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Most times, it is all chaos and love in the Stone-Robotnik family. Someone would go and stir up some problems with the neighbors or anyone random, and that would be enough to have the entire family involve.
Just last week, Metal and Sage were just playing outside, throwing snowballs at each other until hit Belle into the face, the ball sliding off and dropping into her mug of hot chocolate.
Well, that wasn’t nearly enough to have the entire-entire family troubled, but Belle did go and tell her baba – Aban Stone – of what happened. They solve it out peacefully, with Aban making her a new cup and Metal sacrificed his privilege to get one. Sage shared hers with Metal, though, so he still got to have his sweet treat for the holidays.
It’s the early morning on December 15th; they haven’t gotten around to decorating the house and Christmas is just around the corner. Aban and Ivo are snuggled with each other in bed, the weighted blanket, the heater and themselves providing one another warmth.
As Christmas approaches, the chaos around the house has wound down to a healthy three chaotic situations a week. However, that doesn’t stop the children from causing trouble unbeknownst to their parents.
Belle has woken up extra early that morning and when she looks to her alarm clock, the lamp illuminating it, she sees that it is only 5.30 in the morning. Belle yawns and lays her head back onto her pillow, her eyes drifting close almost immediately until a slight creaking noise come by her door.
Belle lifts her head and looks at her door curiously, dread of someone breaking into their homes making her hair stand on their ends. Peeking into the room is, fortunately, just Sage who is still in her night gown. Her hair seems combed though it still retains the messy curls that she didn’t manage to straighten out.
“Sage? What are you doing up so early?” Belle asked in a whisper, her eyes still trying to keep themselves open.
Sage only slips in quietly, keeping her eyes glue to the floor. She keeps the door ajar as she creeps over to Belle’s bedside, crossing her arms and placing onto her older sister’s comforter. Belle waits for an answer but doesn’t get any, until the door starts creaking again, this time Metal steps into the room.
Cautiously and carefully, Metal closes the door and stalks over to her younger sisters. Belle looks curiously at her siblings, wondering what it is they are up to. Metal sits beside Belle and hands her a bottle of water she didn’t realize he was holding.
“We want to surprise baba and father.” Sage said matter-of-factly, her voice kept low but audible as ensure that she doesn’t stir their parents from their slumber. “Are you willing to assist us?” Belle takes a sip from the bottle and sets it down on her bedside table, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
“Can't we do that in the morning, when everyone wakes up?” Belle asked, one hand rubbing her dry tired eye while the other searched half-blindly for the edge of her comforter.
"No, we can't. Father and baba haven't decorated the house, so we thought it would be the best course of action for a surprise to decorate the house for them." Sage said, more or less upset by the fact Belle's voice was implying her refusal.
Belle thought of it for a moment, glancing at her alarm clock, at the window covered by the curtains then back at her siblings. For the oldest brother in the house, Metal does possess that 'kicked puppy' look their father told their baba a lot. Maybe they all have that look, Belle just hasn't realized that.
"Okay, okay, we can do it." Belle relented with a smile and sigh, sliding off her bed and avoiding Sage. Sage brightens up significantly – despite it not being shown on her face – at Belle's acceptance, almost dragging her sister out of bed and into the hallway, though ensuring that their footsteps aren't too loud.
As the three slip out of Belle’s room, Metal signs for his siblings to follow him to the attic. Sage holds Belle’s hand as they walk towards the attic’s door. It’s rare that they get to go up there since there are a lot of things that belong to their father there.
Technically, he has his own study that is almost as large as the kitchen, but most of the scrap metals and side projects are kept in the attic; it was all to avoid bothering him and getting him sidetracked from his main assignments. It was also to keep his study from becoming an entire jungle of metal and paper. Plus, it's incredibly dusty and their baba got worried that they might've gotten sick.
They make it to the attic’s door in short minutes, passing their parents' bedroom on the way there. A mininik was situated just outside, but its LED was turned off, an indication that it wasn't watching. The three slips past with relative ease though anxiety climbs their spines; the possibility of their parents waking up looms menacingly.
Standing directly beneath the trapdoor, Sage looks up with her hand acting like an awning, trying to avoid any falling dust particles getting into her eyes. "How are we going to get up there without making too much noise?" Sage asked Metal, tugging on his sleeve to get in attention.
Metal’s eyes are still glued to the trapdoor above, but he gives a slight shrug at the inquiry. A full minute passes and they haven't found any way to get them up there. Belle sits on the floor, thinking for a bit while Sage and Metal fuss about quietly for another solution.
After a short moment, Belle got an idea, but she needed to be taller for it. Motioning for her brother to come over, she explains to him the plan. As soon as Sage is informed, they start stacking on top of one another, starting from the oldest below and the youngest above. Sage, assisted by Belle's instructions to lockpick, got the trapdoor open perfectly silently.
Slowly Metal lowers his siblings to the ground, the stairs of the trapdoor unfolding without a sound. Seems like it was perfectly oiled, which meant their father goes up there a lot during the time they were at school. Sage is the first to take the few first steps up the stairs, then comes Belle and lastly Metal.
It's dark up in the attic, that is no surprise, but Metal has gotten flashlights in anticipation of this moment; he hands it out to his siblings and they begin their search. They have to avoid a lot of the scrap metals since some have jagged edges while others are already pointy. They watch their steps, minding where they are stepping to ensure they don't step on something dangerous.
It's a laborious search, but they manage to get the boxes of Christmas decorations including the one that stored their tree. Taking care to bring the boxes down from the attic, the three hurried to close and lock the trapdoor, then run around to start decorating.
Due to their undeveloped state, they could only reach so many places, and Belle had to abandon the mistletoe she wanted to hang up at the doorway to their parents' bedroom and the kitchen. Metal carries the box containing the tree into the living room, his sisters trailing behind with the decoration boxes like little ducklings.
The tree is taken out and slowly put together, going higher and higher until Metal has to hold Sage steady on his shoulders so she can connect the last piece on top. Belle picks up the ornaments with care and begin placing them onto the tree, Sage and Metal helping her place the higher ones above.
Once everything they could do was done, they all scramble quietly to the bathroom in the hallway to freshen up, wiping off the dust that got stuck when they went to the attic. Metal does one final sweep of the house, ensuring that their trails are covered up before they go back to bed.
Belle feels particularly worn out after all their work, climbing onto her bed tiredly and flopping face first into the mattress as soon as both of her feet are on. but pride blooms in her heart at the thought of their parents finding out when they wake up.
~
It's 7 A.M and Aban wakes up feeling particularly warm, the weight of his partner's head in his chest adding to the comfiness of his wake. Aban lays in bed for another minute before gently nudging Ivo awake. He watches his beloved Doctor and husband stir from his sleep, his eyes fluttering tiredly before squinting at the light.
“Morning, love.” Aban said, giving a chaste kiss to Ivo's lips. He only hums in acknowledgement, rolling off of Aban to lay on his side. “I'll go prepare breakfast.” Aban informed him, slowly getting up into a sitting position and stretching his arms above his head.
The children haven't gotten out of bed yet, but Aban will let it pass as technically it's the weekend. The morning is chilly, and though Aban doesn't feel all that cold, he still slips on his robes and puts on his fluffy slippers, padding to the bathroom to freshen up before heading to the kitchen.
However, before he can make it any further than the doorway, Aban looks in amazement at the Christmas decorations that were already up. He stands thinking for a moment as he doesn't remember putting them up; perhaps it was Orbot and Cubot? Aban goes down the stairs and heads to the guest room, knocking on the door and putting his ear to it to hear for any noise.
“Who's it?” Aban heard Orbot slurring; he probably had just woken up from his sleep.
“Sorry to disturb you two, but did you put up the decorations last night after we went to bed? Or this morning before we woke up?” Aban takes a step away from the door as he hears Orbot’s footsteps approaching.
Orbot opens the door, standing with a hunched posture and tired but alert eyes. He takes a moment to assess his surroundings, also spotting the decorations in his area. “No, we didn't.” Orbot answered slowly, still looking around at the garlands hanging low on the side of the staircase and the displaced wreath on the front door.
Aban nods and goes to the kitchen, mentally noting that the tree is all set up with the star sitting on the coffee table. Aban makes breakfast almost on autopilot, the pancakes flipped perfectly and the coffee brewed to Ivo's usual preference. Ivo might've done it, but the children could also have done it. Orbot and Cubot could also be lying about the situation, but he has no solid evidence on anything.
Aban sets the plates down on the table, each later accompanied by utensils and something to drink. He sits down in his chair and waits for his partner to saunter out of bed and for the children to come running at the smell of breakfast.
Orbot and Cubot are the first ones to arrive shortly after, both discussing something Aban doesn't have half the mind to care for. They both sit down at their usual spot on the opposite side of the table, diving into their breakfast with murmurs of ‘thank you's. Aban gives a half-hearted smile and a hum, still very much preoccupied with the person or people who set up the decorations.
Ivo is the third person to come down, immediately coming over to hug Aban and give him a kiss on the cheek before having his breakfast. Taking a moment to take in Ivo's appearance, Aban let out an appreciative hum. He can only assume that Ivo heard it since he turns slightly away with an almost bashful look.
The children come down shortly after, all sitting down in their usual seats and thanking him for the breakfast.
After breakfast, Aban sits his family down, including Orbot and Cubot, in the living room. Ivo and Metal look particularly nervous, Sage and Belle look guilty as if they had done something wrong while Orbot and Cubot are neutral with a little confusion in their eyes. “It's nothing that you did wrong,” Aban started off, making sure that his family knew they hadn't done anything to sour his mood, “I'd just like to ask who put up all the decorations and when.”
Ivo takes a moment to look around, only seemingly to have realized that the house was decorated as Aban mentions it. Metal, Sage and Belle loosen up and all let out a collective sigh, confusing Aban.
“Oh, I see.” Ivo said in light of the situation, making Aban more confused than he already is.
Ivo turns to their kids, picking Sage up from under her armpits and situating her in his lap, while Metal and Belle scoot closer to their father’s side, their concern and worry seemingly fading away with the rushing winter wind. Aban leans back on the couch, eyeing his husband and children.
Orbot and Cubot quietly slip away and out of the living room, talking in hushed tones to one another about how awkward it was to just be there. Ivo gives each of his children a kiss on their foreheads while his husband sits confused, arms crossed over his mid-section in a sort of half-hug.
“What? Use your extra one I.Q, Stone.” Ivo said sarcastically, his face in a slight frown with a condescending smile that doesn’t feel all that condescending.
Aban sits there and think for a short moment, letting his head hand low and eyes closed. Not long later a sigh leaves his being through his nostrils, his lips curling into a smile.
Aban lifts his head to look at his family; Ivo has a soft and kind smile, something so intimate and rare he often wonders if he was dreaming. Sage sits snug on her father’s lap, her hair covering half of her face while a bright smile sits on her cute face. Belle and Metal have sky smiles, but they look genuinely relieved and happy that their baba is.
Aban scoots closer to Ivo, pulling all four on them into a hug. Aban kisses each of their cheeks, his eyes burning uncomfortably trying to hold back his tears. He could not have asked for a better, a more loving family than he one he has now, and he doesn’t think he would ever want to.
“Come on, let’s go put that star up.” Aban said, his eyes glassy under the light, a smile on his face.
This is certainly the best Christmas Aban has ever had, and he is sure there will be more in the future.