Christmas Morning Teddy snuggled closer to Owen in bed. Her head on his shoulder as he ran his hand down her side.
"Hey," she whispered.
"Merry Christmas," he replied, kissing her.
She leaned into the kiss.
"Kids," he laughed, hearing Leo babble, "I got him."
Seconds later they heard Alyssa's voice with Leo's.
"I guess we have time," Owen smiled, kissing Teddy again.
"Lyss on Christmas morning," Teddy asked.
"Should we go get Faroke," Alyssa asked, "I don't know how this sibling thing on Christmas thing works. It's new to me. I was an only child until April."
Alyssa walked into the office where Faroke was staying.
"Alyssa," Faroke yawned, "it's morning already?"
"It is," Alyssa said, "Christmas Morning."
"What do we do," Faroke asked.
"I don't know this year," Alyssa said, "usually I wake up auntie Teddy then uncle Owen. but I don't know if I should go into their room."
"They don't sleep in the same room like Mom and Nathan," Faroke asked.
"They do now," Alyssa said, "but that's only been in the last few months."
"Will mom and Nathan have another baby," Faroke asked.
"I don't know," Alyssa said, "it would be a huge age gap."
"I'm ten," Faroke said.
"I know," Alyssa said, "but I'm 24. She was only 19 when I was born."
"Ma ma ma ma," Leo babbled.
"Should we go look for auntie Teddy," Alyssa asked.
The three kids knocked on the door to Owen and Teddy's room.
"Uncle Owen," Alyssa called, "Auntie Teddy?"
"Morning Lyss," Owen called, "is Leo up?"
"I have him," Alyssa said.
"Bring him here please," Teddy called, "you always wake us up Christmas morning."
"But you're always in the guest room," Alyssa replied.
"Come on Lyss," Owen called, "bring your brother and your cousin."
Alyssa carried Leo to Teddy and Owen and Faroke followed her.
"Merry Christmas Sweetheart," Teddy smiled reaching to Alyssa.
"Merry Christmas," Alyssa replied hugging Teddy.
"Hello," Megan called from the bottom of the stairs.
"Up here," Owen said.
"We're coming down," Teddy replied.
At the bottom of the stairs Megan watched as the rest of the family came down the three kids in matching pjs.
"I like the matching pjs," Nathan laughed.
"Auntie Teddy always puts new pyjamas on my bed Christmas Eve," Alyssa said.
"They were on my bed too," Faroke said.
"I had to," Teddy smiled, "did I do okay? I usually only do Lyss's Christmas PJs."
"Yes," Alyssa said, "we all have penguins."
"It's cute," Megan smiled.
"Merry Christmas mom," Alyssa smiled, hugging Megan.
"Merry Christmas my sweet girl," Megan replied, returning the hug.
"So," Owen said, "mom will be here in about half an hour."
"Cocoa now," Alyssa asked.
"I have to bake the cinnamon buns," Teddy said.
"Cocoa and fresh cinnamon buns," Nathan asked.
"We do every year," Owen said.
"My mom always did the cinnamon buns," Megan said.
"My family did cocoa," Teddy replied, "we combined."
"And the matching pyjamas on the kids," Nathan asked.
"My grandma did it for me and my cousins," Teddy replied.
"You two have them," Megan laughed.
"I have them for you, but I wasn't sure you would want them," Teddy said.
"Yes we do," Megan replied, "where did you find them for all of us to match."
"Old navy online," Teddy replied, "baby, kids, mens, womens and maternity. I'll do it again next year for all of us."
"They become my winter pjs," Alyssa said, "she always got really cute ones I could walk around my dorm in."
"Meg, Riggs do you want the pjs," Teddy asked.
"Please," Megan replied.
"I'll put them on Lyss's dresser," Teddy replied, "Meg you match Lyss and I. Riggs you, Faroke and Owen match."
"Does Grandma have a set," Alyssa asked.
"I gave them to her last night," Teddy assured.
"It's weird not having grandma here when we wake up," Alyssa said.
"She'll be here soon," Teddy assured.
Teddy walked upstairs and put the penguin pyjamas on Alyssa's dresser for Megan and Nathan. She saw the bed wasn't made yet so she quickly pulled the sheet and blanket up and set the Minnie Mouse toy on the pillow. Teddy and Owen had both been sticklers about you get up, you make your bed in the morning, it was get up, get dressed, make your bed and brush your teeth. A habit that as far as they knew still stuck with Alyssa. Christmas morning had been one of the few mornings they had been okay with Alyssa hanging out in her pyjamas.
Megan and Nathan changed.
"Why didn't Teddy ask us last night," Megan asked.
"I think it's their tradition with Alyssa," Nathan said.
"These are the things I find hard," Megan said, "that she buys my daughter special pyjamas for Christmas, or has things that always go in Alyssa's stocking."
"Teddy is the favourite aunt," Nathan soothed, "she can have her traditions with the kids. You used to say you wanted Lyss to have those experiences."
"I know," Megan said, "but seeing her have the traditions that don't include me."
"Alyssa is very loved by Owen and Teddy," Nathan said, "they tried to give her the love you wanted her to have. They love her like their own. I saw it for a few years. Teddy would bring Lyss to see me and you could see that Teddy mothers her. There's a side of Teddy that until Leo you only saw with Alyssa."
"I see that with all three," Megan said, "I just wish I still had these traditions with my daughter."
"We'll create our own as a big family,' Nathan assured, "nice penguins."
"You too," Megan smiled.
Megan and Nathan rejoined the family in the living room as Owen carried mugs into the room.
"Lyss marshmallows, whipped cream and a candy cane," Owen said passing Alyssa her favourite Ravenclaw mug.
"No marshmallows for Faroke," Megan said.
"He already said no thank you," Owen said.
"Megan what do you like on it," Teddy asked.
"I'll do all three," Megan smiled.
"Owen likes his with just the candy cane," Teddy said, "Riggs?"
"Candy cane and whipped cream," Nathan replied.
Teddy topped the last couple of cups of cocoa and brought them into the living room. Alyssa was curled up in her favourite corner of the loveseat beside Evelyn both of their hands wrapped around their mugs.
"What do you guys do first," Nathan asked.
"We usually start with stockings," Owen said, "kids first?"
"Who's is who's," Evelyn said, "I know 4 of them."
"I have Farokes here," Megan said, taking his off the mantle.
"Leo's is on the far left," Teddy said, "I put them up youngest to oldest."
They spent the rest of the morning opening presents. Megan smiled watching Alyssa and Faroke building one of his lego sets. That afternoon they all bundled up and went for a walk in the snow together.
"You okay," Megan asked Alyssa.
"It's a normal Christmas day," Alyssa smiled.
"Every year," Megan asked.
"It doesn't snow every year," Alyssa said.
Owen and Teddy walked at the back of the group. Owen pulled the baby sled with one hand and held Teddy's with the other.
"Is he warm enough," Teddy asked.
"He is," Evelyn assured, "you bundled him up well."
"This baby thing is hard," Teddy replied.
"It is," Evelyn said, "but Teddy you're a good mom. You know your kids."
"Too cold," Faroke said.
"We can go in," Megan offered.
"No," Faroke said, "so white."
"It is," Megan smiled, "do you like the snow?"
"It's weird," Faroke said.
"It is different," Megan said.
"Uncle Owen," Alyssa giggled.
"Lyss there's a baby," Teddy warned.
"Why I'm not throwing it at you," Alyssa laughed before throwing the snowball at Owen.
Owen passed the baby sled to Teddy and charged after Alyssa through the snow to throw a snowball back at her. Soon they were all in the middle of a snowball fight. Laughing and shouting. Alyssa caught Faroke and crushed a snowball over his head.
They made their way back and stomped the snow off their boots on the porch.
"Lyss," Evelyn asked.
"Wash my hands and come help," Alyssa replied.
"I'm coming mom," Megan replied, "Teddy you coming?"
"Washroom then I'll be there,' Teddy smiled.
"I always imagined this," Alyssa smiled, "all of us together for Christmas, cooking together."
"Me too," Evelyn agreed, "you're okay Lyss?"
"I'm really happy," Alyssa smiled, "it's busy and loud but we're all here."
"We're all here," Evelyn agreed.
They finished cooking together and sat down to eat Christmas dinner together.