A/N: Here's Chapter 9! Wow, I did not think I would get it out this weekend, because my laptop was being really stupid this weekend. Anyways, hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 9: Christmas Time at the Warbucks House
Grace's side of the family was arriving the week of Christmas to spend time with their family fot the holiday. Grace and Oliver were very busy the week before trying to get the house prepared, buy Christmas presents, and interview homeschool teachers for Molly. Both girls were really shocked to hear that Oliver and Grace were going through with the homeschooling plan. Grace knew that they'd be sad and dissapointed, but she also knew, that in a long run, it was really benefit Molly. Because of all the things that were happening the week before Christmas, Grace was stressed. She couldn't wait to be surrounded by her loved ones and be able to forget about everything, even if it was only for a little while. Jennifer, Kathryn and Jacob were arriving on the Monday before Christmas, which landed on a Friday that year. Melissa, Alexander, and Christopher were arriving the day after, and then Emily on Wednesday. The girls were very excited to see their cousins, aunts, uncle, and grandmother again, as well as celebrate their first Christmas with a family. Grace and Oliver were trying their best to buy the greatest presents they could for them.
On the Monday before Christmas, Grace, Annie and Molly went to the airport to pick Jen, Kathryn, and Jacob up. It had been snowing lightly that day and Grace had been worried that their flight was going to be cancelled. They were lucky, though, as their flight was only delayed about twenty minutes. They family took turns gretting eachother when they did land and then went back to the mansion. Annie, Molly, Kathryn, and Jacob went outside to play in the snow and Grace and Jennifer sat in the kitchen, sipping tea. Jennifer noticed that her sister was a little distracted.
"Grace? What's wrong?" Jenn asked her little sister.
"Huh? Oh, it's nothing," Grace waved her hand dissmissively.
"Grace, please tell me. You can tell me anything,"
Grace sighed. "It's nothing that concerns you, really. It's just that parenting is so, so stressful,"
Jen nodded. "What, in particular, is stressful?"
"Making sure that the girls are doing well in school and doing almost everything for them. I love them so much, but it just gets hard,"
"Anything else?" Jen asked, sensing that there was something more.
"I don't know if I told you or not, but Molly has Dyslexia and because of it, Oliver and I are homeschooling her. It's just so hard to find a good teacher and give her a good education. I know it's not her fault, but it's just so sterssful,"
"Gracie, I'm really proud of you already for being so strong. This is just a part of parenting, and you can't bypass it. You are a wonerful mother, Grace,"
Grace nodded, walking over to her sister and hugging her. "Thanks, Jen,"
"Of course,"
The sisters went back to talking and catching up. Grace was so happy to have her sister with her and be able to spend Christmas with her. It was the first Christmas in at least five years that they had all been together.
The next day found the family at the airport once again to pick up Melissa, Alexander, and Christopher. After they got picked up, they all went ice skating. It was another first for the girls, but they got the hang of it fairly quickly. At first, Melissa, Jennifer, and Grace sat and talked while the children skated, but then they got roped into skating themselves. They spent the whole afternoon at the skating rink and then went to go get hot chocolate.
"What time is Grandmom coming in tomorrow?" Annie asked while they were enjoying their drinks.
"I'm not quite sure yet, but early in the afternoon,"
"I can't wait for Christmas," Molly said.
Grace pulled her youngest daughter into her lap and kissed the top of her head. "I know you can't, sweetheart. You girls will have so much fun"
Molly smiled and kissed her mother's cheek. The family finished their drinks and then went back to the mansion. The children went upstairs to play and Grace helped her sister unpack. Grace was so happy to have her sisters with her for the holidays and it made her feel so blessed to have a family. Grace went to her and Oliver's room afterwards. Oliver pulled her into his arms.
"Are you happy to have your family with you?" He asked.
"Very. The girls are so happy to be with their cousins and I am so glad to have my sisters with me. When are we going to meet your family?"
Oliver's smile faded. "I don't know if you ever will. My family and I have been estranged for years, I just think it would hurt too much to bring them back into the picture."
Grace kissed him lightly. "If you really love them, you should try to get to know them again,"
"Maybe one day,"
Annie and Molly burst into their room. "Dinner's ready!" Molly said.
"Thanks, sweetheart," He swopped her up and kissed her forehead.
The family went downstairs and joined Grace's relatives at the table. Seeing Grace so happy with her family made Oliver miss his, but he knew it was too late to try and make amends. He would just try to live with what he had.
Christmas morning dound the children of the Warbucks and Farrel side of the family up very early. Annie was really excited to celebrate her first Christmas and get presents. She had been too excited to sleep the night before, but then eventually fell asleep around eleven. Molly came into her room ans six thirty and woke her up.
"Annie, Annie! It's Christmas!"
Annie sat up, feeling half asleep. "I know it is, Molly. Merry Christmas."
Molly hopped up onto the bed and hugged her sister. "Merry Christmas! C'mon, I bet we have presents downstairs!"
"I'm sure we do, Molly, but it's really early still. I think we're probably the only ones awake right now,"
"Oh," Molly said.
Annie smiled at her sister, understanding her excitement. "Come join me," She said, scooting over. Molly joined her sister under the covers and they waited to hear sounds of others being awake. Around eight, Grace popped her head into Annie's room.
"Good morning, girls. Merry Christmas!"
Molly jumped out of Annie's bed and ran to hug her mother. "Merry Christmas, Mommy!"
Grace picked her daughter up. "Merry Christmas, baby. I love you,"
"I love you, too,"
They went downstairs and joined the rest of their family at breakfast. Emily had arrived two days earlier and was enjoying the company of her grandchildren. Mrs. Pugh had made pancakes and eggs for breakfast. Afterwards, the family gathered in the main hallway for presents. There was a gigantic pile of them underneath the tree and the girls' eyes lit up at the sight of this. There were just so many presents. Grace and Oliver looked at the girls lovingly as they got excited over the various presents they recieved. It snowed about three feet on Christmas, so after all the presents had been opened, they all went outside to play. Grace loved spending time with her family and felt just so blessed to have the family that she did. She only wished that she had found her daughters sooner. True, she had missed a few milestones in their lives, but she was able to spend the rest of her life with them. She loved them to the ends of the Earth and was so glad that they had come into her life.
