Hey everyone, I needed to relieve some stress, and this is what happened as a result. So, here are some random Christmas time childhood moments from Ace (Alone Together), Dimitri (Outside The Lines), Ezra (Just A Spark), Nash and Francis (The Journal), and Mitch and Jace (Kill The Lights/Swan Song).

Also, please don't forget to check out the first chapter of Ace's spinoff story (which can also be read as a stand alone book). Subscribe to Radish's mailing list here: http://radishfiction.com/?a=skenekidz and they'll email you a password to the blog that the chapter is posted on! Also keep an eye out for news on the Just A Spark sequel that I hope to start this month!

And please let me know which couples you want Christmas specials for (which I'll post either Christmas Eve or Christmas day)

So here you go, let me know what you think of these, and enjoy!

#1- Ace Foley

7 year old Ace Foley stretched his arms, trying to put the star on top of the tree. The chair he was standing on wobbled unsteadily as he leaned forward even more.

"ACE!"

His father's alarmed voice surprised him, and he began to stumble off balance. Alan Brooks lurched forward and caught his son, yanking him off of the chair and safely into his arms before he could fall.

"What the hell Ace?! Are you stupid?" he cried.

"I was trying to put the star on the tree," Ace said nervously, wondering if he would get in trouble again. He was always getting in trouble. He was a bad son and he knew it.

Alan sighed and hoisted Ace onto his shoulders, moving over to the tree. Ace perked up as he placed the star neatly on top of the Christmas tree. His father set him back on the ground.

"Don't do something that dangerous again," Alan said sternly.

Ace hung his head. "I'm sorry dad. Hey, dad?"

"Yea?" Alan asked.

Ace peeked up. "Um, will you help me wrap the presents I got Aunt Rachel and Phil?"

Alan crossed his arms. "Ace, you know that your Aunt and cousin don't celebrate Christmas. Aunt Rachel doesn't like to waste money on holidays. That's why you're lucky I'm your father. I let you celebrate holidays and buy you presents."

"I know dad!" Ace said quickly. "I know I'm lucky! I just...I wanted to get them presents...I thought it'd be nice..." He hung his head again, wishing he could stop being so stupid for once.

"You can give Phil his gift, but it's your fault if he gets in trouble," Alan said.

"What about Aunt Rachel's present?" Ace asked.

"Don't give her one. She'll hit you," Alan said, clamping his hand onto Ace's shoulder. "And you'll deserve it for being stupid. But you're my boy, not hers."

"I'm sorry." Ace fidgeted with his hands. "You can have her gift, dad. I made you a present too, but now you can have two!"

"Let's finish decorating the tree," Alan said, kicking the box of ornaments at Ace. "As long as you promise to stop being stupid while we do it, Ace. If you keep being a bad boy, I'll give your presents to someone who deserves them."

"I'm really sorry dad. I promise I try to be a good boy," Ace said, voice small.

Alan reached out, ruffling Ace's hair. "Cheer up. I'm always patient with you. Any other father would punish you the way that Aunt Rachel punishes your cousin. But I'm always patient."

Ace looked up at his father, appreciation shining in his eyes. He couldn't help himself as he moved forward, hugging his dad.

"I love you, dad," he said.

"If you keep listening to me, you'll be a good boy someday," Alan said, hugging Ace back. "Now, let's decorate the tree."

Ace grabbed an ornament, smiling as his father lifted him up so he could hang it on a higher branch. He always felt so lucky that his father cared about him so much. His dad had told him how many boys grew up with fathers who didn't spend time with them. He had the best dad and he was grateful.

"Can we put on Christmas music?" Ace asked.

"Sure." Alan set Ace down and went over, turning on the radio.

Ace perked up, hanging the ornaments. His father watched him, occasionally whistling to the music and lifting Ace up to reach the higher branches.

Ace couldn't wait for Christmas. He hoped he got the toys he had asked for. And he couldn't wait to give his dad the present he had made for him.

A smile curled on Ace's lips as his dad lifted him up again. This was going to be a great Christmas.

#2- Dimitri Ivanov

"Aleksandra!" 6 year old Dimitri wandered into his sister's bedroom.

7 year old Alek was lying on the floor, surrounded by paper and crayons. She was carefully drawing on one of the papers, but stopped to look up at her brother.

"Yea Dimmy? Do you need something?" she asked.

He sat down. "What are you drawing?"

Alek smiled proudly, gesturing to her drawing. "I'm making a drawing for mom and dad for Christmas!"

"What is it?" Dimitri asked, eyeing it.

"It's Santa and his reindeer," Alek said.

"It's ugly," Dimitri said.

Alek frowned. "Stop it, Dimitri. That's not nice. I worked hard on it."

"Not hard enough," Dimitri said, snatching the drawing away from her and looking over it. "It's really bad, Aleksandra. Mother and father won't like it."

Alek tried to hide her hurt. "Dimitri, please stop it. I worked really, really hard on that drawing!"

"You're bad at drawing," Dimitri said, laughing.

"Stop it! You're good at drawing and I'm good at sports," Alek said, sitting up and reaching for her drawing. "You don't have to be so mean about it!"

Dimitri held the drawing away from her, grinning mischievously. Alek couldn't stand her brother when he acted this mean. She tried so hard to tell him it was wrong, but he never listened to her.

Alek took a deep breath to keep her patience. Maybe if she distracted him, he'd let it drop.

"I really like your sweater, Dimmy," she said. It was tie-dye of green, white, and red with a picture of a reindeer in the center. He was wearing yellow jeans with it that didn't match, but Alek tried not to hurt his feelings when it came to the way Dimitri dressed.

Dimitri ignored her though, continuing to eye the drawing. He could do much better than Alek. He didn't understand how she could suck at drawing. It was easy. And sports were stupid.

"Don't give it to mother and father," Dimitri said.

"I spent a long time working on that! I'm giving it to them," Alek said, trying to sound confident.

Dimitri grinned again and crumpled up the drawing, throwing it in the trashcan. Alek let out a cry of despair.

"That's where it belongs!" Dimitri said, laughing. He didn't understand why she looked so upset. It was just a stupid, ugly drawing.

Alek's eyes watered. "Get out of my room! I hate when you do this! You're a mean boy! You're a total jerk, Dimitri! Get out!"

Dimitri cheerfully left her room, still laughing. He wandered down to the living room, where his mother was watching a Christmas movie.

"Hello, Dimitri," she said, holding her arms out to him.

He moved into them and she lifted him onto her lap. She ran her fingers through his hair, which was free of gel today and lying soft against his head.

"What movie is this, mother?" Dimitri asked.

"It's The Polar Express. But it's almost over. How about we put on Tarzan?" she offered, knowing he loved it.

Dimitri let out a squeal, his eyes lighting up as he clapped his hands. "Yes! Put the movie on, mommy!"

She smiled, getting up with him in her arms. She put on Tarzan and sat back down with Dimitri, pulling a blanket over them as she began to comb her fingers through his hair again.

Dimitri was excited for Christmas so he could get more Tarzan toys. He was always hoping Santa would bring him new art supplies. He wanted to draw Simba for Alek since The Lion King was her favorite movie.

"Mother, do you think Santa will bring me my new art stuff?" he asked, looking up at her.

"I think he will. You've been such a good boy all year," she said, kissing his head.

"Fabulous!" Dimitri said, grinning. Maybe his Christmas present to Aleksandra this year could be to teach her how to draw.

He snuggled up against his mom, soothed as she continued to play with his hair. He didn't care for Christmas all that much; he just liked getting new stuff.

He couldn't wait to get his new art supplies. Then he could teach Alek how to draw so she wouldn't suck at it so much anymore. He could also show his parents how much better his drawing was getting. With that in mind, he smiled to himself as watched the movie in content.

#3- Ezra Carelli

"Ezra, calm down!" Rachel said in annoyance.

But her 6 year old brother continued to jump up and down on his bed. He was so excited for Christmas.

"Ezra!" his father said sternly, coming into the room. "Stop jumping on your bed!"

Ezra continued jumping, letting out a giggle as his father lifted him up. But then Mr. Carelli slammed him onto his bed, a little too roughly.

"Ow!" Ezra whimpered, looking up at his dad.

"Sorry, sorry," Mr. Carelli said with a sigh. "You've been too hyper lately, though. I know you're excited for Christmas, but if you don't start behaving, Santa won't bring you any presents."

"I'll behave!" Ezra said, frowning.

Mr. Carelli mentally sighed. He missed when Ezra had been a shy, quiet toddler. Now he was far too hyper and loud.

He wanted to make the kids happy on Christmas, but he already knew the headache that Ezra's loud voice would give him as he screamed his way through opening his presents. He did love his son, but he wished that Ezra was calmer and quieter.

"Come on Rachel," Mr. Carelli said, holding his hand out to her. "Ezra, you stay here and calm down. When you're calm, you can come watch a movie with me and Rachel."

Ezra watched as his dad and sister left his room. He frowned as the door shut, hanging his head a little. He was always getting in trouble. He didn't mean to, he really didn't.

He crawled off of his bed and went over to his closet, opening it and pulling out the wrapping paper he had stolen from the basement. He took out the presents he had made for his parents and sister and laid them on the ground, rolling out the wrapping paper.

He grabbed the scissors and tape, smiling as he began to get to work. He couldn't wait to give them their presents on Christmas. Maybe he could make his sister like him. Maybe he could show his parents that he could be a good son.

Ezra attempted to wrap the gifts, getting tape and wrapping paper stuck all over himself. He had never wrapped presents by himself before, but he was determined to do it this year. He wanted his parents to be proud of him for doing it all by himself.

After a little while of him attempting to wrap presents, Ezra looked up as his door opened. His mom came in and looked over at him, letting out a light groan.

"Ezra Carelli, look at this mess!" she said, gesturing to the wrapping paper and tape all over the floor.

Ezra stared at her, feeling hurt and frustrated. He'd just been trying to make her and his dad and sister happy.

"Ezra," Mrs. Carelli said, voice much gentler as tears rose in his eyes. "Were you trying to wrap presents for me and daddy?"

Ezra nodded. "Uh-huh. I didn't mean to get in trouble again, mommy."

"You're not in trouble." She sat down in front of him and helped him finish his wrapping. She picked up the room for him and lifted him into her arms.

"Come on," she said, bringing him downstairs here Rachel and his dad were watching The Santa Clause. She set him down on the floor and sat on the couch with the other two.

Ezra felt the excitement of the upcoming Christmas overwhelm him again. He began to bounce on the floor a little.

"Mommy, daddy, do you think we'll see Santa this year? I watch the sky every year!" Ezra babbled on happily. "We can make reindeer food again, too! Do you think Santa still has the picture I drew him last year? I bet he-"

"Ezra be quiet!" Mr. Carelli snapped. "We're trying to watch a movie!"

"Don't yell at him! He's just excited for Christmas!" Mrs. Carelli said, glaring at her husband.

"Rachel is excited too, but she isn't driving everyone crazy!" Mr. Carelli said.

"He is a six year old child, for the love of god. Let him be excited!" Mrs. Carelli said, voice getting steadily louder.

Rachel pouted and jumped off of the couch. "Look what you did, brat! You always have to do this!" she said, shoving him over before storming out of the living room

.

Ezra felt the floor pressed against his back and he hated it. His eyes watered as he listened to the arguing grow louder and louder. He hated that he always made them fight. He just wanted one day where they would get along. He would give up all of his presents if his parents would just get along on Christmas.

#4- Nash and Francis

7 year old Nash slipped a little as he walked up the driveway. His dad, Antonio, hurried to catch him before he could fall.

"You alright?" Antonio asked.

Nash nodded. "I'm fine, dad!"

They rang the doorbell, Nash's mom, Lily, holding a stack of Christmas presents. Nash waited eagerly until Francis's father, Martin, opened the door and smiled at them.

"Hey Nash!" he said cheerfully.

"Hi Mr. Phillips!" Nash said.

Martin took the gifts from Lily. "I'll give you a call when the boys are done," he said.

"Thanks, Martin." Lily knelt down and hugged Nash, kissing him. "Be good!"

Martin led Nash into the house. He led him to the living room, where Francis, Callahan, and Damien were sitting in front of the fireplace.

"Nash!" they all said in excitement.

"Hi guys!" Nash hurried over to them, sitting with them.

"Are you boys ready?" Francis's mom asked with a smile, setting down presents in the center. She kissed Francis's cheek and bent down so that only he could hear her. "Be nice, no matter what they got you. Always be nice!"

"Okay mom!" Francis said, eyeing the presents eagerly.

Nash scooted over next to Francis as Callahan and Damien slid closer together. They reached out, snatching the presents with their names on them.

"The ones from Francis first!" Callahan said.

"Yea!" Damien agreed.

Francis watched as they opened the presents from him. Cal and Damien both grinned at the video games he had bought them.

"Nash? Do you like it?" Francis asked, frowning, looking over at Nash.

"I love it!" Nash said, holding up the Pokemon notebook and Pikachu plush toy. "But why a notebook?"

Francis shrugged. "You like to write."

"Thanks Francis," Nash said, smiling at him. "Open the presents from me next!"

Francis grinned and unwrapped the present. He held up the Star Wars video game and a CD. "A CD?"

Nash nodded, blushing a little. "Uh-huh. 'Cause you like to sing!"

Francis also blushed. "But...I got too scared to try out for the Christmas concert solo."

"That's why I got you the CD! So you can practice singing and try out for the solo next time! You could get it!" Nash said.

Francis smiled shyly and reached out, hugging Nash. "Thanks, Nash."

Nash hugged him back, giggling when they pulled away and he accidentally bumped Francis's glasses. Francis laughed and pulled off his glasses, cleaning them on his shirt and putting them back on.

They finished opening the rest of their presents. Francis's parents made the boys hot chocolate and popcorn and put on The Polar Express for them.

"Hot, hot, oh we got it!" Cal and Damien sang along, laughing and throwing popcorn at each other.

Nash smiled as he watched them, picking up a piece of popcorn and throwing it at Francis to join in the fun. Francis grinned and set his hot chocolate down, tackling Nash back on the couch.

The two wrestled together, laughing even more as Callahan and Damien jumped on them. The four of them fell to the floor, hitting each other with pillows and throwing popcorn wildly. Francis's parents peeked into the room, sighing and smiling at the boys, knowing they'd be busy cleaning this mess up for a while.

But for now, they let the four be. And everything in that moment was perfect.

Christmas was almost upon them, Francis's mother was healthy and strong, Nash didn't know a damn thing about sexuality, Callahan and Damien teamed up to wrestle the other two, and the smile and kindness on Francis's face could make the whole world doubt if the boy had ever known a bad mood or done a bad thing.

Snow fell outside, fresh and innocent like the four boys shrieking with laughter inside. The holidays were still a happy time for all of them. Everything was easy.

#5- Mitch, Shane, and Jace

9 year old Jace Butler tackled Shane to the floor. The two grunted as they hit the ground but quickly began hitting at each other lightly.

"Haha!" Shane cried triumphantly as he rolled over, sitting on Jace.

Jace groaned and shove Shane off of himself. Shane helped him stand up and they grinned at each other.

"I'll always win!" Shane taunted.

"Nu-uh! I've beaten you before!" Jace said.

"Hey, quit fighting! Or you'll get coal," Carol said, watching them from the couch.

"Santa isn't real," Shane said, crossing his arms. "The kids at school told us."

Shane and Jace had come home before their Christmas break with the devastating discovery of the fact that Santa didn't exist. Carol wanted to smack the kid that had told them.

"Shane Daniel Marion, so help me god, if you tell your brother that Santa isn't real, I will give him a gun as a present and let him use you as target practice," Carol warned.

"We won't tell Mitchy!" Jace promised. "That'd be really mean."

Shane shoved him. "Go get us eggnog!"

"You're so lazy," Jace said, pouting and heading into the kitchen.

He jumped back as he nearly ran into Mitch. Mitch was holding a glass of eggnog and a Christmas cookie that they had all made together earlier in the day.

"Were you and Shane wrestling again?" Mitch asked curiously.

Jace nodded. "Yea. I'm going to beat him up!"

Mitch smiled. "I wanna help!"

Jace reached out, punching Mitch's shoulder. "Sure, we can beat him up together. Like when we play Smash Bros on the Nintendo and we team up!"

Mitch's face brightened. "Cool!"

He looked up and frowned. Jace gave him a puzzled look before following his gaze. They were standing in the doorway and there was a mistletoe hanging from it, right over their heads.

"Mistletoe?" Jace said.

"Doesn't that mean you have to kiss? Mom and dad kiss every time they stand here," Mitch said.

"My mom kisses my cheek every time we stand under one," Jace said.

"Oh. Kissing is gross, though!" Mitch said, making a face.

Jace shrugged. He bent down and kissed Mitch's cheek. "See? Not bad."

Mitch kissed Jace's cheek. "Okay, that's not bad. But kissing on the lips is gross!"

"Yea, it is," Jace said, laughing. He reached out, snatching Mitch's cookie from him and taking a bite.

"Jace!" Mitch whined. "That was mine!"

"It's payback for standing under the mistletoe while I was here!" Jace said.

"I won't ever do it again, I promise! Give me that back!" Mitch reached for it, but Jace held it away and ate the rest of it, sticking his tongue out at Mitch.

Mitch set his eggnog down and punched Jace. Jace yelped and burst into laughter, shoving Mitch and pinning his arms against the wall. He yanked Mitch's sleeves up and tied them together as Mitch struggled.

"Jace, stop!" Mitch cried.

Jace stepped away, laughing as Mitch struggled, his sleeves now tied together. He shot a glare at Jace and threw his body against him.

The two fell to the ground together. Mitch hit Jace in the head, still attempting to get his arms free.

"Mitchell! Jace!" Jasper said, coming over and lifting Mitch off of Jace.

"He ate my cookie!" Mitch said, pouting.

Jace sat up, rubbing his head and laughing. "You're mean. You take after your brother."

"Oh, you tied his sleeves together. Impressive," Jasper said, admiring the work. He shook his head a little. "I mean, uh, Jace don't tie my kid's sleeves together! It's not nice!" He untied Mitch's sleeves for him.

Mitch snatched his eggnog, pouting at Jace again. "You suck!"

"You're a loser." Jace stuck his tongue out.

"Merry Christmas ya filthy animals," Jasper said with a sigh.

Jace and Mitch both eyed the mistletoe and glared at it. They left the room together, lightly shoving at each other and laughing, the bright Christmas lights in the living room too cheerful for them to stay mad. Jace was grateful he had the Marion family to spend the holidays with.