The Royal Scandal | Prince William |

New Addition

December 25, 2017

Christmas morning is drastically different as an adult. Just when it feels like her head hits her pillow and she manages to doze off, little hands smack her awake with squeals for presents. Jaclyn blinks, aware of the tiny bodies crawling over her, and the dog trying to jump up onto the bed by her face, but internally swears she just finished setting out the stuffed stockings and eating the cookies.

In red blinking lines the clock reads 6:30 am and she suppresses a groan, instead pulling PJ down into her arms. "Mummy," he laughs, and she can’t help but run her hands through his dirty blond wisps and bask in his slight smile.

While PJ gives into her arms and happily snuggles into her chest, beside them Mia puts up quite the fight when William tries to do it to her. Hair flies and she wiggles so much they both nearly fall off the bed, but their laughter is contagious and Jaclyn can't feel an ounce of worry in her.

Through her window the snow blows up from the ground in swirls reflecting in the dawn waking at the edge of the world. It feels good to sit and watch it and not worry about what will come next. Somewhere between Mia's laughter and both kids falling asleep between them Jaclyn  and William reach out together and clasp hands. Watching the wonders of the world through the tiny box window of her childhood home they wait for the rest of the house to rise.

"Are you nervous?" William asks her when he can no longer keep it in.

Her stare turns from the window to him, looking over PJ's ruffled hair. "Our surprise, you mean? A little I suppose, but I think we'll catch them all off guard."

She glances down at the rising and falling chests of her their kids, lashes resting on cheeks and soft lips puckered in twists, and falls in love all over again. Jaclyn holds PJ snuggly, but runs her finger up and down Mia's cheek. It wasn't so long ago that they were just babies, new to the world and relying entirely on William and her to take care of them.

"Do you think we're ready to do it again l?" William asks, catching her hand again and holding it up.

Her shrug is involuntary, but her smile is convincing enough to his sleep deprived eyes. He kisses her hand and they rest.

-----

“Thank you, father,” Jaclyn drawls, holding up her opened Christmas present with a wry smile. “I have no clue when I’ll need to use hot hands, but now I’ve got em.”

“You know me, endlessly thoughtful.”

Her mom huffs, holding up a matching package of hot hands with the choppy reindeer paper falling away. He probably thinks he’ll be able to tempt her to go hunting with him now. That or force her onto a landscaping work sight as a date. Gifts have never been his forte. Beside her William is red from hiding his laughter, but covering it with his own set of hot hands. His free hand is pressed between her waist and the couch cushions his hand resting on her stomach.

This year they agreed not to get each other anything, a request she made really, but she already had everything she wanted. The last thing she needed was another piece of jewelry to add to her constantly growing collection. Besides, their focus this year had to be on the kids. Their first Christmas away from England had to be special, she wanted them to want to come back.

“I got some too!” Mia giggles not quite understanding the joke, but holding them up begging to be included. PJ however is the only one who’s not complaining about the gift, instead he stacks them on top of his growing pile with excessive care, and waits for his next present to be handed to him.

“Maybe,” William starts, and Jaclyn feels his electrified fingers tracing over her belly button, “We should give everyone their present.” He gives the kids a conspiratorial wink, and they light up, jumping up and nearly sliding on all the loose wrapping paper as they run for the smallest stack near the back of the tree. There are five little presents that the kids hand out with excited little exclamations of, “for you grandpa, and for you gaga!”