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‘‘Twas the night before Christmas and not a creature was stirring. Not even a mouse. But that wasn’t true. It wasn’t the night before Christmas. It was still a couple weeks away. And Liz had been awoken by the whimpers of a hungry Dalia who also probably needed a diaper change. Liz rubbed her eyes still half asleep as she tugged Dalia to herself preparing to have Dalia nurse while Liz continued sleeping and Isobel could change Dalia’s diaper. Just like they had established as a routine four and a half months ago when they had first had their daughter. Liz is just starting to drift back off to sleep. Content and happy to be one half of the parentheses cocooning her greatest creation only to realize that there is no alien heat coming from the other side of the bed and she can’t hear her wife’s slow, sleepy breaths. Liz’s brow furrows listening for Isobel. She thinks maybe her love could be in the bathroom because she can’t think of any other reason that Isobel wouldn’t be in bed with them.
Liz doesn’t hear any noise from the en suite to indicate Isobel is in there, and when Liz reaches out her hand towards the spot where Isobel should be curled up as the most beautiful protector the bed is cold. Dalia continues to go about the important business of feeding herself as if her Mami isn’t worried sick over her mom not being in bed with them. Liz wait’s as patiently as she can while nursing her baby girl for her wife to return to bed. She doesn’t. Liz finally sits up adjusting her nursing top before changing Dalia’s diaper. She cooes and shushes her whimpering daughter as she changes her wet diaper. Finally Liz stands up putting her most comfortable and warm cardigan over her tank top and sweat pants before scooping up her daughter already almost all the way asleep into her arms and goes to find her wayward wife.
First Liz check’s their home office. Isobel had spent more long hours in the office preparing for new classes at her school, as well as planning a Christmas event at the library for kids. But the office is empty, the lights and computer are turned off. Her next thought is the kitchen thinking perhaps Isobel was making a cup of tea or filling their water bottles. As Liz reaches the top of their stairs leading to the main floor she hears her wife curse, not loudly but decidedly frustrated.
In the living room chaos reigned, the tree they had spent the morning decorating was undecorated with the ornaments strategically organized with one floating in the air next to her wife who was fighting with the Christmas tree lights.
“Is?” Liz questioned confused by the state of their living room. Isobel whipped around to face Liz looking wild and feral around the eyes. The ornament her favorite alien has been holding up telekinetically dropped to the ground shattering.
“Shit. Shit. Shit.” Isobel ranted using her powers to connect the broken glass ball. Liz gently laid Dalia down in her bassinet that they kept on the main floor before approaching her frantic wife. Liz took Isobel’s hands in hers leading the tall blonde over to the couch where they could sit and still keep an eye on their baby girl.
“What’s going on my love?” Liz asked, her voice soft as she stroked Isobel’s hair. Isobel looked back at their now almost bare tree,
“It wasn’t right. Some of the ornaments were out of place and then there were a few burned out lightbulbs. It wasn’t right.” Liz moved closer to Isobel. It had been so long since Isobel had spiraled like this, since she had clung to a Pinterest perfect life as a safety blanket and Liz couldn’t think of what could have happened that day to trigger Isobel so badly she was up at close to two in the morning trying to redecorate their tree in a blind panic.
“What’s this really about Is?” Liz asked softly trying to redirect Isobel away from worrying about the tree. When her beloved wife finally looked back at her it was with tears in her eyes.
“It’s Dalia’s first Christmas. It has to be perfect. Because I want her to have a life where she can have good things and doesn’t have to be afraid. Where Santa isn’t scary and there’s no fear of men in suits coming to steal her away. I just want it to be perfect for her.”
“Oh.” Suddenly everything made sense. Liz leaned in pressing a lingering kiss to Isobel’s forehead cupping the other woman’s face in her hands. “Isobel, my love.” Liz rested her forehead against Isobel’s tracing her nose along her wife’s. “Dalia is going to have all that and more.”
“How can you be so sure?” Liz smiled softly tracing her thumb over Isobel’s mole that she loves to kiss and up over her sweeping cheek bones.
“Because we have each other. She has us, and a whole big family who love her.” Liz pressed a soft kiss to the mole she loves so dearly. “And her perfect Christmas won’t be because of a perfect tree. It will be because we will wake up and spoil her with so many presents.” Isobel finally smiled returning the affection Liz was giving her nuzzling into Liz’s messy bun and breathing deeply. “We will make churro pancakes with her Abuelo and Tía. And she will be so loved and safe that she won’t know to be afraid.” Liz promised the other woman.
“I just- I can’t- I love you both so much. The idea of anyone hurting either of you.” Liz pulled back just enough to be sure that Isobel was meeting her eyes.
“No one will ever get the chance. Because I know that you, Isobel Ortecho, would never let anyone get the chance to hurt us.” There was a soft squak from the bassinet and Isobel unthinkingly reached out lifting Dalia into her arms with her powers.
“She was cold.” Isobel said so matter of fact let that it made Liz giggle as she watched her wife snuggle her daughter against her warm body.
“I’m still jealous that you can just read our daughter's mind.” Liz teased curling up into Isobel’s side to admire the way their entire world slept peacefully against her alien mothers breast. They sat there cuddling and enjoying the peaceful night surrounded by the utter chaos covering their living room floor.
“Let’s go to bed my love.” Liz finally whispered before leading her wife and daughter back to bed. Liz removed her sweater as Isobel laid Dalia down gently smoothing down the beginnings of dark curls. Isobel crawled in next lifting their sheet up over them and kissing Liz good night. Liz fell asleep to the sound of Dalia’s tiny snuffles, Isobel’s soft snores, and the smell of rain. She’d never felt more safe or at peace.