One of Santa's Elves

The scent of something abnormal tickles Mac's nose, teasing her awake. She notices the cold space in the bed next to her causing her to sit up as she sniffs again, 'No, it can't be!' Breathing in the positively heavenly aroma, she hops out of bed making her way downstairs as if she were trying to beat her best PT score.

Mac arrives in the kitchen with a smile as wide as the Nile. Her senses did not deceive her. Frank is manning the waffle iron, Grams is washing berries, Trish is carving bananas, the kids are sitting at the island giddy as can be as they watch the adults, and her husband is cooking bacon. Her mouth nearly waters at the sight of her gorgeous husband cooking one of her absolute favorite items. Yes, it is only a simple slice of dead pig, but Harm only cooks it once in a blue moon. She must have been a very good girl recently. She can't help but to saunter over to where he is standing at the stove, wrap her arms around him from behind, and place a soft kiss on the back of his neck.

Harm chuckles, "See, Mom. I told you the smell of dead animal would have Mac out of bed it no time!" Mac reaches around him to grab a dishtowel hanging on the bar of the stove, snaps it back, and swats him on the six!

Harm immediately turns around, wraps his arms around her completely, and lifts her off the floor, "Any more violence out of you, Marine, and the kids are going to get all the bacon!"

Mac laughs, "Alright, I'll behave. Put me down!" While Harm is preoccupied, Grams snatches a piece of her own.

Harm sets Mac back down and turns to flip the bacon when out of his peripheral vision he sees a hand heading towards the plate of the finished bacon on the counter. Before Mac can reach the plate, she finds her wrist captured in one of Harm's large hands. He chastises, "I thought you were going to behave!"

Mac bats her lashes at him and puffs her lower lip out, pouting, "But it's bacon…and I'm hungry…and Grams had one!"

Harm chuckles at her attempt to sway him, "So what else is new? Everything will be ready soon enough." Turning his glance to his Grandmother he only sees her mischievous grin. He shakes his head and waves his spatula toward the empty stool at the island, stating, "Park it, Marine!"

Mac raises her brow at him in challenge, "Nope. Coffee first." She pours herself a cup and takes her first sip finding it at her preferred strength, "Mmm, perfect." Glancing around at the other adults, she asked, "Who made the coffee?"

Grams chuckles as she puts the fresh raspberries and blueberries into bowls, "Harm."

Mac's surprise is evident on her face as she walks over and places her hand on Harm's forehead, "Bacon and Marine grade coffee? Who are you and what have you done with my husband?"

Harm brings her hand down to his lips and kisses it, "I might have turned into one of Santa's elves."

Matthew's exclamation of, "Daddy you can't be an elf, you are too tall! Elves are tiny!" brings laughter out of everyone.

Harm narrows his eyes at his son, "Hmm. I didn't think about that one."

Mac heads over and sits next to the kids, "So what are we having this morning?"

Trisha answers, "Daddy won't tell us yet. It's our surprise. Daddy is making bacon, Grandpa is making green waffles, and Gigi and Grandma have fruit."

Mentally checking Harm's Christmas calendar, Mac knows exactly what they are creating.

Harm drops the last of the bacon onto the plate, flips off the burner, and looks at the elder adults getting a silent confirmation from them that they are all finished as well. He announces, "Ok everyone, into the dining room." Each of the adults carry their preparations out to the table following Mac and the kids.

Mac is surprised to see that the table has been adorned with a red linen table cloth and has a centerpiece with a white candle, pinecones, small poinsettias, and cinnamon sticks. The place settings all have one of their finest sets of china out as well and there is confectioner's sugar and various flavors of syrup as well.

Harm takes the pizza slicer and dices all of the green waffles into four equal sections. He grabs a plate and places a piece of bacon at the bottom, takes three waffle slices and lines them up in a row so that just a small section of bacon sticks out the bottom, he places a handful of berries into the waffle holes to resemble ornaments, and places a piece of banana shaped like a star at the top. Holding up his creation for all to see he declares, "Alas, Christmas tree waffles! Make and have as many as you like! If we run out, I can always make more batter."

Trisha is very meticulous when she creates hers, using three slices of bacon at the bottom and making her tree four quarters high. She takes the confectioner's sugar and sprinkles a little at the top and a bunch around the bottom to give it that special frosted look of snow tipped pines before adding just a few raspberries to give it a few bells. When she is finished, she asks, "Can I put a bowl on the side of syrup so that I can just dip my waffle in it? It's almost too pretty to eat."

Mac smiles, "Sure you can sweetie, but maybe Daddy should go make a few more waffles for us so if you don't want to eat it, you don't have to. I at least want pictures of everyone's before they dig in."

Matthew on the other hand doesn't feel like making anything like the example. He takes two quarters and places them with the points facing together, places one blueberry in the center and douses the entire thing in raspberry syrup. When Harm asks what kind of tree it is, Matthew answers, "It's Grandpa's bowtie." The adults all chuckle, Matt is definitely one of those outside of the box thinkers.

By the time breakfast is finished and everything is put away, almost everyone is in a food coma and ready to take a mid-morning nap. That is at least until Trisha glances out the window exclaiming, "Look Mom, it's snowing!"

Mac grins, "So it is, but I'm not sure if enough will fall for us to go play in it. Why don't you come sit with me on the bench in our room and we will just watch the flakes fall for a little while."

Harm puts Matt down for a nap, and Trisha and Mac head into the master bedroom to watch Mother Nature at work. It only takes about ten minutes before Trisha is mesmerized by the sight and falls fast asleep leaning against her mother. Harm walks in and can't help but take a picture at the beautiful view before him of his two favorite girls.