Loving Lacey

Late December

Year 5 of Us

Christmas Day

"Darn those little imps," I head Lacey say from my shoulder as she shook her head.

"What?" I blinked several times, trying to figure out what was going on.

"They're up already!" she whispered. She turned her phone so that I could hear it.

I heard "Santa", "presents", "Mama and Dada," then little footsteps pattering across the floor. "Hush, LB," came Sam's voice. I focused on the time showing on her screen, then groaned.

"What's wrong?" asked Cathy and Mir at the same time.

"It's 0645, and Duncan and Sam are up."

"Those silly little..." Mir chuckled sleepily.

Lacey giggled. "They're coming down the hall."

I heard the bedroom door creak slightly as it was opened. There were quiet steps coming across the floor, as well as the sounds of nails clicking on the wood, before they reached the bench at the foot of the bed.

I lifted my head, looking towards the twins. "And what are you two stinkers doing in here so early in the morning?" I asked softly.

First one, then the other head appeared as they climbed up on the bench. "Shh, Dada!" Duncan whispered. "Santa stuff!"

"Please?" asked Sam. "Presents?"

Lacey sat up laughing. "Come here, you two!" She had her arms out and the twins crawled up on the bed giggling. There were hugs and kisses as everyone else woke up, with yawns and stretching happening all around me.

Sam looked at me, smiling. "Woke up, Dada?"

"Yes, my little princess, I'm awake." I put my hand under her chin, giving her a smile. "Are you wanting to go down and get your Christmas presents?"

Duncan spoke up from inside Lacey's arms. "Yes, Dada! Presents! Santa visit?"

"Maybe. Should we go see?"

They both nodded, then looked around. "Where Mama Mir?" Sam asked.

"I'm here," Mir answered, coming in from the crib room. "All three of them are still asleep, thankfully."

"Should we get them? Take them downstairs?" I looked past Sam's head at Mir.

"What do you think, Cathy?"

"It'll make it easier if they wake up while we're downstairs," Cathy said.

"Okey-dokey, then," I said, shifting around to set Sam onto the bed.

"Dada, I come help?"

I shrugged. "Sure! Come here!" Sam stood up and wobbled over to me, laughing as she moved. "The bed makes it difficult, right, baby?"

"Yes, Dada!" She giggled. "Bed bouncy!"

I scooped her up, then took her with me as we followed Mir into the crib room. "Puppies?" asked Sam. I let her down, and she went over to greet Princess, Charlie, and Teddy, giving them hugs. They were wagging their tails and each of them gave Sam a kiss, which made her giggle.

I lifted Haley while Mir picked up Olivia. I turned to see Cathy holding a very sleepy Jean, who smiled at me while she blinked her eyes. I stepped closer to them and gave them both gentle kisses.

When we went back into the bedroom, everyone else seemed to be ready to go downstairs. Sam went over to LB, giving her a big hug, while Duncan was next to Sherlock, whose tail was wagging. I noticed that two were missing.

"Where's Willi?"

"She took Debra downstairs to finish the lasagnas and them into the oven," Lacey answered as she stood by the door.

I grinned at her. "I'll have to thank them for doing that!"

"Make your thanks memorable," Lacey said with a laugh as she went through the doorway. We all followed her down the stairs, with me bringing up the rear, taking care of the gates as we went by.

The tree lights were already on, the fireplace had a nice young fire going, and Debra was sitting on a hassock close to the tree, her legs crossed demurely. I looked at her once, then looked at the other women before we let Duncan and Sam in to start opening presents.

"You look very prim and pleased with yourself," I said to her.

"I feel both," she said sweetly.

"Is it my imagination, or are all of you wearing one of my Christmas t-shirts?"

Lacey laughed as Duncan and Sam scooted into the room, clapping and dancing. She bumped her hip against my thigh. "Yes, my cowboy."

"I could have sworn that Lacey was the only wearing a t-shirt when we went to sleep."

"Is it okay?" Debra asked, a worried tone in her voice.

Lacey snickered. "What kind of Christmas morning would it be without all of us wearing Christmas shirts?"

I laughed. "Yeah, it's okay. Are you going to direct the present giving?"

Debra shook her head, then looked at Lacey. She was holding my red Santa cap, then she smiled at me. "If you would, please put this on. Debra will hand you gifts, then you can get the twins to deliver them. How does that sound?"

I leaned down, giving her a kiss as I ran a hand down her back to cup a butt cheek. "It sounds fine."

As I sat in the chair nearest to the tree, Willi came in. "All three lasagnas are in the oven -- the timer is set for forty-five minutes." I nodded, then Lacey put a hand on my arm as she settled onto the arm of the chair.

"Sounds good. Come on and take a seat -- my two assistants," I indicated Duncan and Sam, who had big smiles on their face, "will be delivering gifts."

"Oh, my two favorite Santa assistants!" Willi clapped her hands and smiled. She settled on the couch, sitting next to her sister.

It took us a bit, but we soon had all the gifts handed out. I was surprised when Debra was handed four gifts -- she was, too.

The twins looked at me, with their gifts beside them. "Duncan, Sam, do you like your Santa gifts?" They both agreed that they did.

"I want to color!" exclaimed Sam.

"Soon enough, sweetie," I said with a smile. "Don't you want to open the rest of your presents?" They both looked at me with wide eyes, then they both nodded as they smiled.

I looked at everyone else, then I nodded. "Okay, let's open presents, then."

I noticed that Lacey did the same thing as I did, right then. We just watched as Duncan and Sam opened their gifts, with Jean doing a little bit of paper tearing while Cathy helped her. Lacey had her phone out, taking photos of everybody.

"My Princess?" I nudged Lacey.

"Yes, my Cowboy?" She turned to look at me. I handed her a small box, which she carefully took. "What's this?"

I realized that it had gotten very quiet. "It's a special something for you. In fact, every woman here has a very similar gift." I looked at Debra. "Except for you, I'm afraid. I was unaware you were going to be here."

Debra smiled, "That's okay."

I smiled at her, then turned back to Lacey. "Go ahead and open it, Beloved."

I watched closely as she carefully opened it. Once the paper was off, she smiled gently. I was almost afraid, holding my breath. When Lacey finally opened the box, the light glinted off the diamond cluster that was the centerpiece of the necklace. She slowly removed the necklace, then looked at me. Her eyes brightened as she gave me her 'sun coming over the mountains' smile. I felt tears in my eyes, then she held it out to me. I took it, undid the clasp, then placed it around her neck.

She bent her head close to mine as she held the diamonds in her hand. "Breathe, my love."

I shuddered as I inhaled, then she wrapped her arms around my neck. I looked into those blue eyes and felt all the love she had for me wash over my soul.

"Do you like it?" I asked, suddenly afraid.

She gently shook her head, then she smiled at me again. "I don't like it. I *love* it!" She kissed me then, fiercely, her hands clasping the base of my ponytail. As we kissed, I heard squeals come from the others. Lacey pulled away from, then stared into my eyes with a grin. "Did you...?"

I nodded. "Of course! All of my loves got a necklace from Santa." She kissed me as Cathy reached us first, then Mir, Willi, and Châu followed close behind.

The twins were staring at us, then Lacey said, "It's okay, my babies! Have you finished opening your presents?"

I got four more kisses, all of them sweet, then the ladies went back to where they had been sitting. I watched Willi hop up and scurry into the kitchen, followed by Debra.

Everyone else finished with their gifts, with some laughter. It was fun to watch Duncan and Sam try to decide what they wanted to play with first. They decided that the new stuff for the city was what they would use, but Lacey reminded them that we were going to go see Erica, Travis, and their kids.

They smiled at her and started to jump around until I stopped them. "First, we need to get some breakfast. Then we need to let the goats and Henry have their breakfasts."

"Goatses! Henry!" Sam said, holding her hands up. "See them first?"

"It depends upon what Mommy says," I told her.

Sam hurried over to Lacey. "Please, Mama? Goatses and Henry first?"

Lacey leaned back to me, so I shifted forward a bit. "What do you think?" she asked.

"I think that I'll enjoy watching you feed them." I grinned.

"Me?"

I nodded. "They're yours. This is as good a time as any for you to start the basics with them."

"Will you help?"

"Of course, Beloved."

"Okay, kids, let's get your coats and rain boots on, then we can go see Henry and his flock."

"Why rain boots?" Willi asked.

"Because," Mir answered her sister, "they're easier to simply wash off than regular shoes."

Willi laughed. "I guess I didn't think about that!"

Duncan and Sam rushed to the closet where their boots were as Lacey looked at me. "I'm going to need pants *and* boots."

"Well, yeah," I drawled. "Don't want your precious to get cold!" She giggled as she headed to the stairs.

"Where Mama go?" asked Duncan as I followed him to the closet.

"She needs her pants and her boots, buddy."

"You boots?"

"They're in the closet."

"Oh." He grinned up at me as I opened the door. "I forgotted!"

I smiled at him and patted his shoulder. "That's okay, buddy! You've got a lot of things to do today!"

Debra joined us, and she helped me get Duncan and Sam's rain boots, then coats on. Lacey came hurrying up to us, a big smile on her face.

"Are we ready to go see how Henry and the goats are doing?"

"Yes!" Duncan and Sam answered excitedly, even starting to jump around.

Lacey looked at me. "Through the basement or down from the deck?"

"Let's make it a practice to go through the basement." She simply nodded, then led us to the basement stairs. Mir stayed on the couch, waving as we went by, so I paused for a moment.

Mir smiled. "They're stirring a bit, and I'll call you if one of them needs to dance."

"Same here," added Cathy, who quickly spread her legs, showing me that she wasn't wearing panties as she smiled.

"Naughty, Kitty-cat!" I heard Lacey call lightly as she opened the gate.

"Of course!" replied Cathy with another smile.

"What Mama Catty do?" asked Sam.

"She made a goofy face at Daddy," came the gentle response. "Let's go check on the goats!"

"Dada?"

"I'm coming sweetie!" I hurried to catch up with them, lifting Sam into my arms at the top of the stairs after she turned towards me.

"Going see goatses, Dada!"

"Yes. We're going to watch Mommy feed them. And Henry!"

At the bottom of the stairs, Lacey turned to walk to the patio. Once I reached the basement, I secured the gate then carried Sam to the door.

Henry was standing by the side of the barn, and all of the goats were moving around in the enclosure. When Lacey walked out with Duncan by her side, all of the goats noisily crowded the fencing.

"Okay, babies! We're getting your food right now!" she called as she headed to the lower garage, Duncan chattering away at her as they moved.

"My Princess!" I called, getting them to stop. "You need their two troughs!"

Lacey did stop, then laughed. "You're right, my love!"

I caught up with them as Lacey started to open the gate. The goats crowded around it, bleating and jumping around. Henry joined them, then began forcing them away from the gate.

"Good boy, Henry!" Lacey said with a smile. Henry gave a gentle bark, then the goats backed away.

"Stay out here, love. I'll get the troughs." I made my way inside the enclosure, then set Sam onto her feet. All of the goats scrambled over to her, bleating and gently butting their heads against her. Sam was giggling like crazy as Lacey let Duncan in. I lifted the troughs through the gate so that Lacey could grab them.

"Off! These are heavy!"

"One at a time, love." Lacey flashed me a quick smile as she lifted just one of the troughs, then carried it to the lower garage. I grinned as I watched her.

"You going to help her?" Debra asked as I handed the second trough to her.

I shook my head. "Only if she asks for it."

"Isn't that mean?"

"Nope. She knows that I'll glad help, if she asks." The twins were laughing and running around the enclosure. They were chasing, and being chased by, the goats.

Lacey went into the garage, then stepped back out. "Wyatt?" she called.

"Yes, Beloved?"

She smiled. "There are three food bins in here! I can tell that one of them is for Henry, but what's with the other two?"

"Well, you put two scoops from bin two, and one scoop from bin one. Mix them in each trough, then bring both troughs back here." I grinned at her. "I'll bring Henry's bowl in a moment." I looked at the twins, who had stopped running and were busy petting the goats and Henry. "You two stay in here, okay?"

"Okay, Dada!" replied Duncan as Sam nodded her agreement.

I lifted Henry's bowl, then went out to get his food. As I put dog food in his bowl, Lacey and Debra looked at me. "Need help?"

They both laughed, and Lacey said, "Please, my love?"

"Okay, I'll get a couple of buckets tomorrow -- the food will be easier to handle that way." I shook my head. "I should have thought about that beforehand -- I sorry, my Princess. Forgive me?"

Lacey took Henry's bowl, then winked at me. "You can apologize tonight -- the best way!"

I laughed as I lifted both troughs. "So, that'll be you, Willi, Châu, and Debra, then?"

Lacey nodded as Debra smiled. She moved closer to me, then stretched up for a kiss.

"Was that okay, Lacey?"

"Oh, that's fine. The twins are used to their Daddy kissing pretty women!"

"I am really lucky to have so many pretty women around who want to be kissed!"

We headed to the enclosure to find the twins sitting next to Henry, who was stretched on the concrete next to the barn. When Lacey opened the gate, the goats got excited again.

Lacey walked over to Henry, who stood up before shaking his great big body. His fur brushed Duncan and Sam, who laughed before Henry turned to give them both kisses, which made them laugh even more. Lacey turned to watch as I carried the troughs in.

"Okay, you silly goats! Let me put them down!" Doc tried to jump onto the troughs, but luckily he wasn't tall enough. "Debra, can you take the top one, then set it down after I back away?"

"Sure!" She lifted the trough, letting me walk to the other side of the enclosure. Debra started to laugh as the goats split into two groups -- one stayed with her while the other came charging towards me.

"Now!" I called, then set the trough onto the ground. Debra did the same thing, and it was amazing how quickly the goats sorted themselves out along the troughs before eating.

"Okay, my babies, let's go inside for breakfast!" said Lacey as she rubbed Henry's ears before walking towards the gate.

We all converged at the gate, and I let everyone out before going out. I secured the gate, then we washed off boots and went inside.

Just as we reached the top of the stairs, Willi met us. "Haley wants her Daddy to dance, then we'll have breakfast."

"I hungry now, Mama!" said Sam.

"Okay, baby girl," replied Lacey. "If it's okay with Daddy, we'll go get our breakfasts, and the others can get something after the littles are fed." She looked at me.

"Of course! We're going to be pretty busy soon, too."

"Why busy, Dada?" Duncan asked before Lacey led them to the kitchen while Debra followed.

"Well, we have to have some breakfast, then we have to get dressed, then we go to Aunt Erica's house!"

"Yay, Aunt Erica!" Duncan and Sam cheered before I went into the great room to find Châu holding Haley, who was very fussy.

"She wants *you*, Wyatt," Châu said with a little pout.

I kissed Châu's cheek as I took Haley into my arms. "Sorry about that!" I looked into Haley's eyes. "You made Aunt Châu feel bad, little one."

"Oh, not too bad!" Châu added quickly. "I know that you're her preferred hungry time dance partner!"

I began to move through the remnants of Christmas morning, humming softly to my daughter as she settled down against my shoulder. It dawned on me, then, that while there were separate piles of opened gifts, there was no paper in sight.

Mir laughed softly from the end of the couch where she was holding Olivia, who was suckling eagerly. "We got the wrapping paper up and into the recycle bin before the babies got hungry!"

"Cool!" I started moving closer to Mir and Olivia, since Mir had lifted our daughter to her shoulder to burp. There was a very satisfied noise from the little redhead, which caused Mir to laugh softly.

"Okay, let's swap babies." Mir grinned at me as we switched them. Haley was hungry and she latched on as soon as Mir presented her left breast. Olivia simply snuggled into my shoulder as I began slowly swaying with her around the room.

I got a sweet sigh from her, causing me to smile. As I turned towards the kitchen, Cathy slipped up to me.

"Why the smile?"

I looked down a little and gently patted Olivia's back. "Sweet noises from my littlest princess."

Cathy gave me a smile, then she bounced Jean a little, getting a burp from her, which made our daughter giggle. Before I could say anything, Duncan and Sam came scurrying into the room.

"Dada! We ate!" proclaimed Sam, keeping her voice down.

"Very good! What's next?"

Sam looked a little confused, but she turned her head, then smiled. "We go get clothes on! Brush teefies! Get ready to see Aunt Erica!"

I turned my head to see Lacey grinning at us. I winked at her, then nodded to the twins. "Okay! Go with Mommy and I'll be up shortly."

"You no eat?" Sam looked concerned.

I crouched down to be closer to Sam's level. "I'll eat something as we head over to see Erica and Travis. I promise!"

Sam gave me a solemn nod before I stood up.

"Okay, my little loves," said Lacey cheerfully. "Let's go get ready. Christmas at Erica's!"

Duncan and Sam gave a quiet cheer and danced a couple of steps before following Lacey to the stairs. As they headed up the stairs, Sam waved to me with a smile.

I looked at Mir with a smile of my own. "I think we need to head upstairs, y'all."

As we followed Lacey and the twins up, Châu asked, "What about the dogs?"

From the second floor, Lacey leaned over the railing. "Oh, they're coming with us!" She laughed, then said, "It wouldn't be a family gathering without them!" before disappearing.

I grinned at Cathy and Mir as they followed me up the stairs. "Looks like we're going to need at least one car plus the van."

We got upstairs, got everybody changed and ready to go fairly quickly. We did end up taking just one of the cars in addition to the van. Kids, moms, and dogs rode in the van with Lacey driving. I drove my car, with Châu, Debra, the gifts, and the mostly cooked lasagnas in the heated food carrier. *That* was a great find by Mir about six months ago -- it plugged into an outlet in the trunk space of the car.

Before we left, I set the security cameras to be viewable from our phones. That way, we'd be able to keep an eye on the goats and Henry. Lacey had told me that we would be home in time to give them their evening feeding.

As we followed the van, Châu leaned forward and caressed Debra's shoulder. "Have you met Erica and Travis?"

"Oh, yes! I've known Cathy for about ten years now. Since Erica's been a friend of Lacey..."