"Allow her to have her fun. She deserves this."
"Apart from the mess, I am happy," Trinity admitted, her eyes darting to the little girl who was hopping around the room
"I think the phrase is over the moon," he mused, aware of the importance of that phrase and the reaction it would cause.
Just as he thought, she ducked her face, her embarrassment apparent as her eyes flicked toward him and away just as quickly, a smile tugging on her lips. "Michael!"
"Shush, you won't be able to explain that away without blushing furiously. Miranda might be clueless, but my grandfather isn't," he goaded with a large smirk full of pride, enjoying her discomfort. Last night she had used that phrase just before their daughter could have caught them in a compromising position.
"Mind your words and your hands then," she said, all embarrassment gone as she challenged him. He responded by pulling her closer if that was even possible.
"Mommy see!! Mommy see me!!" The excited cry drew their attention apart to find their daughter waving a new toy in their face. Michael’s grandfather regarded the both of them with a knowing smile.
“Are there gonna be more tiny feet running around these walls in nine months’ time?” The older man inquired, and Trinity decided to ignore him. She was embarrassed.
"I can see, it looks pretty," Trinity agreed as she glared at Michael from the corner of her eyes, she had clearly said no more toys as she got to her feet to go to Miranda who was struggling with the toy in her hand.
She received a smirk for her troubles before he turned to look at his grandfather "Those tiny feet will come soon enough from all the work I’ve been putting in.”
“Michael!” Trinity said as she shoved her elbow in his side before leaving his side and going to stand near the tree to clear up the wrapping paper.
“Where are my gifts Opa?”
What do you get a man who has everything he’ll ever need? I showed up remember?"
Michael scoffed.
"Miranda has you wrapped around her little finger and you wouldn't have missed this for anything," he replied confidently. They had never spent a Christmas apart in twenty-four years.
"Like a barber around a cane," the old man admitted ruefully while he smiled at the little girl in question before returning to his grandson's side.
"I'm happy for you," the older man continued, after a moment of companionable silence, the sound of Miranda and Trinity's voice in the background.
"Thanks, I'm happy too," he replied easily as he thought that the words were too simple to convey the enormity of his emotions.
He smirked to himself as he realized the only word that remotely suited the situation was 'over the moon'.
Michael Senior noted the sappy expression and felt some old worry roll off his back.
It seemed a lifetime ago when he was chasing him around to get married even going as far as to get dates for him and dangling sole ownership of the companies as an incentive.
It seemed like several lifetimes ago when he had brought the quiet boy with a nightmares and eyes that saw too much home to him.... It was a long road from there to here but he couldn't help but feel satisfied... Content and blessed. The season inspired that last feeling, but he was not about to question it.
He smiled himself as he focused on the interaction of mother and daughter. "I can see that, I'll have to admit that on the wedding day I didn't see this happening but here we are," he trailed away.
Michael looked up to where Trinity squatted by the tree, fixing reindeer nose and horns on Miranda.We've indeed come a long way.
“Trinity is the best. She’s so different from…”
The older man smiled at that, it was oddly fitting to have his thoughts spoken out loud. "I can't help but be proud of you son."
"Thank you, old man." His smile warm and sincere as their eyes met.
"None of that, I'll have to fight you to show my prowess," he bristled playfully.
"I'm shaking in my shoes,” Michael replied before he left his grandfather smiling figure and headed towards his family.
All mine,the truth still stunned him. He smiled at his girls and got huge smiles from both of them in return.
