Danny smiled as he pulled Alice closer to him, her arms re-adjusting as she tightened her grip around his waist. Both were sat out on the stained, wooden, creaky bench that resided upon the veranda enjoying a few moments of peace and quiet, enjoying the exclusive company of one another. Danny was sat comfortably up, as Alice leant into him, her legs under her knees. Both were watching Lucy, one of their heavily pregnant giraffes wandering around the grass in front of the picturesque house.
"Christmas." Danny whispered, "It's so different all over the world..."
"It is." Alice agreed, burying her head deeper into his chest, "Like, here, it's Christmas in summer, we sit outside and eat our dinner!"
"In the UK it's usually crap weather!" Danny laughed, "And it's all commercial. Sometimes I think we all forget the true meaning of Christmas."
"Yeh..." Alice sighed, "Thing is, there's this everlasting argument isn't there? Should we celebrate it?" Alice questioned, "We're not religious but we fully embrace their holiday as our own, still take part. Should we really? We're just conditioned into this."
"That's true..." Danny replied thoughtfully, "Over here it's more religious... but... people expect it."
"A gift." Alice nodded.
"Yeh..." Danny sighed, "It's sad in a way."
"But good in another, diversity." Alice shrugged, "When I was little there wasn't such diversity."
"Huh?" Danny asked.
"Hogmanay is the main holiday in Scotland... well was... Christmas went one way or the other. Some argued a true Scottish Christmas was one where you were workin'!" Alice laughed, "We always had a tree and presents though... it made no sense."
"Christmas was huge when I was a little boy... it was like magic." Danny grinned, "All the carolling... hated being forced to go church mind! Then all that excitement on Christmas Eve trying to get to sleep!" He chuckled, "Alan used to try sneak down but Mum and Dad always caught him." Danny sighed sadly and Alice squeezed him gently, kissing his cheek, he smiled at her in gratitude, "Then we'd rush down Christmas morning and rip open EVERY present, paper everywhere!"
"I bet you were the cutest kid on Christmas day." Alice laughed, "I can imagine you... you're bad enough now! As the kids get less interested, you get more interested!"
"Santa is real." Danny whispered,
"I know... Why do you think I have mistletoe handy?" Alice winked, teasing him.
"For your darling husband..." Danny winged, smiling sweetly,
"Hmm... but we don't need mistletoe..." Alice murmured, kissing him upon his lips. Both deepened the kiss at the same time, his hands running through her hair as she supported herself, a hand on his chest. As they pulled away, Alice gasped for breath...
"Mistletoe for Santa?" Danny asked breathlessly,
"Stuff Santa..." Alice mumbled before crashing her lips against Danny's again, "He only gives me five minutes anyway, stingy bastard." She breathed as Danny caught her lips with his again, Alice groaned from her throat, it was so long since she'd spent such exclusive time with her husband, or had him kiss her in this way. Her hands fisted in his shirt.
"Alice." Danny breathed, between a kiss.
"No..." Alice mumbled pulling his lips back to hers.
"Kids..." Danny muttered against her lips... he felt Alice slow and then pull away, her face was full of annoyance. She groaned and leant back.
"I'm not suffering from U-S-T." Alice told him, "How am I meant to live?"
"I'm sure you'll find a way honey!" Danny smiled...
"If we'd found a way this little one wouldn't be here..." Alice chuckled, stroking her stomach. Danny grinned and rubbed her stomach gently.
"That much is true." Danny admitted, "But hey, I'm glad we never found a way."
"Me too." Alice replied, closing her eyes and leaning back into him once more. Danny grinned and wrapped his arms around her stomach, his hands gently rubbing the bump in small circular motions.
(x)
"MAX!" Rosie exclaimed, beckoning him over to her. They were in a card shop getting Christmas cards and Rosie had found the most perfect card...
"What?" Max asked, a handful of cards in his hand... Rosie handed him the card, he grinned as he noticed the front and who it was for. He shook his head and opened it laughing. "That's awesome."
"I know!" Rosie giggled... "You got all the cards?"
"Yup." Max replied, "Let's pay!"
"Let's!" Rosie beamed, taking his hand and dragging him to the till.
(x)
Liv walked into the kitchen, dumping numerous cards down on the table. She noticed Danny and Alice were the only ones but for Rosie and Max (who were in their room writing their cards) not about. She rolled her eyes and grabbed Thabo's hand, dragging him out onto the veranda, her card for them in her hand, she saw them all wrapped up in one another on the old bench. She smiled and wandered over, she noticed Alice was asleep on Danny.
"Hey," Liv whispered, "Got your card."
"Thanks." Danny replied with a smile, signalling her down towards him. She smiled and he kissed his daughters cheek gently. "I'll come say it properly when Alice wakes up..."
Liv smiled, nodding, "She looks peaceful."
"She is... don't wanna wake her, don't have the heart." Danny admitted. Liv nodded and dragged Thabo away, allowing her step-father to enjoy the intimacy with Alice before someone or something ruined it for them.
(x)
Alice felt herself coming awake and smiled, she felt so refreshed but for the aching neck. She shuffled slightly, felt her husband's arms support her as she did so, before opening her eyes, his green eyes greeted her the minute she regained focus.
"How long have I been asleep?" Alice asked him softly.
"2 and half hours." Danny admitted.
"Woah!" Alice exclaimed sitting up, "I'm sorry, you should have woke me!"
"I didn't want to... didn't have the heart." Danny admitted, he noticed her rubbing her neck and smiled before moving his hands up to it. Her began to knead gently, his fingers working on loosening all the tight knots.
"You Mr Trevanion... are too good." Alice breathed as she stopped and she pulled away, running her fingers through her hair before both stood up. Danny smiled and took her hand, gently leading her into the house. He handed her Liv and Thabo's card and Alice automatically grinned as she saw to Mum and Dad on it. That meant a lot.
"They don't do em with Step-mum and Step-Dad on." Liv explained coming from nowhere, "And you two are more than that."
"Thank you Liv... it means so much." Alice croaked, all choked up. Liv chuckled and hugged Alice gently, kissing her cheek.
"You mean a lot!" Thabo beamed, joining Liv and wrapping an arm around her. "You both do."
"You both want to make me cry!" Alice exclaimed, wiping her eyes with her sleeve, "Thank you!"
"Not done yet!" A voice came.
Alice turned and saw Rosie and Max walking towards her and Danny.
"Now before you get this card... this one is special." Rosie winked,
"Here you go." Max beamed handing it to Alice who opened the blank envelope.
Everyone watched as Danny and Alice began to read the card smiling,
"To Bump..." Danny chuckled, "Ah guys this is fantastic!"
"Thank you." Alice croaked, wiping her eyes, "See you got me!"
Rosie and Max laughed embracing Alice in a hug.
"Group hug!" Liv announced, as she, Thabo and Danny all joined in the hug. Alice chuckled as she felt them all surround her. She could feel her husband's head on top of hers, his laughter rumbling. She sighed, her family were the best!