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Little Sister Briana: Chapter 39
🕑 Added 2022-08-18 16:00:08 +0000 UTCIt's Melody's Christmas. <3
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The days leading up to Christmas were magical. Melody had once scoffed at their sister for using that word to describe something as dumb as a holiday, but Briana was right. Waking up every morning next to Rosa and being tenderly cared for by her was magical. Snowball fights in the morning with Briana were enchanting. Veronica’s gentle reassurance and care during the day was a marvel. Michelle’s doting was miraculous.
They didn’t worry about being a kid in front of their roommates anymore. When all the alpha ladies in the house were treating Melody that way, no one else’s opinion seemed to matter. Suzie could call Melody kiddo all she wanted, it didn’t sting anymore. On the contrary, they were learning tricks from their sister to exploit it.
When Rosa put the potty calendar in their room, Melody didn’t cringe. They were genuinely proud of the stars that went on the calendar. Especially so, when Briana got jealous about those stars.
School was still an uncertain thing on the horizon. It was hard to tell how being a Rosa’s kid would work once classes and labs started. Happiness seemed possible though; that was the real magic.
It was Christmas-eve-eve-eve, according to Briana, who had taken over the house’s understanding of measurements. Everything was now understood only in its relationship to Christmas day. Dinner tonight was three dinners to Christmas, the temperature was projected-Christmas-Temperature +4, the number of people in the house was counted relative to how many people would be home on Christmas day.
Melody watched Rosa put a check mark on the calendar, three pullup-checks of six passed for the day. Three more and there’d be a star covering the checkmarks.
“Good job Niñe, you’re almost to four stars in a row!”
Melody beamed proudly and squirmed in for a hug. That was another technique their sister had taught them. Melody had gotten more hugs in the last week than they had in their entire life before.
Looking at the woman they called Mama, Melody was blown away by how much they loved her. Rosa had gone from a crush to a pillar of Melody’s life. They felt safe around her without reservation.
I think this is that unconditional love thing. It’s pretty amazing.
Melody didn’t have any memes to make fun of themself with for that corny thought. It stood on its own, powerful and tall. Cold winds of doubt or fear were buffeted away by it, never making it in to touch Melody.
“You know, if you keep this up, we can work on your nighttime wetting too.” Rosa said.
“No more diapers at night?” Melody asked. There was an odd twinge there along with the expected pride.
“Not if you don’t need them. We might keep you in pullups at night anyway, to be safe. Even if you graduate to big-kid underwear during the day.”
“I trust you, Mama.” Melody said, leaning their head on Rosa’s shoulder. It felt amazing to set their worries on Rosa and Veronica. They knew that it was possible for those worries to be too much for their Mom and Mama, but that wasn’t a worry. By now, Melody trusted their caregivers to tell them if something needed to change.
“You are SO sweet lately. Is this the Christmas spirit?”
“This is how I feel around you all the time.”
“Oh Niñe.” Rosa said, crushing Melody with her sporty arms until they squeaked.
“Melody!” Veronica called from the living room. “I need your help with these packages. I hope you’re ready to go shopping with me too!”
“Coming Mom!” Melody called.
“Are you coming with us, Mama?”
“I have my own chores. Did you know there wasn’t going to be any Ensalada Rusa for Christmas?”
“Ensa what?”
“Potato salad. I understand not having pavo navideño, Michelle wants a white people turkey, but they weren’t going to have any tamales either. It’s not Navidad without volteado de piña o ponche Navideño either.”
“Mama, I don’t know what any of that stuff is.”
“Which is a great tragedy, Niñe. Your mama is going to fix it.”
“Melody!” Veronica called again.
“Go help Mom. We can talk about the Christmas food later.” Rosa said, patting Melody’s butt.
Melody hurried out to the living room. There were half a dozen packages on the porch, and as many already inside. They were coming by the truckload lately. It made sense with how many people they had. Especially with Michelle re-routing all her presents to Veronica’s house.
Briana had been banned from helping with packages, so Melody was Veronica’s go-to. The first time Bri had seen a literal pile of presents on the stoop, the little gremlin had almost vibrated herself into another dimension. They grabbed the rest of the packages from outside, carefully sorting them into named bins.
“Sorry Mom, Mama was talking to me about Christmas stuff.”
“We need some kind of signal that the other one has you in tow.” Veronica said. “I’m not as connected to her as I am to Jane. Maybe Rosa could make some kind of Melody management app.”
Melody blushed. Rosa certainly could, in an afternoon. Like so many recent additions to their life, the prospect of having a caregiver state-machine app was at once embarrassing and comforting.
“Okay Little One, I need you to get your outside clothes on. Do you need to potty first?”
“Mama just checked me. I have three checkmarks so far today!”
“I’m proud of you.” Veronica said warmly.
The warmth of Mom’s voice and smile ignited a happy inferno that erupted in Melody’s chest. They scurried to get ready. Snow clothes were always at the door and ready go. It’d become a necessity to have them there with the daily snowball fights between Melody and Briana.
Geared in a hat, jacket, snow pants, and boots, Melody presented themself to Mom and was hustled off to the car. They sat in the back, since Mom and Mama both agreed that kids shouldn’t sit in the front seat. At least they didn’t have to use a car seat, which was Briana’s new rule.
“Are we going grocery shopping?”
“I wish that was all. Groceries are our last trip. We have to talk to the people delivering the firewood, send out some letters, and pick up some medical equipment for your Grandmother too.”
“Is Grandma okay?”
“She will be, if she uses the equipment her doctors prescribed for her.”
“I can help her set it up.” Melody said, sitting up eagerly. “She can’t say no if I help her with it and ask her how it’s going.”
“That is amazingly sweet. Do you really want to do that? You’ll be checking on a crotchety old lady.”
“She’s not like that with me.”
Veronica laughed. “I suppose she’s not. Melody, I want you to know I’m not worried about your Grandmother, or anyone else in particular. However, if anyone in the family ever makes you feel uncomfortable or hurts you, please tell me, or Jane, or Rosa right away.”
“Okay Mom.”
“I mean it, Melody. You’re not so good with those kinds of boundaries. I want you to know that you’re always safe, even if someone makes a mistake or turns out to not be the person we thought they were. Please promise me that you’ll tell us if something happens.”
Melody pawed awkwardly at their hat with their mittens. Mom let them have their squirmy moment. Finally, they felt the cringe fade away.
“Okay Mom. I promise.”
“Thank you, Little One.”
Melody hugged themself as another wave of warm fuzzies washed over them. “I love you so much, Mom.”
“I love you too.” Veronica said, dabbing at her eyes.
Melody stuck close enough to Veronica on their errands that they got a few odd looks. They didn’t care. They needed to be as close to Mom as possible. Veronica didn’t seem to mind either, even putting her arm around Melody while she talked to the firewood people, and while she listened to the long list of instructions for Grandma’s medical equipment.
“Mom,” Melody asked as the pile of groceries in their cart grew ever larger. “What happens after Christmas? Is Grandma going to be okay to go home on her own?”
“My sister, Kiara, will be back from Geneva on the twenty seventh. She’d be back faster but there are no open flights this close to the holiday. She can take care of Grandma for a few weeks.”
“But what about after?” Melody asked, frowning. “Grandma mentioned that she lives alone a lot of the time.”
“We’ll have to hire a caregiver, I suppose.”
“Mom, that sucks.”
“Melody, that’s not nice language to use with your mother.”
“Sorry Mom, but I don’t like it. She should come live with us.”
“Your grandmother has six enormous Irish wolfhounds. I don’t think they would fit in the house.”
“There should still be a way.” Melody said. “I don’t want Grandma to leave. Briana doesn’t either.”
“That’s sweet, but she’s put a lot of work and love into her home. We can go visit her, often.”
Melody was not convinced. Clearly, this called for bigger guns. They were so distracted thinking about the problem that they forgot to ask Veronica to take them to the restroom before they checked out of the grocery store. Luckily, Melody managed to hold it until they got home, but it was a close one.
They collected their checkmark from Rosa as quickly as possible and hunted down their sister. Briana was in a baby coma on the drawing room floor, next to an empty bowl. The bowl had looked like one of the candy dishes.
“Bri, snap out of it. I need your help.”
“Muh?” Briana asked.
“Come on, sis! I’m calling an emergency sibling meeting.”
“Like for Cloudland?”
“No, for real life. Come on, we have to do it in your room.”
Briana sat and stretched. “Ugh, but I’m wet.”
“Dude!” Melody rolled their eyes. “Bri, this is about Grandma, you can get changed later. You’ve been sitting in that thing for a while anyway.”
“Okay, okay!” Briana crawled to her feet maddeningly slowly.
Melody pulled their sister through the living room as quickly as they could, desperate to dodge any more chores requests. Melody closed the door to Briana’s room and sat their sister’s soggy butt on the floor.
“Okay, Bri, here’s the deal. Mom and I went to pick up all kinds of medical equipment for Grandma today. She needs help, and I don’t want her to go back home.”
“She’s leaving?” Briana asked, suddenly worried.
“Yeah, a couple of days after Christmas.”
“I don’t want her to leave either!”
“Right, but she has a bunch of huge dogs.” Melody said. “So she can’t stay in the house.”
“I like dogs though.”
“Each of these dogs weighs more than you do, and there are six of them.”
“Woah, big doggies.”
“Yeah, focus Bri. I think Grandma should buy the house next door.”
“Is it for sale?” Briana asked.
That was a good sign. Their sister’s brain was waking up a little.
“I think it’s a rental, but it’s empty right now. Grandma might already own it. The point is, Mom doesn’t think Grandma going home is a big deal. It’s up to you and me to convince her.”
“We can do it! When’s she supposed to go home?”
“I told you, two days after Christmas. But you know how Mom and everybody is. They won’t change their minds on the day of about something that’s been planned. I think we lose if we don’t convince them by Christmas.”
“Got it. You can count on me, sib.”
Melody leaned in and hugged Briana tightly. They got back one of Briana’s impressively strong hugs in return.
“Okay, operation Grandma Next Door is on. I’ll find Grandma and drop some hints to get things going. You should find Dad and get changed. That diaper’s been wet for a while, potty pants.”
“You’re a potty pants too!”
“Nuh uh! Three stars in a row, and four check marks already today.” Melody said smugly.
“No fair, I was supposed to be potty training.”
“Babies don’t potty train.” Melody said, sticking out their tongue.
“I’m not a baby!”
“You’re such a baby.” Melody said, laughing. “Way more than you were when I moved in. It’s really good on you.”
“Really? You like it?”
“Doesn’t it feel good? You look happier, like I was when I changed my pronouns.”
“I do but – you don’t think people want me to be a big girl?”
“Who? Mom and Dad love you. Rosa thinks you’re adorable. Grandma is nuts about you. I mean, MAYBE Suzie or Gary would have an objection to you as a big baby but…”
“Oh uh, not Gary.” Briana said, blushing and clearing her throat. “He’s um, pro baby.”
“Oh yeah?”
Briana squirmed and rolled over on her belly, hiding her head under a stuffie.
“He wants me to be super babied out for a whole couple of days with him. Even um… not using the potty at all. For anything.”
“Woah. Is that okay with you?” Melody sat down hard, wincing at the lack of padding in their pullup. They stroked Briana’s back gently.
“Well I um – I got him a Christmas present. It’s a pretty pink straightjacket – designed for girls in diapers.”
Melody giggled. “You’re really going to do it? You know what? Good for you. I look forward to seeing if there are any changes when you come back.”
“Huh, like what?”
“Like if you’re a poopy pants instead of a potty pants!”
“Nu uh! I don’t do that except for – the thing with Gary.” Briana said, throwing her stuffie at Melody. “I’m not a poopy baby.”
“Not yet you aren’t.” Melody said, smirking and bouncing the stuffie off Briana. “Anyway, go get changed. Operation Grandma Next Door, remember?”
“I remember, even if you’re a jerk.”
“No fighting with your sibling, it’s almost Christmas!”
“No fair!”
Melody giggled wickedly and hopped up, fleeing the room ahead of a hail of stuffies.
At first, Grandma blew the idea of moving in next door off as quickly as Mom had. Melody resorted to underhanded tactics, like bringing Grandma tea without being asked, and pointing out how nice the house next door was whenever they were by a window together. It earned Melody a pinch and being sent off to ‘find something productive to do’ on more than one occasion.
When Melody caught Grandma eyeing the house and making comments about the size of its yard to Jane, Melody knew their tactics were working. They weren’t sure what Briana was doing for the cause specifically, but they knew she wouldn’t forget something so important.
Christmas Eve was a nightmare of activity. It was the big night for Mexico, so Rosa had taken over the dinner, leaving Christmas day for Veronica. She wanted her Niñe helping her all day. The house had to be cleaned for Krampus too, which meant that whenever Rosa was waiting on something to cool, or bake, or rise, Melody was helping their increasingly frantic sister.
By the time they were setting the dinner table, Melody’s fingers ached from tying tamales and scrubbing floors. They’d been so busy that they’d missed two potty checks. Rosa peeked in the back of Melody’s pullup before dinner and they slumped their shoulders in defeat.
“Sorry Mama, I got distracted and I didn’t make it in time.”
“Mmm, I think today is a day we don’t count checkmarks or Xs.” Rosa said.
“Huh?”
“Everybody’s a little more Little on Christmas Eve, don’t you think? How about I put you in your pajamas and nighttime diaper for dinner?”
Melody squirmed. “Is it okay? I mean, I’ll be busy during school and we were working on it and I don’t want to cheat…”
“It’s fine, Niñe. Mama says so.” Rosa said, kissing Melody gently. “Your sister already has her Christmas pajamas on. You should match her at dinner. Come on.”
In their bedroom, Melody lay on the small changing blanket from Target. Rosa had suggested tossing it, now that they had all the fancy changing tables in the house. Melody hadn’t been ready for that yet. Maybe someday they’d be willing to let it go, but for now it was a reminder of when everything had changed.
With tender touches, Rosa stripped Melody and tore the sides on their pullup. It was going to be a real diaper change from start to finish. Melody peered around their legs, watching Rosa’s face as she wiped their butt. There was such a strong look of contentment on her face that it seemed unreal.
“Mama, do you really like doing this? You don’t get tired of cleaning me?”
“Niñe, I love doing this. I love it more every time I do it. It makes me feel so close to you. I’m taking care of you.”
“You take such good care of me.” Melody said with a relieved sigh. “I didn’t know how much I needed you.”
“Sweetie.” Rosa said, smiling. She set a fluffy diaper under Melody’s hips and gently applied the lotion. “You like it too? Not the being taken care of, but the actual diapers?”
Melody grabbed Totoro and buried their face in his fat belly.
“I like them a lot. It’s hot and lovey all at the same time.”
Rosa laughed. Melody peeked around Totoro to pout at her. That was supposed to be sweet, not funny. Moments later they were laughing too, with Rosa tickling their feet.
“This has been a wild ride. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m excited to see what age you are tomorrow. I bet it won’t be six.”
“Are we counting potties tomorrow too?” Melody asked, retreating behind Totoro again.
“Not on Christmas, Niñe.”
“Maybe I could have diapers the whole day.” Melody said quietly.
“Do you like the diapers better than the pullups?”
“No, I like being your little kid most of the time but – on special days…”
“I understand.” Rosa said, applying a light swirl of powder.
She brought the diaper around Melody’s crotch in stages, wiggling it perfectly into place. Each wiggle was followed by a tight hold from Rosa’s strong hands. Melody held Totoro so closely that his stitches strained a bit. It was okay. He understood. Longtime stuffies, or ‘Stuffies Primary’ like Briana liked to say, were used to it.
“You know your Grandma is going to want to change you if you’re wearing diapers, right?” Rosa teased softly.
“That’s okay. I li – I um – I love Grandma.”
“Oh sweetie, when did that happen?”
“I don’t know.” Melody said.
Rosa cuddled up to them on the bed as soon as the diaper tapes were secure. It was a good thing too. Totoro wasn’t going to last much longer under the squeezes he’d been getting. Melody transferred those desperate snuggles to Rosa.
“You should tell her.”
“I know but what if…”
“She loves you.” Rosa said, with complete confidence.
“Okay Mama.”
Melody’s Christmas pajamas were lurid green with the Grinch and trees and presents all over them. They were perfect. Stylish too, Melody got a lot of compliments on their outfit as they helped serve the Nochebuena meal.
It was an unusual Christmas dinner, by the standards of lots of people at the table. Melody had all the inside info from helping cook and proudly pointed out the dishes as they were served. Everybody knew what the tamales were, but the Russian potato salad needed some context. Fruit salad was a welcomed by everyone, as was the pineapple upside down cake.
“What’s this drink?” Grandma asked, looking at the glass Melody had handed her as the plates were being cleared.
“Ponche Navideño, Grandma.” Melody said, hoping they’d pronounced it correctly. “Christmas punch.”
“What’s in it?” Grandma asked, sniffing it and taking a sip. She nodded approvingly.
“Sugar cane, apples, prunes, and um teho – uh, teh-ho-co…”
“Tejocotes.” Rosa said. “Hawthorn fruit.”
“It’s delicious. I approve of this addition. Does mine have rum in it?”
“Tequila.” Rosa said with a grin. “Don’t worry, the kids’ don’t have alcohol.”
“Speaking of kids, it’s not long before they turn into pumpkins.” Veronica said. “Did you hear that, Briana? Bedtime in half an hour.”
“Mom!” Briana whined.
“The faster you fall asleep, the faster Santa will come.”
“Um – Mom, can I sleep in Briana’s room tonight?” Melody asked. Briana cheered at them from across the room.
“Yes you may, Little One, as long as you go to bed at the same time she does.”
“Yeah, okay.” Melody said, smiling bashfully.
“If you two are going to bed so soon, then why don’t you help your Grandma over to her chair?” Grandma asked.
Melody wasn’t sure if it was Jane’s eagle-eye making sure Michelle accepted help, or that she was having more troubles than she had on her first day, but Grandma wasn’t walking on her own much anymore.
Melody had tried suggesting that Grandma use the oxygen Mom had picked up, but Grandma was less open to that than she had been to moving in next door. She’d grumbled a lot about not being nearly old enough to need canes and oxygen. Melody didn’t see what the big deal was, it wasn’t supposed to be permanent, they didn’t think.
Since Grandma wasn’t listening about the medical stuff, Melody was glad they could at least help with her walking. They slipped under Grandma’s arm. As usual, Grandma wanted to steady herself before she got moving.
“I love you, Grandma.” Melody said quietly, while they waited.
Grandma swayed on her feet, pulling Melody into a hug.
“Where did that come from?”
“I don’t know, but I do.” Melody said. “Mama said I should tell you, so I did. It was kind of scary.”
“I know Melody. It was hard when my mom adopted me, and it was hard when I adopted my girls. You’re a brave and darling kid for opening up to me so fast.”
“It’s because you’re a good grandma.” Melody said.
“You trying to make your grandma cry?”
“I want you to move into the house next door.” Melody said, looking at Grandma with their best rendition of Briana’s puppy dog eyes. “My sister does too. We want you here, not only so Mom and Dad can take care of you, but so we can see you every day.”
Grandma was crying now. She pulled Melody in for another hug and clung to them with trembling hands.
Mom and Dad were staring curiously when Melody finally escorted Grandma to her chair. They didn’t feel like saying anything, and Grandma didn’t either. She squeezed Melody’s arm extra tight after she sat.
Dad took Melody and Briana upstairs. There was a double air mattress set on the floor, with sheets and blankets on it already. While Briana got a diaper change, Melody brushed their teeth in the upstairs bathroom. Wearing a diaper or no, they were still the bigger kid! They managed to use the potty, though it looked like they might have had a small accident during dinner. It was hard to tell with the big diapers.
“Ready for bed?” Jane asked, as she helped Melody get their diaper back into a snug fit.
“I love you, Dad.” Melody said, staring at Jane sincerely.
“I – I love you too, Didi.” Jane said.
Melody was pulled into another crushing hug. If that was going to be the result of telling people that they loved them, they were going to have to do it a lot more. They clung to Jane happily, reveling in the solidness of her frame.
“Is there a reason in particular for that comment?”
“I told Grandma today I love her, and I realized I hadn’t told you.” Melody said. “And I do, so I needed to tell you.”
“I love you very much. You are an amazing Kinder, Didi. I’m overjoyed to be your father.”
Melody floated back to the bedroom on happy feelings and crawled into bed with their sister. Before Dad had a chance to tuck them in, they pulled Briana into the little-spoon position. The little munchkin squealed happily. She had her arms wrapped around Alanna. Belatedly, Melody freed an arm to snag Totoro.
“Sleep well Kinder.” Dad said, giving them both a kiss on the head. “Tomorrow is the big day.”
“Daddy, I can’t sleep! I’m too excited!” Briana said, squirming in Melody’s grasp.
“You’d better sleep. For Krampus, a child awake is as bad as a dirty house.”
“Okay goodnight daddy see you tomorrow.” Briana snapped her eyes shut and fake-snored.
Melody giggled. “I’m sure she’ll be asleep in a sec. Goodnight Dad.”
“Goodnight Didi, BumbleBri.”
The bedroom door closed, leaving the room in competing soft colors. Briana’s pale orange night-light competing with the cold white of streetlights on snow reflected into the window. The wind was quiet and the snow was falling so softly that it was only an occasional whisper.
“Sib, what if I can’t sleep and Krampus gets me?”
“That’s never going to happen. I’d offer myself as tribute.”
“But you’re a kid too. Krampus will get you.”
“Nope. I’d power up like a DBZ fighter if I’m defending my baby sister.”
“Do you like having a baby sister?”
“I do, and I love you.” Melody kissed the back of Briana’s head. They deliberately slowed their breathing, taking long, deep breaths.
“I love you too.” Briana yawned.
“Go to sleep Bri.”
“Okay.” Briana snuggled in a bit more, working an arm around Melody’s and fitting herself flush to the curve of Melody’s body.
As Melody predicted, Briana was out like a light less than five minutes after she’d relaxed. They yawned again. It was really early to go to bed. They were going to have a hard time getting to sleep, no matter how snuggly Briana was…
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The mattress rocked alarmingly. Melody’s eyes snapped open to see a manic Briana bouncing on her knees, staring intently at them. Some time must have passed, because Briana’s pajamas were taut around her diaper. Come to think of it, the padding around Melody’s hips was heavy too.
On the other hand, the cold blue light from the window had gone away, leaving half the room in deep shadow. The house was silent as a stone.
“Bri, go back to sleep, it’s still night.”
“Sib look at the clock, it’s CHRISTMAS!!”
Blearily, Melody rolled over to look at their phone. It was six am. They groaned, doubling down on their groans when Briana climbed on their back.
“Please sib we have to see if Santa came! Please, please!”
“Don’t we need Mom and Dad for that?” And Mama.
“That’s why I need your help. You have to help me wake them!”
“You’ve woken them tons of times.”
“But I don’t want them to be grumpy at me. It’s Christmas!”
“Oh, but it’s okay if they’re grumpy at me?” Melody said, laughing.
“Please Sib? Please?”
Melody shook her head and rolled over, wrestling Briana into a tight hug. “Only if you admit you need my help because you’re my cowardly little baby sister.”
“Nuh uh! I’m a big girl!”
“Then go wake Mom.”
“Melodeeee!”
“Who’s a scaredy baby?”
Briana thrashed a bit before switching tactics to a double-whammy of puppy dog eyes and pout. Melody was having way too much fun to relent.
“Oh well, I guess we’ll go back to sleep like this.” Melody exaggerated a yawn.
“I’m a scaredy baby!” Briana whined. “Please sib, can you wake Mom and Dad?”
“I didn’t hear that well. Did you say you’re my scaredy baby sister?”
“Yes!” Briana giggled and blew a raspberry on Melody’s neck.
Melody laughed and released Briana, rolling out of bed. “Okay, let’s go get Mom and Dad.”
“And your Mama.”
“Yeah, but she’s downstairs. Plus she might be grumpy.”
“Who’s the scaredy cat now?”
“Shush, baby sis.”
Melody waddled to Mom and Dad’s suite, quietly opening the outer door. They knocked gently on the door frame by the bedroom door.
“Mom? Dad?”
Briana whispered, “You’re never going to wake them if you’re quiet!”
Melody rolled their eyes. They knocked on the door this time. “Mom, Dad? It’s morning – kinda.”
“Didi?” Jane’s sleepy voice was soft through the door. “Scheiße, it’s six am.”
“I told you they were going to do this.” Veronica said, giggling. “I’ll make coffee, love.”
“We’ll be up in a moment. You can go downstairs and wake Rosa, but please don’t go to the tree or wake your Grandmother.” Jane grumbled.
“I’m going to let Rosa know you told them to wake her.” Veronica teased.
“You still haven’t made me coffee.” Jane grumped.
Giggling at their silly parents, Melody and Briana snuck downstairs. It was hard not to approach the tree. The living room was hypnotically attractive. Overnight the tree had been covered with candy canes. There were piles of presents by the fireplace, and the stockings bulged!
Reluctantly, Melody grabbed the scruff of Briana’s pajama neck and dragged their sister away from the tree. They hesitated for a moment at Rosa’s door – but it was their room too! Inside, Rosa was sleeping peacefully in some pretty pink pajamas. She was so beautiful in the soft light that Melody felt a sharp ache in their chest.
They whispered a command to Briana to stay and crept over to the bed. Ignoring their sisters hissing whispered protest at being giving dog-commands, Melody snuck into bed with Rosa.
“Mama, it’s Christmas.” Melody whispered in barely more than a breath.
Rosa stirred, reaching out. As soon as her hands touched Melody, she pulled them into a tight snuggle and nuzzled their neck.
“Good morning love.” Rosa said sleepily.
“Good morning love.” Melody sighed and relaxed into the hug.
“You can’t go back to bed!” Briana squeaked indignantly. “Mom and Dad are already up!”
Rosa giggled. “I don’t think we can open presents until everybody is up. I know I could sleep for another couple of hours. What about you, Melody?”
“HOURS!?” Briana sounded devastated. Melody laughed, but didn’t have the heart to continue the teasing.
“I think we should get up. There’s some new stuff out there.”
“I GUESS so. If my niñe wants me to.” Rosa sighed and stretched. “You kids need a change, right?”
“That can wait, there’s PRESENTS!” Briana said, she sounded at her wits end.
“Uh huh, but Grandma has to get up, and so does everyone else. Sounds like your Mom and Dad are making coffee. I’ll change you two while they’re doing that.”
“Rosa!” Briana whined.
“Come on sis, you know nobody is going to let us open presents until everybody’s up. Wouldn’t you rather wait in a dry diaper, if you have to wait anyway?”
Briana had a number of grumbles under her breath in response. She was still grumbling all the way to the changing table. At one point, Melody thought she heard the S word. Rosa heard it too, she had her slipper off and bouncing off Briana’s diapered butt with a resounding POW noise.
After that, Briana confined her protests to impatient bouncing. Ironically, she slowed down her diaper change. When they finally returned to the living room, it was bright and cheery. Hot chocolate and coffee were available in bulk. Melody joined their sister in a hot chocolate – with a little bit of coffee in it.
The Santa presents and stockings were fun, but became a blur quickly. Briana was in her element, tearing through wrapping paper and having an amazing time. Melody was feeling a bit overwhelmed. That didn’t mean they didn’t want to keep the cool Gundam set Santa had brought, though. Mostly, they wanted to snuggle next to Rosa and leave the shrieking to Briana.
As they moved on to personal presents, Jane gathered four small packages and stood expectantly in front of the fireplace. Melody looked at Briana, who was even more excited than she had been for the Santa stuff. Confused, they looked at Dad.
“I have four gifts here that should be opened together.” Jane said. “Briana, here’s yours, and please give this one to your sibling.”
Melody took the small wrapped box and gave Briana a questioning look. Briana giggled back maniacally, but didn’t offer any info.
Jane stripped the paper from her box efficiently without looking. Her eyes were fixed on Veronica, as she delicately took the paper off without tearing it.
It wasn’t a surprise that there were boxes under the paper. It was a surprise to see jewelry boxes inside the cardboard ones. It was a BIG surprise to see a gold ring inside the jewelry box.
Melody looked and gasped. Veronica was staring at her ring, her hands trembling. Jane was down on one knee!
“I have to confess, I switched our boxes, Love, because I wanted to put your ring on you, and hoped you’d put mine on me.”
“Jane is this – what are you doing?”
“Würdest du mir die Ehre erweisen und meine Frau werden?” Jane asked, holding a ring up to Veronica. “Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
Veronica burst into tears. “Yes, yes my love. Please be mine forever.”
When Mom and Dad had put rings on each other’s fingers, Jane turned to Melody and Briana.
“In Germany, we put the ring on the left hand, like so, when we are engaged. We will move it to the right when we are married.”
“For you Kinder, I would like you to put your rings on your small finger on the left. If you are willing, you will move it to the small finger on your right at the wedding. I want to recognize that the family includes two wonderful kinder.”
The room was suddenly blurry. Rosa was dabbing their eyes with her pajama sleeve. Sniffling, smiling, sobbing and shaking, Melody put the ring on their left pinkie. It fit perfectly.
“Mom, I know Rasmussen women don’t get married but…”
“Tess didn’t get married, or anyone after her, but she didn’t say we couldn’t get married.” Grandma said. “I didn’t see much use in getting married, but I didn’t have the option to marry a woman. I think Tess might have changed her stance if she lived today. I wish you all the best happiness Vonnie.”
Grandma was dabbing at her eyes too. Everybody was crying. Melody clung to their sister and cried. They pulled Rosa into the hug and cried. Everybody laughed at how much they were crying, and cried some more.
It was nice to get into more sugar and regular presents after so many feels. Briana had been right, Mom and Dad loved the mugs with Melody’s face carved on them. They had to abandon their position next to Rosa as the present unwrapping spiraled out of control. Both kids were tasked with handing people their presents, as well as stuffing the wrapping paper into bags.
Melody spotted a familiar present and grabbed it, presenting it to their sister. “Merry Christmas, Bri.”
“I’m glad you didn’t pay attention when I said you didn’t have to get me anything!” Briana said, grinning hugely.
“Open it already, Bratana.” Melody laughed.
Briana didn’t need to be told twice. She shredded the paper like a velociraptor. As soon as the box was revealed in its bright reds and blues, Briana hesitated.
“This isn’t really – you packed something else in this box, right?”
“Nope, that’s your own Nintendo Switch.” Melody said.
“But that’s a huge present!”
“Yep, for my hugely awesome sister. Here’s the other part.” Melody handed Briana a smaller present to unwrap.
“Stardew Valley?” Briana cocked her head at the game in front of her.
“It’s a game about leaving the city and starting a farm. There are all kinds of cute creatures, friends to make, pets, you can even build a family. And – it’s multiplayer. We can build our farm together.”
“You’re going to play with me?” Briana looked at Melody with shining eyes.
“It can take like a hundred hours to complete the game and build a really good farm. We’ve got a lot of play time to get to.”
“Sib!” Briana wailed happily, grabbing Melody in a tight hug. “I have one for you. It’s not as fancy but…”
“Let me be the judge.” Melody said, taking the package from Briana.
Under the wrapping, inside the box, two figurines were nestled in some soft cotton. The trio from Spy x Family caught their eye first. Kind of weird, since that was more of a Mom, Dad, and Briana thing. There was another figurine, Ray from the Promised Neverland – which had been joined to the others by a thin red ribbon.
Briana had gotten them. She’d made an anime-figurine family for her sibling’s collection. Melody was crying again, hugging their sister. “These aren’t going on the shelf. They’re going on the computer. I’m booting Revolutionary Girl Utena for this.”
“I’m really glad you like it.”
“I love it, and you, dummy.”
As the presents thinned out, it was time to hand Rosa her present. Melody was suddenly nervous. They should have handed it to her when everyone was opening stuff. Now, as they brought the triple-box stack to Rosa, they had an audience.
“All this for me?”
“You have to open the big one first, then the medium one, then little.” Melody said, plopping on the floor in front of Rosa.
“Got it, Niñe.”
Melody watched nervously as Rosa opened the first package, revealing a “World’s Best Mommy” hoodie. They grinned in relief when Rosa smiled.
“Cute! Thank you darling.”
“Now the next one.”
Melody shifted impatiently while Rosa opened the next box. She pulled out a grey wolf stuffie with a pleased smile.
“Who’s this fierce looking pup?”
“You get to name her, or him, or them.” Melody said. “But you needed one. It’s – it looks strong and protective. It’s how I feel about you. It’s you.”
“Oh Niñe.” Rosa said, pulling Melody on the couch for a kiss.
“There’s one more!”
“Keep your diaper on.” Rosa said, smirking.
Melody wiggled in said diaper as Rosa opened the last present, a black envelope.
“What’s this – a cabin reservation?”
“Three days for you and me.” Melody said. “The dates are kinda flexible if we need it. I thought you could wear the hoodie there. It has a kitchen and everything, we wouldn’t have to go out. It’d be the two of us and um, I could be your Niñe the whole time. You’d be Mama.”
“Melody, I love you so much.” Rosa pulled Melody in for another kiss, a long one this time. The chorus of “aww” from the room made Melody squirm a little, but it wasn’t worth breaking the kiss.
“I have something for you too.” Rosa said, staring happily into Melody’s eyes.
“Well I guess if you went to all the trouble I could get one more present.” Melody said, giggling.
Rosa beamed. She didn’t go for the now-ransacked present pile. She pulled a box out of her pocket. A jewelry box. She was opening it.
All stations to Red Alert!
Melody’s breath stopped when they saw the gold ring in the box. It had beautiful circuit board patterning in silver or platinum on it. Embedded where a diamond would be was a resin-covered computer chip.
“Melody, this ring is a promise. A promise that I won’t ever go away. I’ll never abandon you. What we are to each other might change with time, I’m hoping we’ll get closer all the time. But there will always be an us. After what you and I have shared together, I can’t go back to not having a Melody.”
It took a while to get the ring on, what with some dumb nerd crying their eyes out on their girlfriend and mommy’s shoulder. People were clapping too, congratulating them. Eventually, Melody got so they could look around and feel like they were inside their body again. The ring fit perfectly on their ring finger. Rosa had one too, but hers was reversed, platinum with gold circuit board patterning.
“It’s a real, working chip.” Rosa said, when Melody had calmed. “It will try to connect to any unsecured Wi-Fi network in range.”
“You made rings that wardrive?” Melody asked. “That’s brutally cool.”
Rosa grinned. “Yup. They’ll always try to tell each other where they are. You can access the ring from your phone or any Wi-Fi network, if you have the encryption key. The battery in them should last a decade or so, considering how low the power requirement is.”
“How’d you know my ring size? Wait, how did Dad know my ring size?”
“I put rings on you when you were sleeping. You sleep like a little rock, especially after you’ve wet.”
Melody blushed furiously.
“I bought one of the costume rings you put on when we were shopping!” Briana said triumphantly.
“Everyone in this family is so sneaky!”
“That’s my queue.” Grandma said.
“What?” Melody asked.
“Mother, what are you doing?”
“Fixing something, Vonnie. Hush now.” Grandma rose to her feet, leaning on her cane. She had a small bottle of oxygen on the floor next to her and a tube going to her nose. Melody frowned. Now Grandma finally used the oxygen? She must have woken up feeling really badly.
“Don’t you start, Melody.” Grandma said, reading Melody’s frown with every bit as much witchy-intuition as Mom had.
“Now, this is a lovely, odd family, and it’s been a wonderful Christmas so far, but we do have one problem.”
Grandma knows how to set the stage. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on her.
“Rosa, you’re entangled in this family in a number of ways now. My grandchild has asked for you to be a member of the family. You’ve made a lifelong promise to Melody too. My daughter has accepted you as a member of the family, but I haven’t had my say yet.”
Melody’s heart was pounding. Was the whole mommy-niñe but dating dynamic too weird for Grandma? They gripped Rosa’s hand and glanced at her. She squeezed their hand back, but was watching Grandma calmly. Expectantly, even.
“As the Rasmussen Matriarch, it’s my responsibility to deal with this particular issue. Rosa Herrera, whether or not you’d like to be a Rasmussen, I would very much like it if you were my daughter.”
“I still have to talk to my mother and father, of course.” Rosa said. Grandma nodded.
“I think they will be happy for me. For my part, I think having another Mom would be wonderful. Thank you, Michelle. As soon as my mom and dad say yes, I want you to come meet them.”
“Mom!” Veronica said. “When in the world did you two arrange this?”
“Merry Christmas Vonnie, I got you a sister.”
“Merry Christmas Mom, I got you a new daughter.” Veronica said, laughing and hugging Jane.
Veronica got up to hug Michelle, and Rosa, and Melody, and Briana, and so on until she’d hugged everyone in the house. At the end of her lap, Jane pulled Veronica into her lap for a happy Christmas snuggle.
This is my family. Melody realized, looking around the room. Even Suzie, Erin, and Casey felt like family, if a bit like distant cousins. Gary, Tamira, and Arthur were due in the evening, and Melody was surprised to find that they were excited for them to arrive. Melody was sitting on their Mama’s lap, with their sister at their feet. Mom and Dad were snuggling in a chair and Grandma was getting back into hers.
The family tree was going to need some PHD level topology to properly represent, but none of the little connection lines really mattered. What mattered is they all loved each other. They were together for the holidays going on forever.
Merry Christmas to my family. I rented a room, but I found a place I belong.
Comments
<3
I love this story so dang much.
Briana and family need a break. They’ve been through quite a lot the last few months going all the way back to Book 1. We will catch up with them next year until then there are a lot of other stories we can read and adventures to go on.
Hopefully that is all in their past but I have a feeling next series will be full of misadventures for both Melody and Briana.
The end of LSB….then we will have to wait a while for the 3rd book. But at least we will have plenty to read while we all wait!
She basically but a tracking device on her Little.
It’s not the end Ashley. Next year there will be more from the Rasmussen family and their friends. And I can’t wait to read next weeks chapter.
I have to agree with Paul. I first started reading about Briana on a different forum and got hooked. I found Sol on here and joined and then discovered even more adventures of Briana. I have enjoyed every bit of this story. Next year can not come quick enough for me to see what happens after next week.
It's so good! I can't wait for y'all to read it. <3
Loved this and can’t wait for next week, even tho I know it will be the end.
I didn’t notice that until you me mentioned it Clo. Good eye. Good symbolism on Sol’s part.
I wasn’t but I was touched. Maybe after I read over it again between now and next week I will. I’m a bit surprised. I love those family, reunion, awww type moments. Normally I’m a big sap.
You're very welcome, I loved every minute of it. Thanks for coming along!
Paul Bennett
Awesome chapter. I concur that next week' installment will be bittersweet until the next series of the burgeoning Rasmussen family and their loved ones. Thank you for writing this and taking us readers on a wonderful journey.
Yeah you are right.
Oh trust me I haven't
Don't forget that the ebook for the third novel will get two epilogues and a next series teaser. :D
I'm editing chapter 40, if you were crying for this one, well, buckle up. :D
It could be a passing line. Like "Melody stared at their phones lock screen, smiling before putting it in their bag. They were glad Bri had forced a photo of the family, Melody's found family. "
That's something that didn't fit in the emotional arc of the story. It'll have to be a cute scene in the next series. :) There were a few things I had to leave out because the chapters were becoming too much like a list.
A family photo
?
There is only one thing that would better
All family all the time. They made it! They're safe and loved. <3
Honestly the best part of this chapter is all the symbols for Family love and protection that you included from the rings to the wolf plushie to janes rings to Stardew the list goes
Yeah, Rosa is a very protective Mommy. <3
True. Plus the encryption key part was a very wise inclusion considering some of the riff raff that Mel has had history with
Haha, well Melody has a history of some pretty bad decisions!
Lol Rosa basically lojacking Melody was perfect.
Mel isn't quite ready for adoption papers. Maybe in the next series. :) They have come a super long way though. This was such a wholesome and healing chapter to write. Finally, there's no more scary stuff hanging over them.
I didn’t and I was expecting to but I’m expecting next week I’ll be reading misty eyed.
Don't make me go Briana on you
I Love Thursdays. This chapter was so sweet. The banter between Briana and Melody was absolutely adorable. I was expecting adoption papers for Mel on Christmas but I didn’t expect Jane to propose or for Michelle to do what she did. Rosa giving Melody a ring was also sweet. It will be bittersweet next week when this story ends. Until the next time. A wonderful story for sure. Rosa putting Melody’s potty training on hold for the holiday is a good idea. She shouldn’t have to worry about accidents during Christmas. Sometimes a little regression is ok. Melody was so loving that she was bursting to tell everyone. She has come so far. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for next week. I’d say for the ending but it won’t be an ending. Thanks again for a great chapter.
Actually, I think that might literally be my job. :D
You not suppose to make people cry
I know! ;_;
I'm not crying, you're crying.
