Myka's overall mood lifted considerably after her conversation with her father. It was about the closest thing to actual parental support that she had ever seen him manage. And it wasn't going to undo the last eighteen years. And she wasn't going to throw too much effort into the relationship just to be disappointed later. But this was a start.

With her dread and anxiety subsiding, Myka was more willing to partake in preperations for the holidays, helping with decorations, making holiday cookies with her mom, setting up for the annual Bering family holiday party. She didn't even mind sharing more details about her time at school, which delighted her mother.

Their party went off without a hitch and, for the first time she could remember, Myka actually stayed downstairs to partake in the festivities. Every year until this point, she would let people in for the party, take their coats to the guest room, and stay there reading until one of her family members came and dragged her back out to what she viewed as a hostile environment.

This year, Myka was in the middle of a conversation with one of the regular customers at her father's book store when she heard her mother call to Tracy.

"Tracy, I can't find Myka, go check the guest room, she's probably hiding out like usual."

Myka shot back calmly, "Mom, I'm right over here."

She had to hide her grin of superiority when she saw the look of pleasant shock on her mom's face.

"Do you need help with something?"

"No, no…. Just… have a good time…" Jeannie walked back into the kitchen, still confounded over the changes she was witnessing in her daughter. But who was she to question it.

When Christmas morning arrived, before Myka even got out of bed, she called Helena, who picked up immediately.

"Merry Christmas, darling. I've been waiting patiently next to my phone for a few hours to say that." Myka could hear the smile in Helena's voice.

Myka let Helena catch her up on everything from her day thus far while she lounged in bed. Helena's family had called to wish her a Merry Christmas, even her father, which had been an unexpected gift. Now, she was sitting in Mrs. Lattimer's living room opening a stocking that they had put together for her. Right in the middle of a sentence, Pete stole the phone away from Helena.

"Hey, Mykes. Guess what my contribution to Helena's stocking was?"

"I don't know, Pete, what was your contribution to Helena's stocking?"

"So, every year we all get toothbrushes in our stockings because dental hygiene is very important, especially around the holidays and, oh, she's opening hers now!"

She heard Helena laugh uproariously from her end of the line.

"What? What?! Someone tell me!" She heard Pete's voice in the background, but was still waiting for an explanation.

Helena came back on the line, still giggling. "Pete got me a sonic screwdriver toothbrush. Because he said, and I quote, 'Doctor Who is British and nerdy and you are British and nerdy.'"

"I think it's perfect."

Helena was still laughing. "So do I."

Christmas had just begun and already Myka felt the tremendous joy in her life. Her girlfriend and her best friend were bonding and, though she couldn't be there, she knew that they wished she was. And that was about as good as being apart was going to get.

Christmas Day was usually the one day a year where the Berings were able to put all of their frustrations with one another away and actually enjoy each other's company – this year was no exception. They opened presents noisily and took turns choosing the Christmas music to play in the background. Tracy had gotten her mother Cards Against Humanity as a joke and Jeannie had insisted that they played, which horrified their father to the point that he had to leave the room while Tracy and Myka rolled around the living room floor cackling.

After all of the gifts from one another had been opened, Myka picked up the package from Helena. Her dad noticed her do it.

"I saw that. One of your friends is good at the crossword."

"Yeah…" she traced her fingers over the girl's handwriting. She even missed that. "Helena."

Her family watched her open "The H.G. Wells Reader: A Complete Anthology," and while her mom and Tracy didn't understand why it made her so happy, her father did.

"Ah," he nodded his head. "Helena."

It was a worn copy of the book and Myka opened the first page. On it were two notes.

"My Darling Helena,

Since he is your accidental namesake, I thought it best we study up on Wells together. I've left you lots of goodies in the margins. I hope the adventures he takes you on fill you with as much joy as you have for me. You are my light.

My deepest love, forever and ever.

Papa"

And at the bottom of the page:

"Myka,

I want to share him with you.

You are my light.

Your Helena."

All of the gushy sentimentality and the sadness inherent in the inscription made Myka burst into tears. And, oh my god, now that she'd opened her present she had to call Helena because hers was nowhere near as good or thoughtful as this.

She grabbed her phone and ran upstairs to her room, still crying. Jeannie started to go after her, thinking that something terrible had happened while she hadn't been looking, but Warren held her back.

"She's alright Jeannie, she's alright."

The phone rang a few times and Myka anxiously padded around her room. When Helena picked up, Myka didn't give her a chance to say anything.

"Helena, I opened your present and it's the most perfect thing I've ever gotten and now I feel terrible because my gift to you…"

"Is wonderful." Helena had to forcefully interject, otherwise Myka would go on for days undercutting herself.

Helena had the gift open on her lap when Myka called; she had found a print of Future (Woman in Stockholm) and ordered it for Helena.

"It's just… I thought…" The words were getting away from Myka, but she wanted to explain. "When we were looking at that painting, you held my hand and we were talking about the future, and I just thought…" at this point, Myka was sort of hoping that Helena would interject again. "I wanted to give you something that showed you how much I'm looking forward to our future together. And now that I say it out loud…."

"I love it, Myka. And I love you."

"Thank you, Helena. For the book. And… well… everything."

"Merry Christmas, Myka."

"Merry Christmas, Helena."