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Adalind turned, startlingly awake as a loud noise echoed through the room. She reached automatically for Nick even as she felt him pull away and then heard him swear. She dropped back onto her side of their bed when she heard him silence the call with a curt name said in welcoming and she knew he was about to get called into work.
He’d had a disguised hit-and-run murder, a double-homicide and multiple thefts this week and to say he was exhausted was an understatement. He wasn’t supposed to be working today and whilst he was always available for emergencies, it was Christmas Eve, she’d kind of hoped he’d have the day with them. She wanted to start some Burkhardt-Schade traditions for Kelly and Diana. Tomorrow they would be going to Monroe and Rosalee’s for the majority of the day before Diana went to Sean’s for the evening. Today was supposed to just be for the four of them.
Nick sighed and flopped back onto the bed beside her before turning and facing her with a resigned expression.
She smiled as best she could, as it really wasn’t his fault and she didn’t want him feeling like she blamed him because she really didn’t; she just felt a little sad was all. “You have to go. It’s okay.”
“It’s the Rump-Lance case. I thought it was closed but apparently there’s been a development.”
“It’s okay,” she repeated. “Go and get it done and we’ll be here when you get back. Well,” she thought it through. “Maybe not here, here. I’ve got to go pick up the last of the baking ingredients and that last order from the pick-up and I also promised to swing by the Spice Shop but-“
“But I get the meaning,” Nick interrupted her gently, as that was definitely the beginnings of a ramble. “I’ll call you as soon as this is done and come meet you wherever you are.”
He leant over and gave her a quick peck on the lips and whilst she leant in hoping for more she just followed air as he was already moving away, tossing the covers aside to get up and get dressed. Adalind allowed herself one moment of gloom and then she took a deep breath and got up herself, ready to give the kids a day they’d enjoy and hopefully remember.
She padded over to Kelly’s pseudo-room and checked on him but he was still fast asleep in his big cot. They’d done a bit of hurried remodelling when Diana had come to live with them. Rearranging their bedroom so they created a wall of wardrobes that sectioned off a part of the room that was now Kelly’s space. In a bigger change that Bud had helped them with, they’d taken some room from the bathroom and created a new rectangular room that ran along the wall that was now Diana’s room. It wasn’t great and it wasn’t going to last them long but it might get them through the next year, at which point she’d be eligible for a bonus at work and they might be able to think about moving to a bigger more child-focused residence. She loved the loft but the reason they’d moved here wasn’t what they needed in a home anymore.
She turned to go but stopped at the doors, partially hidden behind them, when she heard Diana’s voice.
“You have to go to work?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry. But as soon as I’m done, I’ll come find you and Kelly and your mom, wherever you are and we’ll do our Christmas stuff okay? Make our traditions like Mommy wants us to.”
“Okay Nick.” Diana answered but she didn’t sound happy. “The traditions are the new things we’re going to do?”
“Yeah, a tradition is something important, sometimes a new thing, which you then repeat over and over because it means something special.”
Adalind walked down into the lounge and smiled at her daughter as Nick grabbed his coat and keys. “Not exactly what we had planned huh sweetie? But we’re going to have a great day and Nick will come when he’s finished helping the people that need him, alright?”
Diana nodded and then turned to watch Nick with her serious stare as he gave them a wave before pulling down the elevator door to leave.
“But Mommy don’t you need Nick?”
“Well yes,” Adalind forced a laugh. “But other people need him in other ways and that’s okay.”
Diana tilted her head to the side obviously thinking and Adalind stepped forward and hugged her gently.
“Let’s get ourselves ready for the day hmm? Imagine if all Nick has to do is sign a piece of paper and comes back here to start our day of Christmas fun and we’re not even dressed?” Diana giggled at that and Adalind instantly felt her mood lift. “We’re going to have a lovely day.”
“Can I wear my new Christmas dress?”
Adalind snorted. “Which one?” She’d definitely over-compensated for not having her daughter in her life at previous Christmas’s and Diana now had a festive wardrobe that could rival a department store.
“The red one with baubles on it! I want to wear the white one with gold snowflakes on it tomorrow.”
“Both very good choices. Go and get ready then. I’ll get your sleepyhead brother up.”
“Can Kelly wear his reindeer jumper? The red bits will match my dress.”
Adalind smiled with real love as she thought of how Diana could have rejected Kelly or they could have not got along but instead she was blessed with her daughter loving her son so much, their brother-sister bond do close. “I’m sure he’d love to match with you.”
“Good.” Diana nodded and then went off to her room.
Adalind got Kelly up and ready in the requested reindeer jumper and she even put on a Christmas top of her own. They had breakfast quickly and then it was off to complete their day of Christmas fun and jobs.
They went round the local Christmas market, looking for some personalised tree decorations, then some cinnamon sticks. They found another present for Monroe, a small antique clock that had an interesting inscription on it that Diana wanted to give him to challenge him, as he’d recently made a joke about knowing everything there was to know about clocks and Diana had taken it to heart and now was on a mission to find him new and different clocks to get him to prove it. As it was Christmas Adalind was going with it, but they’d have to have a chat soon about not being able to buy Monroe a clock every time they saw one that was a bit different.
Next they went to the postal pick-up so she could claim her order, the last of the toys for the triplets that she’d special ordered. Then they stopped for lunch at a little café where Diana swirled and twirled as she moved between the table and cutlery stand, showing off her dress and getting lots of compliments. Kelly was happy with the free chocolate coin that was being given away to all children but Adalind had to make sure he was wearing his extra-big bib so the reindeer on his jumper didn’t acquire any more brown.
And through it all, every time her phone went off she couldn’t help but hold her breath, hoping it was Nick. But it wasn’t and the disappointment was getting very tiring.
After lunch they loaded up the car and headed to the Spice Shop. Rosalee was likely to be very busy but she’d wanted them to stop by and Adalind could get a few cuddles in with the triplets where they were set up in the side room. And Diana would not say no to another opportunity to show off her dress to any customers.
But when they got there it wasn’t just customers at the shop.
“Nick!” Diana yelled and ran straight for him, somehow avoiding the other shoppers as she did. He caught her and lifted her up, giving her a big hug as Hank stepped out of the way quickly. He’d been bowled over before when Diana had run straight at Nick.
“Hey Adalind,” he greeted.
“Hank,” she smiled as she pushed Kelly’s chair further into the shop, moving it towards the side room door so she was out of the way of the other people. The shop wasn’t rammed so she didn’t feel too bad bringing in the buggy but it was definitely busy. “How’s it going?”
“Slow,” he sighed. “We got a development this morning and since then we’ve just hit stumbling block after stumbling block in this case.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I bet,” Hank grinned ruefully before motioning to Nick. “This one has been complaining all day about what he could be doing with you guys instead.”
Nick dropped Diana back down and headed over to them, holding Diana’s hand with one of his whilst he reached his other out to slide down Adalind’s arm in greeting. “I’m so sorry-“
“It’s okay,” Adalind reassured.
“It’s not and we’re not even done for the day yet.” Nick winced.
“It’s fine.” She forced her smile wider, not wanting Nick to feel any more guilt on her behalf; he knew what she’d wanted for this day, that wasn’t going to change.
“We have two more things to track down and then we can say we’ve done everything humanly possible and work will be finished,” Nick added. “I thought we might find one of the answers in the books so we made a quick pit-stop here.”
“So you’re still working?” Diana asked.
“Yeah, I am, sorry. But I’m hoping to be done really soon.”
Diana sighed but then smiled up at him. “It’s okay Nick. You’re helping people.”
Adalind couldn’t help but feel so proud of her daughter. “That’s right sweetie.”
“You can come to us when you’re finished,” she added. “We’ll wait.”
Nick frowned at that and Adalind wasn’t quite sure what Diana was getting out but it didn’t sound good so she decided to change the conversation.
“Well, we’ve made a lot of progress on our to-do list. How about you Hank? All ready for the holidays?”
“Presents are bought,” he replied.
Adalind raised a brow. “Just bought? Not wrapped?”
“That’s why they invented gift bags.”
“I like wrapping,” Diana announced. “I’m really good at adding the bows.”
Adalind bite her lip against her smile because she doubted anyone else could add bows to their presents the way Diana could.
“That was an interesting thing to see as soon as I got home the other night.” Nick grinned at her.
“It always make Kelly laugh too so it’s a doubly good thing.”
“That it is sweetie,” Adalind smiled.
“I found it! Thanks for waiting you guys, this place is- Adalind! Diana! Hello,” Monroe greeted as he rushed over to them holding a sheaf of papers.
Hank and Nick automatically reached for the papers, somehow managing to take half each and started to look through them. Adalind smiled at Monroe as she knew the other two were firmly back in detective mode now.
“Rosalee mentioned about us popping in but if you’re too busy-“
“No, no, you’re more than welcome, just it’s probably best if you head on into the side room. It’s her turn watching the triplets, so she’s in there anyways. We’re pretty much a constant stream in here today.”
Adalind nodded in reply and went to start moving.
“Thanks for copying these Monroe, we’ll bring them back as soon as we’ve compared them to the ones at the station,” Hank said, folding his papers and putting them in his back pocket.
“As soon as we’re done I’ll come meet you,” Nick said, shoving his own papers away, then leaning to give Adalind a quick peck on the cheek.
“Look!” Diana suddenly called out and both of them turned to her only to see her pointing at something above their heads.
Adalind looked up and felt her breath catch at seeing mistletoe hanging above them but she shied back immediately. Nick wasn’t great at kissing her in public, proper kisses, not just a quick peck, he was very private in that regard, so she didn’t want him pressurised into doing something he wouldn’t normally do.
“Oh well, it’s-” she stammered.
“Mistletoe,” Nick finished and then grinned at her before reaching out and running his hands up and down her arms as he drew her closer.
Her breath caught for a whole other reason as Nick’s hands guided hers to his chest and then his tucked onto her hips, holding her close as he leant in and kissed her gently. Her eyes fluttered closed as she gave into the feelings of the kiss, slow movements with gentle caresses. It lasted but a moment yet felt like it was an eon in time, the passion there but quietly, simply.
Nick pulled back and Adalind opened her eyes slowly, feeling dazed. He stared at her so intensely and his fingers flexed on her, pulling her even tighter against him. She ran hers gently across his shoulder as she smiled shyly up at him, somehow feeling vulnerable from the intensity of the moment, of that kiss.
“Huh,” Monroe’s voice broke their moment. “I know Rosalee said she was putting up mistletoe but I don’t remember it being there. Oh well, I can surprise her later too. Good job guys.”
Adalind blushed and pulled herself back from Nick’s hold as she coughed uncomfortably and ran a hand through his hair. “Right, yeah, we did that. So back to work and I’ll call you.”
“Sure,” Adalind answered and then frowned as she saw Diana grinning widely at them.
“We’ll get done as fast as we can,” Hank added in. “Because I really can’t take much more of his grouching.”
Adalind laughed and Diana giggled as Nick rolled his eyes good-naturedly and then they were gone, striding out of the shop on their mission.
Diana skipped forwards and helped open the side room door so Adalind could manoeuvre Kelly inside. The triplets were in their playpen and were happy to have their two friends play with them for a little while. Adalind caught up with Rosalee whilst Kelly rolled about with the triplets and Diana ran between the side room and the main shop, chatting with Rosalee and ‘helping’ Monroe.
It was a nice interlude but it couldn’t last too long as they still had to go to the grocery store for the last of the baking ingredients and Adalind wanted them to have a go on the Christmas train at the park.
The train was as good fun as it looked and Adalind took loads of pictures of Kelly as he giggled his way through it, but she was sad Nick had missed it. Diana went between smiling at Kelly and looking pensively at her but Adalind didn’t want to ask what was going on in case she couldn’t offer any answers to whatever was on Diana’s mind.
The grocery store was very busy but they stuck to their list and got in and out in under an hour which was a huge success for Adalind, considering when she normally took both children to the store it became a logistics time-consuming nightmare. At the tills Diana saw an ornament she wanted to get for Sean and that led to their only argument of the day.
“Diana, we can’t just drop by the precinct to give it to him now,” Adalind said, hoping her voice sounded patient as the feeling was rapidly dwindling; she was loading bags into the boot whilst Diana refused to get into her seat until she had her mother’s agreement they could go there now. “And we need to get home to get a start on the baking we’re taking to Rosalee and Monroe’s tomorrow.”
“But we’re almost there though aren’t we?” Diana persisted. “Isn’t it on the next street? Couldn’t we pop in really quickly?”
Adalind sighed. “Diana-“
“And we’d get to see Nick.”
“Are you going to let us drive home without going there first?” Adalind asked pointedly.
Diana grinned. “No-o.”
“Fine. But if we ask at the front desk and they’re busy we leave the ornament there? Okay? We want them to finish all their work so Nick can be home with us and your dad can have a lovely evening with you tomorrow. That’s the deal Diana.”
“Alright mommy.”
Diana finally got into the car and Adalind allowed herself a small eye roll at her daughter’s stubbornness. But the stop off wouldn’t take too much time and she could carry Kelly so they could leave everything in the boot and that would make them even quicker.
When they got to the precinct, it was busy but less people than she was used to seeing. There was no-one at the front desk but before Adalind could say what they would do next Diana was running off down the corridor calling out a greeting to someone ahead of her.
“And hello to you too,” Wu responded as Adalind caught up with her daughter. “What brings you guys to Scrooge central?”
“Scrooge?” Diana screwed up her face.
“An anti-Christmas guy from a story,” Wu explained. “Look around, can you see any Christmas cheer here?”
“There’s no decorations,” Diana said sadly after the requisite perusal.
“Exactly.” Wu nodded.
“I’ll tell daddy,” Diana informed him. “Look, I got him one for his tree.”
She held up the mentioned bauble and Wu gave it a spin as he ‘ahh’d’ over it making Diana giggle.
Adalind shook her head. “Sorry for interrupting. Diana really wanted to get this to Sean. Is he in?”
“It’s no problem, a bit of Christmas cheer for me,” Wu said with a smile and motioning to Diana’s dress. “I think Captain is in his office.
“Is Nick around?” She asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.
“He and Hank were down in the lab, last I saw.”
“Thanks. Right Diana, let’s get this to your dad and then we have to be on our way.”
“Bye Wu!”
He waved them off and Adalind followed as Diana skipped down the corridor towards Sean’s office. He was sat inside, staring intently at a laptop and looked up with a sharp glare as his door banged open but when Diana danced in his face relaxed into a smile.
Adalind hung back as Diana talked to Sean, keeping an eye on them but letting them have the moment together. Also she really didn’t have the patience to deal with any of Sean’s snarky comments about the amount of time he had with Diana on Christmas day.
“Adalind?”
She turned and smiled at Hank as he approached from another corridor. “Hey.”
“What are you doing here?”
She gestured with a half shoulder shrug which delighted Kelly. “Diana wanted to give Sean something.”
Hank grinned down at the little boy who made grabby hands at him. “You look like you’ve got your arms full. Here let me take this one for a minute.”
“Oh thank you,” Adalind said as Kelly was pulled away. “It’s only supposed to be a quick visit, just delivering something Diana wanted, so I didn’t bother getting the buggy out.”
“He’s getting so big.”
“Yeah, we won’t be able to carry him long distances soon I don’t think,” she said sadly.
“Nah, that’s what weight training’s for.”
Adalind laughed at that, picturing Kelly being lifted up and down in a set of reps. He would probably love it.
“Adalind?” Nick appeared from the direction Hank had come from and she smiled in greeting until she saw his frown. “We’re still working.”
“I know,” she said softly, trying not to let his words hurt, as she knew he wouldn’t have meant them as they sounded; as if she was here to pick up an errant avoider. “Diana wanted to give Sean something and it couldn’t wait.”
“Oh.”
“I’ll just check and see if she’s done and then we’ll be out of your way.”
“Adalind I-“
She walked quickly to Sean’s office, grateful the door was still open. “Knock, knock,” she said breezily as she walked in. “How’s it going in here? Did your delivery your parcel Diana?”
“Mm-hmm, daddy said he’s going to put it on his tree as soon as he gets home.”
“That’s great. She was very insistent we get it to you today,” she added to Sean. “But we should be on our way as that baking still needs to be done.”
“Ok mommy.”
“Thank you for dropping this by,” Sean said as he stood and gave Diana a hug and a kiss to the head. “It means a lot.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow daddy!”
Adalind managed a smile for Sean and then took firm hold of Diana’s hand so no more running off could occur, as she really wanted to just get home now.
Hank was still holding Kelly as they returned to the corridor, though Nick was playing with his hands.
“Hi Nick,” Diana greeted happily.
“Hey,” he greeted with a smile for her then looked up at Adalind. “Did you park in the garage?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll walk you down.”
“We both will, as this little guy is not letting go,” Hank said giving Kelly a play shake. “Does he do this to you too?” he asked Diana and they walked off a little ahead, with her chattering away about Kelly’s habits, leaving Nick to walk beside Adalind.
“I’m sorry,” Nick said quietly. “Today has been frustratingly long and I really want to be home with you guys. I didn’t mean earlier to sound like I was-“
“Its fine Nick, I know,” she reassured.
“It’s not,” he answered, stopping her with a hand on her arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. “But we’re nearly done. One last lab report and we can call it a day.”
“Then you’ll be home soon and that’s all that matters.”
“But you wanted to make traditions today. Christmas things for our family,” he said earnestly. “And I want that too.”
“Well maybe it was a bit ambitious of me to try and pack them all into one day. When you’re home we’ll do something altogether that will become a Christmas Eve tradition and the next year we can hopefully do something else and we’ll keep building on it and that will be our main tradition, that we’ll always do something together each year.”
“That sounds great.” He smiled at her and Adalind couldn’t help but smile back at him, feeling the flush of his stare, the weight of the commitment between them.
Something seemed to catch the light above them and Adalind looked up, only to blink in confusion when she saw a sprig of mistletoe hanging there.
“What?”
Nick chuckled. “There’s barely any decorations around this place but that’s the one thing they put up? Mistletoe? How does that make any sense?”
“Right,” Adalind answered slowly, thinking it was a very strange thing for a police station to have.
“But works for me right now,” Nick said lowly and Adalind looked back at him to see his gaze focused on her lips.
She couldn’t help but lick them and watch as Nick’s eyes darkened in response and then he was leaning in and they were kissing. This wasn’t soft and gentle like earlier, this was a slow tangle of tongues and rub of mouths, each angling to press their kiss tighter together, to get more access to each other. Adalind grabbed at Nick’s shirt whilst his hand delved into her hair, pulling her closer still. They barely broke apart for breath, just grabbing inhaled pants from each other as they pressed closer still.
A giggle broke them apart and they turned to see Diana dancing on the spot, watching them with a big smile. Hank was standing behind her with a raised brow and bemused expression.
Adalind and Nick both stepped away slightly, though Nick kept an arm around her waist, and started walking towards the others. Neither said anything just smiled embarrassedly.
Nick’s phone went off and he pulled it out with a frown before his face brightened slightly. “It’s the lab.” He answered it and then had a quick conversation. “They’ve got that last report and have the other bit of evidence they wanted to show us.”
“Great,” Hank replied. “Then we can get out of here.”
“You guys get going then,” Adalind said, reaching for Kelly. “And hopefully we’ll see you home soon.”
“Okay,” Nick answered, helping transfer Kelly to her, then pressing a quick but hard kiss to her lips. “Let me know you’re home safe though?”
“Will do. We’re got some baking to finish up.”
“See you later Adalind, Kelly, Diana,” Hank said as he started to walk away. “I’ll grab that file then meet you by the stairs.”
Nick nodded to him as he punched the call button for the lift, and watched as they got on it when it arrived, giving Diana a quick side hug as she moved past him. “I’ll see you guys as soon as I can.”
“Get home in time to decorate the cookies Nick! We have to have them ready to leave out for Santa.”
“Got it Diana.”
Adalind shook her head with a smile and lifted one of Kelly’s hands to wave as the lift doors close.
“We’ll start baking as soon as we get home right mommy?”
“Yes sweetie,” Adalind turned to her daughter. “You’re very eager for baking now, when earlier all you wanted was to get that bauble to your dad.”
Something was pulling at Adalind’s mind, something that connected the baking and the precinct visit somehow.
“Mm-hmm,” Diana answered with a huge smile. It didn’t reassure Adalind, just made her feel she was right to be suspicious of something.
The drive home was uneventful and getting everything out of the car with the two kids at the same time went better than she’d thought it would go. She got them snacks and a drink each and they chatted with Christmas music on the radio in the background. Then she set Kelly up in his own playpen area as Diana got out everything they’d need for cookies and that was how the next two hours went. They were tidying up from the icing when the loft elevator finally sounded and Nick arrived home.
He looked worn out and annoyed but his face broke into a smile when he saw them.
“Nick! We saved stuff for you!” Diana greeted, running over for a hug before she dragged him to the table where two cookies and two small pots, one with icing, one sprinkles, waited under covers.
“That’s so kind Diana. I’m sorry I missed doing it with you.”
“We made the ones for Santa already. I left them on the bottom of the fire escape stairs as we don’t have a chimney.”
“That’s very clever thinking.”
“All Diana’s idea,” Adalind added in.
Nick leant forward and gently bopped her on the forehead. “Smarty-pants.”
Diana giggled and Nick reached over to squeeze Adalind’s hand gently before going to sit at the table. He spent the next half hour decorating with Diana whilst Adalind got Kelly ready for bed. They then switched whilst Nick put Kelly to bed and Adalind got Diana ready, saying she needed a good night’s sleep to be ready for tomorrow. She went without much fuss and Adalind was grateful for that.
“Have you had a good day mommy?” She asked quietly as Adalind tucked her in.
“Yes sweetie I have.”
“Even though Nick had to work and we couldn’t do our traditions?”
“Well we got you and Kelly those name ornaments, and you both rode the train, and we did baking and Nick helped us decorate,” Adalind said gently. “I think that’s a pretty good start on making traditions, don’t you?”
Diana nodded. “As long as your happy mommy.”
“With you and Kelly and Nick I couldn’t be anything else,” she murmured ad pressed a long kiss to Diana’s forehead. “Sleep well sweetheart.”
Just as Adalind got to the door a sleep Diana mumbled. “You forgot your and Nick’s new thing too.”
She frowned back at her daughter but Diana had already rolled over and Adalind wasn’t about to risk disturbing her. She pulled the door to and went back into the living area.
“Today was not how I wanted it to go,” Nick said. “Thank you for being so understanding.”
“You’re home now and we’ve got all tomorrow together right?”
“Completely. No work tomorrow at all.”
Nick came towards her and wrapped his arms around her as Adalind slid hers up his chest and around his neck. She smiled happily up at him, glad he was home, as he grinned down at her.
A little burst of light caught her eye and she looked up, startled to see another sprig of mistletoe, as she knew she hadn’t bought any for the house.
“Mistletoe again,” Nick murmured, his eyes also drawn up and Adalind suddenly realised what Diana had meant and what her daughter must have done.
“Nick-“
He caught her lips between his and kissed her deeply, pulling her whole body flush against his. Adalind couldn’t help but be caught up in the kiss, moving against Nick, her mouth opening so their tongues could tangle, her fist clenching in his hair as she held on.
He slowly ended the kiss and smiled down at her, his eyes dark and gaze intense. “That certainly makes up for parts of today.”
“Well maybe,” Adalind hedged.
“Maybe? I’m not doing this right then if-“
“Diana’s been making the mistletoe appear,” Adalind said quickly. “I’m not quite sure why.”
“Making sure I give her mommy the right attention, maybe?” Nick asked. “After having to work all day?”
“I know how important your work is Nick, it really is okay.”
“So long as you know how important you are to me,” he countered. “And Kelly and Diana. My family.”
“I do,” she whispered.
“Good.”
And then he kissed her again, hot and hard, pulling her against him, running his hands all over her.
“I guess we have our own Christmas tradition now,” Nick murmured against her lips as he slowly broke the kiss.
“And what’s that?” Adalind replied breathlessly.
“We have to kiss under the mistletoe as many times as we can.”
Adalind laughed happily but it was lost as Nick captured her lips again.
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