Chapter Text
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
Don't want a doll, no dinky Tinkertoy
I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy
Claire sat on the sofa feeding their three-week-old son. He’d joined the family a little earlier than expected but she grateful that Noah was healthy. She was also grateful that their four-year-old Chloe was so excited to be a big sister. She would bring diapers and would sing songs when he was crying.
Neil had taken Chloe out for a little daddy-daughter time, which she knew they both enjoyed. She’d get a chance with a little one on one time with her tomorrow. While she had been adjusting well Noah, they still wanted to make sure she knew that she was just as important as always.
She smiled as she heard them at the door, and Chloe ran in to give her and her little brother a hug.
“Did you have fun?” she asked.
Chloe grinned, “I have to go write another letter to Santa,” she said before running off into her room.
Claire looked over as Neil walked in shaking his head, “We’re in trouble.”
“What did she decide she wants now?”
“A hippopotamus.”
“What?” She moved Noah so she could burp him, “Where did that even come from?”
He sank down into the sofa beside her, “I have no idea. I don’t want to disappoint her but…”
“That’s impossible, you do realize that, right?” Noah burped and she repositioned him so he could finish eating. She turned her attention back to him, “Neil…”
“I’m not going to pretend I didn’t think on the ride home how we could do some renovations to…”
“I love you,” she interrupted, “And I love that you want our little girl to be happy, but it’s an impossible gift.” She thought for a moment, “Although maybe…”
“We could turn the basement into a hippo home?”
She shook her head, “Of course not, but you know there are some animals that you can adopt. We could do that, explain that one can’t live with us, and get her stuffed animal that can represent the one at the zoo.”
His face lit up with a smile, “My wife always with the brilliance. You’re incredible, you know that?”
“I know, you tell me all the time.” Noah finished eating and, Neil took him, patting his back to get him to burp again. “Maybe a trip to the zoo too.”
“I like that plan. Although this is a Santa gift,” he insisted, “That way he disappoints her not us.”
“I can agree to that.”
She moved to rest her head against his shoulder as he then told her about everything else Chloe told him. She’d do some more research after putting the kids to bed to make their little girl’s Christmas as special as they could.