It was 5:07 a.m. the next morning when the twins burst into Christine's room calling out – "Mommy – Mommy – Wake up - It's Christmas!"
Sleepily, Christine rolled over and immediately realized something. "What did you just call me?" she asked curiously.
David looked at her shyly "Mommy?" He wasn't sure if he should be sorry for the slip of his tongue.
"We're sorry!" Diana immediately apologized. "I think we just weren't thinking!"
"Are you mad at us?" David sounded uncertain.
"Of course not!" Christine assured the two children. "You're excited and got carried away. However – "
She looked over at the doorway and saw Reid standing there, dressed in flannel print pajamas with his hair still tousled.
"Spencer?" she asked hesitantly. "We knew it was going to come some day. We may as well tackle it now."
"Okay!" Reid sleepily agreed with her.
"Daddy?" the twins chorused.
"Alright, you guys," Christine smiled at them as she carefully moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "Why don't both of you give me a Good Morning hug, and then put on your robes and slippers and head down to the sunroom? Your father and I will be there in a minute, after I check on your Uncle Dave, Aunt Alex, and Uncle James."
"Can we open our presents?" Diana asked excitedly.
"You may start with your stockings. They are sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace," Christine told them. "Everything else waits until everyone is down."
"Their stockings are sitting on the floor?" Reid questioned as the twins charged out of the room.
"I made a special trip down late last night and put them there," Christine explained. "I thought that might buy us some time this morning."
She reached over and pushed the button on a plastic box sitting on her nightstand. "Intercom," she explained in response to his questioning look. "Dave got it and set it up. He's worried that I might need him in the middle of the night."
"I should have thought of that," Reid admitted as he walked over to inspect the device. "It's a reasonable safety precaution."
Christine spoke into the box. "The Twin Tornados are up and on their way downstairs," she reported. "And - We have a complication."
The response was a protracted moan.
"Come on, Dave" Christine laughed as she spoke into the intercom. "I set the timer on the coffee maker last night. All you have to do is make your way down to the kitchen and you can claim your daily dose of caffeine!" She glanced up, "You, too, Spencer!" she added. "Although – "
"What?" Reid asked, alarmed that she might be cutting him off from his morning caffeine fix.
"Don't I get a Good Morning hug first?" she inquired innocently.
Of course, the hug had to come with a kiss, and another kiss, and – What was that giggling noise in the hallway?