Hello everyone! It’s usually tradition this time of year for me to post a short Christmas story with some of my characters. I was going to do one with R and Elias, but I really wanted to write an Ashton Christmas snippet from my co-authored project with Lori Scharf. So, here you go!
***
“You’ve baked like twenty batches of cookies. I think that’s enough,” Lexi said, looking pointedly at the plates upon plates of cookies laying out on the counter. Each were organized to perfection. Well, except for the small plate covered in icing and sprinkles with a couple gingerbread men missing arms, which just happened to be Lexi’s decorated cookies. Or as they were better known, disasters. The disasters she had attempted before finally giving up at cookie five.
The rest of the cookies practically belonged on a magazine cover with how perfect they were.
“Well, I have no idea how much you guys will eat this year. Plus I want leftovers,” Hope replied, drying her hands on a towel then throwing it down on the counter.
Lexi scrunched her nose. “We just got through the last fifty batches of cookies. Aren’t there like New Year’s cookies we need to make or something?”
Hope gave Lexi a confused look. “Since when have I known you to complain about having too many cookies?”
Lexi shook her head. “I’m simply wondering if we were expecting the entire United States Military to join us for Christmas dinner.” Something soft brushed against Lexi’s legs. She looked down to see Kōgō rubbing against her legs. With a small laugh, Lexi reached down and scooped the cat up into her arms and rubbed her head. Kōgō purred softly, brushing her whiskers against Lexi’s brightly colored sweater.
Hope rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you finish wrapping presents or something?”
“Already did that. That’s why I came in here to annoy you and find a snack. I’m starving and those presents are testing my patience the longer they sit there,” Lexi said, running her fingers along the cat’s back.
“Just wait,” Hope replied, giving her a pointed look. “We’ll be there before you know it, don’t rush it. I can see you, by the way.” She looked over her shoulder at Josh, who froze his hand reaching for a cookie mid air. “Those are for later.”
Josh pulled his hand back with a playful frown. “I don’t think one would hurt.” He ran a hand through his dark hair, ruffling it up more than it already was before adjusting the red and black plaid shirt that hung loosely on his shoulders.
“Yeah, except for the fact that one leads to two and two lead to six and so on.” Hope swatted his hand away with a laugh. “Fine. One. We’re saving the rest for after presents.” She began untying her apron, rolling it up and setting it on the counter and then brushing off her reindeer patterned sweater and throwing her black hair over her shoulder.
Josh grinned at his victory and snatched up one of the cookies, quickly beheading the small cookie man.
A loud knocking disrupted the quiet atmosphere.
“Lex, can you get that?” Josh asked, pulling off the gingerbread man’s arm.
Lexi nodded quickly, setting Kōgō down on the ground. The cat meowed in protest, but Lexi quickly rushed out of the kitchen, making her way to the front door.
Another knock came from behind the door.
Lexi grasped the doorknob and threw open the door.
On the other side, standing in the small drifts of snow was Jacob. Flakes fell on his head, dusting his jacket and each of the many brightly wrapped presents in his arms. His hair was slicked back and his face was a bright red from the cold.
“Merry Christmas! Santa has arrived! You can thank me later,” He said, smirking.
Lexi grinned back. “Here lemme help.” She took most of the presents and quickly carried them to the tree, throwing them among the other packages under the branches before dashing back out into the hall.
Jacob was brushing the snow off his boots and setting the few packages in his hands on the small table by the door. His hands flew to his jacket, quickly taking it off to reveal a cheesy Christmas sweater with lights on it and a few lyrics from Christmas songs printed on it.
Lexi snorted at the sight of it.
Jacob raised an eyebrow, hanging the jacket on a hook. “What? You don’t think I’m the type to wear a sweater?”
“Not really,” She laughed.
He shrugged. “Fair enough.”
Lexi stepped forward and hugged him. “Thanks for coming Uncle Jacob.”
“Glad I could be here. Now where are those cookies your mom promised me?” He picked up the presents again, cradling them in his arms.
With one hand, she waved towards the kitchen. “That way. She’s got about enough to feed an army. Though she’s being a stickler about it and won’t let us taste them until a certain time, so don’t get your hopes up.”
“Ah, well, it’s worth a try at least. If not, how about we go see if we can guess what’s under all that wrapping paper under the tree,” He grinned with a small wink.
Lexi couldn’t help but grin back as she followed him into the kitchen.
***
“Can we please all just sit down for once?” Lexi complained, flopping down on the floor in front of the Christmas tree. Her braids spread out, their green ribbons half coming undone on the bottom. She seized the braid and quickly fixed the ribbon.
“Just give us a minute,” Josh said, laughing as he flopped on the couch.
Hope gave a small shrug. “We have been waiting a while,” She admitted.
“It’s quite a hike from the kitchen,” Jacob grinned. “Alright, let’s get this party started.”
Hope clicked something on her phone and the music began to play from the TV speaker.
Lexi reached above her head and snatched up one of the boxed presents. Checking the label on the top of it, she tossed it up towards the couch. “Dad!”
Josh caught it, blinking in surprise then looking at it curiously as though it were a foreign object before tearing open the brightly colored paper surrounding the box.
He paused, studying the object inside. Then he reached in and pulled it out, displaying it for others to see. “It’s a journal,” He said softly, a small smile coming over his face. “Thanks, Hope.”
Hope grinned.
The scraps of torn paper fell to the floor, only to be pounced upon by Kōgō, the cat whisking her tail happily through the air.
“Dad again!” Lexi called, chucking the smaller package through the air.
Josh caught it, barely, and glanced at the tag before tearing it open. “Oh!” He pulled out a DVD case.
Lexi smirked. “You seemed interested in the movie so…”
Josh smiled at her. “Thank you.”
Leaning back again, Lexi grabbed another present. A small box wrapped in possibly the messiest way possible with a thousand pieces of tape on it.
She sat up, head swimming as her braids swung around. “Mine from Uncle Jacob,” She said quickly, before utterly destroying the wrapping.
Excitement swirled in her stomach as she opened the box. Inside the torn packaging lay a metal watch, sitting against the padded back of a jewelry box. It wasn’t a normal watch by any measure. It was fancy with all the bells and whistles. The metal gleamed in the lamplight, the glass surface shining.
Lexi simply sucked in an excited breath, her fingers carefully taking it out of the box and her eyes eagerly examining it.
“You like it?” Jacob asked, almost nervous. “I figured you kinda liked that thing…anyway you seemed interested.”
“I love it!” Lexi let out a small squeal. “Thank you! I-”
She was interrupted as a loud beeping filled the air, a loud squealing noise that broke the cozy atmosphere into pieces.
Lexi’s heart broke out into a gallop as she stood to her feet, at the same time tripping and falling headfirst into the Christmas tree. The force toppled the tree, sending Kōgō scampering, her hackles raised as several of the ornaments shattered beside her.
Hope scrambled up from the couch in a panic, half crunching some of the lone presents on the floor as she dashed towards the source of the noise in the hall.
Josh got to his feet, trying to pick his way around the mess, but only crashed into his brother, who had gotten the same idea apparently.
Lexi groaned, rubbing her head as she stood up, shoving the tree off of her before rushing into the kitchen along with Josh and Jacob.
Small amounts of smoke curled through the air in the kitchen. The smoke alarm blared like a maniac and Hope had the oven open, waving an oven mitt at some unidentifiable dish in the oven that looked more like a pan full of charcoal than anything edible.
“Nothing to worry about, just some more cookies,” She called with a small shake of her head.
The cool water of relief washed over Lexi as she slumped back against the kitchen wall. “I told you we had enough cookies.”
Hope just let out some indistinct muttering as she waved some more of the smoke away.
Finally, after the smoke alarm noise had subsided and all gingerbread men shaped charcoal disposed of, the cluster of Ashtons made their way into the living room to view the mess.
Lexi gnawed on the arm of a gingerbread man, taking in the toppled over tree, the presents scattered across the floor, and the ornaments smashed into pieces. Along with the cowering cat in the corner.
“Well, that was a mess for no reason,” Josh muttered.
Hope laughed, pushing her tussled hair out of her face. “Did you expect any less?”
“Not really.”
“Hey, we didn’t destroy the place, that’s an accomplishment,” Lexi said cheerfully, the grin making its way back into her face.
“Only slightly,” Hope pointed out.
“I suppose we better get started,” Jacob groaned, though a smile still played on his lips.
Josh rushed his hair out of his face. “Welcome to Christmas with the Ashtons.”
Lexi tugged on one of her braids, beaming. “Merry Christmas guys.”
Despite all the chaotic messiness, Lexi felt a warmth in her heart. The realization that had been burning in her mind fell over her again.
She loved this family.
Despite their messiness, she loved them.
“Let’s get cleaning!” She cried, charging into the room.
***
Merry Christmas!
-Aliya Gerow
Aliya Gerow 
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