"How does your mom manage to find a bigger tree every year?" Will asked as he stared at the object in question.

His wife shrugged. "I asked her once when I was a kid but she wasn't very open with the details."

Will nodded. "That sounds like Magnus." They heard the sounds of shrieking children from the hall. "And that sounds like Elly and the others are done with their snow ball fight."

True to his prediction their eldest daughter came sliding around the corner moments later. "Hey there sweetheart," Ashley greeted. "Did you have fun outside with Uncle James and Grandpop?"

"Grandpop was fun but Uncle James couldn't move fast enough," Elly informed them.

"Ash, doesn't your grandfather use a cane to get around?"

Ashley shrugged as she picked up her daughter. "Well, I'm glad you had fun either way. But now, it's time for you and your siblings to go to bed."

"But mommy, I'm a big girl now. Can't I stay up just a little later?"

"No, you can't. You're only eight."

"Eight is big, right daddy?"

"Eight is very big," Will nodded. "But not big enough to stay up for the grownups Christmas party."

"Why?"

"Because like every year, your Uncle Nikola will spike the eggnog and your Uncle Henry will drink way too much of it. And that, my dear, is not something an eight year old needs to see."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm 42 and I don't need to see that."

Elly giggled. "You're funny daddy." But before she could say more on the subject, John and James came down the hall. "Granddad!" Elly squealed.

Ashley couldn't keep ahold of the squirming child and Elly was soon caught up in John's arms. "Really?" Will sighed.

"Face it," Clara said as she ambled up to them, "You could be a regular Will Ferrell and you still wouldn't measure up to the guy that spoils her every day."

"Only because he can pass her right back onto us," Ashley smiled.

"The joy of being a grandparent," Nikola said. "Or an uncle."

"Elly won't come within three feet of you," Gregory Magnus scoffed as he led the rest of the Zimmerman children in. "You scare her."

"He does not!" Elly contradicted loudly. "I'm not scared of anything!"

Helen's voice rang out to calm everyone down. "Elly, everyone knows you're a big girl now. Nikola, if you turn those fangs on my granddaughter I will pull them out. And Ashley, that gun better remain holstered if you know what's good for you."

"And the mother takes control," Henry chuckled, one of his children on his hip. The others were straggling behind with Kate.

"Elly, you still need to go to bed," Ashley called because worrying about her daughter distracted her from being sulky towards her mother.

"I don't wanna!"

"Elly," John frowned, "Don't speak to your mother like that."

Elly's eyes lit up as she thought of an idea. "Granddad, will you and grandma read us a story?" she asked. "I promise I'll go right to bed afterwards."

"Yeah we want to hear a story," Macy piped up.

The Zimmerman boys and all of the Foss children agreed that they wouldn't go near their bed rooms before they had gotten a story from Helen and John. "Very well," Helen agreed. "One story and then all of you are to go straight up to bed. Promise?"

"Promise," they chorused.

"Then let's get you into the sitting room so we can tell the story."

The children were herded into the other room and gathered close while Helen and John settled themselves on the couch. The other adults crowded around the doorway to hear the story as well. "That is quite the cute sight," Kate said with a smile.

"I think that's what the Sanctuary is about," Clara said. "Having a family to spend the holidays with."

"Even if they are a pain sometimes," Henry chuckled.

"But worth every second," Gregory declared.

Ashley turned to her husband with a smile. "Merry Christmas," she whispered.

"Merry Christmas," he murmured back.