It was Christmas Eve. Alanna was going home the day after Christmas but Mandy. Alanna and Randy were waiting for Mandy to get there.

Daddy when Mimi coming?" Alanna asked.

"Mandy's coming soon." "Remember what daddy told you." "Mandy can't hear like you and daddy." "You might see her talking with her hands."

"I member."

"Ok."

A half hour later there was a knock at the door. Randy answered it. Mandy was standing there with suitcase in hand.

"Hi." She said smiling.

"Hi." He said smiling back. She went inside and put her suitcase. They kissed. "For future reference you never have to knock." "My house is your house."

"Ok." "Where's Alanna?"

"Right here." They sat on the couch. Alanna come sit with daddy and Mandy. She climbed up on the couch. "Tell Mandy hi."

Alanna looked at her. "Hi Mimi."

"Hi." Mandy said.

"Pretty."

"Thank you."

"Come play." "Daddy play to."

"Ok."

It was nine o'clock the next morning. Alanna just finished opening all her presents.

"There's two more under the tree." Randy said confused.

"One is for you." Mandy said. "I snuck it under the tree last night."

"I guess we've both been sneaking around then." "The other one is for you."

She got them from under the tree. "Here, open yours first." He opened it. It was a book for beginners on sign language. "I thought a book might be easier then an app."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Go ahead, open yours." She unwrapped it and there was a rectangular shaped black box. She opened it. It was a silver necklace with an M on the end of it. "I wasn't sure what to get you." "When I saw that I thought you'd like it."

"I love it." "Thank you."

"You're welcome.

Later that night Mandy, Randy and Alanna had just arrived at Randy's parents for Christmas dinner.

"Hi you must be be Mandy." Randy's mom Elaine said.

"Yes Mrs. Orton." Randy said.

"Call me Elaine."

"Look at this beautiful woman." Randy's father Bob said coming up to her.

"Thank you sir." She said.

"Call me Bob."

They were eating dinner.

"Randy tells us you're a high school english teacher." Elaine said.

"Yes."

"What would be the best book to buy to learn sign language? Bob asked. "We know you're more comfortable communicating that way." "We want you to feel comfortable around us."

"Any book for beginners, or you can use apps." "Don't get discouraged if doesn't come easily to you." "Even Randy is still struggling with it."

Mandy was helping Elaine get the pie and coffee from the kitchen.

"I'm so glad you decided to come." Elaine said. "I haven't seen Randy this happy in a long time." Mandy got tears in her eyes. "What's wrong?"

"I just wish my introduction of Randy to my parents would've gone as smoothly as this." "They don't approve of our relationship."

"Why?"

"I usually don't date hearing men." "Randy's the first." "They think that because he can't sign very well, it won't work out." "I wish we could all be here together, we should be."

"It's ok."

"I want you to know that I love Randy."

"I know, he loves you to."

Later that night Mandy and Randy were back at his house. Alanna was in bed. Mandy was sitting in bed watching TV waiting for Randy. She looked up and saw Randy in just a Santa hat and silk red boxers. She smiled.

Ready for your second present? He signed smirking.

I get a second present? She signed.

You sure do. He got in bed next to her.

Is it a big one?

Oh yeah. They kissed.

Afterwards she turned on the light.

"Randy there's something we should talk about." She said.

"Is something wrong?"

"No." "We should just discuss it before our relationship goes any further."

"Whatever it is, we're gonna work on it."

"This doesn't include Alanna." "I really like her." "I don't want children of my own."

"How come?"

"There's a high chance that any child I have, would be born deaf." "I wouldn't want that to happen to a child." "It happen to me." "Kids used to crowd around me when I was little and go." "Quack, quack, quack."

"That's mean."

"It used to make me feel terrible." "I decided in my late teens I didn't want children." "If you want more children, we should break up."

"I don't need more children." "I'm happy with just Alanna."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." "I don't want to break up."

"Neither do I."

"It would hurt so much not to have you."

"I know what you mean." They kissed.