Cupcakes, Curls & Cuddles

Chapter 23

The sounds of feet pattering across the floor and the little squeals of "Dadee, Papa! Upsie! Upsie!" wake Louis and Harry the next morning. Both lay there with their eyes closed a moment longer until they feel the bed start to shake as Cassie jumps on the bed between the pair. "It Chwistmas!" She squeals too loud for the early morning.

As she falls to the bed Louis lets out a groan, Cassie's knee connecting with Louis stomach. "Oof! Good morning you crazy monkey." Louis mumbles reaching out for the young girl and pulling her to rest down between Louis and Harry. Harry lets out a groan from a knee to the back. "Darling careful, you are going to break your Papa and I with those knees." Louis chuckles rubbing the spot on Harry's back.

"I is just so excited Dadee! It Chwistmas!" She says eye bugged with excitement. Harry turns in his spot to face the pair behind him smiling when he sees the smiling faces staring back at him. "Happy Christmas princess." Harry beams.

"Happy Chwistmas!! We open pwesents now pweaaaase?!" She begs, itching to get downstairs and rip open every present under the tree. Louis shifts slightly turning his back just enough to see the clock that rest on the bed side table, he sighs seeing that its only 6:07am. Despite how much he would love to just go back to sleep for another hour at least, he knows how lucky he is that they even got to sleep this late. He turns back to look at Cassie who's restlessly waiting for him to answer.

"Yes we can go open presents but first we need to go brush you teeth." Louis says sternly, past experience has proven that if he doesn't get her to do it now she will be too wrapped up in her toys later to do it, causing a big fight that nobody wants to have on Christmas.

Cassie claps her hands in anticipation, clambering out of bed yelling back at her father that she is a big girl and will brush her teeth on her own leaving Harry and Louis behind. Louis turns to Harry smiling softly at the boy whose eyes droop with sleep struggling to keep his eyes open.

"Merry Christmas baby." Louis whispers leaning over and pecking Harry's cheek. Harry's lips crook up in a sleepy smile, eyes fluttering opening locking onto Louis's. "Merry Christmas Boo." Harry says.

"Tired sweetheart?" Louis asks resting his palm on Harry's cheek, thumb caressing his cheekbone. Harry relaxing into the touch nodding his head in agreement. "Welcome to Christmas morning with a toddler" Louis chuckles. "Now come on love, we should get up before she comes running back into here and scolds us for not moving fast enough." Louis adds moving to sit up, Harry following shortly after. They move to the bathroom to brush their teeth, bumping hips as they stand side by side.

Harry turns to Louis after rinsing his mouth pulling Louis in for a chaste kiss, moving his lips slowly against Louis. Harry smiles into the kiss when Louis steps in closer holding pulling him by the hips.

A small voice breaks them apart. "Dadee! Papa! No time for kissy kissy its pwesant time!" Cassie whines stomping her foot in frustration. Louis pulls away from Harry chuckling quietly before turning towards his daughter. "Okay, okay darling... we are coming." Louis says.

"Good! Me soooo excited! Papa! Come! Come! Firwst Chwistmas together!" Cassie cheers and Louis heart skips. He knew that he and Harry understood the meaning of a first Christmas together, but for Cassie to say the words out loud and maybe deep down understand the meaning is heavy. It adds a weight to making the day that much more amazing.

Harry sensing Louis tension quickly pulls him out of it, by squeezing his bicep before looking at Cassie with a wide smile. "It is exciting isn't it munchkin! Well lets go hey? Presents await!" Harry steps away from Louis with one last reassuring squeeze, he leans down to Cassie picking her up in his arms heading down stairs.