Week 2C: Christmas Tree
Sailor Raspberry
468 words

"Small Lady! No, that one goes there!" Serenity, draped in her ruffling winter robe and wearing a big, shining smile, grabbed the ornament from her waddling daughter's hand and placed it on a stray branch. "There, much better."

Behind them, Endymion unfolded the morning's newspaper and sipped from a steaming cup of coffee. He smiled at the two, watching as they fumbled through the boxes of ornaments.

Outside, it began to snow.

Chibi-usa, little pink ringlets bobbing, bounced over to the window and pressed her tiny fingers against the glass, eyes wide as she marveled at the big tumbling snowflakes. Serenity laughed, plucked her hands away and used the edge of her robe to smudge away the sticky fingerprints.

Endymion stood, placed his coffee on a table, refolded his newspaper, and approached the tree slowly. Serenity had insisted that they cut one down, and he was glad that he agreed. There was something about the fresh, clean-cut scent of an evergreen that appealed to him.

A small pile of green needles collected beneath the twining branches, and as he nudged it with his toe, one hand trailed to an ornament. It was heavy in his palm, flat and smooth, and as he tilted it towards the light, a grin quirked his lips.

It was a picture of Chibiusa receiving her first Christmas present.

"What are you smiling at?" Serenity appeared at his side, a struggling Chibiusa tucked beneath one pale arm. She was smiling up at him. "Our daughter is not that hilariously entertaining."

Endymion draped an arm over Serenity's shoulders and tweaked Chibiusa's nose. "It's nothing. I'm just happy."

She flashed him a questioning gaze, and as she handed the squabbling toddler over to his arms, she pressed a kiss to his temple. "Well, I'm glad you're happy. Now, shall we go play outside? Your daughter is dying to try on her new snowsuit."

Endymion's arm dipped to Serenity's waist, and as he buried his cheek into her hair, he caught the thin scent of pinecones. "Maybe later. I want to finish decorating first."

Serenity smiled and broke free of his grasp. "Alright, but I get to put the star on top."

"If you insist." Endymion shifted some ornaments aside and pulled out a particularly alluring one. He held it up for his wife to see. "Where do you think this one should go?"

Serenity felt her lips curve, because she simply adored this character of Endymion. "I don't know. You decide."

His face scrunched up in a way that made her laugh, and as he curled the string over a branch, she twined her arms around his neck. He flashed a puzzled look. "What?"

"Nothing. You're just so darn cute."

He flushed, mumbled something that she couldn't quite make out, but she only hugged him tighter.