The Way We Were

The Way We Christmas Day

Maddie woke up her siblings. "It's Christmas!"

"So?!" Marcy didn't care.

"I know you're sleepy but just think!" Maddie pushed at her arm. "You could get shiny stuff!"

Marcy's eyes opened. She liked shiny things. It could be a piece of glass or a penny; as long as it was shiny, she liked it. "I'm up."

Quinn sat up, her hair sticking up all over her head. "I want shiny stuff."

"Me too!" Mercedes murmured in her sleep.

"Then you gotta get up!" Maddie kissed Mickey's cheek. "Wake up, sweetheart. Don't you want presents?"

"Presents?" Mickey blinked her wide green eyes. She lifted her head from her father's chest, where she'd slept. "Wake up, Daddy."

Mal grumbled in his sleep.

Mickey began screaming. Everyone woke up, including the hard to awaken Marc and the irritable Riley, who started screaming herself.

"Mac!" Marcy snapped as she went to the crib and reached inside for the little girl's sister.

"Sorry, Mommy." Mickey wasn't that sorry.

Marcy yawned as she jostled Riley in her arms. "We might as well leave."

"Yay!" Maddie cheered.

W.W.W.

All the kids eighteen and younger tore into their gifts like someone was going to take them away. Exclamations rang out as people loved their gifts.

"Oh Mal!" Marcy loved the large green diamond ring Mal just presented her with. "I love it!"

Laura sniffled. "Oh Marc!" She put on the pink rose quartz necklace Marc just presented her with.

"Oh Mikey!" Mercedes and Quinn gasped at the tennis bracelets Mike had just presented them with (each being diamond, onyx and garnet ladened but Mercedes' had rubies and Quinn's had peridots).

Each young man was promptly and properly kissed.

Yuria was surprised to find gifts for her (Jude had given her a gift last night). They weren't just from Jude and Marcy but various people she'd met or not. These people welcomed her. She began crying.

Marcy and Jude were over to her in a second. "Yuri, what's wrong?"

"You're! all! so! nice!" She wailed.

"Aww!" The others cooed.

Marcy hugged Yuria and patted her back. "We've got you."

Yuria felt that in her soul.

W.W.W.

"That service was beautiful." Yuria said.

"I thought so, too." Marcy took her hat off as they entered their room.

"I can't wait to see Ash!" Maddie jumped on her bed. "We got matching tiaras from Grandmom!"

"Doesn't Carrie's match yours?" Quinn taunted.

Maddie made a face at her. "Shut up!"

Laura huffed. "Girls! No fighting! Now get out of your church clothes. Go play."

Maddie ran to the bathroom before Quinn and stuck her tongue out as she did a little dance before slamming the door shut.

Quinn screamed in frustration. "I hate you!"

"Quinn!" Laura snapped.

"I hate you, too."

"Quinnie." Marc disapproved.

Quinn teared up.

"Stop that, sweetie. Can you get along with anyone?" He opened his arms for her.

She went to him. "I get along with you."

Mike and Mercedes were offended.

Marcy and Mal started laughing.

W.W.W.

Marcy pulled Yuria's dress down and began brushing her hair. "You look beautiful. You're lucky you're my best friend or I'd get you."

Yuria blushed. "Thank you."

Marcy hummed as she brushed Yuria's straight hair thoroughly then slid in two diamond barrettes. "There you go. Pretty as a picture. Now come on. Everyone's waiting so we can go to dinner."

Yuria turned and hugged Marcy tightly. "Thank you so much."

Marcy relaxed and hugged her back.

Yuria got herself under control. She sniffled. "Let's go."

Marcy opened the bathroom door and they walked out. "We're ready to go."

The others got up and they all left.

They went down to the dining room of the hotel, which was decorated beautifully. It was very "Christmas at the beach". Circular tables were set up everywhere while long tables ladened with food and drink were on the outskirts of the room.

"You can sit anywhere you want." Marcy told Yuria. "With us or Rou or if you want to kick it with someone new. Get whatever food you want to try."

Yuria took her hand. "I want to be with you."

Marcy giggled softly. "Alright. Guys? Make sure Daddy or I can see you but go have fun."

The twins raced off.

"I see Jamie." Mal hefted Riley high against his shoulder as he blew a kiss at his wife. He strode off.

"I see Mon." Mike kissed his wives before sauntering off.

"There's Nat and Lond!" Mercedes waved to her siblings before leading her twin off.

"Ash!" Maddie waved. "Bye, guys!" She ran off.

"There's China." Laura kissed Marc.

"Yeah, I see Joe." Marc went the opposite way.

"See you guys back at the room." Laura waved as she left.

"Well, Jude?" Marcy asked. "Us or P?"

Jude smiled. "You know I love you."

Marcy took his hand and went to find a table with three empty seats together.