I apologise that this has taken so long to update.
Really mild M scene near the end.
Chapter Twenty Five
Daisy continued the "there is a monster under my bed" routine despite being shown each night by both Aria and Ezra that there was nothing under her bed. Every night at around midnight the toddler would come running into her parent's bedroom clutching Zoe and she would climb between them in their bed and promptly fall asleep.
It was now the 21st of December and they were going to drive to Rosewood the next day. Ezra was helping his mom with a charity function and Aria was at home with Daisy.
In an attempt to calm an extremely excitable Daisy down Aria had decided to make some gingerbread men.
Daisy was currently sitting crossed legged on the floor in front of the oven watching the gingerbread bake and Aria was sitting at the kitchen table wrapping gifts for Dianne and Ezra's grandmother.
"Are they ready yet mommy?" Daisy asked.
"Not yet sweetie," Aria replied. "A little bit longer and we have to let them cool before you can decorate them."
"I know mommy but I want them to be ready for when daddy gets home."
Aria glanced down at her phone which was on the table next to her noting the time she looked back at Daisy, "They will be Daisy," she responded. "Daddy won't be home for awhile."
Daisy turned back towards the oven and stared at it for a few more minutes. "Mommy," she said again.
"They're still not ready baby," Aria chuckled.
"I wanted to ask if you thinked Santa got my letter?" Daisy replied.
Aria smiled, "I think he did."
In fact there had been a letter addressed to Daisy in the mail box when they'd returned home with the ingredients for their gingerbread men. It was post marked "North Pole" and Aria had decided to wait until Ezra got home before giving it to Daisy.
Daisy smiled and turned towards the oven once more.
They'd had a struggle finding the doll that she had asked for, Ezra had finally located one in Vermont and he had driven there after dropping Daisy off at school one day. It was now wrapped up along with the Ariel costume and the other items Daisy had added to her list which included clothes and a crib for the doll (which Ezra had also got from Vermont), paints, a dollhouse and a purple bike.
Aria finished wrapping the last gift, topped it off with a gold bow and checked the time on her phone. She stood up and crouched down next to Daisy in front of the oven.
"I think they're done."
"Yay," Daisy replied excitedly.
Aria chuckled and kissed the top of Daisy's head then she reached over and turned the oven off. She stood up and grabbed an oven mitt from the kitchen counter.
Daisy shuffled away from the oven and clapped her hands together in excitement as Aria lifted them out. She got up from the floor and stood on her tip toes watching as Aria turned them out onto a cooling rack.
Thirty minutes later they were both sitting at the kitchen table decorating the gingerbread men when Ezra walked through the door.
"Something smells delicious in here," he said reaching out to grab an undecorated piece of gingerbread.
"No daddy," Daisy admonished tapping his hand gently. "You have to wait till we decorated them."
"Sorry," he chuckled as he leant down to kiss the top of his daughters head; he then walked around the table and did the same to Aria.
"Everything go okay?" Aria asked.
Ezra nodded, "It went great. My mom really knows how to make people dig into their pockets. Can I help with the decorating?"
Daisy lifted her head up from the gingerbread man she was icing and nodded, "You can do the Christmas tree daddy. But no eating it!"
Ezra smiled, "Okay," he chuckled. "I promise not eat it."
Later that night once Daisy was dressed in her pyjamas Aria got the letter from Santa out of her bag and showed it to the toddler.
"What is it mommy?" she asked.
Aria pointed to the post mark on the envelope. "This says it's from the North Pole."
Daisy's eyes widened, "Mommy that is where Santa is from," she looked at Ezra who was sitting next to her on the sofa. "Daddy it must be from Santa. It must be. Open it mommy."
Aria slipped her finger underneath the seal on the envelope, pulled out the folded paper from inside she unfolded it and held it out so Daisy could see before reading the letter out loud.
Ho, Ho, Ho Daisy.
Merry Christmas!
It says on my list that you have been a very good little girl this year! My elves are busy making sure my sleigh ready and all of my reindeers are getting excited too! We'll be on our way with your presents soon!
We all get rather hungry on Christmas Eve as we travel a long way I was wondering if you could leave out some cookies and a drink for me and carrots for my reindeer.
Lots of Love Santa xx
"How many more sleeps till soon?" Daisy asked excitedly.
"Just four," Ezra replied holding
up four fingers.
"Four sleeps is not soon." Daisy pouted.
"Yes it is," Aria replied. "And we're going to Rosewood tomorrow so you'll see Grandma and Uncle Mike and you'll be having so much fun with them it'll be one sleep before you know it."
This seemed to pacify Daisy and she went to bed full of questions about what cookies they would leave for Santa and whether he drank almond milk like she did.
The following morning with Daisy occupied in the bath playing with the vast array of toys she had Ezra got the presents that had been hidden in the back of the closet in the guest room and took them down to his car before she could see them. The dollhouse still had to be assembled and the bike had been delivered direct to Ella's house a few days earlier.
Just over an hour later the three of them were on the road heading towards Rosewood.
"Mommy," Daisy said as they passed the 'Welcome to Rosewood' sign a few hours later. "Will Santa knowed where to find me?"
Aria turned around in her seat so she was facing the backseat, "Of course he will Daisy, Santa knows you spend Christmas in Rosewood."
"He won't forgot?" Daisy asked.
Aria shook her head, "No baby he won't forget. Grandma has a special Christmas stocking with your name on it so he'll remember that you're here."
Ella heard the car on the gravel of the driveway and put down the book she'd been reading. She stood up and quickly walked over to the front door flinging it open she made her way onto the porch.
She loved the twice weekly skype sessions with Aria and Daisy but nothing in the world could replace the joy she felt when she held her granddaughter in her arms.
Ezra got out of the car and waved to Ella before opening the passenger door to allow Daisy to get out. The toddler immediately ran towards Ella who knelt down on the porch and held her arms out. Daisy clambered up the stairs and flung herself into her grandmother's embrace, her own arms wrapping tightly around Ella's neck.
"Mmmmm," Ella sighed. "I missed my Daisy and her Daisy hugs."
Daisy giggled causing Ella's heart to swell even more.
"I missed you too Grandma, and your hugs." Daisy mumbled against Ella's neck. "I so happy to be here."
Ella chuckled and stood up with Daisy still in her arms, "I'm so happy that you're here too Daisy. All of you."
After greeting both Aria and Ezra the four of them headed inside to the warmth.
It was soon Christmas Eve and Daisy's excitement had increased tenfold, she was full of energy and it looked like they were going to struggle to get her to sleep.
"Daisy," Ella said as she watched her granddaughter practically bounce around the living room. "I have an idea."
"What is it Grandma?" Daisy asked as she jumped over one of her toys.
"Well when your mommy and Uncle Mike were little we used to go and look at all the Christmas lights in the neighbourhood. How does that sound?"
"Yeah!" Daisy shouted. "I wanna do that." She immediately ran towards the front door. "Come on Grandma."
Aria chuckled and stood up, "Daisy you need to put your coat and boots on first it's cold outside."
Daisy sat down on the floor near the door and started to pull on her boots whilst Aria got her coat, hat and mittens from the cupboard.
"Are we ready?" Ella asked once Daisy was bundled up.
Daisy nodded and Ella opened the front door just as Mike came down the stairs.
"Uncle Mike, we're going to look at all the lights."
Mike smiled, "That sounds fun," he told his niece. "I think I might come with you."
"Do you think she'll go to sleep tonight?" Ezra asked as Aria curled into his side.
Aria sighed contentedly, "I think my mom and dad used to take us to tire us out."
Ezra chuckled, "Did it work?"
Aria lifted her head from its position on Ezra's shoulder and nodded, "I think my dad may have had to carry me home more than once."
Sure enough about thirty minutes later Ella walked in followed by Mike who was carrying Daisy.
"Someone is a little tired," Ella said with a smile.
Daisy lifted her head up and shook her head. "I not tired, I just a bit sleepy."
Aria lifted Daisy out of Mike's arms, "I'll tell you what," she said. "Why don't daddy and I give you a bath, then you can put on your Christmas jammies and we'll put the milk, cookies and carrots out for Santa and then read you a bedtime story."
Daisy yawned in response and Aria smiled at Ezra. They were both thinking the exact same thing that they probably wouldn't even need to read a bedtime story.
Sure enough Daisy's eyes were already drifting closed as Ezra placed her into Ella's bed just fifteen minutes later. Aria placed Zoe in her daughter's arms and they both kissed her forehead before quietly leaving the room.
Aria's eyes fluttered open and she turned her head to the right when she heard a laugh escape Ezra's lips. She had discovered that Ezra laughed in his sleep a few weeks after they had started sleeping together and found it to be adorable.
She turned onto her side and watched him sleep, her fingertips grazed his cheek and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
"Hey," he whispered hoarsely his eyes opening and meeting Aria's, "Merry Christmas."
Aria smiled and leaned towards him her lips pressed against his fleetingly, "Merry Christmas Ezra."
Ezra lifted a hand to Aria's hip and caressed the slither of exposed skin; he leaned towards her and pressed his lips to hers more firmly than she had done. Aria moaned and pressed her body against his as she deepened the kiss. Ezra pulled away and climbed out of bed.
"What's wrong?" Aria asked in confusion.
Ezra walked over to the bedroom door and turned the lock, "I just don't want any interruptions," he replied with a slight smile.
Aria smiled back and eyed him hungrily as he walked back towards the bed; she licked her lips and grabbed his t-shirt pulling him towards her for another kiss.
Ezra lay back down on the bed and shifted their bodies so that Aria was now lying on top of him. They kissed languidly for a few minutes before Aria broke away and sat up; she pulled her pyjama top over her head and did the same to Ezra's before pressing her chest against his.
Ezra moaned when he felt her fingers skim teasingly along the waistband of his pyjama pants, he flipped them so he was now on top and pulled Aria's pyjamas down her legs before kicking off his own.
They resumed kissing, their hands groping each other's bodies. Ezra pulled away after a few minutes.
"What's wrong?" Aria asked breathlessly.
"The condoms are in the bag by the door."
"It's okay," Aria replied.
Aria had started taking birth control a few weeks earlier but the times they'd been intimate since they'd used condoms as an extra precaution.
"You're sure?" Ezra asked.
Aria nodded, "I want to be able to feel you." She reached down and wrapped her fingers around his erect penis for emphasis.
Ezra thrust his hips slightly into her hand and groaned as she squeezed him. Aria let go, placed her legs around Ezra's hips and moaned when he thrust into her.
Their movements were unhurried they were both just enjoying being together but after a few minutes Aria moved her legs higher up Ezra's body and he knew that she wanted to speed things up so he grabbed her right leg and put it over his shoulder. Aria moaned at the shift in position and bit her lip to try and stifle it, she pulled Ezra towards her and they kissed fervently. Their pace became more urgent as they both tried to find their release.
Once Ezra felt the familiar fluttering he reached between their bodies and teased Aria's clit. Aria pressed her face into Ezra's shoulder as she came, the contractions of her inner muscles making Ezra cum with a grunt a few seconds later.
Ezra rolled off Aria and she immediately cuddled into his side, her head resting on his upper arm.
"Mmmm," Aria sighed happily. "That was nice."
Ezra chuckled, "Just nice?"
Aria tilted her head upwards so she could look at Ezra; she brushed her lips against his. "It was amazing."
Ezra smiled and brought a hand up to play with Aria's hair, "It was. I miss morning sex."
Aria chuckled, "Maybe Daisy will sleep in her own bed when we get back to New York."
They lay in a content silence for a few minutes.
"What time is it?" Aria asked.
Ezra reached over to the nightstand and picked up his cell phone. "It's almost ten to seven," he replied.
Aria stretched, "Daisy will probably be awake soon."
"You think?"
Aria nodded, "It's Christmas. I'm surprised she isn't awake already. What time did you used to get up?"
Ezra chuckled, "Early."
Aria stretched and slowly sat up. "Hey," Ezra said his fingers wrapping around her waist. "Where are you going?"
Aria pulled the covers back before turning and kissing Ezra gently on the lips. "I have to pee," she replied.
She bent down and picked their pyjamas from the floor; she tossed Ezra's onto the bed next to him and pulled her own on before heading out of the room and across to the bathroom.
Aria had no sooner walked back into the bedroom when there was a light tapping on the door. After a quick check to make sure Ezra was dressed Aria opened the door and Daisy came running in.
"Mommy, Daddy," she shouted. "It's Christmas. Can we see if Santa has been?"
"I'm sorry," Ella said from the doorway, "I tried to keep her in bed for a bit longer but she's too excited."
Aria shook her head, "It's okay we've been awake for a while ourselves."
A slight smile formed on Ella's lips causing Aria to blush at the realisation that maybe they hadn't been as quiet as they thought they were.
Daisy held both Aria's and Ezra's hands as they walked down the stairs towards the living room; she stopped on the bottom step and gasped as she saw the presents underneath the tree.
"He came!" Daisy squealed excitedly. "He remembered where I was."
Aria chuckled as Daisy attempted to drag them over to the vast pile of presents.
Just over an hour later Daisy was dressed in her Ariel costume attempting to show Ezra how to hold her new doll so it wouldn't cry whilst Aria and Ella tidied up the huge pile of wrapping paper.
By two o'clock Daisy had reluctantly changed out of her costume and into a pink tutu, cream sweater and thick woollen tights along with the floral Doc Martens that had been a gift from Hanna.
Daisy jumped up and down with excitement as Ezra carried her bike out into the driveway, once it was placed on the ground she allowed Aria to put her new helmet on her head before she ran down the porch steps towards Ezra.
Aria watched from the porch as Ezra tried to show their daughter how to use the pedals, Ella joined her a few moments later and handed her a cup of coffee.
"Daisy told me this morning that there was a present that she didn't ask Santa for," Ella said.
"Why not?" Aria replied.
Ella chuckled slightly and looked down the driveway towards Ezra and Daisy.
"Because she said Santa wouldn't be able to get it for her."
"What did she want?" Aria asked curiously, turning to face Ella.
"A baby sister or brother and she said Santa doesn't make those mommies and daddies do but she doesn't know how."
Aria chuckled and turned back towards Ezra and Daisy. She shook her head slightly as she watched them interacting.
Daisy would have to wait a few more years to get that present.
I don't like this chapter at all, and I spent so long procastinating over it. I decided to post it anyway because I figured if I put it off any longer it would already be next Christmas.
There is going to be a time jump between the end of this and the next chapter, just to move things along a bit.
Please review.
Amelia xx