This kind of took on a life of it's own haha. I break up for two weeks on Friday woowoooooo, more time to write my lovelies. Look out for more updates of both this and Restraints of Renown soon.
Thanks for harassing me to update :) it honestly makes me. I love all of your reviews
Parents and Pine Trees
"Caleb!" Jamie called as he spied his son hopping out of his car.
"Hey guys," Caleb said, giving Ashley a hug and Tom and Jamie a handshake in greeting as they waited for Hanna to pull Mila out of her car seat. It was the day of Logan's preschool Christmas pageant and for some reason, all his grandparents – bar Claudia who was in California – had decided they wanted to take off work early to be there. "Hey babe," He greeted Hanna, pecking her on the lips before taking Mila from her as she moved to the boot of the car to pull out her stroller. He kissed Mila's hair tenderly as she sleepily stirred from her afternoon nap, cooing gently as she cuddled against Caleb's shoulder.
"You wanna strap her in," Hanna suggested, pushing Mila's stroller in front of Caleb for him to put her in whilst she grabbed her bag from the car. "Remind me again why we decided to move house just before Christmas?" She asked as Ashley took control of the stroller and began to move them towards the entrance.
Caleb took Hanna's hand, pulling her close as they headed inside, "The house was looking pretty good this morning," He reassured her, squeezing her fingers.
"Okay let me rephrase," Hanna started, "Why did we decide to move house and then agree to host a Christmas tree party before Christmas?"
Caleb laughed, "Because Spencer just had a baby and is refusing to take her child to a house for an elongated period of time that is not child friendly."
"Why did Ali have to throw a literal house party for Halloween?" Hanna moaned, "Spence would be fine if she hadn't taken Nori to it. Caleb, we're throwing a tree party and we don't even have a tree…"
Caleb stroked her shoulder as they headed into the main hall and found some seats relatively near the front. "It'll be fine, we've got tonight to sort it out," He tried to soothe her as they sat down.
Hanna raised her eyebrow and looked at Caleb with a deadpan look, "Really?" She asked, "Because three out of five grandparents haven't invited themselves over?" With Ted's presence in their life he'd easily become an honorary grandparent, and he treated and loved Logan and Mila like they were his own.
Caleb looked over his shoulder at the three of them before looking back at Hanna, "Tell me you're joking."
Hanna patted Caleb's chest, cuddling into his side and biting her lip to hold back a laugh as she took in his put out face, "I'm so glad you love them as much as I do," She teased him.
"Why are they here anyway?" Caleb muttered. He got that they loved their grandkids, but it was unusual for Jamie and Tom to proactively take time off work to watch Logan perform in his Christmas pageant.
Hanna shrugged, standing and climbing over Caleb to get to Mila as she began to whimper in her stroller. "It's Christmas," She said matter-of-factly, pulling the toddler into her arms and grabbing her blanket to wrap around her. "It's okay," She soothed her, sitting back down and cradling Mila against her chest.
"She okay Hanna?" Jamie asked from his seat next to Caleb.
Hanna smiled at him, cupping the back of Mila's head as Caleb stroked her foot and she quietened. "She's just tired," Caleb responded, draping his arm around the back of Hanna's chair.
"She might go back to sleep," Hanna murmured quietly, before everyone began to quieten down in readiness for the performance.
An hour later and Logan, dressed as a very handsome shepherd, took a final bow on stage, waving excitedly at all of his family as he spied them in the audience before a teacher thanked everyone for coming and offered instructions for parents who wanted to collect their children and take them home. Logan raced over as soon as they were allowed, jumping at Tom Marin's feet excitedly whilst Hanna disappeared off to grab his things. "Hey tyke," Tom said, picking him up, "Good job on stage," He praised him.
Despite still lacking in presence, Tom was more present as a grandfather than he ever had been as a father. Jamie was there when he could be, but his work kept him travelling up and down the East coast and he wasn't settled. Hanna and Caleb were fine with it; they were used to it; in some ways they preferred it, but they absolutely hated when either Tom or Jamie began to complain about the kids not wanting to go to them, or spend time with them. If they wanted that relationship with them, then Hanna and Caleb were both adamant that they had to be there.
Jamie was trying to grab Mila's attention to no end, but all she cared about was the big Christmas tree in the hall that was covered in bright lights and shiny decorations. Caleb was keeping an eye on her and standing close by with his arms folded as the toddler stared up and occasionally inspected a decoration on the lower branches. "Mila," He called as she began to toddle off round one side of the tree. She paused and looked back at him, staring at him inquisitively. "Come back here," He suggested, shaking his head at her.
"She's fine," Jamie said, walking over and bending down next to her to point out a decoration.
Caleb bit his tongue and kept a response in. She might have been fine, but he didn't want her just wandering off. She was his little girl and he was infinitely protective of her. "Dada," Mila called to Caleb, holding onto a decoration to try and steady herself as she stumbled a little.
"You got Poppa over there, you're all good," He said to her as she began to pull on the decoration and shake the tree branch up and down, pine needles beginning to shed underneath. "Mila, don't shake the tree," He warned, shaking his head at her. "No," He said again when she tried to pull the decoration off.
"Caleb," Jamie said, "She can have fun."
"Mila," Caleb ignored his Dad and grabbed Mila's attention with his sharp tone. "Don't do that," He told her, "Come here," He instructed, holding his hand out for her.
"Caleb," Jamie chastised again as Mila abandoned the decoration and her Poppa and walked back over to Caleb.
"Dad," Caleb said, scooping his baby up and propping her on his hip, "Let me parent her." He said determinedly, brushing Mila's hair back from her face.
"Okay," Hanna said, breezing back in, completely oblivious to the simmering tension between Caleb and Jamie. "Someone's been busy today," She shot Caleb a look, holding up her hands that were full of Christmas things Logan had made.
Caleb grinned, propping Mila on the floor again as she wriggled in his arms. "Lo, you wanna ride with Mommy or Daddy?" He asked the pre-schooler as Mila walked over to Hanna for attention as she loaded Logan's things into the basket underneath the stroller. "Or I'm sure every grandparent has their car here too," He muttered.
Logan pondered it for a minute, "Mommy," He smiled, leaving Tom and Ashley for Hanna's attention too.
"You were the best shepherd," She cuddled him close with one arm as Mila tugged on her other hand, kissing the side of his head. "Did you enjoy singing for everyone?" She asked him, reaching for his tiny parka coat that was hanging on the back of the stroller. Logan nodded as Hanna held his coat up for Caleb, "Babe, can you?" She asked him, scooping Mila up to strap her into her stroller. She almost tried to fight it, but Hanna tucked her in with her blankie and gave her a binkie.
"Daddy," Logan started as Caleb tugged his parka on, wrapping his arms around Caleb's neck as he zipped up the thick coat, "I was singing Away in the Manger," He said, tilting his head as he played with the toggles on his coat.
"You were," Caleb agreed, "And you were singing so well."
Hanna leant down to kiss Logan on the cheek. "Grammy and Grampa and Poppa are coming back to ours for dinner," She said, standing up. "And Grandad might come over later too."
"Yay!" Logan jumped up and down excitedly before rushing to hug Tom.
Hanna smiled at him as she leant on the handlebar of the stroller and watched the pair of them. Logan was the most loving child and for some reason her Dad had chosen to give him some of that love right back. For all his faults as a father, he did love his grandkids.
"Shall we go babe?" Caleb suggested.
"Yeah," Hanna agreed, pushing the stroller out as everyone followed her to their respective cars. "Lo," She called, opening up the back door to their Audi, "In little monkey," She encouraged him, giving him a helping hand as he climbed up. "You didn't wanna go with Daddy?" She asked him as she strapped him in, "In his new car?" Logan still shook his head, reaching his hands out and holding onto Hanna's hair.
"No, wiv Mommy," He said, squealing when she leant forward and kissed him smack on the lips.
"You're too cute," She cooed, stroking his cheek before she shut his door and moved round to the front. Everyone else had dispersed and Caleb had taken Mila over to his car, clearly deciding she was going to go with him. Hanna really didn't want to cook for everyone and also in her defence, hadn't properly organised her new kitchen and so took the executive decision to order pizza as she drove through Rosewood. "Whoa Lo, everyone beat us home," She said as she spied Caleb's car sitting in their driveway and her Mom's on the road.
"Daddy drive's fast," Logan replied so casually, Hanna almost burst out laughing as the little boy waited for Hanna to come and pull him out. They headed inside, through to the kitchen where Caleb had already gotten some rather alcoholic looking drinks for everyone.
"Mama," Mila called from Caleb's arms.
"Hi angel," She said, throwing her keys on the side before pulling her into her arms. "Shall we go put our jammies on before dinner gets here?" She suggested, holding her tightly.
She took both her and Logan upstairs, getting the little boy changed out of his shepherd costume and into some Christmas pyjamas first before moving down the hallway to Mila's room. She couldn't help it, she just had to dress them in matching Christmas pyjamas and then take a ridiculously cute picture as they sat in the middle of the room and cuddled with each other. "Mommy she wants a doggy," Logan said, wrapping an arm around his baby sister as Mila sat next to him, looking up.
"Here's her puppy," Hanna replied, handing Mila her stuffed toy dog and avoiding Logan's obvious attempt.
"It's a doggy," Logan said sweetly to his sister, "He's sayin' woof," He added, nudging the toy against Mila's nose, prompting her to start laughing.
"Is Lo making you laugh?" Hanna asked, moving to sit with them, "Is he making you laugh baby?" She cooed, tickling her tummy lightly.
"Mama!" She squealed, her face scrunching up in pure delight as Hanna ghosted her fingers over the toddler's belly.
"You're doin' a pretty great job," Tom Marin said from the doorway where he was watching the trio. Hanna whipped her head round and looked at her Dad who began to make his way into Mila's room, "I'm proud of you," He added, squatting down next to her and squeezing her shoulder.
Hanna held Mila's waist as she stood too fast and almost fell over, "They make it easy."
"No," Tom argued, "You're doin' great and so is Caleb."
"Caleb's the best Dad in the world," It came out of her mouth so naturally, she didn't even think twice. "Sorry," She quickly gasped, her hand coming to her lips.
Tom laughed, "He's way better than I ever was."
"Dada," Mila said, holding her cuddly toy close.
"That's right," Hanna smiled, holding her waist as she stood in front of her, "We love Daddy don't we?"
Logan shuffled his way forward and leant his arms on Hanna's crossed legs, "Daddy said," He started, pausing as he thought about his words.
"Daddy said what?" Hanna asked him gently, rubbing his back.
"Daddy said he likes doggies," He said casually, "I like doggies."
"Santa can't bring dogs on his sleigh Lo, Santa told Mommy and Daddy."
Tom grinned, standing with Hanna, "You want Santa to bring you a pup, tyke?" He asked as Hanna shot him a knowing look.
"It's not all he wants," She muttered.
"I want a doggy and a raydeer and a car and a dinosaur," He listed as Hanna encouraged him to head back to everyone downstairs.
"Good to see he's inherited your materialism," Tom remarked as the doorbell rang.
Hanna rolled her eyes and let Mila and Logan head off back to the kitchen as she grabbed her purse from the side. When she opened the door, Ted was stood there with cash in his hand, already paying the pizza guy, "Hey," She greeted him, "Let me get that," She said, but Ted batted her hand back.
"I know that face," He said.
"What face?" Hanna frowned, taking the pizza and leading him inside.
"The my-Dad's-here face," He replied, rubbing her back.
"Yep."
"Don't let him get to you," He suggested.
Hanna smiled tightly at him, placing the pizza boxes on the kitchen table and beginning to lay out plates. "Grandad, Grandad," Logan called, rushing forward into Ted's waiting arms as soon as he spotted him.
"Let me take a look at you," He said, holding him out in front of him, "Yep, you look like you were the best shepherd there was," He praised, "Grammy sent me pictures," He added, kissing his forehead before putting him down as Mila ran at him too. "Hi pretty girl," He grinned, squatting down to cuddle her close.
"Ba," Mila said, jerking her hands to her mouth and smiling.
"Hey, her tooth's cut," He said, standing up with Mila in his arms.
"And we're finally sleeping again," Caleb laughed, folding his arms over his chest as he leant against the island and watched them.
"Has she been keeping you both up?" Ashley asked as they moved towards the table and sat down. "You know we'll take them if you need a break," She said, helping Logan up onto the chair next to her.
"We know Mom," Hanna rolled her eyes, but smiled. Her and Caleb made a concerted effort not to overuse her Mom and Ted's babysitting services so that when they actually wanted a break… or a date night… or a trip to New York, they didn't feel too guilty asking them.
"We use you enough," Caleb agreed, taking Mila from Ted and strapping her into her high chair.
"I can help you guys out more," Jamie offered as everyone began to grab slices of pizza.
"Thanks," Hanna smiled, "Would you like to go to Poppa's?" She cooed at Mila, placing some cut up pieces of pizza on her tray.
The toddler squealed, reaching for a piece and shoving it in her mouth, completely ignoring Hanna's question. As Hanna looked around, everyone laughing at her baby girl as they sat in her new kitchen, she knew this was what Christmas was about.
"Mama."
"Mommy!"
"What are you doing?" She smiled at them from where she was curled into the corner of the sofa with a glass of wine in hand.
Caleb had disappeared off with Jamie to show him something in the garage and her Dad had shot off after dinner, leaving Hanna in her new living area with Ashley and Ted and two very energetic children. "We playin'," Logan said from where he was situated inside an empty cardboard box with his sister.
Hanna had been unpacking the last few items from their old place painstakingly slowly; making sure everything was actually in one piece and being put exactly where she wanted it. But that meant her two children were having way too much fun right before bedtime. They needed their sleep; they were hosting a tree decorating party tomorrow for all their friends and Hanna really didn't want two grouchy little Rivers in the morning. "That's nice, but be careful Lo," She warned him as they began to shuffle round in circles in the box.
"Mommy we stuck," Logan explained, gripping onto the corner of the box.
"You're stuck?" She asked him, watching as Mila gripped onto the same corner and pushed her weight forward. "Careful," She said again as Logan and Mila began to shuffle around slightly, "It's gonna fall," She added, her voice getting louder as she watched them lean into one side before the box did exactly as predicted and tipped over, two babes crashing down with it.
There was silence and for a split second Hanna wondered if her children had managed to somehow kill themselves before the expected cries came. And they were loud, tearful cries at that. "It's okay," She soothed them both, putting her glass on a coaster and rushing over to them. "You're okay," She said, pulling Mila up and into her arms before using one hand to help Logan crawl out and stand up.
"Mommeee," He cried, holding his arms up for her.
"Okay, come here," She said, leading him over to the sofa to cuddle with her. Mila had stopped crying and was whimpering with self-pity but Hanna knew Logan was about to set her off again. "Where does it hurt?" She asked him, stroking his hair as he cuddled into her, praying snot was not being wiped all over her brand new cream sofa.
"Here," Logan spluttered, holding up his hand.
"Let me kiss it better," Hanna replied, bringing his palm to her lips and pressing kisses against it.
Just as Hanna had managed to calm them both down, Caleb appeared seemingly from nowhere, with Jamie behind him. "What's going on?" He asked as he took in the tell-tale signs of red eyes and clinginess.
"They were in a box and it tipped over," Ashley said, clear concern in her voice.
"Are they okay?" He asked, moving over to them and cupping Mila's head as she moved her hand and reached up for him.
Hanna nodded, "They were just shocked," She replied, cuddling into him when he sat next to her.
"Are they hurt honey?" Ashley asked, reaching for her wine as Ted relaxed with his arm around her.
"No, they're fine," Hanna said, letting Logan go as he shuffled to the edge of the sofa and scrambled down with his tears completely forgotten.
"Grandad," The three-year-old said, moving over to Ashley and Ted. "Do you know Santa?" He asked, placing both his hands on Ted's knees as he looked up at him and rocked back and forth on his heels.
Ted smiled, pulling him onto his lap as Hanna and Caleb nodded at him. "Of course I know Santa," He replied, squeezing his waist as the little boy lounged half over Ashley, half over Ted.
"Is he bringin' Mimi a doggy cos she telled him she wanted one," He suggested innocently. Hanna bit her fingers to hold back a laugh; her three-year-old thought he was being so coy and opaque. Caleb rolled his eyes too, holding Mila against his chest once she'd crawled over to him.
Ted patted Logan's stomach and shook his head. "Santa can't bring dog's on his sleigh," He said. Ashley had briefed him on what they were supposed to say when Logan undoubtedly asked about a dog that evening.
"Why?"
"Because, dog's would get too cold in his sleigh," Ted replied.
Logan huffed, resting his hands on top of Ted's arm around his waist as he thought about not getting a dog from Santa, "Den we getted a raydeer instead."
The next morning, Caleb drove everyone out to the nearest Christmas tree farm to pick their tree for the new house. They were waiting slightly later that year because of the move and as such, Hanna had decided she wanted to invite everyone over to help decorate and make it feel as Christmassy as possible. That had unfortunately meant Logan had spent the rest of the morning on tenterhooks, waiting for the tree to be delivered and set up in the living room.
"Daddy, Daddy!" Logan called excitedly as the front doorbell rang.
"What do you think it is?" Caleb asked, grinning as the little boy raced down the hallway to the front door, jumping up and down excitedly as Caleb opened it.
"Our tree!" Logan squealed, rushing outside in his bare feet to see the tree they'd picked out earlier strapped onto the roof of a van.
"Logan, what are you doing?" Hanna called as she joined the pair outside. "Your toes are gonna drop off," She said. She reached to pick him up but he shook his head and instead hopped back and forth from one foot to the other. "Don't come crying to Mommy when you've got frostbite," She warned him, keeping a hand on his shoulder to stop him running off as Caleb spoke to the two guys who were delivering the tree.
"Thanks guys," Caleb said to pair as they hauled the tree off the roof. Hanna followed them inside as Logan reached for Caleb, happy to be put on his shoulders. "Are your toes cold?" He asked the little boy, rubbing Logan's freezing feet as they headed back in.
"No," Logan argued, resting his hands on his head.
"Really? Because they feel pretty cold," Caleb suggested.
He walked them through to their open plan living room and kitchen area that ran along the back of the house, smiling as he watched Hanna instruct the two guys exactly where she wanted the tree. He lifted Logan off his shoulders and placed him on the ground before she showed the two guys out and tipped them. When he came back in, Logan was lying on the sofa with Hanna rubbing and tickling his feet as he giggled and shrieked away. "Daddy, help, help!" He squealed, reaching his hands out for Caleb as he laughed away.
Caleb moved over to them and smiled, bending down to kiss Hanna as she let Logan move his feet off her and stand up on the sofa. "Mommy's helping you," He said to him as he tugged on his t-shirt. "Because your feet were cold weren't they?" He added pointedly.
Logan finally nodded and turned to Hanna, wrapping his arms around her neck and giving her a big fat sloppy kiss on her cheek before jumping down and going to look at the tree. "What is going on with him?" Hanna muttered as Caleb sat down next to her, pulling her legs over his lap as they both watched Logan prance around the bottom of the tree. "Why is he being sassy?"
Caleb laughed and leant down to steal a kiss, squeezing her thigh. "He's just adjusting to the new place," He suggested, "Seeing everyone round here today will help him get over it."
Hanna pouted, "I hope you're right," She said, her hand massaging the base of his neck, "I want my loving little baby back."
Caleb stroked her cheek with his thumb, "Pretty sure this is his slobber right here," He said, grinning at her.
"Mommy," Logan called, racing over to the pair of them.
"What now monkey?" She asked him, scooping him up to sit in between her and Caleb, teasing his hair with her fingers as he looked up at her.
"Can we see Bailey today?" He asked; he was completely obsessed with Emily and Alison's dog. He was completely obsessed with all dogs.
"She's coming here later," Hanna said excitedly, tickling his belly, "Mommy invited her to the party."
"Yay!" Logan exclaimed, holding his arms up in the air.
"Shall we go get ready before Mimi wakes up from her nap? Mommy and Daddy need your help getting all the decorations ready too."
Logan nodded, cuddling into Caleb's side as he ran his fingers through the back of his hair. "You gonna help Mommy and Daddy?" Caleb asked.
The little boy paused and then shook his head, "No."
Hanna looked at him pointedly as he tried to look as innocent as possible. This was going to be a long day.
"Babe, where's Mimi?" Caleb asked as he looked around the room for his daughter. Everyone had arrived not that long ago and Logan had been desperate to attack the tree with decorations. Caleb had started to help and get into the festive spirit, but he'd seen the way his baby girl had been enraptured by the decorations on the tree at Logan's preschool and he wanted her to come and enjoy looking at all the ones they were putting on their own tree. But the 13-month-old was nowhere in sight.
Hanna placed a decoration on the tree without turning to look at her husband, "She's with Aria," She said distractedly, reaching for another. "Lo, here," She called to him, handing him a glittery snowflake, "Put this one on," She encouraged as he decorated with Emily's help. Caleb sighed, debating between whether to go and find Mila or carry on decorating the tree with everyone. "Babe, relax," Hanna said, reaching out to stroke his arm. "This is supposed to be fun," She added as Christmas music played in the background.
"I know," Caleb replied, slightly defensively, "But she loves the decorations."
Hanna rolled her eyes but didn't say anything; her husband was such a child hog sometimes. Her friends loved her kids like they were their own - if they wanted to take them off for 5 minutes of exploring then that was fine. She wasn't going to be breathing down their neck about it. Luckily, for Caleb's sake, Aria soon brought Mila back, cooing down at her as she walked in slowly whilst holding her hand. "Caleb," Hanna said quietly, grabbing his attention, "She's here." She said, nodding her head in the direction of the pair that were coming towards them.
"Dada," The 13-month-old smiled behind her binky, waving her free arm at Caleb as he spied her.
"Hi baby," He cooed at her, bending down to hold his arms out before she rushed forward. "Were you exploring with Auntie Ari?" He asked, kissing her forehead as he scooped her up.
"Ba!" She agreed, gripping onto his t-shirt.
"You were? Did you show her your new room?"
"We saw everything," Aria said, stroking the back of her head.
"San," Mila said, leaning over Caleb's shoulder and reaching for a decoration on the tree.
Caleb gasped and kissed the side of her head as she gave up reaching and instead grasped his face with her tiny hands, "That's right, Santa's coming soon," He said, kissing her fingers as they pressed against his mouth. "Do you like the decorations? Can you help Daddy put them on the tree?" He cooed.
"Em," Spencer interrupted from her position on the sofa where was cuddling with baby Eleanor. She had appointed herself as Project Manager to oversee the decorating process and was seriously loving life as she sat back and directed everyone. "Who's baby is cuter?" She asked,
"Spencer!" Emily exclaimed, "How is that a question?"
"Mila is cuter," Alison smirked at Spencer just to see her reaction.
"How can you say that?" Spencer called, "Look at my baby," She added, holding Eleanor up in her arms. "She's in a Christmas onesie!"
Hanna laughed and sat down next to her, taking Eleanor into her arms. "Mila is cuter," She agreed with Alison, laughing when Spencer slapped her on the arm. "Look at her," Hanna cooed as Caleb held up a twirling ornament for her little girl. She had the most wide-eyed adorable look on her face before she squealed and reached forward to grab onto another decoration.
"Spencer, your child doesn't speak," Ezra said deadpan, "This one," He added, pointing at Mila, "She communicates in an endearing manner."
Hanna held back a snigger, handing Nori back to Spencer. Logan ran over to her and she reached her hand out to play with the back of his hair. "Ezra's right," Hanna agreed. "Your child's too content to be cuter than Mimi. You need some sass."
Spencer raised an eyebrow and was going to respond telling Hanna she'd live to regret saying that, but before the conversation could go any further, Logan interrupted with what was becoming a seriously boring party line, "Mommy," He began, looking up at Hanna expectantly. "Is Santa bringin' a doggy?"
Hanna shook her head no, "Where would it go under the tree?"
"But da tree is big," Logan argued, pulling himself up into Hanna's lap to look her dead in the eye.
"Not big enough for a doggy," She argued. Unfortunately, Emily hadn't been able to bring Bailey over for the tree party. Hanna was kind of glad – it meant her house stayed free of dog hair, but her little boy had been seriously disappointed.
"What about a dinosaur?" Emily tried. They were all trying to turn Logan off the desperate desire for his own puppy.
"No," Logan shook his head.
"If you can't have a doggy, what would you like?" Aria tried.
Logan pouted and looked like he was about to cry, burying his head against Hanna's neck. "Okay, my child is cuter than that," Spencer joked. "How can I get them to stay little forever?" She asked. "Serious sass is not cute."
"You can't," Caleb said solemnly, holding Mila extra close and kissing her cheek.
They all watched as Logan pushed himself off Hanna's lap and ran over to the Christmas tree, holding the lower branches and closing his eyes, "Santa, Santa," He called, waving them up and down, "Mimi wanted a doggy," He yelled, pulling some of the pine needles off.
"Logan," Hanna scolded. "What are you doing?"
Logan opened an eye and squinted at her over his shoulder. "And Mimi would liked a raydeer."
Hanna collapsed back against the sofa as everyone laughed. "Logan, why are you holding onto the tree?" Caleb asked, placing Mila on the floor before gently unwrapping the little boy's hands from the lower branches.
"Cos," Logan huffed like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "It talks to Santa Daddy," He explained, "Da tree said to me that it can telled Santa about a doggy."
"Lo," Caleb tried gently, "The tree can't talk to Santa. Only Mommy or Daddy can talk to Santa."
"No," He began to cry, "But Gwampa…"
"Grampa said what?" Caleb tried to soothe him, scooping him up and taking him back over to Hanna.
"What did Grampa say?" Hanna asked quietly, wiping his tears with the pad of her thumb.
"Da tree knows Santa," He whimpered, reaching for Hanna and burying himself against her neck. "And da tree could get a doggy."
Hanna shot Caleb a knowing look over Logan's shoulder. She wanted to kill her Dad right now. Everyone else managed to be on point with their message about a doggy not being able to go in a sleigh… a doggy not being able to fit under the tree… a doggy just not happening. And then her Dad had to go and give her little boy hope. She should have known he was up to something when he was whispering to Logan the previous night, making his face light up.
"There's always one," Toby sighed. "Your Dad's an idiot."
"You're telling me," Hanna agreed, stroking Logan's back as he cuddled close for comfort.
"At least the tree's almost decorated," Ezra tried, although Aria shot him a look that told him to shut up.
"Logan, I really need your help to finish decorating the tree," She tried, smiling at Logan hopefully when he lifted his head to look at his Aunty Ari. "Can you help me?"
Logan nodded slowly, walking over and taking her outstretched hand once Hanna propped him on the floor. "And all is right again," Caleb sighed.
"Erm, your daughter's trying to eat the tree," Spencer observed casually.
"Mila," Caleb jumped up, pulling her mouth and hand away from the branch. "Not for eating, okay?" He told her, "Come see Nori," He suggested, carrying her over to Spencer where he parked her on the sofa next to her.
"If your tree lasts a week, I'll be impressed," Emily laughed, standing up to go and help Aria and Logan again.
Hanna sighed heavily, her eyebrows furrowing as she laid her head back against the back of the sofa and closed her eyes. "I take it back," She started, "Nori's cuter. A baby who poops pine needles is not cute."
"Poop can be endearing." Ezra said.
Everyone looked at him funnily, "You clearly haven't had a child," Hanna argued. "Talk to me when you have parents who are telling your child the Christmas tree talks to Santa and a child that will be digesting pine needles over the next six hours before suggesting poop is cute." Hanna said, staring at him pointedly.
"Point taken."
Hanna shook her head, trying to push the thoughts to the back of her mind and focus on the beautiful family that surrounded her instead. If she didn't, parents and pine trees would seriously be the death of her this holiday season. Parents and freaking pine trees.
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