December 24th
Putting up a tree was a family affair each and every year. Castiel, Dean, Grace and Jack would hit the woods on the property and select one of the many evergreens growing there. Some years the tree was better than others but this year they picked a good one with only a couple bare spots.
It went up across the room well away from the fireplace and was decorated with all of the kids handmade ornaments and the rest Cas had found in the attic when they first bought the house. Lovely blown glass ornaments made in Germany and Japan. The tree was loaded with plenty of colorful lights, which Dean loved as much as the kids.
Now that the kids were older, gifts went under the tree as they were wrapped which drove them nuts until Christmas Eve when they opened the shiny, enticing packages. Christmas Day was reserved for grandma and grandpa's house where they did it all over again.
This year was extra special as far as gifts went. The week before Christmas Castiel brought the kids to the animal shelter so they could pick out their very own furry friends.
Grace went for a male, year old coon hound and shepherd mix with a sweet disposition and named him Lucian. Jack picked out a talkative, tortie kitten he named Nibby.
It had taken some convincing for Dean to agree to this but he softened to the idea.
This year Santa brought plenty of treats and toys for the new members of the household.
After the kids had opened their gifts, Castiel gave Dean his.
Dean opened the little box and found a round silver triple locket strung on black leather cord. The locket had a protective sigil engraved on the front. Cas placed it around Dean's neck.
Dean opened the triple locket to find little photos of Jack, Grace and Castiel inside.
The Omega's eyes sprung with tears and he kissed his Alpha all over his face, "Babe, this is perfect. I'll always have my family right where they belong, close to my heart."
Dean worried the gift he made for Castiel wasn't good enough now. In comparison it seemed like so little but winter was a tough time in construction and the budget had been a little light the past few months. He handed his husband a large square box.
"It's not as impressive as an engraved locket but anyway, here you go."
Castiel carefully opened the wrapping paper to find a white box and in the box were two large scrapbooks each with Our Family on the front covers in script.
Cas ran his hand reverently over a leather cover and opened the book to find the very first photo of them together taken when Dean was just a tender, virginal teen and Castiel was a young teacher just starting out.
"This is the best thing you've ever given me except for our children and your hand in marriage. Look how young you were…just a baby really."
Grace's eyes widened, "Whoa, dad was a cradle robber. I forgot Mom was so young when he got knocked up with me!"
Jack took the book from his dad and studied the photo of his fresh, freckle faced mother lying on a blanket on the grass with his dad.
"I guess you can't say all that much about me liking an older guy, right Mom?"
Dean stuck his tongue out at his smart mouth son.
…
Lucian was tall enough to steal the leftover Christmas ham just sitting there on the counter and he was fighting his natural urges to steal every scrap of food up there just waiting for him. He knew what "bad dog" meant and he had a feeling the rest of the pack would be angry with him if he went through with it.
He looked down at tiny Nibby who was directing all sorts of little vocalizations towards him that he was sure was her way of saying, "take the ham."
…..
They heard a crash located in the kitchen and Dean was on his feet in a flash running toward whatever horror awaited him. The rest of the family winced in unison when they heard his booming voice yell, "The Christmas ham! Get out of here NOW!"
Lucian raced from the kitchen to the living room with a hambone in his mouth and a kitten on his back. He ran right into the Christmas tree. They watched as the tree tipped over, landing on the hardwood floor and breaking every ornament on one side.
Castiel headed off Dean before he could see the damage while the kids put Lucian and Nibby in the basement and they could clean up the glass, pine needles and water.
…..
Jack offered a plate of cookies to his mom. Dean took one and bit the head off a gingerbread man as he stared at the lopsided Christmas tree and let out a sigh.
Grace gestured to the half bare former woodland beauty, "It looks great Mom, seriously you can hardly tell."
Nibby slowly crawled onto Dean's lap and curled up in ball. He placed his hand lightly over her and could feel the tiny fluff ball purring. Lucian put his head on his pack leader's knee and looked up at him with sorrowful eyes.
Dean gave the dog the leg off the gingerbread man.
He fingered the silver locket around his neck and smiled, "Well no one can say we have boring Christmases."
Castiel handed Dean the camera, "Look Dean, I immortalized everything so you can fill up more scrapbooks."
…
11:00 AM on Christmas Day
Spencer and Scotty had an open house on Christmas Day from eleven until three in the afternoon where friends and neighbors could stop in for a glass of Christmas cheer and plenty of snacks. Scotty and Molly made goodie bags for each person to bring home with them.
When Benny, Javier, Angie and Beau showed up it was Jack who dashed to the door to greet them. The boys were still crazy about each other though they only saw each other outside of school on rare occasions.
Jack took Beau by the hand and led him over to the archway and pointed up, "Check it out, Grandma hung mistletoe so we can kiss and it's totally fine."
Beau leaned in and planted a chaste kiss on Jack's delectable lips. Jack was a little disappointed.
"We can kiss, kiss. Really kiss, not like your kissing your sister." Jack noticed his mother watching them so he planted a long, sloppy kiss on his boyfriend's lips. Beau went with it, sliding an arm around the Omega's trim waist and pulling him close. When it went beyond a mistletoe kiss, Scotty walked past them and sprayed the young couple with water from a plant mister.
Molly got a karaoke machine for Christmas which she made good use of, managing to get almost everyone to join in with her for a song. Alex had just gotten his license and he received the keys to his dad's old Cadillac for Christmas so he spent most of his morning detailing the inside and dreaming about driving it to school once break was over.
Alfie, now seven months pregnant, spent much of his time in Spencer's big leather recliner with his feet up. He was huge now and worried he was going to give birth to a giant. The doctor told the Omega to take it easy these last month's so he quit his job at Wellspring, much to Sam's relief.
With the wedding coming right up he wanted his fiancée as relaxed as possible and was grateful for Scotty and Molly's help with the wedding plans.
Isabelle showed up with her parents and Adam. The teen immediately sought out Grace and the pair grabbed two beers on the sly and headed for the atrium.
….
Beau looked around the finished basement in the Novak home and let out a whistle, "fancy digs. Our basement isn't this nice." He finally handed Jack the gift bag he'd been carrying around since he got there, "Merry Christmas."
Jack pulled out a football jersey similar to the one Beau wore during football season. It was royal blue and gold with the head of a Viking on it and the number 10, his number as quarterback. It had Lafitte on it in block lettering.
"Wow, this is just like yours!"
Jack jumped to his feet and stripped off his shirt in front on Beau who didn't mind one bit. He got a peek at the Omega's little pink nipples and even though he'd seen them before when they went swimming, it was still a thrill.
The Omega slipped it over his head and went to the mirrored wall by the workout equipment and admired himself, "I love it, Beau."
"I thought you could wear it to my games or just around school sometimes so everyone knows we're sweet on each other. It's not like I can actually date you yet so this is sorta like saying you're my boyfriend."
Jack sat back down next to him and snuggled under his arm like a baby bird, "Someday soon we can date. Mom said next school year." Jack handed Beau a little box, "Merry Christmas."
Beau excitedly tore at the wrapping paper and opened the box to find an ID bracelet with his name on the front, "This is the nicest thing I've ever gotten. Thank you, J."
"It's real stainless steel so it won't tarnish. Read the back."
Beau blushed bright as a cherry when he read "Love, J" on the back in script. "You really mean it?"
Jack nodded with a smile on his face.
"I love you too!"
Grandpa Spencer yelled downstairs, "The party is up here. We're going to sing Christmas carols."
Spencer didn't relish the role of cock blocker but this was his grandson after all and it was better he find them than Jacks parents.
….
Molly stood in front of everyone with Dean at her side and both held microphones but Molly did the talking.
"I thought I'd start out with something very traditional and those of you familiar with the Latin version of the song please join in."
Adeste, fideles,
Laeti triumphantes,
Venite, venite in Bethlehem
Natum videte,
Regem angelorum….
Sam, Dean and Castiel as well as Grace, Jack and Spencer knew the words to Come All Ye Faithful in Latin and sung along.
The rest were light hearted Christmas songs ending with Like its Christmas by the Jonas Brothers. It got almost everyone up and dancing the last hour of the open house.
Once the guests were gone, the family had their own little Christmas all together.
Spencer pulled Grace aside at one point while the rest were busy. Spencer handed her an envelope with a card inside, "Merry Christmas, sweetheart."
Grace clutched the envelope to her chest, "Thank you, Grandpa. What is it?"
"Open it and see."
She opened the card and there was a check for six thousand dollars. "Grandpa, are you serious?!"
Spencer chuckled, "Castiel told me you saved two thousand dollars over the last few years by the sweat of your brow. Since you're getting your license soon I thought I'd add to the kitty. Eight thousand should be enough for a safe starter car. I've got a friend with a reputable used car lot and he'll treat you right, I promise."
Grace hugged the elder Alpha tight, "Thank you soooo much."
"If Jack gets jealous just tell him I'll do the same for him when the time comes. He should be ok with that fancy mountain bike I got him."
They feasted on Christmas ham and pork tenderloin that night. Castiel put in a good word with Santa and Dean went home with all the leftover ham and a pie all his own.
TBC