Run, Girl (If You Can)

Chapter 277: The Right Choice

Christmas Eve was a simple affair that went about the same way as it had the year before. The only real difference was that it was held at the Hales' home and that Keeley and Aaron were married. They still caroled, watched movies, and drank eggnog. Robert spent the night in one of their guest rooms after they thoroughly cleaned it to be sure all cat fur was gone.

Keeley sleepily prepared stockings for both her father and Aaron before heading to bed. Everything else had been wrapped and left under the tree days ago.

When she woke up Christmas morning, Aaron was stuck to her like a starfish on the side of a fish tank. She couldn't help but smile. He was so cute when he clung to her like this in his sleep.

She kissed his cheek before trying to free herself. "Aaron. Wake up."

"Mm?"

"You need to let go of me so I can go make cinnamon rolls for breakfast."

"Don't wanna," he mumbled sleepily and tightened his hold.

She sighed. "Come on, I'm hungry and it's going to take at least forty minutes for them to bake. If you don't want to let go of me just come with me."

His eyes snapped open and he followed her suggestion. He walked behind her like a shadow as his arms remained wrapped around her. What a dork.

Keeley pulled the ready-made cinnamon rolls out of the freezer. All she had to do was bake them and put the frosting on once they came out of the oven. She preheated the oven before unwrapping the package and set it on the counter.

"You should go check your stocking while you wait," Aaron suggested, leaning down to whisper in her ear.

So he actually made her one. She shouldn't have been surprised; it was the main thing she asked for. A glance into the living room told her it was sitting on the couch and she headed over to see what he had prepared for her.

Purple, red, and green Skittles, just like he had given her in high school. A rainbow's worth of nail polish. One of the best brands of do-it-at-home facial masks. Chocolates from that shop on Madison Avenue.

The most surprising thing of all was the fuzzy socks. He had noticed how often she wore them when it was cold out and got them for her unprompted. Her heart swelled with affection.

"Thanks, Aaron! This is great!" she said happily.

He simply smiled in response as he opened up his own stocking. She had filled it with candy and toiletries because Aaron was a hard person to shop for. He didn't like the sort of fun little things that usually made up stocking stuffers.

Robert came downstairs then and saw them sitting among their spoils. He reminded Keeley to put the cinnamon rolls in the oven before dumping the contents of his stocking on the ground. She got up and did that quickly so they could eat sooner.

They lay around chatting until breakfast was ready. Keeley prepared hot chocolate for everyone in Christmas themed mugs alongside the cinnamon rolls and they all dug in heartily. Hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls were a wonderful combination.

Robert had gotten some funny matching newborn outfits for the twins as Christmas gifts this year as well as a couple of books meant to help new parents. Keeley appreciated that because she had no idea what she was doing. Plus she couldn't deny she was excited about dressing up her babies in adorable little outfits.

In return, she had gotten him some movies, a few new shirts for work, and a season ticket for the Yankees' upcoming season. The last one excited him most. He could never afford to go to more than one or two games per season and the seats were never all that great.

It had been Aaron's idea to get him a season ticket close to the front so he could actually see the players' faces on the field. He knew how much his father-in-law loved baseball. At this point, Keeley shouldn't have been surprised by his thoughtfulness but she still was.

Her dad hugged them both tightly as he thanked them for the gifts, clearly feeling emotional. Keeley felt a little emotional herself.

She opened her gifts from Aaron next. He had gotten her a Kitchen Aid mixer, which she was thrilled about because it would make baking so much easier, a pack of funny earrings that definitely cost less than twenty bucks, a luxuriously soft blanket, and some CDs she specifically asked for to listen to in the car.

They were perfectly normal Christmas gifts to receive. The most expensive one was the mixer and it was still only a few hundred dollars. Aaron had changed a lot since they were married before and actually respected her wishes by getting her the kind of presents she wanted.

She thanked him with a bright smile on her face and gestured for him to open his. He liked the ties and watch. Her dad was there so he couldn't say anything but she could tell he recognized the watch as the same thing she got him for their first Christmas married in their last life by the look on his face.

When he opened the photo collage she had painstakingly put together, he hugged it to his chest and gazed at her with an impossibly soft expression.

"I love it."

"Let me see, son," Robert said and he flipped it over to reveal the pictures of them. "Oh, that's very nice. Every house needs pictures of the family that lives in it."

Aaron nodded vehemently. "I couldn't agree more. We'll have to find the best place to put this."

He moved closer to his wife and wrapped his arms around her, conveying all of his emotions into the hug. She got his meaning. He liked it just as much as she hoped he would.

The photo collage had been the right choice for a sentimental present. It made them seem like any other normal couple, which was exactly what Aaron wanted. She was glad it went over well.

Once all the presents were opened they spent the rest of the day relaxing and watching some of the movies Keeley got her father. She curled up under her new blanket in between the two remaining members of her family and was perfectly content.

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