eloise’s pov
10 Years Later
I was awoken by repetitive nudges, making me smile, opening my eyes to bright blue ones of my 3 year old daughter, Mabel. “Morning sweetie,” I mumbled, sitting up slightly in the bed. “Morning princess,” said Niall, pecking me sweetly on the lips. “Morning baby,” I said, grinning at him warmly. “Mummy, Mummy! Santa came! Lets go!” yelled Mabel, jumping off the bed unsteadily, and running off down the hall, making me giggle. “Joseph that’s my present!” came Mabel’s familiar voice, making Niall chuckle beside me.
”I suppose we better go down, and see what Santa bought them shall we,” he said, lying on my shoulder. “Yeah,” I mumbled, my hand running through the soft blonde locks that sat on his head. “Joseph!!” screamed Mabel. I gave Niall a quick peck on the forehead, before throwing back the covers, and slipping on my slippers. “C’mon Niall,” I said, before exiting our bedroom, and into the living room, where my two children were arguing over the Santa sacks.
I had decorated the room just like I did when I was younger, tinsel hanging over the doorframes, Christmas lights all of the walls, a tall tree covered head to toe in ornaments; the lot. After all, Christmas is what brought me and Niall together. I sat down cross legged next to Mabel, pulling her onto my lap. “Sweetie, that’s Joseph’s sack, yours is over here,” I said, stretching my arms out to grab hers. “But his is bigger!” she whined, pouting. “It’s the same size, it just got stretched a little bit honey,” I said, pecking her forehead.
She sighed, peering inside her sack. Niall walked into the room, sitting down cross-legged beside our 6 year old son, Joseph. “What did Santa bring you this year Jo?” he said, excitement taking over his features. Niall was a great dad, he was always, always was there for the kids, and me. Mabel unpacked her sack quickly, staring at awe at her presents. “Mummy! Daddy! Santa got me my dolly!” she squealed, picking up the packet that contained the doll that she had been wanting, for as long as I could remember. I gasped, looking at Mabel. “Wow! Aren’t you a lucky girl!” I said, smiling, at her excitement.
She tried unpicking the cellotape with her small fingers, tongue sticking out in concentration. While she was currently occupied, I crawled over to Joseph, who was taking out his presents one by one. “What did Santa bring you this year honey?” I said, helping him lay out his presents. “I haven’t opened them yet silly,” he said, giggling softly. “Daddy!? Can you open my dolly?” whined Mabel, pouting. She had us all wrapped around her little finger, that one.
“Sure princess,” I heard Niall say. I helped Joseph unwrap one of his presents, revealing a toy tractor, one that Joseph had been eyeing up in the toy stores for months on end. “Mummy! It’s the tractor!” he said excitedly, his eyes scanning the box, looking at the very complicated tractor toy. I gasped. “Santa knew exactly what you wanted! You lucky little boy,” I said, pecking his cheek. He giggled. Mabel and Joseph both unwrapped the rest of their presents, ranging from transformers to teddies to lollies and chocolates.
The presents were scattered all around the living room, Mabel and Joseph both running around over-excitedly, from the sugar rush and all their presents. I smiled, watching my two children so happy. I leaned back into Niall’s arms as he pecked my lips softly. “We did it,” I said, laughing.
“That, we did,” said Niall, as I kissed his cheek.
