Abigail had never had such a fun family gathering in her life.
Everywhere she looked, there was a Sciuto relative wanting to talk, play cards, or else pressing food or a present on her. Abigail had never gotten this much attention growing up. It was mostly because of how many siblings she had above her. She had gotten lost in the shuffle and looked down upon for being a dreamer. Her parents had never appreciated that she saw outside the box that was Charm.
But that wasn't the case here at the Sciuto house. Every member of the kin simply loved her.
The Van Dekkers were walking the same path. Zelda was new to the idea of a loving, extended family because the one she she had been born into was no more. Her caretakers in the years after had just treated her like an extra special charity case. Bethel had suffered in her circumstances. Just for being born deaf. But being around Abby, Abigail, and now the Sciutos, was giving them new heart. Zelda felt the same. Being loved had saved her and her wife.
Cheerfully oblivious to all the heaviness was Hennie. She was a very cheerful person in general, but this was the first time in her life that she had grandparent-type figures who loved her. Beau and Gloria liked to play with her, invite them to help cook in the kitchen, and even teach her new signs. Neither minded when she followed them around the house. There was even talk about visiting the bakery soon. Everything about these people made Hennie very warm and content. She just didn't know how to describe the feeling.
What delighted Hennie the most about coming to New Orleans was knowing that they were going to be celebrating her birthday.
She woke up first on the morning of Christmas Eve and shook her bedmate awake. "Ellie! Ellie! Ellie!"
The duo had been put together in Ellie Grace's bed after falling asleep on the living room couch after giving in to sleepiness during the holiday gathering. Neither child minded because they were already becoming such good friends.
It didn't take Ellie Grace long to wake.
She opened her eyes and yawned. "It's morning?"
Hennie bobbed her head. "Yep! And guess what?"
Ellie Grace asked the first thing she could think of as she sat up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "It's Thursday?"
But it was in fact Friday.
Hennie shrugged. "I don't know. Guess what again?"
Ellie Grace thought about it, but was blanking out. She was not a fast thinker. At least in the morning.
"What?" she asked around a yawn.
"It's my birthday!" Hennie crowed.
This fact made it through Ellie Grace's fog-filled brain, and woke her up when she remembered something else.
"Hennie!" she clapped her hands. "It's also my birthday!"
Hennie stared, but quickly recovered. "Then let's go find where the presents are!"
Ellie Grace felt this was a good idea. "Yes! Race you!"
Not too many doors down, the Abigails had also been awake for a few minutes. It wasn't long before they heard excited footfalls go past their bedroom.
Abigail sighed. "Our nieces are not only awake, but it sounds like they've realized they have the same birthday."
"That seems about right." Abby stretched as she moved into a sitting position. "It still trips me out that we're going to get our own version of a double dose."
"Yes, but," Abigail gently pushed Abby back onto the bed and started kissing her middle through her pajamas. "I'm at your side for all of it and everything else. That's a promise."
Abby's only response was to moan softly. The goth heard Abigail's words and her heart felt incredibly light, but she was mostly focused on her touches. It was moments like this that she loved. Being touched. Being wanted. Her other half was extremely affectionate, and knew all the right places to touch her. She had never been with anyone like this at all.
But still...
Abby tapped Abigail's shoulders with her hands. "We should go corral our little munchkins before they wake the whole house."
They made themselves decent before going downstairs. Hennie and Ellie Grace were to be found in the den, before the Christmas tree. Both of them seemed puzzled.
"Hi, babies!" Abigail greeted them. "We heard both of you have a birthday today! How old are you?"
Ellie Grace hugged her. "I'm four!"
Hennie ran to Abby. "And me!"
"Being four is neat." Abby picked her up. "Are you hungry now?"
Hennie gave a nod after a moment of hesitation. "Yeah, but... we couldn't find any presents..."
Ellie Grace piped up, "Are they still at the store?"
Abigail thought of an answer quickly. "Little one, I know for a fact that all of yours and Hennie's presents are in secret hiding places. They will only appear after all the little girls under this roof eat breakfast."
Hennie's face lit up in epiphany. "That's me and Cousin Ellie!"
"Mhm. Do you want to go find something to make for breakfast?"
Hennie voiced her approval at once, as did Ellie Grace. They were sold.
And the rest of the house's occupants woke soon to the smells of pancakes, bacon, eggs, toast, and hash browns being made. Both birthday girls had requested these items.
While Hennie's and Ellie Grace's parents greeted them, Beau and Gloria greeted both Abigails.
"How are you?" Beau inquired.
"Happy." Abigail said with simplicity. "My Christmases usually consist of being with my pets. Now I'm in Louisiana, with a family of my own. I don't think anything could make me happier now. My heart is very full."
Beau looked upon her with fatherly pride. "Splendid."
Gloria touched a hand to Abby's cheek. "What about you?"
"I'm as happy as Abigail is, and even happier that we get to celebrate two precious little girls today."
All four of the adults looked over at Hennie and Ellie Grace. They were continuing to bask in attention from their parents, but could now be seen sporting birthday crowns. A fun day was just beginning for them.
"We're in for a day to remember. I'm going to enlist their help in making birthday cake. That should tickle them." Gloria said. "Tomorrow is going to be about you and your love."
"We can't wait..."
Abby's words trailed off as she noticed something. Everyone else followed her line of sight. Ellie Grace had slipped away from her parents and was presently sneaking towards the part of the kitchen island where a small mountain of bacon lay on a plate, cooling. The other adults were pretending not to notice. Especially because it looked like Hennie was contemplating the same idea. But everyone just let them have their moment.
During the present-opening time, Hennie was genuinely excited for every new item. Even the clothes. Her favorite apparel-related item was a new pair of purple sequined boots.
Treating them like gold, Hennie placed them in Zelda's lap for her to see. "New boots!"
"And so I see." Zelda told her. "Do you want to wear them now?"
"No thank you, mumma."
"Okay."
Zelda then signed thanks to Hennie for being polite and then sent her on her way.
The little girl promptly returned to opening presents with Ellie Grace. Watching them was a very fun sight... even when they asked both Abigails for help with extra difficult pieces of scotch tape or trickier bits of ribbon.
Gloria watched them for a few moments. But her attention soon fell to Hennie's parents.
Bethel and Zelda were sitting together on the couch, quiet.
Gloria joined them. "Is everything alright?"
Zelda made the sign for yes.
Bethel informed her, "We're so touched by the practical items you and Beau added to our girl's present pile. How did you know her sizes?"
"Abby talks."
"Quite true. Have been told about mine and Abigail's parents yet?"
Gloria sighed. "Yes. Apparently, calling them unkind is putting it mildly."
Bethel made the sign for yes as she tacked something on. "My parents have never given Hennie gifts of any kind because they resent that she's an IVF child. In their eyes, she's not natural. Hennie has no idea because her feelings would be so hurt. You and Beau are the only true grandparents she's ever known. It delights her."
"We love Hennie so much." Gloria told the Van Dekkers. "Giving her positive attention and showering her in gifts is very easy. Fun, too. Beau and I decided that we're going to make up for what's been lacking where your parents dropped the ball. How have we done?"
Zelda made the sign for perfect.
"She's right." Bethel confirmed. "Thank you for everything, especially the practical gifts for Hennie. Sometimes money is tight. It's been a long time since we've been able to get nice things for her."
"If loving Hennie and giving her practical gifts is one way for Beau and I to show her love, we're happy to do it. Every child deserves grandparents to dote on them."
Bethel hugged Gloria and offered her a shaky smile. "Thank you."
Zelda nodded in solidarity before turning to Bethel. Here followed a unique chat. Neither woman spoke verbally. Or even with signs. Just their eyes. And they understood each other.
Gloria found it fascinating. "What's up?"
Zelda spoke softly. "It's a rather long story that we won't talk about with Hennie in earshot, but Bethel and I are both expecting. We're a mixed bag of feelings. Mostly happy. Our girl has no idea."
"My lips are sealed. I'm also happy if you are. Just name whatever you need, and we'll do do everything in our power to help. May I share the news with Beau?"
"Yes." Bethel told her. "Everybody else knows, except for the kids, but that will change before the end of the day. Is there anything like a public garden that's open right now?"
Gloria realized that they were looking for a neutral spot to ease Hennie into the news. "Yes. I know just the place."
Bethel and Zelda leaned in to hear the details.
Abigail watched from the other side of the room, closer to the doorway.
Abby gave her a kiss of distraction. "They will tell us if or when they want to."
"Yeah. I guess I have to keep hearing that." Abigail stuck her hands in her dress pockets. "My sister has never known a time of life where I wasn't providing for her."
"But now she's happy and has been thriving with her family because we helped them feel safe. I think that's what matters." Abby rubbed Abigail's back. "You became Bethel's primary mother. The confidence you instilled in her is what's empowering her and Zelda to lay our their plans for the future of their family."
Abby stood straighter and held a hand out to her girlfriend.
"Come on. Let's get out of here. They won't mind."
Abigail surveyed the room. True enough, everyone else was busy with their own activities. Now seemed as good a time as any to cut out.
"Okay." Abigail took Abby's outstretched hand. "Show me your old hangouts."
They departed the house ten minutes later, dressed for the cold, but perhaps also an adventure.
"What's over that way?" Abigail was pointing to a dirt path at the end of the block that led off to some sort of trail.
Abby smiled reminiscently. "My favorite playground. The byway leads to the junkyard. I'd say let's go now, but it won't be open again until Boxing Day. Every been that kind of spot before?"
"Not voluntarily. Junkyards are added to my 'weird places' list because of combat or CGIS."
"All the more reason to add in a dash of some good fun."
"You raise a valid point, my love." Abigail conceded.
Abby carried on as they crossed the street to the opposite sidewalk. "Hey, what all of New Orleans have you seen?"
"Other than your uncle's bar and the New Orleans' NCIS team's HQ, just run-of-the-mill crime scenes and stereotypical tourist spots. How many other fun kinds of places are there to see around here?"
Abby kissed Abigail; her curiosity and sincerity were very endearing. "My favorite area around here is a shopping lane called Magnolia Passage. I have a friend who runs a shop over there."
"How long have you known this friend?" Abigail wanted to know.
"For most of my life. I promised I'd bring you and the Van Dekkers by, before long."
"I can't wait." Abigail returned the kiss. "You know, our family is unique in many ways, but I think that's one of my favorite things about who we are."
"Yes. I'm with you... oh, Abigail... check that out."
By now, they had stopped again because they had reached the local play park. Abby was focusing on one sight in particular.
Perhaps twelve feet away was a small, full brook. It seemed to be thriving merrily even in the face of the cold weather. The vision itself was uplifting.
What made it even more beautiful was a family of ducks. Two parents and three babies. All of them appeared to be getting ready for a swim. They had other places to go, apparently.
Both of the older ducks were standing on the edge of the brook, but their offspring were just in front of them. Watching Abby and Abigail. It was as if the little animals didn't see anyone else.
Just for a second, Abigail wondered what hers and Abby's futures would look like. After the madness. When the Collingwood Row house was just theirs. Would they get another pet? A corgi would be fun. Comical, but fun. And how many kids would they have? Just the twins? Or was the third duckling a sign from the universe about another kid this time? That would be a whole different sort of adventure.
Abigail's thoughts were jolted when the older ducks made noise at their young to hurry along.
The little ones broke their gazes and quacked in a show of understanding. None of them wanted go. But reality called.
So the ducklings followed their parents into the water and swam away. To somewhere else.
When the humans resumed their stroll, Abby spoke. She seemed to be on Abigail's wavelength. As per usual.
"Do you think the last duckling was a sign from the universe about a third kid so soon?" she queried.
"That's exactly what I was thinking." Abigail chuckled. "But what if it is? Triplets?"
Abigail shuddered at the thought.
"I'd be the one doing the heavy lifting," Abby immediately put her hands in the small of her back to offset the idea of the imagined weight. "But I think we would handle it. We always find a way."
"That seems like our superpower. What if kid number three falls out of the sky?"
Abby arched an eyebrow. "Like I did for Beau and Gloria? Then we catch that kid in our open arms. Love them, too. Be their mamas. Adopt them."
Abigail softened up. "What's a name you like for a baby girl"
Abby thought about it. "Luna. She could be our sweet Lu-love."
"Luna Irene is a strong name." Abigail reflected. "Any names you like for a son?"
Abby didn't have to think hard here. "I like Zane. It's short, bold, and cool."
"Logging that one away. Tell me another name you think would be fit for a baby girl of ours."
Now Abby had zero hesitation. "Eden. That name has been at the top of my list for as long as I can remember."
"It's very lovely, and Eden Ramona has a beautiful ring to it. Tell me another name you likeālet's just talking about names we like." Abigail suggested. "No holds barred."
And that's exactly what they did as they continued to walk the neighborhood together.
