Christmas Shopping Part 1

Before he met Amelia, Chris hated holiday shopping. The idea of going to the mall to find the perfect gift for his family members, dealing with the crowds and the ridiculous sales, were never his thing. It wasn't that he was a bad gift giver- he excelled at picking out unique gifts for his sister, brother-in-law, nieces and parents. It was the idea of going out and roaming the mall or other shops to find such gifts.

Finally, after learning from one of his office mates about shopping online, Chris would spend hours and hours looking for gifts. Comparing the prices and shipment deliveries from site to site, searching for the most ridiculous stuff he could think of. He could get all his shopping done in one day and the rest of the month would be smooth sailing.

Then he met a lovely young woman, married her and had three kids. Then, Christmas shopping became a nightmare.

….

Their first Christmas was pretty easy, considering the fact that they waited until the last minute to actually celebrate it. Instead of exchanging gifts to one another, Chris and Amelia spent the entire weekend at his place, enjoying each other's company. They went through the entire stock of junk food and liquor, something they stocked up on before Christmas Eve rolled around, watched very little television and had plenty of sex.

"This is probably the best Christmas I've had in years," she said, as they curled up on the sofa. "Just you and me," he kissed her cheek, as she stretched out against him. "No one bothering us."

He hummed in agreement, "Not having to get dressed up," he grinned. "Which we should do more often."

By the time Tuesday rolled around, Chris was back at work, while Amelia caught up on her house chores and paper grading. It would be the last quiet Christmas they'd have together.

….

When Christmas rolled around, six months into their first year of marriage, Amelia decided to host the holiday dinner. Chris laughed at her, telling her that she was crazy and that he'd give her a week before she called his sister and begged to switch. But Amelia, not one to back down from a challenge, started planning. Buying the food was easy, knowing the exact ingredients to make the antipasto or how many bags of coconut flakes were needed to make macaroons.

But to drag her husband to the mall? That was another story. The week after Black Friday, Amelia decided that she wanted to go to the mall to shop for her in-laws and her family. Chris handed her a PADD and told her to do it online.

"No," she handed the PADD back to him. "We're going to the mall."

"But this is easier," he said, nodding to the PADD. "You could find everything in a few hours and be done. No crowds and no fuss!"

She glared at him, "We are going to the mall," she said, her tone meaning business. "You have an hour to get in the shower and dressed.

Chris groaned, "Miaaaaaaaa. I don't want to go to the mall." It was his day off and he had a date with the sofa and a good book. But his wife's intense stare- her eyebrows raised and her lips pressed together in a thin line- told him that those plans were cancelled.

"Fine," he sighed, pushing the chair back. "I'll be ready in thirty minutes."

Amelia beamed at him, "Thank you!" she stood up as well, kissing his cheek quickly.

By the time they reached the mall, Chris had the worst attitude known to man. Parking was a joke, taking a full hour to find any spot to park their car. Then came the stores themselves; the crowds of insane women, noisy children and clueless men, running about finding the perfect gifts. The cloud of mixed perfume was enough to make him go blind AND choke, as Amelia browsed through different items.

"What should we get for Liz?" she asked, stopping so he could catch up with her. "I know the girls wanted some kind of princess thing."

Chris sighed, "I don't know," he shook his head. "I don't care. Just pick something."

Amelia took his hand into hers, "Chris, don't be snappy," she sighed. "Can't you just try to have a little fun?" she pouted.

"Amelia, I hate the mall, "he groaned, as they walked out of the department store. "This would've been so much more easier if you did it from home."

She looked at him for a moment, noting how unhappy he was at that moment. Then, she wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her toes to kiss him. "What if," she said, after pulling away. "I let you pick something out for yourself?" she bit her lip. "Something that we could both enjoy?"

He frowned, "What do you mean?" he asked, as she laughed.

"Well, It could be something very, very, lacy," she blushed. "Sheer, skimpy, sati-" she squealed as he pulled her into hug. "Please? Just for a few hours, can you at least put a little pep in that step and help?"

Chris sighed dramatically, "Fine," he wrapped his arm around her waist. "But I'm picking out the skimpiest thing I can find and you're going to wear it."

Nothing made Amelia happier, come Christmas day, when their families crowded around the living room, opening their gifts with smiles and squeals. It made Chris smile, as Arianna and Isabella hugged their Aunt tightly. The princess tea set had been a big hit, to which Chris took no credit for.

"Aunt Mia remembered how much you wanted it," he told them, as they climbed up onto his lap to hug and kiss him. "Uncle Chris just paid for it."

Of course, Amelia went back to the mall herself to finish the shopping, but Chris had been helpful in suggesting ideas on what to get. And she held up her end of the bargain, wearing the very skimpy lingerie set the night before, making the entire trip worth it..

"You Mr, Pike, should take credit for picking out half those gifts," she said to him later, as he watched the girls play with the tea set.

He wrapped his arm around her, "But you did go back to the mall and bought more stuff, Mrs. Pike."

She giggled, pressing her face into his shirt. "Next year we'll order everything online," she promised. "But you can pick out skimpy things for me all year round."

….

The quietest Christmas occurred three months after the Narada and Andrew's birth. While Amelia planned for an eventful first Christmas for her son, buying him loads of toys and showing him off to the family, Amelia ended up with the decision that their holiday would be small and quiet. She ordered a few things off the net with Chris, sending them out to his Liz, Robert and the girls. Their parents and her siblings got gift certificates to various places they enjoyed and that was it.

"No, I don't want anything," Amelia said, as she took the PADD from him.

Andrew slept quietly in the bassinet against the wall, a common occurrence, since Amelia spent most of her time in the master bedroom with Chris. Physical therapy left him exhausted, his body being pushed to extremes that took its toll on his weakened body. So the three of them napped during the afternoon, until Andrew woke up for a feeding or a diaper change.

"But," he pouted. "I saw something really, really pretty for you."

Amelia shook her head, "No skimpy things this year," she fixed the pillows. "I mean it, Chris. You're not allowed to do any strenuous activity and I refuse to have sex with you after pushing out a bowling ball of a child."

"Well then what do you want?" he asked, frustrated. "I don't want you to not have anything to open on Christmas."

She sighed, settling down next to him. "I already got what I wanted for the holidays," she said, turning to look at him. "I got you and Andrew and that's all I need."

Chris nodded, realizing how close he came to death three months previously. How he was so close to missing his sons first Christmas, and missing out on everything else to come after.

"Okay," he kissed her hand. "I hope you have enough bows then," he grinned. "Can't wrap the injured in paper."

Amelia groaned, "For a second there, I thought you were going to say how big of a gift you were."

Chris snickered, "That too."

"I could hit you right now," she warned, fixing the quilt that rested over his legs. "But you're injured and I don't want to go to jail," she shrugged. "I'm too pretty for jail.'

He snorted, "You're too mean for jail," he corrected her, as she turned the lights off. "Can I wrap you up in a bow?"

She snickered, "If it'll make you happy, I'll bring some ribbon up tomorrow," she promised.

As the years went on and more children came into the picture, Amelia and Chris had to juggle with their holiday shopping. With Andrew it was easy, having one child to shop for and not having to worry about him picking something out for his parents. Then Catherine arrived and Chris insisted that he'd take his two babies out so they could pick something out for their mother.

"You did give birth to them after all," he said to her one night, as she tried to understand why he wanted to take a three year old and a six month old to the mall. "I mean, sixteen hours of labor calls for something nice under the tree."

"You are going to be miserable," she warned, as she made up a bottle for Catherine. "They are going to drive you insane!"

Even his sister and brother-in-law said the same thing, when he mentioned that he was taking the kids to the mall that weekend. Robert offered dig a hole in the yard for his body, after the inevitable heart attack.

"You will never want to take them anywhere again after this," he promised. "Trust me, Chris. This is a bad idea."

He laughed off all the warnings from his wife, sister and brother-in-law, and on Saturday morning, he brought the two kids into the mall not knowing what to expect. By the time they came home that afternoon, getting all of Amelia's presents, he put both children down in the playroom and passed out on the sofa.

"Have fun?" she asked, when he woke up hours later. "You look good for someone who spent seven hours in the mall with two children under the age of five."

"Never again," he swore, as she patted his shoulder. "Never, ever, again."

But when Christmas morning rolled around, and the kids handed her a their gift with shy smiles, Chris knew it was worth it. The necklace with two diamond stars, each representing her two children, brought tears to her eyes. She pulled them both onto her lap for a big hug, smothering them with kisses.

"This is so pretty," she said, looking from the necklace to her two children. "You two did a very good job."

And whens he looked up at with a smile, Chris knew he did all right.