Dreams Come True, Chapter 2
Elizabeth opens her arms and the little boy crawls into her enveloping hug. She brushes back his messy hair to kiss him on the forehead. He looks at her happily.
"Mommy! It's Christmas."
"I know that Michael." Elizabeth leans forward to whisper in his ear. "Why don't you remind Daddy?"
Michael lays down next to John with his nose only an inch away from father's cheek.
"Daddy! It's Christmas! There's gonna be presents under the tree and everything!"
John opens one eye to look at his son's beaming face before rolling over and pulling Michael over his chest. Michael scrambles into a sitting position on his gut, putting unwelcome pressure on his full bladder. He tries to shift the little boy, but he's too excited and starts to bounce up and down.
"Umph."
"Michael. Why don't you sit next to Daddy on the bed?"
Michael moves and John turns to Elizabeth with a smile.
"I thank you and my bladder thanks you."
"Not to mention my sheets," she responds before turning at a noise in the doorway.
Marcus, their youngest son by 2 minutes, is standing there still rubbing sleep from his eyes. He walks over to Elizabeth's side of the bed and lifts his arms. She obliges the silent request, picking him up and settling him on her lap. He gives her a wet kiss on the cheek before snuggling into her chest.
"Morning, Mommy."
"Good morning, Marcus."
"Daddy! Daddy! Wake up. You have to wake up and give me my presents." Michael is now shaking his father's shoulder. John has pretended to go back to sleep and lets out an exaggerated snore.
Elizabeth looks down at Marcus. "Are you excited about this morning?"
"Uh-huh," Marcus says with a yawn. "Uncle Marc is coming."
Elizabeth gives Marcus another tight hug. He is their sensitive one. The boys are identical twins with their father's unruly black hair and her jade green eyes. John claims they have her smile, but the looks they give her when they want something they shouldn't have or have done something wrong, are all him.
The two boys looks identical, but their personalities could not be more different. Michael is brash and tends to jump into situations with both feet, often with his eyes closed to any possible danger. Marcus is more measured and thoughtful. Not that he doesn't get into his fair share of trouble, he is his father's son.
John is now half sitting up with his upper body resting on his elbows. Michael is still bouncing up and down excitedly on the other side of the bed. He looks over at Marcus.
"What? I don't get a good morning?"
Marcus smiles and leaps onto his father's chest to give him a hug.
"Good morning, Daddy."
Michael follows his brother's example and jumps on John's chest. The combined weight of the two boys collapses his arms and he falls back onto the bed with a grunt. He retaliates by reaching up and tickling the boys who start to flail and giggle on top of him. Elizabeth laughs along until she sees one of their knees come dangerously close to a sensitive are of John's anatomy.
"Okay. That's enough." She pulls them off John one by one and gives them a gentle shove off the bed. "You two go get cleaned up. I'll be there in a minute. If you're good, maybe I'll let you open one present before Uncle Marc gets here."
The two boys race out of the room and Elizabeth leans over John, who looks deliriously happy.
"You make the bed and shower. I'll get the boys dressed and start making breakfast."
"You say that like there's a question over who makes the bed."
Elizabeth smiles and leans down to give him a quick kiss, pulling away quickly before he can start back to where they left off earlier.
"But you love me anyway."
She starts to move away, but John grabs her hand to stop her. He reaches up with his other hand to brush his knuckles against her cheek.
"I do love you, Elizabeth Sheppard."
Elizabeth lays a hand lightly on his chest.
"And I love you, John. Happy Anniversary."
"Happy Anniversary."
TBC...