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“Are they asleep yet?” She mumbled, eyes squinting under the lamp light at the figure of her husband tip toeing into the bedroom and carefully shutting the door.
Jon nodded his head with a tired smile curling onto his bearded face. Her lips twitched to see it, but the remaining guilt of being too tired to see bedtime through tonight lingered like the ever present turning of her stomach. Even unaware, Jon never judged. Her eyes burned thinking about what an amazing father he was and she blinked away the silly cascade of tears threatening to drop.
“Aem had to inspect the cookies one more time to make sure we had them just right. He insisted on adding another shortbread to the plate. ‘Just in case’,” he quoted with air fingers and a playful roll of his eyes.
Dany propped herself up on her elbows to watch him shuck off the red and black flannel pajama bottoms they had all been sporting for the evening’s festivities. They’d had to cuff the bottom of Lya’s, so she wouldn’t trip over them as she ran through the house squealing about “cookies” and “Santa”.
“Do you think his feelings will be hurt if we don’t eat all twelve cookies he set out?”
Jon padded back to bed in his black boxer briefs, his abs and chest giving the appearance of someone who hadn’t touched a sugar cookie in years. She knew that to be false, as she’d already seen him snack on at least four during their decorating party.
“Shit,” he groaned. “I didn’t even think about that.” She grimaced, knowing her stomach wasn’t feeling up to doing her share of cramming cookies in her mouth while setting out the menagerie of wrapped toys and gifts for their little ones.
Their bed time routine had been long-winded that night. Their cookie decorating party ended with both their two- and five-year old covered in frosting and cookie crumbs calling for very thorough baths before bed. One story had turned into three, because they had to read all of Aemon’s favorite Christmas stories, since it would be, ‘a whole ‘nother year,’ till he heard them again. Lya had licked all the extra frosting off her fingers and was too hopped up on sugar to stay still for bed time. They had even begged Jon enough to croon a a throaty rendition of “Santa Clause is Coming to Town” for a lullaby.
Dany had snorted, sneaking her phone out to capture the moment. The sight of their children, who were usually punctually asleep by 8:00pm, singing and dancing around their bedroom at damn near 11:00 PM instead at the promise of Santa, presents, and a little Christmas magic by morning, all while their Daddy made up the words to his own version of a classic Christmas carol was a gift of it’s own.
“How’d you get them back to sleep?” She murmured, relishing in his embrace as he snuggled in behind her.
He was quiet and she could feel his hesitation freeze through his body. “Jon…”
“I might have used the naughty list threat one last time.”
“Jon!” She rolled over to face him and could make out his sheepish expression in the dark.
“It’s a whole ‘nother year till I’m allowed to use it again, Mama!” His pout their children had inherited was apparent, even in the shadows. She wondered if she would be subject to this look with their next one as well. If so, she was toast.
“It’s only cute when Aem uses that excuse,” she grumbled. In truth, she would also miss Santa’s ability to make parenting a little easier. Lya was just starting to understand the concept, but the promise of presents straight from his wish list had Aem walking everywhere with his hands crossed behind his back.
He hummed in acknowledgment and smiled softly, wrapping his arms around her to pull her closer to his front. His body felt cool against the heat she’d cocooned herself in and she nuzzled her cheek into his collarbone.
“But now that they’re asleep, I can have my Christmas wish,” he murmured, hand draping over her hip to caress her rear.
“Hmm and what would that be, Mr. Snow?”
“You.”
She was tempted to roll her eyes at the cheesy phrase. Maybe they had watched too many Christmas movies this week. But the repetitive press of his soft lips against her forehead down her temple to her jaw line gave her pause. She tilted her head into her pillow to offer her neck to him as he shifted to straddle her.
She loved the feeling of being surrounded by him. Safe and warm as their body heat mingled with strong arms boxing her in on either side and the firm feeling of his chest against hers. His beard tickled her collarbone as he laid languid licks up and down the column of her throat and jawline. He was taking his time tasting her, a privilege they usually couldn’t afford.
Having time to themselves felt like something of a Christmas miracle. No little feet pattering across the house accompanied by cries of “Mama” and “Daddy”. No reason to rush through groping each other in the shower or give a frantic blowjob during nap time. No, this time she was able to savor the way Jon tasted her neck and collar while he unbuttoned her pajama top to access her breasts.
“Gods, these are perfect,” he muttered, his beard scratchy as he nuzzled against them.
Her lips curled in a small smile at his careful attention. Light as air, his tongue traced the rise of the soft peaks of her tits and she hummed in contentment. Goosebumps rose across her flesh and she brought a hand up to scratch his head in encouragement.
With renewed fervor, Jon’s whiskered chin scratched at her breast as he licked her firmly, and grazed his teeth along her skin while bringing a hand up to pinch at the other nipple. “Oh, holy shit!” She shrieked, fingers curling tightly in his hair.
Jon pulled back, brows drawn together as he searched her face for other signs of discomfort. “Was I too rough, darling?”
“Um… just a bit,” she panted, scrunching her nose and praying to gods old and new that she wouldn’t give herself away before she had the chance to tell him herself. Damn sensitive nipples.
He braced himself on one forearm so he could stroke her chin with his thumb. “I’m sorry, love. I’ll be more gentle.”
She nodded quickly as he made his way back to her tits. He swirled his tongue around each bud, his saliva chilling her exposed, tender skin. She bit her lip, attempting to muffle the telltale whimpers that could expose her. He’d reveled in them in each prior pregnancy, teasing her rosy peaks till sweet cries poured from her lips.
Luckily his attentions there were brief tonight as he began to inch his way down the bed leaving open mouthed kisses down her flat abdomen. Her mouth quivered at the notion as he left scattered kisses below her belly button.
They hadn’t been trying. They also hadn’t been not trying. They had agreed they wanted another babe. In truth, she knew she craved the feeling of a scrunched up newborn against her breast the same way she’d craved buttered popcorn her last pregnancy. Ten tiny little toes, ten tiny little fingers that would wrap around hers, and a soft head to sniff. Deep and in her bones, her body wanted a baby just as much as her heart.
“Oh fuck, Jon!” Her legs twisted, toes curling at the fluttering sensation between her legs. Jon’s mouth was hidden, but his dark eyes gazed smugly at her from where he lay hooked onto her center. His hands gripped her legs preventing her from squirming away from him.
His tongue felt like butterfly wings on her center. Soft and fluttering against sensitive skin, she whimpered at each delicate swipe. The cold air of the bedroom fan blew over her driving goosebumps up her legs and contrasting with the heat of her center.
His tongue traced her outer lips, venturing into the center. He teased at her clit with licks too light to do what she needed till he snickered about her pouting. The vibrations of his laughter only served to rile her up more, her feet digging into the soft mattress below. Their sheets had long been kicked off, twisted by her feet and around Jon’s abs.
“Gods, you taste divine,” he groaned, resting his head for a moment on her inner thigh.
“Don’t stop!” She grabbed his curls, attempting to guide him back to where she wanted.
He gave her a wicked smile from between her legs before diving back in with purpose. She nestled her hands in his hair, encouraging him forward.
She gasped at the ferocity with which he devoured her. If his earlier teasing was an appetizer of what was to come, the way he fucked her with his tongue now was the entree.
Stiff and pointed, his tongue darted in and out of her opening. The waves of her approaching orgasm broached within her, swirling low in her belly. All of the heat focused on her clit and she was dying to feel attention there. She gripped his hair urging him upward.
“Fuck, I’m so close,” she whined, toes curling into the tangled sheets.
Jon took the hint, knowing her well with years of time and practice. His firm tongue flicked at her clit relentlessly while a finger entered her swiftly. She though she might levitate with the pleasure before those waves crashed against the shore. It was slow, paced and powerful. She felt herself wrapping around his finger in time with each pulse his tongue drew out of her.
Finally, she relaxed against the sheets, body twitching in the aftershocks. He crawled his way back up her, kissing her soundly on the mouth. His lips were wet with her and he shared the sweet, metallic taste unique to her. She moaned into his mouth, hardly sated.
Jon’s hands ran up her sides, groping and feeling before he positioned himself to enter. He thrust in slowly, allowing her to feel every inch as he entered.
She reveled in the tight feeling of joining with him. No space between them, skin to skin, they were mean to be this way. She hooked a leg around him bringing him closer. He grabbed it behind her knee and pushed her leg up toward her chest.
She groaned as he entered her more deeply than before. Slow and controlled, each thrust inside her hitting her g-spot in a way that made her want to scream. She knew she was overly sensitive from her earlier orgasm, but it still felt like she might explode from the warm sensations swirling from head to toe.
“Fuck, you feel amazing, baby,” Jon panted through gritted teeth, pushing her leg closer to her chest as he moved forward.
“Gods you too. Wish we could always take our time like this.” She squeezed his ass, nails scraping his skin.
He nodded, dipping his head toward her neck to suck her throat. He nibbled her jaw and sucked on her pulse point. She sighed, dragging her nails up his back and down again to his ass.
“I want another,” he grunted into her neck between kisses.
Her eyes bulged. A high pitched, “Huh?” Came out as more of a moan than a question.
He thrust upwards, hitting her deeply so her breath stuttered. “I want another baby with you,” he grunted. “Want to see you all swollen with my child again.”
Her mouth felt dry. He didn’t know. He couldn’t know. She couldn’t focus long enough to form a coherent thought or response to his admission. We have already made another, love.
He rolled them onto their sides, facing each other and tangling their legs together as his hand wove around her shoulder to bring her closer with each thrust. “So beautiful. The perfect mother.”
She gasped at the measured pace he had set. Back. Forth. Deep within her. His hand left her shoulder to thumb at her boob once more. She keened at the rough sensation against her sensitive nipples. Every touch felt like too much.
“I want these to be full again.” His lip quirked in a strained smile as he continued to piston in and out of her.
She forced out a vocal, hot breath as the pressure began to build between them. Warm and curling low in her belly, she could barely open her eyes. “Fuck, I want a baby with you too.”
Her orgasm built within her, inches from sending her over the edge but teetering at the precipice. She gritted her teeth, wiggling a hand between them to finish. She thumbed at her clit, letting the sensations rise up to their final crescendo. “Don’t pull out,” she whined. “I want to feel you.”
They came together. Legs thrashing, small whimpers and a guttural groan, she fluttered around him. Pulsing in a slowing rhythm in contrast to the quick beating of her heart, she felt every inch of him inside her as she gripped him in ecstasy.
They stayed entwined with another, Jon as if the longer he stayed inside the higher their chances of conceiving. Dany just enjoying being together.
He combed back a piece of hair and traced her jawline. “Do you think we might have made another little one?”
She smiled, “Maybe.”
“Your period is soon right? Maybe we’ll know by then.”
She felt her blood pause at the question. If he was really tracking it, he’d know she already missed it. They discussed tracking her cycle when they conceived Lya, but never got around to it. There’d been no need.
“Maybe so,” she smiled.
…..
“Mama! Mama!”
“Da! Da! Da! No! No! No!”
The pitter patter of little feet stampeding through their room jolted her from her sleep. Her hair whipped around her face as she looked for her babies.
Aem’s distraught face appeared by the bed, already clambering onto her side, reaching for her. She heard Lya’s wails for her Dada on the other side of the bed and felt it dip as Jon reached down to pick her up.
Dany blinked open bleary eyes as she reached to her nightstand to flick on the lamp and look down at her arms full of her little one. Aem’s gray eyes were wide and full of tears before he threw his arms around her and buried his reddened face into her chest. She could feel the steam from his fat tears against her and her brow furrowed in confusion.
Jon didn’t fare better. She looked his way to see Lya’s sleep-tangled, dark curls shake in a flurry as she screeched “No Santa! No Dada! No!” Her little fists and feet flew in different directions as Jon struggled to safely contain the toddler-sized tornado.
She rubbed a soothing hand over Aemon’s back as it shook one more time against her body. “Aemmy, what’s wrong baby? What has you so upset?”
A small gasp and a wet snort sounded from her chest before he made out the words, “Santa forgot us!”
Jon’s eyes widened as they looked sideways at each other. An understanding crossed through the bed without needing to put it into words. They were officially the worst parents to ever parent.
Lya punctuated this thought with a firm smack to Jon’s chest. “No Santa Dada!”
Jon caught her her hand in his, stroking it gently while wrangling her wiggling body to get closer to his. “Gentle, Lya. We need to be gentle, remember?” He mumbled, hanging his head. Their shared shame was evident, palpable in the air to both of them.
“Oh, hunny, I’m sure Santa didn’t forget you,”Dany trailed off, glancing around the room before reaching over to the nightstand to grab her phone to check the time. A little after 6:00 AM.
“He did,” Aemon whined, crawling over her to nestle himself between her and Jon. “Was it ‘cause we didn’t wanna go to bed?”
Aem’s wide-eyed, red-rimmed stare was fixed on Jon whose eyes grew just as owl-like at the accusation. Daenerys exhaled hotly through her nose as she leveled Jon with an expectant look.
Jon reached out a free arm to snuggle Aemon into his side. Both little ones had cocooned around him, chubby pajama-clad legs hiked over his body. He met her blazing eyes before frowning down at both children.
“No! No. Santa is still going to come—
“But is morning!” Aemon cried joined by Lya’s insistent, “Mornin’, Dada!”
Jon’s frown deepened. “What time is it?”
“It’s 6:00,” Dany whispered.
He blinked a few times. “6:00. Okay.” The beginnings of daylight were peaking out from behind the curtains in their room. Patches of light cast on the floor in monstrous shapes, haunting them for forgetting to put out the presents. “Maybe he’s just running late,” he suggested.
“Santa can run late?” Aemon moaned, turning back toward Daenerys with his lower lip poked out.
“He can…” she glanced at Jon, who raised his eyebrows with a slight shrug of his shoulders. “He also knows when kids need to sleep more. I bet if you and Lya go back to sleep, Santa will come then.”
“Go night night?” Lya questioned, raising her sleep-mussed head off Jon’s chest.
Jon kissed her forehead. “Yes, let’s go night night again and I bet Santa will come then.”
The mattress creaked as he scooped up their little girl and walked to the doorway. “Aemon?”
Aemon had not been as easily sold as his sister. “Santa comes if we go to sleep again?”
“Yes, my little love. If you close your eyes again, he’ll be here before you know it.” She pet his head, praying that their lie was convincing enough for both of their sakes. They’d need to be out cold for her and Jon to set out the mountain of gifts wrapped and ready for the babies. And she had cinnamon rolls to make too.
Aemon huffed into her side, giving her an exasperated look well beyond his five years before crawling over her to slide off the bed. She wrapped an arm protectively over her stomach as she used the other to guide him down.
His shoulders slouched as he padded over to Jon who held out a hand to him. Her eyes felt hot as tears welled to the brim at the concurrent thoughts of her horrible mistake and of next Christmas when Jon would have a third little one strapped to his chest or bouncing in his other arm.
“What if he doesn’t come ever?” She heard her morose little boy question Jon on the way out the door.
Jon’s panicked answer was distant as they walked down the hall to the kids’ bedrooms. “He will. You just have to believe in him, alright?”
She flopped her head back against her pillow. Fuck. They’d probably only managed four hours of sleep once all was said and done. Worth it. Except the forgetting to put out the presents. That would be going down at the top of the list of parenting fails they had made over the years.
…..
Two hours later all had been made right with the world. Aemon and Lyanna were sound asleep in their beds. Jon had hauled out all of their gifts leaving a trail of glitter through the house. They had eaten their weight in Christmas cookies for breakfast and thrown out the milk that had sat out since the night before. Coffee was made and cinnamon rolls were cooling. They were ready for take two of Christmas morning.
They went to Lya’s room first. She was already awake with her eyes open, blinking around the room. Her hair stood up in several directions, tangled in a baby rat’s nest. Jon scooped her up with soft coos of, “Merry Christmas, Baby,” as she nuzzled her sleepy face into his shoulder.
Aemon was next. His brows were soft and his pink mouth hung open where his round cheek rested on his puppy dog sheets. She sat next to him while Jon sat at the foot of the bed with Lya squirming in his arms, desperate to bounce on her brother’s bed to wake him up.
“Aemon,” she whispered, rubbing his shoulder till his dark lashes started to flutter open. “Aemon, someone came to visit.”
He frowned, clamping his eyes shut. “I tell them hi later, Mama?”
Jon snorted softly and patted his foot where it lay beneath the covers. “He’s gone already, little man, but you might want to see what he left behind.”
“Hi Aemmy! Morning Santa,” babbled Lya.
Aemon wrinkled his nose and kicked his foot before his eyes popped open. He kicked his way to sitting up, struggling as the sheet and comforter tangled around him. “Santa!”
Jon and Daenerys grinned, hearts full as they began their Christmas Day redemption. “You want to see what he brought you both?”
Jon let Lya wiggle her way out of his arms and slide off his lap. “Santa! Santa!”
Mom and Dad’s terrible lapse in judgement forgotten, their bare feet slapped against the hardwood as they raced in their mad dash to check on their gifts. They had all the endless enthusiasm two small children should have on Christmas morning instead of the hysterical tears they’d sported earlier.
“He did ‘member us!” Aemon called.
Lya had already found her play kitchen and was squalling happily as she opened and closed cabinets. Aemon stood in front of the tree gazing at the array of green, red, and glitter wrapped gifts in wonder. Dany considered that it might be the most wonderful thing his five year old eyes had seen.
They sat on the floor, watching their children tear into the gifts she had so painstakingly wrapped for this picture perfect moment. She sipped her water, swallowing down the churning nausea that came each morning, so she could commit the scene to memory. The cinnamon rolls weren’t touched due to the excitement, the floor could barely be seen for the mountains of wrapping paper and packaging that covered it now, and her and Jon were running on steam and caffeine from their lack of sleep. Steam for her, caffeine for Jon. Her nausea wouldn’t allow for coffee even if she did want it. It was the perfect Christmas.
She quietly placed a hand on her lower stomach. They’d be the size of a little blueberry at this time if she remembered correctly. She’d put money on a little girl. Blonde like her, if her dreams were anything to go by. Her little twin. They hadn’t made one of those yet.
“That’s it Lya. We’re all done with presents,” her husband said. She looked at their toddler who was waddling around the room throwing left over wrapping paper aside as she inspected each box and bag.
“All done Santa?” Lya squeaked, fists full of sparkling paper.
Aemon sighed from his perch on the floor amongst his new stockpile of toys. “I don’t want Santa to be all done. I love Christmas.” His feet wagged, toes crossing over each other as his head lolled to the side. Dany’s eyes squinted in a smile. Nap time would come early that day.
“Santa left one more present for everyone! Go check your stockings.” Her heart raced a little faster in anticipation. Warmth spread through her body watching Aemon and Lya race to their stockings with Jon running behind them to prevent them from yanking their stockings off the mantle.
They jumped up and down eager to see their last surprise. One last wrapped and ribboned bundle placed in their hands before they rushed back to Dany, nearly knocking her over with the force of their crash landing.
“You too, Daddy.”
Jon froze, cocking his head at her before turning back to grab his stocking. He eyed her suspiciously on his return. After years of practice and quietly exchanged looks, she knew what he was thinking. We didn’t discuss other gifts.
Aemon and Lya had dug out the little package from their stocking and were making quick work of the paper. Jon pulled a small box from his stocking and held it in his hands. Red with a green bow, it fit perfectly in both palms.
“What’s it say, Mama? What’s it say?” Aemon held out his new sweatshirt, short of shoving it in her face.
“Let’s sound it out, love.”
His eyes squinted holding his shirt, lips pursed in concentration for a moment before they started to move. “Buh-ih-guh. Bih-guh! Big! Why’s it say Big?”
Jon was quiet, staring down at the open box in his hands. His mouth opened and closed. Chest heaved.
“Big! Big!” Lya squawked patting the sweatshirt she held in her hands.
Dany reached out to smooth her sleep tangled head. “Yours says ‘Middle’ sweet girl.”
“Middle,” she parroted.
“Daddy what’d you get?” Aemon had crawled his way to Jon, hanging off his shoulders trying to see what lay in his hands.
Jon looked at Daenerys, lips parted and brows soft. “When?”
“Late July, maybe early August.” She held Lya to her with one arm, the other settled on her stomach.
Aemon tilted his head side to side from where it rested on Jon’s shoulder. “You got a picture?” His nose wrinkled while he looked at the sonogram photo she had gifted Jon. “That’s…” he looked around the room and caught Dany’s eye. They’d been working on not saying anything if there is nothing nice to say. “That’s nice.” His tone did not sound like he believed it.
Jon pursed his lips, containing the chuckle in his mouth. He reached in his stocking and unfurled a small onesie. Cream with black lettering that matched the children’s sweatshirts. Smaller than anything they’d dressed their children in over two years.
“Luh-ih-tuh-lee,” Aemon tried, chewing the word over in his mouth. “Who’s that for?”
Jon’s lips turned up in a smile, his eyes closing briefly as he scrunched the onesie in his hands. “It says ‘Little’.”
“Middle Little,” came Lya’s squeaky voice as she toddled back to her toy kitchen. Cabinets banged opened and shut as Dany waited for Jon’s response.
Jon’s grin nearly split his face. “It’s for your baby sibling, Aem. Mama is making you a new brother or sister.” He turned to ruffle Aem’s dark hair, pulling him in for a hug.
Aem resisted Jon, scrunching his nose and pulling back. He turned his head toward Dany. “Another one?”
She snickered, biting her lip to prevent herself from snorting. “Yes, Aem. Another little sibling for you.”
“Already have one,” he frowned.
“You don’t want another?” Jon pulled Aemon from the sea of wrapping paper into his lap.
Aem sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Can it be a brother this time?”
Jon laughed, eyes crinkling, to Aem’s confusion.
“Not funny. Lya doesn’t like my games,” he pouted.
“We’ll see what we can do.” Jon released Aemon and crawled to Dany’s spot on the floor. Aemon ran to his stash of toys, pilfering through the pile to pick one to play with.
Jon wrapped Dany in his arms, kissing all over her face. “It’s about time,” he murmured into her temple.
“We hadn’t really been trying.” She tilted her head back to study him, her brows creasing together.
“About time you told me,” he corrected. “Besides, we’re always trying.” He wiggled his brows and Dany snorted, eyes widening at the implication.
“What do you mean about time I told you?” She yelled as quietly as she could, checking to make sure Aemon and Lyanna were occupied.
“I knew.” His eyes were soft, smile entirely too smug.
“Yes, but how?” She rolled her eyes. There was no way he’d found the test. And she’d tried so hard to hide her symptoms.
He sighed, pursing his lips together. A faint blush crawled up his neck.
“Tell me!”
“Fine.” He scratched at his beard and tipped his head to her. “You taste different when you’re pregnant,” he said lowly.
“I…oh gods.” Her face felt hot as she realized what he meant. “You’ve never told me that before,” she squeaked.
He groaned, hand moving from his beard to rub at his neck. “I thought maybe it was something you were eating when you were pregnant with Aem. Then it stayed that way until you had him and came back when you were pregnant with Lyanna.”
Her lower lip dropped open, embarrassment crawling from her stomach out to her arms and legs. “Something I ate?” She questioned every pickle she had crunched on during her last pregnancy.
“Yeah, like something sweeter.”
She exhaled. “So…it’s sweeter?”
He shrugged. “Little bit.”
“And that’s how you knew? What was all that last night about making another one then?”
“Just making sure,” he winked. Not well. It was more of a staggered blink, but charming all the same.
She looked up at him through her lashes, smile playing at her lips. “Think we can double make sure when it’s nap time?
They both peeked over at Aemon and Lya, who were racing after each other through the living room. Stomping on wrapping paper and jumping over boxes, the Christmas mess had become their obstacle course. Their new toys were accessories to the game that only the two of them understood. Dany’s eyes watered thinking of the third set of giggles that would be joining them in their mischief soon.
Jon broke her from that dream with a well placed lick to the back of her ear, hidden from little eyes behind his hand like he was telling her a secret.
“How much longer till nap time?” He whispered.
Her lids fluttered, a chill running through her. “After cinnamon rolls,” she sighed.
“Cinnamon rolls? I want one!” Aem shouted, tripping over a haphazard stack of boxes on his way to them. He flung himself between Jon and Dany, grinning widely. “Please, can I have one?” He dragged out the question for as long as he could without needing to breathe.
“Sin-min rolls?” Lya chirped, hopping over to the trio. Her curls flopped to and fro till she made her way to the rest of the family. Using Aem’s body as leverage, she crawled over top of him to join in on their snuggles.
Unbalanced with the extra weight, Jon tipped over, catching himself on his forearms to rest on the rug beneath them. Both children latched onto him, giggling as they wrestled him to the floor.
Jon made airplane noises, as he picked up each child over head, swinging them to the other side. Laughter filled the room and Dany’s heart felt it had grown three times in size that day. She snapped a quick picture of the scene then re-joined them on the floor.
She’d have to warm up the cinnamon rolls again. There would be glitter all over the house for the next few months. And she still felt an inch from puking up the saltines she’d managed to nibble on. But nap time was soon and their day was mounting up to be the perfect Christmas.