Disclaimer: I don't own Nathan, Haley, or anything WB related
Notes: This is pure fluff. I was listening to a Christmas CD and got the idea for this story.
Mood, Music, and Mistletoe
Christmas Eve with Nathan and Haley
Chapter 1 - Joy To The World
"Okay, guys, it's time for bed," Haley said picking three month old Samuel up from his pallet.
"Mom, can't we stay up, please. He'll be here anytime and I want to see him."
"He won't come if you're awake, Adam. Didn't your dad explain that to you?"
"No. He said Santa wants cookies, but I already knew that." Haley eyed Nathan, who was sitting comfortably in the recliner across the room, he was supposed to have explained all of this to them yesterday while she was out doing last minute shopping.
"Well, he won't come unless you're sleeping."
"Why not?" Michael asked from his spot on the couch.
Nathan watched in amusement as he wife tried to explain Santa Clause and all of his weird habits to their six and four year old sons.
"Because it's supposed to be a surprise."
"What is? We already know he's coming with presents," Adam countered.
"But you don't know what they are."
"They'll be wrapped." Haley sighed in frustration. She knew this was an exciting time for her children and she loved watching them run around so incredibly happy, but they were completely wearing her out. Nathan, noticing just how frustrated his wife was getting, intervened.
"What your mom is trying to say is that if your awake, you'll get less presents." "Why?" Michael questioned. Nathan closed the recliner and scooped his middle son into his arms.
"Because if you're awake, then Santa's going to want to talk to you and that gives him less time to unload all of your presents."
"He has all night." Adam responded.
"To visit all the kids in the world, Adam. If you want to wait up, then that's fine, but he's not going to have time to give you all your presents, especially the big ones. You know, like the bicycle you wrote to him about. It's up to you."
"Fine." Nathan watched as his oldest son slowly made his way upstairs. Haley watched as well and then turned to Nathan and smiled.
"Thank you." Nathan walked across the room to his wife and kissed her cheek before taking Michael upstairs.
He walked into the room that his two oldest children shared and found Adam already curled up in bed.
"Did you brush your teeth?"
"Yes."
"Adam."
"Fine."
Adam threw the blankets off him and stomped across the hall to the bathroom. Nathan followed and set Michael on his stool in front of the sink before reaching in the medicine cabinet for the toothpaste.
"Red or Blue?"
"Blue," Michael replied quickly.
"I don't care." Adam pouted.
"If you want to go downstairs and wait for Santa, I'm not going to stop you, but you have to stop this pouting. Just because you can't see Santa doesn't mean that you can't still be excited that he's coming. Now, red or blue."
"Blue." He answered quietly.
The boys finished brushing their teeth and Nathan tucked them each into bed.
"I'll see you guys in the morning."
"Night dad," they echoed and Nathan couldn't help but smile. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine the best feeling in his life to come from being a father, but it had and he was grateful for it every single day.
As he was walking down the hall, he heard Haley's voice streaming from the nursery and he felt his heart warm. He stood in the doorway and watched as she leaned over the crib, rubbing their youngest son's back. She looked and sounded like an angel. He really was a lucky guy.
When Samuel was finally asleep, Haley looked up to find her husband staring at her.
"What?"
"Nothing. What were you singing?"
"Joy to the World."
"That's a good one and you sounded beautiful."
Haley smiled sheepishly. She'd been married to Nathan for almost thirteen years, but he still had the ability to charm the pants off of her. "Thank you."
"So how about that present you promised me?" He said with a twinkle in his eye.
"We'll get there." She snaked her fingers through his and they walked down the stairs together.
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