Sammy and Ilna, love you guys.

REAL McRollers and Readers thank you for being the best. We love you all.


Cookies, Goats and the Cubs

The decorative lights on the houses of Piikoi street were blinking on as dusk fell, and the beach house was no exception. Steve grinned as he entered the house after the team wrapped a case. Ruffling Cammie's coat when she greeted him, he went directly upstairs to lock up his weapon.

Entering the kitchen, he inhaled the aroma of freshly baked cookies. "Something smells great in here," he said as Catherine and the kids turned, all smiles, from where they were busy at the table.

"Hi Daddy!" Angie left icing handprints on his T-shirt from her hug, making DJ chuckle when he hugged his father in turn. "We're icing cookies!"

Catherine pecked his lips. "Hey, we've been baking up a storm while you were gone. I hope you're hungry for cookies." She raised a brow, silently asking if he'd eaten.

"Danny and I grabbed take out, so I'm definitely hungry for some of these excellent looking cookies." He couldn't help but smile at the excitement on his daughter's face and booped her nose.

"Is it time to put the Christmas tree up, now?" Her ponytail flopped with a head tilt.

"As soon as we get this batch decorated," Catherine redirected before the six year old could make a dash for the garage.

"You guys baked all these while I was gone?" Steve asked, surveying the island filled with cookies.

DJ grinned. "We were working like a well oiled machine."

Steve chuckled, ruffling his son's hair. "I can tell," he said as he went to the sink to wash his hands. "I'm happy I'm back in time to help. Let's decorate the rest and then I'll grab the tree out of the garage."


The family stood around the Christmas tree as Angie placed the goat ornament and DJ hung the Luna one.

She stopped humming Jingle Bells and said, "That's a good spot, DJ, Luna's right next to Pumpkin and Cammie," as her eyes sparkled with excitement.

"The tree's looking great," Steve said, smoothing his hand over Angie's hair.

Catherine nodded. "Definitely a perfect decorating job."

"Isn't it so beautiful, Luna?" Angie exclaimed, "You have an ornament like Cammie and Pumpkin and Felix for your first Christmas in our family," she told the fluffy black cat that was watching from the back of the armchair, while Cammie supervised and Pumpkin eyed the tree with her usual curiosity.

"Pumpkin, you're doing a great job not climbing it so far." DJ grinned at the orange cat. "But Daddy anchored it to the wall again just in case."

"The new goat ornament looks so pretty," Angie said, "I can't wait to show Felix and his family!"

"I can almost hear him bleating his approval." Catherine bent to kiss her cheek.

Angie clapped her hands. "Can we turn the lights on now?"

Steve nodded. "We can, let's do it." He lifted the switch and passed it to DJ. "Together on three."

The kids each put a finger on the switch and grinned at each other, saying, "Together on three!" as Catherine pulled out her camera.


With the Christmas tree all set up, Steve disappeared into the garage while Catherine and the kids went into the kitchen to make some cocoa to go with the cookies.

He returned with a storage bin and a mischievous smirk. "I found something you guys might like," he said, setting it down with a wink at his wife.

Catherine's smile grew as the children opened the bin, eyes widening.

"It's a tiny, baby Christmas tree!" Angie squealed. "It's so cute!"

"We had it in the garage?" DJ asked about the three foot, pre-lit tree.

Catherine nodded "That's the tree from the house I owned before I moved in with Daddy," she explained to the kids. "I used to buy a little tree at every duty station and then donate it when I'd get deployed or reassigned."

"Can we decorate it, Mommy?" Angie asked, bouncing with excitement.

"Daddy and I had an idea about that last night," she replied. "After our talk at the food court when we bought the new ornaments, we thought you guys might like to decorate this little tree for the playroom." She smiled at DJ whose expression said he'd caught onto their idea. "You can pick a theme."

Angie squealed, "We can have an extra tree!" She clapped and grabbed her brother's hand.

"We can make our own ornaments," DJ suggested. "With goats for you."

"And the Cubs for you!" she replied immediately.

Steve and Catherine shared a look at how the kids always thought of each other. "How about we have these awesome looking cookies and cocoa while you make some beautiful ornaments," she said.

"Yay!" Angie threw up both arms. "Cookies and ornaments!"


The family sat around the table, sipping cocoa and munching on reindeer shaped cookies while crafting ornaments. DJ carefully painted a Chicago Cubs logo while Angie made a goat out of clay.

"Those will look great on the tree," Steve suggested, admiring their handiwork.

"This is so much fun!" Angie giggled, carefully picking Felix's colors before painting her small goat.

"Look at that concentration," Catherine whispered to Steve. "All you."

"I want to make a goat with a goatee," DJ mused, deep in thought.

"Very creative, buddy," Steve grinned in approval, as he carefully sketched a goat.

"I'm gonna make a Cubs jersey!" Angie said, and the kitchen buzzed with the kids' chatter as they enjoyed the goodies and craft time, each ornament more elaborate than the last.

"Alright, you two," Steve announced after they had finished a dozen or so, "I think it's time to add these masterpieces to the tree."


In the playroom, they carefully hung up each ornament, admiring their handiwork as the tree began to take on a Cubs and goat theme.

"It's so beautiful," Angie breathed, gazing at the tree with awe.

"I love it," DJ agreed, smiling up at his parents. "This was a super great idea. Thanks, Mommy and Daddy."

"We're happy you had fun making the ornaments and decorating it," Catherine said, holding out her arms for hugs.

"It's a very very special little tree," Angie proclaimed with a grin.

The family stood back, admiring the tree that now occupied the playroom table.

"It's just what the room needed," Catherine murmured, her eyes alight.

Suddenly, Angie let out a delighted squeal, clapping her hands with excitement. "I'm so excited! It's going to be the best Christmas ever!"

Catherine kissed her head and smiled, remembering the first time she heard that same phrase from Jacob; when they'd first met and he was the same age Angie was right now. "I think you're right, baby girl," she said. Catching Steve's eyes, she murmured, "The best one yet."

# THE END thanks for reading


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