Wanting something bold but not too over the top, Mercy frowned while looking through what she bought at the store, knowing almost half of it would be a return. Should she go with teal and white? Nah….Gold, purple, and black? Black and white? Ughhhh! She took a deep breath, muttering in spanish. Lu chose that time to walk over and squat by his mother, “Mommy make the tree look like Al an daddy's eyes!” Mercy smiled and raised an eyebrow, “Lu honey I don't think sunset is a christmas color.” “Yeah huh! Is too a istmas color!” Al waddled up and sat down, laying his head in his mothers lap, placing his pacifier in his mouth.
Clearly he was a bit sleepy.
-----
Cass was waiting for Mercy to decide on the color scheme and he chuckled when Lu gave his suggestion. He walked over and tossed him into the air, grinning at the peel of laughter he gave. “I think that is a really good idea, use sunset colors.”
He looked down at Al, “you think so too, right baby boy. Make the tree look just like you, right?”
He placed his son back on the ground and went into the kitchen grabbing a glass of wine for himself and his wife. “Look what papa sent from home? Don’t tell the other’s I put them in the Christmas baskets. It's early, but they will be fine.”
He passed Mercy her glass and sat on the floor beside her looking up at the empty tree.
-----
Al blinked sleepily at his father, frowning and reaching out to him, “Me up….” He yawned and then whimpered when Cass went into the kitchen, sniffling and crawling into his lap as soon as he was out. “Daddy up now!” he was on the verge of a tantrum, tears already forming. Mercy made a surprised “O” with her mouth, “Oooooh thats the good stuff isn't it?” She was already working on ways to make the christmas tree match the color of sunset. It wouldn't be out of the ordinary considering Ry’s tree was purple. Al was being ornery, which caused an amused smile to appear on her face. “I think the baby boy needs a nap.”
She decided to leave that for Cass, “Lulu you want to help mommy pick some colors to match daddy and Al’s eyes?” The three year old was instantly running towards her while Al started to wail. Yeah, he was definitely needing a nap. Terrible twos were something else.
-----
Cass was chuckled as his son followed him to the kitchen toddling as toddlers did, looking on the verge of tears. He followed him back into the living room and as soon as he was on the floor, popped into his lap and started to wail. He put his drink down on the side table and grabbed the pacifier dangling from his son’s dungarees before popping it into his mouth. He cuddled the wailing boy and gave his diapered bottom some comforting slightly heavy pats.
He rocked slighting grabbing his wine and sipping it before looking at his little whirlwind of a newly 3 year old excitedly hop about with so much energy. “Lu buddy, help mama pick out some bulbs okay? Find the ones that look like Al and Papa’s eyes.”
-----
Lucien was more than happy to help his momma, running up to her with a grin on his face, “Mommy I help! Papa said I coulds!” Mercy laughed and nodded, “That’s right baby boy, can you show me some of the purple decorations? Remember what purple looks like?” She laughed when he made a duh face and grabbed the most purplest of decorations, handing it to her with a huff, “Mommy I smart, I know what purps is!” he looked over towards his father, holding the ornament, “Papa dis matches your eyes! I did it!” Mercy took the ornament and placed it on the tree, “okay Lulu go get mommy one yellow decoration, another purple, and an orange. Momma needs a pink one as well.”
Lu puffed his face, “Allenge accepted! I got chu mommy!” Mercy watched her little boy take off, shaking her head. “You know that one is all you right?” She looked to Cass while thumbing in the direction of their oldest, “I had nothing to do with that one!” She was already laughing.
-----
Cass watched his son helping his mother and showing how smart he was. They worked on colors, letters and numbers in the past year and Cass was proud that Lu knew his colors. They had started with Al recently, he seemed less than interested. He mostly just wanted to be in his mother’s arms whenever she was in the immediate vicinity.
“Good job Lu, you're doing so good with your colors.” Al had drifted off clutching his shirt. It was going to be difficult to put him down.
Cass laughed hearing Lu’s response to his mother, “not true my love, some of that stubborn determination came from you. He’s got more than both of us.”
He smirked and winked at his wife, “dont waste your wine dear.”
Kaori_luv
