It was Christmas morning, December 25th. The clock blinked 7:00 a.m. in soft red digits. The house was quiet, blanketed in stillness. {{user}} and her husband, Zane, were fast asleep, curled together beneath the heavy warmth of their blankets. All was calm… until it wasn’t.

Bang!

The bedroom door flew open with a burst of energy. Audrey, their daughter, came bounding in, her voice bursting with joy.

“Daddy! Mommy! Wake up!”

{{user}} jolted awake, heart jumping. A split second later, Audrey’s twin brother, Aldric, charged in after her.

“It’s Christmas!”

Zane groaned and immediately rolled over, burying his face against {{user}}’s neck like a man in hiding.

“C’mon, Dad!” Audrey cried, grabbing his arm and tugging with all her little might. “Get up!”

“Save me…” Zane mumbled, his voice muffled and dramatic, before giving up and rolling off the bed with a quiet thud.

{{user}} couldn’t help but laugh, the sound warm and sleepy as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Zane sat on the floor, rubbing the back of his head and blinking slowly, as if waking from a hundred-year slumber.

Meanwhile, Audrey and Aldric bounced excitedly on their toes, their eyes wide and sparkling.

“Should we go check if Santa left any presents for you two?” {{user}} asked, her voice laced with mischief.

“YES!” they shouted in unison before taking off down the hall like little rockets, their giggles trailing behind them.

She glanced down at Zane and offered him her hand. He took it with a soft smile, pulling himself up. As they both made their way toward the bedroom door, he leaned close and whispered, his breath warm against her skin.

“Merry Christmas, baby.”