41. Family's First Christmas

Beth POV

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Frank Sinatra

I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm by Red Norvo

It's been a few days since our little Victoria was born. And the more time goes by, the more I realize I'm happy to have a daughter. Two sons is enough, I think as I prepare to feed her.

"You know," Robert says to the boys, "you might want to leave soon unless you don't mind watching your sister latch onto your mom's boob in a minute." Duncan scrunches his face, seeming revolted, and leaves immediately. Shaun just rolls his eyes and trails his brother by a few seconds. Once it's just me, Tori, and Robert, he suddenly says, "So, it'll be Christmas in a few days. I know we don't have a tree or anything, so I was thinking maybe we could go to Diamond City—let the boys see all the lights, show off Vitya to everyone. It's been so long since we've been there, I don't think anyone even knew you were pregnant." He chuckles.

"That does sound fun," I agree. "So, I guess it's safe to assume my house arrest is expired?" He grins and nods.

"We're able to take care of her better now that she's out in the open. After all, we can't stay here forever."

"You don't know how long I've been waiting to hear you say that."

A few hours later, we're on our way to the Great Green Jewel—my three boys wrapped up securely in their favourite jackets, Tori and I huddled together in my own. Of course, I couldn't leave her Jangles blanket behind—she's gotten quite attached to it already—so she's wrapped up in that as well.

Once we reach the spot we normally park the boat, we unload ourselves and make our way through the city—the boys sandwiched between Robert and myself—with him carrying all our traveling possessions in a small suitcase, and me still holding Tori. From the countless times I've made this trip, I've never been so jumpy—literally every noise has me on high alert. I know it's just my motherly instinct for newborns having been raised from the dead, but I'm still careful going around every corner, assessing each noise before proceeding.

All those noises I heard, of course, ended up being nothing. So, here we stand near the entrance to Fenway Park, the city many people call home.

Although Christmas isn't for another couple days, some of the guards are scurrying about, making ready for the holiday by dragging around trees—plastic, obviously—and boxes with lights and baubles in them. I forgot how much I used to love Christmas.

"You alright?" Robert interrupts my thoughts as I gaze around the city in awe.

"I'm great. Christmas was always one of my favourite holidays. I didn't get to celebrate it last year with everything being such a culture shock, but now… I'm glad you suggested coming here." I give him a one armed hug, trying not to jostle Victoria too much.

"Well, I guess we'll be staying at Home Plate until Christmas, huh?" I half shrug, half nod. "I'm gonna go put this away, then. Be right back. Wanna come with me?" he asks Duncan and Shaun. Shaun follows him as Duncan stays with me, gripping my belt loop with his small hand. I know he'd prefer to hold my hand, but he's being polite due to them being full at the moment.

"Well, if it isn't the sweetheart…" I hear from behind me. Turning around, I see a Diamond City guard with a box of lights in his hands. I recognize that voice.

"Dick. It's been a while. I believe the last time we spoke was when I was getting married. I hate to rush you, but I'm sort of in a hurry. How can I help you?" I stare at the man in front of me with slowly forming snake eyes. However, there's no way to know how he's glaring back at me—his entire face is covered by his helmet, leaving his expression a mystery.

"Was that your wedding day? No wonder you were all dolled up. Your knockers weren't as big then." He looks me from top to bottom and back up again—the only way of knowing this is by how his head moves ever so slightly. "Say, you think your punk of a husband will let me hit your bases now?" I'm shocked by what I hear next.

"You leave my mom alone!" Duncan pulls his combat knife from his own belt loop and starts aggressively walking toward him, his expression one of pure hatred—something I've yet to see on my six-year-old's face.

"Woah, woah! Duncan, c'mere." As soon as he hears me, he mellows out and reigns himself back in to my arm's length, replacing his knife in its place.

"Feisty bastard, isn't he?" Dick comments.

Although I really don't want to, I hand Tori to Duncan and face the irritating man again. "Listen," I tell him. "There's no need for you to harass me, so there's no need for you to go and get my son upset like that. I don't want to, but if I must, I will open up the biggest can of whoop-ass you've ever felt in your life. I don't think you want that."

Even though Duncan's advance on Dick had him backing up slightly in fear, my threat proves to do absolutely nothing, as he just chuckles and says, "So, you like it kinky. Neat—me, too." I can imagine his cocky grin under his helm… and that's what does it for me.

I'm not sure where I pull it out from, but I spin around on my heel and roundhouse kick him in the back of the knee—hard enough to make him come tumbling down, like the giant ignoramus he is. As he lies on the ground, rubbing at his possibly torn tendons, I kneel next to him and continue where I left off previously. "You talk to me so much as one more time, you threaten my family, or even breathe in my direction—I will finish the job. I may just be a mother and housewife to you, but never forget this: I was the one who brought the Institute to their knees. Me, and my 'punk of a husband.' And as for Duncan here… well, you saw what he's willing to do." I stand and take Tori back from him before I change my mind and finish the job now. "Goodbye, Richard." I turn and walk without a backward glance.

"—you should've seen her," I hear Robert saying as I enter Home Plate. He turns his face from looking at Shaun to me and grins. "I was just telling him how beautiful you looked on our wedding day."

I grin back at him, although probably not for the same reason. "Well, isn't it just a memory-filled day all around…" He takes Victoria from me and looks up at me, concern on his face.

"What happened?" He glances to Duncan after a few seconds of my silence. He now asks him the same, "What happened?"

"Mom kicked some ass," the boy responds, a grin on his own face.

"Duncan, don't use language like that," I reprimand him.

"Sorry." He turns, finding Shaun, and starts to talk about something. I don't pay attention to their conversation though, as I'm too busy wondering why Robert's staring at me like he is.

"What did you do?" He rewraps Tori in her blanket as it'd gotten loose somehow.

"Well… speaking of our wedding day… Do you remember that guy that was harassing me?" His brows raise as he nods. "Well, he recognized me, and decided to try again. …So, I had to rough him up a bit." With his expression locked in place, he moves to the door and opens it slightly. He gazes out until he finds what he's looking for—Dick still lying on the ground, his comrades not even bothering to help him. I guess they think his name suits him, too.

"You did that…" He closes the door and looks back at me. "How?"

"I… might have roundhouse kicked him in the back of the knee… And that may or may not have torn some tendons or ligaments of his…" He stares at me with incredulity, until he's distracted by Victoria crying.

"I think Vitya's hungry," he tells me as he hands her back to me. Once she's receiving her daily nutrients, Robert continues. "So, I guess we can head over to Nick's after she's done, huh?"

I nod, surprised he's let the whole Dick thing go already. But then he says, "And, uh… I am curious how you did that. Like, for real, Beth. You just had a baby not even a week ago." I chuckle. "But, at the same time, I kinda don't wanna talk about it. He pissed me off last time—last thing I need is to get mad again because of that cun—er. Um… jerk. It is Christmas after all."

A little while later, we all head toward the Detective Agency. Although Duncan already knows, I decide to warn Shaun about Nick being a Gen 2 prototype. He's not at all upset—he just shrugs and grins, saying he'd be happy to know another prototype synth other than himself.

As I knock on the door—since Robert's holding Tori—I have the feeling that today is Ellie's day off—much like the last time we'd come here. And as Nick opens the door, I see my premonition was correct.

"Beth!" he calls, hugging me immediately. "It's been so long since you've been around. What brings you here?" He ushers us all in, not even realizing how many is in our party. Once we're all seated—Robert and I in the chairs opposite Ellie's desk, the boys on the floor, and Nick on the side of the desk—I answer him.

"Well, Christmas is right around the corner. Thought we'd bring the family and see the decorations—it was Robert's idea." I pat his knee.

"Oh, yes. The family. How is your little boy?" he asks Robert, completely oblivious to the bundled up baby in his arms.

"Our boy is fine." He points to Duncan on the floor, who smiles up at the synth detective.

"Still love that dog?" Nick asks him. Duncan nods. And even though Shaun isn't two feet from him, Nick is still to notice his presence.

"Uh, Nick?" He looks back to me. "When I said family, I meant all of us." I point to our synth child.

From what I can tell by his yellow optical eyes, Nick is shocked to see him. "Where did you come from, little man?"

"I'm from the Institute," Shaun answers. "Mom's real son was killed, but I'm here now. Mom says she likes me better anyway."

Nick glances back at me. "Is he saying he's a…?"

"A synth?" Shaun asks. "Yes, I am. I'm a prototype—they only made one synth that resembles a child. And that's me. Mom and Dad thought it'd be best to tell me my true identity. And I don't see anything wrong with being a synth. They love me just as much as my brother here." He smiles at Duncan, then at Nick. "I'm happy to have met another prototype synth." He stands and holds out his hand to the detective. Although Nick is confused at first, after a few seconds, he extends his own hand—the one missing skin—and shakes my son's hand. Shaun doesn't even blink or hesitate after seeing his boney hand—he just took it in stride as if he'd seen it before.

After Shaun sits back down on the floor by Duncan, Nick looks back to me. "So, you said all of you. Are there any more surprises up your sleeve?" I share a smile with Robert, who moves his head, motioning for Nick to come closer. Once he's sitting on this side of the desk, Robert uncovers Victoria, revealing her face. Nick's synthetic eyelids widen, showing us more of the optics behind them. "Did you find an orphan?" he asks, although by the look on his face, he already knows the answer.

Robert stands and shows her to him from a closer angle. "Nope. This one was homegrown. You did say we've been gone for a while." He holds her out a little bit. "Want to hold her?"

"I'm afraid I won't be soft enough to hold a newborn…"

"Don't worry about it, Nick. She'll be fine." I know to say Victoria will be fine, as opposed to Nick will be, due his worry solely being about her.

However hesitantly, he takes her in his metal arms and smiles down at her. "What's this angel's name?"

"Victoria," I tell him. "I call her Tori, and he won't stop calling her Vitya. So really, any of those work." I chuckle as he lifts her closer to his face, really inspecting her newborn features.

"Hello, Victoria. Hope you don't give Mom and Dad too much trouble."

"She doesn't," Robert says. "She sleeps through the night, rarely cries. It's almost like caring for a doll, she's so easy to take care of." I laugh. Well, he's not lying.

"You have a fine family here. Hope your house is big enough, with three kids and a dog."

"And we're gonna get another dog soon!" Duncan says, his first sentence in a while.

"We never discussed that," Robert says, looking down at him. "We'll have to talk about it later." Duncan's shoulders slump as he casts his gaze to the floor, clearly upset at his father's rebuff.

"Well, congratulations, you two," Nick says. "I'm happy for you." He smiles as he looks back down to Tori.

After a long day of visiting Nick, then going to see Piper—and having to explain everything to her as well—we all head back to Home Plate, our abode for the next couple nights. It's decided that Duncan would take the love seat, Shaun would sleep on the couch, and Robert, Tori, and I would share the bed. I'm a bit nervous to have Victoria in bed with us—after hearing all the warnings when Shaun was a baby—but it's the only option we have at the moment, since her crib is at home, and there's no alternative here. But once morning comes, and I see that she's fine, I realize there's no reason to worry.

After grabbing some breakfast, we head over to the Dugout.

"MacCready!" Vadim greets him. "It's been a while." He looks to me, the boys. "I see your family has grown. Congratulations, tovarishch!" He notices me holding Tori. "And don't tell me you are a papa yet again." He walks around the counter—only due to it being a slow day. If it were busier, he wouldn't dare.

"This is Victoria, Vadim. And yes, I am a papa again," he chuckles.

I give him a sidelong glance. "Oh, c'mon. You're not even going to tell him what you call her?" His eyes widen, like he wasn't planning on it—like he's condemning me for even bringing it up. "I call her Tori, but he has a different nickname for her. Why don't you tell him, dear?" I smile at him.

"Yes, Robert. Why don't you tell me?" Vadim now smiles at him, playing along with me.

Robert clears his throat. "So, when I'm not calling her Victoria—"

"Which is hardly ever," I cut in.

He gives me a look and continues. "…I call her Vitya." This makes Vadim burst out laughing, making the subject of our conversation jump slightly.

Once Vadim has laughed enough to get it out of his system, he stops, and with a dead serious face says, "You do know 'Vitya' is a boy's name, yes?"

"Da, da," Robert says, seeming annoyed with the bartender.

Vadim continues, "I see the resemblance between Victoria and Vitya, but it is an odd choice, poputchik. Were you wanting a son so badly?" He laughs again.

"No, Vadim. I was actually the one who wanted a girl and named her, thank you very much." I chuckle at him, thinking about how long it's been since he's gotten mad over something so small.

We spent the next couple hours visiting with the Bobrov brothers and whoever else we knew in the bar. Shaun and Duncan also wanted to go for a walk around the city, see all there was to offer—and even some that wasn't offered to the public's eye, the little trespassers.

Once arriving back at Home Plate, we all decided it'd be a good idea to stay until Christmas morning, then head back home. This way, we could spend our first holiday at home as a family. So, this is exactly what we do.

We'd seen all the lights, all the trees Diamond City had to offer. We visited all our friends and acquaintances—and even beat a man down—while we were there. Now we are headed home.

"Sorry we didn't get you anything," I tell Duncan and Shaun, trying my best to hide the truth. Don't look under the cot. Please, don't look under the cot.

"It's fine, Mom. We don't need anything." Duncan smiles toward his father who is holding Tori. "Vitya's all we need, I think."

"Not you, too," I joke. Looking to Robert, "Did you tell him to start calling her that?"

He chuckles. "No. But it caught on anyway. Soon enough, you'll be the odd woman out."

"Don't worry," Shaun says. "I like Victoria, so I won't call her Vitya, okay?"

"Aw, the prize son." I hug him, earning a snarky grin from Duncan, who knows I'm just messing around with him.

When we reach home, the boys take off, happy to be back. Robert and I take this as a good time to hide their presents. Running to Danse's house quickly, we ask if we can hide them under his couch or something, lest they be found under our own. Once they're placed, we head home—and are surprised when we walk into the living room.

By the liquor cabinet is a plastic Christmas tree, much like those in Diamond City. It has lights, ornaments—everything. "Who did this?" I ask the air, not aiming it toward anyone specifically.

"I betcha Danse did it," Shaun says, both he and Duncan standing near the centuries old holiday symbol, staring up at it like it's the first time they've seen one.

"Wouldn't surprise me," Robert says, handing Victoria over to me to be fed.

A few hours later, the sun is on its descent, nighttime approaching quickly. While Shaun and Duncan are outside playing, Robert and I go to Danse's house to retrieve their gifts. While we're there, I ask him about the tree.

"So, Danse. There happens to have been an elf running loose around the island, leaving Christmas trees in people's living rooms. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?"

He freezes as his eyes go wide, knowing he's been caught. "No, I don't think so," he says.

I smile at him. "Okay. Just thought I'd ask." With the boys' gifts in hand, Robert and I turn to leave. But, right before I walk out behind him, I turn back and tell Danse, "Thanks, anyway. You don't know how much it means to us. Why don't you come over for dinner in about an hour or two? I'm making roast beef." Smiling, I leave the house.

"Boys!" I hear Robert call as I walk into the house. "Come into the living room, please!" And at his call, they start running down the hall upstairs like a herd of wild animals. They come barreling down the stairs, and nearly collide with each other before finally coming to a full stop in front of us near the group of armchairs. "We have a surprise for you two." They look perplexed.

"Here." I hand the big package wrapped in old newspapers to Duncan as I hand a similarly wrapped bundle to Shaun.

They take the gifts, but still look confused. "You said you didn't get us anything," Shaun says, looking at the present in his hands.

"White lies don't hurt on the occasion," I tell them. "Go ahead. Open them."

Duncan starts to open his first, and with moderate speed—until he sees what's inside. "Jangles!" He then rips the rest of the newspaper off and hugs the stuffed monkey close to him. "Thank you! How'd you know I've been wanting one?"

"Lucky guess." I look to Robert and wink as he grins at me. Lucky guess, I chuckle internally. He doesn't have to know I had an insider for that one, now does he? "Your turn, Shaun."

In a much more tempered pace than his brother, Shaun takes the paper off his gift. Looking up at me, he says, "A screwdriver and an adjustable wrench." He doesn't want to seem disappointed, but still can't completely reign in his slightly disheartened tone. "Um… thanks." He tries his best to smile at me and his dad.

"Oh, Shaun," I laugh. "You don't know the half of it. Have you not seen what's under the tree? Or rather, behind it—the thing's so large." He spins around to look at what I'm talking about. This is when his reaction matches Duncan's.

"Oh, wow!" He goes up to the tree and digs out the Giddyup Buttercup from behind the tree. "I've always liked these things."

"And you like to take stuff apart, right?" I ask him—he nods. "Well, that's what those tools are for. Not only can you play with Buttercup, but if it ever acts up—or you're just curious what its insides look like—you can find out. Maybe even upgrade it." He comes back over to me, dropping his two tools onto a chair, and gives me a hug.

"Thank you, Mom." He glances over to Robert. "Thanks, Dad."

"Hey, don't look at me. It was all your mom's idea." He goes into the kitchen—still holding Tori—and starts searching in the fridge.

"Don't you dare eat anything, Robert Joseph! I'm making dinner in a few minutes." On the other side of the wall, I hear him grunt and close the refrigerator door with a little too much force, making me giggle.

About an hour after giving the boys their presents, the roast beef is done and sitting on the table.

"Are we waiting for something?" Duncan asks, clearly hungry and impatient.

"I was, but I guess we don't have to wait any longer. Dig in, boys." I take Victoria from her dad and head toward the door. Seeing nothing but night sky, I feel a little disappointed. I was sure Danse was coming. Oh, well… At about this time, I hear a knock on the back screen door. Walking down the hall, I see Danse's face on the other side. "Well, about time you showed. Why use the back door, though?" Because I hadn't opened the door yet, he still stands on the other side. "Oh, you practically live here, too. Just come in," I chuckle.

"Who is it, Mom?" Shaun asks, his mouth full of food.

"None other than your uncle," Danse says as he walks in.

"Danse!" Duncan gets up and runs straight to him, pretty much climbing him like a tree.

"Hey, buddy." He ruffles his hair and sets him down. "Your mom invited me over for dinner. Sorry, I seem to be tardy—lost track of time."

"It's no problem," Robert says. "Didn't even know she invited you over. Must've been after I left."

Once he's gotten his own plate and a seat in between his two favourite nephews of sorts, I spill the beans. "Duncan, Shaun. Why don't you thank him for the Christmas tree, since I'm pretty sure he put it there—even though he won't admit to it."

They look at him as if he randomly turned into a tree himself. "Did you?" Shaun asks.

After heavy sighing, Danse nods. "I wanted you guys to have a good Christmas this year—what with this being your first as a family, and Vitya just having been born." I give him a Not you, too look, to which he gives me an apologetic expression.

"Well, gee, Danse," Shaun continues, having missed our silent exchange, "thanks a ton. I know I love it." Duncan nods his agreement, his mouth too full to even breathe normally.

"Duncan, you're gonna die face-first in a plate of roast beef if you don't slow down. Take smaller bites." Somehow, he still manages to frown at my words around all the food.

The rest of dinner went well—Danse said it was about the best meal he's ever had, Duncan finally started eating like a human being instead of a wild boar. After everybody had finished up, Danse wanted to hold Victoria, so I took this time to fetch his own Christmas present while Robert started on the dishes. "Here." I hand it to him.

"What's this?" He adjusts Tori and takes the newspaper lined gift.

"It's Christmas. Can't forgot about my best friend." He smiles at me, still a bit confused, while he balances the package on his leg and opens it with one hand.

"A chessboard?" He turns the box over, looking at the back. "With actual chess pieces. I didn't think any of these things survived."

"Well, it wasn't easy to find. I remember you talking about wanting to learn how to play. Think you can help him out, Shaun?" He looks up at me, clearly having missed our conversation.

"Help who with what?"

"Teach Danse how to play chess?"

"Oh. Yeah, sure." He looks back down to his magazine.

Victoria's been working on getting fussy, so Danse hands her back to me and continues to look at the box in his hands. "Thank you so much. I wish I could have gotten you something, too."

"Don't be ridiculous. You got us the tree, you're the best uncle slash godfather in the world, and you agreed to not make me kill you and to move here." I smile at him. "You already gave me your gift."

Shortly after giving Danse his present, he went home. Probably too many emotions for him to handle. But the boys went right to sleep—Duncan hugging his new Jangles toy, Shaun wishing he could hug his own giant metal horse in bed. I was just so tired from the trip and today's events, that I left Tori with Robert and went to bed early. I faintly hear when he comes in.

After putting her in her crib, I feel him crawl into bed, wrapping his arms around me. But I'm not too happy with my back to him, so I turn over and slide my own arm over his side.

He makes a small noise of contentment and kisses my forehead. "Vitya's been good tonight." I nod my head against his chest, too tired to speak. "Man, you must be exhausted, not even wanting to talk." I grin, although I doubt he can see it in the dim light of the candle and with me this close to him. He wipes some hair out of my face.

"Babe?" I ask.

"Ah, she does speak." I chuckle. "What?"

"I forgot to give you something." I go to stand but he tightens his hold on me, preventing me from leaving.

"If it's one of your Christmas presents, you can forget about it. I don't need anything—hell, I don't want anything. You already gave me more than I deserve."

"Hush," I tell him, trying again to get up, and succeeding this time. I come back with a small box in my hand. "Open it." He gives me a slightly frustrated face, but takes it and does as instructed. He opens it and is faced with a small yet decent sized matching notebook and pen set. He glances up at my face, seeming confused. "You love Poe's works so much, I thought maybe you'd want to start writing some of your own short stories or poems. If you don't, then you can always use it for something else—" I'm cut off by being caught in one of his massive hugs.

"Thank you. I love it." He lets go suddenly, sets his present down on the mattress and takes off to the bureau. Coming back, he has a small bag—a satchel, really—in his grasp. Silently, he hands it to me.

"I didn't know we forgot half our family's presents tonight," I chuckle. Taking the satchel from him, I slip the string off it and pour its contents out. It's a pendant on a long, silver chain—the pendant seeming to be a dark blue, almost violet coloured gemstone.

"It's called 'tanzanite.' At least, that's what Becky called it back at Fallon's. She said it's one of Vitya's birthstones. I was thinking about giving it to her, but what's a baby gonna do with something like that?" I look up at him as he grins.

"How much did you pay for this? Gems are expensive…" Even though the size is small, it still must have cost an arm and a leg.

"Not too bad, actually. The value of gems aren't what they used to be." He takes it from me and clasps the chain around my neck. "I was thinking maybe we can give it to her when she's older—when she can appreciate it."

I smile, looking toward Victoria, safe and sound asleep. "I think that's a good idea," I whisper.

A/N: Dick came back. So, that's a thing.

I really do love Christmas as well. I had fun writing this chapter due to it.