I'm aiming to have the final chapter up on Friday, if not it will be up on Monday. Enjoy.
A few days before the family of five was to leave for New York for Christmas they had an early Christmas dinner with their family, Braxton was still moping around because he still didn't get what he has been asking for since September.
It didn't help his mood any when they landed in New York and it was freezing. It was the first time that he had ever seen snow, he did like the snow ball fight that had ensued but not how numb his face had gotten. Drinking hot chocolate and warming up in front of the fireplace that Candice had Wade start for the kids felt like heaven to him. He wasn't as standoffish towards Candice as they had spent plenty of time together and she did treat him just the same as she treated Ariel, so he was actually happy to see her.
Ariel on the other hand as odd as it was she had missed the cold, missed playing in the snow, missed so much about New York. Above everything else she missed about this place, she missed her grandma the most. She had walked into her grandma's place a massive grin on her face, her cheeks and nose a red color from the cold that had settled over them. Her hands wrapped around her mug of hot cocoa as she lay on the floor watching the fire. Bluebell that was her home but New York felt like she was at home as well.
Wade he had expected the cold but not quite as cold as it was when he stepped off the plane. He had shivered nonstop every time he was outside under the big heavy winter coat he was wearing. But the second they had got to Candice's he couldn't help but pick up a handful of snow and throw it at his son. It was the first time he had seen snow and as cold as it left his fingers he was having too much fun playing with it. When he had made it inside the building he was more than happy to start a fire to warm himself up right down to his bones. He easily took the cup filled with hot cocoa from his wife, his cold fingers grazing over her warm ones.
New York may no longer be Zoe's home but it sure did feel like that. She was home in the city. The cold had seeped in, leaving her on the chilly side, but she didn't mind, she proudly wore a smile. Laughing as she had even joined in playing in the snow, laughing as Eliza wasn't so sure about the white fluffy stuff that was covering the ground. It wasn't until she had fallen over that she had decided to like the stuff. Zoe not wanting her to get sick picked her up and headed inside, Wade following close behind. Handing her daughter over to Wade she stripped the now soaked winter coat, hat and mittens off, taking the winter boots off not wanting to leave melted snow puddles around the place. Wade quickly got things started for hot chocolate, making sure that Eliza's was lukewarm so she wouldn't get burned drinking it.
That was how their first night in the city was spent, sitting around the fire, Braxton and Ariel both telling Candice everything that has happened since they last saw her on Planksgiving.
Their first full day of being in the city, saw Zoe and Ariel dragging the others to their favorite places. Braxton found things to complain about, Wade had made jokes with him to get his son to laugh. Shopping wasn't Wade's ideal way to spend countless hours but seeing how happy his three girls were ever reason to bail drifted right out of his mind.
"How many more things must you girls going to buy before we get something to eat?" Braxton asked showing just how annoyed he was. Seeing the sights was awesome and he enjoyed it even when the cold air bit at his face.
"We'll take the subway and get pizza," Zoe told him, heading out of the store. "You'll love the subway," she informed him. They had walked the short distance, Wade nearly falling a few times on a couple different patches of ice that lined the sidewalk, he wasn't a fan.
"If you get scared your little sister's will hold your hand, right Eliza?" Ariel asked with a snicker teasing her brother.
"I'm not a little boy who will be scared," he huffed, standing a little taller than he was already.
"I didn't say that," Ariel retorted.
"That's enough," Wade told them. He didn't want to hear them bickering for the rest of the day. The second they got past the whole subway comment it would only keep going until they got bored with it later in the day or until someone stepped in to end it. He wanted to enjoy his holiday vacation with his family and not listen to the kids fight like they do at home. "Besides if Brax gets scared he can hold his Mommy's hand," Wade teased with a smirk.
Braxton glared at his father, a snark of a reply on his tongue when Zoe's voice made him laugh out loud. "If daddy gets scared he can hold his own hand."
"Eliza wouldn't let daddy be scared," he pouted.
"I will daddy," Eliza told him.
"What are you three evil people teaching my sweet little girl," Wade gasped, picking Eliza up.
"Wuv you, Daddy," Eliza told him, kissing his cheek, wrinkling her nose up at the rough, pokey feeling from his little beard.
"And I love you, sweetie pie," he responded, with a kiss to her little cheek.
There was no trouble once on the subway. And even though Wade wasn't scared Eliza held his hand from where she sat on her mom's lap, telling her daddy that it was okay because she wouldn't really let him be scared. Wade smiled pretending that he was no longer scared now that he was holding her little hand.
After they had ordered their pizza they asked Braxton what he wanted to do. He gave off a mile long list of everything he wanted to see and do. He wanted to experience it all. He wanted to see the empire state building, the statue of liberty, Central park, Rockefeller center, the 9/11 memorial. He wanted to visit Coney Island but with the theme park closed during this time of the year he'd wait until they visited in the summer to go.
When he finished with his long list of things to do and places to go Wade and Zoe talked it over to see what they could fit in for their day and what would have to wait until a later date. Wade had plans of taking Zoe out for a date night to her favorite restaurant of Per Se.
"We don't have to see everything this visit, we will be back at a later date," Wade assured their oldest.
"I know, dad," he replied.
"We have to go to ice skating at Rockefeller's though," Ariel tagged in. It had been so long since she's been there that they just had to go. It really had been ever since the last time she ice skated and it wasn't just to watch and laugh at how bad her dad and brother would be on the ice either.
"I've fought with the ice enough for the day," Wade sighed. He would do whatever he had to do to make his kids happy, but he really didn't want to have another mishap with the stupid ice.
"Please?" Ariel pouted,
"Yeah dad, please can we?" Braxton asked.
Wade looked over to Zoe for some help, but one look at her and he would be fighting with the ice for a few more hours. Convincing the kids was one thing but when his wife was on their side he was doomed. "We'll go there after we eat," he caved, getting matching smiles from his whole family. It would be worth his trouble after all.
Falling for the first five minutes was worth it seeing just how happy everyone was. Braxton had been a pro on the ice skates after a few minutes. Ariel was helping Eliza, both girls sharing laughs as they glided across the smooth surface of the ice.
"Now that you have the hang of it, think we can go a bit further out than where the wall is at?" Zoe asked him, hiding her amusement.
"Just laugh it up, Doc," Wade sneered in a playful tone. "As long as you hold my hand we can," he winked.
"Is that all?" She questioned, pulling on his hand to skate further into the ice ring.
"Maybe there's more once we're alone," he remarked. Zoe rolled her eyes, lightly squeezing his hand, her eyes seeking out their three kids.
Christmas morning they sat around the tree to open up presents. Candice decided that instead of hiring someone to come in and cook for them that she would try it herself and Wade was there to help, Zoe as well.
Braxton couldn't contain his excitement when he finally got what he had wanted. Zoe was ready to argue with her mom, there was no reason he needed another game system. He had more than he needed as it was, but his words had her letting it go.
"Thanks, Grandma," he told her giving her hug.
"I know how much you wanted it and you, Braxton, you deserve to have it. You've been good. I like to splurge on my grandkids," she smiled, kissing his cheek.
Christmas had been one of the best Zoe could ever remember having with her mom. She was really happy that everything was good once more and that no drama was waiting for them around the corner.
Ariel and Braxton had convinced their parents to stay in the city until after the New Year. That's how the four of them found themselves on the top of the apartment building, wrapped up in layers of blankets to keep warm, they could have seen the fireworks just fine from the warmth of Candice's place but going up top was an old tradition for Ariel and Zoe, one they were happy to share with Wade and Braxton. Candice stayed with a sleeping Eliza.