team effort - rafe cameron 3

twenty six

it was christmas eve now, and i had everyone over at my house, exchanging our gifts so we could be with our families tomorrow.

"no freaking way!" sarah laughed and pulled open the present noelle had gotten her. she pulled open the shoe box and held up the shoe as katie and kie squealed.

"here, diaper is changed." rafe said and handed sadie to me as he sat down. "what'd i miss?"

"just a whole bunch of screaming." JJ said. "god, girls are annoying."

"shut up." i told him as he smiled at me. i sat sadie in my lap, handing her one of her toys as she grabbed it, shaking it viscously."

"alright, it's rafe's turn." sarah said and looked next to her, at her brother. "time to open your presents."

"fine," he said and reached to grab my present.

"nope," i grabbed it from him. "that's for last."

"last?" he asked. "why?"

"because i said so."

"fine," he said and grabbed the one JJ had gotten him. he pulled it open, revealing a new xbox game. "oh, shit." he laughed. "i didn't know this was released yet."

"i got the early release, it still has all the bugs." JJ smiled.

"nice," rafe nodded as i laughed, shaking my head. he opened the rest of his presents before i handed him mine.

"here," i smiled as he grabbed it.

"this is tiny." he said and looked at me. "better be gold or something."

"i can take it back and you can leave." i said.

"i'm kidding," he kissed my cheek before pulling the wrapping paper off. it was a small box and he pulled it open, revealing a ring. he looked at me. "a ring? shouldn't this be the other way around." i smiled and pulled it out, flipping it over and showing the carving that was on it. "oh my god, that's..."

"it's gracelynn's handwriting." i smiled at him.

"love the world." he read and looked back at me. "how did you get this? where did this come from."

i looked across at katie and beck.

"i found an old journal of hers in her room. she wrote down this stupid list before we moved back, of all the things she wanted to do. she wrote that down." katie expained.

"and you did that for her." beck said. "you made her love the world."

"katie told me about it and i knew it had to get it involved in whatever i gave you." i told him. "you gave me a ring with meaning, so i gave you one too."

he leaned over and kissed me before laughing.

"what?" i asked and pulled back.

"nothing, i just love you." he told me.

"i love you too."

"come on, finish up." JJ said. "i want some pie."

"okay!" rafe said and took the baby. i went through, opening my presents before coming to JJ's. i pulled the paper off and saw a necklace or bracelet jewelry box.

"mom helped me pick this out." JJ said. "so if you hate it, it's her fault too."

i laughed and pulled it open, seeing a silver necklace that had my name on it. i smiled softly, looking up at him.

"it's beautiful, JJ." i said.

"i know you said something about how cool you thought they were."

i reached over and hugged him, licking his cheek.