"I can't wait for the New Year!" Grace said excitedly, jumping onto the couch to join her parents to watch the ball drop on television. It was New Years Eve and the four year old was elated that her parents were finally going to let her stay up until midnight to celebrate with them. The little girl had tried to convince them to take her to Times Square to see it live but they immediately vetoed the idea, not wanting to fight through the massive crowds.

The family of four had decided to stay in this year since Conor was sick. The little boy had been in and out of sleep most of the day and they knew that they would've felt guilty leaving their child with someone else in that state. They decided to make the best of their situation and make a small party with just the three of them. They had been slightly hesitant to let the little girl stay up, but eventually agreed and cautioned her that it would only night that she would be able to do it.

Eddie had made some cupcakes for dessert while Jamie had picked up a pizza from their favorite place around the corner. They had eaten their pizza and got through their dessert quickly, now just having to wait for the New Year to arrive. It was only ten o'clock so they knew that there was still quite a bit of time to wait.

She looked over to the other end of the couch to see her husband with his head laid back and his eyes closed. She reached over her daughter and gently tugged at the small hairs at the nape of his neck.

"Ow," he said with a yawn, leaning away from her.

"It's only ten o'clock, babe. Not time to go to bed yet," she replied.

"I was resting my eyes," he defended, closing them again and pulling his daughter close to him.

"Okay Henry Reagan," she joked.

"I bet I know who will be the one to fall first though," he said, opening his eyes and poking at his daughter's side. "I bet Grace will fall asleep first."

"I think so too," Eddie added with a cheeky smile.

"No I won't!" Grace exclaimed. "I can stay up until midnight!"

"I bet you can't," Jamie challenged.

"Yes I can!" she countered with a determined look in her eye.

Jamie shook his head, "I bet not!"

"Can to!"

"Nope!"

"Can to!"

"Okay you two," Eddie said, looking over at the baby monitor to make sure Conor had remained asleep through their raised voices. "Calm down. You don't want to wake Conor up."

"I can stay up until midnight, Daddy," Grace said confidently. "I'm four years old. I'm a big girl now."

Jamie laughed, "Oh yeah? Just because you're four, that means you can stay up?"

Grace nodded.

"Okay, I'd like to see that," he replied.

"It'll probably be your Daddy who knocks out first, munchkin," Eddie said. "He's like your Grandpa and Pop-Pop who fall asleep anywhere and everywhere."

"Yeah Daddy it'll probably be you!" Grace laughed.

"Let's make a bet," Eddie announced. "If Daddy falls asleep first, then he has to buy us ice cream tomorrow."

"And what if Grace falls asleep?" Jamie questioned, before turning toward Eddie. "And what if you fall asleep?"

"I can give you my dollar that Grandpa gave me!"

"And I can give you a little something tomorrow morning but it'll be a surprise," Eddie said with a knowing look. "A little gift for the new year."

Suddenly, his mind was plotting ways to make his wife fall asleep early. Their daughter was looking between him and Eddie as they had their conversation so he quickly tried to shut off the unholy thoughts he was having about his wife.

"Okay," Jamie said to his daughter. "Instead of your dollar sweetheart, I'd rather have one of your famous head massages."

"I can do that!" Grace replied happily, secretly relieved that she didn't have to give up her dollar.

Grace had a fascination with running her hands through people's hair. Something about it relaxed her, and of course relaxed the recipient. Her parents, grandparents, aunt and uncle always took advantage of it and she was known to put most of them to sleep after family dinner.

"And you," he directed to his wife. "I want to know more about that little gift when…" Jamie tilted his head toward Grace. "… is in bed."

Eddie gave a small chuckle and nodded.

The trio talked amongst each other and watched the Times Square festivities on television. Grace gave them an impromptu performance as she tried to mimic each singer that came on television, making her parents laugh and take video of the little girl to send to the rest of the family. The time actually passed by quicker than they anticipated and before they knew it, they were less than one minute away from the new year.

"Here it comes!" Grace exclaimed as she watched the countdown on the screen, now decked out her party hat, glasses, and small horn that she picked out at the party store a few days prior.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one! Happy New Year!" she chanted, standing up and giving a quick jump on her end of the couch.

She blew her horn once, being mindful of her sleeping brother. Then, she put it down onto the coffee table. She turned to embrace her parents who were sitting on the other end of the couch but instead found them laying against each other in deep sleep. Grace smiled as she watched them.

"Mama and Daddy are sleepy," she said to herself quietly. Suddenly, a realization hit her. "And I get ice cream. Yes!" she added with a small fist pump.

Grace found the remote and shut off the television. Then, she found one of the many throw blankets they had in the basket under the coffee table and threw it over her parents legs. She climbed back onto the couch and pressed a quick kiss to each of their cheeks before retreating back to the other end of the couch, pulling up the blanket she already had over herself and went to sleep.