Christmas was not exactly a joyous occasion the last few years due to the burial of their missing father so to make up for the morose feeling the family had, Valentina was determined to make this holiday the best that it could be. She adored her family so she and Ignacio had agreed to wake up even before sunrise. It wasn't her favourite thing to do but priority was her family. First with allowing her beautiful, hard-working mother to get the sleep she would need as she'd worked hard on Christmas Eve to get extra wages and second because her little brothers deserved it. She just wanted the best for them and would be damned if a little exhaustion would prevent her from giving them all she could. So slumping down from hers and Pia's room, careful not to wake her, she walked down to the living room here she and Ignacio had hidden the few gifts that they could afford. It wasn't much but it would make this Christmas the best they had in many years. Certainly better than Marcos or Flavio could remember as the debt had begun so early in their lives. She looked over at her big brother and smiled. They'd become such a team over the years and although Ignacio seemed to be hardened to outsiders she greeted him with a big hug. She was not the type of woman to speak about her feelings, ever, but Ignacio could tell how difficult this holiday was for her because mostly she just missed her dad. She'd give up all the Christmas presents in the world to have him here and see how she was doing, how Ignacio had stepped up, how strong Pia was and mostly to get to know little Flavio and Marcos who had barely gotten to know him before he had disappeared. However, they had to get to work so the kids wouldn't loose faith in Santa Claus.
Valentina let Ignacio free from the hug and got to work on the floor boards, handing him the presents as she got them so they could be put under the tree perfectly. She also knew they would have to put a dent in the gifts that were left for Santa and the reindeer. She didn't know if Flavio knew the truth but she hoped her little duck would stay young forever and this was certainly part of it. She loved Pia but she knew the magic of the holidays were lost just a little bit. She could only assume a boy as young as Marcos would never know so she dreaded that day as well. For now she just wanted to enjoy her big family as together as they could be. It didn't take long before all the presents, few as they were, were laid under the tree. While she waited for the little ones to wake up she worked on a piece that was meant to be in by the end of the evening as an expose on a politicians Christmas expenses in relation to travel allowances. While writing she picked up a cookie and nibbled away, although most days she would feel it was too early for such treats it was a holiday; ergo, calories didn't count.