Prompt #2 :: Hot Chocolate

Phoenix watched his adopted daughter sob on the bed. He'd had a feeling that this would happen when she had wished for her father—her biological father—to come home. He tried not to take it personally. After all, it was only normal that she would yearn for her family during this time. Still, if he could have brought Zak Gramarye home and sat him under their little Christmas tree, he would have.

He set the tray he had been holding on the nightstand, placing his hand on her back soothingly. It spasmed as her breath hitched and she looked up at him, her eyes red rimmed, tears and snot running down her face. "D—Daddy?"

"What are you still doing up?" he asked. "Santa isn't going to come tomorrow if you don't get to sleep soon."

She shook her head, wiping her tears with one hand. "Santa isn't gonna bring me what I want, though."

"You don't know that. Santa's sleigh is big enough for your dad to ride alongside Santa. Maybe he'll even come with the bunny you wished for."

That seemed to quiet her down a bit. He helped her wipe her face with a tissue before seating himself on the bed with her. "You know what my mother used to do on Christmas Eve?"

"What?"

"Well, we would open presents like we did earlier, and then my mom would pour us all a giant mug of hot cocoa and put marshmallows and chocolate sprinkles on top. A lot like . . . this one." He picked up one of the mugs from the tray, handing it to her. Her face lit up as she saw the chocolate sprinkles on top.

"Just like your mommy used to make?"

"Just like my mom used to make. And then she would usher us to bed, reminding us that Santa wouldn't come if we weren't asleep."

"That's not true! I saw Santa last year!" she protested.

"Did you? Well, you must have tricked him then! But Santa's very careful after you trick him once; you can't trick him the same way again!"

Trucy looked around. "Is it too late to go to sleep? Did I miss Santa?" Her eyes filled with tears again, but he shook his head, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"Nope. There's still enough time for you to drink your cocoa and go to sleep."

She practically acted like a vacuum, inhaling all of the hot cocoa in the cup and handing it back to him. "Time for me to go to sleep!" she said, sounding very firm on this.

He laughed, standing and tucking her in. When she was all ready for bed, he picked the tray up and started walking out of the room.

"Daddy? I love you."

He turned back in the doorway, looking at the picture she made, all cocooned in her blankets and staring at him like he was the best parent ever. "I love you too, Truce."


The next morning, when she raced out to the Christmas tree, there was no Zak Gramarye. Instead, there was a note in its place.

Trucy,

Santa had so many presents in his sleigh that I couldn't fit. But I want you to know that I love you and I'm always with you.

Hugs and Kisses,

Daddy xoxoxoxo


A/N: SO MUCH FLUFF! This one is a shorter one; originally it was Phoenix/Trucy and Maya/Pearl/Iris, but I ran out of words, so I just put in the Phoenix/Trucy one. Honestly, I love these two so much, it's not even funny. Writing them is always a pleasure.

Reviews ::

OddWriter12: I'm glad you liked it! Again, it's one of the biggest pairings I get requests for, so I figured, why not? D