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Aziraphale and Crowley have been working on decorating their home for Christmas. Leah has also been helping make the home festive, too. At the moment, the three of them have been working on decorating the giant tree that stands in the living room every year. As Leah has gotten older, she has been thinking about things. Especially when it comes to the holidays.
Aziraphale and Crowley have explained to her before but still, it did not make their daughter any less curious about it.
“Mama?” Leah piped up as she was looking at an ornament in one of her hands.
“Yes?” Aziraphale asked. Leah looked up at Aziraphale.
“Is Christmas really the celebration of Jesus’s birthday?” Leah asked a question back, too.
“Well, officially it’s to celebrate the birth of Christ, my dear but they got the date completely wrong. Not that that really matters, dates are rather silly anyway. What’s really important is that the holiday is shared with family and friends. It’s a way to celebrate those closest to you and your relationships.” Aziraphale explained to his daughter.
“That is what I heard but all I hear is about it being about Jesus.” Leah told him. Crowley’s ears were fully focused on the conversation between his husband and their child. He decided to put his two cents into the conversation.
“That is because all the religious idiots claim it’s celebrating the birth of Christ. Little do they know that I told one twat the wrong day a few centuries back so now they’re all stuck celebrating in the middle of freezing cold winter instead of in the spring time. More importantly, it’s about buying things for people. Do you know how stressful it is trying to buy things for someone? How well do you really know them? What if you get them something that they absolutely hate but they lie about it and you’d never know? And what if you get them something nice but they get you something even nicer? What then? It’s genius! And then, of course, you’ve got all the people falling off of roofs trying to hang up stupid string lights. That’s hilarious. And all the Christmas trees catching on fire. Do you know they used to put REAL candles on Christmas trees? There were even more fires then. But then they traded them for string lights and plastic trees so there’s not as many. Still a few though when some idiot overloads their power cord.” Crowley piped up.
Leah and Aziraphale just stood there, looking at him. He had a displeased look on his face.
“Wat?” Crowley asked, now feeling a little confused as to why Aziraphale was giving him such a reaction.
“Dear, she is only a child. She is not going to be able to understand all of what you just said.” Aziraphale replied.
“I think she may be able to understand some of it. Leah is a very smart child after all.” Crowley asked. Aziraphale let out a sigh. He was not going to deny that about their child. It is quite true that Leah is very intelligent. She’s even advanced a grade in school, too. There was no doubt that Leah was smart and well understanding for her age.
“I know she is but I just feel like it just may be a bit much for her to take in all at once.” Aziraphale rephrased.
“True but, we can always still explain things.” Crowley told him. Aziraphale was not going to deny that point either.
“I also just feel like some of it was not necessary.” Aziraphale added.
“You told me to be honest with her.” Crowley spoke.
“I did. I just did not know that you were going to be that honest about everything.” Aziraphale spoke back. Leah had her eyes on her dads as she watched them talking to each other.
“So..is Christmas about all of those things?” Leah suddenly piped up, interrupting her parent’s bickering. Aziraphale and Crowley looked at her once again.
“Yes. It is. For the most part. But it is also mostly about spending and having a wonderful time with family and friends.” Aziraphale replied to her.
“Ah. Well, I am enjoying decorating the house with you and daddy. And baking cookies, too.”
Aziraphale smiled. Both Crowley and Aziraphale’s bickering ended right there after hearing that.
“And we are enjoying being with you, too, sweetheart.”
Crowley bent down and picked their daughter up off of the ground and held her in his arms.
“I second that as well.”
Crowley gave Leah a kiss on the cheek. So did Aziraphale.
“We love you so much.” Aziraphale told her.
“And I love both of you, too. So much.” Leah spoke back to them then gave them both a kiss on the cheek. Aziraphale and Crowley suddenly attacked their daughter with kisses until she was nothing but a giggling mess. Which caused the angel and demon to giggle along with their child, too. When all three of them calmed down, Aziraphale took out the finishing touch for the tree.
“It was not exactly a star or an angel. But it was something that represented all of them. It was a duck. A duck that lights up. Every year, they put a different animal on the top of the tree and they let Leah choose the animal. Last year, it was a dragon. This year, Leah wanted a duck to be on top. Aziraphale handed Leah the duck.
“Would you do the honors and put it up on the top of the tree?” Aziraphale asked. Leah nodded.
“Yes, please.” Leah replied. Crowley lifted her up to where she could reach. She carefully placed the duck on top before Crowley moved her and put her back down on the floor so she could fully see the tree lit up. On the count of three, Crowley turned on the tree. Leah’s eyes widened in awe as the tree fully lit up. Crowley and Aziraphale stood on each side of her, looking at the tree, too.
“What do you think?” Aziraphale asked Leah.
“I think it looks amazing! The duck really does bring it all together.” Leah answered.
“It truly does.” Crowley softly spoke out loud. Crowley held one of Leah's hands in his. Aziraphale noticed and did the same with Leah's other hand in his.
“Leah, is there something special that you want for Christmas this year?” Aziraphale piped up.
“Just both of you.” Leah honestly responded. Aziraphale and Crowley felt touched when hearing that.
“Is that what you truly want?” Crowley asked as he looked down at her. Leah nodded.
“Yes. That is what I want. And some treats for Squeakers, too.” Leah also responded to her Dad’s question, too. Leah did not want to leave her guinea pig out of celebrating Christmas.
“Of course. But if you think of anything, let us know.”
“I will but for now, I really can not think of anything else that I want. I just like being able to spend time with my family.” Leah told her Papa. Leah really did not care about presents. They were nice but they were not the most important things to her. Nor were they important to Aziraphale and Crowley either. They still were going to get her presents, though. And a couple for Squeakers, too. It seems that Leah does understand the meaning of Christmas after all. At least, what it means to her. And for Aziraphale and Crowley, they may have a different way they think of it but regardless of all of that. What means the most to them on his holiday is family. And nothing else.
Well..
And maybe also cookies and treats but mostly spending time with one another is what the true meaning of Christmas means to their little family.
The End