**Will update if/when reaches 30 reviews!

Christmas Eve

Days until Christmas: 1

Recent nightmares: 1

Wolf-Children: 1

I stared out of my window for most of today. I was waiting for Rhett. I was waiting for Rosemary. She was due today, and for the first time in a long time, I looked forward to something.

I saw a carriage arriving, and I fled downstairs and pounced on the carriage door. It was cold outside, and I had neglected to don a shawl or gloves. I breathed into my hands, clasped together to trap warmth. Jogging my feet up and down, I hoped Rhett would pour out of those doors.

The doors swung open, and out jumped little feet.

My heart sunk. and not in the way Mary Poppins's does.

Total children: disappointingly, 3.

It was Wade and Ella. back for holiday/new years/whatever. It might as well be satan's birthday for all I cared, at this point.

"Mother! Mother!"

Words that sounded like music to Carreen's ears were like little chicks aggressively shooting off repetitive 'pyoopyoo' noises at mine.

Two small figures sprung across the carriage, one tackled me, another rolled onto the floor.

"We're back!" Yay.

"Yes... well..." I couldn't mask my disappointment. I had hoped it was Rhett. I tried to pick myself up and force a warm smile. "Welcome home, kiddos."

I looked off in the distance, hoping to spy a familiar figure.

"Mother." I felt a tug on my sleeve. I looked down. Wade. "It's cold." I suddenly felt tethered down.

I peered off into the distance again before turning back. "Run inside, Wade."

I saw Hazel in the entrance. "Go jump on the lady at the door, then go find Mammy."

In an attempt to forget my disappointment, I settled into the the kitchen.

"Scarlett, are you ok?"

Carreen.

"Yeah. I'm fine." I faked a smile for my little sister.

"I heard the kids are back."

"Something like that..." I responded blankly before adding, "just for a little bit."

She handed me something warm. I looked down hoping it was a hot toddy.

Hot chocolate. Of course not. This Christmas, nothing would go my way. And this was Carreen. I should have know better.

I took the first sip and realized I needed different friends.

"Hellooo?"

I snapped out of my thoughts, searching for the voice.

"You had a far-away look on your face."

"Oh, sorry, C-"

Hazel.

Wtf. When did that happen. I searched around the kitchen. I hadn't noticed Carreen had gone.

"I had the... what do they call it? Pleasure of meeting your children." She smiled.

"Mmm," I responded, eyebrows cocked, as if silently saying, "don't tell me about it/do me a favor and shoot me."

She laughed under her breath. There was no hiding it. She knew me well enough. I poured her some of Carreen's hot chocolate. "Here. Sorry it's not a vodka."

"God knows I'll need it," I said under my breath.

She knew who I was, and she was okay with it. It was nice being accepted for the shit mother I was. I didn't have to haphazardly pretend otherwise, which was not only confusing but exhausting. If kids had taught me anything, it was that it's tough work pretending you're someone you're not.

"You know... you don't really look like your children... or rather, I guess I should say they don't look like you," she noted.

"You can say that again," I said while stabbing a marshmallow with a toothpick.

"They don't look like each other either," she said absentmindedly, nursing her hot chocolate, before making a segue. "This would be better if it was cider."

"Yeah, okay, okay, I already know. They're ugly," I responded. It was too bad, but nothing I could do about it now.

She coughed on her chocolate. "That's not exactly what I said."

I interrupted. "Yeah, yeah, we all know you were thinking it. Not my fault they didn't get my genes. Hopefully they'll be smart. or develop some other useful traits. God knows they don't have any now."

She was still coughing but didn't look shocked. She seemed amused.

"I have chocolate in my nose," she choked out.

"Yeah, feel the pain. It stings, doesn't it??" I smirked. It was a relief to be yourself around fellow satan-worshipers.

I went on, leaning in on my elbows. "I wish I hadn't met their dads." I explained that Child 1 and Child 2 had different fathers.

"I see..." She smiled before poking my shoulder and jesting, "Scarlett-you do get around!"

-Then again, maybe she wasn't. 3 was a high number for a 19th century lady. Well, whatevs. Nothing I could do about it now.

"How scandalous," she smirked.

I rolled my eyes. "Ugh, I wish I hadn't."

"Why?"

"It sucked."

She gave me a pointed look. I knew what she was asking about: da sex.

"It was pretty boring... in all aspects of life, okay." Period. That's all I would give her.

"Did you love them?" she asked, raising her eyebrows mockingly.

"Yeah right. Can we women afford such a thing? In this day and age, you're lucky if your husband doesn't beat the living shit out of you. Besides, If I did, do you think I'd treat these children this way? Probably not..."

I thought for a second. Then again, maybe I would. It was a toss up.

"What about your current husband?" She said it as if it was okay if I didn't answer.

"Rhett." I looked into my empty cup.

She looked into hers and smiled suggestively.

I gave her a face. "What?"

"You do."

"What? I-no. He's alright..." -Alright for someone who abandons his wife and leaves forever.

"Okay, Scar. You keep telling yourself that." She waved at me dismissively.

We continued our conversation, chastised Twinkle for shitting on the porch, and laughed together over glasses of Cognac. I was amazed she hadn't asked where Rhett was or if he'd return. I was thankful. Despite the holiday blues and reality setting in that Rhett wouldn't return this year, I was thankful to have one non-URM friend. I hadn't had one since Mellie.

...

Later, while we were talking about something totally separate, I realized too late that a tear fell down my face. Hazel only stared semi-curiously but did not comment. She left it up to me.

-What can I say, I blame it on the alcohol.

She looked away, giving me privacy.

I explained, "it's nothing. I just really miss Ashley's wife sometimes... Mellie. She was my only friend, you know, she died around this time of year. I just thought of her."

I tried to perk up and wave the tears away, as I had forced myself to do often during the past decade. She squeezed my hand lightly as a courtesy and smiled, before rising and moving towards her room. Before I had lifted and set my wrists back down/cleared my eyes, she was gone. She had told me before that she didn't like sad/crying drunks, either. I laughed. -So this was how it felt.

...

I fell sound asleep on the chaise lounge in the lobby. I was having a full-on nightmare: Ella and Wade had come to stay forever, Mellie's spot disappeared, and Belle moved into my house.

I was only brought back to earth by the gentle shaking of my arm.

"nnnNNNNNn!" I noised, warning Wade and Ella off.

The gentle shaking persisted.

"Scarlett."

"Nnnnn..."

"Scarlett."

I felt a hand on my forehead. It took me a while to realize these hands were too big to be Wade's or Ella's.

"Noo... no, you can't stay forever," I muttered sleepily, slumped over. "Schoool~"

"Scarlett."

"Mellie- No... I said..."

I heard something clearer now. I hated being woken up.

"Scarlett-"

I snapped to, pissed off. As I jolted up and stared crossly at the figure beside me, my face fell in surprise as I beheld a Butler.

"I-"

Well, I didn't know what to say.

NEXT! A Christmas Eve Special- Narrative through _'s Eyes. Would you prefer to see a narrative through Twinkle, Mammy, or Hazel's eyes? Please cast your vote or provide a suggestion in the comments box. I will write accordingly.

Author Note: I am attempting to gauge viewer interest in the series to assess further continuation. If you are enjoying it, reviews would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and the guest reviews thus far, and I hope you've had a few laughs.

**Will update if/when reaches 30 reviews!