January 13, 2022

Christmas without Pru and Dean just didn't feel like Christmas. The holiday came and went without them seeing the girl because Millers went out of the country. Miranda worried that the toddler would forget them if kept away for too long. Ben tried easing her nerves despite him feeling the exact same way. Their fears subsided when they received a call from Ifeya and Bill telling them that Pru not only wouldn't go to bed, but she kept asking for Miranda. With a heart that he knew was heavy, his wife chatted with the toddler for a bit before lulling her to sleep through a few Christmas songs. "And of all those wonderful gifts he could bring, who would imagine a king?"

When the Millers returned to the States, the reigns on their improvised visitation rights were loosened. He didn't know what had happened on their trip to Nigeria, but he was glad that they were free to see the girl as often as they liked.Aside from that glitch, the rest of holiday had been really nice as the four (or five) of them hunkered down in the living room watching movies and drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies. When they saw Pru at the turn of the year, they recreated their entire Christmas shenanigans complete with matching pajamas.

"Dad! 'Last Holiday' is coming on!" Tuck shouted for him while he was in the kitchen getting the snack trays together.

Ben hurried into the living room, his heart bursting at the sight of his four favorite people clad in dark two-piece dark blue set with a smiling Black Santa hugging Rudolph splashed all over them. "I love this movie!" He exclaimed joining his wife on the couch while the kids sat on the floor.

"I love this movie," Pru echoed wiggling her legs.

Tuck leaned over and tickled her and her laugh bounced off of the walls. "You've never even seen this movie."

"I wouldn't put it past Dean to have shown her this," Ben chuckled.

"Well, whether he did or not, we're not going to watch it," Miranda said holding her hand out for the remote. Joey groaned and handed it over. "We're going to watch something kid-friendly like…" She flipped through the channels as Ben dropped his head onto her lap, turning to kiss her stomach. He knew the baby inside wasn't bigger than an inch or two, but he couldn't go long without letting the fact that he was about to be a father—again—overwhelm him. "Here we go. 'The Polar Express'." It was her favorite and she had to say all of the lines and sing all of the songs.

Joey scoffed and shook his head. "I'm out," he laughed. "Can I go to Journey's house?"

"You're sure?" Miranda asked as Ben waved him goodbye.

"I'm sure," the teen said. "This was cool though." He grabbed a few chips and headed for the basement.

"Yeah… me, too," Tuck said sucking his teeth. He rubbed Pru's head and got up from the floor, picking up the bowl of chips and salsa. "I will take these though."

Before Ben could object, he was up the stairs already. "Heathen."

"I guess it's just us," Miranda said as Pru crawled into her lap, with one crumbling cookie in her small hand.

"I love this movie, Randa," Pru responded.

"A girl after my own heart," his wife commented with a wide smile.

As they got comfortable with more snacks and a large blanket, Ben couldn't stop his mind from drifting. Was this how it was going to be until the end of time? Especially with the boys going off to do their own thing and starting their own families. Would it forever be him and Miranda and their little Cheddar and sometimes Pru? If so, sign him up. Ben just nodded. "A'ight. Roll it, babe."

"Roll it, babe," Pru echoed.

"Rolling," Miranda told them.

Things weren't perfect and it was hectic, but Ben at least felt that he was trying and had done his best by Dean's wishes. But it still ate at him. Then, he'd see his boys and start to feel better. And with one look at his wife's bright face and her pregnant body, he'd cheer right on up.

After a weeklong discussion, Miranda, Condola and Ben had decided not to reveal the video, knowing it would drive the Millers mad enough to keep Pru away from them all for good. Though he understood, he still wondered… A knock at the door slashed through that thought as he and Miranda were sitting on the sofa mimicking their boys by mindlessly watching TV and scrolling on their phones. He got up to answer the door and saw Condola who looked hesitant to even come inside. "Hey. Uh, did we have something set up? Not that you need a reason to drop by. You're always welcome," he said, chuckling to himself and ushering her to the living room, gesturing to a chair.

Miranda sat up with her arms crossed. "Oh! Condola, hi."

The look on the woman's face told the whole story before she could even open her mouth. Ben held his breath. "I've done everything I could think of..." His heart was going so fast, he didn't know if he'd need a soft place to land or a defibrillator. Condola cleared her throat and continued: "The judge is closing the case. The Millers have full custody over Pru. It's… it's over. W-we… we lost. I lost."

As his heart ripped into several pieces, he said: "You did everything you could." The words felt leaden leaving his mouth and Ben felt sick as a dog. He touched her arm. "We did everything we could. Things happen and… it's not our fault." Throughout his career, he'd used some variation of those lines countless times, but now he was wondering: was it his fault?

"I'm so, so, so, so sorry," Condola replied.

Miranda spoke for the first time in a while. "No need to be sorry, girl. We thank you," she said patting Condola's hand. "We appreciate all of your help. We wouldn't have gotten his far without you."

"Yes, thank you so much," Ben added.

"You're welcome," she told them, her voice full of defeat. The three of them talked a little longer before they said their goodbyes.

Miranda stood up, scrunching her feet on the rug. "You want to, uh, go and get something to eat? The boys will be home soon," she said rubbing her stomach, "and we are starving."

"Baby, baby, baby, hold on. Just… hold on," he said grabbing her waist. "Sit down. Talk to me."

She cocked her head to the side. "What do you want to talk about?'

"I know how you feel. I'm… I'm sad and heartbroken, too." He squeezed her hand. "I wanted this. Wanted her. And I'm sorry that it didn't happen like we planned."

There were tears in her eyes and she sank back down to the couch. "You know… I always knew that we might not get her because the law wasn't on our side, but I didn't really think we wouldn't…"

Ben smoothed her back. "It will all be okay. I promise."

"That's a big promise."

"Well, I'm doing it. You trust me, don't you?"

"Yes, of course."

He pulled her closer, brushing away some of her tears. "Are you mad at me?" Miranda hit his shoulder as an answer and he laughed, dropping his forehead on hers. "We will be okay. Pru will be okay. We'll still get to see her and watch her grow up and be there for all of the milestones. And I love you." He kissed her softly.

"I love you, too, my love." She sighed before saying: "Can we send that video now?"