It was Christmas Eve, Harlan and Melanie finished decorating the tree to surprise the kids in the morning. " I remember coming down christmas morning as a kid, and the tree with presents that 'Santa' bough.." Harlan smiled wrapping an arm around her. "The smell of mom's baking.." He sat down on the sofa. Melanie slowly sat down. "Dad's cigars." He looked down for a minute. He had managed to get his mothers recipe's and his father's box of cigars before the world went to hell a long time ago. He them safe in his dresser drawer. "It was good.."
Melanie placed a hand on his knee and squeezed it. "All good things to remember." She smiled.
"Was Christmas good at your place?"
Melanie sighed softly, "For a while.." She looked up at him. " Back when mom was with dad - I was three - Dad woke me up early, carried me downstairs he made his cup of coffee - just black no sugar or cream.. I sat in his lap he grabbed the Christmas cookies, and he would let me dip the cookies into his coffee." She smiled slightly. "I got a power ranger that year from him." She laughed. "Mom gave me kid makeup" She shrugged.
"The other Christmases after my mom got remarried I got one present, when my sister came around I got three and she got a hell of a lot.. I'd get sent upstairs to my room and come down for dinner" She laid her head back. "I remember I was about…8.. Rick and Lori came and got me on Christmas Eve because my mom called then and basically told them to get me, they were leaving town for a few months." She smiled slightly. "We got back to their house around 4 in the morning, I remember sleeping in the car against Lori. I was in my pajama's and slept in their room…" She shifted a bit. "Carl and I shared a room for the night.. He must of been 4…" She looked up at him. "He woke me up, I didn't come out of my room at first until Rick came and picked me up 'n carried me out of the room.."
"They treated you great." Harlan smiled rubbing her leg.
"They did. They made me feel so welcome got me presents, fed me took care of me.. They had me for about 4 months until mom came back and got me.." She frowned, then smiled more. "Ricks grandma - Rita...I miss her. She treated me just like she treated Carl - and loved having me around." She looked down. "Taught me how to sew, knit and crochet." She shifted sighing getting comfortable again. "Bake a few traditional british recipes."
He watched her and nodded. "Sounds like an amazing lady. I'm sorry you had a rough time growing up."
She shrugged. "Helped me grow." She smiled and cuddled against him.
Harlan smiled. "Mom made the best pecan pie, along with molasses cookies, sugar cookies, roasted potatoes, loaded green beans.." He sat held her close. "Feels good to be able to share those Christmas traditions with the kids."
"I know they need it. It feels good to be celebrating a holiday."
"Glad Eugene was able to figure out the dates and keep track of everything." Harlan laughed. " Glad the kids will be able to experience a good Christmas."
"We all needed the holidays. The wars - Death's that happened.." A sigh escaped her lips. "We need something happy going on."
"We do. Well, early morning." Harlan rubbed her side. "Presents are set out.. We did amazing." They had made or found a few gifts for the kids either scavenging or they made them. They stockings were stuffed with a small toy, along with an orange that they had kept in the cellar and a small photo of their dad, she had managed to get some photos developed with Eugene's help.
"We did. " She smiled slowly standing up.
"Let's get to bed." He said helping her up, rubbing her back. They walked upstairs and went into their bedroom. Melanie had moved into his room
Harlan held her close as they drifted off to bed.
( T W D )
The following morning, Sarah came running into the bedroom. "Merry Christmas mommy and papa Harlan." She smiled jumping on them.
Mel groaned as she rolled over. "Merry christmas honey." She smiled hugging her. "Your siblings awake?"
"They are!" She smiled big.
Harlan chuckled at the girls excitement. "Well. Lets go get the twins, and celebrate our Christmas." He smiled sitting up. Melanie slowly got up in her long nightgown, Harlan in a t-shirt and boxers. Sarah took off running down the hallway and down the stairs to see what Ford and Charity were doing.
Melanie walked into the twins bedroom and smiled at them both awake and playing in the crib. "Good morning my babies."
"Mah-ma." Liam giggled jumping up and down, Lucy got up and quickly copied him. Melanie smiled picking them both up. "Merry Christmas" She kissed them both.
Harlan smiled and kissed Liam on the forehead, "Merry Christmas." Lucy leaned forward and kissed Harlan on the hand and giggled.
They each carried a toddler and headed downstairs. Sarah was holding Ford and Charity on the sofa waiting patiently. "Kissmas!" Charity screamed and giggled blowing them a kiss her red hair hanging in her face.
Melanie smiled and laughed, "Christmas." She corrected her.
Harlan sat the twins down. "Sit Mel." He smiled slightly.
Melanie nodded and sat in the chase lounge, she knew if she got on the floor she'd never get up again.
Harlan got the stockings down for the kids, and passed them out, along with their present, they each got two presents a piece from Harlan and Melanie.
The kids dumped the stockings out and looked everything over. The girls got mini polly pocket dolls, the boys got matchbox cars. Sarah stopped seeing the picture of Negan. She looked up at Melanie. "Santa knew we missed him?" She smiled big.
"He did." She smiled back at her. Sarah smiled more looking down at the picture, she set it carefully down and kept it close. Ford looked at his and handed it to Sarah and kept playing with his car, Charity slowly got up and walked to her mom. "Keep safe? Don't want Lucy eat it." She hugged her.
Melanie smiled and hugged her back. " I will." she put it on he table and smiled. Lucy had one but Melanie kept it on the shelf in Lucy and Liam's bedroom.
The kids played with the toys in the stocking for a while, and slowly opened the presents.
Harlan sat beside Melanie and rubbed her back watching them open the gifts. Harlan had found magnetic blocks at a local daycare for the kids to play with. Melanie had asked him to keep an eye out for some board games or some toys in general. He came across the magnetic blocks, along with some doodle pads. Melanie had given them the doodle pads. They also made a few gifts also - Melanie had found the rest of Negan's scarves and made them all teddy bears from then, and kept two in her drawer. She had also crocheted them some mittens, and hats. Harlan had painted wooden blocks that he sanded down, and gave them 12 blocks each, and each side was a different puzzle of a animal on it - one side created an elephant, the other a tiger, than a lion and bear.
The kids giggled and hugged them both, thanking them for everything, and played with the gifts. They kept the teddy bears close in their lap.
Harlan smiled watching them play, he got up and walked to the tree pulling out a small box he hid in the back of the tree. "I know we said no gifts…" He handed her the gift wrapped box. "Merry Christmas Melanie."
"Harlan.." She smiled looking up at him. "Thank you." She slowly got up and walked to the other sofa, grabbing a box from the back of it. "Merry Christmas Harlan." She sat down slowly next to him and opened her gift. "Harlan…" She smiled lifting the broach out. "How.." She looked it over, it was a blue broach that looked like a tree it was beautiful, and looked identical to the one her Nana Rita had. "It looks..just like the one Nana Rita had….Her rhinestones with blue tree of life brooch.." She looked up at him and smiled.
"I remember you describing it..I asked Rick and we went to his old house, and got it out of the safe he had hidden in the wall.." Harlan smiled.
"Oh Harlan.. That had to be a long trip." She smiled leaning over and hugging him tightly. "That was the 5 day supply run that you guys went on.."
Harlan smiled and hugged her. "Guilty as charged.." He shook his head. "Not a bad drive. Got to talking with Rick about everything.." He smiled sitting back. "Was a good trip." He slowly unwrapped his gift and removed the lid. "Melanie.." He smiled. It was a pocket knife. "I haven't had one of theses in a long time." He smiled picking it up, it was a good 4 inch handled knife. "Thank you." He hugged her, he kissed her cheek.
"You're welcome." She smiled softly and hugged him again. "Love you Har.." She hadn't really said it before.
Harlan smiled looking over at her. "Love you too Mel." He kissed her again.
They all got dressed and went to the meeting hall for Christmas Dinner - instead of celebrating later that night, they decided to eat the diner at lunch time. They walked into the room, a christmas tree was up, and the tables were set, along with food and everything. Melanie and Harlan carried in some homemade pies that Melanie made last night - two pecan and some sugar cookies. Melanie had made Harlan's mothers Molasses cookies for him and the kids to have at home as a surprise. The kids stopped and looked the table over - Daryl and Rick had butchard four turkeys to feed everyone, there was sweet potato pies and casserole, along with regular mashed potatoes, and veggies.
Rick walked over and hugged Melanie. "Glad to see you." He smiled slightly. "Worked all night to finish everything."
"I made two pecan pies, and sugar cookies, along with some of Nana's fudge.."
Rick smiled big. "Hell, I haven't had that in a long time." He rubbed his face, looking at the packages. "Been years.." He glanced at Harlan and shook his hand, before pulling him in for a hug. "Thanks for helping also." he spoke with Harlan.
"Anytime, It was a good long night to help."
"Mama i'm hungry...Can i have some fudge?" Ford smiled up at Melanie, tugging on her shirt.
"Not right now. We will eat soon go play." she smiled ruffling his curly light brown hair slightly. Ford sighed and took off to go play.
Michonne walked over with baby Georgia and smiled.
"Oh my goodness." Melanie couldn't help but let out a coo to the little girl. She was a miniature version of Michonne, her pigment was a caramel color, her eyes brown with a small speckle of blue. "She's beautiful." She had Ricks nose, and jawline.
"She's a handful, a beautiful one though." Michonne handed the baby to Melanie with a sigh.
"Wont sleep in her crib?"
"No." Michonne laughed and Rick groaned. "Always on my breast, or cuddling with Rick. "She's got us wrapped around her fingers."
"Well. She is a Grimes then." Melanie cooed and kissed the baby's head. "Sweetheart." She ran her fingers over the coarse black hair, it was soft and thick. "I love her hair. I'm so jealous."
Rick laughs. "Wait until we have to do her hair when she's older."
"It won't be so bad." Michonne said jabbing him while teasing him slightly.
Daryl and Maggie came over carrying the boys, Hershel Jr was playing with the other kids, Enid came over carrying Lorileigh and sighed sitting her down. "Merry Christmas." She yawned slightly. Carl came over and wrapped an arm around her. They got married about a month ago.
"Merry Christmas." Maggie smiled looking down at the boys. "We are really repopulating the earth here.."
"I have a baseball team practically." Melanie smiled handing sleeping Georgia back to her mother and hugged Maggie. "They are little copies of Daryl.."
Daryl looked away with a slight smirk.
"Yeah. I carry them for 9 months and they come out looking like their daddy.." Maggie sighed and smiled, rocking Gunner while Daryl held Remington.
"Yer the one that pounced me 'member Maggie?" Daryl took one hand and slid it around Maggie.
Rolling her eyes, Maggie smiled. "Not like you didn't stop me.." She laughed slightly and looked Melanie over. "You're lookin great. When are you due?" She swatted at Daryl's hand as it went to her butt.
"End of the month." Melanie sighed softly. "Baby shop is really closed after this."
"You said that last time." Rick raised a brow and smiled slightly. Harlan tried to not laugh and looked away.
"True. I do love it." Melanie rolled her eyes. "I retract my last statement officer."
Rick shook his head and smiled. "Haven't been called that in forever.
"Well… I could call you that from now on - Officer Grey- Grimes." She reached up to touch his hair and plug a grey hair.
"I dont think so." Rick said moving back and shook his head.
Michonne let out a laugh along with Carl and Enid.
"You're no fun." Melanie smiled moving closer. "Should really remove that stick up your.."
"Melanie!" Rick growled.
Melanie playfully pouted. "Fine." Then smiled. "Sorry."
Rick relaxed and sighed. "Sorry barely slept last night." He pulled her in for a hug.
Melanie hugged him. Daryl reached over and grabbed a grey hair. "Make a wish."
"Damn it Daryl!" Rick growled grabbing him and putting him in a headlock.
The girls let out a laugh watching them. Maggie took Remington from Daryl.
"If we are done cursing.." Father Gabriel smiled looking at Rick, standing at the table. "Lets pray and eat!"
They all slowly walked to the table. Rick walked Daryl over in the headlock.
The kids were laughing and sitting down watching them.
Rick grabbed a grey hair from Daryl and smiled. "Make a wish." He sat down laughing.
Daryl went to grab at Rick and Maggie grabbed him by the collar. "Finish it outside later."
Daryl groaned and sat down crossing his arms. Maggie sighed looking at Michonne. Michonne just shook her head.
Father waited and watched everyone quiet down, then prayed. "Amen."
"AMEN!" Ford started screaming, along with Charity. Melanie reached over and put her hands over their mouths. "Hush."
It was too late - The other kids started screaming Amen. Melanie glared down at her kids, and they stopped, slowly the other kids stopped as their parents got after them. "We dont scream Amen." Maggie sighed.
"Sorry Father." Melanie glanced up at him. Harlan rubbed her back and smiled slightly, "We are working on it, they still do it at dinner.."
He was laughing slightly. "They are enthusiastic."
"They are something.." Rick teased.
They all started eating, and talking enjoying their times together. They all got stuffed, and slowly made their way home later that night.
"Merry Christmas!" Ford screamed as they walked away from the hall, jumping up and down in the snow.
"Merry Christmas!" The other kids started joining in screaming it at the top of their lungs.
