Taylor
"'Un... two... tree!"
"What the?!"
"Tay-Tay! Chrissy! Chrissy!"
Taylor groaned and fell back onto the bed after the entire fuzzle family - bar Malory - had jumped on him.
"Tay-Tay! Up! Up!" Xanthe bounced on his chest, "Prezzies! Twee! Mine! Pretties!"
"Guys..." Taylor moaned, looking at the clock, "it's not even 6am. It's still dark. I'm sure you can wait until the sun rises."
Mouse
Mouse blinked dazedly.
"Hmm...wha?"
You're *so* coherent in the morning. Fafnir said acidly.
"Oh shut up. I haven't had any coffee yet."
She hit out at him slightly, then closed her eyes again.
Taylor
Flavian growled, making Taylor sit up.
"Did I just hear you growl?"
"Tay-Tay. Up. Now."
"But it's not even..."
"UP! UP!" Xanthe and Dorian exclaimed, jumping up and down in his lap.
"Oh man..." Taylor moaned, rubbing his face.
He turned the bedside lamp on and glanced at Mouse, then he noticed Meena sitting on the bed head. She was holding some mistletoe over Mouse's head.
"Meena... where the heck did you get that...?"
The fuzzle shrugged.
"Doesn't matter Tay-Tay. Tay obligateded now!" Mya chuckled from his shoulder.
Taylor looked between them and squinted.
"Why you little..."
Mouse
Mouse batted at the fuzzles slightly.
"Go away. Pregnant women need sleep. Otherwise they become serious bitches."
Taylor
Taylor hesitated, then chuckled.
"Alright you lot."
He leant over and gave Mouse a kiss on the cheek, then threw the bed covers off - burying the three fuzzles in his lap.
"Dat was crappy!" Mya complained, "Mousey need reeeeeal kissy-kissy!"
"And she'll get it," Taylor insisted, "...when I'm more awake."
"PREZZIES!" Xanthe and Dorian exclaimed, jumping down from the bed and running towards the door.
Taylor stumbled as they ran under his feet, then grabbed some clothes from the wardrobe.
Mouse
Mouse smiled slightly.
Fafnir barked at the fuzzles, and she winced.
"Oh, shut *up*. I'm up, I'm up," Mouse said, getting up and swinging her legs over the edge of the bed.
"Please say our kids won't be this bad."
Taylor
"Who knows?" Taylor yawned.
He pulled a shirt on and then a jacket, before looking for some pants. Mya appeared at his neck from underneath his clothes.
"Man... we've still got four hours before they're expecting us at dad's place..."
"Shush ya whinging," Mya scolded, then kissed his neck.
"Merry Chrissy-mas Tay-Tay."
He chuckled.
"You too."
He pulled his pants on, then grabbed a torch and shone it down the hallway.
"They're into the presents already, I can hear them rattling," he pulled a face.
Mouse
Mouse kissed him on the cheek softly.
"Merry Christmas, Taylor."
Fafnir and Bets left, to investigate what exactly the fuzzles were doing.
Taylor
Taylor grinned to himself, then set the torch on the bad and turned to her. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her in for a prolonged kiss.
He heard Meena giggling from the bed, as she slid down the covers to the floor and followed the others out of the room. Mya squealed with delight from his shoulder and bounced up and down.
After a while, he pulled away.
"Merry Christmas to you too."
Mouse
"Mmm..."
Mouse smiled at him.
"Well, that was definetly a better wake up call. Shoulod we go make sure they aren't getting into mischief? Or waking up Riss and Bee...or whichever one of them is sleeping at the moment."
Taylor
Taylor raised his eyebrows and grabbed the torch, looking down the hallway again. Small squeals of delight flowed through the house.
"I think they're... having fun," he smiled, "ok. We'll check on them. Are you going to get dressed, or are you having a shower?"
Mouse
Mouse's nose twitched slightly.
"Shower, definetly. I'll catch you in a few."
She grabbed some clothes, and there really was no other word for it, waddled to the bathroom. Mouse wasn't a very big girl in the first place, and triplets made for an enormous baby belly.
Taylor
Taylor left the lamp on in the bedroom, then began to creep down the hallway. Taking a detour through the laundry, he grabbed a camera from a cupboard in the kitchen, turned the torch off, then snuck through into the livingroom. Able to see where they were by minimal light coming through the curtains, he raised the camera, and took a photo.
The fuzzles squealed as the flash went off, and Taylor cracked up laughing before turning the light on.
"Got yas."
He put the camera down, then knelt down where there was a whole mess of wrapping paper already over the floor. Mya watched on thoughtfully, not even interested in joining them.
"Guys... wanna help me with something?" he raised an eyebrow.
"What Tay-Tay?" Xanthe asked as they looked up.
Mouse
Mouse showered carefully, then got dressed. Even more carefully.
Bets watched her, occasionally fetching things from the floor so Mouse didn't have to bend over.
"Thanks, Bets."
Anytime, Pack.
"Speaking of which...when are you going on heat next? You didn't catch last time..."
Mmm...spring. After winter's over. Best for puppies.
"Good...good."
She ruffled the malamute's ears then started down the corridor slowly to get a drink.
As written by AiMsTeR
"Can ya hear him? Can ya hear him?"
"Shush! Mousey comes! Sh! Sh! Sh!"
Xanthe and Flavian scurried underneath some wrapping paper and peeked out from the shadow it made.
Mouse
Mouse came down the hallway, one hand on Bets's back as the malamute walked slowly at her side.
Coffee. Mmhmm.
She couldn't function until she had at least one cup. Mouse went into the kitchen and started making coffee.
"Taylor, do you want a cuppa?"
No answer.
"Taylor?"
Taylor
"Tay-Tay outsideded!" Xanthe exclaimed, waddling out from under the wrapping paper.
"Shushushush," Flavian... 'shushed'.
Xanthe bounced up and down on the spot, watching Mouse.
Meanwhile, Taylor was wheeling his motorbike out of the garage, being as quiet as he could and being only able to see by the streetlight.
Mouse
"Hmm."
Mouse looked thoughtful, then walked over to the window. She peered out, drawing aside the curtain on the window.
"Smell him?"
Near the garage. Fafnir confidently told her.
"Anyone?"
Just him. No one else is up outside this early.
"Sure?"
Am I a wolf, or a dog? Fafnir said in indignation.
I know what I smell.
"You're a wolf. Sorry, Faf."
Taylor
"Tay-Tay 'ill be waitinging for ya Mousey," Xanthe continued to bounce.
"SHE COME?! SHE COME?!" Dorian exclaimed.
"Keep it down," Taylor scowled, switching the garage light on.
He held his hand up to the light, slightly dazed.
Mouse
"So I should go out and find him, that what you're saying?" Mouse asked the fuzzle.
Bloody hell just go already. Fafnir said.
"Right..."
Mouse shook her head and then opened the front door.
"Taylor?"
Taylor
"Crap."
Taylor killed the lights, and the fuzzles squealed.
"Oh shush you. In the garage!" he called out.
He felt for Mouse's Christmas present, accidentally knocking Dorian off. He quickly bent down to put the fuzzle back on, then leant against it to wait.
Mouse
"Coming," Mouse said.
"The fuzzles were rather...insistent."
She walked out carefully, one hand in the small of her back as she came around to the guitar. Fafnir fussed along at her side.
Taylor
"Turn the light on," Taylor insisted.
Meena squealed as Dorian bumped into her by accident, and Taylor chuckled.
Mouse
"D'accord..."
Mouse felt along the wall and flipped the light switch. Her eyes went wide and she squeaked slightly.
Taylor
Taylor grinned and made his way over to her.
"Remember when Zac and I took you out on the bikes?" he raised an eyebrow, moving some hair out of her face.
"Figured you might want a bike of your own. And once the three are born you'll want some mode of transportation anyway."
He leant in and kissed her.
"Merry Christmas."
Mouse
Mouse made a squeak noise again, staring at the bike.
Fafnir chuckled and looked up at Taylor.
Think you broke her. The wolf said laconically.
Taylor
Taylor chuckled, putting an arm around Mouse's shoulders, and half dragging her toward it. The fuzzles were jumping up and down on the seat and handlebars.
"Want to... touch it?" he raised his eyebrows with a grin.
Mouse
"You're teasing me," Mouse said, still staring at the bike.
Twit.
"And I'm not a twit."
Silly girl.
"Shh. I'm basking."
She reached out a hand and touched the handlebars of the bike.
Taylor
Taylor wrapped his arms around her waist and leant his chin on her shoulder.
"You can name her if you want."
Mya jumped from Taylor's shoulder onto Mouse's and gave Mouse a peck on the neck.
Mouse
"I can, can't I?"
Mouse turned her head and kissed Taylor.
"Thank you. She's fantastic."
Taylor
"Thought you'd like her."
Taylor closed his eyes for a moment, just happy being close to her.
"We can take her over to Dad's place later when we go."
Mouse
"Yes..."
Mouse nodded slightly, eyes returning to the bike.
"Have I told you today that I love you?"
Taylor
"Hmmm..." Taylor pretended to think.
"No, not today. Are you going to?"
He grinned.
Mouse
"Yes. Because I do."
Mouse leant up and kissed him again.
"I love you with all my heart."
Taylor
"Awww..." Taylor chuckled.
He kissed her again.
"I love you too."
The fuzzles giggled, and Taylor looked down at them.
"Did you guys like your presents?"
He chuckled when the only response was squeals.
Mouse
Mouse laughed.
"Don't ask me what Faf's present was, and you won't have to be grossed out."
Taylor
"Ok, I'm not going to," Taylor raised his hands in surrender as he backed off a little.
"I'm just going to feel sorry for whatever it was, so no, I'd rather not know."
Mouse
Mouse chuckled slightly and Fafnir barked a laugh. She looked very wild for a moment, then she faded back into her normal self.
"So I won't. Love the bike, amour."
Taylor
"I know you do. And you know I'm not particularly fond of death of anything," Taylor raised his eyebrows.
He checked his watch.
"Ok, it's just after six. I vote extra sleep before we head over to Dad's."
Mouse
"Very good idea," Mouse said, yawning slightly.
Fafnir stretched.
Going running. If I don't get back, I'll catch you up.
"'K."
Fafnir loped off, Bets joining him before the two canines took off.
Taylor
Taylor let the fuzzles climb up to his shoulders, then led Mouse from the garage - switching the light off on the way.
When they were back inside, he collapsed on the couch.
"I'll crash here. Good night. Morning, rather."
Mouse
Mouse chuckled slightly.
"I'm going to crash on the bed."
She ran her hand through his hair affectionately, not willing to risk bending down to kiss him.
"See you when we're both actually awake."
Taylor
Taylor gulped slightly, the touch again reminding him of Blakesley.
Ok, this was Christmas. He wasn't going to ruin it.
"Yep."
He yawned.
"See you in a few."
Mouse
Mouse walked carefully down to their bedroom and sat down on the bed. She cupped her belly for a moment, thinking.
He'd...almost but not quite flinched when she touched his hair. That was disturbing.
Putting it off to think about it later, Mouse got under the covers and went to sleep.