Quickie:
LostSista - Still. A nice glance into the future, no?
LordXwee - Haha! Sugar rush reviews are amazing.
faith - Popcorn on the string...you know...stringing the popcorn and then wrapping it around the tree? Never heard of that?
Wow! Ten days? I am SO sorry for the delay. Another one of those times of constantly thinking "Hmm I have to update Baby Steps..." and just never getting to it. It's almost nearing the end of the semester so I have a lot more work to do. Plus I just started a new job, so forgive me for being so delayed. Hope I haven't lost anyone...
On the plus side, at least I'm closer to the time period now with the chapters. Haha.
Chapter 57
A little while later, the tree was finished being decorated, and Clementine retired to her room. She claimed she was not going to sleep because she wanted to stay up and see Santa. However, minutes after her head hit the pillow, she was fast asleep. Once she was, Sawyer went upstairs and started to bring the presents down, and surrounded the tree with them.
Afterward, Sawyer had started up the fireplace and Kate made more hot cocoa, and they sat together – Kate leaning back against Sawyer's chest - staring at the illuminated tree.
"What're we doin' about Santa's cookies, Freckles?" Sawyer asked, spying them on the table.
In response, Kate took one off the plate. Sawyer laughed.
"Well all right then."
"Somebody's gotta eat them," she replied between bites.
"They any good?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah?"
He took hold of her wrist and raised it to him, taking a bit out of her cookie.
"Mm."
"There are other cookies on the plate," she grinned.
"I wanted yours."
"You always want mine."
"I always want you," he said, leaning down and kissing her.
When he pulled away, her eyes were still closed, and she smiled. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open and she laughed.
"What?"
"Nothing," she grinned.
"Don't lie."
She sat up, facing him, and placed a hand upon his face. He stared at her, and she stared back, still smiling. She got up, suddenly.
"I'm gonna refill my cup," she said, softly.
His eyes trailed after her, until she disappeared from his view.
"You know," he called. "I still haven't found my watch yet."
"No?" she called back.
"Nope. And I seem to remember you tellin' me you'd help me look."
She said nothing.
"As soon as all the gifts were gone." He paused to listen, but still she said nothing. "Remember?"
She returned, mug in hand, and sat beside him again.
"I remember."
"Well I'm glad you remember, shortcake. Think you might wanna do somethin' about it?"
She glanced at the cable box beneath the TV, reading the time: 11:56p.m.
"Not yet."
He stared at her, curiously.
"What're you hidin', Freckles?"
"What?" she stared back, smiling nervously.
"You got that look. Like you got a dirty little secret."
"I have a lot of dirty little secrets, James."
"Yeah but those I know. I'm talkin' about somethin' else."
"I don't know what you're talking about," she sipped her hot cocoa, and glanced at the clock again. 11:57p.m.
Sawyer caught her glancing, and did too.
"Freckles, if you don't spill – "
"You want to talk secrets? How about the you-know-what Clementine threatened to tell me about?"
He smirked.
"Didn't think I forgot about that, did you?" she smirked, too.
"Don't change the subject, Sassafras."
"Don't avoid the question." 11:58p.m.
"What do you keep lookin' at over there?"
"Nothing."
"All right, that's it," he said, starting to tickle her.
"Hey!" she squealed, trying to hold her cup away from her. "You're going to make me spill this!"
"You gonna tell me what you're hidin'?"
"Stop!" she laughed, trying to put the mug onto the table.
"I'm waitin'!"
"SAWYER!"
He stopped. She put her mug down, and got up to go into the kitchen.
"Oh sure," he called. "Just run away."
"I'm trying to clean the cocoa you made me spill on myself."
Microwave clock: 11:59p.m.
"Well, maybe you shoulda told me."
She came back into the room, and stood in the doorway.
"And maybe you shouldn't be so pushy."
"Pushy?!"
He turned his head and saw her, then proceeded to get up.
"Might want to try being patient from time to time," she teased.
"What for?" he asked, now standing in front of her.
She ducked around him and sat down on the couch once more, quickly placing a small gift-wrapped box on the coffee table. Sawyer turned around and peered at her, then noticed the box. His eyes widened as he walked over to the couch.
"What the hell is that?"
She looked down, and said nothing. He picked it up carefully, and shook it lightly. No sound. He glanced at her, and she smiled.
"I didn't know we were exchangin' gifts…" he said quietly.
She tried to keep her smile from faltering, and shrugged. She didn't want him to know she was disappointed – even a little.
"Just open it."
He tore the wrapping off and stared at the black leather box in his hands. He stared at her while she rested her head sideways in her hand. Slowly he lifted the lid and gaped at the contents. He switched his gaze back to her. She only smiled again.
"I thought it was lost…" he said, lifting the watch from the box.
"I found it on the kitchen counter the day you were looking for it."
"So instead of givin' it back to me - "
"Well would you rather have it looking all beat up and old?"
"The way it looks don't matter."
She looked away, sighing. Sawyer noticed she was on the verge of getting up and pulled her back. She turned her head and gazed at him. Her looked down at her, and smirked.
"Thanks."
She glanced away, then back at him.
"You're welcome."
When he let go, she got up and took his empty mug from the coffee table and into the kitchen. Staring down at the watch, he grinned.
"Now I feel bad I ain't got nothin' for you," he called.
"Don't worry about it," she called back.
He laughed silently, hearing her sigh exasperatedly as she turned on the sink.
"If I'd known – "
"Just forget it, James."
He got up and walked to the doorway of the kitchen.
"You mad, Freckles?"
"I'm fine."
After a minute of silence, Kate turned the sink off, and dried her hands. She then attempted to walk past Sawyer, but he blocked the doorway.
"Where you goin'?"
"I'm going up to bed."
He grabbed her arm.
"Hey. Come on, Freckles. I – "
"I'm tired," she said desperately. "I want to go to bed."
He sighed. "Fine."
She looked down, feeling bad for making him feel bad. She looked up again and leaned close, giving him a long goodnight kiss.
"Merry Christmas, James," she said softly.
His eyes followed her as she walked to the stairs.
"Merry Christmas, Freckles…"