Halcyon

Too Early

The following morning Nikki is fast asleep beside Jack in bed, cuddled into his side after a peaceful night of not being woken by either Maddison or Poppy.
Suddenly the bedroom door swings open and in bounds their three-year-old daughter, she walks to Nikki's side and taps her arm, "Mummy, Mummy... wake up! It's Christmas!" her daughter whispers as she continues to tap her arm.

Nikki stirs slightly but remains still hoping Poppy will go back to her room for an hour. She hears small footsteps walk along the laminate floor towards Jack's side of the bed. "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy! It's Christmas!" She whispers as she taps her Father.

Neither of her parent's reply, so she clambers up onto the bed and throws herself down between her Parents with a grin as she lies on her side facing Nikki, she taps her nose and giggles before using her fingers to gently open one of Nikki's eye. "Mummy" she smiles as Nikki moves away.

Nikki rolls onto her back and looks at the clock, "go back to bed baby" she whispers as she closes her eyes but Poppy sits on her stomach and looks down at her Mother. "Poppy, please go to bed, it's too early. Santa hasn't finished yet" she adds.

Poppy sighs dramatically and slides off Nikki's stomach and lies between her parents. "When will Santa be done?" She asks her.

"When the little hand is on the eight" Nikki speaks as she rolls over and closes her eyes. She feels Poppy snuggle up to her back and she smiles slightly.
Nikki then closes her eyes and relaxes, for what feels like seconds she is then woken up by Poppy again, "Mummy the little hand is on the nine!" Poppy grins as Nikki realises they have both overslept the originally planned time. "Can we get up now and see if Santa has been?" Poppy grins innocently.

Nikki stretches out and yawns with a smile and Poppy continues to poke her, "Alright, alright well you better wake Daddy" Nikki smiles as she sits herself up and looks over at Jack and smirks as Poppy gets to her knees and then dives on her father.

"Daddy, Daddy, Daddy wake up" She giggles as she dives of her Dad and sits on his hip and shakes him. "Get up!" She groans as she pulls his arm, Nikki looks at Jack and watches a slight muscle in his face twitch indicating that he's smiling and winding Poppy up.

"Oh no, well we shall all have to wait until Daddy wakes up!" Nikki smiles and Poppy sighs and slips off her Dad and sits in the gap between Jack and Nikki. Nikki watches Poppy as her bottom lip starts to tremble and the tears threaten to full down her cheek. "Oh baby girl, don't cry" Nikki speaks as she leans forwards and scoops Poppy up and cuddles her close. "We don't want tears on Christmas, do we" Nikki smiles as she cradles Poppy like a newborn baby she was many years ago

Jack hears Poppy crying and sits up to look at the three-year-old and sighs, "Look Pops, Daddy is awake now, shall we go and get Maddison?" Nikki smiles as she gently kisses Poppy's cheek and wipes away the tears with her thumb.

Poppy nods before looking at Jack and sticking her tongue out at him, "Meany!" She frowns as she climbs off the bed with her Mum and waits for her while she slips into her dressing gown and then heads out the room to wake Maddison.

Nikki walks into Maddison's room and smiles as she sees her sat up in her cot smiling at her mother, "That's a lovely smile sweetie," Nikki smiles as she walks to the cot and lifts Maddison out.

She puts Maddison against her hip and then walks back into the bedroom where Jack has just come out the ensuite and smiles at her, "Ready?" Nikki smiles.
"Always" He smiles as he walks over to Nikki and kisses her gently on the lips before placing a kiss on Maddison's head.