Hatchetfield.

A Spankoffski Christmas Part 3

Peter, Ted, and Steph did not wake up in time for Christmas morning, but they were able to make an early Christmas afternoon. Peter and Steph were the first to wake up. They made coffee as they waited for Ted. They felt that he got a free pass to sleep in after almost dying. The couple sat on the green couch engaged in conversation which was occasionally broken up by a pleasant silence. Eventually they heard Ted's door unlock and Peter jumped up excitedly. "Merry Christmas!" He exclaimed with slightly more force than he had intended.

Ted recoiled slightly and massaged his head, "Quieter, please?" He did brighten his tone with a light smile, however.

Peter grinned at his brother, "So you guys wanna get started on presents?"

Steph stood beside him, "Sure thing. I'll start us off." She walked over to Peter's room and came back out with a poorly wrapped lump of brown paper. "Sorry the wrapping's not great. Ms. Tessberger normally handled all that. But y'know she's- ah-" she looked around awkwardly, "anyways- here." She handed Peter the gift and he excitedly ripped open the paper to reveal a red and green argyle sweater.

Peter gasped, "I love it, Steph, I really mean it." He gave her a warm octopus-like hug.

"Of course, Pete! I felt like it kind of fit your whole hot professor vibe."

Peter melted a little inside as he broke the hug and squeezed her hand affectionately. He was in the midst of putting the sweater on when he paused,"Wait a minute. You definitely didn't bring that here yesterday. How did you get it into my room?"

Steph smiled sheepishly, "I may or may not have broken in here like a week ago while you were at that Math League meet. It's been under your bed ever since."

Peter guffawed in pleasant surprise. Steph broke the interaction by looking pointedly at Ted who was awkwardly lounging in the kitchen.

"Oh, right." He rushed back to his room and emerged with two completely unwrapped boxes. Peter feasted his eyes on an expertly replicated 1960's Batman cowl and Batcuffs. He grabbed them from Ted's hands in pure excitement. Ted nervously itched the back of his neck, "Well I know you're always watching that weird ass Batman show. Maybe you'd like to have something from it-"

"Thanks Ted! It's perfect for my desk." He gave him a well-intentioned side hug.

Ted wiped his mustache nonchalantly, "Yeah I figured you'd like it. I guess I understand why you do-" He looked down at the catwoman picture on the box, "That feline chick looks-" he paused and made direct and communicative eye contact with Steph, "like a respectable woman." He finished carefully.

Steph nodded in approval and Peter raised his eyebrows in surprise. "So you got something for us, Pete?" Ted broke in, "Or is this a one-way exchange?"

Peter jumped up, "Oh yeah, of course." His long legs traveled to the small Christmas tree in a single bound. He grabbed their respective gifts and handed them out. Steph was the first to claw through Peter's excessive wrapping job. Underneath she discovered a small vinyl record player and around ten different records from a variety of her favorite bands. She'd always wanted a record player but her dad had never allowed her to get one. She thought she had mentioned it to Peter maybe once. She hadn't expected him to remember, much less buy her the damn thing. "Oh, Pete-"