A/N: Chapter 23.
Mary Anne.
Christmas Eve.
I was about 4 months along, maybe 3. I wasn't sure.
Stacey had invited me to watch Claus while she and Sam went on a dinner date. I was in for a shock when I arrived. Someone was spray-painting a swastika on their front door. Red hair, but with a green streak running through it.
Stacey came out of the house.
"You!."
"Long time, no see. Can't believe your mom is gonna marry the son of a Nazi.
I spoke up then, fury in my voice, with no trace of any stutter. I was surprised at how confident I sounded.
"Get that thing off their property, now."
"Aww, what are you gonna do, whore-"
That was as far as she got. Stacey punched her, hard enough to break her nose. Claus had tried to hit her with his cane.
"Stacey!."
Her mother had appeared in the doorway.
"Hit her again!." Claus cheered.
She managed to run before the police arrived. I made my way in as the swastika was removed.
"You knew her?" Claus asked his future stepsister.
She explained about her time with Jacqui and the other bad girls.
"Would've liked to yank out that nose ring."
Sam entered.
"Babe?"
"Hey there."
They kissed.
Soon, Claus and I were sipping eggnog as A Christmas Story played on the TV.
"How's Dawn?"
"Healing."
I still couldn't believe her voice was mostly gone, now reduced to a rasp, sounding like someone who'd smoked too much.
He sipped his drink.
"This Cokie girl, she sounds like she needs help."
"Yeah, in prison."
"Not just that, psychological help."
"You might have something there."
I'd have to tell the others about it. He might be right. Maybe she did need that sort of help.
Gently, he put a hand on my stomach.
"I'll be an uncle in a few months."
"Yeah. Alma's gonna have so many aunts and uncles."
He managed a smile.
"I'll have to take Vanessa to Texas with me some time over the summer. She'll love it."
"Wow."
"Yeah, can you imagine her with a Texas drawl?"
I had to laugh at that image.
"Nope."
"How are the others?"
"Doing the best they can. Jessi's having some issues. Some of Uday's family aren't impressed with her."
"Because she's black?"
"Because she's American."
"Not his parents."
"No, they like her. It's his uncle and some of his cousins she has to worry about."
"Oh brother. Same for Abby and Frank?"
"Yeah. Some of his cousins don't like that she's Jewish."
"God."
"I know, right?"
"You've all been through a lot."
"Yeah."
"You'll make it through this too."
"Thanks."
Sam later dropped Stacey off. She came in as Claus was exiting the shower.
"Hey."
"How'd it go?"
"Not bad. Had trouble making it here with the snow."
"Ugh."
A bit later, Claus walked me to my car, helping me get around a snowdrift.
"Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas."
Soon, I was headed home. Dad greeted me.
"Snow give you any trouble?"
"Not really."
"Eggnog?"
One more glass before bed wouldn't hurt.
"Sure."
Somehow, I knew, in spite of everything, I'd make it past this. Alma would come into the world healthy and strong. I knew Logan would help me raise her. The others would also help me with her. Even if I never knew my mother, I was sure she'd be proud of the woman I was becoming.