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"Daddy!" Charlotte's cheerful voice filled the otherwise empty room. Anthony sighed loudly but the smile he put on his face wasn't a fake one. The happy face of his daughter lifted his spirits and he hugged her tightly when she crawled on his lap.
"What's up Lottie?" He asked while he kissed her chubby cheek. Her face had a nice, healthy color and next to the cold sensation he felt when he touched her, her fast panting told him she came straight from outside.
"You said you would come and play with us when Mary was awake," she turned to face him and pouted, "but you're still working and Neddy took her instead of you."
Another loud sigh filled with guilt escaped his mouth; he tried his best to get rid of all the work emails he still had to answer, but the constant interruptions from his kids prevented him from making any real progress. He didn't have the heart to tell her, his kids were so excited to be here, there was no way he would admit to them they were the reason he wasn't able to go outside.
"I know sweetie, but daddy isn't finished yet, I promise I'll be there as soon as I can." He saw the disappointment appear on her face and his heart dropped. Anthony hated to let his kids down, but what choice did he have? This family trip was such an impulsive decision he had to bring his work with him.
He had predicted this when Kate suggested going away for the holidays, only three days before Christmas. He knew he had tons of work to do, he knew they would all nag at him for bringing the office with him, he knew he would feel guilty all the time because he couldn't spend time with them. But he was also well aware once he saw the happy faces of his family there was no way he was going to say no.
Making his family happy was his ultimate goal in life. So when Edmund jumped up to gather his snowboard and his new shades, when Charlotte asked if she could finally get proper ski lessons, his youngest baby Mary smiled widely, and Miles wondered if this would be the year he would finally fall hard enough so he would get a cast, he nodded.
"I think we can ask Granny if we could borrow the house," he said, making eye contact with his wife, "but Hy was going to spend Christmas with us, so only if she's aboard with this too, we can go, since we made plans with her first."
Speaking of the devil, his youngest sister made an entrance; "Ah! You've finally asked Milo!" Hyacinth sat down next to Miles, who was still very much daydreaming about his latest obsession, "I'm free, if that's what you wanted to know. And I can't wait to go away."
"Why is that?" Kate asked curiously, "I thought you wanted to stay home because you couldn't be away from Tim?" She shoved some leftover dessert towards Hyacinth and waited for her to answer. "Isn't that why you bribed us with babysitting during new years? So you didn't have to go with your mum because you needed to be with the love of your life? "
Anthony hid a groan, he wasn't fond of Hyacinth's newest boyfriend, but he had to know. It it was his job to know what was going on in his sister's life so he forced himself to listen carefully.
"Tim? Who's Tim?" she rolled her eyes at Kate, "I just want to be with the family that appreciates me enough to open up their house for me."
"Is that so?" Anthony smirked, he watched how Hyacinth put some cake in her mouth. It felt like he could breathe again. It seemed like a new crisis was averted, no boy drama this Christmas. "So the offer to look after them still stands? Even if we are in Lech?"
"If you lend me your board, we're good to go."
That's how they ended up in their family house in the Alps. Somehow it was empty, a rarity because usually they all fought about who could have it during the holidays. But with Daphne and Francesca pregnant, Benedict very much into his new art project, Colin still on his honeymoon and Gregory and his mother visiting Eloise and Philip in Spain, it was available.
Christmas eve and Christmas day was all the time off Anthony had given himself, and the days went by so quickly, too quickly.
It was only two days ago, but it felt longer. Real life and the responsibilities it brought came back the moment Christmas was over. The fact that he was in the Alps didn't change the need for contracts to be signed, it didn't stop the cases he needed to prepare and there were always emails he needed to answer. It was an ongoing process, and as the boss he couldn't walk away from it.
"Why are you looking like that?" His lack of attention made Charlotte start to get a little angry, "I want to show you my new moves!" Charlotte spread her arms, "I did it just as you showed me the other day. You said you would be there to help me, but you aren't."
"Lottie, daddy has to work." It stung, deeper than ever before, "I said I had to, you know this." He tried to excuse himself, but he heard how poorly it sounded, "when I'm done you can show me."
"You're never done," Charlotte sighed grumpily, "mum said vacation was about having fun and laughing, why aren't you listening to mummy anymore?"
Why wasn't he?
He had so much fun, Anthony truly forgot about work on Christmas day. He embraced the time he got with his family tremendously. He could still vividly remember how they all went outside for a walk on Christmas eve. How beautiful Kate looked with her hair loose, her cheeks all flushed. He laughed softly when he remembered the snowball fight he and the boys had, how well they hit Hyacinth, and how good it was to do this all with carrying Mary on his hip. Her ski suit was still a few inches too big, but it only made her look cuter.
And to top it off, he could still see their faces when they opened their presents. The astonishing look on Charlotte's face when she realised Santa knew they were there instead of back home, in the UK, was priceless.
"Dad!" his youngest son came in as well and made him aware of his surroundings again, "mum asked me to get you, she said something about building a snowman?"
"Daddy!" Charlotte cheered happily, her hesitation forgotten and pure enthusiasm took over in a heartbeat. Anthony knew all his good efforts were in vain when Charlotte started to sing the familiar song of her favorite movie, "you have to go with us. Please!" Her big eyes stared at him expectantly while she jumped up and down on his lap.
"Mum told me this would work!" Miles looked very pleased with himself, "I already brought you your jacket and boots," he pointed at the desk behind him, "and I think I hurt my wrist a while back." All of the sudden his son seemed to be having trouble moving his arm, and his face flinched when he stopped pointing. "Maybe I should see a doctor?"
"Milo.." Anthony nodded his head, "you know there will be a moment when you're in actual pain and no one will believe you, right?"
"Why does he want a cast? I didn't like it." Charlotte stopped singing and frowned deeply. "It hurt and I couldn't shower without that stupid bag around my leg."
"I have no idea, ask him while I finish up here." Anthony kissed the tip of her head before he put her on the ground again, "give me five minutes."
"You're not lying?" Charlotte asked carefully, not fully trusting him yet.
"When do I ever?"
To his relief she shrugged, turned around and started asking Miles why he wanted to break a bone so badly.
"Honey?" This time it was Kate who made an entrance, "I know you're trying, but we're all waiting for you and I'm not exaggerating when I say patience runs low."
"I'm almost finished, I promise." Anthony mumbled, he didn't look up from his laptop because the minute he would even so much as look at his wife, it would be ten times harder to answer the stupid emails.
"Ant," Kate sighed, from the sound of it she seated herself in the chair at the other end of the table, "you know why I really wanted to go away this week?"
"No?" Anthony still hadn't looked up, but it was getting harder and harder to resist. The tone in his wife's voice told him she was serious, and he braced himself for what was to come.
"You work so hard, too hard if you ask me. I thought some change in scenery might cheer you up."
"Kate…" he cried out softly, "you know I want to.. I'm just.. there's just too much.. I can't.." Carefully he ripped his eyes away from his screen and into his wife's.
"Honey," Kate leaned over the table to grab his hand, "I'm not mad, the furthest from it actually. I'm so proud of you, we all are." Her long fingers started to caress his wrist. "I just need you to give us some time to show you."
"Now?" He heard how insecure he sounded, as if he was about to burst into tears, "I.."
"What is the worst that will happen if you abandon your work?" Kate asked when let go of his hand and stood up. For a second Anthony was afraid she would go again and it almost broke him, he couldn't handle being alone anymore. The lack of contact also forced him to take in her words.
What was the worst that could happen?
He truly didn't know, and that was good enough. There wasn't going to be a big disaster if he stopped working. There weren't any huge deadlines, nor any big cases set in the first week of the new year.
All he wanted right now was to be by her side, he needed to see his kids, spend time with them. To love them, wholeheartedly, and to actually celebrate this holiday together.
The worst thing that could happen was losing out on them, to remember this holiday as the one in which he was working all the time.
"Don't go Kate," he heard himself beg before he realised she wasn't walking away from him, but towards him, "I hear you." He said, his voice trembling in relief. When Kate wrapped her arms around him he felt tears falling on his cheek. "Thank you for always knowing what's best for me."
"I'm a very dutiful wife, after twelve years of marriage this cannot be a surprise to you," Kate smirked, her fingers ran through his hair and she pulled them softly when she bit his lower lip playfully.
"It isn't," Anthony moaned at the sensation, "I'm just very grateful."
"Perhaps you can show me just how grateful you are tonight?" Kate wiggled her hips and kissed him again, "I feel like we have some catching up to do."
"Why wait?" In one smooth motion Anthony lifted his wife into his arms, "I am nothing if not determined and devoted to you."
"But I wasn't lying when I said the kids are waiting for you to come." Kate giggled with her face in his neck, her attempts to stop him weren't very effective, especially when she started to suck on his favorite spot right below his ear.
"I want you to come first," Anthony whispered, "multiple times." He walked them to their bedroom, locked the door and squeezed her butt, "Hy can handle the kids, she owes us."
"That was new years," Kate said, but when Anthony dropped her on the bed she spread her legs instantly. "Make it quick."
Anthony rolled his eyes, "I won't make such a ridiculous promise," he unbuttoned her pants, "stop worrying, start enjoying babe this time off like I do," he said when he started to kiss her inner thigh, "and let me do what I do best."