She woke up first. She thought about waking up Rebecca, but she wanted to make sure Santa brought enough presents for both of them. She carefully crawled out of bed, went down the ladder and snuck out of the room. Really, she was hoping for something else too, something not from Santa, and she really hoped her Christmas wish would come true.
Slowly and quietly, she padded to the stairs and stuck her head around the corner.
It did! It did! Her Christmas wish came true! Her daddy was on the couch holding Juliet—holding her mommy, even though she didn't call her that. She didn't even look under the tree, she just ran back to her room and pounced on Rebecca.
"Rebecca, Rebecca! Wake up!" She whispered.
"What?" Rebecca asked as she yawned and opened her eyes.
"Come, look!" She grabbed her bestest friend's hand and pulled her toward the ladder. This was already the best Christmas ever.
When she looked around the corner like Rachel had said, she thought she was going to be looking at presents, but what she saw was even better. Mommy looked like an angel and Shawn and her looked so happy even though they were asleep. Mommy was asleep with her head on Shawn's chest and his arms were wrapped around her so they could hold hands on her stomach. She could tell her mommy hadn't had any nightmares that night, she looked too happy—happier than Rebecca had ever seen her when she was asleep. And Shawn, he wasn't holding her down or back, he was hugging her.
"Our plan worked." She whispered to Rachel, who was smiling just as big as she was. "It finally worked!" All she wanted for Christmas was to be a family. She couldn't even tell anyone but Santa, and she wasn't sure he could even help, but somehow, her Christmas wish came true.
She opened her eyes to the sound of whispers and smiled when she remembered where she was: wrapped in Shawn's loving arms with his fingers intertwined with hers. She lifted their hands to her lips and gently kissed his thumb. It had been the best night she'd had in years. After they placed the presents under the tree, Shawn lent her a pair of his flannel pajama pants and a shirt and they laughed through 'Christmas Vacation' and, well, kept themselves occupied through 'Scrooged'—she desperately needed chapstick, but it was very much worth it. He had been wonderful, he didn't push her farther than she could take and when they reached that point, he held her tight until she fell asleep safe in his arms. She felt him stir behind her and smiled wider as he kissed the top of her head. She couldn't imagine a more perfect Christmas morning.
"Good Morning beautiful." He said and his gravelly morning voice awakened the butterflies in her stomach. "Merry Christmas, are the girls up?"
She shifted and turned so she could give him a soft but lingering kiss. He ran his fingers through her hair and she savored the sensation of a good morning kiss. "They're up but not downstairs yet." She whispered from the very close talking position before giving him one more quick kiss. "Merry Christmas, you ready for the madness?" He gave her a questioning look as she stood up and walked to the bottom of the stairs. "Merry Christmas girls, you can come down now!"
Instantaneously the girls, in their matching red and green pajamas with full bed head, appeared at the top of the stairs and began racing down with a chorus of "Merry Christmas!"
Rebecca leaped off a stair and into her arms, then grabbed her face and pulled it close so their noses were touching and Juliet realized this was the first time in three years that she hadn't woken to Rebecca's face on Christmas morning. Ordinarily, she came bounding into the room at the crack of dawn and pounced on the bed, then grabbed Declan—who was still sober for the holidays—and her hands and dragged them to the tree. Then after a flurry of excitement and presents, they'd have chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. It was the happiest, most exciting day of the year.
But as she kissed her daughter and thought on the past, she was drawn back to the present by Shawn's hand on her back and Rachel's reaching embrace from his arms. She adjusted her hold on Rebecca so they could have a group hug and she smiled as kissed the top of Rachel's messy head. This was her family—happy, healthy, and together at last. And tomorrow, a week from now, they would still be that way. This Christmas wasn't the end of a month of promises, but the beginning of a new and better future. So when they broke apart and Rachel and Rebecca each wiped a tear off her cheek and asked her what was able to answer honestly and say, "I'm just so happy it's Christmas."
He set Rachel down to go investigate the tree with Rebecca and placed an arm around Juliet, resting his hand on her hip as they watched the girls begin shaking presents and searching for their names. Rachel had been somewhere different every Christmas. Her first had been spent at home—he thought back to how he and Abigail unwrapped each present and tried to get their four month old to react with little success. Then when she was one, they spent Christmas in Toledo and she had clung to her new doll like her life depended on it. At two, they were with his father and the Christmas S'more tradition began. When she was three, they spent Christmas at a hotel with his mother, then last year his father had flown all the way to Charlotte to have a hotel Christmas with them. As he looked on and watched her excitedly shake and compare presents with Rebecca while he rubbed his thumb up and down Juliet's side, he realized this Christmas already beat all the others combined. And when Rachel looked up at him beaming—her eyes shining bright—he knew she felt the same.
He sat on the couch with Juliet and observed and directed the opening of presents. Surprisingly, each girl managed to wait patiently while the other opened a present and compared after they had each opened one. What really amazed him was their generosity with each other. Juliet bought Becks a Bitty Baby—from Santa—but seconds after getting it unwrapped, Becks offered to let Rach play with it too. Then when Rachel opened her Bitty Baby—from his parents—she came up with the idea for them to share any clothing they got for the dolls. As he watched in amazement, he was startled to see Rebecca was bringing him a present—and Rachel bringing one for Juliet.
"I made this for you." Becks said sweetly, seemingly trying not to giggle.
"Thanks Peanut." He said as he began carefully taking apart the wrapping she had obviously done herself. He looked over to see Juliet unwrapping a similar present from Rach and beamed when he reached his own present. It was an ornament—a picture of Rebecca in a popsicle stick frame that she had decorated by gluing peanuts to it. Rachel had brought home a frame like it a week ago—except she had drawn a princess castle. "Oh, Becks, this is amazing, thank you!" He said as he pulled her in for a big hug.
"I just wanted you to have something from me too." She smiled at him and for the first time, he didn't see it as Juliet's smile—but as Rebecca's. Yes, the resemblance was still there, but he cherished this smile, this ornament, because it came from the little girl he grew to love a little more each day.
"It's perfect, Peanut. Go put it on the tree in the spot you think it will look best." She took the ornament and began searching for a spot—calling Rachel for back-up and he glanced over to see a similar ornament, with Rach's face and flowers drawn on the frame, in Juliet's hand. "They're something, aren't they?"
"Definitely something." She said and leaned on him as they watched the girls reached to place Rebecca's new ornament next to Rachel's already on the tree. His Princess and Peanut side by side.
"Okay girls." He said and they turned to him. "Rachel, your father has keen observational skills and Rebecca, your mother is a detective. Something is missing here and I need you two to investigate. The reward will be substantial. Go!" The girls looked at him, then each other, then began searching around the family room, looking for clues. He had left a couple one or both of them would figure out and he smiled when he realized Juliet looked just as eager as they did—he hadn't let her know what the big surprise was either.
"Whoa! A map!" Rebecca exclaimed when she saw the first clue hidden on the tree. Then he and Juliet followed the girls as they deciphered the map, leading them all over the house before they finally reached the back door, which he swung open with a flourish to reveal a tent in the back yard with a rather large bow on it and a smaller present out front.
"Whoa! A tent! Really Daddy?" He nodded and Rachel burst into excited laughter as she ran toward the tent. "Rebecca! This present has your name on it!" She said, thrusting the gift toward her friend.
"Markers?" Rebecca said once she unwrapped it, clearly confused as to the relation.
"This tent has to stay here, but it's for both of you." He began, looking from the girls to Juliet. "You have to share the markers too, but they're fabric markers. In that tent—and only in that tent—you can draw on the walls, the ceiling, and the floor. Draw whatever you want; it's your space. Just don't get it on your clothes or the other presents inside."
"Other presents?" All three said in unison and the girls unzipped the door to reveal sleeping bags, pillows, and a small lantern.
He watched, unable to contain his smile at the girls' ecstasy of having their own place. They diplomatically decided sleeping bags—Rachel got the Belle one and Rebecca the Rapunzel—and began planning their many adventures. He was so focused on the girls, he didn't even see Juliet walk up next to him, only noticing her when she slid an arm across his back and kissed his cheek.
"You're a pretty cool dad, huh?" She said with a smile and he wrapped his arms around her.
"I just thought about what I had wanted at age 5—and I didn't have a tree for a tree house, so I figured a tent would come close." He looked at her and was dazzled by the brightness of her eyes, they had returned to the jewel quality of the past. "I got you something too, maybe not as cool as a tent, but I think you'll like it."
"Wait till we're at my place, okay?" She said quickly. "I have something for you that I wasn't sure I was going to give or not."
He nodded in understanding, he hadn't been sure if he would give Juliet what he had gotten her either, but he was so glad he could. That and he was glad he could do what he did next. He leaned in and just as their lips were about to meet, Rachel interrupted.
"I'm hungry! I want breakfast!" He looked over and realized she hadn't been looking when she interrupted, but he still wished her timing was a wee bit better. Still, at the mention of food, Rebecca stuck her head out of the tent.
"Chocolate chip pancakes?" She asked and Juliet sighed and laid her head on his chest, as resigned as he was to the fact that starting a relationship was much more complicated with children.
"Of course Sunshine." She sighed. "Shawn, can you help?" He nodded and she intertwined her fingers with his and walked back into the kitchen with him, followed closely by the girls who had begun singing a chorus of 'pan-cakes'.
"Girls, why don't you go play in the family room?" She said as she began pulling out a bowl and the griddle. She had spent enough time in Shawn's kitchen to know where everything went and she did it without thinking, but stopped when she saw Shawn's face. "You okay?" He looked dazed, stunned even and she hoped she hadn't overstepped her bounds but instead of saying anything, he walked over to her in two large steps and pulled her into a surprisingly passionate and dramatic kiss—complete with a dip.
"I'm wonderful." He said, still dipping her so the majority of her weight was on his arm. Then he gave her another quick kiss and righted her—leaving her as dazed as he had looked a moment before. "So, pancakes? What do you need? Ooh! Can I be the flipper?" She laughed as he bounced on his toes and pointed to the electric griddle.
"Grease that while I make batter, I have an idea but it's going to take teamwork and yes, you can be the flipper." She loved the more mature Shawn, that he was someone she could truly depend on now, but more so she loved that he could still get excited over the little things in life. He greased the griddle for her, then mixed the batter while she reached for the chocolate chips—she had hidden them from the girls and apparently Shawn, who was very excited to learn where they had been. "Hey!" She scolded as she saw him reach his entire hand in the jar, "Just a couple—and don't let the girls know."
He smiled deviously and took a smaller handful, then walked up and held a chocolate chip to her lips, which she eagerly accepted. "So, what kind of special pancakes are you making—and when are your parents coming?"
"They'll be here around ten—so we've got two hours. Then I work 12-6…hopefully that'll be all, and if all goes well, dinner at 6:30." She checked that the griddle was hot and pulled out a plate while Shawn got aluminum foil. "And I want to try 'poppable pancakes', they're just small and you dip them in syrup. Probably a terrible idea, but Rebecca always gets messy with pancakes anyway, so this will at least be fun. But they'll cook fast, so I need you to place a chocolate chip in each one and flip them while I pour."
"Sounds fun." She watched as he picked up the spatula and placed a bowl of chocolate chips on the counter, then smiled as he stepped directly behind her. "And cozy."
"Shawn…" She tried to sound annoyed but as he moved aside her hair and kissed her neck she found it difficult to feel anything but melty. "Shawn, the pancakes are burning."
"Oh," he whispered as he scraped the three 1-inch pancakes she had managed to pour off the griddle and into the trash, "the first ones are never good anyway."
He resumed gently rubbing his lips along her neck and shoulder—pulling the shirt she had borrowed off to one shoulder. His lips were barely touching her skin, but the tingling sensation ran from her shoulder through her entire body as he slid his spatula-free hand from her side across her stomach to the other side before spinning her and engaging his lips with hers. The rest of the world faded away and for a moment, it was just them. But eventually, as her senses reengaged, she realized she heard giggling. She and Shawn broke apart and turned to see their daughters—each covering the other's eyes and giggling.
She was surprised to feel a blush crawl up her cheeks as Shawn cleared his throat, "Girls?"
More giggles before Rachel responded, "We just wanted to know when breakfast would be."
"In a couple minutes." She replied, unsure of if she should push Shawn a step away or not.
"Okay…" Rebecca said with a sheepish smile. "Have fun and don't burn anything!" Then her daughter grabbed Rachel's hand and the two retreated back into the family room. She buried her face in Shawn's chest for a second before turning back to the griddle.
"Clearly they're fine with this." He said, standing behind her again but no longer kissing her neck.
"I feel like a teenager who just got caught by my parents." She laughed, she hadn't felt that foolish but excited in years—a decade even—she didn't realize she still could.
"Isn't that half the fun though?" He reached around her to flip pancakes and she quickly kissed his cheek as it extended over her shoulder.
"I guess it is." She replied as she continued to pour the bite-sized pancakes, thoroughly enjoying every part of this Christmas morning.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Sorry it's been so long everyone! My week was insane and I had Campus Christmas over the weekend which kept me busy. Now, finals week is upon me, but I wanted to get this chapter up! Hopefully this can hold you till probably Friday (I have a three hour layover Thursday and not really anything to do, so chances are good that I'll write in that time but I can't do any before then).
Anyway, thank you thank you thank you for the reviews! I could literally write another chapter just replying to all y'all! But thank you psychshuleslover2000 and LyssLovesTiva33 (thanks for saying who you were), psychtd215 (boom! It's the email), alfie and potato (props to both of you for making me laugh), Starfish Shules (I updated as fast as I could), Guest (Oh, it's already set to record-I am so watching it!), gogo (I decided to go with a happy Christmas, but New Years will still have excitement :) ), psychshuleslover (glad you liked it), Samy (thank you for reviewing! And guest reviews take a couple days to show up, but I get them right away via email so no worries!), Jaggielovahhh12 (glad you liked the letter technique), BOISESTATELOVER (actually never-that's not really what this is about and it's also rated K+, sorry), cupcake (definitely an excellent couple), cac0066 (I made a minor adjustment to 19, I'll replace it on here, thanks, I don't want people to be confused. And I'm glad 20 worked better!), AngieRosie (thanks, just, really thanks :) )
And a huge thank you to EVERYONE, seriously, y'all are amazing and awesome and honestly what keeps me smiling some days. I'm so honored that my little story has over 7,000 hits and 130 reviews, it's crazy to me and a huuuuuge honor that any of you actually care and that I have any impact on your day/week/life. I just, I can't get over it, words can't express. So thank you, seriously. And keep reviewing! To anyone else who may have finals…good luck and may the odds (and curve) be ever in your favor! (Also, go see Catching Fire if you at all like the HG series, it's really really good)