Chapter 25

Charlie and I got in bed around midnight. We both tried our best to be quiet when we came back in the house. The house smelled of heat from our air conditioner. It was so comforting. As we lay in bed I turned around to spoon him. I wrapped my arm under his and touched his chest, he then held my hand. We fell asleep like that. It was probably one of most comforting of sleeps the both of us had in a while. In the early hours of the morning, at some point he turned over. We were now facing each other. He had his arm on my back and I had both of my hands underneath the side of my face sunk down in the pillow. I could feel his watch touching my shoulderblade. I smiled shyly at him.

I started to close my eyes again when I heard our bedroom door open. I slowly looked up. It was the girls.

"Mommy!" Isabelle shouted.

Charlie groaned.

"Daddy!" Anna said after.

"It's Christmas!" They shouted at the same time. They came running and jumped in bed with us.

"Come on Santa came, he's been here!" Mira screamed in excitement.

"Okay girls...okay...where's your brother?" I asked. I pulled Isa's hair behind her ear.

"He's still sleeping." Anna replied sweetly.

"We can't have Christmas without him...girls, go on in the living room...I'll get Bryan...and no opening gifts until we're all present...you can open up your stockings if you want too."

"Ahhh!" They screamed and almost tripped over each other as they raced to the living room. I laughed and looked at Charlie. He was going back to sleep.

"Charlie."

I smacked his butt.

Ow!..." He grunted.

"Christmas Char..."

"Can't Christmas start at ten..."

"Come on baby...we got to hand out all the stuff Santa brought."

He rolled over on his back as I got out of bed.

"Come on Char...you know the kids won't wait forever."

I then put my hair up in a messy bun. I was all smiles as I walked down the hall. I heard the girls getting into their Christmas candy. I opened the door slightly to the kids room. Bryan was lying on his stomach and his arm was hanging off the side of the bed.

"Bry..."

I stroked his bangs. His hair was covered in sweat.

"Mmm...Mommy?"

"Bryan, did you get to hot last night?"

"No...mommy my head hurts."

"Just a second baby."

Charlie was coming down the hall scratching the back of his head. He yawned as he entered the kids room.

"Okay...I'm up..."

"Char...go ahead and hand out the girls presents I have to tend to Bryan?"

"Something the matter with him?"

"No...no, everything's fine."

I entered our bathroom and took out Bryan's meter and also a thermometer. I entered the kids room once more and checked his sugar. His sugar was low, but he didnt have fever.

"Bry...why didn't you wake me?"

"I didn't want to ruin Christmas."

"Aww...sweetheart...you could never do that...it wasn't low when we put you to bed. But if you were feeling woozy again you should have told me...Daddy and I would have given you a piece of candy or something."

"I'm sorry...but I did get up and took some medcine."

I paused and looked at him.

"You gave yourself more insulin?"

He shook his head.

"Bry you're not supposed to take another dose hours apart like that...did you take the one in the fridge."

"I...I thought it would help..."

"When did you do this?"

"A few minutes ago before sisters got up. It's okay Mommy...I felt bad and I knew what to do."

"Bryan...sweetheart...you were very brave last night to have injected yourself. That's the first step for you...and with your powers; your Daddy and I are so proud of you."

"Then how come you seem so upset?"

"Because baby... Taking two doses like that isn't good sweetheart...especially those strong doses in the fridge."

"I...I didn't think it was bad...I'm sorry Momma."

"No, that's okay...let's just get you straightened out now."

Bryan was close to an insulin over dose, but after some juice and some Christmas candy he was just fine. He really perked up. Charlie and I watched all four them happily open their gifts. From eight in the morning to 11, they played with their new games, video games, toys, and dolls. I also got Isabelle a small trunk like suitcase full of new dresses for her. I think she changed out of them everytime I turned around. That Christmas and every Christmas after was just the same.

Bryan, like me had been through a lot for a little boy. He was brave, smart, and highly independent all by the time he was seven. He learned to control his mental powers and how to control his diabetes correctly. As for my girls they still had no signs of powers, but they weren't any less special.

It was August 2052, Bryan was now my strong handsome 14 year old boy. My girls, 11 respectively. I thought their childhood was a wonderful one, even if it had its share of unpleasant moments. Charlie and I did all we could to prepare them for the future. We showered them with love, support, encouragement, and compassion. That was all we could do as parents. We wanted the best for them each and everyday. I wasn't sure nor ready for what their teen years had in store. Those are some hard times anyway, I remember my teen years well. Charlie and I prepared ourselves to answer any questions they have; and share our experiences and knowledge with our babies. Babies who weren't babies anymore.