2019

The kids in bed and the kitchen tidied up, Grant was just about to head upstairs–Skye and him still had some last-minute wrapping to do before the girls mercilessly tore all the glittering paper off their presents the next morning, a task she had already started once they were sure Haylie and Ada were asleep–when he heard the telltale, barely-there creak of the stairs. Having a very good guess of what was the cause of it, he was already smiling as he left the kitchen to investigate the noise.

He was not wrong.

Haylie, barefoot, in her pajamas, her old, stuffed monkey pressed to her chest, was already halfway to the living room.

"Shouldn't you be in bed, peanut?" he asked calmly, crossing his arms in front of his chest. Haylie froze, then slowly, very slowly turned towards him.

"I couldn't sleep, daddy," she said quietly but without a grain of guiltiness. "I needed to check that everything was okay for Santa," she explained with such a confidence that eerily reminded him of a girl who cheekily asked "What up?" when two strange men basically broke into her home. He could barely keep himself from chuckling. "Because if it isn't, then Santa won't come and bring presents."

"I've already made sure that everything is in order, baby," he reassured her as he stepped to her and scooped her up. Haylie wound her little arms around his neck right away, holding the monkey by one paw as it hung down on his back. "Don't worry."

"Did you check the cookies?" she went on as he started to carry her upstairs.

"I did. They're in place and taste great. The milk's also taken care of," he added, anticipating her next question.

"And what if he's loc… lacto…" She sighed impatiently. "Can't drink milk?"

"I checked the file we have on him, and milk is a go," he replied without missing a beat.

"Carrots for the reindeers?"

"Taken care of."

"The fireplace?"

"Cleaned and ready."

"And will he find our house?"

"Of course. The lights are turned on, he couldn't miss it," he kept answering with a smile on his face as he opened the door of Haylie's room. "Everything is ready for his arrival."

He felt Haylie nod against his shoulder, then, just as he was about to tuck her in, she suddenly gasped in horror "Daddy, and what if he gets lost? If he turns right when he should turn left, and he ends up in a… in a forest, and then no-one gets presents?"

"That's not gonna happen," he said as he pulled the covers to Haylie's chin. "And do you know why?" Haylie shook her head, her eyes wide in terror. "Because I know for sure that Uncle Fitz just sent him a new guidance system last week. And what's the deal with Uncle Fitz's gadgets?"

"They always work," Haylie replied, smiling now.

"They always work," he echoed, then pressed kiss to Haylie's forehead. "Have you calmed down enough to sleep now?"

Haylie nodded, then reached for him and put her tiny hands on his face, trying to pull him closer. He let her, and Haylie planted a sloppy kiss on his cheek. "You're the best, daddy," she said in a sleepy voice.

Smiling and blinking rapidly, Grant adjusted her duvet so she was properly covered, hugging her monkey tight. "Only for you," he said as he turned off the light and left the room, closing the door slowly.