"It's Christmas eve," Meghan said tucking Faroke into bed.
"Mama what's Christmas," Faroke asked.
Meghan sat on the side of the bed and told Faroke the Christmas story she had heard told every year at church.
"Are there parties at christmas," Faroke asked.
"There are," Meghan said, "grandma would decorate the whole house with garlands made from green tree branches and candles. We would have a Christmas tree in the living room and there would be lights and decorations on it and an angle on top."
"A tree in the house," Faroke gasped.
"Yes a tree in the house," Meghan smiled, "on Christmas eve grandma would make cookies and grandma would sing, uncle owen played his guitar, auntie nikki played her violin and I would play the piano. We would all sing christmas carols and drink hot chocolate. Then auntie Nikki would cuddle in my bed with me and we'd watch to see if it would snow."
"You've seen snow," Faroke said.
"Yes," Meghan smiled, "I love the snow. When it would snow we would sneak outside in the middle of the night and go for a walk in it."
"With grandma," Faroke asked.
"Never with grandma," Meghan said, "first with my dad. Then with just uncle Owen and I then when she was a baby I carried Auntie Nikki out. I wonder if Nikki and Owen still do first flakes."
"Will I ever meet auntie Nikki and uncle Owen," Faroke asked.
"I hope so baby," Meghan said, "I hope so. I miss them. I want to see them again."
"Don't cry mama," Faroke said, seeing Meghan wipe her eyes.
"I'm okay," Meghan said, "they're going to love you. Grandma is going to think your the most perfect boy in the world. But it's time for you to sleep."
"Can you sing to me," Faroke asked.
"I will," Meghan said, "lay down and close your eyes."
Faroke laid down and Meghan stretched out beside him, she began to sing softly, her favourite Christmas carols, Away in a Manger, Silent Night, Joy to The World, Go Tell It on The Mountain and Angles We Have Heard on High. Finally she noticed her son asleep. He was nearly four and had never had a christmas, never seen snow, never met his grandmother, uncle or aunt. She wondered if there was another aunt other than Nikki, if Owen was married. He had been engaged to Beth when she was captured but the relationship had been rocky. She had always thought he belonged with Teddy and Teddy had a massive crush on Owen but would never act on it. She hoped Nikki was having the brilliant performing career they had dreamed of and talked about. If Nikki wasn't dancing she should be a college junior, she wondered what she would major in, she had loved to read and loved math. Did Nikki have her first serious relationship, a boy she thought would be the one. Who would be there for Nikki when that boy broke her heart, Nikki and Owen had never been close. Meghan wondered if Owen had learned to accept Nikki and if Nikki had learned that Owen's gruff exterior was just a front.
Meghan walked back into the room where the other women were sitting with tea and poured herself a cup before sitting a ways away from them wanting to be alone with her thoughts.
"Meghan," Batool said, taking a seat beside her, "what were you singing?"
"Christmas carols," Meghan replied.
"Why," Batool asked.
"It's Christmas Eve," Meghan said, "I was telling Faroke about Christmas with my family."
"You miss them," Batool said.
"Every day," Meghan said, "I always will. I want to see them again."
"When the war ends my husband said you can go home," Batool said.
"When will that be," Meghan asked, "I've been with you almost six years now."
"Soon I hope," Batool said, "but I'll miss you when you go home."
"I have to go home to my mother," Meghan said, "my mother, brother and sister. I want to hug my mom and tease my brother, get to know my sister as an adult. Nikki must just be incredible now. She was an amazing kid she's going to be a great woman."
"Tell me about your brother," Batool said.
"Owen is a surgeon like me," Meghan said, "we went to med school and residency together, we enlisted together he was a bit protective and stubborn but he was a great brother. He is caring and smart and always fought for what he thought was right even if we didn't agree. He should be married now, to Beth she's a high school english teacher, they probably have a couple kids by now. He always wanted two or three kids."
"What about your mother," Batool asked.
"My mom is incredible, she's the strongest bravest person I've ever met," Meghan said, "my father died when I was six and mom didn't miss a beat. She kept moving forward. My mom is a nurse, she delivers babies. I was 12 when she met my step father and 14 when mom had Nikki my little sister. My mom lost two husbands and is the bravest woman I know. She raised three of us on her own."
"Your sister," Batool asked.
"Nikki was 13 the last time I saw her and 14 when I came here," Meghan said, "she's the ballerina. Creative, smart, full of energy with the reddest hair you've ever seen. She was a little firecracker. No one could keep up with her. She was shy, she would only talk to me or my friend Teddy when we all came home. I used to sit with her when I babysat and sing to her while she fell asleep."
"Like you do with Faroke," Batool commented.
"Yes my mom did that when we were kids," Meghan said, "I just want to go home and see my mom and my siblings."
Nikki was walking up the stairs into the main part of the house with a laundry basket of christmas presents to put under the tree.
"Teddy, how can I help," Nikki said as she stacked her gifts under the tree.
"Can you help Owen start dinner," Teddy asked, "Allison needs some time with me and I need to feed Amber."
"I can," Nikki replied, "Allison was just down stairs with me."
"Snooping," Teddy asked.
"Trying to," Nikki said, "I had them all wrapped days ago, she just saw my hiding places."
Amber began to fuss in her bassinet.
"Mommy," Allison yelled.
"I'll go get Allison," Nikki said, "I can't help with Amber."
"Distract for like 20 minutes," Teddy said.
"I can," Nikki agreed.
"Allison come read with me," Nikki said.
"I want mommy to read," Allison whined.
"As soon as I'm done feeding Amber," Teddy promised.
Allison began to cry, "it's always Amber. Mommy doesn't love me anymore."
Owen scooped Allison up, "mommy and I love you so much munchkin."
"But she's always feeding the baby," Allison whined.
"I know she spends a lot of time feeding Amber" Owen agreed, "she did with you when you were a baby two. There were some days all mommy did was sit on the couch, feed and snuggle you. You ate more than Amber did. Once Amber is done eating I'm going to go get her and mommy is going to come play with you. What do you want to play? Maybe I can help you set it up."
"Tea party," Allison said.
"Go get your tea set," Owen said, "I'll make your tea."
"Okay," Allison said.
"Go set the table really pretty," Owen said putting Allison on the floor.
Owen walked into the kitchen and saw that Nikki had taken over cutting up the vegetables where he had dropped them.
"Thanks squirt," Owen said.
"Two is a lot," Nikki observed.
"We have our hands full," Owen agreed.
"I'm off for a couple weeks if you need help," Nikki offered.
"Give us your school and work schedule," Owen said, "I think we might need your help when I go back to work before the girls can go to daycare."
"I'm happy to help any time," Nikki said, "any time. Even if it's so the two of you can go for a walk or grab coffee just the two of you."
"Thanks," Owen said, "we may take you up on that."
"Do," Nikki said, "I don't have much else going on."
"Jeff," Owen asked.
"It's not working," Nikki admitted, "I don't know. It's always when it's a good time for him or when he's not working. His classes come first. His engineering is more important than my teaching."
"Your dreams are just as important," Owen said, "you have to be a team. Nikki if he's not supporting your dreams you can walk away. Where is he?"
"With his family," Nikki said, "it's Christmas we should be with our families."
"You should," Owen said, "it's supposed to snow tonight."
"First flakes with both girls," Nikki asked.
"Teddy may not let us take Amber; she's only 4 weeks," Owen said.
"But it's first flakes," Nikki whined, "tell her not to be a party pooper."
"Three of us for sure," Owen said, "hopefully five."
"Poor mom we should let her in one year," Nikki said.
"Never," Owen replied, "who else will stand in the front window and watch for us to come home."
"Take mom and leave Teddy if she's going to be a party pooper," Nikki suggested.
"I'm coming," Teddy said, "but not long. We'll take the girls for a few minutes then the two of you can have your hour long walk in the snow."
Teddy brought Amber to Owen.
"Do you mind helping finish dinner," Teddy asked.
"Why do you think I came up when I did," Nikki asked.
"Do you know what to do," Owen asked.
"It's the same every year," Nikki replied, "I've got this."
"Thanks squirt," Owen replied.
Owen stood in the living room bouncing Amber and showing her the Christmas decorations.
"Ready for our tea party," Teddy asked walking into the playroom.
"Mommy," Allison yelled, "you can be the queen."
"The queen," Teddy asked, "are you the princess?"
"Yes," Allison giggled.
Teddy poured two cups of tea for herself and Allison. Teddy watched her daughter smile and giggle as they had their tea party.
There was a knock at the door.
"Grandma," Allison yelled.
"She's staying here tonight," Teddy said.
"Mommy unlock the door," Allison commanded as she reached the front door.
"Come in Evelyn," Teddy said, unlocking the chain lock at the top of the door.
"Merry Christmas," Evelyn greeted, hugging Teddy then Allison.
"Merry Christmas mom," Owen said, joining them in the entryway with Amber in his arms.
"Where's Nikki," Evelyn asked.
"I'm an elf," Nikki called from the kitchen.
"I'll come help," Evelyn said.
"I'll put Amber in her bouncer then go get your stuff from your car," Owen said.
"Thank you," Evelyn smiled.
Owen brought Evelyn's things in, putting the bags of gifts near the tree and carrying her suitcase up to the guest room.
After dinner Owen brought out his guitar and Nikki ran downstairs to get her violin.
"Mom, we're going to try something for the first time," Owen said, "we've been practicing."
"What is this," Evelyn asked.
"Can you hold Amber," Teddy asked.
"Always," Evelyn smiled.
Nikki drew the bow across the strings of her violin and played through the first notes before Owen joined in. They played and sang Away in a Manger, Silent Night, Joy to The World, Go Tell It on The Mountain and Angles We Have Heard on High. Evelyn had tears in her eyes.
"Mom, why are you crying," Nikki asked.
"It's been so long since we've done that," Evelyn said.
"We know," Owen said, "it was time to bring it back."
"I loved it reminds me of the first Christmas I came home," Teddy said.
"It felt good," Nikki agreed.
"You played the family favourites," Evelyn smiled, "all of our favourites."
"We know," Nikki replied.
"Now we need to put the cookies and milk out or Santa won't come," Teddy said seeing the time.
Teddy and Owen helped Allison put cookies and milk out for Santa before tucking her into bed. Teddy stayed upstairs to feed and put Amber in her bed.
"It's snowing," Nikki said to Evelyn as she dried the dishes her mom passed her.
"You and Owen are going out," Evelyn said.
"Allison, Teddy, Amber," Nikki said, "they agreed to it earlier."
"We're all going out," Owen said, taking the dishes from the counter and putting them away.
"One year," Evelyn asked, "can I come."
"Nope your kids only," Nikki replied.
"And grand kids," Owen added.
"Now you two are ganging up on me," Evelyn teased.
"Yep," Nikki replied.
"Yes," Owen agreed, "you stick with your siblings."
"Only took you 20 years to admit it," Evelyn teased.
"I'm a stubborn ass sometimes," Owen shrugged.
"Yes," Nikki agreed, "and I'm a hyper pain in the ass. Were a good pair."
"We are," Owen chuckled, "at driving mom nuts."
"It's our job isn't it," Nikki asked.
"Yes," Owen agreed.
The four adults spent some time together chatting and hanging out a while longer until they were ready to go to bed.
Just after midnight Owen knocked on Nikki's bedroom door, "come help me squirt it's first flakes."
"I'll get the snow gear, you get your wife and kids," Nikki said, grabbing the hoodie and ski socks she had put on her dresser. She ran upstairs grabbing her coat and boots on the way up the stairs.
They all met in the entry way.
"Allison you have to be quiet," Owen said.
"Grandma can't know we're going outside," Nikki said, "it's our secret a big girl secret."
"Did you do this," Allison asked.
"We did," Owen and Nikki said together.
"With your mom and dad," Allison asked as they got outside.
"No," Nikki said, "your dad and auntie Meghan took me outside for first flakes."
"My dad to auntie Meghan and I out," Owen said, "then when she was big enough we took Nikki."
"How old was I," Nikki asked.
"It was a week before Christmas and you were a baby," Owen said, "a couple weeks after your dad left you were about six months."
"Your mom let you," Teddy said looking shocked.
"We didn't tell her," Owen said, "we bundled Nikki up and I actually had you in the baby carrier squirt."
"You did," Nikki asked.
"I wasn't a total oger," Owen said.
"Just when I could remember," Nikki teased, "so age 5 to about 16."
"11 years," Teddy said.
"Out of 20," Nikki laughed, "it's 55%"
"Did you do that in your head," Owen asked.
"It's using 20. 20 times 5 is a hundred so you multiply the numerator by five to get the percentage," Nikki said.
"How did I not know that trick," Teddy asked.
"No one taught me I figured it out," Nikki said, "it's just knowing your factors of 100."
"We don't all think in numbers," Owen said.
"Better than holes in bodies or beating hearts," Nikki said.
"Are you going to be a doctor like mommy and daddy," Allison asked.
"No," Nikki said, "I'm going to be a teacher."
Nikki suddenly remembered something Meghan had done with her in the snow when she was about 4 or 5.
"Allison give me your hand," Nikki said.
"Why," Allison asked.
"You'll see," Nikki said, "just give me your hand Ally."
Allison put her mittened hand in Nikkis. Nikki saw the open soccer field at the park.
"What are we doing," Allison asked.
"Come on," Nikki said, guiding Allison into the soccer field, "run!"
Nikki ran across the fresh snow, looking over her shoulder at her niece seeing Allison following in her footsteps. Nikki ran around the soccer field with Allison leaving their footprints in the fresh powder.
"What are they doing," Teddy asked.
"Meghan used to do that," Owen said, "leave a random pattern of footprints in the fresh snow."
"With Nikki," Teddy asked.
"First dad and I would watch then once Nikki was about three the two of them," Owen smiled, "It's the first time I've seen Nikki do it since."
"Do you want to," Teddy asked.
"No it was the girls," Owen said, "you could go."
"I'll stay here with you," Teddy said, leaning into him.
"Merry Christmas Teddy," Owen said, giving Teddy a kiss.
"Merry Christmas Owen," Teddy replied, returning the kiss.