AN: Happy Christmas in July everyone!
LLB
Lenora yawned and rolled over to look at the other side of the room. Otto was still asleep, face down on his bed. The boys hadn't woken up yet. She smiled and buried deeper into the blankets. It wasn't often that she got to lie in bed, even now that she and Eli were safe. Otto squeeked and stretched before lying his head on his folded arms and smiling at her.
"Guten Morgen."
"Morning," She rolled onto her back, "Ugh. I can't believe the boys are still asleep."
"Zey'll be up in fifteen minutes, at ze longest. Zey vvere up two hours ago."
"With how many times they were up last night, I think we deserve an extra fifteen minutes."
Otto chuckled. They lay quietly for a moment, neither of them daring to make a move.
"Do you realize zis is probably our last year of getting to sleep in on Christmas before vve have children jumping on our beds for ze rest of our lives?"
Lenora buried her face in her pillow to stifle her laughter. Then she looked at him again.
"Do you intend to have children in the house for the rest of your life?"
"Absolutely." He rolled over and folded his hands over his belly, "VVezer I am kidnapping my grandchildren or fostering, even after Toby is grown and moved out. No vone should be alone for ze holidays. Und if I can give some children a place to go, zen vvhy not?"
Lenora smiled and nodded. They only got a moment longer to lie in bed before cries began to come from the baby monitor.
"Time to get to vvork."
Lenora groaned into her pillow before rolling out of bed and making her way down the hall to the nursery. The babies didn't care that it was Christmas. It was time to be awake and get on with the day. Otto lifted his son out of his cot and bounced him slightly.
"Guten morgen, Bärchen," He cooed, "Und Frohe Weihnachten. Oh! Es ist unser erster gemeinsame Urlaub, nicht wahr?"
The baby continued to cry. Lenora chuckled and shook her head. She changed Eli's diaper and made her way down to the kitchen for breakfast. She pulled two bottles out of the fridge and put them in a pot of water on the stove. Even with the babies still crying, Otto hummed and danced while he got out their breakfast. As soon as the bottles were done, Lenora passed Toby's to Otto and sat to feed Eli.
"You know, Baby Boy, before you came along, Mama was a morning person."
Eli blinked up at her. Otto chuckled and sat in the other chair. The kitchen was blissfully quiet for the few minutes that the babies nursed. Then came the fight to burp them both before either of them could start crying. Eli snuggled closer to her chest.
"Shall vve move to ze living room? Or would you razer vve all get dressed first?"
"That depends, do you have plans to go anywhere to go today?"
"Ja. VValt und Barbara's after lunch. You're more zan vvelcome to come vviz us. It's just us und Nomura coming. Maybe Barbara's brozers und nephew."
"O-Ok. Then...we should get dressed first. It's not like the boys know that there are Christmas presents under the tree."
Otto smiled and nodded and led the way up the stairs. Lenora took Eli into the nursery to get him ready and Otto took Toby into their bedroom. He lay his son on the bed and changed into a pair of slacks and a red sweater with a Christmas tree on it.
"Oh God. You're an ugly sweater person!" Lenora giggled.
Otto forced down a blush and lifted Toby to his shoulder. Lenora's smile didn't slip as she took her turn to get dressed. Otto gathered Toby's onesie, pants, and sweater before laying him on the changing table and dressing the squirming baby. He tickled his feet and blew a raspberry on his tummy. Toby burst into shrieking giggles. Otto sighed happily and made his way back down to the living room. Lenora and Eli were right behind them.
"VVait. Is Eli vvearing an ugly sweater?"
"Of course. Just because I don't own one doesn't mean that I didn't make up one for him. Does Toby's sweater have a dreidel on it?"
"Of course. Toby is jewish."
Lenora blinked at her fake husband. Otto chuckled.
"Ralf und Sherly vvere jewish und Nana is. VVhen I adopted Toby I insisted on raising him Jewish. I am clearly not but Nana is more zan vvilling to help und answer any questions I have. She also takes him for ze holidays. She had him for hanukkah vvhile vve vvere still in New Jersey."
"Oh...And he's going to celebrate Christmas?"
"Just ze gift exchange und family dinner. I already asked Nana about it. I just...didn't vvant to leave him out."
Lenora nodded understandingly. Without another word they sat in the living room, watching the babies stare at the blinking lights on the Christmas tree.
"So, do you want to go first or should I?"
"If you'll hold Toby zen I'll hand out ze gifts und vve can open ze boys's first."
"Sounds like a plan."
Otto grinned and handed his son over. Then he crawled over to the tree and sorted out the presents he and Lenora had placed out the night before. A small pile for each of the boys. Another small pile for Lenora. A handful for himself. Then he took Toby back and toed Eli's pile closer to his mother. Lenora grinned.
"Open this one first," She handed him a small package and pulled one in the same paper into her lap.
Otto rest his son against his chest and slowly ripped open the paper. It was a masterfully knit orange sweater vest. He looked up to find that Eli had a matching green sweater, clearly made with the same pattern but with sleeves added.
"Did you make zese?"
"Yeah...I got the yarn and needles at the discount store. Then it was just a matter of finishing them in time for Christmas morning."
Otto grinned and motioned for Lenora to open another of Eli's presents. A grey onesie, grey pants with green elephant outlines, and an elephant rattle ring. Toby had a matching tiger set.
"Where did you even find these," Lenora chuckled as she shook the rattle down at her son.
"Ze general store next to ze school. I ran over vone day after vvork. Just to look around."
"Well, they're adorable."
Most of the gifts for the boys were clothes. Some were toys. Rattles, plastic keys, crinkle books and the like. Both babies seemed satisfied with their gifts. Toby gnawed on his plastic rings while Eli sucked on his new green dummy.
"Alright," Lenora shoved a package at him, "Open this one first. It's from the boys."
Otto grinned and, Toby still against his chest, opened the present. It was a heart shaped cement stepping stone. One tiny footprint from each Toby and Eli lay on each side with clay hearts and sparkling rhinestones scattered around them.
Otto grinned and kissed Toby's curls, "Danke, Bärchen. Danke, Mein Geist. Now open zese vones. Zey're from ze boys."
Lenora wiggled with excitement as she ripped the paper with one hand. Each package contained a small mug with tiny printed handprints cupped around them.
"When did you have time to make these?"
"You'd have to ask ze boys. Personally, I zink Tanta Nono helped zem."
Lenora's jaw dropped and she set Eli's mug in her lap, "You're really not going to tell me?"
"Nope," He grinned, "Here. Open zis vone next."
"No. I just opened one. YOU open this one."
Otto took the small package from her and tugged at the ends of the ribbon.
"It's not much but…" Lenora ran her fingers through Eli's thin hair, "Della helped me pick it out."
Otto's grin grew as he opened the little red box, "Wunderbar! Are zese ze boys's birzstones?"
Lenora looked up, "What?"
He held up the sparkling tie clip, "Ja. Ruby is Juli, vvhich is vvhen Toby vvas born; citrine is November, vvhen Eli vvas born."
"But I-"
"Oh!" Otto wasn't listening as he lifted out the silver tie clip, "Und I can vvare zis vone to vvork. Danke, Lenora. How did you know I needed a new vone?"
She stared for a moment longer before smiling shyly, "Like I said, Della helped."
Otto chuckled and tucked the clips back into their box, "Alright. Now, open yours."
Lenora grinned and opened her last gift. She knew it was a book before she even picked it up.
"Complete Collection of Shakespeare's Sonnets!" She nearly squealed, "Thank you!"
"I didn't know vvhich vones you already had so I just vvent for all of zem."
"Thank you so much Otto! I can't wait to read them to the boys."
"Bitte, Lenora."
They slowly began to clean up the cast off wrappings. Lenora tucked her book and Mugs with Eli's clothes and toys while Otto stuffed the wrapping paper into a garbage bag. Then they tucked the gifts away. Otto grinned as he put on a Tie to wear with his tie clip with.
Lenora laughed and rubbed her eyes, "Everything about that outfit clashes…"
"Oh! Did I show you the best part?" He squeezed the hem of his sweater.
"Oh God! It lights up!"
Otto grinned up at her. He held Toby in one arm and followed her and Eli back down the stairs.
"Would you mind watching the boys for a little bit? I promised Walter I'd bring a pie tonight."
"Of course not. VVould you like any ozer help?"
"I'll be fine."
"Alright zen. Ze boys und I vvill just have to finde somezing to talk about. VVon't vve, Meine Junge?"
He took Eli and settled with both babies on the livingroom floor. Lenora smiled and went to work in the kitchen. She worked in relative peace for over an hour, finishing the dough for the crust and getting started on the cherry filling before she heard Eli start to cry. She dropped her spoon and raced back into the livingroom.
Otto looked up from where he was changing Eli's diaper, "He's Ok. Just needed a clean diaper."
Lenora sighed and rubbed her eyes, "Of course. Right. Sorry…"
"It's ok. I understand. If I had heard toby crying and didn't know vvhat vvas wrong I would panic, too."
"I didn't 'panic'! I was just concerned…"
"Of course not, Leibling."
Lenora froze but shook it off quickly, "Right. Um...Otto...Where's Toby?"
"Behind you."
She yelped and turned. Toby wiggled across the hardwood, dragging his legs behind him, and giggled up at her. She sighed and picked him up.
"Well, you're getting mobile aren't you?"
The baby squealed and planted a sloppy kiss on her cheek.
"He really is. I'll have to remember to pick up some of zose outlet covers before he REALLY gets moving."
"How about tomorrow or the day after? I should really get back to the pie if I want it to be cool enough before we leave."
"Tomorrow. I have some vvork to do vviz VValt und Nomura ze day after."
Lenora nodded and handed Toby back before returning to the kitchen. Once the pie was in the oven, she set the timer and went back into the livingroom. Otto was still on the floor with the boys. He sat with his back against the sofa, playing with Eli's legs. Toby squealed and slapped his palm against the floor. His little pants slipped down as he tried to drag himself over to her. She laughed, scooped him into her arms, and sat beside Otto.
"We have forty-five minutes before I have to get the pie out."
Otto nodded silently and lifted Eli into his arms. He turned on the television and flipped through until he found 'A Christmas Carol' starring Patrick Stewart.
"Really?"
"It's a classic," He defended, "VVould you prefer ze Mickey Mouse movie?"
"...Maybe…"
Otto laughed and flipped back to 'Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas'.
"Better?"
"Yes."
Lenora held Toby to her chest and curled into Otto's side. He lay his head on her shoulder. They dozed until the timer went off, starling not only them but both the sleeping babies.
"Shit," She yawned, "The timer."
"You get ze pie. I have ze boys."
She nodded, raced into the kitchen, turned off the timer, saved the pie, and rushed back to help take care of Toby and Eli.
"I can't believe we fell asleep!" She bounded Eli gently.
"VVe've been avvake every two hours every night for ze past zree vveeks," Otto rubbed Toby's back, "I'm not surprised vve fell asleep."
"But what if the timer hadn't woken us up? We could have woken up to fire alarms! Or smoke in our faces! Or I could have slept through Eli's med alarm!"
"Hey! Hey!" Otto cupped her cheek with one hand, "It's ok. Ze timer on ze stove exists so zat people can vvalk avvay und do ozer zings. Like sleep? Und, if vve had vvoken up to fire alarms or smoke, vve would have had plenty of time to get out the front door. Und I do have homeowners insurance, you know. It vvould have been ok. UND Eli's next dose of meds isn't for anozer...two hours. Ze boy's would have vvoken us up before zen. It's all ok."
Lenora took a deep shaking breath and nodded. Otto slid his hand down to her shoulder.
"Maybe you und Eli should go upstairs und get some rest? Toby und I vvill be up in just a moment."
She shook her head, "I'm ok. I just...I don't know why…"
Otto steered her to the sofa. She furiously wiped at her eyes, trying to banish the tears.
"I'm sorry. I thought I was doing good. I don't know what happened…"
Otto rubbed her back gently, "It's alright. You don't need to apologize. You can't alvvays control vvhen you have a panik attack."
Lenora nodded slightly. As her breathing began to even out, Otto set Toby down and disappeared into the kitchen. He returned with two bottles, a plate of cut fruit, and two cups of tea.
"Here. I'll feed ze boys vvhile you eat und vve can trade vvhen you're done. Ok?"
"But-"
"No buts," he placed a fork in her hand and took Eli, "You haven't been sleeping und vve haven't eaten yet today. Trust me, zat can factor in."
Lenora sighed and ate some of the fruit. She watched as Otto leaned Toby against his stomach and let the older baby hold his own bottle while he leaned Eli against his legs and Otto held his bottle. A small smile spread over her face as she watched. Eli's tiny fist rose to meet the bottle.
"I should probably be starting Bärchen on baby food soon," Otto mused.
"We can pick some up while we're out tomorrow."
Otto nodded and bounced Eli gently. Lenora drained her tea and took Toby first. The red haired baby smiled up at her around his bottle and grabbed a fistful of her sweater. She smiled back and kissed his soft curls before taking Eli and letting Otto eat. In less than a minute she had Eli against her shoulder and Toby over her knees so she could burp them both at once.
"VVell, you've got zat down," Otto chuckled around his apple slices.
"I've had quite a bit of practice."
Otto sighed and nodded slowly. Silence returned to the room. Once he finished eating, Otto swung his legs off the sofa.
"I'm going to vvash ze dishes und get ze baby bags. Are Eli's meds still on ze table next to your bed?"
Lenora nodded, handing him the bottles. He smiled and set off. She hummed and settled the babies against her shoulders. A few minutes later, Otto stepped down the stairs and quietly set the bags down beside the sofa. Seeing that the boys had fallen asleep, he tiptoed into the kitchen to get the pie. Then, he brought Lenora her shoes and jacket. Finally, he tucked a little blanket around Eli to keep the tiny baby warm.
"VVe're only going next door," he whispered, "I don't zink he'll get to cold between here und zere."
Lenora nodded, trying to wiggle into her jacket without waking the boys. Otto chuckled and carefully helped her.
"I'll take ze bags und ze pie. You take our boys."
They arrived at Walter and Barbara's house to MUCH more noise than they expected.
"Otto!" A tall red haired man bounced up, a yipping brown puppy right behind him, "Oh! Who's this? Who's that? Aw! Who's this little one?!"
Both babies began crying. Lenora took a step back. Otto hurried to hand the pie to Walt and set down the diaper bags. He took Toby and put a hand on Lenora's shoulder.
"Lucky, zis is my vvif, Lenora, und our sons, Toby und Eli. Lenora, zis is Barbara's younger elder brozer, Lucas Sturges."
"Call me 'Lucky'," The man seamed to calm down and was holding the puppy's muzzle shut, "Sorry for waking the little guys. I totally wasn't thinking. I'm going to put Buddy outside for a bit."
Otto gently steered his 'wife' to the sofa and sat beside her.
"Es tut mir leid, Lenora," He rubbed her back, "I zought it vvas just going to be us, my siblings, und Barbara's eldest brozer, Kris. I didn't realize Lucky und a puppy und...I'm sorry.'
She nodded mutely, tucking Eli closer. Otto felt something bump into his shoulder and turned. A tall man with a long black ponytail held a small glass of steaming cider down to him.
"Danke, Kris."
"Bitte, Otto," He knelt beside them, "Sorry about my brother, Frou Scaarbach. He's just excited. He can't usually make it to this. Same goes for my son."
Lenora took a deep breath, "No. I'm sorry. I overreacted. I just wasn't prepared."
"No need to apologise. Barbara explained about Eli and crowdes. Lucky's just a big kid sometimes. He doesn't always listen best and gets excited easily."
Lenora took another calming breath and smiled, "Still. I'm sorry for not introducing myself. You can just call me 'Lenora'."
He smiled back, "I'm Kristopher. You can call me 'Kris'. And the dumbass over there talking to the girl way out of his league is MY dumbass son, Andrew."
"Dad! It's 'Drew' by the way."
Lenora laughed even as Nomura rolled her eyes. Otto chuckled and kissed her temple. Kris leaned forward to get a closer look at Eli but didn't try to touch him.
"So, Toby I know. But I haven't had a chance to meet this one."
"This is Elijah. Eli for short."
"Named after his grandfather?" Lucky sat on the arm of the sofa.
"Otto blushed, "He is."
"He looks so much like you, Lenora," Drew leaned over his father's shoulder, "'Cept his hair. That's Otto's. Flying all over the place unless he uses a gallon of hair gel to hold it down."
Otto covered his eyes with one hand, the other still holding Toby.
"You're absolutely right," Lenora grinned, stroking her son's thin hair, "And his hands. He has Otto's long fingers, too."
Otto stared at her, mouth open. Lucky rolled off the arm of the sofa laughing and Walt could be heard laughing in the dining room.
"TMI, Jay," Barbara teased as she entered with Jim.
"What did I say?"
Barbara just chuckled and shook her head, "Oh, I just got a call from Della. Her and Bruce are on their way."
"Who all is coming?" Otto didn't look up.
"They're the last of it," Walt promised, taking his son, "Popa...couldn't make it this year."
The room got quiet. The amusement seemed to bleed out. Lucky sat in the armchair and bounced Jim. Nomura and Drew sat on the floor arguing quietly.
"Otto?" Lenora whispered, "Who's 'Popa'?"
"Our groundwater. Or, ze closest zing vve had to vone. Mama's Papa died before she adopted VValt. Popa vvas a family friend who helped Mama vvhen she found him und started Janis Initative. Since Mama passed...He's sort of all vve have…"
"How old is he?"
"Yeah, that's the thing," Nomura leaned back and looked up at them, "We all call him 'Popa' and tell people he's our grandfather but he's only five years older than Mom was."
"Really?"
"Really. VVe don't even know how zat got started. Ask VValt."
"Don't ask Walt. Walt doesn't know either."
Lenora chuckled as the three began arguing. Toby squealed and, incidentally, kicked his father square in the stomach. JIm shrieked and wiggled causing Lucky to nearly drop him. Eli burst into tears. It was complete pandemonium.
"Sorry we're late," Bruce and Della entered, "We got caught by the Christmas rush."
"That's fine, you two," Barbara gave them both a tight hug, "Food goes in the kitchen, presents by the tree."
Bruce nodded and followed her into the kitchen. Della put her bag of gifts by the tree and sat next to Lenora, huge grin spread over her face.
"Well, he-llo, Jay. Did Otto like his present?"
Lenora mock glared and chuckled, "Yes. Thank you. I'll pay you back. Promise."
"Don't worry about it, " Della waved her off, "It's not the first time I've done it. And certainly not for family."
She didn't get to reply before Bruce returned from the kitchen, shaking his head.
"Maybe I should give Barbara a hand," Lenora shifted Eli, "I may have been gone for a while but I doubt her cooking has much improved since Walt and I worked together."
"It hasn't," Nomura said from where she had Drew in a headlock.
"Do you vvant me to take Eli?" Otto offered.
"I could do it!" Della grinned.
Lenora swallowed thickly and held her son closer. Otto put a hand on her arm.
"It's ok. You can take him vviz you if you vvould prefer."
She took a deep breath, "No, it's fine. Della can hold him. Just remember he needs his meds in-"
"Tventy minutes. I know. I have a timer on my vvatch set."
Lenora smiled and kissed his cheek. Then she carefully handed her tiny son to Della and made her way into the kitchen. Barbara was at the counter, cutting vegetables.
"Barbara, don't take this the wrong way but why are you the one cooking?"
"No offence taken," She shook her head, "I'm only making the salad. Walt was cooking but Nomura and Drew broke the table so he had to fix that. I'm just watching the rest of it."
Lenora nodded and rescued the rolls from the oven. They were a little overdone but otherwise fine.
"Sorry. I totally forgot that Walt asked me to take those out. Crazy man doesn't believe in timers."
Lenora chuckled and basted the turkey while she had the oven open. Together, her and Barbara worked on dinner.
"Where did you learn to cool like that, Jay?"
"My foster father insisted on making everything from scratch. He made sure we learned so we could do it when we moved out."
"Yeah, my mother tried the same thing but I'm still awful. I do make really good sandwiches, though."
Lenora laughed outright and added a little butter and garlic to the potatoes. The kitchen was quiet and they could hear the others laughing. Barbara opened the bar window so they could see them all. Toby and Jim were being passed around and Jim had managed to wiggle out of Drew's arms and was cruising his way over to Walter, who had just finished fixing the table. Otto had Eli lying on his chest, little mittened fists rubbing his face.
"Hey, Jay?" Barbra's voice was little more than a whisper, "Where did you get Otto's tie clip? I was thinking of getting something like that for Walt. Not a tie clip, obviously, but maybe a ring or cuff links or a pocket wat-"
"Barbara," Lenora put a hand on her shoulder, "You're rambling. I got it at Della's. It's a complete coincidence that it works for Otto. Heck, when I bought it we thought the citrine worked for NOMURA and we didn't even realize it was Eli's birthstone, too."
Barbara nodded, stopped, and turned, "Nomura's not a November Baby. Her birthday is Valentine's Day."
"What? But...Della said citrine was his sister's birthstone as well."
Barbara frowned and glanced at her brother-in-law, "It is. But it's not Nomura's. Otto used to have another sister. She died before he came to Mum and Walt."
Lenora starred at her for a moment and looked over at Otto. He had a small smile on his face as he dug through Eli's diaper bag. His watch was blinking.
"I won't say any more. It's not my story to tell and Otto doesn't like to bring it up," Barbara continued, "But you should know. If only for your cover."
Otto kissed Eli's hair as he stood and made his way to the kitchen.
"Everything Ok?" Lenora asked.
"Ja. Just giving him his medicine," he held the tube up, "I zought it vvould be better to do it in here."
"Yeah. That's probably for the best. We don't want THREE crying babies."
Otto nodded and sat at an empty counter. Barbara watched in shock. Eli kicked and fussed before he started crying. Lenora put the pot of corn on the stove to busy her hands and keep herself from taking her baby from Otto.(1)
"Nope," Barbara closed her eyes and looked away, "I wouldn't be able to do it."
Otto handed Eli to his mother and rubbed her back, "Zere's no easy vvay to give a baby medicine."
"I know. I know. I just...I'm so glad that's not usually part of being an ER doctor."
Lenora nodded slightly, played with her son's fingers.
"Alright. Table's fixed," Walt entered, Jim on his hip, and kissed his wife's cheek, "Now, everyone out of my kitchen."
Barbara rolled her eyes and reached to take Jim.
"No. You can't take my assistant."
"Oh? Can't I?" Barbara grinned and reached for her baby.
She was stopped short by the matching puppy eyes both father and son gave her.
"Oh, that's not fair."
"Isn't it, Dearest?" Walt grinned and kissed her again.
She shoved him playfully and kissed Jim on the nose. The baby squealed and grabbed his mother's face. Otto chuckled. He slipped one arm around Lenora's waist and they went back into the livingroom.
"Otto, I'm stealing your child," Nomura grinned and bounced Toby.
"No you are not," He and Lenora sat on the sofa once more, "He's still not sleeping zrough ze night. You vvouln't be able to take zat."
"On the topic of your children," Lucky sat on the arm of the sofa, "How old is little Eli?"
Lenora forced a smile, "Please don't call him that. But, he's a month old. Five days before Thanksgiving."
"Cute. Wait. How is that possible? Otto moved here six months ago."
Lenora froze and glanced at Otto. He simply smiled and dug out his wallet.
"Lenora und I vvere married in Germany shortly before I moved to Arcadia," He handed them a wallet sized wedding photo from their photo shoot, "Und Eli vvas born zree days after she arrived here."
"Damn," Lucky stared at the photo, "Why would you leave her behind?"
"I didn't!"
"We had a student in a bad situation that we were keeping an eye on," Lenora lied smoothly and snuggled against Otto, "I wanted to stay behind and make sure he made it to a new home OK."
Drew looked from the photo to the baby, "Was it a shotgun wedding?"
"Andrew!" His father barked.
Nomura simply smacked him upside the head.
"Ow! What?"
"You can't just ask a question like that!"
"No, it vvas not a 'shotgun vvedding', Drew."
"Actually," Nomura tapped her chin and leaned back, "If my math is correct, Eli must have been a HONEYMOON BABY."
Otto's face and ears burned bright red and the color drained from Lenora's face. The room burst into laughter.
"Alright. Alright," Walt laughed as he and Jim rejoined them, "That's enough laughter at my baby brother's expense. If anyone's going to poke fun at him and his wife's intimate life, it's going to be me."
Otto groaned and hid his face in Lenora's shoulder. Lenora giggled and tucked her face into the crook of his neck.
"Besides, dinner is ready."
Everyone scrambled to their feet and filtered into the dining room. The babies were handed to their rightful parents and everyone settled around the table. The food was passed around clockwise and piled onto everyone's plates.
"Can I give Toby mashed potatoes?" Lucky asked, grin plastered over his face, "Jim gets to eat it."
"Jim is over zree monz older zan Toby," Otto lifted an eyebrow.
"Please."
"You did say you wanted to start him on baby food soon," Lenora reasoned.
Otto hummed and mumbled for a moment before sighing and handing his son over. Lucky squeaked and offered his nephew a tiny spoonful of potatoes. Seeing the grumpy look on her 'husband's' face Lenora rolled her eyes and handed him Eli.
Once everyone had eaten their fill and washed their plates they returned to the livingroom.
"Alright. Who wants to play santa?" Barbara bounced Jim in her lap.
"Walt's house! He's santa!" Drew pointed.
"No! Otto's the youngest parent. He gets to be santa!" Walt insisted.
"Coin toss," Lucky dug around in his pocket and pulled out a quarter.
One coin toss later and he grinned, "Otto's santa."
"Verdamit."
He handed Eli back to Lenora and sat by the tree. He handed out the presents, not that there were many. Most of them were for the babies. It was far later than anyone anticipated when they started leaving. First Lucky and Buddy, who had to drive back upstate. Then Kris, who had to work the next morning. Then Drew and Nomura, not escaping anyone's notice that they left together. Then Bruce, carrying a sleeping Della out to their car. Finally, Otto and Lenora, each carrying a sleeping baby and diaper bag.
They got the babies tucked into their cribs and practically collapsed into their own beds.
"Otto?"
"Hm?"
"Thank you.."
He looked up, "For vvhat?"
She shrugged, "Everything. I don't think Eli and I would be here right now if you hadn't been there that day. I don't know where we'd be. So...Thank you."
"Um...you're welcome. But you don't have to zank me."
"I know. But I want to. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, Liebling."
LLB
1) Baby meds suck. There are, like, three ways to do it and no mater which way you use the baby's going to cry. You either have to inject it with a needle, shoot it in their mouth and hope they don't spit it up, or shoot it up their butt. So, yeah. Crying baby is inevitable.