A Christmas Bonus

"Are you ready to go Christmas shopping, baby?"

Aurora twisted her body, looking back at her now 3, almost 4-year-old son, who had just woken up from his nap. Xander's brown locks were disheveled, sticking up in all directions, as evidence of the nice nap. There was something about a long drive that always made her son knock out as soon as they were on the road.

"Cwistmas!" Xander cheered quietly, not wanting to wake up his younger brothers, but sadly the one in his carseat beside his sleeping twin was a light sleeper and had already woken up.

Next to him, in a similar carseat, quietly slept his 1-year-old twin brother. Jared Knight, the older twin, lifted his head groggily, the confused expression when he didn't know where they were made Aurora chuckle and coo at her adorable son.

Xavier smoothly parked the Tesla into an empty space and turned off the engine, before looking at his wife with a gentle smile playing on his lips.

A mother's love was the most unconditional and purest form of love.

And that was true. He watched as her smile brightened every time she looked at their sons and even saw the twinkle in her eyes that held so much love for all three boys. It was evident how much she loved them and he couldn't help but love her even more because of that.

Xavier's hand was on her thigh, gently caressing her jean cladded thigh as she listened intently to Xander's excited whispers. With a black long-sleeved turtleneck that hugged her figure paired with a denim jacket, no one could tell she was the mother of 3 beautiful boys with another one on the way.

Both Xavier and Xander had on a similar outfit— a jean jacket with black jeans. Aurora tried her best to dress the twins as warm as possible, not wanting them to catch a cold with their weaker immune systems. Never had Xavier ever imagined that he would be coordinating outfits with his wife and kids, yet here he was, abiding by his wife's wishes to match. Not that he would ever admit it, but it actually didn't take much convincing on Aurora's end. He secretly enjoyed the fact that it made them look complete.

The family of 5 had just arrived at Glendale Galleria and the Americana at Brand, which was one of the largest outdoor and indoor shopping centers in the Los Angeles area. And Christmas was the perfect time to visit, as the mall outdid themselves every year with the Christmas decorations, giving kids of all ages a taste of the holiday spirit.

Aurora was smart to decide to go Christmas shopping a couple of weeks before the rush of last-minute present buying. And since it was also a weekday, the mall wasn't entirely busy and instead of waiting 30 minutes to find a parking spot, it had taken less than 5.

Wanting to spend the day with his beautiful wife and kids, Xavier had decided to take the day off, but who would dare go against him and his decision?

I mean, he was the boss.

Feeling generous, he even gave his employees a half-day. Just being with Aurora already made him both a better person and a better boss. Although still strict, he was less ruthless, only showing that side of him when things weren't getting done.

As soon as they entered they crossed the street and walked into the Americana, Xander's eyes widened in awe as he stared up at the sparkling lights that were decorated, well, pretty much everywhere. It was fairy light galore, with bright Christmas lights hanging on the trees that lined the streets. A large Christmas tree, around 100 feet tall, greeted them as they walked further into the shopping center, and in the middle of the surrounding shops was a beautiful fountain, making Xander squeal with excitement.

It was as if they stepped into a Christmas town, minus the snow. In the center of the street, where no cars were allowed to enter the premises, was a bright red cable car that ran back and forth between the long lane of shops. With the cable car and the bright lights that hung everywhere, it was surely an experience Xander would never forget.

"Mama, mama," shouted Xander, tugging on his mother's hand in an attempt to get closer to the fountain. "Wata."

"I know, baby," chuckled Aurora, attempting to keep her son from running off. "But we have to wait for papa and your brothers."

Xavier walked close to his wife and son, pushing the twins' stroller. Both Jared and Jayden were now awake from their nap and were completely entranced with sparkling lights surrounding them. They were completely bundled up with their blankets, which, of course, was Aurora's doing, and the snacks that they were eating had been completely forgotten as they continued to look around with their curious little eyes.

Aurora picked up Xander and held him on her hip before looping her other arm around Xavier's.

"You shouldn't be picking him up, sweetheart," Xavier muttered worriedly. "You'll hurt the baby. Plus he's getting too big to be held."

"You're saying that now, but you carry him more than me," Aurora rolled her eyes as they continued to walk towards the fountain. "My baby is never too big to be carried. Right, my sweet boy?"

Xander giggled as Aurora kissed his rosy cheek. "Wight, mama."

Aurora gave her husband a look, one that said, 'See? I told you so.' But Xavier, being the caring husband, was still concerned.

"Maybe we should switch— I'll take Xander and you can push the twins," he suggested, hoping she would say 'yes'.

But like usual, she was stubborn and continued to stand her ground. "I'll be fine," she gave him a gentle squeeze on his arm. "I'm barely a few weeks in and I'm not even showing yet— and besides, Xander's growing up too fast for my liking. Next thing you know, he won't even want to be held anymore."

Xavier sighed, seeing the pout on his wife's face. He felt himself give into her before placing a kiss on her forehead.

"Alright," he murmured, coming to a stop in front of the fountain before urging Aurora to sit on the bench with Xander escaping from his mother's arms so that he stood on the bench, watching the water spray up from the fountain. Xavier parked the stroller in front of Aurora so that they could keep their eyes on the twins at all times. "You know that's not going to happen— Xander's always going to be a mama's boy."

"Takes after his father," Aurora cheekily retorted as Xavier rolled his eyes. She pulled him closer by his belt loop so that he stood right in front of her. "Did I ever mention how attractive you look pushing a stroller?"

Xavier chuckled, bringing his left hand down to gently caress her cheek. "I think I've heard you mumble it once or twice in your sleep."

"Liar. I do not talk in my sleep," Aurora glared at him playfully. "You're a hot dad— I can see the stares women give you whenever you walk past."

Xavier smirked, sensing the jealousy in her tone. "Jealous, love?"

"Maybe a little," Aurora said as Xander squealed beside her when the water sprayed up high. "But in the end, you're all mine."

He bent down on his knees so that they were eye level, before leaning close to capture her lips in a short, but sweet kiss.

"That's right, baby," he murmured against her lips, using his knuckles to gently caress her cheek, making sure she felt the ring on his finger— the one he never took off.

"All yours."

❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎

"Xander Knight, be careful or you'll fall."

Aurora tried to keep her tone stern, but just one look at her firstborn son completely melted her heart. Xavier had taken Jayden to the nearest restroom to get cleaned up with the twins' diaper bag hanging on his shoulder. And for that, Aurora was thankful to have a very hands-on husband who wasn't afraid to change their sons' diapers.

This left Aurora with Jared who was perched on Aurora's lap, drinking milk from his bottle while looking up at his mama with a dazed expression on his face. He played with a strand of her hair with his small hands. Aurora alternated from looking down at Jared to watching as Xander ran around her— his laughter making her smile.

"What did papa whisper in your ear before he left with Jayden?" Asked Aurora, curiously. Right before Xavier had left with Jayden, he had said something to Xander as the 3-year-old listened carefully, before both of them shared a pinky promise.

"Shhh," hushed Xander, bringing a finger to his lips as he whispered. "Papa said Xander no tell mama."

Aurora pouted, pretending to cry. "You're keeping secrets from your mama now?"

Xander looked at his mom with a conflicted expression on his face. If there was one thing that he hated the most besides vegetables, it was seeing his mama sad.

He walked closer to his mother, placing his hands on her cheeks. His big eyes widen with concern, causing Aurora's fake sad face to light up. "I'm just playing, baby. Maybe you can tell me later."

Xander nodded, his concerned face, one that looked exactly like his father's, disappearing almost immediately. "Okway mama."

The toddler bounced away from her once again before he continued to run around. She tried her best to coax him to slow down, but it was too late when he stumbled over his two clumsy little feet and fell.

It took a second for it to register that he had fallen, but before he could cry, a kind stranger helped him up to his feet.

"Woah there, bud. You alright?" The man asked, holding Xander steady. He looked to be around his early thirties.

"Mama," Not answering the man, Xander pushed the man away, looking at his mother with teary eyes as if he were about to cry.

"Thank you," Aurora thanked the stranger before gesturing for Xander to come to her. "Come here, baby."

Xander waddled to Aurora, before burying his face into her thigh. With a small sigh, she put a calm Jared into the stroller, before picking up Xander. Immediately, Xander buried his face into the crook of Aurora's neck as she whispered words of comfort into his ears.

"Are they both yours?" Asked the stranger, watching the exchange between mother and son with a kind smile.

"They are," She replied, rubbing Xander on the back.

"They're beautiful kids," he said, tucking his hands into his pockets.

"Thank you," she smiled genuinely. "I'm a proud mama of three boys."

The stranger whistled. "3 boys. You're probably the prettiest mama I've ever seen— you don't look a day over thirty," His comment made Aurora's cheeks redden. "Where's your other kid?"

"Oh, my-"

Before she could say that her husband went to go change her son's diaper, Xander pushed his head away from Aurora and glared daggers at the stranger— his tears immediately gone as he went on full alert. The man looked taken aback at the hostile look Xander was giving him. The toddler clumsily climbed off of Aurora's lap and stood in front of her protectively.

"Mama mine," Xander snarled or at least attempted to. To both Aurora and the stranger, he just looked like a cute angry puppy. "Mama is papa's."

"Xander," scolded Aurora, unsure of what was going on in her son's head. "That's not nice— he helped you up when you fell."

Xander continued to hold a standoff with the stranger before pushing the stranger's legs. "You go away."

Xander proudly stood in front of his mother, almost as if he were protecting her. His papa was going to be so proud of him and he was going to get his treat. Just thought of ice cream made him feel giddy.

"Xander, come here," Aurora sternly said. And based on her tone, Xander knew he was about to get a scolding. For what? He didn't know. "I'm so sorry— I don't understand what's gotten into him."

She gave the stranger an apologetic smile as Xander begrudgingly made his way to his mama, making sure to keep his eyes on the stranger.

"That's not very nice," urged Aurora. Her baby was usually so sweet and polite, so Aurora had no idea what was going on. "Say sorry, baby,"

"Xander sowwie," muttered Xander, begrudgingly, shifting back and forth on his feet. He hated getting scolded by mama and in his small head, he still had no idea why. He was just doing what papa had asked him to do.

"It's okay, bud," chuckled the stranger. "He's doing a great job protecting his mama. You must be really proud."

"I am— I mean three boys can drive me nuts, but at the end of the day, I love them so much," she shook her head with a loving smile on her face, pulling the blanket around Jared as a small breeze began to blow.

"Yeah, my husband and I were thinking about adopting, but we're still on the fence about having a kid. But after seeing how adorable your kids are, it makes me want to just say yes to parenthood," His statement had Aurora grinning.

"Being a parent is an absolutely blessing," she admitted, looking at Xander as he stared at the leaves on the ground, using his little feet to stomp on them as he was no longer interested in the conversation the two adults were having. "And I can tell you're going to be a great one."

He smiled. "Thank you— that really means a lot. Well, I should get going, my husband's probably going nuts at the Louis Vuitton store."

"It was nice meeting you," she laughed. "Happy holidays."

Aurora waved as the kind stranger bid them goodbye. She turned to look at Xander who was still staring at the leaves on the ground as if they were the most interesting thing to look at.

"Xander, look at mama," Aurora said, keeping her tone stern. Xander pouted as he stood in front of Aurora with his hands to his side. He looked up at Aurora and immediately his eyes began to water. Aurora sighed, gathering him into her arms.

"Mama's not mad at you, baby," she murmured, kissing his cheek, gently coaxing him to stop crying. "I just want to know why you did that. Can you tell mama?"

Xander continued to pout, little huffs coming out of his mouth. How was he so darn cute? She was supposed to be scolding him right now.

"Xander no tell mama or papa no buy Xander ice cream," he murmured tearfully, as he patted his tummy.

Aurora's eyebrows furrowed. "Ice cream?"

Xander nodded as he played with a strand of Aurora's long hair. Her boys were all similar where they loved mindlessly playing with her hair.

Aurora closed her eyes as she let out a sigh, her brain connecting the dots as to why Xander was acting the way he was. From the corner of her eye, she saw Xavier make his way towards them with Jayden in his arms and a double scoop chocolate ice cream cone in his other hand. Oh, he was going to get it.

"Xavier Knight," Aurora looked at her husband in disbelief as he smoothly strapped Jayden into the stroller with the ice cream cone in his hand. He gave her a sheepish smile, her tone indicating that he was about to get a scolding. "Did you really bribe your son with ice cream to keep men away from me while you were away?"

"Ice cweam, ice cweam, ice cweam," chanted Xander, squealing with delight at the sight of the tasty dessert.

Xavier shamelessly handed the cup to the awaiting toddler and immediately Xander's eyes brightened with delight.

"No?" His answer came out a question as he took a seat next to his wife, pulling the twins' stroller so that it was right in front of them. She gave him a scolding look as he buried his face in her neck. "Okay, fine. I can't help that my wife is absolutely gorgeous. But I swear I just told him to protect you— did he really do it?"

"Yes," exasperated Aurora, slapping his thigh. "He basically snarled at the poor guy— who, by the way, had a husband. Well, it was more like a small growl and he just looked like a cute little angry puppy. I couldn't even scold him because he just looked so darn cute but that's not the point. Who did he even learn that from?"

"That's my boy," cheered Xavier, proudly holding his knuckle out to Xander who happily thumped it before he went back to licking the ice cream. Xavier laughed, not believe that his son actually did what he had sneakily asked before heading to the restroom with Jayden.

Aurora let out a tired sigh, using a napkin to wipe Xander's chocolate ice cream covered mouth. "I don't know whether or not to be pissed at you for bribing your son to do that, or the fact that you bribed him with ice cream— I mean, seriously? Before dinnertime? And it's December, babe— it's freaking cold."

"To be fair, you were eating a Popsicle the day I confessed my love to you," he murmured, wrapping an arm around her waist as he kept his face tucked into her neck.

"That's not the same thing— he's only 3," she scolded. "God, I don't know what to do with you."

"Don't be angry at me," he raised his face, planting a sweet kiss on her cheek before seductively murmuring into her ear. "I'll make it up to you tonight— it'll be like a preview of what I'm planning for Christmas Eve."

She slapped him again, making him laugh, before playfully nipping her ear.

"I'm still mad at you."

"Don't be mad, baby," cooed Xavier, squeezing her waist. "I said I was going to make it up to you."

"We're watching the Bachelor tonight," she decided, causing Xavier to groan.

"Anything, but that."

"You said you were going to make it up to me."

"Yeah, but I was thinking maybe a nice little bath together after the kids go to bed with a glass of that rose wine that you like so much. You know, some mommy daddy alone time?" He positioned his head so that it was right in front of her, before moving his eyebrows up and down. A mischievous grin spread on his face as Aurora's reddened with embarrassment. "Then, maybe we can, you know-"

"The kids are right here," she quickly covered his mouth with her free hand before he could say anything else.

"I was going to say sleep," shrugged Xavier, planting a kiss on her palm, causing her to squeal and let go. She desperately wanted to wipe the smirk off his face. "But if you insist— we can do other things, like, play a little game hide and seek in the sheets."

Aurora gasped, pushing his face away from her with a flushed face, causing him to burst out into