Tom smiled as he heard little footsteps coming down the stairs. He turned his attention from the television, to the living room entrance, just as a little girl appeared. Lucy, his four year old, stood in the doorway. She was wearing red pajamas, with white snowflakes on them. Her wavy blonde hair was brushed out, thanks to her mother, and her bright blue eyes were shining with excitement.
“Daddy, when does Santa get here?!”
Tom smiled at her, “Not for a while Lucy, dear. Come here! We'll wait for him together! Where's Mommy? We'll have her put on Elf, okay?”
Lucy nodded and walked over to the couch her dad was sitting on, handing Tom her stuffed bear, and then clambering up beside him. Once she had snuggled into his side, he handed her the bear, and then put his arm around her, pulling her closer.
“What was Mommy doing?”
Lucy shrugged, so Tom smiled, and yelled, “Mommy! Come down here! We want to watch a movie!”
From upstairs, Abigail yelled, “I'm coming! Jeesh! Calm down!”
Tom and Lucy smiled as they heard her finally making her way down the stairs.
Abigail smiled at her family on the couch. Lucy clutching her bear, wearing her Christmas pajamas, cuddled up next to Tom, who was wearing blue flannel pants, and a white shirt, his arm wrapped around their daughter.
Lucy spoke up, “Mommy, put Elf on!”
Abigail smiled and opened the movie cabinet, finding the movie, and putting it in the DVD player.
She turned around to face her family and said, “Luce, you wanna get Santa's cookies ready before the movie starts?”
Lucy nodded, and climbed off the couch, running to the kitchen, leaving her mommy behind. Tom laughed, watching his wife walk after the little girl. He took notice that Abigail had been wearing his shirt and black cardigan, along with her own pink sleep pants. Seeing his clothes on her made him smile. He heard the clang and clatter of cupboards opening and closing, things being moved around, and the voices of his two favorite people on Earth.
Moments later, they emerged from the kitchen, Lucy carrying a plate of cookies. She placed them in front of the tree, and then climbed onto the couch, reclaiming the spot next to Tom. Tom picked Lucy up, placing her sideways on his lap, so her head rested on his chest, and on the arm of the couch. Abigail grabbed the remote, and a blanket, covering Lucy, as she settled in where the young girl had been sitting, placing her feet across her legs.
About forty-five minutes into the movie, Lucy was sound asleep. Abigail paused the movie, pulled the blanket off of the sleeping child, and grabbed her stuffed bear, as Tom cradled her in his arms. The three of them made their way toward the stairs, and then toward Lucy's room. Abigail pulled the blankets down Lucy's bed and Tom layed her down. Abigail set the bear next to the girl, and then pulled the blankets back up. They both kissed her forehead, and made their way back downstairs to finish the movie.
Once the movie had ended, Tom and Abigail walked back upstairs. Abigail went to Lucy's room to make sure she was still sleeping soundly, while Tom walked to their bedroom. Abigail shut Lucy's door and walked to her own room, helping Tom gather presents to take downstairs, to put under the tree. After they had organized the presents, they smiled at each other as they ate the cookies that were left out. Turning out the lights, they walked upstairs, checked on Lucy one more time, and then went to bed.
Tom crawled in to bed, and Abigail followed, pulling the covers up as she rested her head on Tom's chest. She tilted her head up, as he tilted his down. They smiled and then kissed each other goodnight.
Abigail pulled away, and closed her eyes.
“Merry Christmas, Tom. I love you,” she whispered.
Tom draped one arm around her, and put the other behind his head.
He shut his eyes and whispered back, “Merry Christmas, darling. I love you, too.”
