Part III: A Very Forksy Christmas

Charlie POV

The rowboat rocked gently, causing faint ripples to dance on the mirrored surface of the lake. In the distance, a soft mist hung just above the water, creating an ethereal atmosphere. The shoreline was adorned with towering evergreens, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was the sole inhabitant in this secluded paradise.

As I looked up, the realization dawned on me—it was a rare sunny day. I now perceived the golden rays filtering through the dense canopy, painting patterns of light and shadows across the surface of the water. Casting my line, a profound sense of peace enveloped me, leaving me without a care in the world. In the tranquil stillness, it seemed as though time itself had stopped…

"Daddy, daddy." The words invaded into my dreams, pulling me away from the serene lake as my own consciousness began to surface. A sudden, sharp tug on my face jolted me, and my eyes snapped open. There was a small hand clinging to my mustache, giving it another yank, seemingly in an attempt to rouse me. Groaning, I attempted to focus my eyes, but everything remained blurry. Instinctively, my hand shot up to prevent any real damage from the persistent little hand. Slowly, my eyes started to clear, revealing Kevin standing by the bedside, a broad grin lighting up his face.

"Augh." I groaned, trying to shake myself awake, but the deep sleep I had been in still had a hold on me. Gently, I loosened Kevin's hand from my mustache, allowing my head to fall back onto the pillow. The sensation was blissful, but it appeared Kevin wasn't about to be deterred.

"Daddy, I used the potty by myself, just like a big boy. Come see." Kevin reached for my mustache again, but I intercepted his little hand before he could grab on.

"That's nice, Kevin. I'll come see later, alright? Remember, daddy has asked you not to pull on my face. Now, go back to your room to play, and after breakfast, you can open all your presents." I watched as Kevin pondered for a moment, then scampered away, the soft patter of his little feet gradually fading. Glancing at the clock on the stand next to my bed, I saw it was only 5:40 in the morning.

"What's happening?" Heather groggily inquired next to me.

"Nothing, dear. Go back to sleep." I closed my eyes, hoping to squeeze in another hour or two of sleep before it was time to get up.

My mind was just starting to drift when it was abruptly jolted wide awake again. "Daddy, look, see."

I opened my eyes and was startled to find Kevin with a big smile on his face, holding something in front of my face. Oh god, it was his crap. "Kevin! Throw that away. You know better than that. Don't touch anything; wait in the bathroom, and I'll be right in to clean you up." I watched as he shuffled away, hopefully going into the bathroom. As I sat up, I couldn't recall Bella ever doing anything like that. Every memory I had of her at that age, she was a quiet, respectful child. Sadly, by the time she reached the age of four, she was gone. After getting my bearings, I stood up, realizing I needed to get to Kevin before he made even more of a mess.

As I walked into the bathroom, there was Kevin, wearing a big grin. I glanced around and saw that somehow he had managed to put the crap in the sink. How did he even get it in there? He's not that tall. I shook my head. The joys of parenting.

After cleaning up Kevin and the bathroom, I brought him downstairs so he wouldn't wake Heather. It was really too early to make him breakfast, and I didn't trust myself to make much while still half asleep. Carrying him into the living room, I plopped him down in front of the TV, putting on one of his favorite videos with the volume turned down low. I went and sat in my chair, reclining it all the way back. I closed my eyes and let out a long sigh. Maybe I could still get a little shut-eye.

I gradually came to, hearing softly spoken words, but it didn't sound like it was coming from the TV. Blinking my eyes open, I lifted my head and was surprised to see Bella on the sofa. Kevin was sitting in her lap, and she was reading him a story. Demetri sat beside her, smiling as he watched them.

I straightened up in my chair, shaking my head to clear the fogginess of waking up. I hadn't even heard the doorbell ring. "Bella, Demetri, I didn't hear you come in. How did you get inside the house? What time is it?"

Bella raised her head toward me, flashing me a smile. I still had a hard time getting over how radiant she looked. If an angel ever descended from heaven, I'm positive it would look just like Bella.

"Morning, Dad. It's 8:30. We knocked, but when you didn't answer, I tried the door, and as always, it was unlocked. We found Kevin here suspiciously eyeing his presents." She playfully tickled his stomach, making him giggle. "We stopped him from getting into any mischief, and I've been reading him a story since then."

I smiled; it was so nice to see Bella and Kevin finally together. I had started to wonder if I would ever see Bella again. She certainly kept in touch, but for the past three or so years, she always seemed to have an excuse as to why she couldn't visit. I was so relieved to see her yesterday afternoon, and all my concerns had vanished.

"That's nice," I glanced down and realized I was still in my pajamas, feeling a flush of embarrassment, I started to stand. "Um, let me get dressed real quick, and I'll make Kevin breakfast. Have you and Demetri had anything yet? I could whip up something for you two as well."

Bella giggled, picking up on my discomfort with my current state of undress in front of company. "Don't worry about us, Dad. We already had breakfast at the hotel. How about you go get dressed. But don't feel you have to hurry, I'll make Kevin something after I finish this story."

I nodded, smiling. Bella always seemed to make everything so easy. "Thanks, Bells. I'll be back soon. Kevin, you be a good boy for your big sister, okay?"

Watching Kevin nod happily, I headed back up to our room. When I got there, I found Heather still fast asleep, but I knew it was time to wake her. I went over, taking a seat on the edge of our bed, and gently shook her shoulder. "Heather, dear. It's time to wake up."

Heather groaned and absentmindedly brought her hand up to rub her face, but it didn't seem to stick as she appeared to fall right back to sleep.

I nudged her gently once more. "Hey, it's Christmas Day, and guess what? Bella and Demetri are already downstairs, whipping up breakfast for Kevin. Time to rise and shine."

I think I had roused her this time, as Heather opened her eyes. "Already? Okay, okay." She stretched out her arms and legs, giving a good yawn. After that, she flashed me a smile, but before I could say another word, she tugged me down for a sweet kiss. "Merry Christmas."

A grin stretched across my face. "Merry Christmas."

I stood up and made my way to the bathroom for a quick wash. While shaving, I glanced at myself in the mirror, contemplating whether it was time to part ways with my mustache. It hurt every time Kevin yanked on it trying to wake me up, but I had had it since I was 18. Shaving it off felt like changing the fundamental essence of who I was. Anyway, Kevin was growing up, and soon he'd be past this awkward phase of not knowing any better. Resolute, I flashed a determined smile and headed back to our room to get dressed.

As I did, Heather greeted me with a smile on her way to the bathroom for her own morning routine. After throwing on some clothes, I moseyed down the stairs and entered the kitchen. There, Bella and Demetri were seated at the table, Kevin happily munching on something between them.

He looked up, beaming. "Daddy, look, Bella got me Pop Toys. I like it."

I took a seat as Bella chuckled. "That's Pop Tarts, Kevin. They were my favorite for breakfast when I was your age."

Great, more sugar. Just what Kevin needs—more energy. I smiled at Bella, though, "Thanks for making him breakfast. Heather will be down shortly."

"No problem. I've already started your coffee. Want me to whip up your usual breakfast real quick?" She asked with a friendly smile.

Still weary, I gratefully nodded and mumbled my thanks. I watched Bella glide around the kitchen, efficiently preparing everything. Her movements were so graceful it seemed like she was almost floating as she walked. I wondered if I was fully awake and shook my head as she placed my breakfast in front of me. "Thanks, Bells."

"No problem, Dad. I'll get something ready for Heather too for when she comes down. Does she drink coffee like you?"

"Yes, although with a little more milk for her." I turned to Demetri. "Is Bella always this helpful in the kitchen and makes you breakfast in Italy?"

Demetri smiled, "Sometimes, but it's more often the case that we work together when it's time to eat. I do enjoy preparing our meals for her. Got to keep the wife happy, right, Charlie?"

"Right. Smart man," I said, nodding, just as Heather came down fully dressed and looking wide awake.

"Bella, Demetri, it's nice to see you this morning. Merry Christmas," she greeted warmly. Responding to Bella's inviting gesture, she took a seat next to me as Bella set down a big breakfast plate in front of her along with her coffee. "Thank you, Bella. You really didn't have to this."

I watched her savor the first bite, and she let out a delighted moan. I totally got it; the breakfast Bella had whipped up for me was top-notch too. Heather took another hearty bite and swallowed. "This is amazing, Bella. I'm kinda relieved you're not around to cook for us more often, or Charlie and I would be blimps." She turned to Demetri. "How do you stay so fit when Bella makes such incredible food?"

I noticed Demetri share a smile with Bella. "She's pretty incredible, right? Well, moderation is our mantra. Honestly, we usually only eat our fill and try not to overindulge unless it's a special occasion."

After we all finished breakfast, and with Kevin's constant reminders, we made our way into the living room so Kevin could finally tear into his presents. Sitting around, we watched with pure delight as he gleefully sat under the Christmas tree, ripping off the wrapping paper of each present, his little voice filled with excitement as he proudly announced what each item was. Bella captured the entire spectacle on her phone, promising to download it to our computer later. Kevin loved all the presents Heather and I had gotten for him, and eventually, he grabbed the big one that Bella and Demetri had brought. Curious about what they had given him, I looked on with interest as Kevin started tearing the paper off it. Once he saw what it was, he began jumping up and down with sheer excitement, yelling, "Zorbo, Zorbo, Look, look."

I had no idea what it was, and I was surprised that Kevin knew. After all, he couldn't read yet, so looking at the words on the box wouldn't have helped. He brought it over to Bella, smiling. "Help, please."

I was impressed. Kevin's manners were spotty at best at the moment. Bella took the package. "I knew you'd be wanting to play with it right away, so I already charged him up. Let me get him out of the box for you." I wondered what was so special about what looked to be a stuffed bear. The cover on the box reminded me of one of those little Star Wars fellows—Furbies, I think.

Bella opened the box, pulled out the bear, and placed it on the floor next to Kevin. It was pretty big, around 20" tall, and though fluffy, it looked more human than your typical teddy bear. To my surprise, the bear began moving and looking around the room. What the heck? Then, it locked onto Kevin and chimed in with a clear, happy child like voice, "Hi, what's your name? Are you my new friend?" What in the world is this thing?

Kevin treated it like a real person. "Hi, my name is Kevin."

The bear responded, "Hello, Kevin. My name is Zorbo. Please tell me about yourself." I watched in disbelief as Kevin and this contraption started to have a conversation. I couldn't decide if it was cute or the beginning of the end of civilization. I turned to Bella, looking for some kind of explanation.

She offered a smile. "It's a Zorbo, Dad. It's the most popular and sought-after toy this Christmas season. It's from a popular children's show and is powered by an artificial intelligence that can learn and adapt to its owner's preferences. When you charge it up at night, it even connects to the internet for updates. I read they're planning a version for girls, but they didn't seem to get them out in time for the holiday season. They're incredibly hard to find right now, with a black market run by some quite unsavory characters. Please don't ask me what I had to do to get my hands on one. But from my conversations with Heather, I just knew Kevin would love it."

"How do you know so much about them? I'll admit I don't pay much attention to what Kevin watches, as all those kiddie shows are a little much." I couldn't recall Kevin watching a show called Zorbo.

Bella smiled. "Well, I might be an adult, but I like to keep up to date with what's currently popular. I don't want to fall behind on the times and the latest fads."

"Charlie, Kevin talks about Zorbo all the time. His raincoat has Zorbo on it, and so do the sheets on his bed." Heather glanced at me with a questioning look, nodding towards Kevin's yellow rain jacket by the door. Leaning back, I peered into the hallway and, yeah, I caught a glimpse of what might be a bear on the back of his jacket. I really needed to pay closer attention to things.

"You're right, dear. I'll try to do better." Heather nodded, smiling at me. I examined the bear more closely, and it did seem pretty advanced for a toy for a three-year-old. "Ah, it looks expensive, Bells. I hope you didn't spend too much on it?" I didn't want to ask what this thing cost. I looked back at it, and now Kevin and it were dancing together. How was it staying upright as it moved around like that? This thing reminds me of that Chucky movie.

"Don't worry about that, Dad. Let's just say it's to make up for all the birthdays and Christmases that I've missed. I also got the 5-year repair package for it in case it ever breaks down. You should read the manual because it can actually do quite a lot. I was amazed as I read up about it."

"Thank you, Bella, Demetri. I'm sure Kevin will love it for many years," Heather interjected.

"Yes, thank you. I'm sure Kevin would thank you, but he's a little caught up at the moment." Hmm, I wonder if he'll start chatting with this thing instead of barging into our room each morning. A parent can dream.

Bella stood up. "Here, we got you guys presents as well." Bella went to the tree, picked up a rather large box, and handed it to Heather and a smaller one to me. I watched as Heather opened hers. "Oh, thank you, Bella, Demetri. This looks amazing." She angled it to me, and I saw it was a high-tech back massager. It looked like you could place it wherever you're sitting or lying, and it would massage one's back. Hmm, hopefully, Heather will share.

It was my turn, and I glanced down at my much smaller package. I shot a smile at Bella and swiftly unwrapped it. Once revealed, I was a little unsure of what it was. I looked back up at her with curiosity, and she smiled. "It's a Seattle sports package, Dad. Every year for the next 10 years, it lets you and one other person go to 2 Mariners games and 2 Seahawks games. Just call ahead or use the internet when you want to go to get your tickets. Right now, you could take a friend like Billy or Heather, but soon you and Kevin could go."

I felt a lump in my throat. "Thank you, Bella, Demetri. That's really an amazing gift. I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything. The smile on your face is more than enough." I got up and gave Bella a hug. As my face brushed against hers, I was surprised by how cold she felt. Deciding to warm up the room, I walked over to the thermostat and adjusted it. Settling back into my chair, Demetri spoke up, looking at Bella.

"My present for you is back at home since it's too big to carry, but here's what awaits your return." I watched with interest as he took out an envelope from his jacket pocket and handed it to Bella, who had a big smile on her face. Bella opened it, and as she started to read, she squealed and hugged Demetri tightly.

"Oh my god. Thank you." She turned to me and Heather, excitement lighting up her face. "Demetri got me a $#^#$#$!"

I tried my best to follow Bella's explanation of the mysterious gift, but it was as if she had switched to a language only scientists could understand. Every word out of her mouth blurred into a garbled mix of technical terms, leaving me utterly lost.

"Bella, slow down. What's a $#^#$#$?" I asked, my face scrunching in confusion.

She beamed at me, completely caught up in her enthusiasm. "Dad, it's amazing! It's like a %&*# that uses ^*%$# to create *$# &^, and then it does *^%$#&* all while doing %$# ^."

I nodded along, pretending I understood, but honestly, it all sounded like garbly gook to me. Bella's excitement was infectious, though, even if the details of her gift remained a puzzle beyond my comprehension.

"That's great, Bells." I smiled at her and turned to Demetri. "That was a very thoughtful gift." He turned to me and gave me a wink, clearly knowing I had no idea what he had gotten her. I wondered if even he truly knew. I thought his eyes had looked a little glazed as Bella spoke, just as mine did.

Bella finally looked up from the paper and embraced Demetri tightly. "Thank you. Your gift is still in Italy as well, but I'll have to think of a suitable consolation present once we get back to the hotel later tonight." Demetri's grin broadened at her words, and I quickly looked away before I saw something on their faces that I wouldn't be able to unsee.

Jeez, I didn't need to hear that.

I'll post the second half of their Christmas day soon. I don't think we can have a return to Forks without the wolves sticking their noses into the story. Hope you've enjoyed the Christmas Special so far. I will try to get the next part out after Christmas.