Walking over to where Sarah now stood, taking out her ponytail in preparation to redo it. Wrapping her in his arms, he pressed a warm kiss to her lips, "Before I forget, Merry Christmas."
"Hmmm," She sighed, leaning in for another kiss, "Merry Christmas."
"Okay, I'm off to wake Molly," Chuck gave her a quick squeeze and a warm smile before exiting the room.
It didn't take long for Sarah to brush out her hair and pull it back once more. She quickly brushed her teeth and soon she was heading downstairs to the den only to find the door open and her mom not in there.
"Looking for me?" Emma gave her a warm smile as she exited the hall bathroom where she had ducked to freshen up.
"Yeah, we're gonna head over to Ellie and Devon's in a little bit." Sarah reminded her, "Chuck is upstairs waking Molly and getting her ready to go."
"Alright," Emma nodded, "I'll be ready to go in a minute."
"Great," Sarah smiled, stepping out of her mom's way. Once Emma had gone back into the den to retrieve her shoes, Sarah went back upstairs to pack Molly's diaper bag figuring that they could get her dressed at the Woodcombs and lay her down for her nap before dashing back to their place to get dressed for the rest of the day.
When Chuck had gotten to Molly's room, he couldn't help but smile. His little girl was already standing in her crib eyes drowsily blinking up at him as she lifted her arms to be picked up. He quickly scooped her up into his arms, pressing a kiss to her cheek before laying her down on the changing table. He had just finished changing her diaper and was brushing her hair into pigtails when Sarah came into the room. She kissed the little girl and wished her a Merry Christmas before grabbing the diaper bag from the dresser and double checking they had enough supplies to last them through the day and added a change of clothes and shoes to the bag.
"Hey, can you take her downstairs so I can brush my teeth and deal with this whole situation?" Chuck handed Molly over to Sarah and gestured to his curls which were sticking up at weird, or weirder than usual, angles.
"Yeah," Sarah accepted the little girl into her arms, "Mom's up, so we'll meet you downstairs."
"Thanks," Chuck gave her a small smile before heading back to their room to brush his teeth and wet his hands to run them through his hair in an attempt to tame his curls somewhat until later when they came back to get dressed for the day when he planned to take a quick shower. He was soon joining the ladies downstairs where Emma held Molly while Sarah and he slid on their shoes. A moment later they were shrugging on coats to make the short trek across the courtyard to Ellie and Awesome's condo.
"Merry Christmas!" Clara shouted, throwing open the door for her aunt, uncle, cousin, and honorary Grammy.
"Merry Christmas," They chorused back.
"Mommy and Daddy made me wait all day to open my presents until you got here," Clara huffed.
"It was hardly all day," Ellie rolled her eyes, giving them hugs and wishing them a Merry Christmas, "But she has been eager for you to get here. Molly's stocking is on the hearth and there is coffee, milk, orange juice, champagne, fruit, and cinnamon rolls in the kitchen, help yourselves. Once you have your food and drinks, we'll settle in, to open presents."
"I can take Molly into the living room to help her with her stocking if you wouldn't mind getting me a little coffee and a cinnamon roll," Emma offered, "Sarah knows how I take my coffee."
The young couple nodded their agreement and ducked into the kitchen to fix up breakfast for the four of them. Sarah poured coffees for herself, Chuck, and Emma and a sippy cup with milk for Molly while Chuck made quick work of plating up cinnamon rolls, including the half piece that was left over after Clara had eaten her half of the treat, and fruit. Devon was already in the kitchen, warming up his and Ellie's coffees when they'd entered and offered to help Chuck carry out the plates he'd made up.
When they'd gotten back to the living room and settled on the couch, they saw Clara helping Molly examine the contents of her stocking. The adults quickly ate their breakfast, slipping bite-sized pieces of cinnamon roll and fruit to Molly and Clara. As they were finishing up, Ellie ducked into the kitchen, returning with a damp washrag, quickly wiping off the hands and faces of the little girls and offering the cloth to the adults who quickly wiped the sticky icing from the rolls off of their hands.
"Can we open presents now?" Clara pleaded, turning her big blue-green eyes on her father.
"Yeah, we can open presents now," Devon got up just as Chuck did, "Not this year, Chuck. I know it's your turn, but it's your first Christmas as a dad, you enjoy it with your girls. You can hand out gifts next year."
"Thanks, Devon," Chuck smiled at his brother-in-law as he retook his seat, "That's really awesome of you."
"Indeed," Devon gave him a winsome grin before taking a seat next to the tree, "So we go from youngest to oldest, opening one at a time until they are all handed out," He explained for the benefit of the Walker ladies before turning and pulling out a package and handing it to Chuck who called Molly over to open her gift from Santa, an Elmo stuffed toy.
Next was Clara, who also had received a Santa gift, a Hannah Montana karaoke set. Sarah then opened a gift from Ellie, a beautiful scarf with matching gloves and a hat since the family was planning a trip to go play in the snow at Big Bear the next weekend. Chuck got a Dodger's jersey from Devon, who informed him that he'd already gotten tickets for the two of them as well as tickets for everyone on family day for the upcoming season. Ellie got a new stethoscope from Emma who had shrugged and said that she'd noticed that Ellie's had been getting a little worn out. Chuck gave Awesome a new set of climbing gear which earned him a frustrated eye roll from his older sister, one that was duplicated by his girlfriend when he mentioned going climbing with Awesome once the weather warmed up. Lastly, Emma opened her gift, which was from Chuck and Sarah, a compilation of poetry by her favorite author.
This continued until all the adults had received their gifts and then a few more rounds beyond until all the girl's gifts were unwrapped. Once the last package was opened Clara and Molly turned to start playing with their new toys.
"Girls, you both have one more present," Devon informed them, nodding to Chuck, who followed him onto he back porch. The men returned a moment later with the bike, fitted with training wheels, and the trike they had assembled, both bedecked with pink and purple streamers. Clara's eyes widened.
"A bike?!" She squealed excitedly in a near perfect imitation of how her mother tended to express joy.
"Yes, but you have to wear your helmet when you ride," Ellie warned her, "And only when a grown up can be there to watch you."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Clara ran to hug her dad and mom before going to look at her bike before noticing the tricycle that sat beside it, "Molly! Come look, you got a trike!" She rushed over, took her cousin by the hand and led her over to the three wheeled pedal toy and helped her get on, pushing her around the dining room table.
"Not in the house, please," Ellie stopped them, "You can ride outside after we all get dressed."
"Okay," Clara nodded, helping Molly off her bike and dashing toward her room.
The adults couldn't help but chuckle at the girl's enthusiasm before Ellie turned to her brother and his girlfriend, "If you two want to go get dressed, I can get Molly changed and we can all meet up in the courtyard."
"Sounds good, thanks Elle," Chuck smiled warmly at his sister before guiding Sarah and Emma back across the courtyard to get changed. A half hour later after showers were taken and everyone was changed, they met back up in the courtyard. Devon and Ellie already had the girls' bikes outside, and Clara was patiently teaching Molly how to ride her new tricycle.
"She really is good at that," Sarah smiled at her boyfriend's niece who was holding the seat and handlebar of the trike while she encouraged Molly's attempts to pedal the trike around the courtyard. Molly's legs were barely long enough to reach the pedals, so she wasn't able to go too fast, but Clara didn't seem to care, applauding her cousin's snail pace as she went in small circles in front of the Woodcomb's home.
When Molly grew bored of riding her new toy, Clara helped her get down so the girl could run over to where her parents sat on the edge of the fountain. Once Molly was safely settled in Chuck's lap and Ellie had moved the trike over to the side, Devon helped Clara get her helmet on and mount her own new bike. He quickly showed her how to pedal forward and how to slow and stop by pedaling backwards, cautioning her to not pedal backward too fast or else she might stop too abruptly and fall. Clara nodded her understanding and, with Devon holding onto her handlebar and seat - much like she had with her cousin, she slowly began to ride. One he was confident she was getting the hang of it, Devon let go and let Clara continue riding around the fountain until she too, grew tired of her new toy.
Devon helped her off the bike and unbuckled her helmet letting her know that once she was ready, he would take the training wheels off so she could get used to riding he two-wheeler without them. As Ellie guided the girls, Sarah, and Emma into the condo to wash up and eat lunch, Devon and Chuck carried the bikes to their shared storage unit located on the far side of the parking lot for the condo complex to stow them away before joining the rest of the family for lunch.
Ellie cooked up grilled cheese and tomato soup for everyone and soon the family was enjoying the simple but warming meal. As soon as lunch was done and the girls cleaned up, they were carried into Clara's room to take a nap. Clara only protested a little at having to take a nap when she was nearly six years old, but soon fell asleep next to her cousin.
The adults settled in the living room with coffee or hot chocolate as Chuck got the Twilight Zone DVDs containing their favorite episodes out and turned on the DVD player and TV.
"Before we get started," Emma spoke up from her place on one of the armchairs, "I have one more thing for you kids." She handed each couple an envelope and encouraged them to open them.
"Oh my God," Ellie whispered, pulling out a reservation confirmation and itinerary for a winery tour over President's day weekend and showing it to her husband before turning to see that Chuck and Sarah had received the same gift.
"It's a couple's weekend," Emma informed them, "You'll do your winery tours together, I set up a spa day for the girls while the boys join a brewery tour at a local micro-brewery, and then your last night is meant for you to have a romantic night out for each couple. I don't want to hear any argument; it's already paid for and I'll take the girls that weekend. I already know that Sarah gets a long weekend, I've spoken with Morgan and with the hospital, and the rest of you also have that long weekend off."
"Mom, this is too much," Sarah protested, "I know you suggested this, but I thought you meant you would give us the brochures and we'd plan and pay for our own trip."
"It's really not that big of a deal," Emma shook her head, "Mr. Penhall was able to get a settlement for me – let me tell you, that young man works fast and does good work – and is way more than I could need, even after replacing my car, paying my hospital and care bills, and calculating out my lost wages. I want to do this for you, let me do this for you."
"Alright, alright, we'll go," Sarah acquiesced, knowing it would do no good to argue with her mother once her mind was made up, besides she could use a mini get away with her new best friend and their respective significant others.
"Good, now that that's settled," Emma smiled at the four young adults, "We can enjoy some of the show. Which one are we watching first?"
"We always start with the second ever episode, 'One for the Angels,'" Chuck informed their newcomers as he pulled out a disk and set in the tray of the player, closing the door and navigating the window, "It always had an 'It's a Wonderful Life' vibe to it for me."
Once the first episode was finished and Devon went to peak in on the girls who were still sound asleep, Chuck started the next episode they always liked to watch, season 2 episode 11, 'The Night of the Meek.' As it turned out, their timing was just right as Molly and Clara came stumbling out just as the credits began to roll. Chuck put away the DVDs and turned on Christmas music while the girls played with their new toys and the adults watched and enjoyed spending time with their family.
Around five, there was a knock on the door. Devon went to answer, finding Morgan and Alex on the other side, shopping bags in their hands.
"Uncle Morgan! Aunt Alex!" Clara jumped up to give her honorary aunt and uncle hugs, "You're here!"
"Of course, we're here, short stuff," Morgan beamed down at the girl, "It wouldn't be Christmas if we didn't spend time with you."
Morgan took his bag into the kitchen and unloaded its contents into the fridge while Alex set her bags next to the tree and turned to greet the rest of the family. "Good to see ya, Buddy," Chuck gave his friend a hug then gestured to the women he had been sitting with, "You remember Emma, Sarah's mom."
"It's nice to see you again, Mrs. Walker," Morgan gave her a small smile before a squeal caught everyone's attention.
Morgan and Chuck turned to see Alex, hand extended toward Ellie and Sarah who were examining the ring on her finger. "You didn't," Chuck gave his friend a disbelieving look.
"I did, this morning," Morgan gave him a proud look, "I spoke with the major after Thanksgiving and he gave me his blessing. Put the box in her stocking, I barely got the words out before she tackle-kissed me and said 'Yes.'"
"I'm happy for you, man," Chuck patted his friend on the shoulder, "That's great news!"
"Only thing that'd make it better is if you'd be my best man," Morgan gave his friend an earnest look, "Seeing as we are heterosexual life partners and all."
"As if you had to ask," Chuck shook his head, "I'd be proud to stand up for you. I'm guessing you haven't set a date yet, since this only happened this morning."
"Probably once the weather starts to warm up." Morgan shrugged, "We don't need some big thing, we've discussed having a small beach ceremony like what Ellie and Awesome had, and the Major mentioned we could use one of the Pendleton chapels. We haven't quite decided yet."
"Well, whatever you do, make sure it works for the both of you." Chuck advised, "I remember watching the Very Awesomes try to pressure Ellie into this big church wedding that she didn't want. Thankfully Devon put a stop to it pretty quickly, once he realized that it wasn't what Ellie wanted."
"I hear you," Morgan nodded, "The first time I mentioned that I was going to propose to Alex my mom started going off about setting up a meeting with Fr. Martinez for premarital counseling and to sign up for the next Engaged Encounter event. I mean our family isn't very religious, aside from Tia Lupe and Tio Hector, but it's generally expected that we are baptized, make our first communion, preferably get confirmed, and get married in the Catholic Church. Alex's family is protestant, so I don't know how that is gonna play out."
"It'll work out in the end," Chuck assured his best friend.
"I'm sure it will," Morgan agreed, sparing a glance to where Sarah stood, admiring Alex's ring, "So any plans to take the plunge?"
"Eventually," Chuck shrugged, "I mean we only just moved in together last month."
"True," Morgan nodded, "But you've been in love with that girl since high school, I've seen the way you look at her. That is the look of a man in the forever kind of love. Why wait?"
"I have to agree," Emma added, causing both men to jump, having forgotten she was standing there, "You love my daughter the way that Bill loved me, that is as plain as day. For what it's worth, when the day comes you are both ready to take that step, you have my blessing." She patted Chuck on the forearm and went to join the young women in admiring Alex's ring and discussing ideas about the upcoming nuptials.
"Well that's one thing down," Morgan chuckled, "Seriously, Dude, getting parental approval is the hardest part aside from working up the nerve to ask, well that and finding a ring."
"I'll take that under advisement, Buddy," Chuck smiled, looking over at Sarah who met his eyes and gave him a loving smile of her own.
Sensing that the conversation had played out, Morgan clapped his hands to get everyone's attention, "I think it's time for presents."
The girls cheered as the adults took their seats and waited for Morgan and Alex to pass out the presents that they'd brought. The girls, of course, got more toys. Ellie and Sarah were given gift certificates to a local spa, and the three women immediately started planning a girls' weekend. Chuck and Devon were given tickets for a couple spring training games and the men mapped out a rough plan for their annual Spring Training trip as the men were all baseball fans, although they couldn't agree on which team was best. Chuck was a Dodgers fan, Morgan like the Angels, and Chicago-born Devon was a Cubs fan. Luckily for the men, all three teams were Cactus League, which meant that their Spring Training was in and around Phoenix, a relatively short six-and-a-half-hour drive from Burbank.
Once all the gifts were opened, they moved over to the dining room where they enjoyed leftovers from the meal Devon had made the night before along with the tamales and empanadas Morgan and Alex had brought over from Mrs. Grimes' house. The night ended with everyone lounging around the living room while they watched 'Miracle on 34th Street.' Again, the girls had zonked out before the film was over, the adults quietly exchanged goodbyes and hugs before Morgan and Alex departed. Devon wished the family good night and lifted Clara into his arms to carry upstairs to bed while Ellie walked her younger brother's family to the front door. Chuck promised to return the next day to collect the rest of Molly's gifts.
Upon entering the condo, Emma wished her daughter and Chuck good night and kissed her sleeping granddaughter's head before ducking into the den to go to bed. Chuck and Sarah continued upstairs where they worked in concert to get Molly changed and put to bed before retiring to their own room where they snuggled up together and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
