Quickie:
So...anybody still here? Hehe..
SassyLostie - Well, one on one skateness is for sure heading your way in the near future. Teehee...
HotChilliGriffin - Yes, it's been slow a bit. But I'm working on getting things heated up again. Ain'tcha never heard of filler chapters? Hehe!
MarteBarte - No, it didn't kill me. But I bet the lack of update killed you! )
elie - Heyy no I did NOT abandon this fic! Read below to find out what happened...
First off, I am SO SO SO SO sorry that it's been over a month since the last update. School got overwhelming in the last month.They decided to drop a few 10 page papers on us - aside from, you know, the normal homework we had to do - and then finals came around so I had to study up for those. Along with school, work has been a hectic schedule and there was hardly anytime to sleep, let alone eat! So I apologize for not being able to update. Well...actually the reason I couldn't update was because I didn't have anything written. But the aforementioned struggles are what prevented me from writing. You'll be happy to hear that I was able to make some time - laying in bed sick for 2 days straight - writing up four more chapters. As I said once before, I estimate this story ending at 65 chapters. I am working now on 62. (tear) So look forward to some good stuff soon. D
Secondly, you guys sure are giving Sawyer some credit. What with all these "Oh I'm sure he's got something up his sleeve". But wouldn't it be just like him to not have something? To not have realized? I don't know. Maybe that's just me then...
Last, HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!
Chapter 58
The next morning, Kate immediately stirred upon hearing the bedroom door creak open. She turned over and saw Clementine peeking in.
"Hi," Kate whispered.
"Hi," Clementine whispered back.
"You okay?"
Clementine nodded. "Santa found me!"
Kate smiled. "I told you he would."
"He left me lots of presents!"
"Yeah?"
"Uh-huh. Can I open them?"
"I think you should wait for your dad."
"When's he gonna wake up?"
"You can wake him up if you want," Kate grinned, mischievously.
Clementine's eyes widened. "Are you sure?"
"You want to open your presents, don't you?"
"Yeah…"
"Go ahead."
Clementine walked cautiously over to her sleeping father. She poked his arm lightly.
"Daddy?"
She poked again, harder.
"Daddy, wake up!"
He groaned.
"Come on! It's Christmas!"
He rolled over and faced Clementine's bright eyes.
"I got presents to open!"
"Who put you up to this?"
"What?"
He turned at looked at Kate. She looked down, smiling guiltily. He sighed.
"Fine," he rubbed his head. "Guess I deserved it."
"Maybe just a little," Kate replied, softly.
"Daddyyy!" Clementine urged.
"All right, all right! I'm goin'."
Clementine hurried out of the room and ran down the stairs. Sawyer sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, and glanced over his shoulder at Kate. She was looking down, gripping the edges. He got up and Kate turned halfway around.
"James…"
"Yeah?"
"Don't beat yourself up."
He turned around, peering at her.
"Over not getting me anything," she explained. "It's all right."
He opened his mouth to speak, but said nothing. As she slowly rose from the bed, he decided to play the con card once again.
"I didn't know," he said.
"It's okay," she shook her head. "Its not supposed to be about gifts anyway."
He nodded. "All right."
"Are you two coming or what?!" Clementine called.
"Easy, Sunshine," he called back. "How do you know Santa didn't bring you coal?"
She quieted after that.
"Guess we better get down there," Kate said.
He followed her down the hall to the stairs, glancing at the closed door of the guest room before descending...
After a while, Clementine's presents were all opened. She was pleased with each and every one. Sawyer, however, was not pleased with having to put together each and every one. Kate relaxed on the couch while Sawyer working on setting up one of the toys, and Clementine played with the new accessories she'd gotten for her doll Emily.
"Hey daddy," Clementine said, sounding as if she had come to a sudden realization.
"What is it, Sunshine?"
"What about Kate's present?"
Kate's eyebrows lowered and she looked at Sawyer. He didn't look at her however – his eyes stayed on Clementine.
"You didn't show her without me, did you??" she asked worriedly.
He sat back, licking his lips, finally looking at Kate.
"Nope," he grinned.
She stared back, the corners of her mouth turning up. She looked down, embarrassedly smiling. He wiped his hands together and got up off the floor.
"Guess we better show her."
Clementine hurried to her feet, waiting for Kate to get up.
"You…tricked me," she smiled up at him.
"Yeah," he smirked.
Then she began to shake her head. "You conned me."
He laughed. "Tiger don't change his stripes."
"Clearly," she grinned.
"Come on, Kate!" Clementine urged, already at the staircase.
"Upstairs?" Kate asked, curiously.
"Uh-huh."
She looked up at Sawyer, cautiously.
"Come on," he nodded his head toward the stairs.
She took his hand and rose from the couch. They followed the eager Clementine up the stairs to the guest room.
"Open the door," Clementine said.
Kate glanced back and forth between the two of them, wondering what they had done. Slowly, she turned the knob and let the door swing open. She stood rooted to her spot, stunned. The room had been completely redecorated – for their baby.
The top of the walls was now bordered with paper bearing colorful toy designs. In one corner was a crib, in the other was a toy box. On the left side of the room was a wooden chair with a cushion, and a small bookcase, lined with children's books. On the right side of the room there was a changing table, equipped with everything needed, and beside it a dresser.
She looked up at Sawyer, speechless. He looked down, somewhat embarrassedly. Clementine, on the other hand, grabbed Kate's hand and began pulling her into the room.
"Come look at everything, Kate!"
She immediately ran over to the toy box and opened it up for Kate to see. Inside were building blocks, figurines, and several sorts of toys. Awestruck, Kate looked around the entire room, trying to formulate a single thought. She walked over to the crib, and slowly slid her hand across the top. Kate looked up at Sawyer who was leaning against the doorway, watching.
"You did all this?"
He looked down. "I had some help."
"I picked out the toys," Clementine chimed in.
"Only some of 'em," Sawyer corrected her.
"Well, the good ones," she muttered, folding her arms.
"And Jerry helped bring everything up."
She shook her head, unable to speak. She looked down at the crib again.
"I picked the books too," Clementine said, pulling a book out from the shelf. "This one's my favorite."
She glanced down at Clementine then back at Sawyer.
"I don't know what to say."
"Well, a thank you'd be a good start," he teased.
She slowly sauntered over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He smiled down at her.
"Thank you," she whispered, then kissed him soft and lovingly.
"Get a room," Clementine shouted.
Sawyer broke away and looked over Kate's shoulder at Clementine. Clementine's eyes widened, and she froze instantly.
"What'd you just say?" he said in a low voice.
Clementine gasped and darted out of the room and down the stairs.
"Hey!" Sawyer shouted, starting after her. "Get back here, Sunshine!"
Kate laughed as she slowly descended down the stairs, watching Sawyer chase Clementine around the couch. It was the picture of a perfect Christmas.