Wednesday, December 24th
"This reminds me of one of the stories in the bible." Sara said after she checked in the review mirror if Steve was still behind me.
"How?" Sofia turned to see why the twins and Susan were so quiet; they were asleep. After a loud and nerve-wracking hour of crying babies and a toddler, the silence was priceless.
"A long caravan on its way to a special place. We're not on the road to find a child, we're on the way to find a place for Christmas, to celebrate. With children."
"Three wise men…or in our case five white cars." Behind them was Steve with their luggage, followed by Don and Tanya, Marie and Marc and Jules and Greg with Louise, Jorja and Eric. On top of their cars was snow, as it had snowed heavily at one point of their journey. All cars were packed with people and their luggage and Sara wondered, if there would be a quiet moment in the villa.
"Our destination is a villa and not a stable. You'll sit in a whirlpool tonight and not next to a crib in a windy old stable."
"You know I'd rather spend Christmas in a windy stable with you than without you in a villa."
"Ditto." The blonde massaged her left leg a little bit. The last days she had some light pain in her stump. This time she didn't try to hide it nor ignored it, she went straight to her doctor, who checked the leg and found a small infection, prescribed some pills and Sofia was as good as new. Only every now and then she felt a little stitch.
"Is the pain back?"
"No, only a little stitch. Alison checked me yesterday, do you believe she'd let me go with pain?"
"Not a chance. How many pills are left?"
"None, they're all gone, perfect timing, I can have some wine tomorrow … or not because there are two babies, who want their milk bar back. The doc said twenty-four hours after I had the last pill, I can breastfeed again. I might make it forty-eight hours only to be save."
"We have enough formula in the car, they won't starve."
"No, but they like me better than the formula."
"Of course they do, your milk is much nicer packed and delivered. I'd not waste a second on formula if I had you available."
"You have me available, all of me."
"Which I intend to use and savor. It's a shame I can't have you under the Christmas tree, as my presents, I unwrap you and … I have to stop, there are kids on the backseat."
"Yes, you should really stop." Sofia sighed. "Or we have to stop somewhere and explain the others why we need five minutes alone … or they won't need an explanation when they look at us. Not appropriate." One day she wanted a Christmas vacation with her lover alone. She loved their kids, more than her life, but a Christmas, where Sara could be her presents and she was Sara's presents and they unwrapped each other under the Christmas tree, had wild and sweet sex the whole night under the lights was … she had to stop thinking about it, it made her horny.
"I can read your mind."
"How do you like it?"
"A lot. Maybe we can make some of the ideas come true tonight. Depends on how the kids behave and how tired we are."
"I see you undressed and I'm not tired anymore. Your naked skin works better than coffee."
"Sounds familiar to me." Sara took Sofia's hand. They were lucky to be together, to be on their way to a lovely Christmas spot. In Lake Tahoe, in a villa, with snow. A lot of people would never have the chance to experience this, they were allowed to be this lucky, it was a gift.
The last time they came to Lou Lee's villa the fridge had been stocked and saved them a shopping trip, this time smoke out of the chimney greeted them and told them, the place would be lovely warm when they entered the building. Not a cold place, where they had to walk around with a coat for a while, no, they could feel warm and at home right away. Lou's housekeeper was great, Sofia didn't know this woman, but she felt grateful for what she did for them.
"Wow, that's a nice place." Marc said. "A huge house and an amazing view. We can see the lake."
"It's a half an hour walk to the town, but it's great." Sofia agreed.
"We can take skies or a sleigh. Suzy on a sleigh." Steve kissed his sister. "Do you want to sit on a sleigh and I pull you?"
"Yeah."
"Then we'll do that." He let her down in the snow. Immediately the little girl touched the white, cold snow and held it in her hand, fascinated how it melted.
"Cold."
"Yes, very cold. You need gloves, my Dear." Sara put some gloves on Susan's hands. "Now you can touch it and it's not cold." A promise her daughter believed and tried right away.
"Snow!"
"We can build a snowman tomorrow."
"Now."
"No, look it's almost dark, we can't build one today, I'm sorry."
Susan's face turned sad and she looked like she was about to cry any second.
"Or, we build a small one, little sis, and the big one tomorrow. How does that sound?" Steve asked.
"Yes!"
"Good, Eric, Jorja and Louise, why don't you join us? The five of us build four little snowmen man tomorrow we can build the big ones."
"Yeah!" Eric cheered. "Snowmen!"
"This way they won't be in your way." Steve smiled at his mother. "You can unload the car, I take care of the four and by the time everything is in the villa, we have the four snowmen, they're happy, won't cry and we can unpack in peace."
"Smart boy." Sara kissed his cheek. "I'm proud of you. Make sure they don't end up soaking wet."
"Sure, only building, no diving or swimming. Leave the dogs out too, I'm sure they prefer to inspect the area."
"Absolutely. Have an eye on them, I don't want them in the woods."
"Sure." Steve looked at the four children in front of him, all of them eager to build a snowman. "All right, lets start. First you need to make a ball out of snow…"
"One day he'll be a great father." Sofia got her arm around her wife.
"Yes, the woman who gets him, is a lucky woman. Like we're lucky to have him as our son."
"Thanks to you and your big heart."
"And the rest of my family, who greeted him with arms wide open."
"Stop talking, there's work to do!" Don called. "The trunks don't unload themselves. Move it, lazy ladies."
"True gentlemen would carry the luggage for us ladies."
"There are no true gentlemen left."
"I can see that." The blonde sighed. "Care to explore our room?"
"Sure. First we make sure the action star didn't hide cameras somewhere for his private porn show."
"He has no idea which room will be ours."
"The one in the middle, first floor. The king size bed, Steve and the twins are next to us in the twin room, so are Greg and Jules. We have to be close to the kids." Sofia's parents had the king sized bed on the second floor, Don and Tanya a twin room and so did Lauren and Leah.
The warmth greeted them and made them feel at home right away. The kitchen and living room area looked like the last time they had been here, except for a seven foot tall Christmas tree in front of the big windows, that faced the lake.
"Wow, nice. Santa can't miss this tree."
"Nope, he has to stop here, I want my presents." Tanya smirked.
"Your presents is here, my dear." Don grinned widely. "You can have it later, when we're alone."
"Somehow I'm having the feeling the presents will be more for him than for me."
"I'm sure you'll enjoy it too."
"Thanks God they stay not next to us." Sara said.
"As if you'd hear us, you have plans yourselves."
"Maybe."
"You do, I can see it in your eyes. You were undressing Sara while you were carrying the luggage and I'm sure when you're in your room, you throw her on the bed and will need some time before you come out there."
"A quickie? I like the idea - but may I remind you my parents are around and when the Captain realizes we enjoy our privacy instead of working, we'll be in trouble. So, no quickie." It was a shame there was no time for some sex. The kids were busy with the snowmen, the twins asleep and … all these things didn't matter.
"Okay, we need to organize a few things." Marie said when they had all their luggage in the villa.
"Mom, don't turn this into a boot camp."
"A boot camp would have done you some good, daughter. We're a big group, we need some rules and I know better than anybody else, you don't like rules. We need them anyway. First of all, we are eleven adults in the house, which means, we can divide the work between us. Two of us will be in charge for breakfast every day, the next two are in charge for the clean-up of the breakfast. Two do the shopping, three make sure the kids are looked after during preparation for breakfast, which means, they're dressed and washed their faces and hands before they come to breakfast. And two lucky ones have nothing to do, have the morning up. As we'll be out during the day, we need another list for the evening. Three for the kids, three for dinner, three for the shopping, two have the evening off. Not the same, who had the morning off. I prepared a list, you write your name down where you want to be. I don't want any cheats on the off list. Every third day."
"She has to make a police boot camp out of everything." Sofia sighed.
"But she has a point, we do have some works to do, this way we all have a morning or an evening off. Want to be on the off duty list with me?" Sara nibbled on the earlobe of her lover.
"Absolutely. Where do you want your name for tomorrow?"
"How about breakfast? The twins will be hungry anyway, so you, as their milk bar, should be available."
"I feed them, somebody else has to change them."
"Yes, because you have to help me with the breakfast."
"That somebody else has to buy and bring everything to the villa."
"One day I want a lazy vacation trip. Sleep in, stay in bed, have breakfast served, some time in a pool, a nap, private time in the room, dinner, dancing date, more private time."
"In eighteen years, when the twins are old enough to stay a week without us."
"Unless I'll have another baby sister or brother in between." Steve smirked.
"No, four kids are enough, we're done with family planning." Sara answered. "We have a great teenager boy, a little princess and two baby boys. You'll keep us busy for a while."
"We will. Are we going out tonight?"
"Aren't you tired from the long drive?"
"Depends on where we'd go."
"I think we stay at home. You, my little son, are not allowed to enter the casinos or bars. All you can do is order a pizza and play video games."
"Which is perfect in my opinion. Surely Tanya and Don will join me. How about you, mom?"
"I think tonight you're on your own, I'll feed your brothers and then go to bed. Tomorrow Santa will come and I'm sure it will be a busy day."
"Yeah, all the presents."
"Only for the good children, Santa doesn't have to carry a lot through the chimney here."
"Yeah, he has to use the big door for my presents."
"In your dreams, my boy, in your dreams."
"I wonder who is his present in his dreams." Sara grinned.
Steve rolled his eyes and got up. This was something, he didn't wish to discus with his mothers. He'd rather find his favorite spots on the work list of his grandmother. Shopping and looking after the kids sounded good, also preparing dinner, especially when he could do that with his grandfather. He loved learning how to prepare new dishes with Marc.
"Are the twins asleep?"
"Yes." Sara sat next to Jules. She and Don had taken Sandy and Saloso to bed. They had left a baby monitor in the room and took the other one with them. Don joined Tanya, Steve and Sofia at the Playstation, Greg played with Eric and Jorja the board game, they got from Sara and Sofia to their birthday while Marie and Marc played with Susan and Louise. Rantanplan and Scooby snored in front of the fire, they all settled down for the evening after dinner and little walk through the cold night.
"They like the tree, all the lights."
"All our kids like the tree, it's the place, where Santa leaves the presents. It's a magical place."
"A Christmas tree with all its lights and ornaments, is something magical. It makes you feel at home."
"Is there a psychological reason for that?"
"Of course, but I won't bother you with shrinky talk."
"You did five years ago." Sara smiled and shook her head. "I can't believe it has been over five years that I came to Los Angeles. All I wanted was a break between two excursions and what did happen? I got arrested and ended in therapy."
"You fell in love, got married, became a mother of four and a godmother."
"While you broke some rules and became the friend of a former patient. After you let her wait for a year."
"Sorry, some rules can't be broken right away."
"Is it bad to have me as a friend? Do you feel like you're my therapist?"
"No, I feel like you're my friend."
"I do ask you for advice every now and then."
"Friends do that."
"True. And I don't like your doctor friends."
"Neither does Tanya and I like her anyway."
"I did like Tanya right from the start."
"Of course, you're quite alike."
"You did like Greg right away."
"I did. He was cheeky, he was cute and he cared a lot for you. The fact, he worried this much told me right away, this man was not selfish, he was a great friend, he was capable of loving somebody else and was a person, you could rely on."
"Your knowledge of human nature is amazing, doctor Weinberg. I wonder why you still waste time with the arrogant and ignorant doctors you call friends."
"Because they are my friends and I barely see them. Compared to the time I spend with you, they almost never see me."
"Your kids like us more than them."
"My kids, especially my son, adores you. Like you adore him."
"Yes." Sara looked at Eric and smiled. Her big boy, her godson. He insisted on sitting next to her during dinner, told Sofia, she could share a bed with Sara, but he wanted to sit next to her and Susan had to on the other side, so she could sit in between her mothers. Such an adorable boy.
"Did you have nightmares at any time or are they completely gone?"
"The ones I had back then are gone, sometimes I dream of Sofia's accident, which feels worse than the old nightmares." Three and a half years after Sofia's accident, the brunette still woke up and had to check that her lover was next to her, alive and well.
"Did you have one the last weeks?"
"Yes." Whenever Sofia had problems with her stump, it reminded Sara of the accident and her mind went crazy. She hated it, hated Sofia knew why Sara had the nightmares and felt sorry because her wife felt sorry.
"It's normal, Sara. Sofia's life was at risk, you feared for her, our minds are mean sometimes, they make us suffer."
"Do you have nightmares?"
"I do. When the children were abducted I dreamed for a while these people got me, cut the twins out of me, or abducted them after their birth."
"Right." Sara took the hand of her friend. The children kidnapper had been in Jules's house, her friend could have become a victim of them, could have died. Her children could have been abducted, sold to strangers somewhere on another continent. The case had been a hard time for Jules.
"We're all fine, but it could have been different. We were lucky, we are here, our families are fine, we can spend a few days in this villa, have a Christmas together."
"How sad are you because your parents are not here?"
"It's strange to be away, but both have to work. It's my mom's last Christmas as a doctor, I wonder what she'll do when she retires next year."
"I can't see her retired. She'll continue to work, maybe not fulltime, but she can't stay at home. Same for your father."
"Dad has some hobbies, my mother's hobby is her job. She wouldn't stay at home to look after her grandchildren like your mother-in-law."
"Well, Marie loves her grandchildren, she moved to Los Angeles for them."
"And because of you and Sofia. Sofia's accident was a big shock for Marie too. It showed her how precious time with your children is."
"It is. I can see it on my children, when they're all at home, with me, I'm happy. Steve will leave soon for college and university, I'll blink twice and Susan will follow … they grow up too fast."
"Tell me about it. In a few years they don't want to spend Christmas with their old parents anymore. So not cool."
"Luckily Steve thinks family is cool."
"He doesn't take it for granted, knows life can be different."
"For years I was sure I don't need a family to be happy. I was so wrong."
"Sometimes we need some time to realize what we need, what makes us happy. You found out what you really want."
"Time with my family and my best friends."
"Looks like Santa fulfilled this wish already."
"He did and I'm glad he did. Come on, we join the gamblers."
"I don't play video games."
"Then it's about time you start it. We team up and show them how to play."
"Or how to lose."
"With you losing is like winning."
Jules laughed and kissed Sara's cheek. Half an hour couldn't hurt, then she had to take her children to bed - and herself too.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Sara pulled Sofia in her arms and kissed her passionately. Her hands ran down the back of the blonde, slipped under the blouse and caressed the soft skin. A soft moan escaped out of both mouths, Sara began to kiss down the throat of her lover, sucked softly on the pulse point. Finally alone, finally there was nothing, that stopped her from having her hands all over her wife, feeling her.
"I think Santa dropped my presents off, how nice of him, I'll unwrap it with gusto."
"I think he did the same for me. The whole evening I waited for the right moment to say, I'm tired without being too obvious why I really want to leave the group and go to bed. With you." Sofia opened the blouse of her lover and felt like a junkie, who could lay eyes on his drug after a long time suffering. Sara's skin, Sara's body, she so wanted this body under her, on top of her, next to her.
"They know why we left them, it was written all over our faces."
"I so don't care. This is our Christmas vacation, I know as parents we don't have the kind of Christmas singles have, but I insist of unwrapping you and playing with you; in a way that makes us both very sweaty and leaves us breathless next to each other in bed."
"You want to go for a run?" The brunette teased.
"I know a better way to burn calories and make you sweat."
"Do you?" Sara pushed Sofia onto the bed. "I think you're way too overdressed for a sweaty date." She opened the button of the blonde's jeans and pulled the black fabric down. Conveniently she also pulled down the slip of her lover. Why bother with it separately when she could lose it together with the jeans? Fabrics were between her and Sofia, so they were in the way.
"Oh, you're saving time."
"Yes, I thought I can use the time for something else." She took Sofia's left leg in her hands and undid the prosthesis. Softly she stroke over the stump and kissed it. It had taken Sofia a while before she could relax when Sara did this. The idea her lover saw her stump, saw the scars, could realize how incomplete she was, scared Sofia. A lot of talking and kissing had been necessary to make her understand, Sara didn't care, that she loved Sofia for what she was as a person and not for her body - although she adored the body of the blonde.
"I can smell your arousal." Sara grinned.
"Then why do you waste time?"
"Because I like to see you suffer - in this case." Sara moved up to kiss her lover, who used the chance to pull off the blouse and bra. Not only Sara could make two pieces of clothes disappear at once. Now they were even, Sofia was naked below her bellybutton, Sara above.
"Perfect, when you can do what I did to you and I do what you did to me, we're naked; just what I wanted the whole day."
"Tell me about it." Sara took the chance to pull of the blonde's blouse. "Now there's somebody happy to be free." Sara cupped the Sofia's nipple, which stood up high, with her lips and sucked on it.
"Gosh, that's almost perfect." The blonde moaned.
"Only almost? Let's see if we get it perfect." Sara's hand moved south and when she found the wet and heat between her lover's legs, the blonde moaned louder. Nervously Sofia tried to unbutton the jeans of her lover. Sara had clothes on, any kind of clothes was too much and in her way.
"I love you."
"Love you too."
"Get out of these jeans."
"Nobody wants to help me."
"I do, but I'm too weak … don't stop."
"I have to or I'll never lose my jeans." Sara pulled the blonde on top of her, her hands only on the blonde's back now.
"Get out of them, I want you and I need and I'm not sure, which one is more urgent." Sofia ripped off Sara's jeans and as soon as her wife was naked, she entered her with two fingers and silenced her moan with a hot and furious kiss.
