Their extended aca pella family had many traditions. The Santa photo at the mall with all the kids, the 'Santa package' they opened on Christmas Eve (which, without fail, contained a pair of Christmas pyjamas, a holiday themed DVD and a box of microwave popcorn and M&Ms), and their secret Santa. They drew the secret Santa before Thanksgiving arrived, giving everyone plenty of time to decide what to buy.

But every year, without fail, someone would ask another for assistance in gift buying, and they would inevitably find out.

(When Henry was five he drew Stacie's name, and asked Jesse for help in what to buy her. Jesse, who never knew what to buy Stacie and without fail asked Beca, approached his wife, who then asked Ryan, Stacie's husband. Ryan, who had missed the fact that it was for his nephew's secret Santa, asked his wife and when Henry found out, burst into tears.)

"Hey Ma?" Melody leant against the counter and Beca turned to her, holding a wooden spoon and a pair of tongs. "Wait, what are you doing?"

"making a pumpkin curry that better taste freaking fantastic, this is probably the most complicated thing I've ever attempted", Beca grumbled, brushing stray hairs out of her face. "What's up?"

"I need help with my secret Santa".

"If we're having a repeat of last year's incident, I suggest you take your questioning to your father".

"That's the problem! I picked Dad! And I already got him something really great, but I don't know what to get him for secret Santa!"

"Melody, sweetheart, I know this isn't going to be much help… but just get him a movie or something. You know how much he loves his movie".

(Hell, his three children loved movies. Their DVD collection was bigger than anything Beca had ever seen.)

"But that's the thing, Mum. I don't know what you've got him, or what Toby and Henry have got him, or anyone else! And besides, we've got every movie ever made, and Dad gets all the new releases for free from work".

"Dad's the worst person to buy for", Beca agreed cheerfully.

"Are you talking about me?" Jesse called.

"Talking about you, not to you dear", Beca said with a grin.

Jesse just grinned. "You discussing what to get your dear daddy for the silly season?"

"Nope".

"You're very much like your mother, Melody Claire".

"Thank you". She grinned, the cheesy Swanson grin that had captured Beca's heart in her freshman year of college (not that she'd admitted it. Jesse's head was big enough already).

"Time for secret Santa!" Kai announced cheerfully, and Brielle grinned.

"Did you end up choosing something for Dad?" Zac leant over to Melody and she frowned at him.

"Shut up Zac".

(After her mother was deemed useless in determining a present for her father, she had approached the twins. And apparently they were equally as useless as their mother.)

"And yes", she hissed back, Henry grinning.

(Jesse was the worst person in their family to buy for.)

When Jesse tore open a box of microwave popcorn and a gift voucher for their nearest DVD store, he broke into a grin.

"I'm going to guess my Melody Claire?"

"No, me". Maddie grinned, and Jesse turned to his niece. "you're really hard to shop for, Uncle Jesse".

"No, it was me", Melody admitted, and she wrapped an arm around Maddie. "Not this loser".

"Melody", Beca chastised.

(It wouldn't have been Christmas without insults thrown.)