#robert dispatch x reader

That’s what you realized you guys were when you finally dropped the news about your parents being beloved heroes…only to find out that it was the same for Robert, too.

Sure, the two of you would talk to each other in the hallways at work and in the breakroom. And sure, you guys started chatting a lot more when the dispatch floor shuffling everyone around led to you being placed in the cubicle right beside him. And yeah, the two of you grab dinner and sometimes even drinks after particularly long shifts at work. And of course, he asked for your number long before you guys made that routine.

But for some reason, the word friend didn’t come to mind when you thought of him. After all, you had so many ways to describe him. The cute new guy, back when he was still new to the office. Or the funny guy from across the room, back when you guys were still sitting apart. And by the time the two of you were sitting side by side, he was just your coworker, Robert. Until he was your buddy, Robert, who was almost always down for dinner when the assholes on either of your teams messed up what should have been an easy day. But sometime after that, he became your drinking partner. And sometime after that, he became the guy who would insist you text to let him know he got home safe. And then somewhere along the way…sometime after too many beers at your place, he became something else.

A friend.

But it’s still a little strange to call him that. Sure, you finally felt like you could trust him enough to stop beating around the bush when talking about your parents' old job to clarify they weren’t the typical first responders you tend to lead most people into believing. And yeah, based on what you shared, you somehow inspired Robert to spill as well, despite the fact that he almost never ever talks about his family. Like ever. But it’s still strange to call him a friend. It doesn’t sit right on your tongue, and it doesn’t fit right in your head. And now more than ever, it feels almost hard to give him this new label. Despite the fact that you’ve given him so many before this. And yet…

You think it has something to do with what you know now.

Not just about his parents, but about him. Because by the way he talked about his parents- or more specifically, his father- it led you to correctly guess that he is Mechaman. The very Robert sitting on your couch, helping you drink all the bottles you had left after your last house party, is Mechaman. Or was. Was Mechaman. But still.

That means he’s a hero. One of the heroes you used to follow. One of the heroes you used to root for. One of the heroes you used to admire. And still do, to be honest.

So yeah, it’s weird. People don’t really get to meet their heroes all the time. And when they do, it’s usually because they don’t know it’s them, walking out and about on the street like they’re just some normal person. Having hero parents and working at SDN, of course, changed that for you. But this was different. This was the Mechaman. But it was also Robert. Your Robert. Your Robert, whom you couldn’t help but crush on when he started working with you. Your Robert, who you could always count on for some dry humor or a joke that definitely would have gotten him a visit from HR at your old office. Your Robert, who already knows where to find the cups and plates and pans in your cupboards because he’s been at your place so many times before this.

Your Robert was Mechaman. Your Robert has fought so, so many people and saved so, so many more. Your Robert is the only hero you managed to admire almost as much as your parents. Your Robert, who has tons and tons and tons of fans. Including you. Especially including you.

But he’s also your friend. Your friend. Even though you struggle to call him that.

Though, to be fair, you don’t typically call the guys you fall into bed with your friends. Because at that point, you can’t help but feel like they become something more.

Days later, you find that you’re still feeling that way. You try to be normal. You try to be cool. You try to talk to your friend at work because that’s a normal and cool thing to do for a coworker you’ve gotten close to. But it’s hard. It’s so hard because now that you know who he is, it’s hard to look at him in the SDN uniform and not imagine the flight suit he was wearing at the press conference where he announced his retirement.

But in the same way, it’s hard to look at him in the SDN uniform and not imagine how that same uniform was at one point on the floor of your bedroom.

Just like it’s hard not to imagine how those same hands he has typing away at his keyboard were once inside of your pussy, curling away at your warm, wet, insides as you squirmed on the bed for him. And how that same voice he’s currently using to bark orders to his team was once humming words of encouragement in your ear after he had you damn near sobbing in overstimulation. And how he…he…

Friend.

You remind yourself of that word when you realize that you’ve been staring at him for far too long instead of doing your own work. You’re supposed to be friends. You’re friends with your hero. You're friends with your coworker. You’re friends with the best lay of your life. You’re friends with Robert. That’s why it’s so important for you to get over these complex feelings and figure out what’s so important for you to figure out where he stands in your life and mind and heart. But before all that, you actually have to try to be normal about this. Which starts by turning back around in your seat and finally, finally, finally facing your computer so you can get back to all the work you’ve been neglecting today.

The days began to get a bit more distinguishable from one another once he met you. It was like his world burst into color the moment you stepped into it, and there was a break in the monotony. Suddenly, there were dinner dates and walks along the pier. There were movies to watch and museums to wander around on the off days. He had your hand to hold, your body to hug, your forehead to kiss. Even Beef had someone new to beg for food from. He didn’t think it could be any better than that. But that was before the holidays came knocking.

When December rolled around, Robert didn’t feel the change in the atmosphere around the office until you started talking about hosting everyone at your apartment for the holidays. The thought had never occurred to him that you might want to have a get together this time of year. He’d never had friends over before, aside from the times Royd came to gather the pieces of the Mecha Man suit, or when the Z-Team stopped by for his ‘housewarming’ party the night they found the Astral Pulse’s location. But now, with you having moved in and helping to make it feel more like a home than ever before, he couldn’t even think about having a party. But you seemed so excited about it, about all of the decorating and baking and celebrating, so he figured he’d give it a go to see you smile.

To see you in full holiday preparation mode was a bit of a treat. You got so into decorating, and you made the apartment feel so warm and cozy. You found a nice sized fake tree to set up in the corner, you had garland and Santas and snowmen all over the place, and for the first time, he found himself enjoying how it looked. His apartment had never been so lively, and he couldn’t believe the transformation. The tree glimmered with soft white lights, and while there were no ornaments yet, he didn’t mind it. If anything, he preferred it that way, how it looked less cluttered in the space. Then came your baking.

Each weekend before Christmas, you were busy as a bee in the kitchen. You couldn’t decide on which kinds of cookies to make, so you just made whatever popped into your mind. You made sugar cookie cutouts, gingerbread men, almond crescents, peppermint candy cane cookies, and more. They were set into different tins, organized by type, and ready for you to share, and some for the party. Then you made peppermint bark and caramels covered in chocolate. The place always smelled like heaven, and he swore he could sit and watch you at work all day. Even when he offered to help, you said you had it handled, and he could just sit and talk after working all day. 

When Christmas Day finally rolled around, Robert was woken by the smell of fresh coffee, and he was greeted by you, standing in the doorway with two mugs. He couldn’t help but smile when he noticed that mugs were holiday themed. He got out of bed to take one from you and plant a kiss to your cheek, then you made him follow you to the living room. There were presents neatly wrapped under the tree, and stockings were hung on door handles nearby. The two of you sat on the couch, and as you exchanged gifts, he leaned back to watch you open yours. He couldn’t remember the last time he did a gift exchange, let alone had someone to even buy gifts for. To see your eyes light up at the earrings he bought for you, or the book he picked up that he remembered you mentioned weeks back. There was a sense of pride that blossomed in his chest when you gushed over the gifts, and he laughed when you pushed for him to open his own gifts. You even made sure to get some new toys for Beef, as well as some special treats that were peanut butter flavored.

Even before you had started dating, you had imagined the worst case scenario each time he went out. You couldn’t help it, your brain was just wired to apparently be catastrophic at all times. It was exhausting, and you wanted so badly ot believe him when he promised to be home at reasonable hours if he could swing it. Being this stressed wasn’t easy, but you tried, you tried your absolute hardest for him. But the worst possible thing that could have happened, did.

It was Christmas Eve, and everything seemed to be settling down for the evening. As you were doing dishes in the kitchen, cleaning up after a nice Christmas Eve dinner with Chase in attendance, Robert’s phone began to buzz like crazy. He grabbed it and answered, bringing it up to his ear while you turned off the sink. You watched his expression change, his brows furrowing, and you knew what was coming next.

“Don’t tell me …” you started, and he looked at you almost sheepishly.

“It’s an emergency. Big one,” he said, nearly wincing as he saw your expression while your shoulders sagged. He knew it was terrible timing, and he knew he didn’t want to leave. But the others did need him, and he had an obligation to his team.

“Robert …” you said, looking at him, “you can’t go out there.”

“Unfortunately, I need to. And I’m sorry,” he said. The sincerity in his tone tugged at your heart, and you sighed quietly. He was right, and you hated that he was right, but you hated that you had to let him go even more. Without a word, you walked over and hugged him tightly, though you did tense when his arms wrapped back around you as well.

“Just promise me you’ll stay safe,” you whispered.

“Don’t I always?” he asked, rubbing your back.

“You do, but it doesn’t mean you always come back without a new bruise somewhere.”

You felt his chest move with a soft chuckle, though there was very little humor behind it. When you pulled back from one another, he leaned down to press a soft kiss to your forehead, then you separated fully so he could get suited up. You felt a weight by your foot, and you looked down to see Beef sitting against your leg, so you bent down to scoop him up into your arms. 

“I know, buddy. I hate when he has to go out there, too,” you murmured, kissing the top of his head.

When Robert came back, he was in his new Mecha Man suit, courtesy of SDN, and he was ready to get into his mech to meet the others at the site. He walked over to you and pressed a kiss to your cheek, and then to the top of Beef’s head as well.

“I’ll be back before you know it,” he said.

“God, I hope so,” you replied, and then he was out the door, leaving you and Beef in the kitchen. You stared at the door for a minute, unable to really look away, but then Beef yipped to be put down, so you obliged and let him run free. You finished with the dishes, then went to get changed into your Christmas pajamas, just like you did every year. You wanted to be as cozy as possible on Christmas Eve night, but this one’s plans suddenly changed out from under you. After getting changed, you made yourself a cup of hot cocoa, complete with shipped cream and marshmallows, and you went into the living room. As you settled onto the couch, you had the urge to turn on the news and keep up to date with what was going on, but you fought your brain against the idea. No, Christmas Eve was going to be the one night you took him at his word, that he would be back home soon, safe and sound. Instead, you reached over to turn on the Christmas tree, and then you grabbed the remote and turned on Home Alone to take your mind off of everything. To stop yourself from changing the channel, you hid the remote under the couch cushion, and both of your hands gripped the mug of hot cocoa you made. You watched Beef get comfortable on his dog bed, and then your eyes were on the TV, watching the movie.

The later it got the harder it was to keep your eyes open, but it was also getting harder to keep your mind from going overboard with nightmare scenarios. You knew he couldn’t reach out and call you, to let you know he was on his way or taking a bit longer, so that played into the anxiety. Beef was passed out nearby, your hot cocoa mug was empty on the coffee table, and you were now curled up on the couch with your head on a throw pillow. You couldn’t keep fighting the exhaustion, and the clock struck midnight as your eyes finally closed. It was Christmas Day, and there was no telling when Robert was getting home. If he was coming home.

It was the gentle shake to your shoulder that roused you from your sleep. Your eyes opened, then squinted, as pale sunlight hit your face. When your eyes finally adjusted, you were greeted by Robert, who was standing in his Mecha Man suit, but the headpiece had been discarded somewhere else in your apartment.

“Rob?” you mumbled, your voice soft and a little raspy.

“Hey, yeah, it’s me. Sorry I took so long to get back,” he whispered, reaching to smooth down your hair. The TV was still playing in the background, which meant the remote was still under the cushions, and the tree was still on behind you.

“It’s okay. I knew you’d be back for Christmas,” you said, a sleepy smile on your lips.

“Because I’ve never given you a reason to doubt me, yeah?” he teased. 

You gave his shoulder a weak, playful push, then sat up and rubbed your eyes to try and wake up a bit more. At least you didn’t wake up alone that morning.

The office started to grow brighter and more alive the closer it got to the holidays, with all sorts of decorations popping up in the halls. There were Christmas trees and menorahs, some snowflake decals clung to the windows and Robert spotted you hanging some from the ceiling with a smile on your face.

“Hey!” you called, waving with one hand from your ladder.

“Oh my god, please be careful,” he said, walking over after setting Beef down at his makeshift pillow bed by his desk.

“Oh, calm down, I’m fine. It’s a sturdy ladder. What do you think of all the decorations so far?” you asked, looking down at him.

“They’re, uh, festive,” he said, looking around the room again. 

“Right? Everyone’s doing such a great job, it’ll be like a Hallmark movie in no time,” you said with a chuckle, then began your climb down. Once both feet were firmly on the ground, you moved the ladder aside and looked up to admire your handiwork. You had always loved the holidays, they made the world seem nice and good, even if just for a little while. You loved the lights, the music, the fact that the month seemed to put everyone into a slightly better mood. Well, everyone accept Robert. You couldn’t quite place if the month changed his mood at all, or just made him a bit grumpier than usual.

“You’re, uh, staring at me,” he said, which cut through your thoughts quickly.

“Sorry, sorry. Just trying to figure something out,” you replied, then offered him a smile before you went back to your desk. The wheels in your head were definitely turning now, and you were going to do your best to get him into the Christmas spirit.

As the days went by, you did your best to at least get him to smile a little bit. One day, you brought fresh back Christmas cookies to leave the in the breakroom, but you set aside a few on his desk. He thanked you and ate them, but that was pretty much it. Another day, you brought in some hot cocoa, but he didn’t partake. He just stuck to his coffee, which you couldn’t really be bummed about, but still, you wanted something to work. You wanted him enjoy this time, but then again, maybe you were pushing it a bit too hard. After all, maybe he had his reasons for not being as festive as some of your other coworkers.

The following week, you caught up with him in the breakroom while he was getting a snack from the vending machines. You thought for a moment about actually asking the question that was on your mind, but when he looked over at you, you figured it was now or never.

“Hey, can I ask you something?”

“You just did. But I’ll allow a second question,” he replied, and you couldn’t help but roll your eyes. Wise ass.

“Very funny. But seriously, I was wondering, and stop me if this is too … invasive, but why aren’t you getting into the Christmas spirit like the rest of the office?” you asked. He was quiet for a moment as the vending machine whirred, then dropped his chips into the slot. As he reached in, you watched as he shrugged his shoulders.

“Dunno. Was never really a big Christmas guy, even as a kid,” he said, but his tone left no room for further discussion, so you nodded.

“Yeah, I gotcha. Well, I’m sorry if I made you feel like I was, like, trying to push a holly jolly agenda onto you the last few days,” you said, and for the first time since the start of the month, he cracked a small smile.

“It’s fine. If I hated it, I would have asked you to stop, you know that,” he reminded you, and you offered him a sheepish smile.

“I guess you’re right. But I promise I won’t be pushy,” you said, and he set a gentle hand on your shoulder, squeezing lightly.

“Thanks. But for what it’s worth, it’s nice to know that you cared enough to try.”

He left the breakroom, and you watched him go, a small smile on your lips. He had always been a nice guy, but you felt a little better now. You left shortly after, making your way back to your desk, and it felt like a weight had been lifted from your shoulders. You cared enough to try.

It was the 23rd, the day before the Torrance branch sent everyone home for holiday break, and you were feeling good. You were dressed in a cute Christmas sweater, and you had put in a pair of Christmas bulb earrings that glimmered in the light. It was the one day wat work where you didn’t have to wear the company outfit, and you were going to take full advantage of it. You made it into work and greeted everyone with a smile, happy to see that everyone was in good spirits. The decorations you and your colleagues worked to put up seemed even more special in the atmosphere of the office, and Blazer had set up a nice spread in the breakroom. The biggest surprise, however, came when you reached your desk and saw a somewhat messily wrapped gift and a card waiting by your keyboard. You set your bag down and reached for the card first, opening the envelope and sliding out the actual card.

‘Hope you like what I got you. Have a Merry Christmas. Robert’.

Christmas Eve rolled around faster than you’d anticipated, the whole month feeling like a blur most days. Everything seemed to blend into one big moment, and it made your head feel like it was spinning. Work felt like it was draining your very soul, every day felt longer than the last, and yet you still pushed through, determined to make it to the brief holiday break that you had most definitely earned. Your day started off pleasantly, much to your surprise. On your nightstand was a mug of coffee, along with a note that read:

‘Morning, sunshine. Sorry I couldn’t be there this morning, but work called me early. Hope the coffee is still warm, I tried to time it with your alarm. Don’t forget to stop in the kitchen and grab a bite to eat. Love you, Robert.’

You smiled softly at the note and picked up the coffee, and it was still warm. You sipped it slowly, and it was the perfect temperature to drink without burning your tongue. You got out of bed, the mug still in hand, and made your way to the kitchen like the note reminded you. You weren’t exactly the best at remembering to eat your breakfast, so you appreciated the notes he left for you from time to time. However, this time was a little different, and you spotted a plate on the kitchen table. On it was a chocolate croissant, one of your favorites, and there was a second note waiting for you. You walked over and set your mug down, then reached for your breakfast and for the note.

‘Hey, if you’re reading this, that’s great! Means you remembered to get breakfast. I had these delivered this morning, so they should be fresh, just for you. Enjoy, and no need to pack a lunch today, I got it covered. With love, Robert.’

You couldn’t help but laugh before biting into the croissant. It was flaky and buttery and chocolatey, and you closed your eyes in satisfaction. Your morning was already off to a wonderful start, and you hoped that the momentum kept up throughout the rest of the day.

***

When you arrived to work, you spotted another note, this time it was on your desk, and you tilted your head. You walked over, taking the note from next to your keyboard and reading it over with a warm smile.

‘Hey, hope you made it to work safely, and didn’t pack your lunch. Check the fridge in your break room when if you get a chance, or if not, you’ll see at lunch time. See you later, Robert.’

You shook your head with a smile and took a seat at your desk, booting up your laptop to get read for the day. You had no idea why Robert was so full of surprises that day, but you were definitely enjoying them. But, at the same time, you were wondering when he had the time to write these notes and drop them off, and also how he was able to get it all done. He was supposed to be at work, that was why he wasn’t in bed that morning, he had left before you like almost every other morning. Yet here he was, somehow writing notes, timing the perfect cup of coffee, surprising you with your favorite breakfast, and even doing something for your lunch. The man was full of surprises, and you had no idea what to expect next.

When lunch time rolled around, you went into the break room like the last note said and went into the fridge. There was a brown paper bag with your name on it, so you grabbed it and took it out to peer inside. Your favorite takeout from the Chinese restaurant you loved to order from was waiting for you, and you couldn’t help but smile. You took everything out of the bag and began to fix up a plate to reheat, humming as you did so. 

“Oh good, you found it.”

You turned to see your coworker, Matthew, coming into the break room. You chuckled softly, setting your hands on your hips as your lunch warmed in the microwave.

“Couldn’t miss it. Did you see him leave it?” you asked.

“Yep. Looked real proud of himself, too. And I gotta say, I’m jealous. Smells delicious,” he said with a chuckle, grabbing his lunchbox from the fridge. You nodded in agreement, taking your food out carefully once the timer was done. You went to toss out the bag, but before you did, you noticed there was yet another note for you, only this one was covered in a tiny bit of grease. You pulled it out, then read it over with another smile.

‘Hope you’re enjoying your lunch, even if you had to reheat it. When you’re done for the day, I want you to meet me on Redondo Pier where you set up that picnic for our anniversary. Christmas came a little early this year. See you then, Robert.’

Your curiosity was piqued, and now you were getting closer to finding out where this spontaneity came from. It nagged at you as you ate your delicious lunch, while you got your work done, while you packed up for the day. You bade your colleagues a good night and a happy holiday, then went to your car to pack it up and drive out to meet Robert on the pier. It wasn’t too long of a drive, given the time of day and what day it was, and you found a decent enough spot to park. You left your stuff in the car, then made your way out onto the pier, looking for any sign of Robert among the slight crowd of people. You finally spotted him near the end, his hands in his pockets as he looked out to the horizon, so you started to make your way over.

At the sound of footsteps, he turned around, and a soft smile graced his lips when he saw you. Immediately, he opened his arms for a hug, which you gave to him, wrapping your arms tight around his middle.

“I see you found my notes,” he teased.

“You’re lucky, I almost threw the last one away,” you replied.

“Well, now I know for next time where not to leave it.”

You laughed, then leaned your head against his chest as you watched the sun begin to sink below the ocean, the sky now streaked with orange and red. You had always loved the view from the pier, and sound of the ocean gave you a sense of calm. Plus, with Robert there, it felt like your first date, and your anniversary, all over again.

“This is nice,” you murmured, listening to the sound of his heartbeat.

“It is, yeah. Figured we could use a moment of peace on Christmas Eve,” he whispered, and he was right. Life had been so chaotic, and you hardly had any time to slow down. But this, this was just what you needed.

You stayed that way for a bit, until the sun finally dipped below the horizon, and the night sky filled with twinkling stars. The pier had emptied considerably, with people heading home for the holiday. You didn’t want the peace to end, but when he pulled back from you a bit, you knew it was time to head home for the night. As you turned to leave, he gently grasped your wrist, making you turn back around to face him.

“Wait, before we go, I have something to say,” he said softly, and you tilted your head.

“Okay … is everything all right?” you asked, and he nodded.

“Everything is … more than all right. These last few years have been the best of my life, and while we can joke about how that might not be saying much, I really do mean it. I’ve never met anyone quite like you before, and I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that knowing you, loving you, has changed me for the better.”

You could feel your heart starting to race in your chest as he slowly got down onto one knee as he spoke, and your hand flew over your mouth as he pulled a small velvet box from his pocket. Tears began to well in your eyes, and you tried to will them away so you didn’t miss a second of this moment.

“So, with all of that being said, because I did have a lot more but I’ve been dying to ask this all day, would you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?” He opened the box as he spoke to reveal a sparkling engagement ring, and you couldn’t even open your mouth to say yes, terrified you might start bawling your eyes out. Instead, you settled for a quick nod, and he was just as quick to slide the ring onto your finger. He stood and swept you into his arms, pulling you in for a deep kiss, as if that was the only thing that sealed the deal. You hand came up to cup his face, the band of your ring cool against his cheek, and when you pulled away from one another, happy tears rolled down your cheeks.

“Merry Christmas, baby,” he murmured, his thumb brushing a single tear away.

Up in the master bedroom, you and Robert were busy gathering up the multitude of presents from your shared closet. Luckily, your girls were nosy and had no desire to snoop, so most things could be hidden in plain sight. As carefully as you could, you carried the presents down the stairs, mindful of the one creaky step that always alerted your youngest to movements, even when you thought she was asleep. You swore she had ears like a bat, able to pick up even the softest of sounds. You were careful not to crinkle any wrapping paper or even nudge any of the ornaments on the tree as you crouched down with the many presents in your arms. Of course, not everything the two of you were carrying were strictly for the girls. You also had gifts for each other mixed in, and in the dark of the living room, you had a greater chance of keeping them hidden until morning.

Like every year, the two of you worked together to create the different piles for each child. Sage had a pile closer to the tree, and April’s had always been a little closer to the entertainment center, near the stockings.

Shit, the stockings.

“Rob?” you whispered, looking at the stairs, and then back at him.

“Yeah?” he whispered back.

“We forgot the stocking stuffers.”

His eyes widened, then squeezed shut as he let out a huff. There was always something, without a doubt, that one of you forgot each holiday. On Easter one year, you forgot to hide the eggs after a long day. There was a Halloween where you forgot to buy a very specific bag of candy, the only kind your youngest enjoyed, and it was almost meltdown central. You were no stranger to the occasion ‘whoopsie’, so you quickly got to your feet and made your way back up to your bedroom.

You took a moment to peer into Sage and April’s room, and you smiled when you saw that both girls were still blissfully asleep. You would think it was adorable any other night of the year, but there was just something about it being Christmas Eve that made it that much more precious. Slowly, you stepped back and closed the door by again, then went upstairs to get the bag of stocking stuffers. They were in a plastic bag, so you had to be extra careful that it didn’t rustle on your way back down.

You joined Robert back in the living room, and it was with great care than you took the little gifts out of the bag and began to divide them up. Each girl got the same amount of sweets, a mix of peppermint bark squares, chocolates with the crispy candies inside, a plastic candy cane full of M&Ms, and a classic chocolate orange. They each got a special ornament, one you spent time trying to pick out based on their yearly interests. Sage had gotten a K-Pop Demon Hunters ornaments, and April’s was a painter’s canvas, as she had been enthusiastic about joining her class art club and was loving every second of it. Then, each girl got a lip balm, a squeezy stress toy, and a new stuffed animal that they could take everywhere with them. Once everything set up the way it always was, you leaned back and admired the hard work you both put into making everything look as perfect as you could.

“Not too shabby this year,” he said, and you nodded in agreement. You both got to your feet, and as you went to shut off the lights on the Christmas tree, the clock struck 12. It was officially Christmas Day, and you had a feeling it was going to be one for the books. Before you could turn to head up to your bedroom, you felt Robert take your hand and turn you back to face him. His arms then looped around your waist, pulling you flush against his chest, and you brought your hands up to rest on his chest.

“Merry Christmas, babe,” he murmured.

“Merry Christmas, Rob,” you replied, her voice soft as he leaned down to meet you in a soft kiss. You returned it with as much gentleness as you could muster, and maybe it was the fact that it was Christmas, or the fact that everything felt like it had fallen perfectly into place, but it was the sweetest kiss you’d ever shared.

At the top of the stairs, April was up and out of bed, trying to peer down the stairs to see if Santa had come by the house yet. And to her young eyes, the silhouettes on the wall looked … like a large man, with a beard, and someone else … Her little eyes widened, and she hurried back to her shared bedroom, where Sage was sitting up in bed, waiting for the report.

“What did you see?” she asked, her voice hushed just in case either parent had decided to make their way back up the stairs.

“I think … I think I saw Santa. But I think I saw him kissing Mama!” she whispered, her voice a little panicked. “Or maybe it was Daddy. But if it was Daddy, he looked a lot like Santa.”

Sage giggled softly, her older sister’s antics very amusing to her. 

“That’s silly, April. Daddy isn’t Santa. He doesn’t have the beard or the belly for it.”

April considered this, then shrugged her shoulders.

“I know what I saw. Just because you don’t believe me …”

Once all of your guests had gone home, and your house was a mess of wrapping paper and new toys from the members of the Z-Team, you knew it wasn’t long before the usual bedtime battle began. You and Robert were handling dishes while some Christmas music played, and you could hear the girls racing around and laughing in the living room.

“I’m starting to worry that our gifts are going to pale in comparison to what they got today,” Robert said, chuckling a bit. You snorted, taking a wet dish from him to dry before placing it on the stack of plates to be put back into the cupboard.

“We’ll be fine. No one knows those two better than us. But also, I’m going to kill Flambae for the elf karaoke machine. He knew what he was doing.”

Robert nodded in agreement, turning off the sink and drying his hands off on a nearby dish towel. He helped you put the plates back in their respective spots, and as you finished up, the unmistakable sound of small footsteps came hurrying towards you both.

“Daddy! Daddy!” your youngest, Sage, called as she barreled towards her father. With a grin, he scooped her up as soon as she was close enough, and he held her close to his chest.

“What is it, honey?” he asked, planting a kiss to her temple.

“It’s almost time to put cookies and milk out for Santa!” she exclaimed.

“And leave carrots out for the reindeer,” your eldest, April, added as she joined the family in the kitchen.

“You’re right. And we can’t forget those reindeer this year,” you said, smoothing down April’s hair. She nodded, like this was serious business, and she went to get the special plates you used on Christmas Eve. Meanwhile, Robert helped Sage get a glass from the cupboard so you could pour some milk into it, and you went to the fridge get the gallon. The cookies were sitting in a tray on the country, and both girls grabbed a few each to put onto the plate. You poured the milk, and as you did so, Sage was set down to get some carrot sticks from the fridge. Once everything was situated on the table, the girls looked pleased with themselves, and like there were no better helpers than them.

“All right, good job. Now, think there are some little girls who need to get to bed so Santa makes it here in time,” Robert said, and the girls both groaned.

“Do we have to?” April asked, pouting up at the both of you.

“Of course you do. This is, like, the one night a year where going to be at a reasonable time should get any argument from you two,” you said, chuckling softly. 

“That’s right. Come on, time to brush teeth and get under the covers.”

Again, your girls groaned, but they obeyed and went upstairs to their bathroom. You heard the sink turn on, and you let out a little sigh.

“Do you think they’ll be too excited to get to sleep? Should we let them run around a bit longer?” you asked in a hushed tone, glancing towards the stairs.

“Absolutely not. They won’t learn if we let them run wild. Come on, it won’t be that bad. If we work together, we’ll get them down faster than last year.”

With that bit of encouragement, you two went upstairs together as the girls were settling into their beds. They still shared a room in your little townhouse, but neither of them seemed to mind it all that much. They were still at the age of being best friends, and you meant every word when you said they needed to keep their sides of the room clean to make sure it didn’t bother the other. 

“All right, who’s ready for a bedtime story?” he asked, and both girls, after being tucked in nice and snug, perked up.

“Me! Me!” they called in unison, and you chuckled softly.

“You heard ‘em, hon. Time for the Christmas Eve classic,” you said, and he smiled.

“Way ahead of you.”

He left the room, and came back a few moments later with a special book. It was a pop-up copy of The Night Before Christmas, and both girls look as giddy as could be. He got comfortable on the rocking chair between their beds, and in the most soothing voice he could muster, he began to read the story to them. You were sitting on the edge of Sage’s bed, listening just as intently as the girls were, but you could see their eyelids starting to droop. Whatever his plan was, it was working like a charm, and you couldn’t help but smile.

“... but I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, ‘Happy Christmas to all, and to all, a good night!’.”

The spine of the book cracked softly as he closed it up, and you looked between your daughters. Both of them were dozing off, unable to really fight the coziness of their beds combined with their father’s story time voice. With a warm smile, you kissed both of their foreheads, whispering a ‘goodnight’ to them, and Robert did the same. You turned out the overhead light, and the only thing left was the rainbow nightlight that was plugged in on April’s side of the room. Quietly, you and Robert tip-toed out of their bedroom, and you pulled the door by so no outside light could get into their room.

“You’re amazing,” you whispered, leaning up to press a kiss to his cheek.

“I try. Now, we need to get a move on. We’ve got gifts to set up,” he whispered back.