Tate laid on the floor pretending he was asleep, thinking about the Christmas presents he bought for everyone but then Violet walked in

He kept his eyes closed enough so that she wouldn't see them open "Tate? Are you awake?" She whispered as she shut the door

He shut his eyes properly, pretending to actually be asleep

He heard her footsteps... but then he felt her get closer

"Merry Christmas Tate" she whispered but it broke out into a silent cry, she cuddled close to him and picked his arm up and put it around herself as she cried, all of a sudden he felt her familiar, soft, loving lips connect to his

Then he felt a tear fall down his cheek

What is she doing? He questioned as he fell asleep

~~~

"Tate my baby, wake up... it's Christmas"

He opened his eyes to see his mother who he both hated a lot but he still loved her

He sighed... it was just a dream

"Come on my boy, theres a few presents for you"

Technically all presents are from his mother Constance because she can leave the house because she isn't dead

He sighed taking his mothers hand so she could help him up and he walked down stairs into the living room

Everyone just stared at him either angrily, judge full or disappointed... but Violet looked at him sadly... his eyes began to well up in tears "i'll open my presents in another room"

"No" Constance said but he heard violets sympathetic voice as well

He sighed and walked over to the tree, wiping the tears from his eyes and face

3 presents... one from Moira and 2 from his mother

"Are we going to take opening presents in turns?" He asked looking at his mum and she nodded

"Can i give out my presents first?" He asked quietly and she nodded again

He picked up all his presents and handed one to Moira, his Mother already got one cause she had to buy it anyway, Ben, Vivian and Violet but Violet touched his hand purposely trying to make it seem accidental as she grabbed the gift

"Where is mine Tate?" Hayden spoke rudely

"You don't get one.... from anyone" he said and everyone just stared at her

"Just leave Hayden before you ruin Christmas" Vivian spoke harshly

Then Hayden disappeared

"Everyone open them in the order i gave you them in" he said trying to seem happy

Moira smiled as she opened hers, he got her a spa day kit with a small note that said 'take a break from cleaning ~ Tate', then its ben's turn but he spoke before he opened it "this isn't going to fix anythi-" Tate cut him off "look i know, can we not talk about all the bad things that have happened in the past!? Its Christmas for gods sake... am i not allowed to be kind!" Ben just nodded quietly and began to open his gift

A notebook and a tape recorder, his note said ' i know you can't really work anymore but maybe you could set something up with my mum.. if not thats okay... i just didn't want to seem rude and not get you anything ~ Tate' Ben gave a small smile "thank you Tate, I'll have a chat with your mother... it is a good idea to get more money for your mum." That made Tate happy that ben accepted his gift

"My turn!" Vivian said smiling slightly this was kind of awkward but Tate thought everyone should forget the past and only think of Christmas as a happy day, she opened her present with a smile

Tate got her baby clothes for her stillborn that Nora didn't get to take care of and a bottle of perfume for Vivian herself , the note said 'im sorry for what i did... but today needs to be a happy day so lets forget that just for today, I hope your baby likes it and i hope you like the perfume (mum picked it) ~ Tate' she laughed

"Thank you Tate and Constance" she said ignoring the first part of the not

Violets turn

She opened her present quietly, trying hard not to make eye contact with Tate, he got her a record player because she owned records but didn't have a record player, Tate could tell she tried hard not to smile but she smiled anyway the note read 'i used to think it was funny that you had records and not a record player but now you have one - Tate :)' Tate had contemplated drawing a heart but decided against it

"Thanks Tate" she smirked then Vivian spoke "im sorry we didn't get you gifts..." Tate waved her off "no no its fine i truly understand why you didn't okay, its really okay... i swear" then everyone else opened the other presents from everyone else and Tate just sat there by himself in the corner of the room but he noticed that Violet watched him... maybe it wasn't a dream but he snapped out of the thought when his mother gave him his gifts, he got a beanie from Moira 'i thought a beanie would suit you' and the first gift from his mum was another striped sweater and his old teddy from when he was a young child that he kept trying to get rid of it just because it was from his mum and he was very mad with her at the time 'i think you might finally accept this and i know how you like your striped jumpers' then he began to open the second gift when his mother whispered in his ear "its from Vi... she didn't want her parents to know she got you a gift" it wasn't a dream! He thought, "she will forgive you one day son, she can't hate you for all eternity" he nodded blankly watching Violet, she looked up too and they had eye contact for a few seconds but he finally continued to open his gift as she watched, she had got him a silver lion thumb ring, he smirked up at her putting it on "thanks mum, i love it so much... the ring is really cool" the not read 'give me time and i might forgive you but my parents are going to have to forgive you as well'

Tate laid back against the wall, hugged the teddy and fiddled with the ring, smiling.