Shawn Mendes Imagines

Christmas Imagine #3 - Exchanging Gifts

You sat still with your legs crossed beside your decorated and lit-up Christmas tree at seven in the morning, holding your three-month old baby girl in your arms, watching as your five-year-old daughter Angie ripped open one of her gifts that Santa had left her.

She was excited to see it was her favorite movie of all time on DVD, The Princess and the Frog.

"Santa got me what I asked for!!" she exclaims, holding it up to show you. She turns to Shawn, who was in the kitchen, tinkering with the coffee machine. "Look, Dad! I got Princess and the Frog!"

"See?" Shawn chuckles, his voice muffled from the half-wall in the way. "I told you Santa received your letter. Now you know that there really is a post office at the North Pole."

"Is that all of the gifts from Santa?" you look around at all of the colorful tissue paper and shredded wrapping paper surrounding you. Alexis, your youngest, was still asleep in your arms, her heavy head resting in the crease of your arm.

"Yes," Angie says, excited to begin opening the ones given to her by us.

She opens all the ones from you, and then her father, who strolls into the room holding two steaming mugs in his hands.

He eases down on the floor next to you, handing one over to you.

"Thank you," you whisper, already taking a sip. Making you coffee and himself tea wasn't something that he only ever did on the holidays-- it was a daily tradition in your home, especially in the winter. Sometimes he would make them and sit out on porch swing with you at night, the two of you discussing your days one at a time.

Angie opens her presents one by one. It was all only useless stuff she would never actually play with, but got overly excited about. LeapFrog, plastic jewelry, 5th Harmony CD-- which was from Shawn-- and of course, you were able to purchase big sister and little sister pajama's for her and Alexis.

"These might be a little small for me," Shawn says sadly, holding up the baby's pink onesie pajama's with the white tutu. "But, I suppose I'll squeeze."

Angie giggles loudly. "Those are for Alexis, Dad."

"Awe, man. I got really excited."

Angie also got a kick out of opening up all the presents for the baby. Exchanging gifts was your favorite and least favorite part of Christmas-- the buying sucked ass, but the giving couldn't have been more exciting.

Shawn wasn't the best at gift-giving when it came to your birthday or anniversary, and always accuses you of never dropping hints around Mother's Day. But when Christmas comes, he actually drives himself to the mall, goes into all of your favorite stores, looks at things he thinks you'll like; nothing meaningless. You always looked forward to his gifts.

"I think this one is for you, Angie," Shawn says, pulling a round box out from way behind the tree you assumed no one saw. He checks the tag, nodding in approval.

"It's from Dad," Angie smiles, looking over at Shawn, who was wearing her new pink heart-shaped sunglasses over his eyes, puckering his lips and holding up a peace sign.

Angie rips the blue snowman packaging off of the gift, revealing a dark pink and light pink striped box.

"Oh, um, Angie, that's not-- "

Angie looks confused when she pulls out a pair of Victoria's Secret black lace panties with a baby pink bow on the front, a thin red thong, and a slim t-shirt bra. Shawn's cheeks turn beat red as he snatches the box away from her, immediately throwing the lid back on top.

"I think, that wasn't for you... " He blushes.

You look over at him, seeing that he was already glancing at you, still giggling adorably.

"I can't believe you just gave our daughter sexy underwear," you mumble.

"I accidentally put her name on the box!"

"Okay."

"And don't say sexy around the kids."

"Okay."

"Stop saying okay."

"Oka-- "

"Mom, who was that for?" Angie interrupts. "Was it for you?"

"Yes," Shawn says, taking a sip of his tea. "Yes, yes, yes, it was definitely for Mom. It was not for you. I'm sorry, Bug."

It was hard to take him seriously when he was still wearing the girly sunglasses.

"It's okay, but underwear is a weird present to give, if you ask me."

"Well, now that I know your opinion, I might just get you underwear next year. Strawberry Shortcake panties. Sound good?"

"No!" she shouts. "Don't!"

He finally takes off the sunglasses, finishing the last few sips of his coffee and wiping his mouth with his sweatshirt sleeve. He leans over to you, his sleepy head resting upon your shoulder.

"Sorry about the underwear," he whispers, kissing your shoulder.

"That's okay," you reply. "It was a thoughtful gift."

He laughs through his nose, humming slightly. "Merry Christmas, babygirl."

He looks down at Alexis in your arms, sleeping soundly. "And Merry Christmas to you, too, my baby."

Then he adverts his gaze to Angie. "And you, Bug. I love my girls so much, it's unreal."

***