Chapter 48

There wasn't a child in the house that didn’t try to jump on their parents that morning. It was Christmas, after all. Jacob, Jordan, and Malachai were no exception, but Brie and David were nowhere to be found... as far as their kids knew.

Dan and Nicole trudged down the hall. "Uncle Danny, have you see our mom and dad?" Malachai asked.

"No, 'Chai, I'm sorry, but I haven't. I just got up."

"We're downstairs already, 'Chai", Brie yelled. "Get your brother and sister and get down here."

All of the kids, Brie and David's included, rushed the stairs like a stampede of cattle. David laughed as Dan and John grabbed for the banister to keep from getting run over.

"It's a STAMPEDE!" Brie yelled in her best Tennessee accent.

"I'll say", David said.

The kids all got down the stairs and gathered around the tree. "We want presents, we want presents", the children chanted.

David laughed. "Why don't you all wait for the rest of the adults to get over here and we'll pass out presents."

"Ahhh...." the kids and shouted in disappointment.

"Oh, well, I guess Maya doesn't want this big ole' package over here."

"Yeah, I do!" Maya yelled.

"Oh, you do want it?"

"Yes, Uncle David."

"Oh, I was just gonna give it to Aunt Brie, but since you want it you're gonna have to wait on Uncle Mikey and Aunt Tina to get down here. I'm the one passing out the presents this year, so I make the rules."

Mike and Tina finally stumbled down the stairs. Start passing out the present, David. We're on our way."

David started calling out the names of all the kids as Brie handed him that package. Maya, Malachai, Logan, Kylie, Justin, Jacob, Simon, Teagan, Jordan, Wilbur, Jonathan. Each of the children got their presents. Then David and Brie made sure that the parents got their gifts from their kids. "Now, I hope that you adults that had gifts to exchange did so either last night before you went to sleep, or this morning before you came down here", David said as he played with the new watch. "Oh, Malachai, Jacob, thank you for helping Mama with my present. I really like it." He winked at the boys, who were too immersed in their new toys to really care what their Daddy had just said.

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The kids all sat in the living room and played with their toys while the adults went into the kitchen to fix breakfast. Tina and Kristen all admired the necklace that Nicole had picked out for Brie on David's behalf. "David had a very specific vision in mind of what he wanted me to get", Nicole explained. "I just looked for what matched the description."

"Well, Nicole, you did beautifully", Brie said. "I have you to thank as well." She gave Nicole a hug.

"It was nothing", Nicole insisted. "Just a small gesture to say thank you for kicking him in the ass and getting him back to normal. He was starting to irritate me." She laughed.

"Believe me, it was my pleasure", Brie said then leaned in where David couldn't hear what she said. "He was starting to irritate me too." All the ladies laughed.

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After a day full of merriment and happiness, it was time to settle down again. The new year was coming and life was starting to try to return to normal again... or as normal as it could get with this many people sharing one space. Of course, everyone had their differences, but they'd found ways of dealing with their problems without a lot of fighting.

The day would come when they would have to take on the Establishment. They all knew it. They just made sure to be prepared for the worst, and hoped for the best.