"Thank goodness for all the magic in Rhy'Din," Piper murmured as she unlocked the door to the loft, mostly to herself but partly to the baby girl cuddled close in the brightly coloured sling that was wrapped around mother and child. The nappy - diaper, she reminded herself - diaper bag was clumsy enough, without having to worry about shopping bags as well, but thanks to a little sales assistant ingenuity, all her purchases of the morning were neatly concealed in two surprisingly small paper bags that hung from her hand.
Loki and Poppy were on her as soon as she stepped through the door, squawking and snuffling happily in greeting. "Shh, both of you," she told the dog and parrot firmly. "If you wake Ollie up, I will never feed either of you again." And to her amazement, they both shut up, restraining their greetings to simply touching at her shoulder and hip as she shut the door.
Down went the bags by the door, and off came the coat - Ollie's coat, since Piper didn't own anything that fitted over Lyneth as well when the baby was in her sling. So long as she didn't try to steal the warm wool garment when her husband was going to need it, he'd probably never know, either. She didn't bother taking Lyneth out of the sling, though, simply slipping the warm hat, mittens, and booties from her daughter's extremities so the little girl didn't overheat now they were back inside.
She hadn't actually planned on her outing today to be a surprise for her husband, but given that Lyneth had kept him up most of the night - specifically Ollie, apparently Piper just didn't rock in a satisfactory manner - things had fallen into place rather well, really. With the baby fast asleep still, and what sounded like the unmistakeable cadence of Ollie's breathing in the bedroom, Piper had the loft to herself for a little while longer. Hopefully enough time to make the most of her little shopping spree that morning.
The first of the bags was craftily concealed on the overhead internal balcony, since it wasn't for Ollie's eyes at all until Christmas, and she set to bringing out all the bits and pieces from the second with a warm glow of satisfaction. Evergreens, fairylights, a Christmas tree that stood only two feet high, decorations ....Piper had every intention of making their little home festive before Ollie woke up. Kaylee had popped in yesterday, so the loft was tidy and clean, which meant the young mother could get right to it without having to worry about dirt and dust.
"God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay ..." Singing softly to keep Lyneth from stirring prematurely, Piper set about decorating the living space of the loft she now shared with her husband for the season.
The evergreen garlands - holly, ivy, and conifer - were wound in and out with the fairylights before they were carefully secured to the windowsills and the railing of the little spiral staircase up to that internal balcony and turned on, sending out rippling waves of multi-coloured light. The little Christmas tree ended up beside the fireplace, set on the smallest of a nest of tables to give it a little more height, and decorated with red and gold ....tiny strands of tinsel and little baubles to brighten the dark green branches, set beneath a sparkling silver star.
And finally, Piper set up her own little nativity scene of hand-carved pine in a quiet corner - she didn't like to make issue of her religion in such a polytheistic place, deeming it selfish to do so in her own mind. She considered herself blessed that Ollie had allowed her to have Lyneth baptised, but she did not attempt to take their daughter to Mass with her every Sunday. That was a conversation they could have in the future.
It wasn't much, this simple festive decoration, but when she was done, Piper couldn't help squealing a little in excitement, watching as Loki and Poppy investigated the new bits and pieces that decorated their home. It felt as though Christmas was coming now, and to Piper, that was everything. Her first Christmas with her husband and their daughter; she was going to do everything properly. Provided it didn't stress her out.
Loki and Poppy were on her as soon as she stepped through the door, squawking and snuffling happily in greeting. "Shh, both of you," she told the dog and parrot firmly. "If you wake Ollie up, I will never feed either of you again." And to her amazement, they both shut up, restraining their greetings to simply touching at her shoulder and hip as she shut the door.
Down went the bags by the door, and off came the coat - Ollie's coat, since Piper didn't own anything that fitted over Lyneth as well when the baby was in her sling. So long as she didn't try to steal the warm wool garment when her husband was going to need it, he'd probably never know, either. She didn't bother taking Lyneth out of the sling, though, simply slipping the warm hat, mittens, and booties from her daughter's extremities so the little girl didn't overheat now they were back inside.
She hadn't actually planned on her outing today to be a surprise for her husband, but given that Lyneth had kept him up most of the night - specifically Ollie, apparently Piper just didn't rock in a satisfactory manner - things had fallen into place rather well, really. With the baby fast asleep still, and what sounded like the unmistakeable cadence of Ollie's breathing in the bedroom, Piper had the loft to herself for a little while longer. Hopefully enough time to make the most of her little shopping spree that morning.
The first of the bags was craftily concealed on the overhead internal balcony, since it wasn't for Ollie's eyes at all until Christmas, and she set to bringing out all the bits and pieces from the second with a warm glow of satisfaction. Evergreens, fairylights, a Christmas tree that stood only two feet high, decorations ....Piper had every intention of making their little home festive before Ollie woke up. Kaylee had popped in yesterday, so the loft was tidy and clean, which meant the young mother could get right to it without having to worry about dirt and dust.
"God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay ..." Singing softly to keep Lyneth from stirring prematurely, Piper set about decorating the living space of the loft she now shared with her husband for the season.
The evergreen garlands - holly, ivy, and conifer - were wound in and out with the fairylights before they were carefully secured to the windowsills and the railing of the little spiral staircase up to that internal balcony and turned on, sending out rippling waves of multi-coloured light. The little Christmas tree ended up beside the fireplace, set on the smallest of a nest of tables to give it a little more height, and decorated with red and gold ....tiny strands of tinsel and little baubles to brighten the dark green branches, set beneath a sparkling silver star.
And finally, Piper set up her own little nativity scene of hand-carved pine in a quiet corner - she didn't like to make issue of her religion in such a polytheistic place, deeming it selfish to do so in her own mind. She considered herself blessed that Ollie had allowed her to have Lyneth baptised, but she did not attempt to take their daughter to Mass with her every Sunday. That was a conversation they could have in the future.
It wasn't much, this simple festive decoration, but when she was done, Piper couldn't help squealing a little in excitement, watching as Loki and Poppy investigated the new bits and pieces that decorated their home. It felt as though Christmas was coming now, and to Piper, that was everything. Her first Christmas with her husband and their daughter; she was going to do everything properly. Provided it didn't stress her out.