Settling in Seattle

Chapter 27- No Gifts?

"Morning babe, Happy Christmas." Mike's eyes drifted open to see Rachel feeding Rosalie in bed, rubbing her eyes.

"Hey, merry Christmas. You okay?" She yawned and smiled as Mike placed his hands on his forehead and then stretched his arms out.

"Perfect," He smiled watching her, "Have you been up long?"

"No, not long, I'm surprised she didn't wake you up! It's her first Christmas, and she's not even a month old!"

"I know, good timing there don't you think?" Mike laughed, and Rachel rolled her eyes, looking then down to her beautiful baby girl, gently rubbing her little hands that were rested against her chest. "How is her rash?"

"It's starting to clear up now, the blisters are almost gone, I think it's just the redness now." Rachel gently pulled the neck of the onesie Rosalie had on down and observed the faded rash.

"Good, we'll just keep applying it," Mike tickled the baby's back, "She looks so cute in that." Rosalie was wearing a little green and red striped onesie, that had a triangular, elf-like cuff on the arms and neck.

"Yep, she does." Rachel lifted her up onto her shoulder and pulled her pyjama strap back on her shoulder. She burped her gently, then passed her to Mike, who sat back and leant her on his chest, "Hold on, I'll get you your present in a moment." Rachel stretched out a little bit, her legs meeting Mike's underneath the duvet. 

"I thought we said no gifts?"

"Well, I can guarantee you got me something because you're that kinda guy, so I thought I'd make it fair!"

"And what if I didn't get you anything?"

"You did, I told you, I know you better than you know yourself." Rachel smiled, and Mike pulled a phoney freaked out face, reaching over and kissing Rachel's forehead, whilst gently rubbing Rosalie's back. She started to whimper so he sat up and moved her, so she was comfortable resting in the crook of Mike's elbow.

"I love you both." His voice had gone all husky, and he moved his arm up so he could kiss Rosalie's head.

"We love you too, now I'm going to get it, I'm so excited for you to see it." She pulled the duvet over to Mike and got out of the bed, her bare feet hitting the cold, wooden floor. She wandered over to the drawers and opened her underwear drawer.

"Oh, so that's where you hid it."

"Well, you're not exactly going to go in here are you? Not unless I ask you to get something for me, and so I just had to not for a while."  Rachel laughed, and Mike scoffed.

"Whatever. I don't even know what you could've got me?"

"Just wait." Rachel pulled out a small white box, wrapped in a black ribbon perfectly.

"Ooh, what is that?"

"You'll find out, if you just open it." Rachel placed it in his hands and pulled Rosalie off his chest, turning her into her arms. She seemed to be dropping in and out of sleep.

"Rachel you really didn't have to do this." Mike persisted whilst unboxing the gift.

"Oh, but I did."

"Oh, wow. They're beautiful. How did you do that? It's so cool."  Mike picked up the cufflinks that were placed in the box, they had a scaled down imprint of Rosalie's handprint and footprint on them.

"If you recall, I was sat here bored for a week while you were at work, and I will be for a long time after Christmas!" Rachel beamed as Mike looked over the subtle but meaningful cufflinks.

"Thank you, babe." He leaned in and kissed her gently, they stayed like that for a bit.

"Happy Christmas."

'You're going to have to wait to get your surprise." Mike rose his eyebrows, and looked down at the little box, smiling.

"Oh, will I?" Rachel laughed and looked to their daughter, who was now drifting off to sleep, and sighed.

"Yes. Now Rosy is asleep, before she wakes up needing changing, maybe we should pop into the shower, get ready and make some breakfast?"

"Hmm, maybe not." Rachel rose from the bed, passing Rosalie to Mike, who automatically held out his arms. She swerved and pulled her pyjama top off, throwing it onto her side of the bed (the left side) and ran into the bathroom, switching the shower on and grabbing a towel. She hopped in and Mike wanted to shout at her but didn't want to wake the baby asleep in his arms. He decided against a shower, as he had had one last night, instead he got changed into the pyjamas that Rachel had left out, but he'd refused to sleep in.

"Babe, these pyjamas are so weird." Mike pulled them on whilst watching Rosalie, who he had placed in between pillows.

"You love it!" She shouted from the shower. Mike sighed and looked at himself in the mirror. His hair needed a cut and was all over the place, he was wearing matching pyjamas to his wife and baby's pyjamas. Mike had a red and green striped t-shirt and joggers, Rosalie was wearing the matching onesie, and had a sleeper led out for her when she woke up. Rachel's was the same as his, except she also had some Christmassy slippers.

It didn't take her long to emerge from the bathroom wearing her pyjamas, and she smiled at Mike.

"I hate you." Mike said and left the room followed by Rachel and Rosalie. They spent the day mostly cooking, laughing and gift giving. They'd kept it fairly low key. Just how they both wanted it. Mike had got a surprise new stroller, it was one of the designs that Rachel had loved, but a nicer, more comfortable looking design. He had also got her a necklace with a small gem on it, with an R engraved on it. It was a pearly pink colour, and she loved it.

"Thank you for today." Rachel rolled her neck back onto the sofa and sighed, Rosalie in her arms.

"It was a day not to forget. Thank you for being here with me." Mike moved his arm around her and placed the other hand onto Rosalie's back.

"Hey, I'm always here," She leant in and Mike turned on the TV, as they selected to watch Elf, "Yesss, my favourite. Now I'll go grab the snacks." She got up and walked towards the kitchen, Mike smiling at her. He loved her with all his heart, unconditionally.

"Remember that chocolate I bought!" He shouted at her and she turned, raising her eyebrows and laughing.

"I hate you."

"Just bring me the chocolate!"

"Maybe I won't!" She laughed and strolled into the kitchen, knowing full well she'd get the food.