Grace (Mama) POV:
Clara's crawling around our little Christmas tree. She keeps taking the ornaments off of it and handing them to one of us. I'm handed another ornament. This one is the one of Clara's handprints. "Thank you, princess." I say for the millionth time.
Tonight is our Christmas Eve and Clara's been hyper all day. We explained Santa to her a week ago and ever since then she's been wanting to meet him. Tonight's that night. Atticus is off getting dressed in his Santa outfit that we made with Dechen's help. It's just Clara, Calisto, and I chilling in the living room right now. "Daddy!" Clara squeals.
She has a block in her hand and is crawling towards Calisto. She pulls herself into a standing position using Calisto's legs, then throws the block on his lap. She drops back down onto the ground and repeats this process until all twenty-four blocks are on Calisto's lap. "Yayyyy! Cwara 'id it!"
I have no idea what she did but I'm proud of her. Clapping my hands along with her I say, "Yes, you did do it. Good job, princess!"
Calisto does the same and Clara drops back down to the floor. She crawls to the corner of the room and grabs her baby doll. One of the presents we bought for Clara was a little toy crib for her dolls. Her favorite thing to do is play Mommy with her dollies, so we thought her doll should have a crib.
"Mama, 'Anta comin. Bwing Cwara pwesant." Clara explains to me from across the room. She's so cute, she has on a red onesie that has little Christmas trees on it. Her chunky thighs are sticking out along with the edges of her diaper.
We had to custom order that one. It arrived right on time for Christmas. "Yes, Santa's coming to bring you a present." I explain again.
Atticus is going to bring one present for Clara tonight. It's a new dolly and I can't wait for her reaction. Clara crawls back towards the Christmas tree and that's when I stand up. "I'm going to grab her play pen. I'll be right back." Calisto nods at me and I rush out of the room and into Clara's nursery.
Throwing open the doors to her closet, I grab the collapsable playpen, and carry it back into the living room. I set it up in the corner then throw her blocks in there. Clara's trying to destroy the Christmas tree again so I lift her up and place her in the play pen. "Play in here, princess." I tell her.
She whines a little bit and I place a blanky and her dolly in there as well. "There, do you want your baba."
"Yesth, pease." Clara nods her head and I grab her bottle off the coffee table and hand it to my little girl. She smiles at me and slips the nipple of the bottle in her mouth.
"Tank chu, Mama." Clara mumbles.
"You're welcome, baby." Turning around, I walk back to Calisto and plop down next to him on the couch. He wraps his arm around my back and I cuddle into his side while we watch Clara play.
She pops the bottle out of her mouth and offers it to her dolly. "Chu dwink chur mwilky." Clara tells her doll while she crams the nipple of the bottle against it's mouth.
An amused smile takes over Calisto's face and he let's out a little chuckle. "She's wasting her milk." He whispers in my ear.
"There's plenty more where that came from." I whisper back.
Clara snatches the bottle away from her doll and tosses it to the side. She grabs her blanket and puts it over her shoulder, then lifts her dolly up. My precious little girl proceeds to slam her hand down on the dolls back. Not gentle either. I'm talking about hard smacks.
A laugh escapes my mouth and Clara turns to me and smiles. "Gib Cwara a bwurp." She tells the dolly, imitating her Daddies deep voices.
This just shows how much Clara picks up on what's going on around her. She's copying what's done to her, minus the horrible burping technique. "Did your baby burp yet?" I ask.
She shakes her head no and continues to beat the absolute living shit out of dolls back. Finally, Clara let's out a pretend burp and praises her dolly. "Chu stwinky." She tells it.
Clara sets her doll down and then rips off its pants. It has a fake diaper on and she rips the tabs off and shakes her head. "Mama, diapee." Clara asks, showing me her babies clean diaper.
"Okay, I'll be right back." I stand up and move to Clara's nursery. In her toy chest is a whole bunch of fake diapers. I grab one then move back to the living room, and toss it in the playpen with Clara.
"Tank chu, Mama." Clara says gratefully.
"You're welcome." I sit back down and continue to watch her play. She struggles with the diaper for a little bit but eventually gets it on. Clara picks her doll up and gives it a kiss on the cheek.
"Good job, baby." I tell her.
Just then, some commotion happens down the hall. It's probably Dechen and Atticus messing around.
My assumption is correct when Atticus walks into the room wearing his full Santa outfit. A red jacket that has white trim, with matching pants, black boots, a red and white hat, and the outfit is completed with a big fake white beard. "Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!" Atticus announces in a deep, fake voice.
Clara tosses her doll to the side and uses the edge of the playpen to stand up. She squeals excitedly and makes grabby hands towards Santa-Atticus. He walks over to her and picks her up. "SWANTA!" Clara screams.
"And who might this be?" Atticus asks, taking a seat in the armchair and placing Clara on his knee.
"Cwara!" She yells, smiling the biggest smile up at her Santa.
"Hmm, I have to check my list real quick." Atticus leans over a little bit and pulls a piece of paper out of his back pocket. It's decorated in greens, reds, and dark blues. On top in large script reads, 'Nice List.'
Right under that is Clara's full name in big, block letters. "Ahhh, yes. Here it is. It says you've been good this year. Is that true?" He asks.
"Yesth! Papa bwad doe." Atticus chuckles and shakes his head.
"Your Papa was bad, though? Tell me what your Papa did?" Atticus is getting a kick out of this. Little does Clara know that she's actually talking to her Papa.
"Nu gu cwoner." Clara explains seriously. My child is snitching on her Papa to Santa. It takes everything in me not to laugh.
"He didn't go to the corner? Well, let's check this naughty list and see if he's on it." Atticus nods seriously and reaches into a different pocket to pull out the naughty list.
Opening it, the first name I see is Calisto's. "Let's see. We have your Daddy on the naughty list. He's been a very bad boy this year. That's the only person on this list, though."
I know for a fact that Dechen made that list.
Turning towards Calisto, he's glaring at Atticus but his eyes are smiling. "Daddy bwad?" Clara asks seriously.
"Yes, but you've been very good. That means you get to tell Santa what you want for Christmas." Atticus gently tickles Clara's belly and she giggles.
She looks like she's thinking really hard for a second until she finally says, "Cwara wan bwock."
"You want blocks? Well, I can do that for you. Let me call up my trusty partner to deliver one of your gifts," Atticus pauses for a second, takes a big breath, then yells, "Ohhhh, trusty partner. Please deliver me the princess's gift."
Neil comes into the room wearing a elf's outfit. Green shirt and pants, pointy ears, and pointed black shoes. I have no idea how Atticus and Dechen managed to get Neil to agree to this, but it's the best.
Discreetly lifting my phone, I snap a photo and try to hold in the laughter that wants to escape. Calisto isn't fairing much better. He's biting down on his bottom lip and his face is turning red from the effort of holding in his laughter.
"Here you go, Santa. One gift for the princess coming right up." Neil says as he places a a wrapped gift on Atticus's knee.
"WEIL! Chur an ewf?" Clara asks, looking up at him in wonder.
"Yes, I am one of Santa's elf's. I stay here during the year to report to Santa if your good or not." Neil replies, his eyes softening when he looks at Clara.
The look on my little girls face makes this whole thing worth it. Her eyes are wide and sparkling, a large smile on her face, and she's radiating happiness.
"Why don't you open your gift, princess?" Atticus asks in his Santa voice.
He brings the gift up to Clara and she tears open the paper. Inside is a brand new box of blocks. Expensive ones too. I know because I bought them, already knowing what Clara was going to ask for. "Tank Chu, Santa an Weil!" Clara smiles and tries to pick up the box.
It's too heavy for her but she doesn't care. She just repeatedly smacks the box. "Daddy, Mama, Wook!" Clara points to her gift and I nod.
"Wow! You must've been a really good girl to get that!" I tell her.
Clara nods her head and looks back at Atticus. She leans up and gives him a kiss, her nose furrowing over the feeling of his fake beard. "Cwara wuv it, Swanta."
"You're welcome. Now, Santa has to go because I have to deliver more presents to other little girls and boys. Keep being a good girl for your Mama and Daddies." Atticus says.
Clara nods and slips her fingers in her mouth. "Let me get a picture of you and Santa before he has to go." I announce before standing up.
I walk over to them and pull out my phone, taking a few photos of them both. Neil is standing off to the side looking uncomfortable and awkward so I leave him be. He'll never know how grateful I am that he did this. I'll make sure to add a bonus in his next paycheck.
"All done. Say bye to Santa." I instruct Clara as I pull her off of Atticus's lap.
"Bai bai, Swanta." Clara whispers, looking heartbroken that he has to go.
Atticus places her new blocks on the floor and stands up. He walks over to Clara and gives her one more kiss and says, "Bye little one, see you next year." With that, he leaves the room with Neil following him.
Clara's bottom lip wobbles and she turns her head, placing it in my neck, and cries. "Oh, baby. I know, but Santa has to go visit the other little boys and girls. He'll be back later tonight to leave more presents."
I rub her back and move to the couch, sitting next to Calisto. He gently kisses the top of her head and takes her from me. She snuggles up to his chest and rubs her eyes. "It's sad isn't it?" Cal asks her.
"Wan Swanta 'ack." Clara sobs.
"I know you want Santa back. It's okay. He'll be back next year." He says gently.
Clara cries for a few more minutes until Atticus comes back in the room, Dechen behind him. He's changed into his normal clothes and combed his hair.
When Atticus sees Clara crying he rushes over and gently takes her from Calisto. "Why's my pretty girl crying?" He asks.
"Swanta weav." She cries into his neck.
"Santa left? Well, that's because he had to get on his sled. If you stop crying, you can head him on the roof." Atticus points to the ceiling and Clara slowly stops crying.
Suddenly, there's banging coming from above our heads. It honestly sounds like reindeer hooves. Clara's mouth opens in wonder as she stares at the ceiling. It goes on for a few seconds and then there's a loud, "Merry Christmas!" And the sounds stop.
How did Atticus pull that one off? I give him a questioning look and he points to the door. Neil is standing there talking into his wrist. He gives me a respectful head nod when he sees me, then turns and walks away.
So that's how he did it. Neil must've had our other security members get up on the roof to make the noises. "Wow..." Clara whispers in total amazement.
I'm so proud of Atticus. He pulled through and made this a magical memory for Clara. "It's almost time for Christmas Eve dinner!" Atticus suddenly exclaims.
Clara turns her head towards him and gives him a kiss, then wiggles to get down. Atticus places her on the floor and she starts to crawl towards the door. I know exactly where she's going.
My husbands and I follow Clara into the dining room. She stops in front of her highchair and uses the legs to pull herself up. "Up!" Clara points towards her chair and I laugh.
That girl is always ready to eat. I walk over to Clara and lift her up, placing her in the highchair, and buckling her in. Pushing her closer to the table, I sit down next to her and Calisto sits next to me. Atticus and Dechen sit across from us.
We all talk for a little bit until Chef Harold and three of his assistants walk into the room. They're all wearing elf hats with bells on top. Clara gives him a big smile when she sees him and claps her hands. "Cwara see Swanta." She tells Harold as he places her plate down in front of her.
"Wow! We're you on the naughty or nice list?" He asks, squatting down so he's at her height.
"Wice. Weil an ewf!" She yells, slapping her hands down on the highchair tray.
"Neils an elf? No way! I didn't know that. He must be a very special elf." Harold nods seriously along with Clara.
"Yesth! Daddy waughty wist." Clara points towards Calisto and glares at him.
"I can't believe your Daddy is on the naughty list. He must've done something really bad." Harold pretends to be shocked and Clara eats the act up.
She proceeds to tell Harold about all the bad things Calisto has done while Harold's assistants place plates in front of my husbands and I.
Clara tells Harold all about the times she's heard Calisto swear, or when Calisto spanked her butt, or when he wouldn't listen to her. Not necessarily bad things, just things Clara didn't like.
Calisto is chuckling beside me while he watches Clara rat him out. My little girl has no qualms about ratting anybody out.
After Clara finishes her little rant, Harold stands up and gently pats Clara's hair. "Well, your Daddy clearly deserves to be on the naughty list. But now it's time to focus on eating. You be good and eat your food now." Harold says before leaving the room, his assistants following him.
We were served ham, asparagus, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, greens, mac and cheese, and for desert, sweet potato casserole.
Clara got most of what we got, minus the ham. She can't chew that yet. She also got a way smaller portion. Her plate is divided into little sections and she has plastic silverware.
"I'm bout to bust." Atticus groans, looking at his plate and licking his lips.
"Dude..." Calisto mutters, giving him the stink eye from across the table, then digging into his own food.
Clara's already way ahead of them. She shovels food into her mouth with her hands, ignoring her silverware. There's already food everywhere. Including her hands, mouth, and her new onesie. We should've put a bib on her but she needs a bath anyways. "Is that good?" I ask her.
"Nom Noms." Clara says through a mouthful of mac and cheese.
"I'll take that as a yes." I laugh and dig into my food.
Thirty minutes later, I tap out. I couldn't possibly eat another bite. The boys are still eating but Clara looks like she's a second from passing out. She's covered in food and her mouth is hanging open. Great, another food coma.
While she's calm, I grab a baby wipe and get to work cleaning her face and hands. She's so out of it that she doesn't even fight me. "She ate really good." Dechen chuckles, stuffing his sixth piece of ham in his mouth.
Where do they even put all of that? All my husbands are incredibly fit, but they eat horribly. Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I grab Clara out of her highchair and hold her to me.
She rests her head on my chest and snuggles into my body. We all make conversation while Clara sleeps on my chest. I'm glad she's asleep now, she won't fight me when it's time to go to bed.
"I'm done. I can't eat another bite." Atticus says, dropping his fork down on his empty plate.
Dechen and Calisto soon follow and lean back in their chairs. "While you guys nurse your full stomachs, I'm going to give the baby a bath and get her to bed." I tell them.
"Okay, don't be long." Calisto answers, leaning over to kiss the side of my head before I stand up.
I make my way into the bathroom and quickly bathe Clara. She sleeps through the whole bath, diapering, and dressing. I guess a full belly will do that to a baby.
She's too full to nurse so I lay her down in the crib and turn on the baby monitor.
It's time to play Santa...
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Authors Note:
Hi everybody! I updated the covers for all my books as you might've noticed. I also posted a new book!
It's called 'Blindly Loved.'
It's not and Age-Regression book, though. It also won't be getting updates everyday. Just a couple times a week.
As always, feel free to leave comments and suggestions.
Thank you for 137K!
Much love ~ Blu
New book covers down below...