As sunlight filled the room, the gleeful screams and footfalls of Christmas morning roused Dean from his sleep. He yawned and turned to bury his face in Max’s neck, intent on getting just a few more minutes of blissful sleep before the festive chaos of the day unfolded.

The pounding at the door told him that wasn’t going to happen. “Dad! Dean!” Gavin yelled through the door. “Come on, it’s time for presents!”

Max laughed softly, pulling himself out of his mate’s embrace. “We’re going to have to get used to the fact that we’re never going to sleep in on another Christmas morning for the next eighteen years, at least.”

“Now that’s a sacrifice I can live with,” Dean said, sitting up to watch his mate get ready. He finally threw the covers off and got dressed himself. When he pulled his undershirt on over his head, he looked up to find Max holding out the cheesy Christmas sweater Claudia had bought for all her children and in-laws to wear in the family photo. “Seriously?”

“Hey, if I have to wear knitted reindeer frolicking around a Christmas tree, you can show some holiday spirit with Santa and his merry little henchmen.”

Dean groaned, pulling the sweater on. “At least we match.”

He followed Max down the hall where the rest of the family had already gathered around the tree. Claudia had some cheesy Christmas music playing and most of the adults had a glass of eggnog in their hands. It was a Garza family tradition for the parents to get as plastered as possible before the kids had managed to assemble their gifts and start a symphony of electronic shrieking, chirping and warbling that was sure to go on for the rest of the day. Or until they all got bored and went off to watch claymation Christmas films. Either way, a migraine was all but a guarantee, but Dean didn’t mind. He was just glad to have the chance to share the chaos with the omega he loved and their adorable kid.

As the unwrapping frenzy began, Dean smiled as he and Max watched Gavin and the others unwrap their gifts. The Alpha found his thoughts drifting to the fact that by the next Christmas, there would be another name on the gifts under that tree. Twins did run in his family, so maybe even two.

He made a mental note to mention that fact to Max later, but given the joy on his mate’s face as he watched the children play and laugh as they opened their presents, he figured it would be welcome news.

“Is it real?” Gavin cried, running over to them as he held his most recently opened gift over his head. The reddish stone was encased in protective plastic, and despite the fact that it was literally a brick, the boy seemed more ecstatic over it than any of the video games and gadgets he’d received.

“Sure is.” Dean laughed. “There’s a certificate of authenticity that comes with it, but we figured it’d be safer to keep it at home so you didn’t tear it open with the wrapping.”

“What is it?” Claudia asked, wandering over to them. She eyed the brick doubtfully. “Is that some sort of tablet?”

“It’s a stone from the ruins of an ancient Roman state building he’s been researching for his project,” Max said with a laugh.

“Oh,” Claudia said, smiling even though she was clearly still confused. “Well, how nice. Good to see children these days haven’t lost their love for historical masonry.”

“It’s the best present ever,” Gavin said excitedly, looking between his parents. “Thank you!”

“You’re very welcome,” Max laughed, hugging his son.

Dean was surprised when Gavin turned to throw his arms around him next. “Glad you like your presents, kid. We’re proud of how well you’ve done in school lately.”

“I’d say it deserves a toast,” said Claudia, taking two red cups full of eggnog off the table to offer to Dean and her son-in-law.

Max hesitated, staring down at the cup. “Oh, I um…”

“He can’t,” Dean blurted out. His mother and Gavin were both looking up at him in confusion, but Claudia’s eyes went wide as she put it together.

The older omega dropped the cup in her grasp and covered her mouth with a dramatic gasp. “Are you serious?” she cried, drawing attention from Lan and David nearby.

“What is it, mom?” asked David.

“What do you think?” Dean asked, looking down at his mate. “Should I tell them?”

Max grinned. “Why not?”

“Alright, everyone,” Dean said, clearing his throat. “We’d planned on waiting until after New Year’s, but Max is having a baby.”

Claudia’s shriek filled the room as she pounced on her son and son-in-law, pulling them both into her arms and showering them with kisses and congratulations. Soon, the whole family had joined in, but Dean was especially focused on making sure Gavin was taking the news okay. When he finally met the boy’s eyes, Gavin was grinning up at them both.

“Congrats, kid,” Dean smiled. “You ready to be a big brother?”

“I’ll adapt,” Gavin said with a casual shrug even though his eyes were glittering with excitement.

Dean looked up to find that his mate was still being swarmed by the other omegas in the family as they traded opinions on the various signs of superstition that indicated Max might be carrying an Alpha versus an omega. “There is one more gift your dad and I were gonna give to you later, but I think now’s a good time.” He reached for the red-and-green envelope he’d tucked away in the bookshelf for safe keeping and offered it to Gavin.

As the boy opened the envelope, Dean’s eyes met Max’s. The omega’s smile echoed the joy in his own heart, and hopefully Gavin’s. As Gavin read over the words on the adoption papers, his confusion turned to shock. “For real?” His voice cracked in disbelief as he looked from Dean to Max. The omega finally managed to free himself from the well wishers to rejoin their family unit. “Dean’s adopting me?”

“The Newports gave their recommendation along with Henrietta’s that the three of us should be what we already are,” said Dean. “A family.”

Tears filled Gavin’s eyes, only instead of the pain that Dean had seen in them months earlier, when Gavin had first asked for his help finding Max, there was only relief and happiness. For a moment, the boy seemed at a loss for words before he threw his arms around Dean and pulled Max into the hug. “Thank you,” he sniffed.

“There’s nothing to thank me for,” Dean assured him, smiling down at him as he pulled away. “You’re the one who brought us all together.”

“He’s right,” Max said softly, leaning into Dean’s side. “We were always meant to be a family. Those papers are just the proof.”

“Can I tell everyone?” Gavin asked excitedly, looking back at his cousins.

“Go for it,” Dean said, chuckling as he watched their son run off to relay the news. He draped an arm around Max’s shoulders, gazing down at the omega who looked more serene and happy than Dean had ever seen him. “Not bad for our first Christmas as a family, huh?”

The smile on Max’s face just confirmed the Alpha’s opinion that he’d received the greatest gift anyone could ask for. “Best Christmas I’ve ever had,” he said softly, glancing up. Dean followed his gaze to the mistletoe hanging down from the doorway. “Another family tradition, huh?”

“It is now,” Dean said, pulling his mate into his arms for a kiss he planned on continuing later, once the wrapping paper was thrown away and all the gifts unpacked. He smiled against Max’s lips, cupping the omega’s face in his palm. “And we’ve got our whole lives to make up the rest.”

The End.