Thanks for the comments ;) Here´s chapter 2:
Chapter 2
The doorbell rang at 8pm sharp and she hurried to open it – the curiosity had been killing her all day. But despite all the scenarios she had come up with, nothing…nothing could have prepared her for the sight that greeted her once she opened the door.
It wasn´t Jack; or at least that´s what she had thought originally, before the shock wore off and she started to recognize his features under the long white beard he carried attached to his face.
˝Jack…what the…? ˝
But the rest of the question died as her eyes moved off of her face and travelled down his body. He was wearing a Santa suit, complete with a black belt buckle, fake stomach and a pair of huge dark boots. He saw her eyes lit as the realization hit her and he chuckled, loving to see her excited like a little girl.
˝I figured that if Aaron can´t come to meet Santa, Santa will come to meet him. ˝he explained, leaning in to give her a quick peck on the lips before peeking inside. ˝Is he awake? ˝
˝Yeah, he´s…he´s in the living room watching Mickey´s Special.˝ she stuttered, still very much shocked; as she closed the door behind them. ˝But where did you…? ˝
˝We have one at the hospital, to cheer up kids that have to spend Christmas there, so I asked Steve if I could borrow it for a day and – here I am. ˝he said, smiling, as he spread his arms and turned around on the spot so she could ˝inspect˝ him.
˝You´re amazing, you know that? ˝she said; touched with the effort he put in to cheer Aaron up.
˝So I´ve been told. ˝he joked, pulling her close and kissing her forehead.
˝Come on…let´s make his day. ˝Kate said and, together, they headed towards the room.
...
It had taken both of them a great deal of effort not to crack up when they saw the little boy´s eyes widen in shock as they stepped into the living room. Shock turned in surprise, surprise in astonishment; and when the realization hit in, Aaron scrambled to his feet – nearly trapping over his blanket – and run towards Jack.
˝Santa! Santa! ˝he screamed, launching himself at Jack and wrapping his arms tightly around his legs. ˝You came! ˝
˝Wow, boy, you sure are happy to see me. ˝Jack said, holding back laugh; as he bent down and peeled the boy off of his legs, picking him up and carrying him towards one of the armchairs, where he seated both of them down. ˝My elf told me that there was a little boy in this house that couldn´t come to see me because he´s sick, so I´ve come here to meet you. Now, tell Santa…what would you like for Christmas? ˝he said, in his best imitation of Santa´s voice.
Kate stood at the doorway, taping the interaction between ˝Santa˝ Jack and Aaron with a camera; a big smile adorning her face. She knew how hard it had been for Jack to change his mind and decide to give them a chance, the little boy with his bright blue eyes and blonde hair a constant reminder to him of his sister and all the people they´d left behind; so to see him go through all of this just to cheer Aaron up made her love him even more. He might not believe that, but he was a great father figure to Aaron and she just wished he could see himself through her and Aaron´s eyes.
˝And have you been a good boy? ˝she heard him ask Aaron and she snapped out of her thoughts.
˝Yeah, I have, I weally have! Wlight, Mommy? ˝Aaron said excitedly and she laughed.
˝Yeah, Santa, he really has been. ˝she replied with a smile, grinning at the happiness on Aaron´s face because she had confirmed it to Santa.
˝Then I´m sure you´ll get that puppy you want so much. ˝Jack said, winking at Kate; knowing that a tiny, adorable white lab was sleeping peacefully (or, more probably, wrecking everything he could get his pawns on) in his apartment at this very moment.
Aaron´s face lit up and, for a moment, he seemed speechless; then he wrapped his arms around Jack and gave him what Jack was sure had been the biggest hug ever. ˝Thank you, Santa! You´le the best Santa evel! ˝
Jack smiled at the excitement in Aaron´s voice. ˝Haha, well, thank you, little one. Now…I want you to promise me something. I want you to promise me that you won´t scratch those tiny spots you have, no matter how much they itch and that you´ll listen to your Mommy, okay? ˝he said and the little boy eagerly nodded; still too astonished that Santa was there to fully realize what he was agreeing to. ˝Who, btw, looks very pretty tonight. ˝Jack added, winking at Kate and making her smile.
˝Mommy is always pwetty. ˝Aaron agreed.
˝That…I´m sure she is. ˝Jack said lovingly, locking his eyes with her; and was happy to see he had managed to make her blush.
Kate felt the heat that had nothing to do with the temperature in the house assail her cheeks and she quickly averted her gaze. ˝Come on, sweetie, it´s way past your bedtime and it´s been a long day. Plus, I´m sure Santa has more children to visit tonight. ˝
Aaron seemed a bit disappointed, but at the end agreed that other kids deserved to be cheered up too, so he got off of Santa´s lap, gave him one last hug and, after making him promise to give his greetings to the reindeers, especially Prancer who, for some reason, was his favorite; took hold of Kate´s hand as they headed upstairs.
˝Mommy, Santa said I´d get a puppy! ˝Jack heard him whisper excitedly to Kate as they climbed the stairs and he smiled; knowing that life with a puppy, especially such a playful puppy, would be a challenge, but looking forward to it nevertheless.
...
He felt her wrap her arms around him from behind and he turned around, smiling at her as he wrapped his own around her waist and pulled her close.
˝That was quick. ˝he commented, placing a small kiss on her lips. ˝Don´t tell me he´s already out? ˝
Kate smiled, shaking her head. ˝God, no. I just told him to go brush his teeth and wait for me in bed while I go to say something to Santa. ˝she said seductively.
˝Oh, yeah? And what is it that you wanted to say to him? ˝he asked teasingly, accepting the game as he moved his lips down her neck, agonizingly slowly.
˝That I love him and that he´ll be more than well rewarded later for what he´s done tonight. ˝she said suggestively, bringing her arms up and locking them around his neck.
˝Well, then…Santa wants to say that he loves you too and that he´s looking forward to his reward later tonight. ˝he whispered, closing the distance between them and swallowing her lips in a slow, passionate kiss.
Meanwhile…in Aaron´s room…
˝Oh, no! I folgot to tell him to thank the elf that told him I was fick. Maybe I can still catch him. ˝Aaron said, pushing the covers away and sliding off the bed, not bothering to close the door as he rushed out of his room.
Back in the living room…
˝I love you. ˝she breathed out, looking up at him as they finally pulled away to get some air.
He took hold of the lose curl, stroking her cheek in the process, and gently tucked it behind her ear.
˝I love you too. ˝he whispered, never breaking the eye contact as he leaned in to capture her lips again; her arms tightening around his neck as her whole body seemed to mold into his.
They continued kissing; neither of them seeing a little blonde boy watching them from the top of the stairs…..
