preferences: christmas morning / ii
the twelve days of imagines: merry christmas!
notes: surprise! i was going to leave it at twelve days but i’ve really enjoyed this and it’s late christmas night here and i’m merry and in the best mood so whAT THE HECK RIGHT??? wherever you are and however or whatever you celebrate, i hope you have a great day/night/period of time, but always remember to stay safe! merry christmas and happy holidays! <3
luke
The only thing better than Christmas with the family - you’re a big family person - is Christmas when you’ve got your own family. The hype began on December 1, even though Luke tried to persuade you it’d make more sense to have the twelve days of Christmas leading right up to the Big Day, and it hasn’t stopped. Your children have inherited a lot from their father, but they’ve definitely got your Christmas spirit. Your four year old daughter, Mia, has faithfully learnt the words to every Christmas song you’ve managed to cram into one playlist, and even your son, Oliver, who’s only one, will willingly don a Santa hat or a pair of reindeer ears. One. He’s clearly a gift to this world (and to you and your slightly insane festive ways), and you’re determined to cherish every moment of it you get. And at the same time, you’re already teaching them about not going overboard all at once - only one classic Christmas film a night (no, Mummy’s not crying at The Snowman, and yes, the little girl in The Grinch is very annoying), and always make sure we’re in bed with brushed teeth on time, because, you know, Santa’s always watching (this age of constant surveillance is really taking off). All in all, they’ve not been too bad in terms of sleeping, throughout their whole lives, but you should’ve known it’d be far too hopeful to imagine they might carry this on through Christmas morning - especially as your offspring.
The first thing you know is the distinct sensation of somebody breathing about an inch away from your face. “Mummy?” comes a very bad attempt at whispering, and when you open one eye, you can make out the blurry, but unmistakeable shape of Mia Hemmings, perched on the edge of the bed and leaning directly over your face. “Mummy’s awake!” she crows triumphantly the moment you peer up at her, and takes this as a cue to bounce across the bed towards your husband, who has very few moments of sleep remaining. “Daddy!” she’s calling, but as she clears you and goes to shake Luke, you realise Oliver is standing next to the bed, his little tiger clutched in one hand. “Mia, did you wake Ollie up?” you ask with a yawn, pushing yourself somewhat upright. “No, he was already awake, because I accidentally went into his room and then the light was on and then he was looking at me, so he came with me,” she says all in one breath, and you let go of the idea of ever trying to follow that up and just pull your son up onto the bed, wrapping your arms around his little frame. “Why are we partying?” comes Luke’s sleepy voice from beside you. “Mummy, do you know why Mia and Ollie are here?” he asks, rolling over to look at you with feigned ignorance. “I think it’s because they just wanted to see us, right?” you reply, looking meaningfully at Mia, who rolls her eyes. “You guys!” she says exasperatedly, throwing her arms out with theatre precision. “It’s today!” she adds, widening her eyes. “What’s today? Make Mummy and Daddy a Cake Day?” Luke asks, playing confusion perfectly. “Daddy!” Mia practically shrieks. “Stop being silly!” You can’t help but to laugh at this. “He can’t, baby, it’s how he’s made. Why don’t you just tell Mummy and Daddy what’s today?” you prompt, and it’s all she needs. “It’s CHRISTMAS!” she cries, and Luke sits bolt upright straight away, eyes flying open. “Today?! Already?! Well, why didn’t you say?” he says, and Mia’s about to protest when he grabs her, tossing her slightly into the air. “Merry Christmas, princess!” he grins, and you press a kiss to Oliver’s cheek as he watches his suddenly flying sister. Nothing’s better than this.
michael
It’s not your first Christmas as a family, but it’s definitely the most exciting one yet. Max is now three, so nothing has been lost on him the way it has been in previous years, and you’ve had to practically wrestle him into his bed the past few nights, tearing him away from Santa Watch at his bedroom window. Mate, the thought’s beautiful, but it’s still a week away. Santa’s still making toys. But as tiring as it’s been, you can’t deny you’ve loved it. You can’t imagine any parent who could possibly begrudge their children for the pure, unadulterated joy the Christmas time brings, and neither you nor Michael are about to step in and play Grinch. After all, it’s pretty obvious you’re still fairly close to kids at heart, so having Max really didn’t change much. Christmas Eve is winding to a close, and you’ve just come back from resettling your son for the third time already, padding back into the bedroom and getting back into bed beside Michael. “Out for good this time?” he asks, and you just shrug, shaking your head. “I don’t know - I mean, I thought that last time, but that was only, what, forty minutes ago?” Michael just laughs, and you know he’s thinking of all the times he did the exact same to his own parents. You unwind a little bit - you read a book you thought you’d have finished about two weeks ago while Michael mucks around on his phone, and about half an hour later, you’re just about ready to go to sleep. The clock tells you it’s near enough to 2:00am, and while that might seem disgustingly late to some people, they probably don’t have a hyperactive three year old who inherited his father’s complete lack of a healthy sleeping pattern. You’ve made it through so far without any major incidents, you’re doing fine.
You’re just about to turn off your light and snuggle down into bed when Michael suddenly turns to you. “Y/N, oh my God,” he says, face as serious as you’ve seen it, and you sit bolt upright, heart beginning to race as you try and work out what you’ve missed. “What, Mike, what?” you ask. “We haven’t done Maxi’s stocking!” he exclaims, like it’s the worst thing on earth, “Oh, Jesus, babe, I thought you were going to tell me the dog was in the oven or we left Luke at the petrol station,” you say exasperatedly, as he adds, “again.” Poor Luke. But he has a point, so you hop back out of bed as Michael grabs the bag of stocking stuffers, making your way as quietly down the hallway as you can to your child’s room. Opening the door silently, you peer in to see your little guy completely out to it, one arm thrown out to the side as he sleeps, and you’re still there when Michael catches up to you, putting a hand on your shoulder. “All good?” he asks, and you just nod. “How does one little tornado look so peaceful when he sleeps?” you whisper back, and Michael chuckles. “Just like his mama.” He lets you stay there as he slips past you and into Max’s room, transferring the contents of the bag into the stocking hanging off the end of his bed without the slightest peep. Straightening up, he goes up to Max, gently pulling the covers over him a little more before he quietly leaves the room, coming back to join you. “Looks like Mr Claus made it after all,” he says, and you smile. “Merry Christmas, babe,” you say, and he wraps an arm around your waist from behind, resting his chin on top of your head. “Merry Christmas, Cliffords.”
calum
Everybody loves Christmas, right? Everybody except for the younger of your four year old twins, Elijah, who refuses to engage in any sort of conversation that remotely contains the holiday. You can understand where he’s coming from, in some respects, but it’s hard to see him this way. Because of course he went and ended up in hospital only days before, and has managed to get himself utterly convinced that means he’s going to be overlooked by the big red man, and no matter what you, Calum, or even Elijah’s twin, Ethan, tell him, he won’t listen. What he has isn’t that serious, and if it weren’t for his medical history he’d probably be fine to come home for the holiday, but the doctors want to keep him a couple of extra days just to make sure, and you don’t honestly want to argue with them about it; not if it’s about keeping your little boy safe. But now he’s going to be seeing in his fourth Christmas in a little hospital room, and the thought of it breaks your heart even more than it does his, if it’s possible. You and Calum have both been flat out over the past couple of weeks, especially since Elijah’s been sick, and when you add onto that that you’re starting to worry Ethan will feel like you’re favouring his brother over him, this holiday period is becoming much more tense than you ever wanted. Growing up is great, especially when you’re watching your own kids start to do it, but God, it’s hard. But you finally think you’ve got everything under control again, and just in the nick of time, too. It helps that your brother’s roommate knows a few people who work at the hospital, and so you’ve been able to figure something out that will hopefully do a little to bridge the couple hours until visiting hours start again - they’re earlier on Christmas, bless them.
You and Calum had left at the normal time, needing to get Ethan home to sleep, but Luke had been there to take over bedtime duties so the two of you could slip back to the hospital, having worked something out with the ward staff. Elijah’s just drifted off, and you and Calum peer through a window as your guest makes his entrance, swinging the door just enough to make a noise. Elijah shifts a little at the sound, and you know he’ll almost definitely register what’s happening around him soon enough. The intruder treads carefully through the room, like somebody is staging trying to be quiet, and not quite making it. And just as they reach the foot of the bed and fix the stocking, they give it a little nudge, and finally, your son’s eyes open. He stares for a moment, then speaks. “Santa?” he whispers. And the man at the end of the bed, decked out in full Santa regalia, freezes like he’s been caught in the act. “Elijah Hood?” he replies, and Elijah nods. “How did you know I’d be here?” your little boy asks, and Santa gives a knowing smile. “I know where all the good little boys and girls are, all over the world!” he says. “You didn’t think I’d really miss you, just because you were here tonight?” and Elijah gives a slow shake of his head, because he did but he can’t quite tell Santa that. “Did you really know I was here, or did my brother tell you?” Elijah whispers, and your heart gives a little twinge as you watch silently, glued to the spot. “I’ll tell you a secret,” Santa says, “it was a little bit of both. I’d have know where you were if you were anywhere, whether it was Uncle Michael’s or at Dylan’s,” and here Elijah’s eyes widen at the mention of his best friend, “but your brother, Ethan, made sure to let me know where you were, just in case I missed it.” Elijah is speechless. “And that’s what Christmas is, Elijah. So you go on and go back to sleep, because I think you’re going to have a great Christmas.” And all Elijah can do is nod, as Santa hoists his sack back over his shoulder and walks quietly back out of the room. He just sits there, staring after the myth himself, and it takes everything you have not to run in and hold him. But you can’t ruin the magic, so instead you turn and bury your face in Calum’s chest, and even though you’re crying, it’s not because you’re sad. Calum kisses the top of your head, and you turn around just enough to see Elijah’s laid back down again. And maybe it won’t be so bad, after all.
ashton
For some reason unknown to anybody, but most of all you, your children had sat you down a couple of weeks before Christmas - yes, you were held to court by a five and a six year old - and told you and Ashton explicitly they were cool with a quiet Christmas morning this year. Instantly, you’d assumed they were up to something - and you still do, but there’s nothing sinister they’re probably up to, so you both agreed to the terms offered to you, and that was that. Now they’re both in school - Ella started this year, following Jack to the same primary school you went to what really doesn’t feel that long ago - they’re so hooked on the idea they’re ‘big kids’ now, and you’re not at all going to deprive them of that. You may remind them they’re your babies on an almost daily basis, but if they want to start being a little more independent at home, you’re not going to stand in their way. “They’re almost definitely up to something, aren’t they?” Ash asks you a couple of nights before Christmas, when they’ve excused themselves from dinner to go and take the plates into the kitchen and then go to their room, and you just nod, wondering what on earth your little ratbags are up to. But they’re positively angels in the days leading up to Christmas, and you can’t find any reason to suspect them of anything save your parental instinct, which you guess you just have to shelve. They’re in bed at a reasonable time on Christmas Eve, after painstakingly leaving out cookies for Santa and carrots for his reindeer on the bench, and you check them enough to know they’ve actually gone to sleep. “Maybe we’re just overly suspicious,” you say to Ashton, and he just laughs. “I mean, you can never be too careful, can you?” he asks, and you can’t argue.
But nothing happens that night, so after making sure Santa’s come and gone and the evidence is clear on the bench, the two of you head to bed, preparing for what you’re anticipating will be an early wake-up. Sure enough, it’s probably no later than 7:00am when the blinds are suddenly pulled open, letting sunlight stream into your bedroom, and two little voices start singing ‘Merry Christmas to you’ in the tune of a certain birthday song. “You guys have to wake up now,” Jack’s voice tells you, so you bring a hand up to rub your eyes as you open them - and the sight you see melts your heart. Jack is standing there holding two plates of what are probably (supposed to be) pancakes (dear God), while Ella has two messily wrapped presents. “What’s this?” you ask, sitting up. “We just know you and Santa have been really busy, ‘cause we that he was here after we went to sleep which was probably after bedtime, so we said-- well, Jack said we should make breakfast and I thought we should give you presents so we... we did both.” Ash sits up too, and you feel him move closer to you as he puts an arm around your shoulder, pulling you close to him. “Would you look at these big grown up babies of ours?” you say to him, turning to face him as you feel your eyes threatening to water, and he just smiles that smile that lights up the whole room. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart,” he says, giving you a quick kiss - can’t freak out the chefs. “Thank you guys so much!” he adds, beaming down at your precious little children, and if there is ever a reality in which the two of them are not on every single nice list around, you will fight any and every person involved in that. “C’mon, bring it in, group hug,” he says, opening his arms, and Jack pops the plates on the bedside table and Ella dumps the presents on the foot of the bed as they jump on, the four of you quickly becoming a tangle of limbs and beaming faces. “I love you all.”
















