A/N: Merry Christmas, nerds! Wow, another year is almost over. How crazy is that? I can't wait for more adventures in the year to come.
Now, I hope you enjoy this peek into how the Castle family celebrates the holiday.
"Hey! Merry Christmas!" Right there in the doorway, hugs and hellos were exchanged. The house the younger five Castle kids had called home through their childhoods, that was now currently owned by Miyana and her family, filled with noise. Christmas Eve had arrived again, and the entire Castle family was in town for the holiday.
Coats and snow-covered shoes were shed, and presents were placed in front of the tree. Small children rushed off to play with cousins, while the older cousins joined the adults. There was many laughter filled conversation overlapping each other, and the occasional shouting across the room when someone was mentioned in another conversation. Babies were passed from one set of arms to another and covered in many rounds of kisses. Dinner was potluck style, and every person had something to eat.
"Alright! Everyone find a seat!" Christine called, gathering her children and all their cousins back into the living room. They had scattered as soon as dinner had finished; eager to continue playing with the old tumbling equipment their auntie Mia had pulled out of storage.
"You can keep playing in a few," Miyana says, after her eldest daughter grumbled about stopping their game.
"Unless you don't want presents," Deacon said, holding up his hands. "Because we can take them back."
"No!" the kids shouted.
"No! Uncle Deacon! We want presents!" nine-year-old Emilia says, sitting back on the couch. "Guys! Be quiet or we don't get presents!" Off her shriek, the kids fell silent, eagerly awaiting their turn to open a gift.
The tradition of having the kids do their own gift exchange for each other started when the quints were toddlers. Just the five of them pulling names out of a hat and getting their person a small gift. And when Alexis' kids came along, they were added in to the mix. The tradition fell out for a few years, but once more grandchildren started being born, it started up once again with much joy. Back at Thanksgiving, name had been drawn by the kids who had been there, and by siblings representing the families that weren't. Wish lists and clothing sizes had been passed along, and the kids had the remaining month to select a gift for their secret Santa.
"Should we go youngest to oldest?" Kate suggests from the armchair she had been relegated to after her daughters discovered all the work she had done to make dinner.
"No!" The three middle-eldest grandkids decline.
"We did that last year!" Macey says. "It's our turn to go first." After the adults agree to the order, Macey stands and finds the gift meant for her. She tears open the wrapping paper revealing a new case for her cell phone. "Whoa! This is so cool, thank you!" She says, looking at all her cousins, trying to guess who got it for her. "Emi?" She guesses.
"No!" Emilia giggles wrapped up in the suspense of the game.
"Um…. Bodhi!" Macey tries again.
"Nope," he shakes his head.
"It was me," Louis announces, receiving thanks from his cousin.
The game continues in that manor, going down the line, each kid tossing their trash into the middle of the floor causing the ones behind them to kick their way through to the tree. When they reach the middle group of boys, the silliness of the game amps up as they each shake their gift, trying to guess what it is.
"Bet it's an iPad," Henry says, goading his little brother. Louis tears into the wrapping, his excited face falling when a new nerf gun reveals itself. "Hey! This isn't an iPad! Henry! You lied!" Louis shouts at his brother, an icy pout on his face.
"I didn't lie. I was just guessing," Henry says, shrugging. "Ow!" he shouts when his momma hits him.
"Be nice," Ashley directs.
"My turn!" Calvin happily cheers, clearly ignoring the scene between his cousins. He opens his gift, cheering at the new art set he was given. "This was Hayley!" Calvin says, sure of his guess.
"Sorry, wasn't me," Hayley answers.
"Oh," Calvin says, his face falling.
"Guess again, papas!" Ashley prompts.
"Harrison?" He guesses.
"Yeah, it was me," the boy nods. "Do you like it?"
"Yes! Thank you," Calvin smiles again.
"Alright, Poppy! You're up!" Finn says, nudging her daughter off her lap.
Finally, the babies of the family take their turn, ending with Liam's son, Gavin. Liam helps the baby open his gift and exaggerates his excitement for the board book in front of him.
"It was one of my favorites when I was a baby," Henry says. By process of elimination, he had been revealed as Gavin's secret Santa. "At least that's what mom says," he smiles, looking to Danielle.
"Thanks, Hen, Gavin is gonna love it," Liam smiles at his nephew.
Once the trash had been cleaned up, the older kids were allowed to scatter again to play with their new toys, and the babies were put to bed. Finally, with refills of drinks, the adults gathered around for their own gift exchange. And after their order had been selected, the trash talking, and laughter began once again.