UGLY SWEATERS
Elves and Sweats (Cain & Carly)
Carly knew this was coming.
And it was her fault for reminding them about that.
She and her entire family decided to celebrate Christmas with her parents, which Mason readily agreed to. Even Cain and Erised and little Asher were flying all the way from Europe to celebrate Christmas with them.
Carly and her Mom planned the perfect celebration, with all the Christmas traditions they could think of: eggnogs, mistletoes, puddings and exchange gifts— something they're all excited about.
Who doesn't like gifts, anyway?
But at that moment, she wished she didn't receive any.
"Honey," she knocked on Ezra's room, "are you ready yet? We'll be leaving in five minutes, baby."
Ezra's answer were muffled by the closed door, "In a minute po, Mommy!" she heard her say.
She replied a short "okay" before making her way down the stairs.
Naabutan niya ang mag-ama niyang nasa living area, Mason crouching down Enzo's level and fixing his hair and shirt. The sight was breathtakingly beautiful, she didn't want to ruin it so she paused for a minute to admire the view before her.
Ezra's shrilling, "Mommy!" broke her trance. She could even hear her giggling as she scampered her way to the stairs.
Hindi niya naman maiwasan kabahan nang makita ang anak na halos liparin na pagbaba sa hagdan. Although her little Ezra and Enzo already know how to climb up and down the stairs, iba pa rin iyong nag-iingat.
She caught her daughter before she could even walked past her. "Slow down, honey."
Nag-angat nang tingin ang anak, may maliit na kunot ang noo. "But Mommy, you said we're going to go to Gran's house in a minute."
"I know, baby, but we don't want you falling down the stairs, do we?"
Maliit na umiling ang anak at mahigpit na humawak sa kamay niya.
"Now we can go."
Bumaling ang tingin niya sa baba, naabutan niyang parehong nakatingin sa kanila ang mag-ama niya. Mason had this soft, loving smile on his lips as he watched them descended from the stairs.
Carly and Mason met halfway and the latter immediately snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her close to him, whispering into her ear, "Hey, gorgeous, you're looking real perfect."
She stifled a giggle before whispering back, "You're not bad yourself, handsome."
"Mom. Dad." Ezra tugged at the hem of her dress. "Grannies are waiting po."
Natatawang naghiwalay silang mag-asawa.
**
The Woodsen's abode was already on full swing by the time the clock strikes twelve. Despite not celebrating with a crowd, the house was still filled with loud voices, cheerings, squeals and giggles. Between her twins, Asher, Cain and herself, the whole house was in total chaos in no time.
Right in the middle of eating their puddings, her Mom appeared with two identical boxes she did not need guess to whom those belonged to.
As their mother strode to where she and Cain was sitting side by side, she knew something was up.
