The First One As Three
Lisbon, still half asleep, moved toward him in the bed finding only the warm spot where he'd been. She opened her eyes to confirm he was no longer there. She groaned a little, not wanting to get up yet but throwing the covers back and sliding out anyway.
Lisbon crept quietly down the hall past the baby's room but paused when she heard Jane's voice. She went to the doorway to see him leaning over the crib rubbing Caroline's back telling her a story, she leaned against the doorframe to watch and listen.
"... Leave it there always in memory of my visit; and whenever you look at it or show it to anybody you must let it remind you to be a good little girl. Whenever you are naughty and someone points to that mark which your good old Santa Claus's boot made on the marble, what will you say little sweetheart?"
Jane stood upright, "Happy first Christmas sweet girl"
"What was that?" He heard from a quiet teary eyed Lisbon in the doorway behind him.
He smiled sweetly at her as he made his way across the room, "Mark Twain. Why are you crying?" He asked as he wrapped her in his arms and put a quick gentle kiss on her lips.
"Just overwhelmed. I love you" she replied squeezing him. "Did she eat already?"
"Yep, just got her back to sleep. Do you want to come back to bed with me?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye.
She didn't answer, simply nodded shyly and led him back toward their bedroom.
They'd slept in a good amount of the morning, both of them enjoying and taking advantage of the quiet time. Eventually they heard Caroline start to fuss.
"I guess that means it's time to get up" Lisbon spoke into Jane's bare chest.
Jane stretched, "Yes, but it's already been a great Christmas" he said with a grin.
Lisbon grabbed the baby and Jane headed for the kitchen to make breakfast, even though it was closer to lunchtime.
Jane and Lisbon didn't do gifts for each other again that year. They also didn't do any for Caroline, figuring as a baby she had all she needed already and wouldn't exactly remember anyway.
As Caroline grew up, she'd learn that picking out and decorating the tree, walking through the towns looking at the lights and decorations, listening to her Dad's stories, and her Mom's carols were more important than any gifts she would have received. They'd never really exchanged gifts on Christmas for that reason and Caroline learned how sacred the family time was.
She never went without and it never bothered her, in fact she came to appreciate it as she got older. When her friends would talk about the gifts they got, she would talk about the things her family did instead. Puzzles and games by the fire, books they'd read together and songs they'd sing, playing in the snow, or feeding the ducks... it was a whole day of family time and while she and her Mom could get into some doozy of fights (no worse than she'd seen between her parents though) and her Dad never let her get away with anything, she never for a moment felt unloved. And more importantly, she never for a moment doubted her parents love for each other and always knew how important Christmas was to them.
Jane and Lisbon took Caroline into the city and walked around looking at the Christmas lights that evening. She was wide eyed and smiling the whole time.
Jane winked at Lisbon as he slipped into the Chinese restaurant to get carry out.