"Carol Diaz!" Marco yelled.
He saw his little girl, in front of his office door, propped up on a footstool. She must have drag it from the living room downstairs.
She was at it again. Trying to get into the only room she wasn't allowed in. Only five years old and had already begun to break the simplest of rules. And went to such lengths to do so too. If she could only divert that passion to a much less dangerous endeavor.
"Didn't I tell you not to go into my office?" He scolded carrying her daughter in his arms. Not allowing her to run away.
"I wassint!" She pouted.
Not just breaking the rules but lying? But of course, she was his little miss troublemaker after all. Her mother's influence no doubt. Or were those type of genes naturally flowed through her? Fortunately for Marco, she also inherited something from him. His terrible abilities at lying. As her amber eyes darted around whenever she was nervous about being caught.
But how was she planning to get in? It was locked and he always kept the key in his back pocket for this very reason. But she would always find a way. And sure enough, Marco saw something poking out of her little green beanie. He took it off her head. As she struggled to keep it on and ultimately yielded. And inside it was a small wooden box. A familiar box. Because it was his lock picking kit.
She hid behind her dark chestnut hair that draped over her face. A slight guilt from being caught. How she kept getting a hold of his lock picking tools, he would never know. He tried keeping it away from her. But somehow, she would always find them. One would think that experiencing the same deal with her mother for many years, would make it a lot easier to find a solution. But he never could. Now even his five year-old outsmarted him. Maybe he could try giving the box to her mother instead.
"Sweetie, what did I say about why you shouldn't go inside my office?" Marco asked as he pocketed the kit.
"Because your job shtuffs in there?" She said with her eyes so big begging for forgiveness. But Marco saw those eyes many times before. Pleading innocence, pulling the heartstrings of the judge and jury. If only she hadn't pulled the same string so much it worn out. But not too much.
"And why aren't you supposed to play inside?" He interrogated.
"'Cause I'd get hurt."
"So why are you trying to get in?"
"'Cause I wanna be like Daddy!" She cheered. A joyous smile almost blushing in its purity. A radiant glow that warms the heart. Her bright brown eyes brimming with childlike innocence. But again, those same eyes darted around. Manipulative little darling. She truly was her mother's daughter. Thinking she might get away using flattery. Playing daddy's little girl. If only she didn't inherit something else from him. His inability to know when to quit.
"Nice try, Sweetie, but that won't work on me." He chuckled gently tapping her nose for emphasis. "Remember when you scrape your elbow and how it hurts?"
"Yes." She sheepishly responded checking her elbow. Believing that her mere thought would manifest the scape.
"And do you want that to happen again?"
"No." She responded even quieter than before.
"Then promise me I won't catch you trying this again," Marco suggested.
"I pwomis I won't get caught!" She chuckled facing him with that mischievous grin.
"Sweetie, that's not what I meant." He sighed. "No more sneaking in that room, okay?"
"Okay!" She happily agreed.
He dressed her beanie back on her head and she joyfully readjusted it helping her father put it right. A beanie special to her because it once belonged to her mother.
But that wasn't the only one handed down to her. On top of the sweater, she wore was a pair of overalls. Blue in color with a faded rainbow patch up front. Hand-me-downs her grandmother gave from when her father was her age. Marco didn't even know his mother kept them for so long. It was Carol's gift from last Christmas. So a full year ago.
It was Christmas time at the Diaz residences. Marco was getting the guestrooms ready for his parent's visit. They were staying with them up until the new year. A tradition they'd stuck to and have yet broken. It was one of the few times they get to see each other personally. Because his parents were spending most of their retirement traveling like they had always planned. Seeing sights unseen and places unexplored.
And maybe the reason why his mother kept his old clothes was to anchor them home. To a relished past. And by the time Carol outgrew the overalls, her grandmother might want to hand it down to the next child.
"Why are you up here anyway?" Marco asked as he, with his other hand, picked up the footstool his daughter dragged upstairs. "Weren't you playing with your little brother?"
"I am!" She declared. "He's distracting Auntie Heckipoo for me!"
So that's how she got this far in her plan. The family had grown close to Heckapoo over the years. It wasn't that much of a surprise, since she helped them settle into her home dimension.
Heckapoo was invited to their dinner celebrations. But got here earlier because she loved playing with the kids. She would look after them from time to time. And often insisted on doing so herself. She had a soft spot for these kids. Especially the youngest.
Mackie Keats, the baby among the Diaz siblings. A chubby little runt, about a year or so old. With wide eyes brimming with curiosity and innocence. Whose giggles erupt with such infectious joy. Hekapoo would often tickle his little fat belly just to hear it.
He was named after Mackie Hand, Marco's favorite actor/martial artist and John Keats, the 19th-century poet that Janna had a crush on in her youth. A few memories of their past. A reminder of their previous life. Where they came from. Because they can't, in good conscience, ever return.
Because time moved differently in this dimension. What took years here would take mere minutes back home. And if they return, they would return to the state they left. They didn't know what state that would leave their kids. And they didn't want to find out.
Carol snuggled herself in the sweater her father wore. Feeling warm, cozy and safe. Sometimes Marco wondered what it would be like to raise her back on earth. Would it have been better if they did? Maybe she would find a few more friends that looked like her. To relate with and maybe share her interest. Then again, how many five-year-olds were interested in lock picking? Worse still how many five-year-olds could she influence?
"Come on, Let's go back to the others," Maco said. "Don't want you hiding around here when grandma and grandpa come."
Marco, with little Carol in his arm and the stool in the other, descended the stairs and into their living room. And if he somehow had forgotten, this room would have been blaring out to him that it was the holidays.
Garlands decorated with poinsettias and ribbons lined where their walls and ceiling met. Christmas lights strung about them and flickered their rhythmic patterns. Music played throughout the room. A Christmas cassette tape his father brought from earth.
And at a corner stood the tree they decorated as a family. The tree that's more of a tall shrub since the familiar conical pine didn't grow in this dimension. And none looked close enough. Marco tried building a replica one Christmas but carpentry wasn't his best skill. If what he did was considered a skill at all. He'd nearly forgotten how it looked like. But he remembered never to do it again.
This tree, however, was at least presentable. Ornaments hung on any branch they could find. A long piece of ribbon wrapped itself around. And a star of sorts stood somewhere on top. It wasn't the picturesque tree they had hoped. But it was the tree they made year after year.
He set the footstool down by the fireplace. Where their stockings hung ready to be filled with sweets and treats come Christmas day. And a fire burned trying its best to fight the cold outside.
It was as if he was sent back to his childhood home. And if it wasn't for Heckapoo, sitting on their couch, entertaining baby Mackie, He would have believed they were still on earth.
The pale skinned vixen with starking red hair had the youngest Diaz in her lap. Entertaining him with a stuffed dinosaur while singing to him a silly song. She didn't even realize half the things she was saying. And as it went on, she put on a goofier and goofier voice. She felt a little foolish doing it. But little Mackie still clapped to the rhythm as best as he could. And he bounced around wanting to dance. And his laugh. That sweet infectious laugh. Giggling with the simplest of joys. Pure and innocent.
He looked up at her, eyes brimming with curiosity. Heckapoo wondered what the child might be thinking. If he would recognize her or if he was curious on who this large woman was with his dinosaur friend. Then he gave her a smile. A smile of familiarity. A smile that warms her heart. She kissed him on the forehead, as a response to that adorableness. Their kind of sweetness and wide-eyed wonder. Potentials untapped. Future unwritten.
She enjoyed these moments. Even if she had lived many millenniums before them and many millenniums more after. And maybe one day, she'll forget about them. Like how she had almost forgotten about Marco. Because to him, they met only decades before but to her, it had been forever. Time moves differently here after all. And time felt different to her. She'd live a thousand years and what happened a month ago seemed inconsequential. Like how one would think of the mundanity of the previous minute. And maybe the next time she blinked, baby Mackie might be grown-up. Someday he'll be having adventures of his own, that doesn't include his Auntie Heckapoo. But that day wasn't today. And today, her world was sweet and innocent.
"You really seem great with kids, H-poo," Marco asked as he sat down the couch beside her. "Ever considered having your own?"
"Yeah, well, I-um, I don't know." She stuttered, being unable to prevent her embarrassment from soaring to her cheeks.
She had considered the idea now and then. But never really took it seriously. And how her lifespan worked, she wondered if she could even handle raising a child. To see them grow-up more quickly than her. She didn't even know for sure that she could bare a child her own. To have a child with someone.
She fell in love with someone at one point. Though, not so much love but a deep admiration. And even made her consider settling down. But to her, that kind of love was both received and given. But she received none. For that someone was in love with another. And they were very happy together. She couldn't bare destroying that happiness for her own desire. And besides, she never cared for some of their annoying quirks.
"Don't call me H-poo, Marco." Heckapoo reminded.
Carol stole little Mackie's attention from their auntie. And he eagerly wanted to play with his big sister. A game of picaboo delighted him. But Heckapoo didn't mind it one bit. That they would rather play with one another than with her. Because she knew what it's like having someone close as a sister.
"I thought you were helping Janna out?" Marco asked.
"Oh, One is helping Jan out in the kitchen." She answered him.
Heckapoo was fond of dividing herself into clones. Either for the company or for the convenience when accomplishing a work. Typically, she would number them off. To differentiate each one and to keep herself from referring to herself by name. Much less confusing that way. Though the funny thing with clones was, they tend to have independence.
"I blame you for this!" The clone shouted.
She came bursting through the front door and slamming it behind her. As if terrified on what followed.
"I thought you said you could handle Nachos, Two?" Hekapoo smirked oozing sarcasm in her tone.
Two leaned against the door with arms spread apart preventing the dreaded Nachos from entering. It slammed against the door again and again but Two still held on. Up until a portal, a tear through spacetime, appear right beside her. Two ran as quickly as she could. And out from the Portal popped a Dragoncycle. Dragon-motorcycle hybrid, with a dragon's body and wheels attached to its feet. The dreaded Nachos.
"Heel girl! Heel!" Two pleaded.
But the dragon didn't heed those words and instead pounce on her prey. Two went headlong to the floor, allowing the dragon to land on top of her. And they landed in front of the warm and cozy fireplace. Causing the dragon give in to that warmth and rest her weary self. Completely forgetting about the one underneath her.
"Why on earth did we gave her dimensional claws!" The defeated Two lamented as she pushed the resting dragon on top of her away. "Get off me! Help! Two down! Two down!"
This brought a small chuckle to Marco. Imagining what the neighbors would think if this had happened on earth. The local news station might have secured their bonuses for years to come. Following the yearly antics of the strange Diaz household. That would have been quite awful.
It was hard for both Janna and Marco to return. When they were younger, they spent a good amount of time here. And they saw opportunities they didn't find on earth. So when it was time for both of them to set off on their own path, they decided to venture to something new but familiar.
Marco discussed it with his parents and they readily gave their blessings. They only wanted what's best for their son. Although, they also wanted to retire to somewhere exotic and another dimension was as exotic as it gets. So they decided to move to where Marco was going. His parents spent most of their time exploring this new land, seeing sights they've never seen before. Seeing things they never knew was even possible. Every now and then they came to visit. Spend time with the family, and regale tales of their travel. At least, the kids had their grandparents.
Janna's experience, however, was a bit harder. She hadn't really talked about the magic stuff and her dangerous adventures with them. So it took some time to explain everything. Things got heated for a while before everything calmed down. But in the end, she got her parents' blessings. Her parents retired back to the Philippines since most of their family were there. And they got the deed to her father's childhood home, when her grandmother passed away. Bless her soul. Janna was there for the funeral. And almost had doubts about leaving earth altogether. Leaving this part of her life. But her grandmother wouldn't want that of her. That she would stifle her own opportunities.
Though, nowadays most of her interaction with her parents was through an intertemporal communication device, a video call through spacetime. A device her colleagues were developing as she was offering them data on quality of life test runs. Ensuring that this product was easy to use for anyone.
Janna worked for the research and development department under the High Commision for Magic. Which she got a few laughs out of thinking that one of her bosses was her kid's part-time babysitter. In her field, she found a practical use for her love of the occult and witchcraft. Working on a variety of potions and a few ritual spells. Sometimes it's for healing. Other times it was for contacting the dead. Or something else the department wanted to figure out.
Marco, meanwhile, rekindled his former survival skills. Those acquired during their previous time here. And so now, he worked contractually as a bounty hunter of sorts. Performing various available odd jobs. Which was often, but not limited to, shadowing a target, eliminating nuisances and hunting for pelts or meat. And that's if he's not running a few errands or doing work for Heckapoo.
The best thing about both of their jobs was giving them flexibility in raising their two kids in such a relatively hostile dimension. Janna's usual workload became mundane enough that she can practically do it in her sleep. Freeing up most of her energy for the kids. And Marco's contractual work allows him to pick and choose the jobs that best suited his schedule. Which often leads to Marco doing most of the household chores. Especially, keeping their home neat and orderly. Well, as neat and orderly as having two kids could allow. But his most cherished space was the kitchen. Where he would prepare the most delicious meals for his family. Where plates, pots, and utensils placed in its rightful place, orderly and with purpose. Where his workflow was safe, predictable and efficient.
Which made it so satisfying for Janna to disrupt that precious order. Rearranging certain items, Using her womanly charm to disrupt his workflow, Letting their cute little kids help with the food and intrude upon the sanctity of his space. The befuddlement, the shock, the disarray of what should and should not be. The melody of his confusion. Played with her harmony of disruption. And Marco just played his part. He let a little bit of his control go and gave it to her. To tune his melody with her harmony. To play their song. A song they've played ever since they were little. A song only they could appreciate. A carol they loved.
"Nacho gonna get you!?" Yelled Carol jumping on the dragon's back.
"Carol! No. no, no! Help Auntie!" Two begged. Yet like the dragon before, Carol didn't heed her Auntie's words.
The Diaz's grew accustomed to the life in Heckapoo's home dimension. Their new home dimension. And this Christmas season, it was like any other. During the holidays it was Janna's turn to command the kitchen. And being in another dimension, traditions needed to change.
"I'll go check on Janna," Marco said as he got up. "Keep an eye on Carol, would you?"
Marco made his way to the kitchen. But then Carol got up from the dragon. Being bored that all Nachos want to do now was rest. And so she chased after her father, to see if anything exciting was going on there.
"Where are you going?" Heckapoo asked grabbing little Carol's arm as she walked past the couch.
"I wanna go to the kitchen!" Carol responded.
"Best not to bother your mother right now!"
"But I wanna go!" She insisted. "One will still be there. You'd still be watching me!"
Heckapoo contemplated her proposal for a bit but couldn't quite concentrate. Because of two's incessant calls for much-needed help.
"Help." She yelled. "Get her off!"
Heckapoo laid little Mackie safely on the couch. She then got up to help Two but accidentally dropped the stuffed toy. Mackie tried to reach for it but his friend was too far down. Though Carol, upon seeing her little brother struggle, picked the stuffed dino up and gave it to him before running to her father.
The living room connected to the dining room without any separation between them. And on the table laid their feast for the celebration. Most were traditional meals from their new home dimension. Others were the closest approximation of the food they had back on earth. Janna even tried to recreate the Diaz's special Leche Flan. A dangerous endeavor, but much less so about the food.
The only thing missing was their traditional Christmas roast. A roasted Kilamaro beast. Though, they nicknamed it as boar because it tastes a bit like pork. And for Marco it was still a bugger to hunt. Put up quite a fight, too. And as though it was to battle, the same could be said about cooking it.
Marco went into the kitchen and saw his little girl running past him. He really couldn't keep her in one place for too long. He took a look around and saw that Janna was putting the final touches on the roast boar. But the kitchen was in such disarray.
"You okay here, Hon? Want me to help you out?" Marco offered.
"And have you ratting me out to your Mom? No way, Dear." Janna debated.
"Didn't know you were this scared of Angie," One chimed in.
Because the last time Janna tried preparing a meal for them. Marco helped out. And Angie noticed. Janna didn't know how but she did. Marco tried to downplay what he did, to help his wife out with his mom but he was a bad liar. Angie's smug look etched itself in Janna's mind. As if to say that she wasn't good enough for her son. Still holding on to that notion of once a troublemaker, always a troublemaker. Janna never shook that impression off, not with her.
They once played with the idea of having his parents live with them. But those few times didn't bode so well.
"Scared? Nah. I'm doing this my own way!" She declared. "This will be the best darn Noche Buena she had and will ever have! Let's just see what dear 'ol Mom would say about this!"
"I didn't know you're still trying to impress them?" Marco chuckled. He approached his poor troubled wife and massaged her shoulders to release the tension. "Relax, Jan. Their just my parents."
"Impress them? I didn't say that. Not doing that this late in the game. Besides, you know they don't like me. They never liked me. They liked Star better." She said flatly with a hint of a comedic slant. But there was a slight disappointment in her tone that she desperately tried to hide. Though, it was slight enough that Maco noticed.
"Well, I still chose you didn't I?" He said wrapping his arms around and bringing her closer to him.
"You chose wrong, Diaz." She said as the corners of her lips lifted up. Much like all her woes and concerns.
She turned to face him. Marco Diaz, trying to play his little harmony of compassion. A harmony he sang it so sweet. His warmth melting away any fear and doubt she had. Made her want to hear more.
"If I were you I'd chose a Queen." She continued. "And a castle full of people at my beck and call. I like to see your mother criticize someone's cooking if she can't figure out who did it."
"Lucky you." He whispered. "You're not me. Because it feels so good being wrong."
Oh, how it feels so good. He looked into her deep amber eyes and see that certainty pouring through. A radiant glow so strong it would cast light on any shadow that formed their way. He was lucky to even find her.
"Just call me lady luck then," Janna smirked.
They leaned in for a kiss. A passion exchanged. A fire that burned through their years and for years to come. A world they created with one another. Though, their world grew larger as time passed by.
"Yuckie!" Carol squinted.
"I second that." One sneered in a soured tone.
The front doorbell rang yanking everyone to return to this reality. The reality where a Christmas celebration was about to begin.
"Grandma! Grandpa!" Carol cheered as she rushed out the kitchen door and into the living room.
"Guess they're here already," Janna said. "Could you place the boar at the table, Dear?"
"No prob." Marco agreed. He lifted their main dish and set it on the table outside.
In the kitchen, only Janna and One remained. Janna looked around and saw the messed she left. Dirty pots and pans littered the sinks and remnants of discarded waste scattered without a care. It looked more like an aftermath of a hurricane disaster than a dinner preparation. And she could already hear her mother-in-law's comments rattling inside her head. Her many many comments.
"Hey, boss?" She said turning to Heckapoo. "Two weeks overtime without pay? If you help cleaning' up a bit."
"Easy." Heckapoo bragged as she whistled outside. "You know, Jan. I would have settled for far less."
"And I was willing to offer far more." She said underneath her breath as she walked out the door.
She left her boss to their own devices. As one by one the clones rushed in. No less than 5 or 6, Janna didn't bother counting but she did feel Heckapoo overdid it a bit.
Janna then made her way to the living room. She went past Heckapoo struggling to pry Two from underneath the sleeping dragon. And focus her attention on little Mackie playing by himself. The little boy dropped his toy friend as soon as he saw his mother approaching. He lifted up both his arms as best as he could, trying to ask the grown-up to carry him.
Janna cradled her baby boy in her arms as she went to answer the door. Carol was already in front of it but her small stature prevented her from doing anything. She kept jumping, hoping to reach the doorknob high above. But try as she might, she couldn't quite come up to it. She had to wait for her mother to actually open the door. As her father ran behind them.
"Merry Christmas!" The visitors cheered.
Raphael and Angie Diaz, stood in the doorway, dressed in their Christmas attire. With tacky sweaters they found no shame in presenting. Hugs and kisses were exchanged as they were invited into the warm house. Marco hurriedly brought his parents bags inside so he could close the door shut. Not allowing the warm air to escape and keep the cold out.
"Grampa!" Carol greeted.
"Ah, la nieta, come here!" Raphael said as he crouched down to give the girl a hug. He was getting too old to lift up young Carol. He just wished his back wouldn't give as soon as he stood up.
"Did you bring me something?" She asked excitedly.
"Is that all I'm good for?" He answered sternly.
"No." She responded sheepishly lowering her head.
"But of course I brought you presents!" He cheered as he ruffled her hair. "It's Christmas!"
"So how was your trip?" Marco asked.
"Oh you know, same old same old." Her Mother answered. "But you know, people these days rely too much on interspatial travel. They don't realize how great a journey is to go from A to B."
"Well, we depend on people wanting that convenience," Janna interjected. "Otherwise, I'll be out of the job."
Angie didn't say anything else. She didn't want to get into a scuffle about what should and what should not be. She simply greeted her grandchild in his mother's arms with a small peck on the forehead.
"Our little boy is growing up well," Angie said.
Mackie was a bit uneasy with grandma and clung to his mother a little tighter. Janna tried to encourage Mackie to feel comfortable around his grandmother only to feign politeness. Because really, she was savoring the moment. Thinking she still had a champion on her side.
"I see you still have your apron on," Angie said.
"Yeah, I just got done the cooking."
"Helping out, Marco?"
"No, Mom," Marco interjected. "Janna did most of the work."
"How very womanly of you." Her mother-in-law replied.
And Janna simply smiled back. She couldn't decide whether that was meant as a compliment or an insult. That Janna had achieved what Angie hoped for, or being sarcastic that only now had she acted this way. Knowing her mother-in-law, she probably meant it to be both. All depending on how Janna would respond. Unfortunately, they had played this game together far too often. And Janna was learning all of Angie's tricks. Or trying to. The best way to win, she figured, was to not play at all.
But their pleasantries was interrupted by a sudden loud foom of flames. And it died as suddenly as it came. Everyone stared at the kitchen, its source, hoping to get some answers.
And a sheepish clone tried to sneak out. Appearing crouched as she opened the kitchen door. And somehow forgotten that the only exit was through the front door past everyone.
"WHAT HAPPENED?!" Heckapoo scolded.
"It's not my fault!" Pleaded the clone standing at attention. "One dared me to!"
"Tattletale!" Responded the voice from inside the kitchen.
-0-
Marco sat down in his office that night. Most were asleep, having been full on their Christmas eve feast. But he wanted to organize a bit, put his mind at ease and reminisce on a few things. His office was a small room, a converted closet. Barely big enough for two grown people. Paperwork was filed on boxes at the side. A lonely desk sat in the middle. Made of wood as tough as mahogany, and looked to be older than him. An antique of this strange land.
A whetstone sat on top of it. Used to sharpen a few of his knives. But not the ones that adorned the walls. A collection in his youth that he seemed to cease. Most were of sentimental value. Partners he had on a special work and orders. The practical ones, those he constantly used, he stored safely in a chest at the corner.
Any magical items he had, he kept in a cupboard above. With some he hadn't used for a long while. Because he didn't find that much use for them. Most jobs he took nowadays weren't as life-threatening as they once were. Didn't find the need to risk what he had to lose.
"Ready for bed?" Janna asked standing by the doorway dressed in a sweatshirt and pants.
She never cared for the cramped space of her husband's office. Even if he still insisted that it kept him organized. Whatever that meant. But something inside had caught her attention. She noticed, at a wall behind the door, hung a peculiar item. Pieces of cloth tied together. With faded colors both turquoise and red. Its luster was gone due to age and wear. And yet still, these cloths held together.
"Been meaning to throw that old thing away," Marco responded as he stood up. "But something keeps me from doing it."
She held it in her hand. That ragged thing saved them once. Saved them numerous times. Janna then wrapped the makeshift rope around Marco's waist as she did all those years ago. The office was barely big enough for the both of them, much like the cave that once held them prisoners. And Marco wrapped his arms around her, holding her close once again. They made a promise inside that cave. A vow they had yet break.
"There." She declared. "Now, we won't get separated."
"We never will." He affirmed planting his thumb on her chin and guided her lips to meet his for one precious kiss.
Neither of them imagined their life would end-up this way. What the choices they made long ago would result to. And maybe there's some other reality out there where they chose differently. Resulted to a different path. Or maybe this life they have might be the outlier of that reality. In either case, it didn't matter to them. They loved this world they created. And that made all the difference.
"We had some great adventures, didn't we?" Marco whispered.
"Had?" Janna gasped as she shook her head. "Our adventures are just beginning."
Then they heard the patter of little footsteps and a knocked by the door. And there stood little Caro, dragging her rabbit plushie on the floor. Though her face was flushed with distress.
"Mommy?…." She called trying to hold back the tears that formed. "I-I-"
And Carol began to cry. Janna rushes to aid her little girl. She lifted her up and cradled her fearful daughter in her arms. She knew exactly what happened as soon as she felt Carol was damp. Her five year old wet the bed.
"Aww. Sweetie. It's okay." Janna comforted patting the girl's head. "We're gonna get you clean up, okay."
Carol nodded silently, with her head on her mother's shoulders. She wiped away a few tears and still sniffling a bit.
Janna gestured to Marco to handle their little girl's covers and bed while she got their daughter out of those damp clothes and into new ones. Marco did as he was supposed to. They had to deal with this from time to time. A routine of parenthood.
Way back when they would never have imagined everything would turn out this wonderful. And their adventures were only just beginning.
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Happy
Holidays!
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