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“Who’s ready to make Halloween cookies?” Clarke poked her head into the living room where the television played the theme song of the latest little kid obsession.
Madi was the first to jump up, her unruly hair pointing in every direction. “Me! I’m ready, Mommy!”
Clarke smiled at the little girl’s antics and reached down to ruffle the dark curls. “You are? Should we see if Aden is ready?”
“I’m always ready.” Aden looked up from the comic book he had been lost in.
“I know you are, bud. Let’s get in the kitchen and get everything ready. Mama had to run to the store for me, but she will be home any minute.”
Aden nodded seriously and did what he was told. At only 7 years old, he was the epitome of an old soul and he was as serious and studious as Lexa. Clarke joked that Aden inherited her looks but Lexa’s personality. Lexa tried to dispute it, but was always not so secretly pleased.
The kids followed Clarke into the kitchen, Madi dragging her blanket along with her. Clarke pulled the big bucket of cookie cutters out from the pantry and began sorting the designs.
“What are we making cookies for?” Madi had crawled up into the kitchen helper stool that Lexa had built when Aden was a toddler. She placed her thumb in her mouth while she watched Clarke curiously.
“We are making monster cookies,” Clarke told her daughter with a grin. “Monster cookies for all the little monsters this Halloween.”
Madi was impressed, and maybe a little nervous. “Monster cookies. What are those?”
“They’re cookies of different monsters,” Aden explained to his little sister. “Right?” He turned to Clarke to gauge her response.
“That’s exactly right,” Clarke praised. “As many different monsters as you two can think of. That’s why I need your help so much.”
“So we can tell you the monster?” Madi’s eyes were wide as she waited for Clarke to respond.
“That’s exactly right.” Clarke tapped her daughter gently on the forehead before returning to the pantry for more supplies.
At only four, Halloween had mostly been something that passed Madi by. Clarke knew this would be the first year the little girl would be able to remember much of the holiday and was intent on starting some of the traditions they had started with Aden.
“Mama’s home!” The sound of the garage door opening alerted Aden to the fact that Lexa had returned from the store.
Madi cheered loudly, sliding down out of the kitchen stool. She ran to the door that connected the kitchen to the garage, standing on tiptoes as she tried to see through the glass.
“Back up, Madi. You don’t want the door to squish your toes.” Clarke leaned against the counter and smiled at the homecoming Lexa always got from their children.
Madi did as she was told, but as soon as Lexa stepped through the door the toddler was wrapped around her leg enthusiastically.
“Hi, munchkin! Did you miss me?” Lexa reached down and scooped Madi up, snuggling the toddler into her neck.
“Yes! But I got to watch TV while you were gone.” Madi had a one track mind when it came to her favorite television show.
Lexa laughed and turned to wink at Clarke. “Well, I’m so glad to hear that. Was it a good show?”
Madi nodded her answer and then became immediately distracted by the bags in Lexa’s hands. “What did you get me at the store?”
Lexa laughed and set Madi back down on the ground. “I got stuff to make cookies. Nothing special for you this time, I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay.” Madi was pure seriousness as she considered her next words. “Cookies sound like fun, I’m excited for the monsters.”
“Not monsters, Madi. Just monster cookies.” Aden managed to sound gentle when he responded to his sister, and Clarke found herself thankful once again for the life she had.
“Who’s ready to get started?” Clarke clapped her hands together and smiled brightly.
Madi and Aden shouted their agreements in sync, and Clarke couldn't help but smile at the exuberance of the kids. This was the childhood she had always hoped to be able to give her children. Clarke made her way to Lexa, holding out her hand for one of the bags and greeting her wife with a soft kiss.
“Ready for two sugar induced children?” Lexa sounded nearly as excited as the kids, and Clarke once again felt lucky to have ended up with someone so wonderful.
“Been ready all day,” Clarke said. “Ever since the weather changed and the leaves started turning I’ve been ready for Halloween and all the fun it brings.”
“I think we should probably get started then. I know two kiddos who may not make it much longer without combusting from all the excitement.” Lexa nodded towards the kids who were both grinning wildly as they waited for directions.
“You’re absolutely right,” Clarke laughed. She clapped her hands and looked at Aden and Madi. “Who can tell me what the first rule of the kitchen is?”
“Hand washing,” Aden said instantly, clearly proud of himself for knowing the answer.
“That’s absolutely right,” Clarke agreed.
“I’m going to change my clothes real quick,” Lexa interjected. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“We will wait for you, Mama,” Madi said with all of the sincerity of a small child.
Lexa laughed. “I appreciate it, baby. But you can help Mommy get started. I won’t be long.”
Madi nodded, apparently satisfied with the answer, and turned back to Clarke.
Clarke supervised the handwashing, helping Madi reach the stream of water. After Madi had finished and was drying her hands, Aden stepped up and washed his hands as well.
“Have you started yet?” Lexa walked back into the kitchen, looking much more comfortable in a pair of joggers and a long sleeved shirt.
“We washed our hands,” Madi announced as she held up her hands for inspection.
“That’s a very important first step,” Lexa said. She ruffled Madi’s hair and looked at Clarke. “What kind of cookies are we making first?”
“Vampires!” Aden looked excitedly at both Lexa and Clarke as he made his suggestion.
“What’s a vampire?” Madi cocked her head and looked from Aden to Clarke and Lexa.
“I’m going to let you take this one,” Clarke laughed, rifling through the container of cookie cutters. “I think I have the perfect idea though.”
“Isn’t that a gingerbread man?”
“Yes, it’s technically a gingerbread man,” Clarke answered, “but I found a decorating idea. We give them little icing teeth and turn them into vampires.”
Lexa nodded, “That makes sense. Cute. I like it.”
“Mama,” Madi tugged at Lexa’s sleeve. “What’s a vampire?”
“It’s a monster that sucks your blood,” Aden supplied helpfully, crooking his fingers at the corners of his mouth to simulate fangs.
Madi looked wide eyed and horrified at Lexa and Clarke. “Are those real?”
“Of course not, baby.” Clarke opened her arms to console the little girl, while also shooting a look at Lexa who was laughing.
“I’m sorry, I can’t help it,” Lexa tried to explain herself. “It’s never a dull moment with these two.”
“Let’s get baking,” Clarke said as she shook her head.
“Cookies!” Madi cried out, temporarily forgetting all about the earlier vampire conversation.
Clarke pulled out a bowl and started gathering ingredients. “Who wants to help me measure?”
“Me!” Madi’s excitement was contagious and she climbed on the stool to stand excitedly at the counter.
“Can I crack the eggs? Since Madi is too little?” Aden spoke clearly and politely as he eyed the carton of eggs on the counter.
“I’m not little!” Madi put her hands on her hips, the full picture of little kid indignance.
“No, you’re an incredibly grown up helper,” Lexa told Madi fondly. “Let’s let Aden do the eggs though, since he asked so nicely. And then you can help with the mixing, how’s that?”
Madi nodded her head seriously and then grinned brightly. “I love to stir the batter!”
The four of them worked tirelessly for the next thirty minutes, mixing and rolling the dough out so that Clarke could show the kids how to use the cookie cutter to cut out gingerbread shapes.
Once they put the cookies in the oven, Clarke pulled out a recipe for macaroons that looked like Frankensteins and the monster talk continued while Lexa washed the dishes.
***
“I don’t want to touch another cookie sheet, a measuring cup or that mixer for about six months.” Clarke collapsed on the couch and took a gratuitous sip of her wine. The kids had finally been coaxed to bed, only about an hour later than their usual bedtime, and it was finally time for adult only relaxation time.
Lexa snorted and sat a little more gracefully next to Clarke. “All cookie-d out, huh?”
“You have no idea,” Clarke huffed out a breath.
“Did you forget that I was your cookie making accomplice already?” Lexa laughed and squeezed Clarke’s knee softly, “Unfortunately for both of us, Christmas is in two months and that is literally the cookie holiday of the whole year.”
“Fuck.” Clarke took an even bigger sip.
“Enjoy the little break, babe. I foresee cookie baking being a major part of our lives, at least for the next several years.”
Clarke blew out a loud breath. “Damn all these child friendly holiday activities.”
“What did we do before we became parents?”
“Got drunk at holiday parties and slept in every weekend? Those were the days.” Clarke supplied helpfully.
Lexa stretched out and rested her feet on the worn coffee table. “You wouldn’t trade our life now for the world. Early mornings, cookie baking adventures, and everything in between.”
“Why are you always so damn smart?” Clarke rested her head on Lexa’s shoulder and snuggled closer.
“Lucky, I guess,” Lexa answered quietly.
“The good news,” Clarke sat up again and leaned forward to place her wine glass on the coffee table, “is we have enough cookies to last us a month.” Clarke picked up a vampire gingerbread man and bit off its head.
“Can’t argue with that. I am a fan of your cookies.”
“You have always been a fan of my cookies,” Clarke snorted.
“Trust you to turn anything into a double entendre,” Lexa sighed, and then took a bite of the cookie she picked up from the tray in front of them. “This is delicious.”
“They did turn out wonderfully,” Clarke agreed. She took another bite of the gingerbread.
“Where did you manage to find candy eyeballs for these cookies?” Lexa held out the brightly colored cookie that was dotted with edible eyeballs. Madi had dubbed the cookies, which were made with several different colors of food coloring, as ‘blob monster cookies’ and everyone laughed and agreed.
“No idea. Mom picked them up somewhere. They’re cute though, right?”
“Grandma Abby to the rescue,” Lexa laughed. “And yes, they are very cute cookies. Perfect for the kids’ Halloween parties at school.”
“She does love these kids .” Clarke picked up another cookie, this one a sugar cookie in the shape of a ghost. Aden had helped with the white icing and Clarke had used edible paint for little faces. The one she held in her hand had a little smile.
“They’re pretty easy to love.” Lexa reached out and cupped Clarke’s face tenderly, planting a soft kiss on her wife’s mouth.