It was 6am on Christmas Day. Scott had just left his and Kayo's bedroom from their side of the island. Entering the Christmas decorated living room he gasped in shock.

"No, don't touch that!"

Three sets of brown eyes darted to him. The first child dropped the present and a loud smash sounded.

"There goes John's snow globe," Scott hissed through his teeth, "Nice work Freddie,"

Alan stood up from the Christmas tree serenading, "Don't be mad at me Scott, Um... I was supervising them for you until one of you got up,"

"I'm not mad at anyone, it's not even 8 o'clock. Alan sweep up the broken glass, Lucy and Freddie go and wake up your mother I'm sure she would love to see your faces," Scott gave a laugh and shared a look with his brother, "At this time in the morning,"

Jollily thudding on the islands carpets Freddie and Lucy both sprung to their heart's content. In the dorms all the Tracy's groaned under their breath, especially Virgil who loved his sleep.

Opening the door, Jeff braced himself for a little father son telling off, "Hey will you two knock it off...Sorry I thought you two were your uncles," Jeff took both of their hands and walked with them, "You know your daddy used to get up at 5 am exactly to see what presents Santa got him."

"Cool, did he ever get caught, Granddad?" Lucy asked.

Freddie shook Jeff's hand, trying to get his attention, "Did he get coal too?"

Jeff nodded as he too yawned, "Yes, but he doesn't like to talk about it because it brings up some bad memories so I suggest we keep it a secret between us,"

Finally, getting to the right room, Jeff opened the door where Kayo was still tucked in bed.

"Bit of warning next time," Kayo returns. She waited a moment before rolling over to the front of the bed.

Capturing her two kids in her arms, they both gave a squeal of delight.

Jeff smiled, "Sorry. Happy Christmas Kayo,"

"Happy Christmas, Jeff," Kayo exhaustively murmurs as Jeff shut the door behind him.

"So what have you two been up to since this morning then?"

Before the kids could answer, there was a knock on the door.

"Scott wants to start the presents as soon as possible," Gordon said, expressing his joyful side.

"Oh yes, the Tracy tradition of early morning presents," getting out of be Kayo lightly pulled on her daughter's blonde plaits and with the other run a hand through her son's gelled hair, "Lets go you two,"

In the living room Scott was sat around the Christmas tree tapping on a cup of hot chocolate in his hand and in front of him were 2 smaller cups on the table. Why were the kids taking so long? Was he too hard on them? He hoped he hadn't ruined his children's Christmas by shouting at them. A small sound brought Scott back into reality. He looked up and saw Alan in the door way.

"Do you think I was too hard on them, Alan?"

"No, dad used to shout at us all the time for the littlest of things even at Christmas. Remember when you, Virgil and John made me, dad and Gordon hunt for our presents,"

"Yeah, that was a month after mum died, I thought it would cheer everyone up,"

"Well dad did shout at you three because we never found the presents, and as far I am aware you did the same this morning,"

Jeff walked in tutting, "Yeah Scott, don't take it too hard on yourself it's part of being a parent,"

"Really dad because it feels kinda harsh, especially when their so young,"

"So you live and you learn, it's your favourite day of the year let loose Scott,"

A couple of minutes later, Jeff joined Alan and Scott on the sofa while the others joined in.

Kayo wrapped her arms around Scott while Freddie and Lucy snuggled under the blanket next to their uncles.

Virgil piped up, "Youngest to oldest?"

Everyone nodded. Once the presents were handed out, Lucy opened her one first. It took her a few minutes to process what the funny shaped thing was.

"It's a tablet with a pen!"

Kayo leaned over to Scott and whispered, "I thought we agreed on a coloring book for her,"

"Yeah, I thought about that but changed my mind, she's old enough," Scott kneeled down next to Lucy while everyone else watched the father and daughter bonding moment, "Use the pen to draw on the tablet to make pretty pictures,"

After multiple goes on her tablet, Lucy decided to join back with her uncles and watch the others open their presents. Whereas for Scott, he looked over at Freddie and all the signs of a heart broken boy came to life. Freddie couldn't really do much because of his paresthesia in his fingers, so he has been stuck in a green cast since last month.

Virgil took his moment to get his time to shine. While everyone else was occupied with Lucy's present, he rummaged through Freddie's pile to find the one that was tagged from him.

"I got this one especially for you Freddie,"

Freddie ripped the red wrapping paper off the shoe box and gasped excitedly at what was inside, "Yay the tickets to the baseball game!"

Scott leaned up instantly, "Virg, you didn't have to do that,"

"After everything he's been through this year, I think he does Scott," said Virgil, his arms draped loosely against the back of the sofa. Freddie grinned at him, but Virgil knew that he had to make it up somehow especially after a tough year on both of them.

Kayo smiled as she held up a gold bracelet that had the letters K and S on them, Scott did the same thing with a meat thermometer.

"Why would I need this?" Scott asked, directing his attention to his brother, "I don't even cook,"

John rolled his eyes, "But you bake cookies,"

"Cookies!" both Lucy and Freddie shouted between laughs before they sprung up onto their fathers knees, "Please daddy please!"

Kayo gave a smirk and shrug as she knew exactly what the kids were doing as they could trick Scott into anything. But since it was Christmas day, she would let him take the decision this time and see where he ends up, on the naughty or nice side with the kids.

Getting the plate of cookies from the fridge (which were supposed to be for snacks) Freddie and Lucy were both sat eating quietly on the floor while everyone else carried on with their presents. Then Scott directed the conversation back.

"Yes, but rarely only if the kids wants them," Scott countered before getting a stern glare from Jeff but gave in, "Thank you John,"

As the evening arose Scott was sat outside swinging on the swing chair while the others were busy playing with their Christmas presents. Looking out to the sea view and seeing the waves hit the beach, he still questioned himself as a parent about what happened this morning.

"Daddy," whispered his 2-year-old daughter, joining him on the chair, "Are you mad at uncle Alan?"

Scott shook his head, "No I'm not princess,"

"What about me and Freddie?" She asked, with one eyebrow raised in question.

Scott jolted in seat, "What no, where did that come from?"

"This morning when we were looking through the presents with uncle Alan we heard you arguing with him after,"

"We weren't arguing, it's just that sometimes we disagree with each other," he admits with a sly smile, "You know like when you and Freddie disagree,"

Lucy nodded her head.

"That's what me and Uncle Alan do sometimes it's just what siblings do,"

"Granddad said you have bad memories when you were my age about Christmas Day,"

Scott gulped and looked at Lucy shockingly, "Oh... so you want to know, do you?"

Lucy nodded her head once again but more fiercely.

Scott pulled her into his lap, "Your too young too know, sorry Lucy,"

"Please daddy," Lucy begged in her sweetest voice, pouting.

"Fine I'll tell you,"

/

Scott laughed to himself as he walked into the kitchen where Kayo was serving up the eggnog from a gigantic silicon bowl.

"Did she ask?" she greets, walking towards him with two cups and a swirl of steam rising from each cup.

Scott took the cup of eggnog out of Kayo's hand, "Who? What?"

"Lucy, did she ask about your bad memories?" Kayo asked, a little more demanding.

Scott nods. "Yeah," he narrows his eyebrows at her, "She did, but I twisted it a little since it being Christmas,"

"Ah," Kayo took his hand, "What really happened then away?"

Scott stares at her in brief silence, wondering if he should tell her or not. He sucks in a deep breath and exhales slowly, bracing himself for what her response might be.

"I saw Santa kiss mum,"