Cal, Gillian, and Emily stared at the pile of ornaments in front of them along with the bare tree. Emily had arrived home from college the day before so Cal decided to have all of his girls decorate the Christmas tree together. Cal and Gillian had gathered all of their ornaments they had plus a several more they had purchased during their shopping trip including an "Our First Christmas" and a "Baby's First Christmas" for Sophie. Gillian put Sophie in her bassinet once she was asleep and then went back to staring at the ornaments, "Wow. That's a lot of ornaments," Emily said.
"Yeah, I didn't realize we had that many ornaments," commented Cal.
"Are they all going to fit on the tree?" asked Gillian looking back and forth between the ornaments and the tree.
Cal stepped forward and began gathering a few candy canes and silver balls, "Well, if not we'll just make them. You know double up, two to three ornaments per branch," he smirked.
"Dad's always gone overboard on the ornaments, you should know that by now," said Emily to Gillian.
"Believe me, that's why I always by a giant tree for the office," chuckled Gillian. The group continued to put ornaments on the tree making use of every little nook and cranny available.
Once they started to run out of room, Cal observed the almost full tree for a few moments before turning to Gillian, "I can now see why you bought a tree bigger than the state of Texas for the Lightman Group."
"Mmhm, because for someone with such a hard exterior, you become a softy with two things: Christmas and your three favorite girls," said Gillian sashaying over to him and wrapping her arms around him.
"I hear that," said Cal, knowing that Gillian would easily know if he was lying. Cal and Gillian kissed before Emily whistled loudly, "What?" asked Cal pulling apart from his wife.
"Less talk, more work!" Emily shouted jokingly.
The couple smirked and attempted to find more space on the tree though they were pretty unsuccessful at this point, "Well I think it's official. There is no more room on this tree for any more ornaments," said Cal.
"Did you at least get the 'Our First Christmas' and the 'Baby's First Christmas' on the tree?" asked Gillian curiously. They were both special ornaments to her.
"Right here in front love," said Cal pointing to them, "Now the only thing left is to put the star on top of the tree. I wonder who'd be interested in doing that?"
"Dad," said Emily annoyed. She had been putting the star on top of the tree ever since she could remember and then both parents' trees long after Cal and Zoe had divorced.
"Well, I think we have a volunteer," said Cal handing Emily the star, "Up you go love," he said lifting Emily off the ground much to her delight. Emily put the star on the tree and Cal put Emily back on the ground, "Well what do you say, ready to light it up?"
"Yep," Emily nodded happily. Emily sat down on the couch and Gillian picked up and cradled Sophie before sitting next to her step-daughter.
Cal reached behind the tree to where the outlet plug was, "Three, two, one," he counted down before plugging the lights in and turning off the lamp. Gillian and Emily smiled at the lit tree while Sophie peaked up from Gillian's arms, mesmerized with the lit up object in front of her.
"I think someone's fascinated by it," chuckled Gillian watching Sophie admire the tree.
Cal crouched down in front of Sophie and said, "Do you think it's pretty Pumpkin?" Sophie smiled her toothless smile for Cal once again while reaching out for him. Cal took his daughter into his arms and lead her over to the tree, "And this ornament right here is in honor of you little one," said Cal pointing to the 'Baby's First Christmas' ornament.
"She's going to have him wrapped around her little finger kind of like someone else I know," whispered Emily leaning closer to Gillian.
Gillian chuckled lightly and nodded, "Oh yes."
Cal sat down next to Emily with Sophie in his arms, "What are we whispering about?"
Gillian chuckled lightly and said, "Nothing honey."
"You," said Emily honestly.
Cal shook his finger at her and grinned his cocky grin, "I've raised her well."
Emily smiled proudly and took Sophie from Cal, "See Peanut, I can teach you a few tricks from Daddy if you'd like?" Sophie yawned and started licking her lips before she started whimpering.
"Um, that means she wants lunch," said Gillian. Emily quickly passed the infant to Gillian.
"I'll be in my room if you need me for anything," said Emily.
Cal smiled and watched his daughter disappear upstairs. He turned to Gillian as she quietly fed Sophie. He sat down next to her and said, "So I was thinking, since it's Emily's first full day back home from California, maybe we could eat out together as a celebration for the end of her first semester of college. How does that sound Pumpkin?" asked Cal to the baby, though Sophie was more than content with eating.
"Sounds wonderful honey," smiled Gillian, giving Cal a quick kiss before she burped the baby. Sophie reached out for Cal happily and Gillian said, "And now that you're done, I'm obsolete right?" she joked and handed Sophie to Cal.
Cal cradled Sophie and said, "Aah, tell Mummy she's not obsolete. I can just charm all the women in my life in one way or another."
Gillian rolled her eyes playfully at Cal and snuggled next to him, "Well, I'm at least glad you insisted on charming me or else she wouldn't be here to wrap you around her little finger."
Cal kissed Gillian on the temple and rocked Sophie, "But we did this together love. We brought her into the world together."
Emily came down the steps and smiled at the couple, giving them a few more moments before she spoke, "Um, I heard Dad mention dinner somewhere."
"That's my girl, always thinking of others," joked Cal sarcastically, "But yes, anywhere you want love."
"Well…" Emily started, "I honestly could go for some Chinese food."
Cal smiled and chuckled. Somehow he knew Emily would want Chinese food, "Chinese it is then."
Emily beamed happily and took Sophie from Cal, "What do you think Sophie?" Sophie yawned and stretched in response, "She can hardly contain herself she's so excited," said Emily.
It wasn't long before the family arrived at the restaurant and had ordered their food. Cal lifted his water glass in the air and toasted, "To our college girl on the completion of her first semester."
They clinked their glasses and Emily chuckled nervously, "Hopefully you'll still be happy once final grades are posted."
"I'm sure you did fine Em," smiled Gillian.
"Tell that to Introduction to Chemistry," sighed Emily
"I hear you, chemistry was never my strongest subject," admitted Gillian.
"Yet another reason my wife didn't go into pre-medicine," said Cal.
Emily chuckled as the food arrived. After the family had finished dinner, they headed back home and watched one of Emily's favorite Christmas movies, The Polar Express. Sophie was fast asleep on Gillian's chest, but she didn't care. She was happy to have her family back together again.