Ever had a story that won't leave you alone? This is that story.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything 911 related
For this story, I am ignoring the current plot line of Maddie's PPD. Not because it isn't important as it is, but rather, I am not good enough writer to do it justice. And for this story, I feel like we were robbed of Buckley- Han family time, and I demand Buckley- Han family time.
Please let me know what you think!
Also, all mistakes are my own.
The Christmas Challenge
Maddie has a strange relationship with Christmas. Prior to coming to LA, she hated Christmas, it always being something Doug went all out with. He was a doctor, a surgeon, and he always had to be the best at everything, including Christmas parties and outdoing the neighbors with his master display of lights. If something wasn't prefect, if she didn't do everything perfect, he would let her know. He would make sure she would do it right. The things… No, stop. Maddie stops those painful thoughts in their tracks. All that mattered is that Doug made her dislike Christmas, her having to put up mask and pretending that their life is prefect, and she begun to hate the word perfect.
That isn't to say her earlier Christmases with her parents were any better. Before Evan, before Daniel's death, Christmases were amazing, Maddie loving every second of it. Like with all parents with a terminally ill child, Daniel was heavily favorited by the Buckley parents, but her parents were happy—as happy as they could be in their situation—and cheery. They did all of the Christmas favorites: Light up Nights, Sledding, decorating the house—including making popcorn garland-, taking a ride in an opened horse drawn sled, etc. Maddie loved these traditions. Sure, her parents mostly did all of this for her brother, but it didn't matter. Daniel and Maddie had the best time with their parents. They would laugh themselves to sleep, Maddie falling asleep right next to him.
After Daniel's death, all of that changed and Christmas changed drastically, their traditions gone. Yes, in order to play that 'perfect' family, her parents put up the yearly Christmas Tree in front of the living room window, but that was all they did. They no longer went out to do the Christmas staples, no longer went to the light up nights. No longer went sledding. So, while Maddie silently grieved the lost of her beloved brother, she also grieved the lost of her family, her Family traditions. For the years following Daniel's death, she, her tiny 8 year old self, drowned in her grief, her pain so great that she didn't know how she was alive.
Evan. God, she loves her brother.
It wasn't for Evan. Maddie didn't—still doesn't— think she would've made it out of that house sane, alive. While there was an age difference between the two, they were attached by the hip. The Buckley's Christmas would never be what they once were with Daniel, but as Evan grew—finally finding his tiny, sweet voice-, Maddie found she didn't care if her Christmases never measured up to what they once were. She loved spending time with Evan, loved doing crafts with him. She no longer had the handcrafted Christmas ornaments she made with Evan—lost in one of Doug's rages—, but those were some of her happiest moments growing up. Christmases with him are everything for her.
The memories, still to this day, brings so much joy to the surface that her smile is bright and blinding, even Jee-Yun will smile and giggle at the seer happiness on her mommy's face. Maddie would never wish Jee-Yun to grow up any faster, but she can't wait until she can start doing crafts with her, restart a Buckley tradition with her. Already day dreaming, the three of them, Jee-Yun, Evan and her, will be covered in glitter by the end of it and there will be no regret in the air. Maddie wants a Christmas tree covered in only in hand made ornaments, which she has already told Howard about, which she receives no objections to.
"Oh, who put that smile on your face?" Evan asks, his smile equally as large. Since Jee-Yun has been born, Evan has been coming over more, spending as much time as he's permitted. Uncle Buck is the cutest thing Maddie has ever seen.
Maddie brings her coffee to her lips and slips. "Who you talking to?" She teases.
Evan is on the floor not even a foot from Jee-Yun, a baby toy in his hand. A soft teddy bear to be specific. He has been waving it at her, talking to her in a high-pitched voice. His voice goes deeper when he pretends to be the bear. "Well, I know who is making Jee-Yun laughing." He only spares Maddie a glance before his eyes are fully on Jee-Yun. He softly—so gently that Maddie doesn't know it is possible—taps the teddy bear's nose to Jee-Yun's nose before quickly pulls it back and taps it against her forehead, then her cheek. Jee-Yun's sweet giggle rings throughout the apartment.
Maddie's heart goes light at the sight of Evan with her daughter, it being one of the most beautiful things she has ever seen. An image of her with her Baby Evan bonding for the first-time flashes before her. While she loves Evan with her whole heart, the top spot goes to seeing Jee-Yun for the first time, and the second going to Howie when he laid his eyes on their daughter, tears running down his face. The first time she has seen Howard with Jee-Yun made her heart stop, the love so intense that she thought she was going to faint. The pure happiness on Howard's face makes Maddie falls in love with him again, and she gets this feeling each time she watches Howard with Jee. She's so glad she has given Howie the chance, so happy she let her guard down and went for it.
The sound of Jee giggling draws Maddie attention again, Evan now making the bear flying through the air above him. Maddie never had any doubts that Evan would be an amazing Uncle, children just flocking to him, but it's another thing to see. Her heart just can't take it, Jee and Evan's laugher merging. "I love you two." She can't say it enough, especially to Evan. Her parents didn't say it enough to them growing up, which still pulls at her, and to make sure no one she loves ever felt like she and Buck did growing up, she tells Jee-Yun, Howie and Evan she loves them daily. Even if it's just a text, she sends her love. She will never allow her little family to feel unloved.
Evan lifts up his head, and his smile just beams. Using his free hand, he picks up Jee- Yun's tiny hand and waves it at Maddie. "We love you, too. Yes, we do. Loves you this much." His voice goes a little high as he expands both his an Jee-Yun's hand. She giggles.
Maddie can't wait until Jee-Yun can say those words right back, can't wait. God, she loves that little girl with her entire heart. How is it possible to love someone so much? Maddie sets down her coffee and brings her hands to her chest, right above her heart. No matter how many days have passed, this feeling in her chest hasn't changed, her heart still light and airy whenever she stares at Jee-Yun. How has her heart not burst out of love?
"Who's your favorite Uncle?" Evan teases as he puts down the teddy and starts doing funny faces. Puffing out his cheeks, he pokes at Jee-Yun, which earns even more laugher from her. "That's right. It's Uncle Buck." He cheers as he does raspberries (though careful not to take anything on Jee.)
Being complete preoccupied by the cuteness of Evan and Jee, Maddie hasn't noticed the door open and Howie and Albert walk in until Albert goes, "Wait? Who said you're the favorite Uncle?" There's no heat before it, but something else leaks through, a bit of jealousy. It hasn't been the first time that Albert and Evan got into a 'Jee-Yun loves me' contest, but it has never progressed to anger.
Evan shots Albert a look, his blue eyes sparkling, before he returns his attention back to Jee-Yun. "Oh, it's silly Uncle Albert, thinking he's your favorite." He pokes at Jee-Yun again, as he picks the bear back up.
Albert marches across the floor, leaping over Jee-Yun's toys between the door and Jee, and playfully shoves Buck out the way. Shoving is an over exaggeration, as Albert puts no force into it, Evan barely bobbing to the side for a moment. He gets between Evan and Jee-Yun and wiggles his arms. "Uncle Buck is just being ridiculous. Everyone knows I'm your favorite."
Maddie, chuckling, turns her attention to Howie as he wraps his arms around her and places a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Hey," she greets.
"Aren't our children ridiculous?" Howie replies, a chuckle on his lips.
That statement hits home more than it should, as Maddie does consider Evan her kid at times. She did raise him. "Oh, yes, but would we have it any other way?"
Howard's eyes go distance for a moment, his heart going warm and light. "No. Jee deserves all the love in the world."
Nothing in the world could make Maddie disagree. "Yes, she does."
"I also can't wait to until she's old enough to understand and partake in my mother's traditions my mother." Traditions were one of the few things that Howard and Maddie spoked about at length. For them, nothing is off the table, the both of them wanting to pass down everything to this wonderful little girl. Plus, Maddie swoons at the idea of Howard passing his Korean heritage down to her daughter. She especially wants Jee-Yun to know her namesake, to know her Grandmother, which is why her picture is everywhere in their apartment.
"Those are fighting words, Buckley!" Albert yells- though gently enough not to disturb Jee.
Evan playfully shrugs. "Can't change facts."
"You want to put your money where your mouth is?" Albert hums.
At first, Evan blinks and just stares at Albert, pondering Albert's challenge. "What are we betting?"
Howard release Maddie and rounds the countertop, crossing into the living room. "Boy. Boys." He goes into father mood, coming in to settle his kids.
In some odd unison, Albert and Evan's forcefully point at Howard, their index fingers pointing sharply up. "What are we betting?" Evan asks, the playfulness gone from earlier. He has his determined face on, his eyes in narrow points as he sends lasers to Albert.
Albert looks unbothered as he folds his arms across his chest. "Favorite Uncle Title."
Evan's head just bobs up and down for 30 seconds as he folds his own arms across this chest, mirroring Albert. His head pops up, staring Albert deep in the eyes. "Challenge accepted," He agrees as he sticks out his hand to shake on it. "Whose ever Christmas gift Jee-Yun likes better gets the title."
"Agreed."
Maddie and Howie exchanges looks, not liking where this could go, but neither stops the two. Evan and Albert have never crossed the line yet with their competitive streaks, but they will keep a close eye on the two. Besides, Jee-Yun is laughing this entire time, not phased by this entire thing. It has Jee's seal of approval.
*O*O*
Maddie should've known Evan would come to her regarding gifts options for Jee, but she never expects the items he picked out to be so…so odd? But why does she expect Buck to be a baby expert? Besides for the babies rescued on the job, Evan hasn't been around lot of babies. Older Toddlers yes, but not babies. "Evan, no." She's laughing so hard she has to hide her face in her hands so he doesn't see the tears running down her face.
Evan puffs out his lower lip and deletes the picture on his phone before moves onto the next item. "What about this one?" he asks, showing her a different item.
Or rather, he is trying to as Maddie keeps her eyes on Evan. "Ev., isn't this cheating? You and Albert made this bet. It's not fair to ask me." She shakes a playful finger at him.
"Howard has been helping Albert!" Evan whines as his phone goes dark.
Huffing, Maddie rolls her eyes. "Fine. Show me the phone again." She motions to the phone, which Evan gladly shows her. "Evan!" She softly chastises him as she loves through the pictures.
He gives her an innocent smile. "What? Girls can like dinosaurs, too!"
While Maddie is glad that Evan isn't stereotyping the toys he plans to give Jee-Yun, she's way too young for that toy. "That's robot dinosaur!" She pushes him softly on the shoulder. "She can't play with that. Use the ages on the boxes if you need help!"
Buck waves her off. "Those are just suggestions.
Maddie narrows her eyes at her brother. "Are you just buying toys for yourself as you don't want to be a man who buys himself kid toys?" she accuses him.
Evan acts offended. "Me?" he smacks himself in the chest. "I would never. That's not what Jee-Yun's favorite Uncle will do." Grumbling, he deletes that photo as well.
"She's not even one. You need baby toys." Maddie, herself, has to rain herself in at times, wanting to buy every toy she sees. It is a battle, as she wants to spoil her daughter on Christmas, giving Jee-Yun the best day ever. However, she has more control than Howard, who has a closet full of stuff for Jee.
"Baby toys are no fun."
"What about a ball pit?" Maddie throws out, though regretting it a second later. That's sounds like a gift she wants to gift her daughter herself. Evan shakes his head, as he lifts up his phone again, showing her a different picture. This goes on for an hour, Evan full of ideas to gift Jee-Yun with. "Evan."
Evan huffs as he whines, "Fine. Fine. I'll come up with other ideas." He glances around the apartment. "Where's Jee-Yun?" he asks. "I need some Jee's hugs, her mommy shot down all of my ideas and Uncle Buck is sad."
Maddie rolls her eyes and nods toward the playpen. Jee is napping, but she has been napping for a few hours and it's time for her wake up anyways if Maddie wants her to sleep through the night. "I'm feeling unloved here. Only coming to see me for Jee-Yun." Evan doesn't answer, but he doesn't deny it either.
*O*O*
Maddie, a green facial mask on, comes out of the bathroom, a robe on and a toothbrush in her mouth. "God, look at how beautiful you are." Howard chirps out.
"God," Maddie exclaims, mocking him slightly. While she is glad Howard loves her when she looks like a swamp monster, she gets red in the face every time. She will never get used to the love he gives her. "You're a goofball."
"And you love me for it."
Nope, there's no denying that either. Even if it took her some time to get here, she loves this man with her entire soul. "Yes, I do." She turns on him, wiggling her ass at him, and goes back into the bathroom to finish her routine. It takes a few minutes, but she is back in her bedroom in no time, her face still wet. She takes a seat on her bed and reaches for the hairbrush. "Has Albert been bugging you about gifts idea?"
Howard grunts loudly before he breaks out in a fit of laugher. After a solid minute, he calms down from his fit and says, breathy, "Yes, he is. I get it. I want this Christmas to be perfect-" Maddie's eye twitch. "-for Jee, but man, enough is enough." He pauses, his eyes going large. "Wait, why? Has Buckley been cheating?"
Maddie turns to her loving boyfriend and gives him a dirty look. "Oh, really cheating. Is it only cheating if Buck does it? What about you and Albert?" Howard laughs nervously. "Aren't you helping Albert to cheat?" She hums.
"That's different!"
"Oh, really?" Her tone goes protective. She can't help it when it comes to her baby brother.
Howard slides back in his bed, putting some more distance between them. "Okay, Okay." He throws his arms up, as he waves his hands like a white flag.
Maddie smiles, her protective tone gone. "Has Albert come up with some goofy idea?" she asks, humming. "Evan has-"
"I don't like the implications here." He interjects.
"What?" Her eyes go large.
His expression morphs into a playful grin, one that Maddie knows well. "I sense some cockiness. You care to make a wager?"
Maddie kicks her feet into bed and rolls to her side, freezing for a moment like she always does. Jee-Yun is finally on a schedule, but she can't help but strained her ears, listening for a cry. "On Evan and Albert?" she asks, seeing where he is going with it.
"Han vs Buckley." Howard answers, grinning. "Let's see who the best sibling pair is."
Albert and Evan may have some competitive streaks between the two, but they have nothing on Maddie and Howard, who can go to crazy levels to win. "What do I get out of it?"
Howard gives her a shit eating grin and goes, "If Jee loves Albert's gift more, you got to do the thing to me. If she loves Buck's gift more, I will do the thing to you."
Maddie's face goes blood red, her mind already wandering. Until Howard, she hasn't even enjoyed sex, it being a chore. A dirty chore. Doug had made her feel less than, made her feel like shit afterward, and even now—after a few years-, she isn't all that comfortable when sex is mentioned. She's positive her own brother would get red in the face if he knew what the thing refers to. However, a heat burns in her stomach when she thinks about the thing, and the game is on. She would win. "That's how we ended up with Jee-Yun."
"And she is the best thing ever."
There has never been a truer statement. Maddie holds out her hand to Howard. "Deal." She's going to make sure Evan wins this bet. Howard and Maddie do make some ground rules, knowing the other very well. Howard and Maddie can't pick out the gifts or direct their brothers to a specific gift. They can't go shopping, even if it's online, with Albert and Evan, and they can't throw Albert or Evan off track, meaning they can't sabotage them in anyway. This is a big one. Maddie can always see the idea worming its way into Howard's brain.
*O*O*
Christmas is fast approaching, and Maddie is already ready to jump out of her skin. If Evan has found a gift, he hasn't told her, keeping it close to the vest. "So, Evan, you have the perfect gift yet?" she asks. Evan glances at his sister from the corner of his eyes. He sparkles under the light like a vampire from Twilight, as both Buckley siblings are covered in glitter from their homemade ornaments. Maddie was too impatient to wait years for Jee to be able to help, and she pulled everything out now, determine to start Jee young. "Come on, tell me."
Evan's eyes drop to Jee, who is currently sitting in her mother's lap. While Maddie has been very careful—not letting Jee eat anything-, Jee has gotten into everything, and she has a glitter hand, solid glitter, that Maddie is trying to wipe off. "Mads." He says slowly.
Maddie groans. "She won't understand. Tell me. Tell me."
"Nope," Evan states, popping out the 'p'. He reaches for a clear ornament and the fake snow. "Pass me that tiny tree." He points to the tree right next to Jee.
"Why won't you tell me?" She scoots her chair turning it toward Evan. With the biggest puppy dog eyes she can muster, she turns them on her brother. In most cases, she would never use her child as a pawn, but she will make the exception for this. She needs to win this. Howard will not win. She needs the thing.
Evan snorts, as he takes his own glittery hand and pats Jee on the head. "You are the cutest thing ever, but nope."
"Why not?"
His eyes drop to Jee, smiling, before he meets her eye. "You're sleeping with the enemy."
Maddie, affronted, crunches up her eyes as she covers Jee's ears. "Sleeping with the enemy?"
Evan laughs. "Oh, she won't understand?"
"Shut up," she demands as her hands drop from Jee Yun's ears. She shoves him playfully, Evan just going it and almost—being over dramatic about it- falling out of his chair. She holds out her pinky finger to him. "Buckley siblings to the end."
Without hesitation and after recovering, he pinky swears with her. "To the end."
"So, tell me."
Evan huffs. "No."
"What if is stupid or silly?" Maddie recalls the countless gift items she threw away.
A fond look passes across his face. "Not possible. Christopher and I went shopping together, and we found the perfect gift."
Maddie relaxes a bit, trusting Christopher over Evan with picking the gift. He may be a pre-teen, but he has more sense at times. "Not video games?"
Evan rolls his eyes. "Not video games. I'm better than that." He reaches for the closest crafting items, cut up pieces of paper, and hurls it them at her. Paper being paper, they float in the air before they land every which way.
Maddie's has paper pieces in her hair, down her shirt. Everywhere. "Fine. Fine." She relents, as she fishes out a piece paper in her shirt and flickers back the little piece at him.
Side glancing at her, he asks, "Why are you so interested in my gift?"
Does she want Evan to know she betted on Albert and him? It won't matter either way, but she doesn't want to tell him in the chance he asks about the wager. In no way, shape or form does she want to explain what the thing is. She would be so red in the face that she may just drop dead right there. "This is Jee's first Christmas. I need it to be perfect." She answers. It is the truth.
Evan's face softens and he gently places his hand on hers. Jee-Yun, watching her mommy and Uncle, places her own hand on theirs. It's the cutest thing ever, and both siblings' hearts do a loop in their chest. "Mads," he starts after he catches his breath. "You'll never be our parents, and no matter what you do, this Christmas will be a hundred time better than any Christmas we had there."
Maddie pulls her chair to Evan's, and almost immediately, Evan's hands wrap around her, resting their heads against the other. The warmth hits her instantly, and she feels light. "Thank you, Evan. I love you."
"Love you too."
*O*O*
Christmas Morning is here before anyone can realize it, and Maddie can't be happier. The apartment is fully decked out, red and green everywhere, pieces of wrapping paper thrown across the apartment from Jee opening gifts. There in a corner stands the Buckley-Han's Christmas tree, fully covered in homemade ornaments. Well, besides one. Howard couldn't resist getting a "Baby's First Christmas," and Maddie can't fault him on it, because she fucken loves it. It has a Korean spin to it, and she wouldn't have it any other way. For the first hour of the day, she just stares at it, showing Jee-Yun. A line of Korean inspired ornament each year will be about tradition that Maddie will keep close to her heart.
Just before Buck and Albert arrive at the apartment, Howie tells stories of Jee's namesake, tears running just his face. Jee-Yun won't recall these stories, but Maddie will, and she will make sure that Jee is aware of them, not that she would need to with Howard around. "Love you two," Howard speaks, placing a kiss to both of Jee and Maddie's head.
"I'm still going to win." Maddie teases as she leans into Howie.
"Hey!"
"Okay, I love you too."
"Good." Howie and Maddie stick together like that, Jee between them, until there's a knock on the door. Howard untangles their limbs and pushes himself up to his feet. With a large smile, he opens the door, revealing both Evan and Albert who are bickering like a two small school kids on the playground. In both of those hands are two large boxes, both around the same size. "Oh my." Howard utters loudly, as he just shakes his head.
Gathering Jee in her arms, Maddie gets to her feet and turns to the door. "Oh my god," she utters, catching sight of the two large boxes in Evan and Albert's hands. How can a present make Buck look small?
Evan doesn't wait for an invitation and pushes into the apartment, heading to the tree. "Oh, right. Where is my niece? Present time!"
"No, hi? Or hey, Chimney? How's going? Did Jee love her presents? Nothing? Just going to push right by me?" Howard complains, as he rolls his eyes
This time it is Albert, who interjects. "Nope. Now move out the way." He pushes right pass his brother and joins Buck right by the tree. He sets his gift right now next to Evan's.
Maddie shots Howard a look before she shakes her head. "When did we get three kids?" she teases.
Howard, eyes closed, bellows deep from his belly as he closes the door. "I don't know."
Albert and Evan may the biggest kids ever, but Maddie won't change it for anything. She loves her Buckley- Han family, and she will do anything to protect it. "We should just get this out of the way." There's a tingle in her eyes, as she shots her soulmate a playful smirk. She is totally going to win the thing.
With a deep breath, Howard nods and joins his family by the tree. "Yes, let's do it."
Albert and Evan adjust the placement of their gifts, making an angle with their gifts, while Maddie places Jee between them. Maddie, then, lowers herself behind her daughter as Howard pulls out his phone to record the show. As she did earlier, Maddie reaches forward and rips a tiny a strip on both packages at Jee's eye level. she glances up, her eyes on both uncles. Either of them notices her loving stare, them too focused on Jee- Yun. A long few stressful minutes pass, nerves on fire, as they wait for Jee to pull on the wrapping.
It takes a while, but Jee does start to pull on the wrapping, Maddie helping her every step of the way. Albert and Evan have not stood still since they walked into the apartment. Both, mirroring each other again, are rocking back and forth on their feet. If Howard and she haven't made a bet on this, she would be laughing her ass off, but the game is on. Buck better win this or else she is going to get him. Get him how? Maddie doesn't know, but she wants the thing. Strip by strip, the tension rises, and Maddie just wants to rip off the paper herself, but no matter what, these are Jee's gifts. It is all about her smile.
Maddie and Howard are laughing by the time the gifts are fully unwrapped. Before bursts of laugher, Howard goes, "Did you two agree on a theme or something?"
"It will go with the paramedic play set you got Jee," Maddie replies, barely holding back her laugher, as she glances at the two firefighter sets. Albert's gift is a firetruck, a big firetruck that she can drive—not that she knows how to drive. However, according to the box, there long handle that can be attached so the parent can push the child. No doubt Howard will be pushing Jee around the entire apartment for hours. Evan's gift is firefighter gear for a kid, and by gear, it is everything a child could want if they want to be a firefighter: the mask, the helmet, the air tank, a rubber axe, the jacket, etc. Honestly (this is not because of the bet), she loves Evan's gift, but there's no way Jee can play with any of that now. Granted, that can be said about Howard's gift too. On the other hand, Jee can use the firetruck now, though that's not the challenge/bet. No matter how practical it is, it is whether Jee likes it better. She will fit Howard on that.
Albert bends down. "Okay, sweet Jee. Which one do you like better?" he kicks his gift closer to him.
"No. No. No." Evan points out. "Jee can't make an inform decision until they are out of the box."
Howard snorts, shooting his lovely girlfriend a cheeky smile. "As much as I hate to admit it, he does have a point."
That's all that the two boys need to hear, and they are tearing open the boxes. Jee-Yun lets out a cackling laugh as she watches her uncles act like two big children. Throwing out child friendly insults, Buck and Albert banter back and forward until each of their toys are out and put together in front of her. The boxes are thrown aside, leaning against each other like a tiny fort.
Maddie, still in disbelief over the entire situation, leans down to talk to Jee. "Okay, sweet Girl." She points her into the direction of the two toys. "You pick."
Jee lets out some baby talk before she rolls to stomach and starts to crawl. Buck and Albert are cheering in the background, while Howard laughs his ass off, barely holding his phone up. Maddie, though she doesn't want to lie, is enjoying the entire thing. No matter who wins, this is one of the best Christmas she has ever had, and she can't wait to make this a tradition as well. God, she now has a list of traditions, and in the risk of sounding like a broken record, she loves this with her entire body.
"Wait, where is she going?" Evan asks, stopping in his spot. All the grown-up watch in silence as Jee crawls to the two discarded box. She pulls at him, chatting in her baby language the entire time. "Wait, who wins?"
"That's mine box! I win." Albert cheers.
"No, no. That's my box she is pulling on." Buck protests.
Howard and Maddie exchange look, it dawning on them. There's only one fair thing to do here: no one wins. Jee-Yun would rather play with the boxes then the toys. "Shit." Howard and Maddie curses together. Neither one of them get the thing. What kind of crap is there?
Albert and Evan stare at them, eye twitching. "Wait? did you make a bet on us?" They ask in unison.
"No, why would we do that?"
"Oh, god, they did!"
"What did you two bet?" Evan asks, giving each of them a look. Albert and his bet vanish from their mind, while Jee just plays in the boxes. She is totally unaware of what is happening with her parents and uncles.
"Yea, what?" Alberts joins in.
"Nothing!" Maddie and Howard yells, their faces bright red.
And yet, this Christmas is perfect. It is fucken perfect.
Please let me know what you think
I had joy writing this, loving stories like this.