Thanks to all who read, review, favor, and follow. Wishing you all another joyous season. Inspired by something someone said on the radio this morning.

I do not own.

Christmas Morning at Rex's House

Violeta age 8

Rafael age 5

"Dad? Daddy?" A little voice came from the doorway. "Daddy?"

"Hmm?" Rex looked at the clock and groaned. "It's only 4AM go back to bed."

"But it's Christmas Day, Daddy!" The whisper got louder.

"Go back to bed." Rex ordered before pulling the blanket tighter around him.

There was a few seconds of silence before tactics changed. "Mommy?"

Of course mommy was more willing to get up and drag a tired Rex out of bed to open presents at 4 in the morning. As Rex sat on the couch watching his kids rip open presents he vowed to find a way to sleep in next Christmas.

Christmas Morning at Rex's House

Violeta age 9

Rafael age 6

Rex found out that Violeta had set her alarm for 4 last Christmas and then woke up her brother to get their parents. So this year Rex hid Violeta's alarm clock..

"Daddy? Where's my Teddy clock?" Violeta asked innocently from her bed.

"It's, uh, it's in the shop. Don't worry, Santa will bring you a new one. It'll look exactly like the old one." Rex replied as he tucked her in.

"Oh." The girl paused a moment. "Can I get a glass of water, please?"

"Sure, sweetie." Rex went downstairs and brought her up a glass. She drained it all.

"Thank you. Good night, daddy." She snuggled into her bed.

"Good night, Violeta." Rex snickered. He was going to have a good night… a good silent night.

But later that night… or early that morning…

"Mommy? Daddy? It's Christmas!" Violeta and Rafael burst into the room. They bounced on the bed.

Rex snorted awake. "What? How?" He looked at his clock. 3AM.

"I had to go to the bathroom." Violeta shrugged. "Can we open presents now?"

Circe made Rex get up and they all went down to open presents.

Now it was personal.

Christmas Morning Rex's House

Violeta age 10

Rafael age 7

This year Rex made sure they both went to the bathroom before bed and hid the alarm clock. There was no way they were going to wake up early this year.

As he drifted off to sleep, he congratulated himself on how smart he was… until…

Rex was dreaming that he was riding on a float in a parade. He waved as the crowd cheered and confetti rained down on him. Suddenly, a monkey jumped onto his lap. The monkey started poking him in the face.

"Daddy? Daddy?" The monkey sounded an awful like… His eyes snapped opened. Rafael was straddling him. "Daddy! It's Christmas!

"What? What time…" He stared at his clock. The 4:30 seemed to mock him. He flopped his head down.

Once again they got up and opened presents at an ungodly hour.

Christmas Morning Rex's House

Violeta age 11

Rafael age 8

Rex realized his mistake in not securing Violeta's wristwatch which also had an alarm. So this year, he hid all alarms and watches and just to be safe he confiscated anything that beeps including the kitchen timer and locked them away in the closet.

"What are you doing, daddy?" Rafael asked as his father locked the closet door.

"Nothing. Just making sure the uh clocks are safe." He said.

"Who steals clock?" Rafael wrinkled his brow.

"Oh you know they, uh, clock gnomes." Rex made up as he made sure the door was locked.

"Clock gnomes?" Rafael's eyes opened wide.

"Yeah, they want to take people's clocks." Rex wasn't paying much attention to what he was saying.

"Why would they want clocks?" Rafael followed his father.

"So they can steal your time!" Rex turned around and tickled Rafael's tummy. Unfortunately, he had startled the boy and Rafael's first instinct blew out all the windows… again.

After the windows were replaced, Rex made sure everyone went to the bathroom. Then after everyone was tucked in, he made sure there were no alarms anywhere. Then he went to bed. Several hours later he felt something cold slide up his back.

"Aiiyyeee," He yelped. He grabbed the cold object and realized it was feet. "Raffy! What are you doing in here?"

"Gnomes." He whispered.

"What?" Rex wasn't sure he heard right.

"There are clock gnomes outside my window." Rafael whimpered.

"What are you talking about?" Rex asked exasperated.

"They've come to steal out time!" Rafael wailed.

"Oh for crying out loud, Rex! What did you tell him?" Circe was up now putting a comforting arm around her sobbing son.

"Me? How is this my fault?" Rex asked.

Circe glared at him.

That year they opened their presents at midnight. At least Rex got to go back to bed afterwards. But he was planning for next year.

Christmas Morning Rex's House

Violeta age 12

Rafael age 9

Circe found Rex hiding all the clocks.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"Every year the kids wake up at an ungodly hour to open presents. This year I'm going to make sure I sleep in!" He declared as he shoved the last alarm in the closet.

"Oh for crying out loud! Is that what all this is about?" Circe gave him the eye.

"Well, yeah. Why else would I do this?" Rex asked.

"Don't you remember how excited you were on Christmas morning?" Circe countered.

"That's when I was getting presents. Besides that I need my sleep." Rex complained.

Circe rolled her eyes. "Come here, Rex." She took her husband's hand and pulled him into the living room. "KIDS!"

"Yes, mommy?" Rafael came down the stairs. Violeta walked in from the kitchen.

"This year, don't wake us up until 7, okay? We'll open presents then." Circe told her children firmly.

"Awww," The kids said with disappointment.

"But how can we tell what time it is? Daddy took all out clocks." Violeta reminded them.

Circe looked at Rex. Rex left the room and returned with the teddy bear alarm clock. He handed it to Violeta.

"Remember. 7. No earlier, got it?" She told her children.

"Okay." The children went back to their respective places.

"That's it? That's all you had to do." Rex looked flabbergasted.

Circe patted his cheek. "Merry Christmas, honey." She walked into the kitchen.

Rex stood alone in the living room. "Hmmm, Merry Christmas indeed."

Early the next morning around 5, a sliver of light hit Rafael's eyes. He looked up with squinted eyes. "Daddy?"

"Hey buddy, it's Christmas. Wanna open presents?" Rex whispered.

Rafael's eyes shot open. He sprung out of bed.

"Let's go get your sister." Rex ushered his son to Violeta's room. Soon everyone was ripping open wrapping paper. Rex looked on with a smile.

Circe pressed a mug of coffee into his hands.

"I thought you wanted to sleep in." Circe said.

"Well, it is Christmas morning." Rex said taking a sip. When Circe raised a skeptical brow, Rex said defensively, "I'm not a Grinch. I know how exciting Christmas morning is."

Circe snorted but she snuggled against him. He wrapped his arm around her and they watched their children play with their presents.

Merry Christmas or whatever you celebrate. Happy Holidays. Wishing you all the best this year and the next!