Chapter 7: A Family Christmas
It is the day before Christmas, and the goddesses and Keiichi are preparing to make this the best for the newest member of their family: Yuki.
"Urd…could you please pass me the tinsel?" Belldandy asked as she continued to decorate the tree.
"Of course." Urd smiled as she passed up the aforementioned item.
While the two eldest goddesses were decorating, Skuld was helping to get Yuki ready for the holidays.
"There we go! All set! Don't you look just adorable Yuki?" She squealed as she lifted the baby above her head.
The little babe was sporting a blue onesie and a pair of red felt antlers on her head. Yuki cooed curiously as she observed the others getting ready for Christmas. She then squealed happily as Holy Bell picked her up, tickling the baby with her soft wings.
"Seems Holy Bell is more concerned with Yuki than helping us Belldandy." Urd laughed as she watched the scene fondly.
"As if World of Elegance is any better Urd."
The two angels were cooing at the baby as the goddesses observed their antics, rather than helping with the decorating.
"Okay you two…we have work to do." Urd laughed as she removed the baby from them, cuddling her close.
The two angels pouted but went off, leaving Urd with Yuki. The baby started to fuss and whimper, squirming a bit in Urd's arms.
"What is it Yuki? Are you hungry?" Urd cooed as she went into the kitchen.
Yuki was soon suckling contentedly from a bottle as the rest continued on. Urd felt at peace as she fed the baby, thinking this is how it ought to be.
'I feel so blessed to have this little miracle here…too bad this won't last forever.'
Just as she finished burping Yuki…
"Hello everyone! Now where is my precious little granddaughter so I can smother her with affection?" Hild announced as she came into the room, Mara following close behind with several presents in tow.
"Welcome Lady Hild, would like some tea?" Belldandy smiled as she finished sticking a star on the tree.
"No thank you Bell dear, all I'm here for is the impossible cuteness that is my grandchild." Hild cooed as she tickled the baby's belly.
"Cut that out! I just fed her, and the last thing I need is to have her throw up on me." Urd scolded as she held Yuki protectively from her mother.
"I just can't help myself, she's just so adorable." Hild sighed as she stroked Yuki's head.
"Lady Hild…where should I put these?" Mara groaned as she tried to keep the stack balanced.
"Just set them on the table my dear Mara."
The first class demon put down the gifts before turning to look at Yuki. The baby babbled happily as she held her arms out to Mara, positively struggling to get to her. Urd had to laugh; her baby wanted to be held by a demon, and one that had previously kidnapped her before at that.
"Seems she wants you Mara." Urd sighed as she passed the baby to Mara, lovingly patting her head of dark hair.
Mara cradled Yuki gently, smiling toothily as she allowed the baby to tug at her blond locks.
"She really is cute…kinda makes me want to have a baby too." Mara laughed, pressing Yuki's nose like a button.
"Indeed she is adorable my dear Mara! Senbei is so enraptured by this little innocent!" Senbei squealed, floating near Yuki.
The baby stared at the floating god of misfortune before laughing, grabbing Senbei before proceeding to stretch him like a piece of taffy.
"Ouch! Someone help moi!" He wailed as Mara laughed at him.
"She's just a baby Senbei, she doesn't know better." She cackled as she pried him from the baby's grip.
Hild watched the exchange interestedly before turning to Urd.
"Are you sure you don't want me to teach Yuki a few tricks?"
"Absolutely not. And what is with these presents anyway?"
"Just a few early Christmas presents for my favorite granddaughter."
"She's your only granddaughter."
"Same difference."
Urd cautiously opened the first one, peeling away the green paper like it was a bomb. She opened the box and pulled out a stuffed toy…or at least that's what she thought it was. It looked like a toy dragon, only this one looked like it came from crossing Godzilla with Smaug from The Hobbit
"I made it myself." Hild smiled as she offered the toy to Yuki, the baby staring at it curiously from Mara's arms.
"Like she's honestly going to…"
"Goo!"
Urd looked to see that Yuki was now cuddling the toy fondly, drooling on one of its ears.
"Well what do you know."
"See Urddy? She knows what she likes, she will make a wonderful demon."
"And I've told you she is not going to be trained as a demon."
"I don't know…she would be great at it I think."
Urd just huffed angrily as she took Yuki from Mara, the baby already attached to her new toy.
"I plan to raise Yuki as a normal human."
"Oh Urddy, that is impossible. After all…her mama is a goddess." Hild smirked as Urd completely ignored what her mother said.
Yuki babbled as she waved her toy around, completely clueless about the whole situation. As soon as the two demons left, Urd decided it was time for Yuki to take a nap. Just as she placed the blanket over Yuki's body, she tried to take the toy from the baby. Yuki whined as she held tight to her prize, refusing to let go.
"Okay, you can have it…don't blame me if it gives you nightmares young lady." Urd sighed, poking Yuki's nose affectionately.
The baby just yawned squeakily before closing her eyes.
'Sleep well my little one.' Urd smiled as she closed the door.
By dinnertime, everything was ready. Skuld was performing the task of feeding Yuki, cooing practically nonstop as the baby suckled from the bottle.
"She's so cute."
"She sure is…" Keiichi sighed, patting Yuki's head.
The babe just continued sucking on her bottle, content for the moment. As soon as she'd been burped, Yuki played with Urd's long white hair, babbling nonsense.
"Uh…Urd, I have something to say." Keiichi coughed as the elder goddess gazed at Yuki fondly.
"Yes Keiichi?"
"I've…decided that Yuki can stay." He smiled humbly before being tackled by Skuld.
"Really Keiichi? Yuki can stay?"
"Yes she can stay…I guess I've just grown attached to her, and I kinda like being called Uncle Keiichi." He stated, stroking Yuki's head.
"This is wonderful Keiichi!" Belldandy gushed as she took up Yuki, gently rubbing her cheek against the baby's.
"Yay! Yuki gets to stay!" Skuld cheered as she, surprisingly, gave Keiichi a hug.
"Keiichi, I'm so happy I could kiss you!" Urd exclaimed.
Belldandy looked at her elder sister, 'You wouldn't.' written on her face.
"Relax Belldandy, I'd never do that to you." Urd smiled as she took Yuki into her arms.
Keiichi tickled Yuki's belly fondly, the baby laughing cutely before being snuggled against Urd.
"This is a great early Christmas present." She cooed, rubbing noses with Yuki.
Fast forward to Christmas Day…
"Good morning Yuki, time to wake up." Belldandy cooed as she lifted Yuki from her crib.
Yuki whined as the goddess patted her back, trying to rouse her from sleep.
"Please wake up Yuki, you can't miss Christmas Day."
The baby just curled into the goddess's neck, refusing to wake.
"Let me take her Belldandy." Urd smiled, taking her adoptive daughter.
Urd patted Yuki's back, the baby whining loudly in protest.
"Come on Yuki, you must be hungry."
At the mention of food, Yuki opened her eyes, cooing at the elder goddess.
"I swear as soon as I mention food, Yuki's bright and awake." Urd laughed, nuzzling the baby.
"That just means she has a healthy appetite Urd." Belldandy smiled as they entered the kitchen.
As soon as the group had eaten, Keiichi brought out the gifts.
"This is really amazing, most of it is for Yuki." He laughed, separating the presents.
"That just means everyone loves her." Skuld smiled as she took one gift for herself.
"Tell me about it, just look what Tamiya and Otaki gave her."
Keiichi smiled as he saw the pink tricycle his two sempais had put together for the babe. On it was a note that said…
Morisato,
Take care of this bike until Yuki's old enough to ride.
Tamiya and Otaki.
Among the gifts for Yuki included a few dolls, clothes, and baby necessities. Just as the goddesses thought they were done with gifts, Keiichi passed a flat one to Urd.
"Here Urd…I think you might like it."
Urd took it and carefully pulled away the paper, smiling as she saw what it was.
"Thanks Keiichi."
It was a picture frame, and inside was a picture of the five together. Keiichi was sitting next to Belldandy, Skuld was on his right, and Urd was on Belldandy's left, holding Yuki. At the top of the frame were the words "Our Happy Family".
"What a thoughtful gift." Belldandy smiled, touching the glass.
Yuki was gazing at the picture curiously, reaching out a little hand. Urd smiled as she rubbed her hand over Yuki's head, feeling at peace.
That night…
"Her first Christmas with us is no doubt her best." The elder goddess said as she put up the photo in her room.
Dragonlover71491: Sorry about the wait, writer's block. But next chapter will be set in Spring, and a familiar face is going to pop up.