Prompt: Can we get a prompt of Sam being one of the kids who gets excited when they get a banana for Christmas when they're toddlers? Maybe one of the other liar's kids gives it to him as a joke to film him and he reacts positively? Maybe?

A/N: I've got a couple of holiday themed prompts in my inbox, but this one actually kind of struck a little chord in me because earlier this week I was having a conversation with a friend who has a new baby at home and we were talking about how it's always the little things that matter around the holidays. We both grew up in poor households, so we were happy to get little things. And kids who get excited about the little things have a special place in my heart.

Happy Holidays!

Quick guide to "who that baby-daddy" PLL edition, because there's a hella lot of kids running around…it's your own fault for talking me into writing these families.

Fitz kids: Finn and Aurora
Rivers kid: Cami
Cavanaugh kids: Bailey and Violet
DiLaurentis-Fields kids (like I have to tell you?): Grace, Lily, Sam
DiLaurentis (Jason and his wife Danielle) kids: Leo and Maddox

Christmas

The DiLaurentis-Fields' house was the most decked out house on the street, inside and out. The flashing lights that made their place look like a scene out of Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation drew in people driving by. They stopped to look at all the decorations and the timed light show that Emily had set up this year.

Inside, the house smelled of everything Christmas-y. Pine, Cinnamon, Cocoa, peppermint, and the pure joy of children ripping open presents and squealing in delight when they got something they'd been dreaming of all year.

No one got more excited about their gifts than the youngest member of the family, three and a half year old Sam DiLaurentis-Fields. He had a slew of toys that had been given to him by his moms' closest friends, who had joined them for a Christmas dinner at their house.

The toddler had insisted that everyone else open up their presents first, so now that all of the kids had their new gadgets and playthings he was the center of attention. He went through each one of his presents slowly and meticulously, each one more exciting than the last. He was starting to get to an age where he could appreciate the joy of receiving gifts. He was sitting by the Christmas tree, his face illuminated by the lights. He was surrounded by everything he'd been given.

He'd gotten a train set from Finn and Aurora Fitz, Aria and Ezra's kids. Nine-year-old Finn had helped his new little sister pick it out. They had adopted her nearly a year ago. She had just turned five and it was her first big Christmas with her new family. She'd taken an instant shine to Sam, because he was close to her age and she liked his enthusiasm. He also had a very obvious crush on her.

Sam glanced at his new toys. He'd gotten a shark pillow and a set of Legos from Cami Rivers, Caleb and Hanna's thirteen-year-old daughter. Spencer and Toby's younger daughter Violet, who had just turned twelve, had helped her pick out the new Lego set for him. Their older daughter Bailey had gotten him a bubble machine and a bunch of candy.

His cousins, Leo and Maddox, along with their dad Jason, had built him a play set in the back yard. His twin sisters, Lily and Grace, who had just passed their sixteenth birthday milestone had bought him a scooter and a drum set, something their mothers had advised them against…because they knew he'd beat on it at all hours.

When he'd opened the drums the twins had grinned at their moms. Alison had given them an "I'm going to kill you both in your sleep" death glare, but Emily thought it was hilarious. She'd even called Sam "Our Little Drummer Boy".

There was only one present that remained. Cami was the one who leaned down and plucked it out from underneath the tree. She handed it to him and smiled.

"Now, this one is really special, Sam. All of us chipped in to get this just for you."

The rest of the kids giggled. Bailey and Grace both pulled out their cell phones to record him. He stared at the poorly wrapped package, but the presentation of the gift didn't matter to him. He looked up at the other kids with a nervous smile on his little face, like he was afraid he wasn't worthy of the gift, because wow, they had ALL gotten it for him. It had to be really cool.

"Go ahead, munchkin." Lily encouraged him. "Open it."

He carefully peeled away the paper, dropping it as he picked the thin material apart. After a few seconds he had it totally unwrapped.

More snickers from the kids. The adults just watched in curiosity.

"What'chu got there, Sammy?" Emily asked.

"I got a banana!" He exclaimed. He looked up, the torn wrapping paper in his lap. He had an excited look on his face as he looked directly into Grace's camera phone. "It's my favorite!"

"It is?" Grace laughed.

"Yeah!" His voice squeaked. He stood up, holding the banana like it was the most precious thing in the world. "Mommies! Mommies, look it!" He ran over to Alison and Emily.

"We see, buddy." Alison smiled, completely caught off-guard by his reaction.

His mouth was open wide and his eyes were sparkling with delight. There was no faking his pure joy. He really actually loved it. He walked over to Cami and hugged her.

"Thank you," he said softly.

All of the kids' sniggers had turned into genuine "aws" of affection. Sam went around and hugged everyone in the room and thanked them, something he hadn't done for any other of his gifts. After he hugged Aurora he smiled at her.

"'Rora!" He couldn't say her name just right yet. "Look! I got a banana!"

"I like it. It's really cool. Can I see it?" She shyly replied.

"Uh huh." He handed it to her and she turned around and faced her parents who were across the room.

"Can we get one, too?"

"I'll check with Santa." Ezra smiled at his daughter.

"I just bought some." Aria whispered. "Remind me to put two in her stocking tonight."

"Two? Whoa there big spender." Spencer pushed Aria with a playful smile.

"Here you go, Sam." Aurora gave him his present back. She leaned against her new brother with a smile and hugged him. "Finn, mom and dad said Santa is gonna bring us a banana, too."

"I heard." Finn nodded, hugging her back.

Sam leaned down next to his dog Buster's bed, where the dog was watching all of the action unfold.

"Look what I got, Buster!"

The dog lifted his head and sniffed the banana, then he laid back down with a yawn. Sam gripped his banana with both hands and turned around to see that he was still being recorded. He looked at Bailey's camera.

"Are you gonna eat it?" Bailey asked.

"No!" Sam exclaimed with a little laugh. "I'mma save it. It's special." He crawled on the couch, mindlessly talking to himself as he often did when he was happy and excited.

It was the funniest thing in the world to everyone watching him, because he'd been eating bananas since he was a baby. He saw them every day. Yet, for some reason, this one was special.

"Jason got him a jungle gym for the boys to play on and a banana is his favorite present?" Alison couldn't believe it. She faced Emily. "I'm starting to wonder if he's really ours. Maybe he was switched at birth."

"What? You wouldn't have been happy with a banana?" Emily knew the answer, but she poked her in the ribs with a teasing grin.

"Are you kidding? I would have screamed until I passed out."

'So, basically, every date night." Emily winked, whispering so only Alison could hear her, though Spencer was standing close enough to catch it.

Spencer snorted out a quiet laugh. Alison glared at her.

As the night wore on, everyone settled down. Toby, Caleb, Ezra, and Jason took the boys to go get ice cream. The girls were going to a movie. Sam was still traipsing through the house with his banana. He hadn't put the thing down since he'd gotten it. They could see where it was starting to bruise.

"He's going to be devastated when he finds out the shelf life of a banana." Alison grimaced.

"We'll just keep replacing it like we did the girls' goldfish." Emily shrugged.

"You what?" Grace's jaw dropped. "Not Laurence Goldfishburne!"

"Oh, come on Grace…how did you not notice?" Lily laughed. "He shrank two sizes overnight once."

"I just thought he was on a diet." She faced her mothers with a frown. "How much fish blood do you have on your hands? How many poor little goldfishes were flushed to keep up your lies?"

"I lost count after the twelfth one," Alison said, almost uncaring. "Ridiculous having to pay for fish that lasted all of two weeks…" she muttered.

"So when he finally died for good…seven years later…we were burying a perfect stranger?" Grace asked.

"Tamp it down, kid. You are so dramatic." Alison snorted.

"Wonder where she gets that from." Hanna peered at Alison over her wine glass.

"Didn't your daughter get called into the office for back-talking a teacher right before the holiday?" Alison frowned, but her manner was that of someone who was joking.

"Only because the teacher can't handle the same sass she gave our teachers all those years ago." Hanna eyed Alison with a smirk.

"She started a fire in class, Hanna," Alison replied dryly.

"Allegedly!" Cami exclaimed from the kitchen.

The adults laughed.

"I wouldn't have sent you to the office had you not made that remark about me living through the stone ages while we were reading 1984!"

Emily had to laugh. A fire was fine. But a shot at her age was where she drew the line?

"It was a protest! I was just expressing my thoughts about the book!"

"And she's still sassing me." Alison shook her head.

"That's my girl." Hanna smiled.

"I can't believe you lied to us about Laurence Goldfishburne." Grace was still stuck on her long-dead fish. "My heart can't process this. On Christmas, no-less," Grace said with a fake whimper. "I'm going to need at least two…" She thought about it. "…maybe three hundred dollars cash and a new iPhone to process this grief."

"Mmhmm. You're getting the car for the night and enough money to get you snacks at the movies with your friends." Emily smiled. "Don't push it."

"Well, it doesn't bring him back. But it's a start."

Sam accidentally dropped the banana and then gasped and leaned down.

"I sorry, fwiend." He picked the banana back up. "Are you okay?"

"That's going to leave a mark." Alison bit her lip.

"At least we won't have to have a funeral for the fruit." Emily pointed out.

"You two are terrible mothers." Grace rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah." Alison messed with Grace's hair. She handed Lily the car keys. "Be home before curfew. And you girls drive safe and behave."

"Yes, ma'am." They replied at the same time.

"Sammy, bath time." Emily walked towards the toddler.

Normally he fought bath time. He'd started rebelling against it when he was two. But tonight was different, because he knew that tomorrow was Christmas. He basically bolted up the stairs while stripping out of his clothes.

Emily gave him his bath. Alison brought in his favorite "Grinch" pajamas and they dried him off and helped him get dressed.

He jetted towards his room, Emily and Alison following. When they walked in they looked at his bed. There, settled among his plethora of stuffed animals neatly aligned at the head of his bed was his beloved banana.

He pushed all but one stuffed animal and his banana off the bed and then climbed under the covers. They squeezed in next to him in his big-boy racecar bed and read him "The Night Before Christmas".

"…and they heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight, Merry Christmas to all…"

"And to all a good night!" Sam interrupted Alison.

Emily and Alison both laughed at his enthusiasm. Alison kissed his forehead. Then he turned towards Emily and she did the same.

"Love you, mommies," he said, his voice sluggish and tired.

"Sleep well, Sammy." Emily snuggled him. He gave her a big hug.

Alison and Emily both quietly slipped out of the bed. He was almost off in dreamland. He had a stuffed puppy under his arm and his banana snuggled up next to his face.

"You really like your banana, buddy?" Emily asked, pulling the covers up over his body, tucking him in. She was unable to resist giving him another goodnight kiss.

"I love my banana." He nodded, trying to fight his sleep.

"Why?" Alison asked.

"Cuz…" He yawned. "I have to make sure my minions have a happy Christmas, too."

"Your…minions?" Alison asked in surprise.

"Minions love bananas and I wanna be the best evil boss in the whole wide world, just like Gru. I want my minions to have a family just like you and Mama and Grace and Lily."

Aww, if that wasn't the sweetest…yet, most evil thing, he'd ever said…

"And then me and my minions and 'Rora and her minions are gonna take over the whole planet."

"Love you, little minion." Alison laughed and gave him another smooch.

"Mommy, you're silly. I'm not the minion. I'm their boss."

"Of course. Of course you are, sweetie." Alison stroked his head.

He yawned again. And minutes later he was asleep. The excitement had worn him out. They quietly tip-toed out of his room. They pulled his door until it was nearly closed and then walked down the hallway, sharing smiling glances at one another.

"Minions?" Emily snorted as they walked into their room.

"I was wrong. He's definitely ours." Alison laughed. "Should we tell Aria her daughter is planning on world domination with our son?"

"No wonder Aurora wanted bananas, too." Emily snickered.

"It's funny. I always thought if any of our kids were going to turn out to be evil masterminds it would be Spencer's girls."

"Or Grace." Emily thought about it.

"That child has been a little deviant since birth. I bet that's where Sam got it from."

"So…next year we're getting him a nuclear fusion reactor with lasers and a freeze ray, right?"

"Oh, definitely." Alison nodded. "Our son is not taking over the world unless he's doing it in style."

Even though their son had revealed himself as a super-villain, on Christmas Eve no-less, just the fact that he had his minions in mind and wanted them to have a Happy Christmas warmed their hearts. It made them want to go out and buy every banana on the shelf at their local grocery store. After all, what good was a super-villain and his minions without loving and supportive parents?