A/N: This is a standalone "Christmas special" in the Songs about Jane series. Here, I am trying something different by starting with an Annie POV. Usually, the POV's are Jane's or Lisbon's. Thanks for reading and reviewing in advance. Have a happy holiday! Song: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
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Christmas Eve
Of course, it was raining again! It rained a lot in Sacramento in the winter time. She missed when it snowed at Christmas time–but it was nice to get to swim and play outside all year long! At breakfast this morning, she got a nice surprise.
Mommy was in a very good mood as she handed her her hot chocolate. "I got us passes to go ice skating this morning!"
"That is a nice treat." Daddy smiled, but he didn't seem too happy about it.
Mommy frowned. "You don't want to go?"
"Well, I…"
"Come on, daddy! You have to go! Ice skating is a Christmas tradition."
He ruffled her hair. "Of course, Annie."
When they got to the skating rink, daddy tried to stay on the bleachers.
"I'll sit here and hold Charlotte."
"Patrick, you didn't get bundled up just to come sit here. Can you not skate?"
He shook his head. "Never really learned. I like walking places."
"We can stay on the outside. Besides, I have Charlotte here in her carrier." Mommy was wearing Charlotte on her chest like they did when they went out sometimes.
"Um, are we sure that's really safe? Why don't my winter loving girls have fun? I can sit with Charlotte."
Mommy pushed the skates into daddy's hand. He put them on, and they all went out onto the ice. He held onto the side rail with one hand and he held mommy's hand tightly with the other one. She tried to stay with them at first, but he was so slow!
"Mommy, can I go skate? I want to go faster!"
She nodded. "Yes, you can. But stay in front of us! Don't go too far ahead. Remember stranger safety!"
Mommy was always talking about being safe around strangers. She said even if the bad man who hurt her wasn't coming back, there were bad people in the world. But who would do anything bad when it was so close to Santa coming?
She stayed in front of them like she said. After they went around a few times, daddy was able to stop holding on so much, so they went a little faster. Still, he was ready to stop. Daddy took Charlotte from mommy.
"Come on, Annie. Let's go show them how Chicago girls do this." Mommy took her hand and they went around the ice really fast this time, zipping around other people. They even practiced some of their tricks! It was so much fun!
After doing some tricks, they went to lunch. Daddy took them to a nice restaurant. They had amazing hot chocolate! Because it was a holiday daddy said she could have hot chocolate all day!
Once they finished eating, they went home for Charlotte's nap. While Charlotte took a nap, they watched the Santa Clause. That was a funny movie.
After the movie finished, they had to change into their Christmas dresses because it was time to go to church. She was surprised, but daddy actually came with them this time! Mommy seemed surprised, too.
"Are you sure you want to come with us, Patrick? You don't have to come. You can always stay and get dinner started."
He took her hand. "It's Christmas. We should spend the day together as a family."
Mommy smiled at him like she did sometimes when he mentioned that they were a family. Mommy and daddy were always happy to be family!
He sat in the pew the whole time with his hands folded, but he smiled really big when she got up to sing Silent Night with the other kids! Daddy liked listening to her sing. He said she was very good at it. Maybe she might practice more!
After church, mommy started making dinner. She played with Charlotte in her bouncy chair as they watched Rudolph and ate some cookies. She really liked Rudolph; it made Charlotte laugh a lot.
All through dinner (pizza with no veggies!), she really wondered about presents.
"Mommy, can we open presents tonight? Riley's family does it tonight."
"I know, but the Jane family opens gifts on Christmas morning. We will do our stockings tonight, but you need to finish your dinner please."
She sighed. "Why can't we do it tonight?"
"Santa hasn't come yet! He will be here tonight."
Well, that made sense! They couldn't possibly open presents before Santa came. Maybe she could meet him tonight. Then, she could ask him her question!
After dinner, they put their Christmas pajamas on. This year, they had green pajamas with Santa's face on them. These would be perfect for meeting Santa tonight! Hopefully, he wouldn't get mad, but she really wanted to talk to him about what she wanted. For next year. After all, Santa's elves worked hard all year to make sure Christmas turned out just right!
They took their picture like they did last year.
"Daddy, why do you always take our picture?"
"Because it's important to have memories. And it's Charlotte's first Christmas. She won't remember it, so we can show it to her one day."
"How do you know she won't remember it?"
"Well, do you remember your first Christmas?"
"Not really."
"We keep photos so we can keep memories even when we don't remember."
She wanted to ask why pictures were so important to memories. She still remembered Christmases with her other family and she didn't really have any pictures of them, but she didn't ask because he handed her her stocking. Besides, mommy didn't always like when she mentioned them. Daddy said it was because it made her sad, too.
Charlotte was already punching the air with her little baby fists and yawning.
"Charlotte is getting sleepy. I think we need to do our stockings now, Patrick."
Charlotte slept a lot. She wasn't a ton of fun to play with all the time, but daddy frowned when he said that she would be big enough to play more soon. She didn't know why that made him sad. She'd be able to play and they wouldn't have to do everything for her anymore!
As she went through her stocking, she decided to think more about her question to Santa tonight. Maybe Santa could help make mommy not sad anymore about her other parents. Maybe he could also make daddy not be so sad about Charlotte being able to play! If she asked for a gift for everyone, Santa wouldn't be mad, right? After all, she couldn't exactly put what she wanted into a letter.
"It's Megan!" Grandma brought her Megan's jersey at Charlotte's shower. Aunt Maisie told her Megan was a very important soccer player. She had been teaching her all about other girls who play soccer, too. She said they might go to a game next year!
Mommy smiled. "It is. We will hang that up in your room some time. Do you want to help Charlotte open her stocking?"
She nodded. Even though Charlotte couldn't play much, she was always sure to help her do things. Mommy said that's how she learns how to do things.
"Now, let's go slow so she can see how we do it." She looked at daddy. "Are you going to record this?"
"I can. Do you think we should?"
"I don't know. Is it something parents usually do?"
It was funny when one of them asked that question like they didn't know the answer! They knew everything!
"We can record in the morning after Santa comes. Wouldn't want to miss her first haul from the big guy!"
Mommy frowned before looking at her. "Annie, remember that Santa only brings every kid a few presents."
She nodded. "Because there's so many kids in the world! Sometimes, parents who can afford it will give more gifts, but we shouldn't be flashy!" Daddy laughed at that. He taught her that word.
But she was a bit confused about something. "Does this mean I will have to share my presents with Charlotte now?"
Mommy shook her head. "No. Santa will bring you both gifts if you've been good!"
Daddy also spoke. "And even if you haven't! Because Santa loves all little girls."
"Patrick…"
Charlotte yawned again and daddy pointed at her. "I think we should do this now before she falls asleep!"
"Okay, hold it open." She held part of the stocking as Mommy helped Charlotte reach inside.
She pulled out a toy. "Oh look! A new bear!"
Charlotte smiled and clapped her hands. She was always happy because mommy and daddy loved her a lot. She loved her sister too. Charlotte always smiled when she held her. Hmm. She should really talk to Santa tonight.
After daddy put Charlotte in her crib for the night, they watched Frosty the Snowman.
Mommy ran her hands through her hair. "Alright, Annie. I think it's time for bed."
"Okay! Will you read to me tonight?"
She smiled. She understood why Charlotte was always so happy. Mommy's smile always made her feel good, even before she was her mommy. It always made her feel safe and loved like daddy said sometimes. That's why it was so important she talked to Santa tonight!
"I think you should read to me tonight!"
She frowned. "But it's not school!"
"Well, Sister Mary Jean says your reading is very good. I think you should practice it and read me the Christmas Story."
She ran away up the stairs as fast as she could to get ready for bed. Maybe she would change her mind if she asked her again upstairs! She understood the Christmas story now, but Sister Mary Jean said she needed to read it every year. Even if Santa could visit every year, it was still important to remember Jesus. It was his birthday!
But daddy said something about it being the wrong date when they went to the pageant this year. Grandma and Grandpa Paul came to see her perform as Mary again. When daddy said it was the wrong date, both mommy and grandma told him to be quiet. But she might ask Sister Mary Jean about it. If it was the wrong date, why would they put Santa on the same day? Sometimes, things didn't make any sense. Jesus should have his own day!
They went upstairs, and daddy came with them for a bit.
They all got in bed, and she got between them. She liked when they did this. Sometimes, one of them had to stay with Charlotte, so they couldn't stay with her. At first, it made her sad—but then, daddy told her that because she's so little, she can't do anything for herself. Part of her job as big sister was to let them take care of what she needed.
She looked up at daddy and smiled at him. "Will you read the story to me, daddy?"
Mommy cleared her throat.
Daddy shook his head before answering. "Why don't you read it to us, Annie?"
"Daddy! It's not school!" Besides, it always sounded better when they read it to her!
Mommy laughed. "Yes, but you go to school so you can learn to read. Just think of it this way: you're practicing this year so you can read it to Charlotte next year. Don't you like reading to Charlotte?"
"Yes! I read her my Clifford book, and she really liked it!" She even clapped her hands for her!
Mommy smiled. "Of course she did. She will always think it's cool when her big sister does something for her that she can't do yet. Just like reading the Christmas Story. I think you should practice this year, so you can read it to her next year."
She groaned. That kind of made sense. After all, she had to talk to Santa about next Christmas, so it's never too early to get ready for next Christmas! She started to read the story out loud.
After a while she pretended to fall asleep so they would leave her. She stayed very quiet so that Santa would come.
"Is she asleep?"
Mommy pushed the hair out of her face. "I think so. We should go. Santa is coming tonight, and I am already exhausted!"
She made herself stay awake for as long as she could, until she heard noises downstairs. He was here! Staying very quiet, she got up and tiptoed down the stairs. She was going to meet Santa! She wondered if he really did like tea with sugar cookies like daddy said. Everyone else said Santa liked milk with his cookies! She would ask him about that after she asked her most important question!
Only, she stopped midway down the stairs.
"Ho Ho Ho! I do believe you owe me a kiss, Teresa Jane!"
"Shut up and put the presents under the tree!"
"Aht aht aht!" He pointed up to the ceiling. "I do believe that's mistletoe. You owe me a kiss!"
Oh no! Daddy hung that there earlier! Why did Santa want mommy to kiss him? Well, if it was a rule…what was that rule again? Daddy had said it was only a tradition to kiss under the mistletoe if you were an adult and both people consented. He explained that consent meant that both people wanted to kiss and they agreed.
But did Santa know daddy put that there? Mommy wouldn't want to kiss Santa! She only wanted to kiss daddy—and that was already gross enough!
"Right here, Mrs. Jane." He tapped his lips. "A smooch for Santa."
To her surprise, mommy smiled and kissed Santa. She actually kissed him! He wrapped his arms around her back, and they kept kissing. It was like one of those long kisses daddy gave her when they thought she wasn't watching.
Her mouth was wide open. She wanted to scream and tell them to stop, but then they would know she was awake. When Santa grabbed her butt, she gasped before turning and running back to her room as quietly as possible. She buried her head into her pillow before she started crying. Why did Santa do that? She was only supposed to kiss daddy!
Oh no! No! Santa wasn't supposed to do that! He was supposed to bring the presents and eat his snack. That was it!
Eventually, she fell asleep. When she woke up, it was Christmas! She was really excited, but she remembered what she saw.
Mommy kissed Santa Claus under the mistletoe last night. Did that mean mommy and daddy are getting a divorce?
She went downstairs. Mommy and daddy were already up with Charlotte. Charlotte! What would happen to Charlotte if mommy left with Santa? Would they all go live at the North Pole? It might be cool to meet the elves and drink hot chocolate all year long, but what about daddy? He would be sad.
Was this because he couldn't ice skate? She would take it back and not ever want to go ice skating again if it was! They would have to go to different homes now because of that stupid old man who kissed mommy! She hated Santa! That wasn't fair! Daddy loved them all very much!
He ruffled her hair. "Come on, Annie! Let's see what Santa brought you!"
"I don't care." She folded her arms. Not only did she not get to ask him her question, but now she worried she would have to go to a new home. Would they have a pool? Would she be able to play soccer? Would she have to go to a new school, too? When would they be able to see daddy? Only at Christmas when they could come down from the North Pole? She hoped she never saw that stupid man again!
She started to cry. Daddy rubbed her back. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"
Did she need to tell him? Maybe if he didn't know it would all be okay. Would she get in trouble for being up?
"Do you not feel so good?"
Mommy came and put her hand on her forehead, but she moved away from her. She was bad, just like her other mommy.
"Annie, what's wrong?" Mommy talked to her again, but she didn't want to talk to her. She looked up at daddy. He was going to be sad.
Daddy wiped her tears away. "Are you getting a divorce?"
"What?!" They both said that at the same time.
Mommy knelt on the floor, holding Charlotte. "What would make you ask that, Annie?"
Should she tell her she knew about what she did with Santa? Well, daddy did say that secrets are bad and that they didn't keep secrets here.
"Well, I saw you kiss Santa Claus last night like how you kiss daddy sometimes. And you kiss daddy like that because you love him and you can kiss him because he's your husband."
Mommy gasped as daddy laughed. "Explain yourself, woman!"
If daddy thought it was funny, was it okay?
Her face was red. "Annie, what did you see? You were supposed to be asleep!"
Daddy rubbed her back again. "That's okay, Annie. There's only one other man that mommy can kiss under the mistletoe and that's Santa. You don't need to worry about anything!"
"Are you sure? He…" She had to whisper the next part because it was bad. "He grabbed her butt."
Daddy laughed again. "Is that all you saw mommy and Santa doing?"
"Yes! I ran back to bed because it was all so bad! And gross!"
"Well, Annie, Mommy kissing Santa isn't bad. The other stuff isn't really bad either. You know, just when it's between mommy and Santa. I think Santa likes it. It helps get him through the long night...or so I've heard."
"Patrick!" Mommy shouted at him and rubbed her forehead.
"I don't mind sharing mommy with Santa."
Mommy slapped his arm. "Ow! Not in front of the child, woman!"
"Then, don't keep talking like that! What are you teaching her?"
Well, daddy did teach her a lot of things.
"Hey, I'm not the one who was caught doing funny business with Santa!" She slapped his arm again. That was the face mommy made when she was upset.
He grinned before looking back at her. "But, Annie, what were you doing up last night?"
Uh oh. "Well, I wanted to talk to Santa about something."
"Well, you know the rules, Annie. He doesn't talk to children. What did you want to talk about?"
She shook her head. "I can't tell you!"
Mommy spoke again. "Okay you don't have to tell us, but you were supposed to be in bed. It's important for you to be where you are supposed to be."
"It was important."
Daddy pinched her cheek. "Not as important as your sleep."
She was really glad he wasn't mad about Santa. She wouldn't like it if they got divorced.
"Yes, it was." She looked at her feet. Should she tell them? No secrets. "I wanted to talk to him about a special present for next year."
"A special present for next year?"
"Yes, but I couldn't put it in the letter!"
"What's so special that you have to ask Santa to bring it a year in advance?"
"You won't be mad?"
Mommy looked at daddy before looking at her again. "Of course not, Annie. I'm only upset that you were supposed to be in bed, and you weren't. Sometimes, I share moments with...Santa...and they're meant to be private! That's all."
She nodded. "I wanted to tell him that he doesn't have to bring me any presents next year. He can bring me a little brother instead."
Mommy shook her head. "Why would you ask Santa for that?"
"Because Riley is my best friend-and he's having a little brother!"
"Yes, Riley's mommy is going to have another little boy in the spring, but Santa doesn't get involved in that."
Now, she was confused. "But Sister Mary Jean told us that good parents deserve to have many children because it's what God wants. And you're good parents! So God wants you to have many children! I just wanted to make sure Santa brought a little brother instead of a little sister this time."
Daddy smiled. "It still doesn't work that way, but I am curious now. God wants us to have many children?"
Mommy put her hand out. "Annie, that's not how it works. Santa isn't really involved in bringing new babies, and he certainly can't decide the baby's sex."
She gasped as daddy asked: "And the doctors can?"
"Later!"
"That's a bad word!" She felt her cheeks get hot. Riley had told her about that word, and then they got in trouble at school. Two days with no recess!
"Annie, 'sex' isn't a bad word. It's just how people describe a person's private parts. It's how we know for now whether a baby is a little girl or a little boy."
"But Sister…"
"You can't run around school saying it. The school-and the church-doesn't like when we talk about such matters."
"Why not?"
"Because it's private."
"But Riley said sex was how he got his little brother and that everyone knows that. If everyone knows, how is it private?"
Mommy nodded. "It is how he got his little brother, and we will talk more about that when you are more grown up."
"Are you going to…"
"Annie, that's not the point."
"Honey, we might have to talk to her about this."
Mommy sighed. "Yes, Annie. For you to have another brother or sister, daddy and I have to have sex."
"And what does that mean?"
"That means it's something that two grown ups who consent take part in. You will learn more when you're older. Right now, the details are not important."
"So like kissing? Two grown ups who have consent."
"Yes. I think we can talk more about this later." Mommy smiled again. "Besides, don't you want to open your presents from Santa?"
"Yeah, mommy worked hard to get those delivered for you." She slapped his arm again as they went to the living room.
She opened her presents-but stopped to help Charlotte with her presents in between.
Santa brought her a new karaoke machine and a bike! He brought Charlotte a bunch of toys. She smiled at all of her toys.
After they finished their presents, mommy and daddy opened their presents. It was weird that Santa didn't bring them anything, especially since he was kissing mommy.
Mommy smiled when she opened her gift from daddy. It was a very pretty heart shaped necklace.
"Patrick, is that…"
"It's a ruby."
"Oh my God. It's beautiful!"
"I thought you'd like it." He helped her put it on her neck and she kissed his cheek. "My jeweler said he could make smaller matching versions for the girls."
"Patrick, they're too little for that."
"But I want one too, mommy."
"I know, honey. But it's a very special necklace. I think we will have to think about it when you are older. Besides, you have Grandma Annabeth's cross."
She touched the cross around her neck. She wore it everyday since mommy gave it to her!
Mommy gave daddy a bunch of DVDs with his favorite tv show on it so he could watch it any time!
"So, I see I have broken you down!"
"No, I'm just tired of when the cable channel skips over episodes. Now, you can even watch them during the day before I get home."
Daddy laughed. He also pulled out an apron that had the picture they took as a family after Charlotte was born on it. It said "Daddy" on it. He smiled really big when he saw it.
"Thanks, baby. I love it!" He kissed mommy on the lips quickly.
"Well, I have been dying to wear my matching apron! Glad I can wear it now!"
They both laughed. Adults were weird about their presents sometimes. He seemed to like the apron even more than his movies!
It was a great Christmas! They were all very happy. Mommy kissing Santa didn't ruin Christmas after all!
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Later that evening…
"The girls are in bed!" Patrick handed her a glass of spiked eggnog before he flopped down on the couch where she was watching Home Alone. On instinct, she leaned into his side as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"Are you sure Annie's in bed?"
"Hey, you were the one who said she was asleep!"
"It seemed like she was asleep! I didn't think we had to worry about a six year old coming up with a master plan to sneak out of bed and talk to Santa! I thought we had time before the sneaking around started! And what the hell was all of that earlier?"
He tapped her shoulder. "I am just as shocked as you that she would want to talk to Santa about a new brother."
"Not that. Well that too! But I mean how you goaded her."
"I was also just as shocked as she was that Santa would be kissing you and grabbing your ass. I mean, Teresa…I already had the ruby necklace wrapped and under the tree!"
She slapped his chest. "And what was all of that slapping business earlier?"
"She knows that she can't hit people without their consent."
"I don't recall consenting…" She slapped his chest again. This time, she smiled at him, earning a grin of his own. "She needed to hear that everything was fine."
"Sure. She was very stressed out, but things like you're okay with sharing me with Santa? How do you think that comes across to a little girl?"
He shook his head from side to side. "I don't think she picked up any deeper meaning to that."
"I am almost positive that she picked up that you get to share me with Santa Claus. She's too young to understand what that might mean on a larger scale, but it does put the thought there."
"I...I didn't think of it like that."
"Of course not!"
"I was just joking around, and if she remembers this in a few years when she learns the truth about Santa, it will all make sense that it was just a cover story for her parents having a moment when they put the presents out."
"Yeah, a cover story that made you look real good, daddy!"
He laughed. "It did make one of us look a lot better than the other."
"Yeah it did. And it made mommy look a little slutty! Also on that note, why would you insinuate that I was kissing him to get her gifts delivered?"
"Of course, you don't have to kiss me to get me to buy presents. You never have. It just greases the wheels."
"Patrick, I'm serious!"
"Okay. You seem upset over a little teasing. That's all it was."
"While I get you were teasing me, she's a little girl growing up in a world that's already going to put pressure on her with regard to how she interacts with men. If we want our daughters to be strong and independent young women, they shouldn't think about themselves being shared or doing things for men to give them presents!"
He tightened his arm around her as he kissed the top of her head. "You're right. I'm sorry. I was just caught up in the moment of teasing you. You have to admit it was pretty funny."
"You're lucky that was all she saw! I told you it was a bad idea!"
After they put the presents out, he wanted to makeout. He coaxed her into-well no, she happily agreed to-even more in their bedroom while he still wore his Santa suit. It was a good thing he invested in that suit. Still, she told him it was increasingly risky to do anything of a sexual nature without a locked door. Annie was starting to hear things at school and having more questions. Meanwhile, he argued that it was good that their kids see positive affection at home.
"You did, but there's nothing wrong with a little adventure from time to time, is there?"
"Behind a locked door. We have kids now."
He grinned. "Fair enough. Lesson learned. You know, she's a naturally curious kid. You seemed a little put off by her questions."
"Was I supposed to spend Christmas morning explaining the birds and bees to a six year old? She has the basics that she needs. I think we are doing a good job teaching her what she needs for now."
Stephanie was quite embarrassed after Annie and Riley's latest shenanigans at school where they kept talking about "sex." Of course, neither of them knew what that actually meant. And of course, their teacher was rather freaked out by the fact that a six and a seven year old student were saying that word. Riley had just learned that his baby brother was made by sex, and he decided to share that with Annie and anyone else who wanted to know.
Stephanie apologized to them one Saturday morning at brunch, insinuating perhaps they didn't want Annie to even know of the word "sex" because she was a little girl. That wasn't true. They weren't guarding Annie from the concept of sex because she was a girl but because she was so young. They'd already started introducing ideas about things like consent. She just wasn't ready for the details quite yet.
"True, but I wasn't really talking about that. Her other request."
"Oh. A little brother?"
He nodded. "She seemed to have her reasons."
"Yeah. Because Riley is getting a little brother!"
"It's probably deeper than that. She adores Charlotte. She's always asking to play with her or to help take care of her."
"That's nice, but I don't want Annie in a position to be taking care of younger siblings. She's a little girl. She deserves to be a child."
"I know, but she has a lot of questions and wants to spend time with her sister. Our girls are bonding well."
Truthfully, they were. Annie's adoration of Charlotte was clear. At first, she was afraid Annie might feel discarded if they gave the baby too much attention.
After Annie's minor meltdown at her baby shower, Patricia encouraged them to set time aside for Annie specifically. She'd read that sometimes it was hard for older adopted siblings to adjust when a new sibling was born. They certainly didn't prioritize Charlotte over Annie beyond her needs as an infant, but Annie was pretty patient and very interested in her little sister. Sometimes, Charlotte had even cried out for Annie to hold her when she was in her line of sight.
"They are." Of course, Patrick was always clear about having a large family. "Do you...want to have another baby now?"
"I mean, technically, you're the one who has them. I just sit on the sidelines and try to make sure all goes well on that front."
She laughed a bit at that. They'd worked out a rather good division of labor. "But...are you thinking about that? You've always said that you want multiple kids."
He shrugged. "It wasn't at the front of my mind until Annie mentioned it earlier. Charlotte is five months old. If we started trying for another baby now, there would be at least a year between them. It would be nice if the kids were close in age, but again, I think it matters more what you think. So?"
She wasn't really sure what she thought. Admittedly, she was a little blindsided by Annie earlier. It wasn't like she took birthing requests from a six year old, or that that was even how that worked. Annie liked being around children, and her upbringing at a Catholic school and church definitely emphasized a larger family much like her own experience.
"I mean, I think that makes sense. I'm just not sure I'm ready to be back in the pregnancy saddle quite yet though."
He squeezed her shoulders. "Then, we wait. Now, what exactly does God think about this?"
She laughed at him. "God thinks we are doing everything the right way!"
"Well, so does Annie. Did you catch that earlier?"
"Yeah, she said we are good parents."
"High praise."
"Because you spoil her."
"And because you're her hero. Mine too." He reached in and kissed her lips. "And mommy is definitely not a little slutty. She's an excellent role model for our girls."
She leaned out, biting her lip. "Not here, Santa."
His eyes lingered on hers a bit longer. He was always rather expressive of love and desire with his eyes alone. And she saw how he looked at Annie and Charlotte. They were his entire world. Of course, she wanted another child with him. It was more of a question of when.
"Well, did you have a good Christmas?"
"I had an excellent Christmas, but I am not convinced you need to go buying the girls rubies."
"I didn't mean right now."
"Mmm. Sometimes, I have to check up on you."
"You told me not to be the dad who only shows love through money."
"I did, and you are not. I think you are the dad who shows his family a lot of love in various ways." She laced their fingers together.
"I'm glad you think so."
"I know so. Patrick Jane is quite the family man."
He chuckled softly. "It's funny because I saw the apron and thought that had to be the best gift ever."
She also laughed. "I knew you'd love it. Did you ever think we'd be the kind of people happy to get those kinds of gifts? Because honestly, I lost it when I saw those and had to order them for us!"
"Not in a million years, but I think when you gave me a family, it changed how I saw a lot of things in life. Nothing makes me happier–or prouder–than our family."
"I didn't give you a family. We built our family. Together. And I think building our family more…is something we can look forward to in the new year."
His handsome smile met his soft eyes. Clearly, that made him happy to hear.
"Hmm. I think you underestimate the work you do in the family building process. We do know how to celebrate a good new year, Mrs. Jane."
For their wedding anniversary, they were leaving for a three day trip to Hawaii the day after tomorrow. Patricia and Paul were flying directly from New York, where they'd spent Christmas with his family, to stay with the girls. Patricia had fretted a bit over not seeing the girls on Christmas, but they made this plan to celebrate after. Besides, there were lots of photos being shared in the family group chat. They debated a longer trip, but it was the first time leaving Charlotte. Neither of them was sure how that would go.
"Now, I can't promise the girls will get a little brother."
He shrugged. "Of course not. I think another little sister would be fine too. I mean, if we are building Annie's soccer team out, we are going to need all girls."
Playfully, she slapped his chest again. "Let's not get carried away."
He rubbed the back of her shoulders. "I won't get carried away, but I think there's a lot we can look forward to in the new year. That's the joy of being with you. May I carry you upstairs?"
She grinned. "You may. And Patrick?"
"Hmm?"
"Wear the hat again. It is technically still Christmas."
"Only if you wear your antlers, Vixen."
She laughed as he lifted her into his arms and carried her to their bed.
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A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed and have a happy holidays. The third and final installment of this series, Somebody Like You, will be starting later this winter/early spring!