"And all the lives we ever lived and all the lives to be are full of trees and changing leaves."
– Virginia Woolf

Chapter One
Crisp Air
Post-series

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire

"I can't believe they're playing Christmas music already."

Kate chuckles and takes her husband's hand. "It's November, Grandpa," she teases, nudging his arm with her shoulder. "A perfectly acceptable time to start, especially since we're here for Christmas shopping."

Rick glances at her and shuffles his feet. "It's earlier every year," he grumbles.

"No it isn't. You're just cranky because our little girl is growing up."

"I'm not cranky."

Kate just smirks. "Sure. We did say that Tiana could come along, you know. You could have said no."

"I know, it's just-" Rick sighs and squeezes Kate's gloved fingers. "This has always been our time with Lily. To have someone watch the boys, and come see the lights and decorations and do some shopping. And now…" He trails off.

"Now she's twelve, Rick. She wants to spend time with her friends." Kate shrugs. "I was the same way, wanted to be with my friends more than my parents. Especially in public. I'm sure you were too."

"I guess."

They fall silent, walking hand-in-hand a few feet behind their daughter and her best friend through the outdoor holiday market. Kate spots a hot chocolate cart but before she can point it out, Lily turns around and asks if they can stop.

Hours later, after they've exhausted themselves through more booths than she can count, they drop off Tiana and head home. Kate expects Lily to retreat to her room as soon as they walk in, but instead she steps into her dad's arms for a long hug.

"Thanks, Dad," she says, her words muffled in Rick's shirt.

Rick rubs his daughter's back and drops a kiss to the top of her head. "You're welcome, sweetheart," he murmurs into her hair. He lifts his eyes and meets Kate's gaze with his, narrows his eyes when she just smiles.

Lily gives her mom a hug before bounding upstairs.

"Do you feel better?" Kate asks in a low voice as she steps closer to him.

Rick flushes, the tips of his ears turning pink. "It's just new to me. Alexis never really did the 'stay away from me in public' thing."

"Well, Alexis is special. Welcome to having a normal adolescent daughter." Kate takes Rick's hand and leads him to the couch, where she reclines against the arm and tucks her toes under his thigh. "And, according to my dad, since I was a handful, there's a very strong chance that she will be, too."

Rick groans and leans his head back. "Crap," he grumbles. He takes one of her feet and starts massaging her sole. "When she's yelling at us to stay twenty feet behind her in public, we'll just have to remember the nice moments."

"Exactly." Kate drops her head back and closes her eyes as Rick's fingers work their magic on her sore feet. "We have to start dinner."

"Soon, love. Soon."

Although it's been said
Many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you

A/N: This a series of mostly unrelated, standalone mini fics, with each chapter following a different prompt from creativepromptsforwriting dot tumblr dot com/post/633567699753205760/november-prompts-word-prompts-to-use-for. The prompt and setting will be stated at the beginning of each chapter. Enjoy!