I Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus

 "Papa." Phil grumbled and turned to face the voice he heard, still half-asleep. "Papa, wake up."

"Baby, what's wrong?" Phil said, his voice still clouded with sleep. He reached over to turn on the lamp that was by his bed before realizing that light had already flooded the room.

"It's Christmas, Papa," Emmy said, grinning from ear to ear.

"Well, I guess it is," Phil said, sitting up and running his fingers through his messy hair. "Let's wake up Papa and then we can go open some presents, okay?" Phil reached his hand over to shake Dan awake, but Emmy quickly grabbed Phil's other hand.

"No! No, Papa, I have a secret to tell you first."

"Okay," Phil said, slowly taking his hand away from Dan's shoulders. He swung his feet out of bed and stood up.

"C'mon, Papa," Emmy said, grabbing Phil's hand and leading him towards the kitchen. Phil stumbled along with the little girl as she tugged him to the table.

"Okay, princess, what's wrong?" Phil asked as Emmy pulled herself into her chair.

"You're the only one who's supposed to kiss Daddy, aren't you?"

"Um, yeah," Phil laughed softly, "That's kind of the point, sweetie."

"Uh, well, last-" Emmy began, her face scrunched up in a way that made Phil's heart ache, "I saw-" And then the little girl burst into tears.

"Oh, no, honey, what's wrong?" Phil said, worried, scooping his daughter into his arms. "Emmy, it's okay. Tell me what's wrong, we'll fix it, okay?"

"I saw Daddy kissing Santa last night," the little girl exclaimed through her tears. "He was standin' by the Christmas tree and-and then Daddy leaned over and kissed'm and-"

Phil was instantly relieved, but he tried not to let it show. Ever since Emmy had been old enough to walk, he and Dan had taken turns dressing up as Santa to put presents under the tree.

"Shh, love, shh," Phil pressed a kiss to the top of Emmy's head. "It's okay. Haven't you ever heard of the Santa Kiss?"

"What's," the little girl wiped tears from her eyes, "what's that?"

"Well, if Santa catches anybody by the Christmas tree, he has to give them a kiss." Phil said, grinning when the little girl started to giggle.

"Anybody has to give Santa a kiss?"

"Anybody who sees him at the Christmas tree." Phil started to laugh as Emmy giggled uncontrollably. Just then, Dan walked in, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Hey, guys," he said, pressing a kiss first to Phil's head and then Emmy's. "What's with not waking me up? Is everything okay?" Dan grinned, taking the child from Phil's arms.

"Of course, Daddy," Emmy giggled, kissing Dan's cheek. "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas, Ems," Dan set the girl down before starting a pot of coffee. "Should we go open some presents?"

"Yeah!" Emmy said before running off towards the lounge where the tree was. "Hurry up!" Dan and Phil chuckled as they walked towards the lounge.

"So, why didn't you wake me up?" Dan asked as they sank onto the couch to watch Emmy tear through her presents.

"She caught you kissing Santa," Phil replied softly, and the two stifle a laugh.

"How'd you explain that one to her?"

"Well, have you ever heard of the magic of the Santa Kiss?" Phil giggled, sticking his tongue through his teeth.

"What the fu-," Dan caught himself, "I mean, what the heck?"

"If Santa catches you by the Christmas tree, you have to give him a kiss," Phil explained.

"Mmm, is that so?" Dan bit his lip.

"Well, it's the new rule," Phil smirked, and they were leaning in for a kiss when they heard an excited yell from Emmy.

"Wow! Daddy! Papa! Look what Santa brought me!" she said happily, running over to the couch to show her fathers a giant stuffed bear. "I'm gonna call him Winston," the child said before running right back to the tree.

"God, we're lucky, aren't we?" Dan murmured, leaning his head on Phil's shoulder. Phil nodded in agreement, looking at the little girl tearing through her presents. Emmy really was a blessing - they'd adopted her from Russia three years ago, and the now-five-year-old had been the light of their lives ever since.

"I'd say we're probably the luckiest guys on earth right now," Phil grinned. "Merry Christmas, Danny," he whispered.

"Merry Christmas, Phil."