Thank you, Guest, for reviewing the previous chapter!
This one was requested by anonymous who wanted me to do a fic of Myrcella saying her first words or walking for the first time and Jaime can't be as excited as Cersei.
Year 2003 Visiting Santa with young Joffrey and baby Myrcella, Christmas season 2003
Cersei's cell phone rang yet again for the fifth time in a row. Looking at the caller id, she rolled her eyes. Why couldn't Jaime understand she was busy with the children?
Skipping a greeting she decided to finally answer; "Why do you keep calling? I told you this morning I was going to be busy with the children this afternoon. "
"I...I know," replied Jaime. "I just, I miss you."
"We just saw each other three hours ago!"
"Yeah, but, it's hard being so close, and yet so far from you all the time. "
Cersei sighed. She hated it too, but what could she do? It's not like she could marry her brother. This marriage with Robert Baratheon was what she had to do to secure her future. The man had a lot of friends in high places, both Bush senior and Bush Junior had endorsed him for governor after all. Cersei was so sure he'd be president one day, and she would be the first lady. Sometimes, she wondered though, was it worth it? Marrying a man she did not love, watching young Joffrey and one day little Myrcella call him daddy.
"I hate it too," she finally replied before continuing, "But, we have no choice. " She paused before continuing, "You know Robert is away campaigning again, why don't you come over tonight after the kids go to bed?"
"Or I could come over right now and you can have the nanny watch the kids."
"You know that I've been looking forward to this day for months!"
Cersei heard Jaime sigh. "Yes, I know. You've been talking about it non stop. Myrcella's first visit to Santa. But, Cersei, she's not even one! She won't remember a thing!"
"Well, I'm taking Joffrey anyway, so I may as well get some adorable pictures and video of Myrcella on Santa's lap!"
"You could go a different day."
"I love you brother, but you are getting on my nerves, I'll talk to you later."
"Wait!" exclaimed Jaime before she could hang up.
"What?" sighed Cersei.
"I want to go with you."
"Really?" asked Cersei, "Why?"
"It's just...I've already missed so many firsts. Joffrey's first visit to Santa, as well as his first words and steps. Myrcella's first steps as well, and, probably her first words too soon. I'd like to at least be there for her first visit to Santa."
He'd never shown any interest in the children before. Sure he'd held Joffrey when he'd been born, but it had been obvious he'd resented all the attention Cersei gave to the boy. He'd held Myrcella too, but in the eleven months she'd been alive he hadn't expressed all that much interest in her, either.
"Well, ok, should I have my limo driver swing by your place on the way to the mall in say a half hour?"
"That sounds good. Do you have to bring Joffrey, though?"
"Are you really suggesting I leave my son with the nanny while I take Myrcella to see Santa?"
"Well, remember Joffrey's last visit to Santa? You don't want a repeat of that, do you?"
Cersei certainly did remember. Joffrey hadn't liked Santa's answer that he would "try his best" on getting him all those toys. He'd demanded Santa promise him they would all be under the tree on Christmas morning. Cersei had tried to signal the fat old costumed man to nod his agreement, but he'd failed to notice. Santa had instead told him he had a lot of boys and girls to deliver to, but if Joffrey was good he would try his best. Joffrey, in turn, had a fit right on Santa's lap.
"Joffrey's older now. Besides that, I called ahead to have the store manager alert this Santa to agree to anything a little blonde boy named Joffrey wants."
"Couldn't that backfire? I mean, what if another little blonde boy named Joffrey wants something that his parents can't afford?" asked Jaime curiously.
"Oh please. I gave my little lion cub such a unique name that there is no chance of that happening," replied Cersei rolling her eyes at her brother's stupidity.
"Well, alright then, I'll see you in a while, right?"
"Yes, Joffrey and I just finished lunch and I'm about to nurse Myrcella right now then we will head out."
"Alright. I love you, Cersei."
Cersei smiled, "I love you too."
Nearly twenty minutes later Cersei was in her limo on the way to her brother lovers house. She began to reminisce. Jaime had missed so much with Joffrey, but now with Myrcella perhaps things could be different. Robert had been home far too much, but now with all the campaigning, he was seldom home. If he made governor then he would be even busier then his senator job kept him. She still remembered Jaime's jealousy when Joffrey's first word had been spoken to Robert of all people. "Mine" the boy had said. It had come out sounding more like "mime", but given that he had been pointing at the cookie in Robert's hand Cersei had been pretty sure it was supposed to have been "mine". It had been an adorable moment, but Jaime hadn't shared in her happiness. Perhaps with Myrcella things would be different.
Finally, the limo arrived at Jaime's house. Cersei called him to let him know the limo had arrived and he headed out right away.
A short while later the four arrived at the mall. Looking at them you'd think they were a normal young couple with their little boy and baby daughter. Joffrey was super excited to see Santa so they went there first. He'd forgotten about last years incident, largely because he'd gotten everything he wanted and then some for Christmas.
Cersei pushed the stroller with Myrcella while Jaime held onto Joffrey's hand, much to his chagrin. Finally, they arrived at the line to Santa.
A very happy little blonde boy was just getting off of Santa's lap. His parent's who in Cersei's opinion should not have even left the house in those raggy clothes looked as if they were trying to mask a great sadness. The boy excitedly talked about how this Christmas would be different and finally, he'd have toys like other boys and girls. Cersei sighed, almost feeling sorry for the boy. What terrible parents, they should have called ahead to let Santa know of their misfortune, so as to not get the boys hopes up, just as she had called ahead to let Santa know of her fortune so Joffrey didn't have a repeat of last year.
After around ten minutes it was finally Joffrey and Myrcella's turn to see Santa. Which was a good thing, because Joffrey was not a patient boy and Cersei had already had to stop him from antagonizing other little boys and girls in the line several times.
Cersei let the elves carry Myrcella onto Santa's lap where Joffrey had just sat down.
"Hello, little boy. What is your name?"
"Joffrey," he replied proudly as the elves set Myrcella onto Santas lap next to Joffrey.
Realization followed by a look of "oh crap" appeared on Santa's face, but he quickly covered it up and replied, "Very nice name. and I see this is your sister here? Perhaps your mommy can tell me what she would like for Christmas?"
"Who cares? She's just a baby. I want a new remote control car and a new remote control plane and I want a..." and on and on Joffrey went for around five minutes. Santa listened quietly to it all just as he had been informed to do when Joffrey started talking. He'd been told the boy's mother had paid the store manager a very large sum of money for his cooperation.
Cersei was glad she had paid the extra money to have this whole thing filmed. She would ensure every single item was under the tree this year. The best ones coming from her, of course. No way was she letting some fairy tale character take credit for the best of the gifts.
"Santa will get you everything you want." promised the mall Santa, once Joffrey finally finished.
"You better. I know where you live," threatened Joffrey.
"Joffrey!" exclaimed Cersei.
"Where do you think I live?" Asked the mall Santa, amused.
"The north pole of course. Are you really Santa?" asked Joffrey accusingly.
Just then, Myrcella began to whine.
"Perhaps I should ask your mommy what your little sister wants? Yes, though, yes I am really Santa."
"Well, don't forget anything or else!" threatened Joffrey getting off Santa's lap and going to join his mother and Jaime whom were standing off to the side next to Santa.
Cersei started to tell Santa what toys she thought Myrcella would enjoy when suddenly, it happened
"Da-Da!" exclaimed Myrcella to the fat bearded man whose lap she was sitting on.
"Ho ho ho, so I look like your daddy, little one?" Asked Santa rhetorically.
"Da-Da" repeated Myrcella, looking right at Santa.
Cersei stood there awkwardly, while Jaime silently fumed next to her.
"Well, what would this little one like?" asked Santa breaking through the awkwardness and looking at Cersei.
Cersei began to rattle off many things, all the while hiding her embarrassment and excitement. She was thrilled that Myrcella had finally said her first word. She was embarrassed though that it had been to a mall Santa, and she had called him "da-da" at that.
Finally, Cersei was finished with Myracella's list and they were all escorted to the "elf-o-graph" to pick up their photos and video.
Once they were out of range of Santa, Cersei started talking excitedly.
"Can you believe it? Myrcella's talking already! Joffrey didn't say a word until he was fourteen months!"
"Yeah. Great," replied Jaime unenthusiastically.
"What's wrong? Why don't you sound happy?" asked Cersei, clearly confused.
"Gee, I don't know, maybe because my daughter just called another man daddy?"
Before Cersei could reprimand him on his incriminating choice of words Joffrey tugged her arm sleeve. "Ice Cream, mommy." He started pointing at the ice cream stand that was at the front of the food court they were passing by.
"Alright, let's get you and your sister some ice cream," Cersei stated, smiling at her son.
The next twenty minutes were spent getting ice cream, and then as Joffrey ate his ice cream Cersei tried to coax Myrcella into saying "ma-ma, to no avail. To make Jaime's mood worse, Cersei seemed to have forgotten he was even there. He fumed silently until finally, Cersei announced it was time to go.
By the time the four made it to the limo Cersei had finally noticed Jaime's still foul mood. She got Joffrey settled in and distracted watching cartoons on the luxurious limo's large screen tv, then questioned her brother.
"Jaime, what gives? Why aren't you happy?"
"I told you. My daughter called another man daddy, just as Joffrey does all the time. What do you expect?" He asked getting straight to the point.
"I am sure she doesn't think Santa is her daddy. She doesn't even know him."
"She clearly felt more of a bond with him then she does me."
"You're being ridiculous."
"You're right. Because we both know who she was really thinking of when she called Santa daddy. I mean hell, add a couple more wrinkles and change the color of the beard and the two could be clones," he ranted.
"Jaime..."
"Don't. Just don't."
After a few moments of tense silence, the two reached Jaime's house and bid their farewells. There would be no kiss, not with the children there, but normally, Jaime would try for a hug. This time, Cersei was the one to make the first move. Jaime stiffly hugged her back. The very next day Jaime adopted two puppies from the local SPCA and he named them Joffy and Marcy
The next two chapters will be more drabble then fic and for the final chapter I will do a fic set in that AU where Gemma exists
