Hello all! So, uh...it's been a while since I finished this story, and I always intended to do a small epilogue, and since it IS only two days until Christmas, I thought it would be appropriate to end with this little bit of Christmas fluff. :) Thanks for reading, and I hope everyone the celebrates has a wonderful holiday!

"Daddy!"

Enjolras starts, but doesn't open his eyes, refusing to give in to the little voice demanding his attention.

"Daddy!" Evangeline calls again, this time poking his leg and glaring up at him impatiently. "Santa came!"

"Huh?" Enjolras cracks one eye open to see his three and a half year old daughter's face peering at him over the edge of the bed, her curly brown hair sticking up in odd directions on one side of her head and the other side flat and matted. A serious case of bedhead if he ever saw one. The sight makes him smile, even in his still half-asleep state.

"Santa. Came," Evangeline explains slowly, punctuating each word with a small, impatient hop. "Get up!"

"Wake up your mother first," Enjolras grumbles, and begins to rub the sleep from his eyes as he fights back a yawn.

"I'm awake," Eponine mumbles, her face still half turned into her pillow.

Evangeline runs around to the other side of the bed and shakes Eponine's arm, eager to share her good news with another. "Mama, Santa came! And I pooped!"

Enjolras snorts at Evangeline's second announcement, shaking his head at how different their lives have become. A few years ago, it was early morning cuddles, maybe some leisurely morning sex, and no rush to start the day, especially on holidays...and now it's Santa and poop.

"You did? In your undies?" Eponine sits up abruptly, sleep forgotten at the thought of having to give an early morning Christmas bath.

"In the potty. And I wiped!"

Enjolras snorts again, shoulders shaking as Eponine gently smacks him. "Don't laugh at her, that's a big deal to do it on her own!"

"I know, I know," Enjolras agrees, sitting up. "I'm just laughing at how much conversation in our house now revolves around poop."

Eponine grins and shrugs. "There are no secrets here anymore. And speaking of poop, I think I smell a dirty diaper."

Evangeline hops around the room, chanting "Presents, presents, presents!" while Eponine scoops up their three week old son, Everett, from his bassinet next to the bed.

"I'm going to change and feed him. Will you keep her occupied and away from the Christmas tree until 8 when your mom gets here?"

"Of course." Enjolras plants a light kiss on Eponine's temple before scooping up Evangeline and throwing her over his shoulder on the way to the bathroom. She squeals in delight and goes limp, enjoying the feeling of being upside down.

Enjolras manages to get the hyped up toddler to brush her teeth and hair before she darts into the living room and heads straight for the presents under the tree.

"Freeze!" he commands. "Don't you dare touch those, Evangeline." He's using his best 'dad voice,' but nevertheless, it's not quite enough for his headstrong daughter, who reaches out with a defiant look and puts her finger on the biggest gift.

Enjolras sighs. She's had a rough three weeks, dealing with a new brother, and her displeasure at his presence makes itself known at inopportune times. He really doesn't want to deal with a tantrum on Christmas morning. "Grandma is coming in fifteen minutes with more presents for you, but she wants to see you open all of them. We have to wait."

Evangeline plops down on the floor and crosses her arms, a low keening wail beginning to escape her tiny, but powerful, throat. She is apparently not on board with this waiting thing. With a groan, Enjolras leans down and picks her up, plopping her down in the timeout chair in the corner and setting the timer for three minutes. "Don't move," he commands again. "You can leave the chair in three minutes."

Evangeline cries for about a minute, but soon gets over it, absorbed in watching the timer count down. To occupy himself and make the Christmas scene complete, Enjolras starts a fire in the fireplace, which immediately fills the chilly room with warmth.

Eponine emerges from the bedroom with the baby just as Evangeline's timer dings, and though she isn't crying anymore and didn't fight the time out, the toddler is apparently still in need of reassurance. She immediately hops up and attaches herself to Eponine's leg. Eponine sighs as she gives Enjolras a silently frustrated look. They've been sharing a lot of those lately.

"Being a big sister is tough, apparently even on Christmas," he observes as Eponine sits on the sofa, Everett cradled in one arm as Evangeline immediately snuggles into Eponine's other side. Everett's birth and life so far have been vastly different from Evangeline's. For weeks after her birth, they did nothing but dote on her, amazed by every little thing she did, and the fact they had actually created such a tiny, perfect human.

Unlike Evangeline, Everett came fast, with Eponine's labor starting at ten in the morning and ending with his arrival at two pm, a whole week before her due date. By six pm that night, they were having a "normal" dinner, plus one tiny human and a very pissed off toddler who sensed her territory was being seriously encroached upon.

"She's doing a good job," Eponine says soothingly, smoothing Evangeline's hair. "It will get better and she'll be a great big sister."

Evangeline nods, looking over at her baby brother with a bit of a blank expression. So far, she's either ignored his existence or given him death glares. She acknowledges that her life is different now only by the tantrums she throws two or more times a day, which were non-existent before Everett's grand entrance. Enjolras wouldn't be a bit surprised to find her plotting cartoon scenarios, like trying to drop an anvil on his head or push him down a hill in his stroller one day soon. She's almost too clever for her own good.

Eponine occupies their daughter for the next few minutes until his mother arrives with another bag full of presents to add to those already under the tree. Christmas is the one holiday where they allow grandma to give as many gifts as she wants, since they only allow gifts in moderation at other times of the year. And just like the last three Christmases, grandma goes all out.

Enjolras trades places with Eponine on the couch to hold the baby while she helps Evangeline open presents on the floor. His mom sits next to him, exclaiming in excitement every time Evangeline holds something up for them to see. It isn't until almost all of the presents have been opened and wrapping paper and bows litter the floor that Everett makes a sound. He opens his eyes and mouth, letting out a sharp cry that quickly threatens to turn into a wail. Even his fists begin to wave in protest, his cheeks turning red to work up to the almighty cry they know he's capable of, when suddenly Evangeline stands up, plops a stray bow on his head, and gently kisses his cheek.

"Looks like someone is overcome with the generosity of the Christmas spirit," his mom remarks wryly, fighting back a laugh.

Enjolras looks up in surprise to find Eponine's mouth hanging open, too. Evangeline is already back on the floor opening her last present, as if nothing of significance happened at all. Everett settles back down on his own, eyes open, but no longer fussy, and Enjolras grins. Maybe the baby was as startled by his sister's sudden burst of kindness as his parents.

Eponine just shrugs, sharing another unspoken, but understood look with him, and laughs, turning her attention back to their daughter.

Well, it's a good first step. Enjolras looks between both of his children in wonder. Challenging though it sometimes may be, he thinks, overall this parenting thing really isn't bad at all.

One last review in the spirit of Christmas? ;)

Again, thanks for reading!