Happy Saturday, everyone! And happy Christmas Eve Eve! If you don't celebrate Christmas, then just... good day, I guess. I won't be updating on Monday (obviously because it's Christmas, lol), but I'll be back on Thursday! Stuff's going to start going down leading into the new year, and I hope you lovelies are ready for it. See you on Thursday! ~Shaymie

I spent the next few days nursing Alex back to health. He would tell me bits and pieces of his past while I coaxed some food into him. It wasn't much, just tiny little things about his childhood. He had grown up on a small island in the Caribbean. His father left when he was ten, leaving him, his mother, and his brother in terrible debt. He hasn't seen his brother in years, but they occasionally exchanged letters. He didn't tell me much outside of that, but I was fine with it. The fact that he'd told me what he had was good enough.

Before I knew it, Alex was feeling better just in time for Christmas. Mama and Christopher came over, along with John and Mattie, who never spent Christmas in their own home. Their father was almost always gone away on business trips and they wanted to stay in New York for Christmas this year. Darcy had a few choice words about their father as they placed their presents under the tree and only stopped her furious rambling when John kissed her.

"You might be the only person allowed to interrupt me," she huffed, petting Alexander as she sat on the couch. He curled up in her lap, purring gently. She smiled down at him and looked up at her boyfriend, frowning. "But your father's an asshole. Why haven't you told anyone about him?"

"It's not that big a deal, Dar." John squeezed in between us and slung an arm around her shoulder. Darcy and I rolled our eyes. He always tried to make it seem like his father didn't bother him, but we knew better than that. Henry Laurens was an abusive piece of shit, but John and Mattie refused to do anything about him. They said that the second John turned 18, they were going to move out together. They'd been saying that for years. "Really guys, we're fine. It's not the end of the world if we stay there for a few more months."

"...If you're sure about it, J," Darcy said reluctantly. She looked up as Martha walked into the living room, carrying a tray of gingerbread men. Alex trailed in behind her, holding on tightly to a steaming mug. He raised an eyebrow as he looked around the room, his gaze settling on me and Darcy. He sat between Mama and Christopher. I bit back a snort when I noticed that he was the shortest one on the couch. It made me wonder how I got the short end of the stick being so… short.

"Are you guys really wearing onesies? You're not little kids-"

"Onesies are a Haywood Christmas tradition, Alexander, and I refuse to let you disrespect them!" Darcy sniffed and watched as kitty Alexander jumped from her lap and stretched. He walked out of the room, his tail held high. He was probably going off to bother Dumpling, wherever she was. I looked down at my onesie and smiled. Darcy had bought this deer onesie for me a few years ago, when I had first moved in with the Washingtons. I've grown too attached to it. Herc had to make adjustments to it once I had gone through puberty. I don't care what anyone says, big boobs are not a gift. They're a curse.

"Well, I think both your onesies are adorable," Mama's voice was quiet as she rested a hand on her stomach. I looked over at Darcy and saw that her eyebrows were scrunched up in thought. Her onesie was nothing special, it was just pink, purple, and blue… The colors of the bisexual pride flag. I came to the same realization she probably had. She hadn't come out to Mama yet. I could see the apprehension in her eyes, and I didn't blame her. She said that when she came out to her father, there had been a lot of screaming and tears. I didn't want to assume anything, but Mama had grown up in the deep south, and people from there weren't exactly known for being understanding.

"Mama, I have something to tell you and I don't want you to get mad…"

"You're not pregnant, are you?" Mama asked with a small laugh. Darcy shook her head, her cheeks flaming. John's face was as red as a tomato. Even if Darcy was pregnant (I hoped that she wasn't), we wouldn't know for a few more weeks. She only had unprotected sex once, but that was all it could take. She said that she had wanted to take the morning after pill, but she didn't have the heart to do it. "What is it, dear? What has you so worked up?"

"I'm bi."

"By what?" Mama frowned in confusion, looking down at Alex when he snorted into his coffee. I glared at him. Now wasn't the time to laugh! Darcy looked like she was ready to pass out, her face getting impossibly pale. John squeezed her hand in support. I grabbed the other one. She took a deep breath and looked Mama directly in the eyes.

"I'm bisexual, Mama. Which means that I like guys and girls." Mama stared at her in silence for a few seconds. And then she nodded, a small smile coming across her face. Darcy laughed nervously as her eyes filled with tears. And then she got up and hugged Mama, thanking her repeatedly. Mama hugged her back and smoothed her hair down, murmuring reassurances in her ear. Alex got up and moved over to my couch, taking Darcy's seat. He set his mug down and tapped my knee to get my attention. My eyes widened as he started signing.

"Not to take the attention from Darcy, but since we're coming out now… I'm bi, too." He smiled at me sheepishly, his face growing red. John looked between us curiously. He hadn't been studying sign language as much as we had been, so I knew he didn't know what we were talking about. I kissed Alex and cupped his cheek, rubbing it lightly with my thumb. It wasn't a very Christmassy thought, but I couldn't help but feel slightly envious of him and Darcy. They were sure of who they were. Even now, I didn't know if I loved James and Maria for them or because of how they made me feel like I was worth something.

I pushed the thoughts from my head and smiled when Martha announced that it was time to exchange presents. Gil and George stumbled downstairs right on time. Even though they were always the most excited about Christmas, they could never wake up early enough. I had a suspicion that they had a present-sense. I grabbed a gingerbread man and gnawed on his head as Gil and George found their seats. The next forty-five minutes was a blur of brightly colored wrapping paper, which my cat had a field day with. He liked playing with the wrapping paper more than he liked playing with the toys I got him.

Darcy loved the ukulele I had bought her and started immediately reading the book it had came with. She'd probably be an expert by tomorrow. She picked up on things incredibly fast. It was part of the reason she had been able to graduate early. John liked the art tablet I got him, and Gil had immediately ran back upstairs to try on the clothes I bought him. He was probably the only person I knew who actually wanted clothes for Christmas. Alex gave me what felt like a hundred kisses when he unwrapped his laptop. Now he wouldn't have to borrow mine so much. Mattie loved the new headphones I bought her. I hadn't really known what to get Mama and Christopher, so I just got them gift cards.

I took my time opening my gifts, taking care to not tear the wrapping. I opened the Schuylers' gifts first. They had dropped their presents off the other day, along with Thomas, Maddie, and Herc. Angelica had got me a collection of Edgar Allan Poe works (he was my favorite poet, and she knew it), Eliza had knitted me a hat and some gloves, and Peggy had embarrassingly enough, gotten me more lingerie. I guess Darcy wasn't the only person she had been shopping for when we had gone to VS. Thomas bought me a few pairs of shoes, and Maddie had gotten me a camera. Alex had gotten me a few more charms for my bracelet (a sun, a snowflake, and an L for my name), John had gotten me an assortment of Disney plushies, Gil gave me some books about Greek mythology, and Darcy gave me some books about the history of Disney movies (and lingerie). What was the deal with everyone obsessing over my underwear? George and Martha's gift, a Nintendo Switch, was for everyone. The last person to give me a gift was Mama, who had bought me a collection of American Girl books.

"I didn't really know what you would like, but I remembered that you used to love this series when you were younger," she had said, a light blush spreading across her cheeks. I accepted the books gratefully. I honestly didn't even think she had remembered that. I didn't think that she remembered anything about me. I thought she hadn't paid any attention to me. I hugged her tightly and smiled.

I have my mother back…