Oh, Saint Nick

I shot an apologetic look to the lady standing next to us at the airport and tried to calm Evelyn down but she was having none of it.

“Can you see them Aunty? Can you, can you?” I hushed her and bent down to pick her up, she still squirmed in my arms but at least she wasn’t about to run halfway across the airport towards people she didn’t even know.

“The plane is only pulling up now Evie. No I can’t see him.” I mumbled at her annoyed. She grumbled back at me under her breath and I narrowed my eyes at her. She had picked up back talking a lot sooner then I was hoping.

She was quiet for a thankful full minute before she started again. I sighed and fell down on the chair behind me, holding her in my lap, prepared to grip tightly. She sat there comfortably but her mouth didn’t stop.

“Can we go horse widing when we get back? I can go with Harry. I wanna show chookies to ‘em too. And then we can see the lake and Nanna can give them Wegemite.” I looked at her in disgust. I couldn’t believe she actually liked Vegemite, both Erin and I despised the disgusting black paste. Erin would be horrified. “I wanna show ‘Onah how the cows moooo –.”I clamped a hand over her loud moo and once again tried to smile apologetically to the waiting people around us. Everyone else was much more patient then Evelyn was being.

I ignored her as she chatted on, used to her ramblings, and slowly watched the people around us, trying to ignore my own little bubble of nerves and excitement that was continuously moving in my stomach. We had flown back to Holmes Chapel after spending two weeks for New Years in Australia but we had only stayed one week. One week was long enough for me to sign the papers over to Dee, so the café was hers. I paid out the rest of the apartment, put most of what was left in the house in a storage container ready to be shipped down here. I hadn’t wanted to throw anything out yet, that was Evelyn’s choice when she was older. She would get to choose what she wanted to keep.

I sold the apartment but the house was kept, once again for Evelyn but we had left it in the hands of Mason and Dylan to look after. They were moving in right after we left two months ago.

But Harry I hadn’t seen until the day after Boxing Day when he drove us to the airport. He had been back in London when we flew back to pack up and wasn’t able to come see us. Evelyn had thrown a tantrum but I understood and we talked to him nearly every night on Skype.

Now, though, he finally had two weeks off and was flying down with Mason, Dylan and Jonah. They were all going to be staying on Mum and Dad’s farm and Evelyn had been excited for the last two weeks. I had only started to teach her how to ride so she would be able to use some of the energy she was wasting on talking. It only worked on some days.

“They’re comin’.” Evelyn started squirming faster in my arms. I stood up and placed her on the ground but held tightly onto her arm. She tugged but I held her back as a crowd of tired looking people began pouring out amongst the people waiting.

“Evelyn.” I hissed at her, as her body twisted and turned trying to find the people she wanted. She was practically vibrating with energy. It wasn’t until a familiar face came through the crowd that she broke out of my grip and ran straight towards them. I sighed and stood dumbfounded for a moment at her strength while she jumped directly into Harry’s waiting arms.

“Your daughter is quite energetic.” The lady next to me mused.

“Oh she’s not my -.” I paused and looked at the lady before smiling. “Thank you.” I said instead and turned to make my way towards Evelyn and Harry. Mason and Dylan were just behind him, a sleeping Jonah in Dylan’s arms.

Harry looked up at me when I approached and smiled sleepily; while Evelyn continued to talk he leant over and pressed a quick kiss to my lips. I smiled against him until Evelyn cleared her throat between us pointedly. Harry looked down at her shocked while I laughed and messed up her hair before greeting Dylan and Mason. Jonah was completely out small snores could be heard.

“Come on, your bags will be over here.” I grabbed onto Harry’s spare hand and led them through the crowds of people towards the baggage claim.

“We ‘ave horses and chookies and cows and –.”I had to cut her off before she overloaded Harry.

“Evelyn, Harry will see them all when we get there.” I told her, exasperated.

“I don’t mind, really.” Harry smiled, reaching down to pick up his bag, Dylan grabbing his and Mason while Jonah stayed fast asleep.

“Can we wake ‘Onah up?” Evelyn questioned, peering at Jonah over Harry’s shoulder. I snorted and shook my head, taking her off Harry so he could better balance his bag.

“No Evelyn. Do you remember how tired you are when we flew here?” She nodded at me. “Well you wouldn’t like it if I had woken you up would you?” She bit her lip and debated my question for a moment before shaking her head sadly.

“I’m sure he will wake up soon sweetie.” Dylan smiled at her. She grinned back happily and squirmed out of my arms so she could grab Harry’s hand and show him where the car was. I shook my head but grabbed a bag off Dylan to help and followed them out of the airport.

“You’re looking good.” I grinned at Dylan and bumped my shoulder against his.

“So are you.” I grinned as Mason smirked over at us.

“No flirting you two.” I laughed and wrapped my arm through Dylan’s and pulled them after Harry and Evelyn. I had certainly missed having the both of them so close and there for me whenever I needed them.

I noticed Harry and Evelyn stop ahead of us when they exited the doors and Harry threw us an amused look over his shoulder while Evelyn glanced from side to side.

“Left honey, always left.” I joked and she obediently turned left, tugging Harry along with her.

“How’s Jonah been without her?” I asked both Mason and Dylan. Evelyn had been inconsolable some days without Jonah to play with, it had almost made me want to move back just so they could be with each other.

“He’s gotten better, I think the Skype dates they have with each other help, a lot.” I groaned and shook my head, not sure how I felt that my niece was already having Internet dates.

“They’re going to grow up and get married aren’t they?” I shook my head and leaned it against Dylan’s shoulder as he laughed and Mason agreed wholeheartedly. I widened my eyes as Evelyn moved to cross the road without looking but Harry luckily grabbed onto her and picked her up all in one swing, she turned and looked back at me, frowning.

I growled and marched towards her. She immediately dropped her eyes as Harry turned around to me. She knew better.

“What are you supposed to do when you cross the road?” I asked her sternly. She huffed but still didn’t raise her head.

“Wait and look both ‘ays t’ice and then wait for adult to tell me okay.” She mumbled, I sighed and glanced up into Harry’s worried eyes.

“Good now apologise.” I told her, she looked up to meet my eyes and mumbled an apology for scaring me. “And Harry.” I motioned and she shifted to look up at Harry.

“I sorry for scaring you two ‘Arry.” She said clearly, her eyes pleading, mouth turned into a pout. Harry placed a kiss to her head and forgave her easily. I rolled my eyes at how easily he fell for it.

“Come on, the car is just over here.” I motioned towards the zebra crossing that led straight to the car. Harry’s hand reached out to grab onto mine as we walked and I shot him a small smile before unlocking the car. Mason shifted slightly as Jonah slowly began to wake up.

“There are two boosters in the back.” I nodded towards the back of the large SUV I had borrowed off my parents to pick them all up. We got everyone into the seats with only a little difficult and excitement on the part of Evelyn and the now awake Jonah.

“How long is the drive?” Harry asked, climbing into the passenger seat next to me. I smirked while reversing out of the park.

“About an hour.” Mason groaned in the back and mumbled something I couldn’t quite hear. Evelyn and Jonah’s chatter was filling up the background while I looked to see Harry grimace.

“Don’t worry babe you can sleep.” I reached out to pat his arm; he grabbed my hand and quickly curled our fingers around each other while placing a small kiss on the back of my hand.

“You guys are disgustingly cute.” Mason grumbled loud enough for us to hear. I pulled my hand away from Harry to indicate and turn before placing it right back into his upturned hand.

“You can walk there if you want?” I queried Mason.

“The disgusting cuteness is beginning to grow on me.” I laughed and grinned as Harry squeezed my hand.

It didn’t take long before all three men were asleep and I only had the chatter of Evelyn and Jonah to distract me from the empty roads. Harry’s hands still held mine, but looser as his head rested against the window, his mouth slightly hanging open. It was adorable and I couldn’t help but continuously glance towards him as if to make sure that he couldn’t become any more adorable.

We finally pulled up at my parents large house and I reached back to wake Dylan and Mason before turning to Harry. Climbing up onto the seat, I lent across and pressed a small kiss to Harry’s cheek, grinning as he shifted before slowly waking and sending me a small smile.

“Hi.” He rasped out softly, his voice thick with sleep. I grinned and pressed a kiss to his lips. Before we could go any further the door behind Harry gave way. His eyes widened and fingers gripped my arms but I grabbed onto the seat just in time to stop us both falling out his door.

Harry groaned and flipped off Mason who was cackling loudly next to the door.

“Ow.” I moaned at the pain that had shot up through my leg from the gear stick. Awkwardly, I climbed off Harry and finally righted myself out of the car, Harry behind me, to see my parents standing in front of the car, smirking.

“Hi Mum.” I grinned while Evelyn tore off past everyone with Jonah hot on her heels. Groaning I moved to follow them.
“Mum will show you where you guys are staying.” I called out, running after the two hyperactive children towards the chook pen.

“Look ‘Onah.” Evelyn slipped through the gate and I got there just in time before she let every chook out. I didn’t reprimand her though, knowing that she had been looking forward to showing Jonah the chooks for a long time.

It wasn’t long later that Harry walked out to join us. I grinned at him when he slipped an arm around my waist.

“Your Mum has already succeeded in showing me some pretty interesting photos.” I groaned and leant my head back on Harry’s shoulder.

“I though I had hidden them all.” I mumbled causing Harry to chuckle beneath me.

“Well they are all over your house and your room. If I didn’t know you as well as I do I would think you actually like your baby photos.” I narrowed my eyes back at the house before sighing not wanting to picture the amount of photos that must be decorating my room at this point.

“You’re happy.” Harry commented. I smiled when he pressed a kiss to my cheek.

“Yep, I really am. And so is she.” I nodded towards Evelyn who sat with Jonah and let the chooks peck around them. They were completely enraptured with the chickens.

“I found a place closer to the city that we’re moving to soon before Evelyn starts school. And there’s a job there for me at a local restaurant. And I was thinking that when everything settles I might look into studying to become a chef.” I smiled at Harry. He grinned back widely and spun me around in his arms so I was facing him. He planted a kiss straight on my lips before pulling me against him in a large hug.

“That is absolutely amazing.” He murmured into my hair. I grinned and pressed my mouth against the hollow of his neck, my fingers digging into his plaid shirt.

“I was also thinking that maybe you could keep some stuff at the place, you know when you come down for holidays?” I questioned Harry softly. I liked the idea that he would have stuff with us. Like he was coming back and that every time he had to leave it wasn’t going to be a permanent goodbye.

“You know I’m going to be down here a lot more then just for holidays?” Harry questioned, pulling back slightly to see my face.

“I was really hoping you would say that.” I laughed, feeling like my face might break from the amount of smiling I had done, today alone. “What?” I asked Harry after he went silent for a moment, his eyes unfocused over my shoulder.

“I just thought, later when people ask us how we got together we’re going to have to tell them that Santa did it.” He mused and I flushed darker.

“Thank God for Saint Nick.” I winked and lurched forward to reacquaint his mouth with mine after so long.