See the Joy - Chapter 3
Nothing ever seems too bad, too hard or too sad when you've got a Christmas tree in the living room. - Nora Roberts
"We need more."
Kate laughs at her daughter's matter-of-fact pronouncement.
Lily sits in the middle of a pile of Christmas decorations almost as tall as her, sorting everything to be used this year for decorating. There are boxes stacked three and four high (depending on the box) around the entire living room, dining room, and even part of the kitchen. She finds it incredibly hard to believe that there is any single thing that they could need more of in this case.
"More what, Little Flower?" she asks, peeking out from behind the Christmas tree she's been put in charge of fluffing. Her hands still on the branches when she notices that the terror twins are nowhere to be found, but the crash from the dining area at least gives her an indication as to where they are – and hopefully whatever it is they're doing won't result in needing to get the broom.
(That can be Castle's job when he gets back from changing Eva. Although, given how long he's been gone, Kate suspects he might have sat down with the baby and dozed off. It wouldn't be the first time.)
"Trees."
Kate lifts an eyebrow. "We need more trees?"
Lily nods. "Uh huh."
"In the world?"
Her daughter sighs, throwing her head back. "No, Mommy. Here at home. We have a big tree and four little trees, but we need five of those."
Kate tilts her head, ignoring the girl's huff for the moment. She's growing up and if she has even a tenth of the attitude Kate herself had given everyone, they're in for a world of hurt. At least she didn't roll her eyes this time.
"Why five, Lil?"
Lily sits up straighter, pushing at the tangle of lights she's been working on for the last ten minutes.
"One for Lexi, one for me, one for Jake, one for Reece, and one for Eva. And the big one's for you an' Daddy. And maybe Gram and Grampa. The grown-ups. It's the grown-up tree."
"I see," Kate hums, nodding. "Well, you make an interesting case. But where on earth would we put another tree? We practically live in a Christmas village already."
Lily giggles. Her head swivels as she looks around. "Umm, maybe in the kitchen. There's room by the trash can."
Kate snorts. "Whose tree would go there, honey?"
"Jake's. Because he's always making a mess."
She shouldn't laugh, she really shouldn't, but Lily says it so simply and she's not wrong per say; Jake is the messier of the twins. But maybe it's not the best to let her eldest just say it.
"Hmm, well I think he might be sad to have his tree so far away from everybody else's," she tries, pressing her lips together to keep from laughing harder. "Since, I assume your tree will be by Lexi's and Eva's, and Reece's too?"
Lily tilts her head, thinking about that. "I guess you're right, Mommy. But I still think we need five little trees instead. Because my brothers do not share."
Almost on cue, and most definitely emphasizing her point, Reece shrieks from the other room for Jake to give something back. Whatever it is, Jake refuses, and the sounds of a scuffle follow.
"Boys!" Kate snaps, taking care not to yell but to keep her voice quick and sharp, every bit the captain. "That's enough. Whatever it is, either you share or you're both going to put it away."
After a beat she hears her sons apologize to each other. They come scampering into the living room a second later, the fuss already forgotten as they reach for the stockings with their names on them.
"Why don't you hang them on the hooks," she suggests, gesturing with her chin toward the fireplace. When Lily was a baby, Rick had found some adorable removable character hooks to give them the chance to hang the stockings by the fire instead of draping them on the couch the way he'd done when Alexis was little, and they've been adding more each time there's a new stocking to add.
The boys grin, taking off to do just that.
"And," she adds, watching them skid to a stop, "if you're careful with the stool, you can hang the rest, too?"
They nod eagerly. "Kay, Mommy!"
"Thank you, boys."
After a minute they return to scoop up the other stockings, too. Their quiet jabbering tells her they're planning whose stocking goes where, and Kate doesn't bother to smother a smile. They're a lot, her sons, but they're good boys.
"So?" Lily asks, interrupting her thoughts. "Can we get another tree?"
Kate exhales, knowing that she's going to lose this one regardless. If she says no, her sly child will just mention it in passing to Rick, who'll be all over it, always eager to make sure there's something to represent each of the kids in this magical Christmas world of theirs.
"Why don't we look through the things in storage and see if we've already got one?" she suggests, careful not to promise too much. "And if we don't, and we have space for it, maybe we can get a small one from the store."
Triumphant, her kid grins. "Kay, Mommy! Let's look now!"
Kate laughs. This time she does shake her head. "We should probably focus on the tree right in front of us before we go looking for another one, don't you think?" She lifts an eyebrow when Lily appears to consider it.
"Well, I guess. Besides, we'll need to see how many ornaments we use on the other four anyway," Lily adds like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Plus, we have to decorate the big tree."
"Uh huh."
Lily jumps up, running over to Kate. "Let's go!"
Kate leans over, planting a noisy kiss on her nose. "We'll need lights first, baby."
"Oh." Lily looks back at her abandoned task. "S'a lot to untangle, Mommy. Can you maybe help me? An' I'll help you, too!"
It's too sweet of a request to pass up. Kate nods easily, stroking a fingertip down her daughter's cheek. "Let's do this first, then we can do the lights together and put them right on the tree. Deal?"
Lily grins, giving her a resolute nod. "Deal."
She ducks, reaching for the branches at Kate's knees and spreading them carefully.
Perfect.
Thanks for reading and for the love on Chapter 2. Three days in a row, woo! But fair warning, there likely won't be a chapter tomorrow: I have a work event until late, so no time to write. I hope this chapter will be enough to last until the next time!
Prompt: Christmas Tree