Spitting Bullets

Chapter 21

"Momma it's beautiful!" smiled Noah from his spot on Kelly's shoulders.

"I know! Isn't it so beautiful?" Nicole grinned as her wide eyed little boy gazed at the tree as it was lit.

Matt held Bella in his arms while Nicole was tucked under the other one. She looked around and couldn't help but smile at her amazing little family.

After the tree lighting ceremony, they all headed back to Nicole and Matt's to decorate the place. Noah was curled up on the couch in his jammies next to Kelly, clutching his hot cocoa in his hands.

"Daddy! Momma took Bella and I to see Santa today!" Noah cheered.

"That's awesome! Do you tell him what you wanted?"

"Yep! But Bella cried when we took a picture with him. I don't think she likes Santa."

"Sometimes baby's get scared by Santa."

"Alright, Bella is asleep," sighed Nicole as she plopped down on the couch between Kelly and Matt.

Shortly after they began the movie Rudolph, Noah was fast asleep in Kelly's lap. Nicole ran her fingers through her little boys hair, happy he was content.

After the whole kidnapping incident, Noah barely slept. He was staying with Nicole 24/7 for a week and a half before she needed to go back to work. Jay then took off a week to stay with him. Noah would go between Nicole's and Kelly's, but he'd always have to sleep in their bed. It took 5 weeks before Noah was able to sleep through the night in his own bed.

Nicole was so grateful he was getting better. She didn't mind sharing a bed with him, but it was hard emotionally when he'd wake up screaming and crying from nightmares. The holiday season helped take his mind off it all. He was back at school for a couple weeks before winter break. Now Nicole made it her mission to make this the best winter break/Christmas ever. Noah deserved it after the craziness that was this year.

"You know, I was thinking as part of his Christmas present, we'd turn the guest room into Noah's own room," Nicole suggested to Matt, "I mean since he's been back in school, I've been staying with you anyway."

"I think that's a great idea. He'll have his own boy space, so when Owen comes over or whatever they have their own hang out. I think it's a great idea," Matt replied.

"Perfect! I'm going to start planning it out this week then!"

"Awesome," Matt grinned, planting a kiss to her lips, "He'll love it."

***

"Isabella Bryant get back here!" cried Nicole as Bella began to run out of the kitchen.

Right now the Bryant-Casey household was pure chaos. Nicole took off work to spend the day with the kids and offered to take Owen for the day too so the boys could play. The four of them were baking cookies, so the kitchen was a disaster. There was flour and cookie dough everywhere, and of course little Bella was covered in it.

Now Nicole was chasing Bella, trying to wrangle her into the bathroom for a bath. Eventually she caught her and told the boys to wash their hands, change, and play until she was done.

Once everyone was cleaned and changed, the four of them cuddled up on the couch to watch a Christmas movie. Nicole would get up periodically to pull out a tray of cookies and throw in another. Bella was all curled up in her mom's lap.

Later that night, Kelly came over and picked up both boys for a sleepover at his place. It was just Bella and I for dinner because Matt had to stay late to finish some paperwork. When he got him, Nicole and Bella were curled up on the couch watching Frosty the Snowman. Matt gave her a kiss on the lips before kissing Bella on the forehead.

"How are my two favorite girls?" he asked, noticing Nicole's empty glass of wine.

"Tired," Nicole yawned with a chuckle, "Cookie baking ended up in chasing a certain little girl covered in flour around."

"Well she is her mother's daughter."

Matt chuckled as he took Nicole's glass and refilled it. He got a glass of his own and changed into sweat with a t-shirt before joining Nicole on the couch. She pressed a kiss to his lips as she took the glass from him. Isabella laid asleep in between the two, her head in Nicole's lap and her feet draped across Matt.

"She's so darn cute," Nicole sighed, playing with her hair.

"Just like her mom."

"I love you Matt Casey.

"I love you too Nicole Bryant."