Nethalia stood at the bassinet, looking at her brother. She huffed and stormed her way out of the nursery, looking to the open door of her parents bedroom. Tiptoeing to the door, she could see they were still asleep. Scurrying to the lounge, she stopped at the threshold and looked upon the giant tree. It was laden with pretty baubles and tinsel with the star sitting brightly at the top. Nethalia grinned, remembering the day they decorated the tree, her father had lifted her to his shoulders so she could put the star on the top. She had spent the day learning about the true meaning of Christmas. Her parents had told her it was a day that a child was born centuries before, he was the son of their maker which made no sense to Nethalia. All she cared about was the pretty tree and that one day soon it would be filled with presents underneath. As she stepped into the room she looked upon the tree, the sun was slowly rising lighting up the room. Only the smallest amount of light was shining through, she looked at the light flicking off the tinsel. Below the tree was what gained her interest. Last night it was bare, not a thing to be seen. Now it was brimming with brightly wrapped boxes. Again she tiptoed, moving to the tree to investigate what had been left for her. She knelt in front of the largest object, an odd shaped present. Nethalia ran her finger over the tag as she squinted in the limited morning light.

'N...' she frowned 'Neth...'

Her eyes widened with a grin as she looked over the large box with it's pretty bow, realising it was for her. Nethalia looked at all of the presents that had the same letters on them, trying to count how many there were for her. She huffed as she sat down on the wood floor, unable to count past twenty. The presents were tormenting to her, she wanted to open the wrapping and investigate what lay below. But her mothers warning last night was still whispering through her mind. Do not go downstairs until everyone is awake, do not open any of the presents. Nethalia knew she had already broken one rule, she didn't dare break both of them. Her eyes darted to the door as she thought about it. If she tried to wake her parents, she knew she would be in trouble. Nethalia stood to her feet and reluctantly trudged up the stairs back to her bedroom. She stopped at the doorway, looking to the nursery door. A grin curled into her sweet lips as she tiptoed into her brothers room.

Two little blue eyes stared over the soft edge of the bassinet, looking at her baby brother who was sleeping soundly. Nethalia jiggled the bassinet, nothing happened. She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes at him. One little finger came out and poked his arm. Again, nothing happened. She poked him again, annoyed at how he could sleep so peacefully. Gently she put her hand on his waist and jostled him a little, he whimpered and as the sisterly love increased so did the cries. When Nethalia was satisfied that he was sufficiently awake, she turned into a cockroach and scurried out of the room and back into her bed. Nethalia grinned under her bed cover, listening to her father grumble his way into the nursery. Phabel looked down at the child, screeching loudly. It wasn't time for a feed, he knew that Olive had only fed him an hour ago. He checked the nappy and found it completely dry. With a sigh he picked up Mikilo and settled him to his chest, wondering why he was awake.

'Daddy, now that Miki is awake can we open presents please?'

Phabel pursed his lips with a wry smile. She was being too pleasant and well mannered, she sounded too alert for this hour of the morning and the child that was food orientated wasn't asking for breakfast. He shook his head, figuring out what his darling daughter had been up to.

'Nethalia, you're up too early, go back to bed.'

'But it's Christmas and Miki's awake, please daddy.' she pouted at him.

'Your mother isn't awake, now go back to bed before I punish you for intentionally waking Miki.'

Nethalia stomped her way back to her bedroom, not seeing her mother standing at her bedroom door. Phabel wandered out of the nursery and saw his lovely wife leaning on the door frame with a grin.

'What are you doing out of bed?' he whispered as he drew close to her.

'A mother is always tuned into her infant.' Olive sighed as she stepped into their bedroom 'She is a cheeky monkey, isn't she?'

'Cheeky?' Phabel scoffed as he herded her to the wall. 'I think she is just obsessed by the presents. Don't blame her really.'

His finger trailed over the lace of her night dress, kissing her neck.

'We all like our presents. When do I get mine?'

'You got it last night, greedy boy.' Olive took Miki from his arms 'And if you are a good boy you can have more tonight but for now we have a child sobbing on her bed and I don't want tears on Christmas morning, do you?'

'No.' he sighed.

************

Olive sat on the bed and tucked the loose curl behind Nethalia's ear.

'Darling do not cry, we will open the presents.'

'Daddy yelled at me.'

'Nethalia, I heard him and he did not yell at you, he barely raised his voice. Your father was upset that you woke Miki with then intention of getting your own way. Do you know why he was upset that you woke Miki?'

Nethalia wiped her tears as she sat up on the bed, scowling at the baby in her mothers arms.

'He has a routine darling, he wakes to his own schedule. When you woke him, he had been awake for a feed an hour before. He wasn't going to wake again until six am which would have been early enough for you to open presents. How about we go downstairs and have something to eat, I'm hungry, are you hungry?'

She smiled at her mother and nodded.

Phabel was at the table setting the places for breakfast, he could feel a tiny pair of arms wrap around his leg. He looked down to the brown curls and big blue eyes that were sad. Her lip quivered as the tears welled in her eyes. Phabel picked her up, instantly the arms went around his neck.

'You are a rascal, you know that Nethalia? Why didn't you wake us instead?'

'Because you would yell at me.'

'And you thought we wouldn't be upset if the morning started early because of Miki?'

Nethalia nodded as her head rested on his shoulder. Phabel smiled softly, she had them figured out pretty well. She was right too, if she hadn't come in so soon, she might have had him fooled.

'Alright cheeky monkey, you can help me make breakfast, a present for mum.'

Phabel set her to her feet, watching the frown deepen.

'She already has a present.'

Curiosity struck him, wondering what Nethalia meant. Surely she didn't hear the conversation they had in their bedroom, she was too busy howling on her bed. He gulped, hoping it wasn't what he was dreading, Phabel didn't want to have that chat with Nethalia when she was so young.

'Whatever do you mean darling?'

'Mummy's pregnant.'

Nethalia folded her arms, disgusted at the thought of the possibility of another brother.

'She's had the baby Nethalia, remember? You woke him up.'

She shook her head as Phabel squatted in front of her, bringing himself down to her level.

'What are you talking about?"

'I saw it, I saw the baby.'

'Oh my god.' Olive groaned. 'She's not serious is she?'

'Nethalia, why don't you go and pick out the present you want to open first?' Phabel offered.

'I already have.'

'Well go open it.'

'Yay!' she squealed as she ran to the lounge room.

Phabel stood to Olive, Mikilo in her arms. He was barely three months old and already there was another one on the way. Warily he stepped forward, unsure of what she was going to say or how she would react. He pressed his hand to her stomach and searched her womb, finding the little speck of glowing life inside her. Phabel sighed as he opened his eyes, offering a sympathetic smile.

'Merry Christmas.' he chuckled.

'Yeah.' she scoffed as she rolled her eyes 'Merry Christmas indeed.'

Olive smiled, she wasn't impressed with the timing but couldn't be happier that there would be another life to love very soon. The sound of little feet slapping to the floor and wheels rolling over the wood floors filled the room. Nethalia had found the tricycle and was ringing the bell over and over again. Mikilo cried at the sound, his face scrunched and red as his sister circled them and continued to ring the bell. Phabel grinned as he wrapped his arm around Olive's waist, looking upon his beautiful wife. Life was loud but it was perfect.