Work Text:
“Ava what are you going to ask Santa for Christmas?” Tim asks the five year old who is currently twirling in circles. She has a cute little Christmas outfit on that was perfect for Santa. It was a red tulle skirt and sparkling top to match. And to top it all off, she had on red sparkly little heels much to Tim’s chagrin. He thought she was far too young for heels.
“It’s a secret daddy.” Ava answers looking up at him, a small grin on her face. Tim raises his eyebrows at her.
“A secret? Well how will Santa know what to get you.” He asks. Ava stops twirling and looks up at him again.
“I’m telling Santa but nobody else.” She says. “It’s for Santa’s ears only.” Tim just shakes his head in amusement as Lucy comes down the stairs with the other three. The twins just turned one and both are decked out in their Santa’s outfits. And Daisy is wearing the same thing as Ava only her is green.
“Are you guys ready to see Santa?” Lucy asks. Ava and Daisy jump up and down while the twins look confused.
Tim shakes his head again and takes Levi from Lucy and then herds the older girls out of the house.
Tim’s really not sure what possessed them to agree to take four kids five and under to the mall to see Santa but here they were. Lucy thought it would be cute to have all four kids on Santa’s lap for a picture.
And once Ava heard about it she couldn’t stop talking about seeing Santa and asking him for presents. So really Tim couldn’t say no to it not that he ever would.
They load up the kids in the car, and then Tim slides into the driver’s seat. He looks in the rearview mirror to see Ava whispering to Daisy. Ava catches his eye and frowns.
“Daddy, this is a private conversation.” She says. Tim just shakes his head and looks over at Lucy who looks like she’s trying not to laugh.
Tim rolls his eyes and then backs out of the driveway. Lucy had done her research on which mall to go to. At first, Tim thought she was looking up which Santa was the less creepy but he found out it was more for the wait times. She had found one and then made an appointment so that their kids could get in for sure and there wouldn’t be any breakdowns.
Tim pulls into the mall parking lot, and parks looking back at his kids. Ava and Daisy heads are together and he can only imagine what they are whispering about. The twins have nodded off to sleep a little bit and aren’t paying their sisters any mind.
Tim gets out and loads the twins in the stroller while he takes Ava’s hand and Lucy carries Daisy. Ava is vibrating in excitement as they approach the doors, “Daddy do you think Santa will get me what I want?” She asks. Tim looks down at her, her blue eyes wide as she holds his hand.
“I don’t know Aves. It depends on what it is, I’m sure Santa will try his best to get you that pony.”
“I don’t want a pony daddy.” Ava says rolling her eyes at him. “How would we fit it in the house?”
“She got you there Tim.” Says Lucy from behind him patting his shoulder. Tim blows out a breath and then looks back down at his daughter.
“No pony? Okay. What about a Barbie Camper? With all the accessories.” Tim says and he really never thought he would say those words.
“I’m not telling you anything.” Says Ava crossing her arms. “It’s for me and Santa to know.” Lucy laughs behind him and then he pushes up the door and Ava lets go of his hand and runs in.
“Ava!” Tim calls to her and she looks back blows out a breath that makes her bangs go up and then goes back to Tim taking his hand without hesitation.
Lucy takes the lead now, leading them to a little section of the mall in which they made it look the North Pole. Santa was sitting in the middle of the fake snow in a giant elaborate chair.
Ava squeals in excitement jumping up and down once again, her little heels making a clicking sound on the tile.
“Santa! Santa!” She squeals twisting up in Tim’s arms. “I wanna see Santa!”
Tim laughs a little and peels her away from him and bends to her level. “You will be able to see him Aves. You gotta be patient.”
Ava just lets out a loud sigh as they go and find the line. Tim sighs as he watches various kids get on and off Santa’s lap. The Santa seems to be patient not even flinching when a kid cries or doesn’t say anything. Tim just hopes he’s ready for whatever Ava has planned because he never really knows what is going to come out of her mouth.
It’s finally their turn and Ava runs up first and climbs up on the chair. There’s a long silence before Santa is asking her name.
“Ava Rose Bradford.” She says proudly and loud enough for a few people in line to look up.
Santa chuckles. “And what would you like for Christmas Ava?” Santa asks. Ava looks thoughtful and then she smiles.
“Dog underwear.” She says. Tim nearly swallows his tongue as Lucy lets out a laugh. And really he shouldn’t be surprised by this. There’s a long silence as everyone takes in this request.
Tim looks up to see the Santa staring down at Ava who doesn’t look fazed at the silence. “You want dog underwear?” Santa asks.
Ava nods. “Yes. Underwear with dogs on it.” She says. Daisy is giggling next to him and he has no doubt this is what they were whispering about.
“Well.” Says Santa looking over at Tim and Lucy for a brief second. Tim gives him a slight nod. “I think I can do that for you. Do you want anything else?”
Ava looks thoughtful again. “Yes. My daddy says you can get me a Barbie Camper with all the accessories.” She says. Tim groans and instantly regrets opening his mouth earlier.
“All right Ava.” Says Santa as she slides off his lap. “I think I can do that.” Ava skips over proudly as Daisy goes up. They take a picture after that and then they all leave with Ava skipping next to the stroller.
Tim stops her outside of the car. “Ava you want underwear for Christmas?” Tim asks because of all the things his five year old could have asked for that was the last thing on his list.
“You can never have too much underwear.” She says simply and Tim is lost for words.
“Okay but why did you ask for it for Christmas?” Tim asks. “We could—”
“I don’t want to ask you!” She says indignantly. “That’s weird.”
“But you will ask Santa?” He asks in disbelief. His five year old rolls her eyes at him.
“Duh it’s Santa.” She says. Tim sighs loudly and looks over Lucy who is just looking at them in amusement.
Tim shakes his head in exasperation but it’s fond. Ava climbs in the car and turns to look at Tim a wishful look in her eyes. “Do you think Santa will get me what I want?” She asks. Tim kisses her on the top of the head.
“I think Santa will get exactly what you want Aves.” He says. And Ava’s loud giggle to his answer is worth it.
And it’s worth it when Ava opens the present that holds what she wanted most and she giggles as she holds her little dog underwear up proudly.