This will likely be the last update on this book for the week, but here you go!

-Thomas POV-

I wake up to something heavy bouncing on my chest.

"What the fu-" I open my eyes, and am met with Adrianna's grinning face. "-uschia macaroni is going on."

"It's morning."

The clock beside me says otherwise. 6 AM is not morning. That's still nap time. Good luck convincing this eager child that though.

I shift her off my chest and to my lap so I can sit up. James is still sleeping beside me and, based on the snoring from the other bed, so is Aaron.

Adrianna is still bouncing happily.

"Okay, I'm awake. What do you need?"

"I'm bored. We should do something."

"Fine, but you need to be quiet. James gets cranky when you wake him up early."

"Is that why he was so crabby yesterday?"

"Yeah, sure."

She seems satisfied with that answer, and finally Adrianna sits still. I allow her to lean her head on my chest as her big eyes stare into my own. I notice her nose is dotted with tiny freckles. She presses against me, her head snuggling against my chest.

How can such a tiny person manage to be this adorable?

I quickly run a brush through my hair, noticing hers has collected in a large knot. 

"Here, let me fix that hair of yours."

I move Arianna to the floor so I can reach easily. Her hair undone reaches her waist. This is going to be fun to untangle.

As gently as I can, I separate her long brown hair into sections. Those sections become smaller pieces, and I feel confident enough to begin actually brushing it. She doesn't complain as I work from borrow to top. The only noise she makes is a small 'ow' as it snags in the comb.

"I'm so sorry."

"I'm okay. It doesn't hurt very much."

I continue, smiling at the feel of her long hair beneath my fingers. It's smooth and straight, much unlike my own.

I grab a pack of hair ties from my bag, humming along with Adrianna as I put in two French braids. They aren't exactly even, but for the amount of practice I've had I'm satisfied.

"Good to go."

"Thank you Thomas!"

I let out a small grunt as she hugs me tightly. My own arms wrap around her waist, and I pull her back into my lap. James rolls over beside us, and I'm glad when he doesn't wake up. It's still only half past six, he can have at least another half hour.

"Want to do something fun?"

She nods eagerly, and I hoist her onto my shoulders so I can get up. Adrianna grasps my neck, her grip tighter than comfortable. The ability to cut off a persons oxygen supply must be a family thing.

I make my way to the counter and grab a marker out of James's backpack.

"Want to know a fun fact about Aaron?"

"Yeah!"

"He can sleep through anything."

-John POV-

"Did you two have a fun night?"

Alex groans from beside me as Herc and Laff stand on either side of the bed. My boyfriend hits Laff with the pillow that was just covering his face, causing me to laugh. I stop as the tiny man stares me down.

"C'mon you two lovebirds, we gotta go."

"It's time to go shopping!"

I stand up, knowing damn well what comes next. Alex doesn't move, and the couple nods at each other before jumping.

Alex lets out a loud grunt as the pair of much larger men land on his body.

"You're crushing meeee!"

"Good."

"Then get up."

"I can't move now, I think you just snapped my legs. You two are going to need to carry me everywhere.

"Fine then. I got top half."

"I'll take the legs."

I fight a snicker as Hercules and his boyfriend pick up Alex, who's arms flail wildly. Some day, my boyfriend will learn that those two will do literally anything for a laugh.

Alex stops struggling and the two of them drop him on the hard floor.

"Ow! My ass!"

"Blame John, not us."

"There are consequences to extra fun nights, after all."

Alex lashes out an arm at the two of them, and I'm the only one left standing as he swipes away their ankles.

"Stop fooling around and get ready."

"You don't get to judge Herc and I for fooling around."

I help Alex to his feet, ignoring the couple as they pull into each other. I don't know exactly what time it is, but it's too early for this.

"You're still wearing my sweater. I said for the night."

"And I said forever. Sucks to suck, this is my property now."

I frown at Alex as he boops my nose. He's so damn cute though, the sleeves longer than his arms. He giggles like an idiot as he continues to assault my face, poking the little dots that cover it.

I like well rested Alex, the one where his emotions haven't been replaced with caffeine.

I'm keeping him like this as long as I can.

Pulling out my phone, I send out a group text.

DrunkTurtleBoi: meet at lobby in five?

TransAndPan: at least fifteen, Peggy has a headache. Looking for Advil or some shit

TheBestSchuyler: ill be k just hungover from yesterday

I shrug, slightly confused. I don't remember Peggy bringing any alcohol on the bus, she is only fifteen. But there's a lot I miss when it comes to Peggy.

I throw on a different hoodie and my jacket as I wait for Alex to get ready. Laff and Hercules are still screwing around on the floor, and I step over them to get to the door. 

After five minutes, I get tired of waiting. I knock on the door to my sisters room before opening it. Looking inside the room, I feel my body tense.

They give me an anxious look from where they sit. Their arm is wrapped around my sisters waist, Ellie's head laying against their chest.

"Jordan! You're still in here. I thought you were staying with the Schuyler's and your sister."

"Stop it, John! I like Jordan, and you making passive aggressive statements isn't going to change that. I don't judge you for liking Alex. You need to do the same."

Ellie hops off the bed, and I close the door between us. I press my body against it as she knocks. Laff and Herc pull me off, hanging onto my arms as I try to get away.

"You don't get too leave because you don't like my answer. Jordan is a good person. They don't get violent to prove a point. And they understand that I am my own person, that I can choose what I want with my life. I don't need you John! So butt out for five minutes."

I watch Ellie run back to her room, not bothering to shut the door. I see Jordan grab her hand, running the other through her hair.

Why can't she understand I'm trying to protect her? I love my sister and don't want her stuck with the same problems as my mom and I were. Fine, we'll leave her be and see how that turns out.

"Time too meet up with everyone else."

"Are you ready to behave John?"

I nod and my arms are released. Alex grabs my waist, dragging me towards the hall.

We're the first room to arrive in the lobby. I plop on a couch with my boyfriend, the other couple doing the same. We all cuddle by the fireplace in our respective pairs. 

My sisters room, switching Adrianna for Jordan, come out next. Ellie just smiles at me as she sets Jordan in her lap, copying the position of Alex and I. Lily glances between the four of us before plugging in her headphones and flopping into an empty chair. Oliver balances along the outside of the fireplace bricks.

Slowly other people join us, and I try to keep a straight face as Aaron walks in. He has a unibrow and a moustache drawn on his face. Little hearts and flowers are scribbled all over his bald head.

 It's a good look for him.

Lily makes a deadpanned expression and stares intensely towards nothing. Okay then.

"How did you sleep, Burr?"

"Great! Other than the fact that James has been hogging our bathroom all morning, everything has been perfect. What about you guys?"

Everyone nods yes, failing to bring up the obvious.

The rest of his room soon joins us, Adrianna grinning wildly from on top of Thomas's shoulders. James is looking at the pair almost longingly.

The Schuyler's show up last, Natasha has Peggy slung over her shoulder.

"We good to go then?"

"Yup! I'm excited to go and do some Christmas shopping!"

"Do you feel like we're forgetting something?"

"Don't we need to draw names or whatever first."

The group has decided to each buy one gift for someone in a secret Santa. Keeps costs low, and I'm honestly not sure what I'd get some of these people. Any gifts other than our person are optional.

We all grab a piece of paper, quickly writing our names and a few ideas. Herc takes his beanie off and we throw the paper inside.

"Mon amis, I still feel like something important is being ignored. I'm either going crazy or we're missing something huge."

The gang just shrugs, and I glance around uneasily. What could we have forgot-

"Hey guys, sorry we're late! I couldn't find my phone."

"It was in his pocket."

"Shut up Phil."

The couple makes their way over, hand in hand. Whoops.

"Hi! We were just prepping to draw names, you're right on time."

Philip does a double take as he looks at Aaron, but Natasha and Peggy frantically make a shushing gesture from behind him.

The draw is passed around, and I excitedly unfold my paper. The name isn't at all who I was expecting though.

Of course I got the one person who I'm feeling testy around right now. 

My person is Jordan.

-Alex POV-

I race excitedly around the shop as I look for something to suit my needs. The group has broken off so we can look in private, and I snicker to myself as I take a sip of coffee.

Take that John.

Now, what would Eliza want?

I skip over the stationary section, who even writes letters anymore? There's too much that could go wrong with those, you could spill water on them or some stupid shit. 

Whatever I'm going to get her needs to be good. But this is my first time buying a present in years.

BiBitch: Can you help me with some suggestions? I don't know my person as well as you do.

OldestWittiestSchuyler: No, that's cheating. Figure it out yourself.

Thanks a lot, Angelica. I consider texting Peggy, but there's no need. I run into her as I make my way down the next aisle.

"What are you doing here?"

"Same as you, stupid. I'm shopping."

"Having any luck?"

"What does it look like?"

"I'll leave you be then."

I walk away, leaving her in the aisle of books. Why are none of the Schuyler's at all useful?

A display catches my eye. There's some earrings on a rack, beautiful dangling peacock feathers. I snatch them up. They'll compliment Eliza's blue colour scheme perfectly. 

I search for something to go with them, but find myself looking for a gift for my boyfriend instead. There's a hoodie with a tiny cartoon turtle in a rainbow heart.

 It was literally made for John. 

I grab an XL, knowing it will likely shrink once John washes it. Even if it doesn't, I like my sweaters big and intend to steal this back right after he wears it.

With that out of the way, I once again hunt for what I need. 

There's a blanket on the next set of shelves. It's a huge circle, printed to look like a tortilla. 

It's just dorky enough that Eliza will love it.

I throw it in the cart with everything else. I'm done. No more shopping for me. I race to the checkout before I even have the chance to think about buying anything else, this is going to be enough strain financially as is.

I run back to the hotel with my purchases before anyone can spot me. But, for the second time this morning, I find myself landing hard on my ass. I'm glad I chugged my coffee, otherwise I'd be soaked.

 Fuck this ice shit. I don't care how pretty it looks, this Canada weather is stupid.

Brushing off my butt, I walk the rest of the way to the room. Laff has already gotten wrapping paper, and I struggle my way through taping up the oddly shaped items.

I curl up on the bed as I sniff Johns hoodie. I can't wait to gather around the tiny tree that sits in the corner. Kiss my boyfriend beneath the plant Hercules taped to the door on our way out. Eat the pastries Lafayette has been hiding in the fridge.

 I have a group of friends to spend the holiday with.

For the first time in years, I'm feeling excited for Christmas.