Odd opened his eyes the next morning, and smiled. He had just remembered what day it was. Christmas Eve. He knew it was, because it was ten am, and he was willing to get up. Pushing the blankets off him he stood up then walked over to his suit case. Grabbing a pair of pants he slipped them on quickly and left the room after kissing Aelita on the cheek.
Walking down the stairs he stepped into the living room to see that everyone was already awake. They were all moving around the house with decorations for the tree. Before Odd left America to start his business, he remembered his family put the tree up weeks in advance. Aelita grew up with putting the tree up on Christmas Eve, and taking it down on new years
Stepping through the entrance to the living room he saw Bianca leaning against the wall waiting for him. "Morning Mr. Robbia," she said, slightly looking above them. Odd noticed and looked. He saw mistletoe. Odd looked back at her.
"You can't be serious?" He asked. Bianca smiled then kissed him on the cheek. She walked away with a smile. She wasn't serious at all, just wanted to see how he'd react.
Under the entrance of the living room wasn't the only mistletoe setup. There was another being placed above the kitchen door. Krystal was on her Tipp toes trying to stick it on. Jason walked by and saw her struggling, so walked over and helped her. When it was up he grabbed her cheeks, kissed her on the lips solidly for several seconds, then walked away before she could kiss back.
Krystal stood there baffled. It was so fast; she didn't have time to kiss back. Which made her realize, if she had the time, she would have?
"Are you going after him or what?" Bianca said to her. Krystal looked at her, smiled then went to find Jason. She found him in the living room helping with the lights and saw that the closet door was open, and no one was looking. She walked by, grabbed his arm, pulled him in the closet, and closed the door.
Amy was helping with the lights even though she wasn't really in a good mood. Last night had really made her sad. But she couldn't let that ruin her Christmas. Unraveling the next bunch of lights she handed them off to Helen and they kept going around. In less than fifteen minutes the hardest part was over. Next everyone started to place on the ornaments.
This was Kaylie's third Christmas. She liked it because it was so close to her birthday. Her parents were off work so she was always with them. Jason and Amy were over as well. Jason was fun to be around, Amy was a different story. But Kaylie didn't care how much Amy made her cry. Because, it was outweighed by the things that made her smile.
Aelita walked down the stairs at about eleven thirty to see the tree up and everyone talking. Odd was waiting for her by the entry to the living room. When she rounded the corner Odd walked around and softly pinned her against the wall. It surprised her, but pleasantly.
"What's gotten into you?" Aelita said to her like she was enjoying this. It was slightly kinky.
"Look up," Odd said to her. Mistletoe. Aelita smiled then kissed him deeply, then looked at the tree.
"You guys did the tree without me," Aelita complained.
"Sorry," Helen said, "We wanted it up before noon, and knew you wouldn't be up in time for us to finish it before then. But we saved you the Angel," Helen said to her. Helen looked around, and then noticed they hadn't taken it out.
"Roger, where's the angel?" Helen asked, still looking for it.
"I think it's in the closet," he said to her. Helen nodded then walked over to the closet. Helen opened it, and saw what was inside.
"Oh shit!" She said then shut the door. Some noise was heard behind the door and everyone was looking at Helen. "I'm going to count to five, when I do I'm opening the door."
Helen counted to five then opened the door. Krystal and Jason were in the closet, beet red from embarrassment. Krystal stepped out first, and tried to run but Helen grabbed her sleeve and held onto her. "Jason."
Jason stepped out then sat on the couch. Helen motioned to the couch, and Krystal sat on it next to Jason. Bianca was heard snickering through the silence and Jason and Krystal grew redder.
"Now then, the angel," Helen said then looked for it in the closet. "Here it is." Helen said then carried it out and closed the door. She handed it to Aelita. Aelita walked over to the tree, and couldn't reach the top. She had never been able to.
Aelita smiled then walked over to Amy. "Hold this for a sec sweetie," Aelita said to her. Amy rolled her eyes then took the Angel. A second later Aelita grabbed her picked her up over her head.
"Whoa!" Amy said aloud surprised. After she calmed down she realized what her mother wanted her to do. Amy put the angel on the tree but off center.
"It's not straight honey," Aelita said to her. Amy smiled then fixed it. Amy and Aelita fell onto another couch and Aelita kissed Amy on the forehead. It was a strange turn of events for Amy. She would have guess Kaylie would have been the one getting picked up. Whatever it was, Amy really needed the attention, and she enjoyed it.
"Good honey," Aelita said then let Amy stand up. Amy didn't stand up, which surprised Aelita. Amy hadn't wanted to cuddle with her mother since she was six. Now she was. Aelita was enjoying this too.
Later on that day Amy was in her room picking out clothes for tomorrow. Roger walked by and saw her. Walking in the room he sat on her bed then smiled at her.
"You look so much like your mother," he said to her.
"I know," Amy said, because she got that a lot.
"Your mother was really excited when she found out she was pregnant with you. Bouncing off the walls, like a five year old on a sugar high."
"She was?" Amy asked. "I figured she'd be depressed about it because of my father."
"Your parents don't hate each other, they just don't like each other," Roger said.
"What's the difference?" Amy asked.
"Well, hate is a stronger type of aggression. Disliking someone is where you prefer to not be with them, but if you have to you can deal with it. Your father isn't exactly an easy man to live with last I heard."
"I'll give my mom that one. He can never make up his mind. Everything has to be perfect with him, and he thinks he's perfect when he isn't. I'm sad my parents got divorced, but at least I don't have to hear them argue with each other."
"Glad you're taking it at a mature level," he said to her then stood up. "See you later," he said then patted her on the back. Amy winced in pain and flinched a little. "What was that?"
Amy looked at him then looked away. Roger pulled her shirt collar on her back down so he could look at her shoulder. There was a bruise.
"Where did you get that bruise?" He asked. Amy sighed then kept going through her stuff.
"No where, it's nothing," Amy said then pulled her shirt back. Roger wasn't buying it. He had a bad feeling about it. He left the room a second later
Aelita was in the bathroom with Kaylie cleaning her. Kaylie hadn't been in the bath for a few days so she was due for one. Kaylie was a strange baby. She enjoyed baths and didn't avoid them like the plague. Aelita usually wore an old shirt when she bathed her because Kaylie liked to splash for fun. Aelita enjoyed how much fun it was to clean her.
"Cover your eyes," Aelita said to her. Kaylie shut her eyes as Aelita got a cup of water and poured it on her head to rinse the shampoo out. When that was done Kaylie shook her head and hit Aelita with some water. Aelita smiled then splashed Kaylie who splashed her back.
"Girls, don't make a mess," Helen said as she walked by.
"Okay mom," Aelita said laughed with Kaylie. Helen smiled because they were just so cute. A few minutes later Aelita wrapped Kaylie in a blanket and carried her to her room. She dried her off and got some Kaylie some underwear before helping her pick out something to wear. Today was a baby blue skirt that reached just above her knees, and a pink long sleeved shirt.
"How do you want your hair done today?" Aelita asked her. Kaylie thought, and while she was thinking Roger knocked at the open door. "Hey dad."
"Aelita can I talk to you for a second," Roger asked her. Aelita nodded then looked at Kaylie.
"Be right back," she said, leaving Kaylie with a kiss on the cheek. Aelita walked into the hall and stood next to her adopted father. Roger shut the door, and Aelita knew this was bad if he didn't want Kaylie to hear it.
"How is Odd as a father?" Roger asked. It was a strange question.
"He's great. The kids love him, he loves them and he loves being a dad. Why do you ask?" Aelita asked him.
"Where did Amy get the bruise on her shoulder?" Roger asked. Aelita looked at him puzzled.
"She has a bruise?" Aelita asked.
"Don't lie about it. Has someone hit her," Roger asked.
"What! What are you accusing me of?" Aelita asked.
"Not you, Odd," Roger said to her.
"I can't believe this. Odd would never touch her, or anyone for that matter."
"He hit Jeremie," Roger said to her.
"Jeremie slapped me and Odd was there to defend me. That's completely different. Odd doesn't drink, smoke, gamble, or anything like that. And you think he's hitting my daughter. He only sees her twice a year anyway."
"Is he hitting you as well?" Roger asked.
"Stop it!" Aelita shouted at him. "Odd would never do anything to harm us. I trust him, and I love him. He's my husband, and I stand by him. How Amy got the bruise, I don't know, but it wasn't from Odd."
Aelita looked over Roger's shoulder and saw Odd. "What's going on?" Odd asked.
"Odd I'm going to ask you a question. Have you ever hit Amy," Roger asked Odd.
"Dad!" Aelita shouted at her.
"Why do you think I hit her," Odd asked.
"She has a large bruise on her right shoulder. If you didn't do it, what did?" Roger asked. Odd thought about it, then remembered.
"The right shoulder?" Roger nodded. "On the flight she was hit with the food cart when it passed by." Odd said to her. Aelita suddenly remembered as well.
"Oh yeah, that's right," Aelita said to them.
Amy walked in when she heard the arguing. "Did you get hit by a food cart?" Roger asked. Amy nodded.
"On the flight. That's what the bruise was. I just didn't want to talk about it because it's embarrassing to get over parented," Amy said then walked down the stairs. Roger looked at a very angry Aelita, and an insulted Odd.
"Well, this is awkward," Roger said to them. "I'm going down stairs." Roger walked down stairs leaving Aelita and Odd on the steps.
"You know I'd never…" Odd began.
"I know. Let it slide. Tomorrow is Christmas so let's make the best of it."