Chapter Text
Lucas woke up in their castle the next morning as the first one. He looked around the dining room before he woke Sofia.
"Sofia," Lucas said as he shook his sister. "Look."
Sofia rubbed her eyes before looking in the direction Lucas was pointing. On a table stood a small silver Christmas tree and all the Christmas gifts under it. Both children ran over to have a look at it before they ran out into the kitchen where Booker was making omelettes.
"Merry Christmas," Booker said. "Sleep well in the castle?"
"Merry Christmas," Both children said. "And yes."
"Have you seen it?" Lucas asked.
"Seen what?" Booker asked.
"The Christmas tree," Sofia replied as she took Booker's hand. Booker turned off the stove before being pulled into the dining room. "Look, isn't it pretty?"
"It's yes," Booker replied. "Did you buy it? Or was it you, Lucas?"
"Santa came with it," Lucas replied. "Just as you said he would."
"And it's so pretty," Sofia said. "I love the silver on it."
"Me too," Lucas replied. "When can I open my Christmas gifts?"
"When your dads are home in a couple of hours," Booker replied. "Meanwhile let's eat breakfast."
After eating breakfast, getting washed, brushing their teeth, and getting dressed, Booker insisted on they should have some fresh air. During the walk, they bought candy canes for the Christmas tree. When they got back home, while the children put the candy canes on the Christmas tree, Booker made hot chocolate which they drank in the castle. Booker could barely fit inside the castle after turning around a couple of times. While drinking the hot chocolate Booker told the children the story "A Christmas Carol".
"Looks like someone had a fun time," Nicky said when he found them.
"Papa," Sofia said with a big smile. "You're home."
"Be careful of the traps," Lucas said as he also got up.
Both children flew into Nicky's arms to get a hug.
"I feel left out," Joe said.
"Baba," Both children said and also flew into Joe's arms to get a hug.
"Want to tell me about this?" Joe asked.
"After you lay down," Nicky said. "Remember what the doctor said."
"You can lie down in our castle," Sofia offered. "Right, Lucas?"
"Yes," Lucas replied. "But you have to read the map first. Just a moment."
Lucas ran back on the path they had made to get the map.
"I would love to do that, but it has to wait until my tummy isn't hurting anymore," Joe said which made both children look sad. "When that happens, we're going to have a sleepover in your castle. Ok?"
"Ok," Sofia replied. "Then you can lie on the sofa."
"Here's the map," Lucas said as he handed it to Joe. "Remember it or else you'll end up in one of our traps."
Lucas handed Joe the map.
"I'm counting on you're going to safe me if that happens," Joe said. "Where did you get the Christmas tree from?"
"Santa got it for us, just as uncle Booker said," Sofia said. "Isn't it pretty?"
"It's yes," Joe replied. "Thanks, Santa."
Lucas looked at Nicky.
"Are you coming, papa?" Lucas wanted to know.
"In a moment," Nicky replied. "I just need to talk with Booker first."
Booker followed Nicky into the kitchen.
"Are you mad at me?" Booker asked. "For the dining room."
"No, I'm not. We never use it anyway," Nicky replied. "Thanks for looking after Lucas and Sofia for us."
"Don't mention it," Booker replied. "It was more fun than the plans I made."
"Wanna tell me what you did together?" Nicky asked. "I understand you have been to the cinema."
While Booker told Nicky about what they did, Sofia and Lucas did the same to Joe.
"Why haven't you told us about the dragon?" Lucas wanted to know.
"And that you know fairies?" Sofia wanted to know.
"We also want to see the trolls in Norway," Lucas said.
"And go skiing," Sofia said.
"The reason why I haven't told you everything is there is more to tell. I just haven't got to it yet," Joe replied. "But when I feel better, we can talk about going to Norway."
"Until we can get more of the potion I think it's better to keep the dragon in its cave," Lucas said. "Just in case it escaped."
Sofia looked over at the door and got up.
"You have to read the map, papa," Sofia said as she handed Nicky it. "Or else you might end up in one of the traps."
"Thanks, sweet one," Nicky replied as he took the map and looked at it. "Where do we sit while we are opening Christmas gifts?"
Sofia found a safe spot. It took some time to open all the Christmas gifts.
"You didn't get a Christmas gift, uncle Booker," Sofia said when she realized it.
"I did in a way," Booker replied. "I got to spend Christmas with you."
"That's not a Christmas gift," Lucas said. "Come Sofia."
Lucas yanked Sofia with him.
"May I ask where did you get the Christmas tree?" Joe asked.
"You have to ask Santa," Booker replied secretly. "Or his wife in this case."
"I knew I had seen it somewhere before," Nicky said. "Say thanks to Susie from us."
"I'll," Booker replied. "She says you can keep it. She got a second one."
Booker drank the rest of his coffee.
"And thanks for telling the story about the dragon," Joe said. "But why did you add fairies and trolls to the story? Do you know that now they want to go to Norway and see trolls?"
"It was so you wouldn't get bored," Booker smirked. "We all know what happens when you get bored."
Sofia and Lucas came back and handed Booker a Christmas gift that contained two figurines.
"A princess from me," Sofia said. "So you won't forget me."
"Superman from me," Lucas said. "And what she said."
Booker hugged both children.
"Thanks," Booker said. "Whenever I look at them I'll think of you both."
Both children hugged Booker before they started to play with their Christmas gifts.
"You know what," Nicky said. "Maybe you have changed your mind about having children, Book."
"Maybe," Booker replied. "Who knows maybe one Christmas it will happen."