Just a little longer before Christmas Fluff. I hope that you enjoy this chapter after that angst of the previous chapter. Thank you to anyone still reading this fiction. As usual nothing belongs to me.
Chapter XII: Christmas Eve Day
Tuesday December 24th
Morning came a little too quickly for Anna with one of the boys fuzzing, and of course it would be little Robert. Anna went to retrieve him before he woke Baby John up. Anna made her way down stairs with Robby when she spotted something stripped wagging around under the tree. She was curious so she got closer, and rolled her eyes when she saw it was Robert crawling around shaking presents to try to guess what they could be. Anna thought, "Honestly, he is worse than children."
A couple of hours later John woke up alone to the smell of breakfast and coffee. John reluctantly got himself up to wash and go downstairs to find Thomas playing with the boys. In the kitchen, he heard Robert mumbling something about a broken toaster while scraping the burned part of the bread off over the bin. Anna was sipping on some hot cocoa with a big plate of waffles, bacon, eggs, and potatoes.
John stooped over to give his boys a big kiss on the head. Baby John, or Jack, as John liked to call him immediately wanted up from Daddy as his little hands made a grab for him. John realized Thomas should have been with Jimmy in the morning. John asked, "Thomas, I thought you were going with Jimmy. What happened?" Thomas just shrugged, so John decided to let it be for Thomas' sake.
John greeted Anna by shaking Jack's little hand at her. Robert was as usual not paying attention to where he was going, and Anna was going towards John to give him a kiss. As Robert crossed between them Anna ended up kissing Robert on the lips, and John ended up kissing Robert on the back of the head. John got annoyed but shrugged it off, "Robert, why is your timing always so bad? In fact that is why we ended up with the boys in the first place."
Everyone turned to look at John especially Robert, who asked, "What?"
Anna was a bit annoyed at John's remark too as she leered at John. John was now aware that he had stepped in it, and he quickly added, "You see it was your stupid timing that led to our happy accident." John smiled at Anna as he said that adding a little snuggle and kiss to Jack.
Robert was steaming mad; was John seriously blaming him for the boys' conception? Robert immediately exploded saying, "You look here Bates, I know I am clumsy, say the wrong things sometimes, but you sir are a rabbit. It is your rabbit behavior that got you in that predicament not me."
"It was your stupid phone call. I had the phone in my back pocket when I was parked outside the house with Anna. We had just come back from the symphony and I had just asked Anna to be my wife. We were both wanting each other very much. We got caught up in the moment and it was Anna's first time. I was barely calming her from the shock of me in there. I got her to the happy zone, and I was about to pull out when the phone rang. It was you and you scared me. I spilled inside of her and nine months later the boys made their appearance."
Anna was mortified with embarrassment over the overly graphic story in the kitchen with the babies, Robert, and worst of all Thomas.
"John, what the hell are you doing?" Anna asked angrily. "Would you like to print it in the newspaper so that everyone can read about it too?"
Thomas was stunned this was exactly the kind of story to share with O'Brien, but then he thought to himself that is what the old Thomas would do. Thomas had decided he was going to turn a new leaf, and change his ways for the better. He was going to be just like his mother had taught him, to treat others as you want to be treated.
Thomas just huffed and said, "Never mind. I am taking the boys out to the park for a little walk, and I will walk off the horrible image you just described so vividly."
Robert was crimson from the story just shared by John, and quietly followed Thomas out the door.
John sighed and went up to give Anna a kiss. Anna placed a wet rag in front of John and he kissed it instead. John got miffed and then apologized as he put his arms around Anna's waist.
Anna said, "I just hope this story is not shared at the office by Thomas."
John was angry as he asked, "Why is he even here? I thought he was going with Jimmy."
"Well that did not work out because Jimmy's parents are staying in town after all. Thomas was upset so I told him to just stay here with us because he needed to start getting used to us."
"How did he take the news of actually working for us?" John asked. "He is thrilled, in fact that is why he stopped crying over Jimmy. Thomas is seriously reconsidering his relationship with Jimmy because Jimmy does not want to admit what he is to his parents."
John thought how horrible Thomas must be feeling and got an idea, "Why don't we gift him his new room furniture for Christmas being as he is going to do us a huge favor?"
Anna thought the idea was fantastic and said, "We need to furnish the adjoining room to the nursery anyway and now we will have a purpose for it."
That afternoon John and Robert went out to buy a bedroom set for Thomas. Robert was still miffed at John for his vulgar story from the morning. John had to get Robert to forgive him so he had to make it up to him. It occurred to him that he had apologized most of the week for various things to different people. John was going to have to mend his ways or the words "I'm sorry" were going to be engraved in his gravestone.
Robert was not going to make it easy for John, and gave him the silent treatment most of the car ride to the furniture store. John had to try something, so he started saying, "Have you heard from Cora today?" Robert only nodded, "Yes, I actually spoke to her before we left the house." "Really," John tried to show interest, "what has she been up to?" Robert thought for a moment and then a thought and sly smile crossed his face, "Actually, I spoke mostly. "
John was intrigued, "What of?"
"You know how my time with you has been. The arguments in the middle of the night and weird love making that lasts forever," Robert teased.
John was mortified, "How do you know all that?"
"Well you see Bates this is the thing. Your walls are paper thin and I hear everything."
John was all red. Robert continued, "I heard about "the General" and "the naughty minx" coming out to play."
"Oh my God! You didn't share that with Cora did you?" Robert grinned like a fool and continued, "Of course. I tell Cora everything even your little story about the great conception."
John was so embarrassed, and then a thought came up in John's brain, Robert's relatives.
"Have you spoken to Mary, yet?" John asked anxiously.
"As a matter of fact I have," Robert said innocently, "in fact I have spoken to all my girls, their husbands, and my mother."
John swerved a little in his car after Robert mentioned his mother. John was at a panic Robert's mother had a poison tongue to begin with, and now she knew this information about him and Anna.
Robert smirked, "What, was I not to tell such interesting information?"
John started to panic because Mary had probably already called Anna. Maybe Robert had also shared some private conversations he had. A horrible image of Anna with a big frown on her face came to mind immediately. If Robert had shared the little devious schemes such as the sharpie marker and the shower incident. John looked over at his friend and figured he would not do that to him. John just figured what's done is done.
Meanwhile, Robert took satisfaction in knowing the tables had turned on Bates. John kept a low profile for the rest of the outing. They drove around and ended up going to three furniture stores until they finally found what they were looking for. John arranged, with a little bribe, for everything to be set up by the evening.
Anna was cooking dinner when she got a call from Mary. Mary was full of mischief this evening, and Anna could tell she had something up her sleeve.
Anna decided to initiate the conversation, "So Anna, what have you and the old man been up to lately?" Anna was irritated when Mary called John "old man".
Anna decided it was Christmas Eve so she could be civil as she answered her, "Nothing much. Just the usual little tiffs. Why do you ask?"
Anna could tell Mary was smirking as she spoke, "Well I spoke to my father earlier and he was full of so many stories. It seems you and the "old man" have been quite busy as of late."
Anna spoke with disinterest, "Really, what a wild imagination your father has."
Mary finally had enough, "Alright you little minx dish out the details. Father says you two are insufferable every night either fighting or making love."
Anna snapped, "Well of course we do we are married you know."
"Oh no, Mrs. Energizer Bunny, the way father says you carry on it sounds like it gets wild a lot in there. He says Bates would put the Energizer Bunny to shame with its little floppy ears cast down dejected that someone else beats him."
Anna smiled at this remark because John was remarkable with the stamina of a fit youngster. However, Anna did not like the idea of Mary knowing about their intimate life.
Mary continued, "Oh and the crème de la crème, he told me about your first time and how your stupid boyfriend totally screwed everything up."
Anna could not let this go, so she responded, "You know Mary you are sometimes very hurtful. I treasure that day because it is the reason we have our beautiful boys. I really don't care if it was by accident because it makes it sound like we did not want our babies and that is not true. I was very happy when I found out."
"Yeah well. How did John take it? Didn't he stare at you without blinking for like ten minutes, and then he started whining about how the birth control does not always work."
Anna interjected, "As soon as I reminded him we did not use any he apologized."
"Well now we know who was at fault, Mr. Bunny." Mary laughed.
Anna got very exasperated with Mary and said, "At least I didn't have relations with a foreigner that I barely met for about 2 hours, and then when he dropped dead call my best friend to come and help me drag the dead body to the guest room he was assigned to. All this little charade because it is my parent's house and I didn't want them to know what kind of daughter they have."
Mary was silent for a while then said, "Are you done? Do you have anything else you want to drag out?"
Anna was very hurt and did not believe she had to apologize because she had been traumatized by the whole foreigner incident.
Mary realized she must have gone too far this time because she always ridiculed John and she also ended up insinuating Anna and John did not want the babies they treasured. For the first time since Anna knew Mary she heard her say, "I'm sorry Anna. I have no business making fun of John because he is a good man and he loves you. The worst thing is that I made it sound like you do not want the boys and I know they are everything you both have always dreamed of."
Anna apologized to Mary for bringing up the whole foreigner thing all over again. Mary said, "That's okay Anna I provoked you. You know, you should have John give Matthew some pointers on endurance."
They both giggled then Mary said, "Seriously Anna if what Dad tells me is true you are really lucky. John may be a little older, but he must be quite good at his craft. I know he is your only one so you can't compare."
Anna shyly said, "He is pretty good. I feel so much love and passion when we come together. He always puts my pleasure before his, and he is quite endowed too."
Mary said, "Wow! That too? You really are lucky then, and how could you not feel so much love and passion when there are times I feel it when I am near both of you. Like at church when I sat next to him. All he was doing was holding your hand, and I could already feel the heat coming from him. It was like I was next to a burning flame or furnace. I left church with my dress all stuck to me with all the sweat. His glasses kept fogging up every time you would look at him."
Anna told Mary about the 9 V batteries and "B" batteries incident, and Mary just chuckled at her father's stupidity.
Then Anna remembered the big news, "Oh Mary, you will not believe who our new Nanny is?"
Mary had no ideas, and she allowed Anna to continue. Anna smiled and said, "I think you should sit down before I tell you. Are you ready?" Mary wanted to scream the suspense was killing her, "Who?" she blurted out. Anna figured she had to just say it like pulling off a band aid, "Thomas Barrow".
Mary snorted, "Fine if you don't want to tell me and be childish about that is just peachy with me. Seriously, though who is it?"
Anna retorted, "It really is Thomas. In fact, he already started helping us out. You know he does have a way with children."
Mary was flabbergasted, "Surely, you don't trust him. After all the things he has done to John. The babies do resemble John, and you never know if he gets mad at John what revenge he will plot."
Anna replied, "I do trust him because he has proven that he is more than worthy with the things he has done for the boys already. He loves them and anyone with eyes can see that. I have heard him singing to them through the monitor, and I have seen him with them in their bath. He is perfect around children. As for his little rivalry with John, it was John who suggested it because something happened the night he went after him after our fight. John feels that Thomas does not have any ill feelings for the boys, and if they do fight with each other it will be John who will be pay not the babies."
As Anna was talking she felt a sensation on her right side and then a little harder one on the left. Anna let out a little gasp, "Oh my! I think the babies are kicking."
Mary sounded confused, "Anna, how far gone are you with your pregnancy?"
"I am due March 30th but I am prepared for an early birth because they are twins again."
"Wow! That was precise. I thought you had no idea"
"I didn't John figured it out. He remembered our boat ride to our secret place for our little picnic in June."
"How can you be sure? I mean it isn't as if it is the only time you have had relations?"
"Honestly, I had a feeling I got pregnant the instant it happened because it had been almost a month since our last quickie. It had been repressed passion and apparently John had been suppressing his semen. We did it four times within a 2 hour period and we did not use any protection. Out of my passion I did not let John pull out once and he spilled so much in me that I was soaking wet and sticky all the boat ride back and the car ride home. I know it has to be then because it just felt like it was the perfect time to create a little life."
Mary had been silent the whole time, but had to interject, "Gross tell me it was not the time you had all the food left over from a picnic where you claimed you took too much."
Anna fell silent, and Mary said, "Yuck! I shared that food with you."
Anna laughed, "Mary you are being ridiculous. It's not like we rolled on the food."
Mary said, "Still. I just hope the gooey stuff on the pie was the filling not something else."
Anna laughed and heard John and Robert coming back from the furniture store. She said her goodbyes to Mary and went over to greet John.
John gave her a big hug and let her know that everything had been arranged for Thomas's surprise that evening.