Chapter Text
+ONE
Malcolm has spent the better half of the afternoon making sure everything is perfectly put for the guests coming. It’s the first year they’re celebrating Christmas, and he wants everything to be special. Their new house, in Park Slope, looks very festive and apt for the season with the Christmas lights strung up along the windows. The Christmas tree is near the fireplace, and it reminds him of days when seeing it made him ecstatic. This is the first year he has set up a tree ever since he was a little kid. It’s the first year for many things too.
The beginning of a new life.
He adjusts the garland along the fireplace, and his eyes fall on the framed picture on the mantle of him and Dani on their wedding day. At the time, he thought he couldn’t get any happier, but it turns out he was wrong.
His thoughts are interrupted by a sudden low pitched, rhythmic cry. His shoulders drop at the same time that Dani calls out from the kitchen.
“Yes, heard it!” he calls back as he runs up the stairs. “I’m on it.”
When Dani’s in the kitchen, he’s on watch duty. Walking into their daughter’s room, Malcolm spies their six-month-old bundle of joy, crying softly in her crib. He holds her up and rocks her until she stops crying. “I’m here, sweet pea,” he coos affectionately. “Daddy’s here.”
It doesn’t take long before Millie’s eyes droop, and her breathing evens as she falls back into a deep sleep. Smiling, Malcolm sets her back in her bed, and he lingers there for a bit, watching his little girl sleep. There is nothing he wouldn't do for her.
“Thought I’d find you here,” Dani whispers as she stands at the door. Malcolm checks his watch, and he’s surprised he’d been here that long. Dani joins him where he stands and gives him a light kiss on the lips. He puts a hand around her waist, and they both turn back to look at their daughter.
“How did we make something so beautiful?” He asks fondly.
“I ask myself that every day,” she smiles, then adds mischievously. “Come, let’s have some alone time before the guests arrive…” she shrugs towards Millie. “Or she wakes up again.”
And as if it’s their first time, Malcolm—enchanted by his wife— lets Dani lead him out of Millie’s room and into theirs.
☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆
Gil and his mother are the first to arrive. They’ve been dating on and off, but Malcolm feels this time, they might actually see it through. His mother hasn’t looked this relaxed in a while.
“Merry Christmas, dear,” She says, and kisses Malcolm.
“Merry Christmas, Mother,” Malcolm smiles back. The words feel foreign on his lips, but he doesn’t mind them much.
“Wish your sister was here with us,” his mother continues. “But noo, she had to travel to Paris with her boyfriend and miss the occasion. Anyhow, where is my little peanut?” she asks once she takes off her coat and settles. “Grandma is here, and she has gifts,” she says that last line in a grandiose singsong voice.
“Grandpa called dibs,” Gil says as he walks faster, overtakes Jessica, and scoops Millie in his arms. “How is my favorite little girl doing today?”
“Gil!” his mother admonishes jokingly but then joins him where he stands, holding her granddaughter. Millie’s at the age where she can recognize people now, and she laughs when Gil makes funny faces at her.
Malcolm leaves them and goes to set the table.
JT and Tally are next to arrive. Tally’s six months pregnant with their second child, but she looks as radiant as ever. JT junior runs towards Gil and Jessica, where Millie is. Every time they visit, he doesn’t leave her side. Dani used to be nervous at first, but the kid is smart and quiet, and she later grew to trust the kid’s presence next to their little Girl. Plus, they were never completely alone; she and Malcolm always had their eyes on her.
Tally and Dani engage in pregnancy topics, and Malcolm quietly interrogates JT about the status back at the precinct. JT rolls his eyes and laughs. “Bro, relax. If there was a gruesome crime, I wouldn’t be here with you. You know that, right?
Malcolm flushes. “I know, I know. I was just curious about things, seeing that we’ve been off work for so long,” he explains and shrugs towards Dani. “Dani’s supposed to start work again in the new year, and I want to make sure she’ll be safe if I’m not around to protect her.”
“I am so glad she didn’t hear you say that,” JT laughs, and Malcolm echoes the laughter. He knows Dani is more than capable of taking care of herself, but she’s too precious to him, and he can’t help but worry over her going back to work.
“But,” JT adds more solemnly. “I will always keep an eye on her.”
“Thank you, JT!” Malcolm says just as the bell rings for the third time. Dani’s the one who gets it this time.
Blaze and Edrisa come in with a huge teddy bear for Millie. Blaze carries it because it’s this huge. “I didn’t know what to get her,” Edrisa says nervously. “But the guy at the store said babies love teddy bears?”
“It’s lovely,” Dani says as she hugs Edrisa. “You didn’t have to!”
“Of course, I did,” Edrisa says, affronted. “I’m Millie’s godmother! Can’t come here empty-handed now, can I?”
It isn’t long before Malcolm’s done setting the table, and he calls them all to come to have dinner. Dani puts Millie in her chair and then joins the rest at the table. The team and family enjoy the Christmas dinner as they talk, joke, and laugh. It’s a magical night. One that Malcolm will remember and cherish for years to come.
☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆
They take a couple of pictures by the tree. First as a group, then with his mother Gil. Finally one with him, Dani and Millie. They stand and hold their little girl together. JT snaps a couple of pictures until they find one they’re happy with. The last one is perfect, and Malcolm can’t wait to have it on their mantle right next to their wedding photo. ‘Millie’s first Christmas.’
After the photo sessions, Millie starts crying. Dani holds her and pats her on the back as she talks to her, pointing at the ornaments on the Christmas tree. Malcolm watches them with a wide grin on his face. There aren’t enough words to describe the love he feels for both of them.
“Tea?” Gil asks, tearing Malcolm’s attention from his girls.
“Yes, please,” he smiles and takes the extra mug from Gil’s hand. “Thanks for coming, Gil. It was lovely having you here with us tonight.”
“Of course, kid,” Gil beames back. “Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” A beat passes before he adds. “Ahh! Almost forgot.” Then Gil walks back towards the door, brings a bag, and offers it to Malcolm. “Found those the other day when I was cleaning the attic. Thought you should have them. Maybe Millie can use them when she’s older.”
Confused and intrigued, Malcolm takes the bag from him and peeks inside. His heart skips a beat when he sees the contents of the bag. Reaching in, he takes out an old pair of skates. His when he was young. The ones Gil bought him so many years ago when he thought there was nothing more in the cards for him but misery. So much time has passed since then.
He looks back at Dani and Millie, then at Gil and the skates in his hands. His eyes well up with the intensity of the overwhelming emotions he’s feeling. At that time, Gil had promised him that things would get better in time. Malcolm didn’t believe him back then.
“Kid, is there something wrong?” Gil asks, putting a hand on Malcolm’s shoulder. He looks concerned as if he misinterpreted Malcolm’s emotional outburst.
“No, Gil,” he gives him a watery smile. “On the contrary. Everything is right.”
There was a very distinct difference between the Whitlys before and after the arrest. Before the arrest, Malcolm loved Christmas. After the arrest, Christmas stopped happening. Then Gil showed him how to enjoy the day without feeling the burden of the day itself. It helped him a lot for his first few years until he was older. Malcolm learned to smile and appreciate the days. Granted, the holidays were never as festive as they were years ago when his father was around—when they were a normal family. But he just got used to appreciating what he had.
Then over time, he started to heal. He found a team that appreciated him, a partner that loved him, and a family he belonged with. Malcolm stopped being that scared little child, hiding in his father’s shadow. He outgrew it along with all the fears and the guilt, and the doubt. He focused on himself. On healing. On the help others were willing to offer.
And right now, as he stands in a Christmas sweater sipping his favorite tea, holding a memory from the past and watching his future with Dani and Millie, he realizes that this is it.
He is happy.
