Christmas Day, Apt 14249, horribly early.
It wasn't to be expected that on a day as important as this one Nia would sleep late in the morning. So it was with less shock than smiling acceptance that Charlie and Deacon were woken by lusty squeals of "He's beeeeeen - he's beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen" at about five thirty.
At least it would give them a chance to get well ahead of themselves with the cooking, Charlie thought as he slipped out of bed and went to fetch the girl and her stocking. Now was the time, he was veru concious, that they would be making memories and traditions to last her all her life and he was very concerned that this Christmas would set golden standards.
Deacon was dragging himself from bed as well and made a quick trip to the restroom then slipped on pj pants and an old tshirt and got their camera. It was their first Christmas with Nia - they had to have pictures.
"Did Santa come?" he asked as he entered the room. They'd been up late the night before putting out the gifts from Santa and filling her stocking and of course at some point in the night Deacon had crept from bed and filled Charlie's as well. One could always find fun stocking stuffers at ThinkGeek.com
Deacon getting up had been the cue for Charlie to sneakily drag out the box he had hidden under his bed and double check that all the goodies he had got for Deacon were present. But Deacon's stocking was for later. Some of the contents were a little - dubious.
"Esssss," Nia said a bit thickly. She already had chocolate round her mouth. Charlie leaned back against her head board and moved his legs so Deacon could get on the bed too.
"Let's see what he brought you?" he asked and laughed as she brandished a squeaky toy mouse.
Deacon took a picture of them on the bed - father and daughter - before joining them. "Cool," he said as she squeaked the mouse at him then watched her pull another thing out. It was a little wind up penguin and Nia bounced.
"Awww penguin," Charlie said and reached for a book off the bedside table so she could see how it worked. It marched across the book, flaping its little wings and Nia shrieked with delight.
"What's all this noise then?" a mock severe voice said from the doorway and there was Edward in tartan flannel under a tightly belted dressing gown, on Bella's heels. She was far more casually dressed in sweat pants and top, but both had identical fond smiles.
"Gotta penguin," Nia said, waving it. "Cuz Santa's beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen."
Deacon smiled at Bella and Edward and snapped a quick picture, ignoring their protests. "What else have ya got, baby?" he asked Nia, who was pulling out candy and other odds an ends in a rush.
Nia took out another package and peered at the contents. "Whassat den?" she asked.
"Oh that's a rainbow maker," Charlie said.
"Wanna see!"
"We will when the sun gets up," Charlie said. "It's too dark now."
"Yeah cuz someone didn't want to wait for the sun," he said and Nia grinned unapologetically. Deacon chuckled and took another picture but by now she was near done with the stocking. "Right I think I need coffee. And I'm bettin' there are some other folks who could use some tea. How 'bout I get that started."
"Tea would be marvellous," Bella said as Nia 'shot' her father with a brightly coloured plastic toy gun.
Charlie glanced up at his dad and saw the look on his face and remembered how at Christmas it had been Nana and Grandpa who had watched him open his stockings and he too shifted over and got up. "Why don't you two help with the rest of the stocking?" he suggested. "I need to put the oven on."
"Oh - well, if you're sure?" Edward said and Charlie smiled and gave up his place to him. Bella drew him in to her side and kissed him as he passed and Charlie gave her a squeeze.
But he did look back as he followed Deacon from the room and saw his father seating himself on Nia's bed with a look on his face that made Charlie gulp.
He had a sudden unexpected flash of memory of such a look on his father's face as Edward knelt and held out his arms and caught Charlie and swept him up into them. Dad was younger, laughing, happy. So they HAD been a proper family at one time. Was it out of the question that they could be one again?
He hurried after Deacon into the kitchen and gave him a hug from behind. "Merry Christmas," he murmured and kissed Deacon's neck.
Deacon turned in his arms and wrapped his own around Charlie. "Merry Christmas, Mouse," he said softly and kissed him properly while he had the chance. "You want me to sneak in there and get a picture of your folks with Nia?"
"Oh please," Charlie said with a grin. "You should have seen the look on Dad's face when he sat down and she snuggled up to him - and Mum. I thought she was going to cry. I'd love a picture of that."
Deacon grinned and hurried back to the bedroom, poking his head around the door and getting a quick picture. When he came back to the kitchen he showed Charlie. They were all snuggled together, Bella and Edward with such looks on their faces as Nia delighted in her stocking, that Charlie had to get some tissue and blow his nose.
"Oh don't they all look happy?" Charlie said and sighed happily then grinned and groped D's butt and headed for the refrigerator. "Full English breakfast?" he asked. "Or is it way too damn early?"
"Way to damn early," Deacon said. "All I can handle right now is coffee."
He got the coffee maker going and then the tea kettle and rubbed his eyes. "How many more years of being' up at the crack of dawn for Christmas?" he asked, though really he didn't mind. He'd do damn near anything for Nia.
Charlie grinned. "I dunno," he said. "From the age of about eight I was up at the crack anyway to help Grandpa with the ewes and I used to have my stocking with breakfast after we'd fed the stock, so maybe I'm not a good example."
"Well there's no ewes to be fed here. Maybe she'll take after me instead and be one of those kids that likes to sleep late." Deacon sighed. He could only wish.
The kettle whistled and he let Charlie take over the tea while he got his own coffee and went into the living room to get the fire going in the fireplace and turn on the lights to the Christmas tree. There - it was all bright and cheerful now and there was a huge number of gifts under it.
Charlie had made some preparations in the kitchen - and yes it was a bit early for breakfast but his parents were running on UK time and that meant they were probably hungry. He finished brewing the tea and carried it through to the nursery with some milk for Nia and took the opportunity to give a round of Christmas kisses.
"Why don't you and Deacon have a rest?" Bella suggested smiling at Nia as she drank her milk.
"Yes," Edward said. "It's gone ten at home so we're very much awake. We can mind your young lady for another hour or so." He glanced at Charlie with a wry grin. If all else fails I know how to use the DVD player."
"I must admit that another hour would be nice," Charlie said. "I'll go and tell Deacon. Thanks Mum, Dad."
"Guess what," he said to Deacon a minute later. "Mum and Dad say they'll wrangle Nia if we want another hours sleep."
"I love your parents," Deacon said and finish his cup of coffee. One cup wouldn't keep him from going back to sleep, so he put it in the sink and took Charlie's hand and lead him back to the bedroom
Mmmmmm warm bed and warm Charlie.
"I love my parents too," Charlie said, quite loudly as he passed the nursery door and smiled as he heard Bella laugh, then they were in their room, and he pulled back the covers and followed Deacon under them. "Are you going to cuddle me or can I cuddle you?" he asked.
Deacon chuckled and moved into Charlie's arms, snuggling close and resting his head under Charlie's chin. "Mmmmm merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, D," Charlie said and kissed the top of his head and gave him a squeeze before relaxing.
Today, he just knew it, was going to be the best Christmas ever.