It's quiet in the little house.

Caroline slides her cold, bare feet backwards until they're nestled in between her husband's warm legs. Despite the soft crackle from the fireplace and the weight of the blanket, it's chilly inside.

Charles laughs and wraps his arms around his wife. "Socks?" he offers.

"Only if you mind this." She knows he doesn't and she snuggles back into the warmth he provides.

"It was a nice night."

"It was," she agrees.

"It's quiet now."

"Too quiet?"

She's almost disappointed that their little house isn't filled with people asleep in every nook and cranny. While it's never very comfortable, it is… cozy. She's come to expect that on Christmas Eve. But unlike recent years when the town's been buried in snow, there was nary a snowflake in sight tonight. So her guests went home to sleep comfortably in their own beds and her children still at home are comfortably asleep in theirs.

Charles plants a soft kiss at the nape of Caroline's neck and she feels a stirring inside her. "It's for the best," he says. "We have enough people in this house as is."

He's right. Some folks think they've bitten off more than they can chew, taking in so many orphaned children on top of their own. But, while money is always an issue, the children have clothes on their backs, shoes on their feet, and food in their bellies. Caroline is also sure that, without a doubt, they're providing more than enough of what the children really need; love. Even when not overflowing with people, their little house is always overflowing with love.

"You think we'll ever have a house without children?" she asks.

"I sure hope so." He laughs heartily and she shushes him.

Rolling over onto her back, she stares up into her very handsome husband's face. "You love it, Charles and you know it. Sometimes I think you're just a big child yourself."

"Is that so?" He leans down and kisses her hungrily, reminding her that he is, in fact, a full grown man.

"Charles," she says softly, when his lips find their way down to her neck. She adds an "oh" before his name when his hand touches her thigh.

"Shhhh," he says, his turn to shush her. "Remember, we have a house full of children."

She lifts her body beneath his hand so he can push up her nightdress. "It's never stopped us before."

"Oh, Caroline. Yes it has. Many, many times." He laughs again which makes her laugh and now they're giggling together and shushing each other which only leads to more laughter.

Finally calming, they listen to see if they've awakened anyone with their gaiety. When the little house remains quiet, Charles urges Caroline back over onto her side facing away from him, lifting her leg to provide him access. It's their safety position; the one that's easily played off as cuddling, should they be surprised by the pitter patter of little feet.

As he enters her, she closes her eyes and pictures his face. After so many years, she doesn't need to look at him to know what she'd see; soft, green eyes boring down into her own, brimming over with love, devotion, and… passion. She blushes at the thought. Even after all these years, that hasn't dissipated.

His learned hands reach around to touch her in all the right places. Stifling a moan, she instead speaks his name again on a soft, slow exhale.

Hot breath whispers "I love you" into her ear and she feels the muscles of his stomach contracting against her behind as she pushes backwards to meet his thrusts. She loves him too. Dear lord, how she loves this man. She's simply too far gone now to tell him. If she opens her mouth, she's afraid she'll scream.

She must have made some telltale sound though because he's shushing her again with his hand over her mouth, preventing her from crying out. And then the only sound remaining is their labored breath and the rustling of the sheets beneath them as Charles empties himself inside her with one, two, three last thrusts.

It's quiet in the little house again.

Silent tears fall from Caroline's eyes as she wishes her womb could once again nurture his seed and bless their home.

"Shhh" he says soothingly, caressing her long hair back away from her wet face. "Should the good lord see fit to bless us with even more mouths to feed, he knows how to find us." He wraps her up in his arms again. "Besides, right now I doubt there's another man in all of Hero Township more satisfied with his life… and his wife than this one."

She feels him grinning against her cheek, amused with himself, and she can't help but smile along with him. She never can help but smile along with him.

"Now sleep," he tells her. "Those children of ours will be up before dawn, screeching about stockings and presents."

He's right, she thinks, closing her eyes and relaxing into the comfort of his arms once again. She should sleep. Because she's looking forward to it all; to the excited, noisy children, to their friends and family returning, and to the sounds of love that will echo off the walls and envelop her with joy.

It's quiet in the little house again but it never is for very long.