Happy Birthday, Caitlin! Enjoy 23! The summary says "love between two characters" well I'm not gonna follow that this time lol. Set in season 2, except it's not Valentine's Day they're celebrating and Alison is added 'cause I love her. Different backstories for people (Gloria isn't estranged from her daughters, for one, and two, Nicky is Red's adopted daughter since teenagehood). A little based on False Expectations and The Road Not Taken. Also no Vee to spoil anyone's fun, she's history. The mains are more than two people ;)
My winter nights are taken up by static
Stress, and holiday shopping traffic
But I close my eyes, and I'm somewhere else
Just like magic
At the Litchfield holiday party, Galina surveyed the decorated common room like it was her queendom that she ran with Gloria. She watched as Blanca and her fellow kitchen chef served food and Leanne, Angie, Taslitz, and Frieda danced to country music.
"I scored four points after telling folks you had crabs," Nicky bragged through a few snickers as she and Boo came through the door. "I gave Pirkle oral sex in the showers and she came twice!"
Boo frowned. "Cheating, by the way! Serves you right the last one had a disgusting macroclit."
"We're tied at thirty-six now, so we're done."
Gloria set out a plate of decorated cookies and Galina shared an amused look with her as Nicky and Boo decided to have a cookie-eating contest, shoving the treats in their mouths, getting crumbs everywhere, and green and red frosting pasted and flaking around their lips. It was way better than their sex competition, Galina had to admit. She also knew that they only turned to that out of boredom, and also because Boo was extremely competitive and Nicky was addicted to sex as much as she was into heroin. At least the former wasn't dangerous for her girl, Galina thought.
She then spotted Poussey sneaking Flaca, Maritza, Taystee, Cindy, Alison, and Janae some liquid that was probably hooch, and they clinked their coffee mugs together while laughing cheerfully. How that got past the guards' knowledge, Galina would never know.
Actually, she did. It was because almost all of the correctional offers except the corrupt ones, were watching Caputo perform in his band. According to the 'Big House Bugle', he played the guitar. Healy and Bennett were strolling around the room, the older man telling Daya's inappropriate choice of a boyfriend, that ladies are terrible mathematicians. It was such a dumb stereotype. Galina didn't even bother arguing; it would get her nowhere. Healy was set in his misogynistic ways of thinking and Bennett a useless idiot. She could see red flags that poor Daya was blind to. Even if he was in love with the pregnant girl, she had the feeling it would blow up in both of their faces.
Just after Healy left the room looking like a sad sack, Aleida grabbed a package from Bennett and hid it under her apron. "Thanks to his Sleepy Hollow, Christmas comes right on time this year," she whispered to Galina.
"He's going to explode one day," Galina predicted darkly, but Aleida just huffed in annoyance and skipped away.
As Daya carried a tray, Flaca, Maritza, and Blanca approached Bennett. "This is the best secret ever!" Maritza squeals. "For real, we're totes ecstatic for y'all."
"Yeah, we're having so much fun! Both at this fiesta and getting cool shit from you 'cause you're dating our bestie," Flaca chimed in. "Yo, I'd like an iPod shuffle with alternative and post-punk, Depeche Mode, and Erasure. Fleet Foxes ain't really my thing."
"A cell phone with a camera, gracias." Blanca added. "I really miss mi novio, especially at this time, ¿sabes?"
you know
"¡Felíz Navidad!" they chorused, giving him a thumbs up. He flexed his jaw as they walked away.
It was considerably better than last year, when her family was mad at her, just before they banded back together because of Vee making a mess of things.
In class, Yoga Jones was having everyone do a dolphin pose. The inmates bent forward with their heads on the mats and rear ends in the air. Boo approached one of the girls, grabbed her hips, and faked helping her with the dolphin pose. She told Boo to leave her alone and Boo backed away. Galina walked into the room, looked around, and knelt down next to Anita. She plopped an eyeshadow palette with different shades of blue on Anita's mat. The woman excitedly thanked her. She stood and walked over to Boo, handing her a bag of sunflower seeds. Boo praised Galina, hugged her, and sniffed the bag. Galina approached the teacher and gave her Kukicha tea.
In the suburbs later, Galina handed two pink pencils and a pad of paper for Norma and a tube of ointment for Gina. Still angry, Gina walked past her out of her bunk and Norma followed.
"Please, we have to work this out..." she tried to beg them, but they simply ignored her. "You can't be furious forever...this is a terrible time for us to break apart-"
"Well, you're certainly not gonna get the family back with gifts. You know how many times my good-for-nothin' parents tried that on me? From the time I was old enough to know better, it never worked. You gotta show 'em you're sorry and prove that you'll always have their backs."
Galina tossed Nicky a bag of skittles. "That's what I've been doing! They just don't see it..."
Nicky walked out, leaving Galina sitting on the bed. She hung her head, not knowing how else to fix this.
Piper threw out a red envelope labeled AV with a heart drawn underneath the initials into the trash before exiting and mumbling something about retreating to her cube. Galina could only guess it was from Alex, who was lucky enough to be out of prison.
In my heart is a Christmas tree farm
Where the people would come
To dance under sparkling lights
Bundled up in their mittens and coats
And the cider would flow
And I just wanna be there tonight
"Oh, you can't use the R word," Flaca lectured Taslitz gently. "You're right, though...anything to do with love is stupid."
Blanca scowled as Taslitz left them. "Suit yourself, chica. I got me a man, he's visiting tomorrow!"
"Yeah! Ian's just a sack of shit," Maritza grumbled, giving her best friend a supportive side hug. "Hey, at least we got you to giggle by giving Fischer a penis cookie!"
The three of them cackled hysterically.
Sweet dreams of holly and ribbon
Mistakes are forgiven
And everything is icy and blue
And you would be there too
Under the mistletoe
Watching the fire glow
And telling me, "I love you"
Just being in your arms
Takes me back to that little farm
Where every wish comes true
Then, Brook babbled about a theory of there being no Ferris in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off until Sister Ingalls told her to shut up in the most polite way possible. Sophia put her hands up and chuckled along with Nicky. The six-foot black transgender woman walked off and Brook left the party.
Nicky smirked. "The way I got her to be quiet was oral sex, Ingalls. Too bad you ain't into ladies like that."
The nun just tutted and rolled her eyes before joining Sophia.
"This place is falling apart and a lot of fuses are blowing," Taystee comments as she, Alison, and Poussey skirted around Nicky. "You'd think they'd fix it by Christmas, but nah!"
"Last time plumbing was around, it was in oh-four or oh-five," Frieda informed them in passing. "Donna Cusio broke three toilets in seven days." She and Taslitz laughed about that as she continued toward the other Golden Girls member.
Nicky scoffed and shoved her hands into her pockets. "Hell of a home we got, huh? I cut a wire in Electrical and it created too strong a spark...Piper yelped in surprise, but I was kinda expecting it."
"Ha, yeah. Yo, quick Q...where do you go in your dreams?" Poussey asked her. "I just imagine myself back with my moms and pops, like as a kid...or with Franzi in Germany."
"Fiona Apple in the 'Criminal' video," Nicky answered right away.
Alison gave them a sad smile. "I wish I was with my husband and daughter."
"Oh yeah, your first Christmas without 'em, that'll be hard," Taystee sympathized.
"That's so depressing, I won't even make a pun this time," Blanca murmured, appearing to be genuinely upset. "I got a year left without Diablo by my side to fix up the house for Christmas...or any holiday, in fact. I may not even be able to have niños by then."
"If I close my eyes, I can picture myself with John and our kid...maybe a dog...and me and him go to this fancy restaurant-"
"That ain't gonna happen," Maria stated negatively, and Daya glared daggers at her. "You're fucking fantasizin', yo."
"Por favor, Ruiz, cállate," Flaca said, waving her off.
"Sí, quit bein' jealous!" Maritza snapped.
"We can be happy for her," Blanca protested.
Maria looked at them over her shoulder with a hard stare. "I ain't celosa, y'all just delusional."
Heartbreaking as it might be, Maria was probably correct.
In her blue nightie on Christmas Eve, Blanca cuddled with Diablo on the couch in front of a blazing fireplace. Multicolored lights decorated the tree and framed the windows. A lamp nearby gave off a red glow. Soft holiday music played as he put a blanket over them both and they clinked glasses of apple cider together before sipping. As soon as she set them down onto the coasters, she grabbed a piece of mistletoe off the coffee table and held it over their heads. They cupped each other's faces and their kiss was long and passionate. She could bask in this calm atmosphere for her whole life. After having a whipped cream and cookie dough fight in the kitchen, sipping champagne and eggnog, and eating a dinner of ham, sweet potatoes, and yellow squash during Christmas Cupid, the heat between them had surged to an all-time high. She wasn't sure how drunk he was, but she felt light and giggly as the alcohol's effects swirled around her brain, turning her hornier by the second.
"Felíz Navidad, mi amor," he whispered against her lips once the clock struck midnight.
She smiled. "Felíz Navidad, querido."
Diablo caressed her hair and she scooted further into his lap, snuggling closer to him with her back to his chest and their legs tangled. Blanca looked up at him and he was grinning as he slid his arms around her waist. She sighed in contentment a few times; each and every touch from him igniting sparks throughout her whole body and something stirred in her core. She couldn't remember the last time she got any action, and she was suddenly hungry with desire for her man.
"Te ves realmente hermosa con esta poca luz, it makes you look mysterious," he told her, and she blushed at his compliment. Although they were in their late twenties, it didn't stop them from flirting and making each other's cheeks flush red like a couple of teenagers. "Of course, you're always beautiful."
You look really beautiful in this low light
"Muchas gracias. Y siempre eres guapo," she murmured, stroking his beard and then nestling her small hands in both of his large ones. He pressed gentle pecks to her knuckles and then she did the same to his. "You're warm."
and you're always handsome
"So are you!" Diablo kissed her temple and she beamed as she turned to put her hand on his shirt-covered chest. He ran his fingers through her hair and down the side of her face while murmuring, "My sweet Blanca...mi hermosa paloma..." If he was trying to seduce her, he was doing an amazing job.
"Mmmm…" was her response.
"I want to stay with you like this all the time."
"Yo también," she breathed out.
"You're so pretty. I'll always be your bodyguard, sweetie," he promised, running his hand up and down her arm.
"Hmmm?"
"I'll protect you from danger, I'm serious!"
"Gracias, I will, too!" Blanca started absentmindedly tracing circles on his chest. "¿Te gusta esto, Diablo?"
Do you like this, Diablo?
"You have no idea what you're doing to me, my love." He brought her hand to his cheek and she stroked it softly, making him exhale in happiness. She was ecstatic that they were both in complete bliss. He lifted her face to his and their lips met again. She parted hers slightly so his tongue could pass through, and then they were French kissing. Blanca squeaked as he massaged her belly while they made out.
"Oh, Diablo…" she said faintly as the kiss went deeper and her heart fluttered.
"You like that, huh?" he asked.
"Sí, ay dios mío, yes," They broke the makeout session after a few more seconds and she leaned on his shoulder. He started tickling her feet, which made her burst into giggles.
"Fuck, ¿sabes lo que me está haciendo esa risa?"
do you know what that laugh is doin' to me
"No," she said breathlessly, trying to play with him a little. She looked up sweetly at him through her mascara-coated eyelashes. "What am I doing?" She brushed her hand across his chest and accidentally touched his boner, which was creating a tent in the crotch of his jeans. Shit! That was so embarrassing. He didn't seem to notice, but she was happy to know that she'd excited him.
"Your laughter is like bells, music to my ears. You're so cute, Blanca," he said. Then, he held her again, and his other hand caressed her belly. She gasped when he pulled her shirt up slightly and rubbed the bare skin there and then she ground herself into him. As if he were reading her thoughts, he whispered into her ear, "You really wanna do this?"
She nodded, biting her lower lip sensually.
"Me too, but let's wait until we're sober, okay?" He held up his hand solemnly. "I swear I won't go higher or lower than this on your body."
"Sure." She wouldn't mind if he took her right there on the couch, but if he's not as trashed as she's feeling, it's probably a better idea if they make love when she can enjoy it more with a clear head. "Confío en ti."
I trust you.
"As do I! Damn, I love kissing you. Your lips are soft…and warm. Looking into your eyes is pure heaven."
"Gracias. I love your dimples and your eyes and your muscles," Blanca sighed while massaging his huge biceps.
"It's all for you, baby!"
"Oh!" she gasped as her head spun and more butterflies filled her tummy. Like he'd done before, he brought her hand up to his lips and pecked it gently and then kissed each of her fingers. She swooned for the millionth time.
"These are oh, so tiny," he said, running his thumb over them a few times.
"My hand fits perfectly in yours," she notices aloud.
"You gave me your heart and I'm giving you mine in return!" He put his hand over her heart and just listened to it thump wildly against her ribcage. He spoke some more, but her thoughts were so jumbled up that she had to ask him what he had just said.
Their mouths molded together again a few times and she never wanted to leave his arms. Being cuddled in his embrace felt good, goddamn it!
"Te amo mucho," she admitted, and he beamed with delight.
I love you so much
"¡Yo también te amo! Always, mi preciosa."
I love you, too!
Pennsatucky joined the line dance, positioning herself next to Leanne and Angie. They moved to the beat without acknowledging her, so she confronted them for ignoring her. Glancing between her two lackeys, she yelled at them about how she was in fact, not, Hillary Clinton or any kind of totalitarian, and that the methheads could be independent and basically go fuck themselves. They were finished with her, and she put on a front that she couldn't care less, but Galina could see that her feelings were hurt. The girl wasn't the same religious freak from a few months ago. She was trying to change for the better.
Leanne wiped off spit that Pennsatucky sprayed and demanded that Angie get her punch, so the taller of them obliged. The blonde methhead smoothed down her stringy, greasy hair and smirked.
"The trash took itself out, couple 'a whores!" Pennsatucky muttered as she stomped past Galina and to where Suzanne was sitting by herself in a corner of the room. Her arms crossed, the small wiry brunette slumped down into a seat. Near them, Lorna stood alone with a teddy bear she must have stolen, tucked into the sweatshirt she'd tied around her waist, hands raised and clutching the gate behind her. The short Italian suddenly spied a huge serving tray of mac and cheese and began eating out of it with a big spoon.
In my heart is a Christmas tree farm
There's a light in the barn
We'd run inside out from the cold
In the town, kids are dreaming of sleighs
And they're warm and they're safe
They wake to see a blanket of snow
Tired of witnessing the drama already, Galina ambled over to Gloria and hugged her from behind. The slightly younger Latina beamed, leaning her head back against Galina's shoulder. No one paid them any attention. Their relationship had started with them as rivals in the kitchen, but as they worked together more and fought less, they became friends. One glimpse of a few painful-looking scars on Gloria's bare skin in the shower that weren't from cooking, had prompted them to really bare their souls to each other. They hadn't fallen in love until around October.
Two cheery voices sound at once at six in the morning. "Ellie! Wake up!"
"I'm up, I'm up," she groaned.
Ceci staggered into her room wearily. "Guess we're waking up Mami and Lourdes now."
"Yeah." Elena laughed. The sisters' voices were thick from sleep.
They finally got the adults up thirty minutes later. They raced to the tree, and the little boys made it there first. They sat on the floor with Elena, and Gloria and Lourdes took their seats on the couch. Ceci sat on the ottoman.
"Rip and tear!" Gloria told her children. They squealed with delight at the stuff they got, like toy trucks, cute outfits, and SpiderMan coloring books for the boys, makeup kits and adorable red and green dresses for the girls to wear to their friend's holiday party. The kids hugged her and Lourdes and thanked them. Gloria ruffled Benny's and Julio's hair and they giggled even more.
Lourdes gave Gloria her new book she'd written along with a pretty violet lipstick that her aunt said would look great on her. Elena and Ceci bought her jewelry and nail polish. From her sons, Gloria recieved a drawing of their family. Tears filled her eyes; she loved them all so much. She wished her mom were still with them, but it comforted her to know Milagros was there in spirit.
"Thanks, guys!" she said, giving them huge hugs.
"Our pleasure. Felíz Navidad, Florecita," Lourdes murmured, smiling.
"¡Gracias!"
"Oh, and I got you this," Lourdes informed her, handing her a gift. Gloria shook it and heard something in there. She opened the present and found pepper spray. "Just in case, for when you go on that date soon!"
Gloria held back an eyeroll at her aunt's overprotectiveness. "Thanks, Tía Lourdes. This is very handy!"
The rest of her presents were cute flower-patterned tops, scarves, CD's, shoes, and an iTouch. She grinned and hugged everyone once more. Then, they settled down for breakfast, which was scrambled eggs and bacon, and hot chocolate.
"All right, let's form a Gloria sandwich!" Lourdes announced. She, Elena and Ceci ran up to her and hugged her while holding onto each other. The kids wrapped their arms around her legs. Gloria was well and truly squished, but filled with love. Moments later, everyone dispersed and started dancing to the music that was playing as they watched the snow fall to the ground outside. It made Gloria, Elena, Ceci, and Lourdes laugh when the boys shook their little bodies to the beat, and the women and girls twirled them around until they fell down, giggling.
It was a very nice Christmas day.
Suzanne sat down next to Lorna, who looked solemn. She pulled a card of some sort out of her shirt pocket and flipped open a white wedding invitation. Lorna grabbed it and hid it under her arm. She shielded her face slightly with her hand. "I feel like I can connect with you over the fact that we both love someone and it's unrequited because they're not smart enough for us. They don't like us...fuck them, then!" Suzanne told her.
Lorna stared at Suzanne with teary eyes and offered a small smile. "Christopher's marrying that Angela cooze on Valentine's Day! He's destroyed both my favorite holidays now..."
Suzanne brushed a tear off Lorna's cheek. "It's just important that you're aware that you ain't with him anymore, even if the rest of us got no clue about it."
They both laughed. "Love after heartbreak exists, ya know. I need that to be true." Lorna grimaced. "Is that pathetic or what?"
Suzanne took her hands and squeezed them comfortingly. "Nah, that's courageous."
"Thanks." Lorna leaned over and embraced Suzanne in a long hug. Suzanne sniffed her hair and then they separated.
Pennsatucky stood at a distance, with her arms crossed and head bowed. "Hey, you can join us if you want," Suzanne offered.
She looked over at them, her face hopeful. "Really?"
"Yeah, P-Tuck!" Suzanne grinned and beckoned her forward. Lorna grabbed a seat for her and she sat down, a slight grin on her face. "So, are you lonely, too? You look it."
"I guess. After Nathan, my high school boyfriend, had to leave for Wyoming, everything went downhill. He was the first and only guy who really loved me. We kept in touch with letters, until one day, they stopped. Then, I got a notice that he died in the war."
"Ohh...I'm sorry, hon," Lorna murmured. She and Suzanne rubbed Pennsatucky's back in soothing circles.
Sweet dreams of holly and ribbon
Mistakes are forgiven
And everything is icy and blue
And you would be there too
Under the mistletoe
Watching the fire glow
And telling me, "I love you"
Just being in your arms
Takes me back to that little farm
Where every wish comes true
(Baby, yeah)
Yoga Jones put her hands on Blanca's shoulders and whispered something to her as they danced with Nicky. It made Blanca smile. "What'd she say?" Nicky asked as Yoga Jones left them.
"Just that mi novio y yo will dance to this when I get the hell outta here," Blanca answered. "Flartiza have been teaching me some moves to impress him with."
"Sounds cool!"
And when I'm feeling alone
You remind me of home
Oh baby, baby, Merry Christmas
And when the world isn't fair
I'll pretend that we're there
Baby, baby, Merry Christmas
To you
Under the mistletoe (to you)
Watching the fire glow
And telling me, "I love you"
"I wonder what they're doing today. My boys. The last time I interacted with them...it wasn't good. Lida left Vasily and he was sad...I didn't comfort him, I just snapped at him to fight for his woman if he wanted her back so badly."
Galina potted her plants in her greenhouse, seemingly alone. Vasily looked up at her from a storm drain. Sparks flew inside the storm drain, she grabbed him, he poked his head out and removed his protective goggles, then she slapped him. Yuri was in the woods, he was claustrophobic, but he was guarding the entrance. Vasily handed Galina a large blue duffel bag.
Gloria leaned up on her tiptoes to press a soft peck to Galina's cheek, and she returned it with two kisses to Gloria's temple and played with her short black hair. "I did my fair share of screaming at my son, too. It's difficult to have kids...or any loved ones...on the outside when you're stuck in here."
"Still...no excuse to be rude to them."
"Yeah, I know. I just..." Galina heaved a sigh and wiped away a budding tear. "I miss them."
"Me too," Gloria whispered, her brown eyes glassy. "I want to hug my babies again...for more than thirty seconds."
"My thoughts exactly."
"I hope to be out by Elena's wedding by next summer. Her fiancé Sergio seems real nice, a fantastic man for her...and Ceci, she and Katie seem to be doing well, too. Benny's graduation from high school will be comin' up soon. Julio's finally making more friends and still acing his classes. My bodega's still up and running. Mami and Lourdes say they're all good."
"It's wonderful they're all keeping busy. That's how anyone can stay outta trouble. Vasily's in rugby, and Yuri and Maxsim have their trucking job...Salon du Chocolat. They're happy, and they can't wait for their mamochka to come home."
"Mine can't either."
In each other's arms, they stared off gloomily.
The Reznikovs decorated the tree and Galina lifted Tricia up to put the star on top of the tree while her older adoptive brothers, sister, and Vasily's girlfriend Lida covered the tree in ornaments and pretty colored lights. They took family pictures and went to sleep with sugarplums and fairies dancing in their heads.
The next morning, Nicky and Tricia bounced into Vasily's bedroom and found him and Lida awake and cuddling. He was kissing the back of Lida's neck as she giggled. "Time to get up!" Nicky commanded in a playful voice. Tricia started jumping up and down on their bed, and then she fell in between them.
Lida yawned. "What time is it, six in the morning?"
"Yep!"
"Jesus, Nicky, it's like you're five years old!" Vasily complained.
Nicky smirked. "About ten years off, bro. Anyway, I was teasing you, it's eight!"
"Come on!" Tricia hollers. For a small girl of four, she sure is loud.
"All right," they groaned and then begrudgingly obliged.
Nicky and Tricia started laughing and running to Maxsim and Yuri's shared room to wake the guys up. She definitely got this idea from her brothers and Tricia loved to copy her. From the stories their mother had told her, the excited, energetic boys would also wake their parents up this early.
"We're a hyper family, what can I say?" Vasily commented sheepishly, sending Lida an apologetic glance.
She lifted her shoulders up and down nonchalantly. "I was up anyways."
"She's a frightening little monster, isn't she?" Vasily asked, chuckling as he and Lida sat at the top of the stairs while Nicky screamed at their mom to get up. Tricia echoed her, and then let out an ear-piercing shriek of joy.
"She is. They both are, in fact. We were the same way when we were little!" Maxsim stated.
"I remember, bro. Yuri wanted to kill us," Vasily laughed, and Lida joined him.
"Pwesents!" Tricia hollered excitedly and pushed them both aside to run downstairs. Galina and her eldest sons shook their heads and followed her and Nicky. Lida and Vasily got up and went along with them.
The gifts were piled high under the tree and Tricia gasped. "Wow!"
"Holy shit!" Nicky added under her breath.
Lida plopped down on the loveseat next to Vasily with his arm around her waist. Nicky sat on the floor, giving out the presents. Her mom was in between Yuri and Maxsim on the couch. Tricia played with the discarded wrapping paper.
Nicky loved family holidays like this. She also celebrated Hanukkah and she felt more than spoiled. Love spread throughout the living room as everyone opened stuff from each other. She was so grateful to get a flowy royal blue skirt, a new set of headphones to replace her broken ones, gold hoop earrings, a black blouse, and many other things, but most of all, she was surrounded by her forever family, and that made her feel extremely lucky. The day Galina took her and Tricia in was one she'd never forget.
Later that night, Nicky curled up beside Galina, who had to put her book on her windowsill before hugging her daughter and kissing the top of her head. "Hey, honey, you feeling okay?"
She nodded against Galina's chest and blinked back some tears. "Why can't I find romantic love like you and Gloria did with each other?"
"I don't know, you're a sweet girl." Galina paused to think and then she rubbed soothing circles on Nicky's back. "I'm sure she's out there and you'll meet her someday."
"I hope so..." Nicky sniffled and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. "At least I got the best mom in the world."
"Yes, you do." Galina rocked her gently.
"I'm sorry I went on the wrong path after college," she mumbled. "Got myself addicted to heroin at a party...but I'm really trying to stay away from it, Ma. What happened to Tricia really opened my eyes."
"I know, you're doing a wonderful job. I forgive you, I always do, sweetheart."
"Thanks," Nicky murmured quietly, closing her eyes. Galina hummed her adult baby a lullaby while resting her chin on top of the mass of blonde curls and stroking them lightly. Hope rose inside of her and the pride she felt for Nicky, swelled in her chest as well. Tricia up in Heaven was surely watching over them.
Baby, baby, Merry Christmas
Oh baby, baby, Merry Christmas (darling)
Baby, baby, Merry Christmas
'Cause I love you
Oh baby, baby, Merry Christmas
Oh baby, baby, Merry Christmas
Oh baby, baby, Merry Christmas
May your every wish come true
I love you
Meanwhile in the Spanish Harlem, Gloria could still taste off-brand peppermint tea from Galina's mouth after their last kiss of the night. With a beam, she touched her lips and rolled over to face the tiled wall. Her mind drifted to her four babies at home, celebrating Christmas with Lourdes, and she became upset again. She took a few deep, shaky breaths and willed the sobs to stay away.
"Ain't they gonna visit you? I know it's not the same, but when Diablo comes to see me whenever he can, it just makes me feel better about our whole shituation."
"Of course." Gloria swallowed hard, forcing the lump in her throat to go down. She turned to face Blanca, who sat slightly bent over in Gloria's chair with her legs spread out casually, her hands clasped in her lap, and her frizzy dark hair framing her face like curtains. "Christmas was just a huge deal in our family. I've missed about seven with them. You'd think I'd be used to it by now."
"Christ almighty, Glo," Blanca mumbled thickly and then chewed on her thumbnail. "I don't think I'd survive that. At least it's almost over for you."
"Sí. It's never easy...being without loved ones who put us first. I suppose all we can do is keep picturing the reunions."
"Mm-hm. I'm just sorta touch-starved. At least we have each other, right?" Her voice cracked a little and tears shone in her eyes, threatening to spill down her cheeks like a fresh spring rain.
"For sure, you're like mi hermana. Come here, chica." Gloria propped herself up against the wall behind her and Blanca stood. She padded over to the bed and took a seat on the edge of it. After squeezing each other's hands supportively, the two women embraced tightly. "I always got your back."
"Y yo tengo el tuyo," Blanca promises warmly, keeping her strong hold on Gloria and bunching up the fabric of the nightgown that Gloria was wearing. "Felíz Navidad."
and I got yours
"Felíz Navidad a ti también."
Merry Christmas to you too.
They then broke apart, sharing sad, trembling smiles.
"I'm just relieved Diablo y yo got to celebrate our tenth year anniversary before I was arrested," Blanca said softly.
Gloria couldn't help but beam, happy for her friend. "Wow, ¡felicidades!"
"Gracias, and how are things with Red?"
"Amazing," Gloria responded, because it was true.
"That's great!"
Memories of past Christmases would always be in her heart, and Blanca's, too. As long as they daydreamed about future ones that would happen after they got released and counted down the days to their dates, Gloria realized they were going to be all right.
Thank you for reading and reviewing, VeraRose19, Juliette45, A Star In My Universe, and jewincart!
