"Danika," Teddy called up the stairs.
"What," Danika said standing on the top step.
"Come help me," Teddy said, bouncing with excitement.
"With what," Danika asked skeptically.
"The christmas tree," Teddy beamed.
"We're doing that," Danika asked.
"Come on," Teddy said, "don't make me come up there and carry you down. We're doing this."
"Teddy no carrying the teenager," Owen chuckled.
"Will you go get her," Teddy asked.
"No," Owen said, "Danika come on and help us."
"Why does it matter? It's just another day," Danika said.
Teddy walked up the steps, "what did you do last christmas?"
"Read," Danika said, "Santa hasn't come since dad died. He only came to kids with two parents. I read my new books, mom slept."
"We're changing things," Teddy said, "I love Christmas. We'll have fun."
"What do I have to do," Danika asked.
"I have the tree standing in the living room and lights on it," Owen said, "you two get to put the ornaments on."
"Dani gets the star," Teddy said, "didn't we agree on that?"
"Youngest person does it," Owen said.
"Come on," Teddy said, taking Danika's hand. This was another ball June had dropped that had hurt her baby sister. She could change this one.
"What are we doing for Christmas," Danika asked.
"Christmas Eve Owen works so it'll be the two of us at home," Teddy said, "we'll have a couple treats, watch Christmas movies and hang up stockings."
"I'm off at six Christmas morning and will come here," Owen said.
"We'll do Christmas morning here, stockings, breakfast, presents, relax," Teddy said.
"Then we go to my moms around four for Christmas dinner," Owen said.
"A real Christmas," Danika asked.
"A real Christmas," Teddy promised.
"Come on let's do this tree before Teddy does it without us," Owen chuckled.
"Can we have cocoa," Danika asked.
"I'll make it," Owen said, leaving the two sisters to decorate the tree. He shook his head as he opened the container of cocoa mix, they went through a lot of it with Teddy avoiding caffeine and their use of it as a bribe with Danika. What Dani didn't realize is that when Owen made the cocoa he used milk. They were always trying to sneak extra nutrients into Danika's meals and snacks, the teen was too small for their liking and her attitude towards food wasn't the healthiest. Owen knew that it was a product of being at ballet school, they were trying to encourage lots of protein, fruits and vegetables.
Teddy danced around the tree putting ornaments on it.
"Dani," Teddy said, "come on."
Danika shook her head.
"What's wrong," Teddy asked seeing her sister blinking back tears.
"Nothing," Danika said.
"Did you have a tree last year," Teddy asked.
"No," Danika said, "not since I moved to school. Mom said there was no point when I was only home for a few days."
"Is this the first time since dad," Teddy asked.
Danika nodded.
"We're going to make our own traditions," Teddy said, "are you thinking about dad?"
"Yes," Dani said, "we would do the tree and have cocoa."
"With christmas music," Teddy said, "I have a bunch of the ones dad used to play in a playlist do you want me to put it on?"
"Please," Danika said, "after the tree he would read me the scrooge story."
"A christmas carol," Teddy said, "we found dad's copy in the apartment. I'm not dad but maybe we can read it together. He used to read it to me two. With cookies."
"In pajamas," Danika remembered.
"We can do that," Teddy smiled, "we did it together dad's last christmas you were six."
"We did," Danika remembered, "I think I fell asleep halfway through."
"You did," Teddy said, "on me."
"In May why did you just come," Danika asked, "why did you stay?"
"Dani we've been though this," Teddy said, "I love you. I will always always come for you. We will start our own traditions. Starting with Christmas. What do you remember with dad?"
"He always read lots of stories," Danika said.
"I found most of them," Teddy said.
"Can I read them," Danika asked.
"Can we do it together," Teddy suggested.
"I guess," Danika said.
"Let's finish this tree so Owen isn't trapped in the kitchen," Teddy said.
"Okay," Danika agreed, "is he moving in?"
"Soon," Teddy said, "he's here most nights. I need you to feel okay with him being here when I get called to the hospital in the middle of the night?"
"Does it mean I can stay in bed," Danika asked.
"If only one of us is called," Teddy said, "so if I'm the only one called I would come tell you then hopefully I'm back when you get up for school. If not, Owen will drive you to school."
"He does that now if he's here and you have an early morning," Danika said.
"Dani can we try it," Teddy asked, "it's going to be easier for all of us."
"Will we still do our things," Danika asked.
"We will," Teddy said, "he'll always be overnight twice a week so we'll have our nights."
"What about when I need help with homework," Danika asked.
"I'm happy to help," Owen said, "i'm pretty good at homework."
Danika faced Owen, "are you going to get Teddy to send me back to school?"
"Never," Owen said, "this is your home. You are home kiddo. I'm happy to help with homework or drive you to school. I liked going to see the Nutcracker 4 times. I do later pick ups from friends then Teddy."
"Curfew stands," Teddy said.
"You make better cocoa," Danika said, "Teddy doesn't put whipped cream on it."
"Should we try it," Teddy said.
"No more pulling me out of bed when you get called in the middle of the night," Danika asked.
"If one of us is home you don't have to tag along," Teddy said, "if it's both of us you still have to come. Dani?"
"I think so," Danika said, "it's your house."
"Our home," Teddy said, "if it's not okay or you feel uncomfortable you have to tell me."
"I will," Danika said. She had learned that Teddy always listened to her and when she said she had enough or was upset Teddy was there to help her calm down figure things out.
"Tree and dinner," Owen said.
"Tree, dinner and a Christmas Carol in pajamas," Teddy declared.
They finished decorating the tree with Danika standing on a kitchen chair to put the star on top at the very end. After dinner Owen disappeared to the office to do some research while Teddy and Danika read A Christmas Carol.
After Danika was in bed Teddy rolled towards Owen propping herself up on her elbow.
"What are you thinking about," Owen asked.
"Christmas," Teddy said, "she hasn't had a true Christmas since dad died. His last Christmas she was 7."
"We'll make it special," Owen said, "for all of us."
"I have Christmas presents but I don't know what I missed," Teddy said.
"You've ben hiding her Christmas gifts at my place," Owen said, "I think you have everything. Then I have a couple to add to the pile."
"What did you do," Teddy asked.
"There was a day in September she was disappointed she couldn't go with her friends because she didn't have a bike," Owen said, "so I found one and a helmet."
"Owen," Teddy said, "I don't know if she can ride?"
"Then we teach her," Owen said, "my best Christmas I was her age and mom wasn't well off but she must have saved for months because I came down Christmas morning and there were new bikes for Meghan and I. Mom must have saved and pinched pennies for months to get those bikes. It was freedom."
Teddy had tears in her eyes.
"No crying," Owen said.
"I'm surprised," Teddy said, "you actually care about my sister."
"She's family," Owen said, "we're a family."
"Are you okay to move here," Teddy asked.
"I want to," Owen said, "it feels like home. Wherever you are is home."
"Our home," Teddy sighed.
Thoughts? Ideas? Feedback? Reviews?
"Our home," Owen echoed before kissing Teddy.
