Christmas Shock
Chapter 3
Mike was not shocked when the triplets crawled into bed with him and Christine early Christmas morning; but a few hours later, when Katie and Hannah also climbed in, things were getting a bit cramped and he didn't mind in the least. Thankfully, they all slept until after six am, and the triplets in particular were in awe when they went downstairs. Mike had gone overboard and things were sitting all over the living room, not just under the tree.
"Its so pretty!" Izzie said. She was jumping around happily.
"Alright; girls, why don't you try and separate them? Dad and I will try and keep the kids out of the way." Christine said. Mike sat down next to her on the couch and put an arm around her. The triplets settled on different areas of the floor and Katie and Hannah began the long process of separating things. It took them a half hour and the triplets were almost trembling with anticipation.
"Now; guys, our future Christmas's, there won't be as many gifts, but there was a lot you all needed, so a lot of what was gotten was stuff you needed. Clothes and such. There's also plenty of toys." Mike explained.
"Go ahead." Christine answered. For a few minutes, she didn't open any of her own presents, simply watching the kids opening theirs. Mike finally reached over to the coffee table and picked up the ring box and gave it to her.
"You might want to open that." Mike said with a smile.
"I feel bad that we didn't get you anything to open." Christine remarked as she began unwrapping the small box. Katie had wrapped Christine's gifts for Mike.
"I have the best gifts imaginable." Mike told her as he kissed the top of her head. As soon as she opened the box, she gasped.
"Oh, Mike." Christine said tearfully.
"I hope you like them?" Mike asked.
"I love them. I was afraid after everything, all that I said, you wouldn't want anything to do with me much longer. I had kept the kids alive." Christine said. Mike reached down and took the rings out of the box.
"It wasn't all you. We were toxic to each other, but after everything, maybe we have both matured and grown up enough to realize what we had all along was something good and worth preserving." Mike said before taking her left hand and putting the rings on the ring finger.
"I love you." Christine answered simply. He gave her a kiss on the lips, not caring about their pasts or that the kids might be watching. He prolonged the kiss as long as he could until Isaac made a noise.
"That's gross!" Isaac said.
"You'd better get used to it." Mike said before giving Christine another kiss just to aggravate Isaac. He was hit by a pillow thrown by Isaac, but he didn't care. He and Isaac had already developed a weird dynamic that would work for them. The little boy was fiercely protective of his mom and it would take a bit of time for Mike to find a place in his heart, but he wouldn't give up.
"Isaac, it's okay. Do you like your toys?" Christine asked.
"Yeah. I don't like the clothes and books much though." Isaac remarked.
"You need them though. Can you thank your daddy?" Christine asked.
"Thank you." Isaac said. Mike reached over and roughed up his hair affectionately.
"You're welcome. Now; you have more presents to open and I think you'll find some toys in those." Mike said.
"So you and Mama can sit here and suck on each other's faces?" Isaac asked with a disgusted look on his face. Thankfully, Katie intervened.
"C'mon, Isaac. Let's leave them alone so Mama can open the rest of her presents." Katie said as she led Isaac away.
"He's obviously never seen anyone kiss anyone." Christine remarked.
"Well, its something he needs to get used to." Mike said before giving her another kiss. She reached for another present and he began helping her with the rest of hers while they watched their very happy kids. While Mike cleaned the living room up of bags, boxes and wrapping paper and tissue, Christine fixed breakfast and the kids carried their items to their rooms and the clothes to the laundry room to be washed.
They were having a big dinner that night per Christine's request, so breakfast was a make-ahead casserole that she had made the night before, before they went to midnight-mass. After breakfast, Mike and the kids played a board game while Christine and Katie worked on their Christmas dinner. Christine served a 'snack board' for lunch and they all napped a bit while she and Katie worked.
Dinner was delicious. He helped with clean up and then with baths for the triplets. He read stories to the triplets and carried Isaac into his bed when he fell asleep as Mike read to the triplets. He kissed the older girls goodnight and got ready for bed. After Christine took her own shower, he noticed her lock their bedroom door as she walked by. She was wearing one of her new nightgowns and her hair was in a loose braid down her back.
"Everything okay?" Mike asked as he took his reading glasses off and put his book on the nightstand. Christine crawled into bed next to him and smiled.
"Yes. More than." Christine answered before giving him a long kiss. She carefully straddled him, all while continuing to kiss.
"You sure?" Mike asked.
"I am." Christine answered.
"Its been a long time for me and I'm not so young." Mike admitted as he kissed down her neck.
"Its been just as long for me. We'll figure this out together; kind of how we did when we first got married." Christine told him.
"Okay, as long as you feel okay?" Mike asked.
"I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't feel up to it." Christine answered and Mike smiled. It was exactly what he wanted. He wanted a happy marriage and happy and healthy children. He was getting exactly what he wanted, finally. And now, after everything he could appreciate it just in time for Christmas.
It went a chapter longer than a thought and took me a day longer to finish but its done! Thanks for the reads and any reviews that happen.