A Family For Briana (Chapters)

The pile of presents grew until even the huge tree couldn’t contain them. Stockings appeared above the fireplace. Packages were arriving every day as the post office struggled to keep up with the holiday volume. The house had transformed into the movie version of Christmas, decorated from top to bottom.

Briana was certain that she was going to die of anticipation before Christmas day. Everything was wonderful, now that the she-who-would-never-again-be-named was gone. Wonderful seemed great at first, but it was wonderful with anticipation built into it. Briana struggled mightily to stay good and had given up on earning any more Santa points at all. It was enough to not lose the ones she’d already gained.

The morning of Christmas Eve, Briana couldn’t believe that the day had come at last. She lay in her crib, doubting herself and unable to check the date. Mom had a very strict ‘no phones in the crib’ rule, which neither Dad nor Grandma would let Briana break. When Grandma was the one to get her up, Briana let herself believe that Christmas was really happening.

“Good morning little lady.” Grandma said, moving with a much better gait than her usual. She had her cane in hand, but wasn’t putting any weight on it.

“Good morning Grandma. Is it really Christmas Eve?” Briana hopped up to her knees and grabbed the bars of her crib eagerly.

“That’s right, pumpkin.” Grandma smiled broadly. “You don’t mind if I get you ready this morning, do you?”

“Not if you don’t, Grandma. I’d love it.”

Grandma had the crib-side slid down in no time. Briana hopped out and waddled over to her changing table. The table had always been a little tall. It was something Mom had bought from an Adult Baby store and at five foot nothing, Briana had a bit of a climb to get on it. She threw a leg up on the table and was surprised to get a boost on her soggy butt.

“Grandma, is that okay? I know I’m little, but I still weigh a hundred pounds.”

“I didn’t lift all hundred of them, I was just helping.” Grandma firmly rolled Briana onto her back and popped the crotch snaps on her onesie.

“But Dad said…”

“Briana, enough.”

It was the first time Grandma had directed her sharp tone at Briana. The force of it pierced Briana all the way into her tummy. No wonder Mom always obeyed when Grandma used that voice.

“I feel much better in the mornings than I do in the evening and I’m recovered from my flight now. Plus, your sibling has been on me to use that horrible oxygen canister the doctor prescribed. I tried it overnight last night and I have to admit it helped my energy a lot,”

Briana could hear Dad chiding Grandma for just now starting the oxygen. Despite how scary Grandma’s mom-voice was, love for Michelle overcame the fear.

“Grandma, did the doctor say you’re supposed to use it during the day too?”

“What did I say, young lady?”

“This is important! I don’t get to back down about this, it’s about protecting family. That’s the number one Rasmussen rule, right?”

Grandma peeled Briana’s diaper open and rested her hands on the changing table rail, sighing.

“That’s a point in your mom’s favor. She obviously taught you how important that rule is. Briana, I’m not going to discuss exactly what the doctor told me to do. Yes, I could be using oxygen more than I am. I have some leeway on the treatment too, though. You’re a very sweet girl for worrying about me so much.”

“You’re going to get in grandma-trouble for making your granddaughter worry.” Briana softened her statement with a silly grin.

“Is that so? Well I’ll watch out for the grandma council.” Grandma smirked. “Now, do you want to argue with your grandma, or do you want your diaper changed and to get breakfast?”

“The second one, please.” Briana said.

Grandma was a little rusty, fumbling at first. Once she got into the groove, she was even more deft at cleaning and changing a diaper than Mom was. The change was one of the fastest Briana had ever had, without feeling rushed at all. If anything, Briana felt cleaner than usual after Grandma’s wipe job.

The upgrades didn’t stop there. Grandma eschewed the stack of folded onesies and pajamas, delving into Briana’s dresser for tights, hair ribbons, and a cream colored blouse. They sat next to Briana on the changing table while Grandma placed a red and green dress atop them. The dress was professionally folded and bound with a gold ribbon.

“Grandma, this is so fancy!”

“It’s a holiday, Briana. It should be fancy. Veronica can dress you however she likes, but I don’t like that you wear pajamas most days. You’re such a pretty girl, I think you should wear something cute to show you off.”

Briana blushed and hugged the dress to her chest. “Thanks Grandma. You don’t have to go to a big fuss. I don’t mind wearing pajamas.”

“Weren’t you listening? I’m the one that minds.” Grandma said, smiling. “Go on, take a look at the dress and I’ll help you get into it.”

Briana gasped when she got the dress unfolded. It had lace and ribbon sewn in to the skirt, as well as a beautiful brocaded top. It looked like it’d fit perfectly, but was an extremely Little dress in its design.

I’m going to look like a Christmas tree ornament! Briana thought in glee.

Grandma helped Briana into the dress and the accessories she’d picked out. She even insisted on putting dress shoes on Briana’s feet. As soon as her feet were released, Briana spun like a ballerina in the middle of her room. Giggles bubbled out of her like she was a happy champagne.

“You look precious.” Grandma joined Briana in her happy laughter. “Breakfast time now. It’s going to be a busy day.”

“Grandma, thank you for the dress, and helping me get all pretty for today. I really liked you coming to get me up. You can do it lots lots more if you want.” Briana stepped in for a hug, laying her head on Grandma’s chest.

“I loved doing it. It won’t be the last time, I promise.”

Grandma’s burst of energy extended to making breakfast. She made Briana waffles, from scratch! That wasn’t the whole breakfast either, there were eggs, bacon, and a weird vegetable hash. Briana stuffed herself on a huge waffle with hand-whipped cream, plus an egg and a piece of bacon. She left the hash alone, honestly a bit offended that Grandma thought she would eat vegetables at breakfast.

 Briana realized that once Grandma was back to full health, she was going to be just as capable as Mom, maybe even more so. Except that Grandma didn’t have research and University trustee duties like Mom did. She could focus her full Rasmussen power on any project she wanted. It was a little scary.

Melody arrived at the end of breakfast, looking distracted. Briana posed cutely in her new dress, which she hadn’t gotten a drop of syrup on, but Melody barely looked at her.

“Hi Sib! Merry Christmas Eve!”

“Hi Sis, Merry Christmas Eve. Oh, there’s bacon!”

“Melody!” Rosa called from the living room. “Grab something and let’s go! I want to get started on those tamales as soon as we can.”

Melody grabbed a fistful of bacon and stuffed a piece in their mouth. “Later sis, Mama has a whole boatload of chores for me today. We have to pick up her cooking stuff from her apartment.”

“But what do you think of my….” Briana sighed. Her words fell unheard on Melody’s retreating back. “dress?

“What dress?” Veronica ask, bearing a box of holiday dishes into the kitchen. “Oh! Baby bee! You look like a princess.”

Briana giggled happily and twirled for Veronica. “Grandma bought me a dress.”

“She looks like a little Christmas ornament in it Mom, thank you.”

Grandma beamed from the sink where she was washing up the dishes. “Thank you Vonnie. Where does baby bee come from, out of curiosity?”

“I think Jane started calling her BumbleBri and I followed suit.” Veronica checked each of the pretty green and red plates as she unpacked them, wiping them with a damp cloth. “Baby bee slipped out one day and we both liked it.”

“I love it.” Briana giggled. “How come you call Mom Vonnie, Grandma?”

“There was a point in your mother’s life where she couldn’t say her own name properly.” Grandma laughed.

“Mom!”

“Your mother was almost as serious a little girl as she is a woman. People would ask Vonnie her name and she’d draw herself up properly to shout, Von-i-ca!”

Brianna giggled, as much at Mom’s blush as at how cute Grandma’s explanation was.

“I wish you wouldn’t keep telling that story.”

“It’s one of my favorites. You were adorable. You still are, but you were such a proper and intense little girl.”

“Kiara had already filled my head with tales of Magna Grandma. I wanted to live up to the family name.”

Briana blinked as Mom’s statement sank in. “Wait! Mom, are you the LITTLE sister?”

Veronica laughed. “Yes baby bee, you and I have that in common.”

“But you’re so – so – what’s Aunt Kiara like?”

“My sister is a force of nature.” Mom said it without any exaggeration or joking in her tone.

Briana looked to Grandma to get the real scoop. Of course Mom is impressed by her older sister.

“Don’t look at me, Briana. Kiara is a formidable woman. I can’t take credit for half of who my eldest daughter is. We used to joke that she was Magna Grandma’s reincarnation.”

“We only stopped joking about it because it seemed too true.”

Briana sat down, dizzy and overwhelmed. How was she supposed to measure up to the incredible women in her family? Anyone would have trouble matching the Rasmussen women, but a Little girl had no chance at all.

“Use your words, baby bee.”

Mom was at Briana’s side, touching her cheek with heart-squeezing tenderness.

“It’s kind of intimidating, mommy. All the women in the family are so amazing and I’m – a baby.”

“You are an incredible woman, Briana. I didn’t lightly adopt you. I’m proud to be your mother, proud of my daughter. So proud, that I was a little obnoxious when I told your Grandmother about you.”

“It’s true, she was obnoxious.” Grandma laughed, coming over to hug Briana. “At least, it was obnoxious until I met you and realized how true everything she’d said was.”

“But I don’t do anything. What was there to tell?”

“You have to discover your strength, baby bee, and you will soon, I can see it.” Veronica kissed Briana on the forehead. “Please don’t think you don’t fit in. Magna Grandma herself will be impressed with what you do.”

Briana sniffled and hugged Mom and Grandma as tightly as she could. Grandma was on point with a handkerchief, catching the tears before they could turn Briana’s fresh morning face into a wreck.

“I love you Mom, Grandma.”

“I love you too.” They said in unison.

Briana sighed in pure contentment, feeling quiet happy love suffuse her body from head to toe.

“This has been a lovely morning, but you need to report to your father.” Veronica said. “She has a lot of chores for you.”

Krampus! Briana hopped out of the chair with a squeak. “I remember. Thanks Mommy! Thanks for breakfast Grandma!”

Dad had a whole list of chores. They were intense ones too. Briana hadn’t known that pulling a clothes dryer out to clean underneath it was a thing people did. She was terrified to wreck her new dress, but Dad gave her a sturdy apron and helped her work on the chores so that she wouldn’t get down in the dirt.

Melody kept their promise to help, though only barely. Briana couldn’t fault their sibling, they were on roller skates the whole day between helping her and Rosa. Dad never abandoned her either. They were work-buddies the whole day. By afternoon the house was so clean it was gleaming.

Briana and Dad were in the basement, taking a break from dusting the jars of canned vegetables, when Briana felt a question bubble up in her chest. It was a scary question, but once it rose to her throat, she couldn’t swallow it back.

“Daddy, are you still going to propose to Mom tomorrow?” Briana kept her voice quiet. There was laughter and horde of people moving upstairs, but she didn’t want to risk the surprise even a little.

“During presents, yes.” Dad said with a happy smile on her face. “Why do you ask?”

Briana took a deep breath. She tried swallowing the scary question again, but it wouldn’t go down.

“Are you two going to – have kids? Like, actual little kids? Adopting or whatever.”

“It’s something we’ve talked about, but only to touch on the topic. I can’t answer that yet. How do you feel about it?”

“I don’t know.” Briana wrung her hands. “It’s scary, but I don’t want you to not be able to do it, but I want to be your baby girl forever and ever.”

“I don’t think that having other Kinder means you can’t be my baby.”

“Isn’t it weird and – bad to have kids grow up with somebody like me? It’ll confuse them.”

“I think adults confuse themselves when they learn what is and isn’t allowed or proper.” Dad wrapped her arms around Briana holding Bri’s head tightly to her chest. “A child learns the way of things by seeing what’s around them as they’re growing up. They’ll only be confused if we tell them something contradictory about you.”

“I don’t know if I could share you.” Briana gripped Dad’s blouse tightly, making fists in the cotton.

“You already share me with Melody. It didn’t hurt you to do that, it only increased the love and the joy. This is a lesson you’ve learned already, BumblBri. There isn’t a finite amount of love in a family. More family means more love for everyone.”

Briana shuddered and nodded, nuzzling Dad’s side. “I’m sorry. It was something new to think about and I got scared.”

“These are hard questions, it’s not unusual to worry. I have worries too.”

“Like what, Daddy?”

“What happens if Gary proposes to you? I don’t think he this Christmas, but he loves you a great deal. Would he move in, or would you move out?”

“Daddy! You’re going to make me cry.”

Dad picked Briana up in a surprising display of strength, and carried her to sit on the chest freezer. She took Briana’s hands in hers, smiling gently.

“That’s another question we don’t have to answer today. If it comes up, we will find an answer that fits our family, with love.”

“You think so, daddy?”

“I know so. You feel how much your mother and I love you. I know you do. Believe in that. Believe in our family.”

The angry rumbles in Briana’s belly vanished in the face of a warm glow that beamed out of her heart.

“I do Dad. Thank you.”

“Good. I told your German grandparents about you last night, by the way. They have many questions, but most of all they are excited to meet you.”

“Really?”

“Yes. They are eager to see the wonderful thing I have made here in America.”

“Daddy, Mom and I are so lucky to have you.”

“I think we would always have found each other. We fit together too well not to.”

Dad gave Briana a huge hug. Briana hugged back with her arms and legs together, squeezing with all the power of her Little heart.

“Feeling better?”

“Yes Daddy.”

“Let’s get these jars finished. We’ll be ready for Krampus as soon as that’s done. After that, we’ll get you in a new diaper and some pajamas for dinner.”

“But my pretty dress! Grandma gave it to me.”

“These are brand new pajamas. Christmas pajamas, to be worn for the first time on this night.”

Briana giggled. “I’m already getting presents!”

“I would give you presents every day, if it wouldn’t make them dull.” Dad stroked Briana’s hair. “Come on, let’s finish our task.”

“I’m on it, Dad!”

Christmas Eve dinner was full of strange new foods. Foods that might have scared a lesser baby. Luckily for Briana, she was no ordinary baby girl, she was a mighty Rasmussen! She made sure to compliment Rosa and Melody on each dish as it was introduced. They’d been working super hard all day.

Not that it was hard to find compliments. The food was really good! Briana declared to the table that a new tradition was being set for Christmas Eve dinner. She got laughed at, which was fine, because she knew she was cute. Rosa looked really pleased, which was the important part. Mom and Grandma seemed to agree too, which meant the tradition was likely to stick.

Dinner turned into dessert, which was more cookies. Some had been freshly made, some were part of the never-ending supply of holiday cookies in the freezer. Briana had never eaten so many cookies in her life. There had been a real danger of getting tired of cookies. Luckily, that didn’t seem to be happening. The perpetual cookie high was sustainable!

Dessert became a general post-dinner munching and hanging out. There was a hole in the evening that Briana was trying hard to ignore. Gary’s parents had drawn some hard lines on Christmas, he wouldn’t be around at all on Christmas Eve. He was going to drive up as fast as he could, so she’d have him tomorrow, at least. The longer the evening went on, the harder it was to put him out of her mind.

When Mom told Briana it was almost bedtime, she was antsy enough to feel a tantrum coming on. If she couldn’t have Gary, why couldn’t she at least stay up with everyone else? Out of nowhere, big sibling came to the rescue. Melody asked if they could sleep with Briana that night, even when it meant an extra early bedtime for them.

I love Melody so much. They’re the best big sibling ever.

Briana managed to squeeze out a few extra minutes by hugging everyone in an elaborate round of saying goodnight. With Dad leading both kids upstairs, Briana was content. Dad even picked her up again to put her on the changing table, while Melody was off brushing their teeth.

“Daddy, have I been a good girl? Is Santa coming?”

“He’s on his way right now. Your place on the good list is secure.”

Dad popped open the snaps that ran all the way down Briana’s pajama legs and crotch, bunching up the fabric around Briana’s waist. It was a very soggy diaper that evening, there hadn’t been a lot of time for smaller changes during the day.

“He’s coming for Melody too, right? You didn’t forget to tell him?”

“Didi has been a very good Kinder. Santa has presents for them too, for certain.”

“Daddy, this has been such an amazing Christmas. I know it’s not Christmas day yet but it’s already more than I ever dreamed for.”

“I’m glad, BumblBri. That’s what your mother and I wanted for you.”

Dad wiped her down slowly and gently, taking her time. The pace felt like the first time Dad had changed her, when Dad was still Jane. She had been so careful, wanting to get every detail right. Now her hands were rock steady, applying precisely the correct amount of powder and lotion, so that Dad hardly had to wipe her hands between products.

A thick booster pad went over Briana’s crotch first, wrapped in the thickest nighttime diapers she had. Briana looked at herself in amusement, her diaper was bulging like a big fluffy bulb on her waist.

When the pajamas pulled taut over the diaper, Briana realized it was yet another present. She felt like a little baby when Dad lifted her down from the changing table, her diaper so thick she couldn’t stand. Dad set her on an air mattress, which wiggled delightfully under her.

A brief intermission while Dad brought Melody to bed built the hype for Briana. She squealed in delight when Melody spooned her from behind. She had Alanna and her sibling, Melody had her and Totoro. It was perfect.

“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. It got the laugh she was hoping for from Melody. There had been so much good laughing in the past few days, especially from Melody.

With the light off and Dad gone, there was one more detail to cover. Briana had been so excited about Santa, that she’d momentarily forgotten about Krampus.

“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.

“I love you too.” Briana yawned, feeling Melody’s breathing slow.

“Go to sleep Bri.”

“Okay.”

Good little sisters did what their older siblings said to do, especially after that sibling promised to protect them from scary goat-men. Briana had all the proof in the world that she was a good little sister, and a good baby girl. She had a house full of love from top to bottom, with family laughing downstairs and her sibling holding her in bed.

As safe and content as she’d ever been, Briana stepped confidently into her dreams.

—–

A powerful Little instinct snapped Briana’s eyes open in the dark. She could feel it in her bones, she could hear it humming in the house.

IT WAS CHRISTMAS MORNING!

Briana was up in a flash, bouncing on the mattress until Melody woke up. Her sibling mumbled some nonsense about going back to sleep. It was hard not to laugh at them. Christmas was here and there was no stopping it!

Relentless badgering got Melody out of bed and into Mom and Dad’s bedroom. Once they were awake, the rest of the adults were doomed. If Mom and especially Dad were up, they weren’t going to let the rest of the house sleep.

When they went downstairs to wake Melody’s Mommy, Briana was transfixed by the living room. Her chest wouldn’t make room for breath. In the darkness of the early morning, the tree glowed like a multicolored star. It was covered in candy canes! Every branch that wasn’t already bowed under the weight of an ornament sported delicious sugar.

The stockings over the fireplace were bulging! One of those stockings had Briana’s name on it! Therefore, everything in that stocking belonged to her and she intended to take immediate possession of the contents.

It took Melody physically dragging Briana away from the tree to keep her from getting into the presents earlier. She was grateful to her sib for keeping her on the straight and narrow – sort of.

It was hard to stay calm at Briana’s current level of frustration. She needed those presents like she needed food. There were a lot of frustrations cropping up all the time. Melody and Rosa wanted to snuggle, which wasted entire minutes! Even worse, Rosa insisted on changing both kids before presents could be opened. Briana was sure it would serve her caregivers right if she died on the spot from the sheer stress of the anticipation.

Finally, the adults had coffee and were stumbling about on their way to the living room. Mom promised that there was only one thing standing between them and presents. Briana needed to check on Grandma.

That was the first halfway acceptable delay of the morning. Briana was happy to repay Grandma for an awesome morning the day before. She trundled to Grandma’s room in her fluffy, clean diaper and knocked before entering.

Grandma was sitting on her bed, with an oxygen hose held to her nose. She looked pained to see Briana. It was a scary moment, until Briana realized that it was Grandma who was scared. She hadn’t wanted Briana to see her with her medical stuff.

“Grandma, it’s Christmas.” Briana said, cranking the cheer up. She’d already had the Christmas spirit at eleven, but for Grandma she could go to twelve!

“So I hear.” Grandma said, helplessly laughing before Briana’s cuteness.

“Grandma, there’s something I want from you for Christmas. Is it okay if I ask you?” She knelt in front of Grandma and looked up with all the earnestness she could muster.

“That was very polite, especially for such an excited little girl. I’ve already wrapped your present, but there’s no harm in asking.”

“Will you please take your oxygen out with you to unwrap presents?”

Grandma frowned, but it was a nervous frown. “Briana, I don’t want my daughter to see me like this. I didn’t want you to see me like this.”

“I know Grandma. It’s hard. It hurts and it’s scary to be weak. But everyone here is family. We all love you. We want you to be safe. This is the only present I want. I’d give back all of my presents to have a healthy grandma.”

I mean it too. Briana thought in surprise. Grandma is the most important thing right now.

“Briana.” Grandma’s lip trembled. She dropped the oxygen tube and covered her face, her shoulders shaking.

Wasting no time, Briana climbed up on the bed and wrapped herself around Grandma.

“It’s not supposed to be this way.” Grandma’s voice trembled with tears. “I’m too young to look like an old woman, with a cane and oxygen. It’s not fair.”

“It’s not fair.” Briana agreed. “It wasn’t fair when I started having my potty issues either. I did everything right, I paid for college and grad school all on my own, without any help or family. Then my advisor lost her grant and everything fell apart.”

Grandma sniffled. She wasn’t agreeing, but she wasn’t disagreeing either.

“I had to wear diapers. It was really scary and embarrassing. It helped that Mom made me do it. I didn’t have to decide to do it.”

Briana hugged Grandma gently. “Grandma, if I bought you an ugly hat, you’d wear it for me, right?”

“Of course, dear. I’d love anything you gave me.”

“Please wear the oxygen, for me? Not because you want to, or because the doctor says, but because your granddaughter wants you to.”

Grandma laughed through a sob. She grabbed Briana and hugged her until Bri thought her ribs would crack Briana didn’t dare squeak in discomfort, she didn’t want to discourage Grandma even a little bit. Briana hung on for dear life, for Grandma’s life.

“You’re like my favorite rose, the sweet briar. My darling Briar Rose.” Grandma’s voice shook. It was quavering with happiness instead of tears now.

“Will you help me put this tube on, Briana Rose?”

“Yes Grandma. I can do it!” Briana wiped her eyes and carefully hooked the tube over Grandma’s ears, helping her tape it down under her nose. “Thank you Grandma. I really appreciate you wearing this for me.”

“Thank you, Little Rose.”

Grandma gave Briana one more huge hug. They both wiped their cheeks and composed themselves. Briana helped Grandma put the oxygen canister on its little rolling stand and crawled out to the living room, leading the way.

The look Mom gave Briana when she saw the oxygen on Grandma lifted Briana straight into the clouds. Wisely, Mom didn’t say anything to Grandma. She and Dad wished her a Merry Christmas and helped her sit in her chair without comment.

“Why don’t you kids start us off with opening your stockings?” Veronica asked.

Finally, Briana was free of the horrible present constraints! She grabbed her stocking and gleefully dumped it all over the floor. Candy showered her lap while she giggled maniacally. The heavy chocolate orange hitting her knee could not dull her triumph.

It wasn’t just candy in the stocking. There were bottles of nail polish, little plastic ponies, fancy markers, and sparkly pieces of costume jewelry. In a decadent haze, Briana yanked a candy cane off the tree and shoved it in her mouth without bothering to unwrap it. She put her hair up in silly plastic barrettes and made her ponies chase each other over Melody’s legs.

Her sibling was giggling in spite of themself. Melody’s stocking had the same candy haul, but the little toys were far different. For one thing, the ponies had been replaced by weird monsters. It was perfect for her sib.

As glorious as the stocking was, it could only hold Briana back from the pile of presents on the hearth for so long. They were in a totally different wrapping paper than the other presents in the house, proof positive that Santa had delivered them.

Briana went for the biggest one and shredded the paper into confetti that drifted around her like a halo. Inside was a huge Lego castle set, worthy of Cloudland! Mom directed Briana to two other Santa presents. One of them was a group of Lego animals for Cloudland’s court, the other was a cloudscape Lego set. Happy tears were pouring down Briana’s face and she didn’t care. There were two many presents to worry about wiping her cheeks.

Melody’s big Santa present was a kit to build a robot that was almost two feet high! Briana thought she’d seen a much smaller, similar robot in Melody’s room. Santa had come through for everybody!

Though Santa presents were amazing, (The Santa Points were enough!) the personal present were a whole other level. Briana and Melody had the task of handing out presents, which she relished. It gave her a chance to personally hand her presents to every person she’d bought one for.

Briana started slow, delivering her gifts of fudge to Erin and Suzie. It wasn’t emotional, but they were both really happy. It’d come from the best fudge shop in town, and Briana had not skimped on the portions. Getting to give nice presents filled an ache in Briana’s heart that she’d long-forgotten existed.

Chasing that high, Briana grabbed Rosa’s present next. She wished she’d known how much Rosa was going to mean to her when she’d bought it. It seemed like a small present now, unworthy of her new family member.

“For me huh?” Rosa grinned and tore the paper off in big strips. Briana approved of the technique.

“Nice, a Women’s World Cup Jersey – oh wow, it’s number fifteen!”

“It sure is!” Briana had no idea why that mattered but she was glad Rosa was excited.

“Megan Rapinoe is my favorite player!” Rosa said with a big grin. “Thanks Briana!”

“You’re welcome!” Briana giggled to herself. That was pure luck, or some of her karma coming back for helping Melody. Either way, she’d take it.

“I have one for you too.” Rosa pointed it out to Melody, who relayed it to Briana.

“Thank you!” Briana shredded the paper and looked curiously at the box within. It was a little girl’s hair salon kit, with kid-safe hair curlers, dye, hair beads, and other fun looking stuff.

“We’re going to be spending a lot of time together, since I’m moving in. Want to have a spa night together sometime and do your hair?”

“Oh my gosh Rosa yes!” Briana grinned and gave Rosa a huge hug. Melody got a big hug too, on the basis of present proximity.

A few more presents went around the group. They weren’t big emotional ones, but there were lots of happy smiles. The wrapping paper piles were getting out of control and there was a brief break while Mom put Briana and Melody to work stuffing the paper into bags.

Before the present frenzy could begin anew, Dad retrieved four small boxes from the pile under the tree. Briana sat up in immediate excitement, taking her box and flashing Melody a knowing grin.

All eyes were on Dad as she distributed the boxes, got down on one knee, and proposed to Mom. It was so Dad, stiff and formal, but warm and loving at the same time. Everyone cried when Mom and Dad put the rings on each other. Briana and Melody laughed through happy tears as they put their own rings on.

Like everything else that Christmas, it was perfect.

Melody surprised Briana with a present. She tore into it with just as much excitement as she had her stocking. Like the cookies, Briana was never going to be tired of opening presents.

It took her a moment to realize what the present was. A game console seemed like too big of a present to get from someone who didn’t have Mom and Grandma money. When Melody handed Briana the game to go with it, and explained why they’d gotten it, Briana finally discovered the real present.

Melody had gifted her hundreds of hours of playtime together. She threw herself at her sibling in the throes of overwhelming love. Best of all, Briana’s found-family figurines for Melody provoked just as much love in her sibling.

Briana’s heart was so full that she knew she wasn’t getting the full impact of the sweet present exchange between Melody and Rosa. They were adorable though, giving each other presents to strengthen their new Mommy-Baby bond.

With that emotion unprocessed, Briana was caught totally flat-footed when Grandma announced her attention to adopt Rosa. A new Auntie? Rosa would be Tia Rosa for real?

Grandma’s announcement, on top of all the wonderful presents and an engagement besides, derailed presents in a serious way. Everyone had to take a break and get some food. It felt decedent, almost indecent to leave presents still wrapped. Briana blessed her fortune that that was her life now, instead of there being hardly any presents at all.

Still, there were a couple of really important presents left. Briana didn’t need an audience for them, but she did need to give them out. Having eaten way too much candy to need or want breakfast, Briana gathered up three presents to ambush her Mom, Dad, and Grandma with when they returned to the living room.

“Grandma, I have something for you. I’m sorry the wrapping isn’t very good, I had to do it in a hurry yesterday.”

“It’s fine, Little Rose.” Grandma said, deftly spreading out the wrinkled paper package. She looked curiously at the tiny plastic picture frame inside. “Oh my, is it a picture of you?”

Briana smiled, leaning against Mom and Dad’s legs. “It’s the only baby picture I have. We can make copies for Mom and Dad but… I want you to have the original.”

All three of them reached for Briana as one. She was swarmed with hugs, while Grandma rained kisses down on her head. There wasn’t a dry eye on team parents.

Perfect! Now for Mom and Dad.

“Mom, Dad, here are your presents.”  Briana handed them the boxes, waiting with her lip trembling.

They opened their presents at the same time, pulling out the lockets and smiling together. Briana breathed a sigh of relief. The only thing she’d been worried about was not knowing their taste in jewelry well enough.

“Open them.” Briana urged.

Veronica’s breath caught in her throat. Jane bit her lip and wiped at her eyes.

“These are the pictures we took the day we adopted you.” Veronica said softly.

“I wanted to remember that day forever.” Briana wiped furiously at her tears, to no avail.

“My darling daughter, thank you.” Dad gathered Briana into her lap, sharing her with Mom. The three way snuggle lasted a while, even getting Briana out of wrapping paper duty. She nuzzled into the place where Mom and Dad’s shoulders met.

From the moment she’d woken up, Briana had thought her happiness had peaked. Instead, it had grown all day, expanding her heart past any previous limit. Now she was all heart, there was no part of Briana that wasn’t completely suffused with love.

Briana had a family, and not just any family. She had the best family in the world. It wasn’t the money that made it so, or the prestige. Those things were nice to have, but they weren’t the family.

It was the best family ever, because it was hers. Because everyone loved everyone else and they all fit. Because she was the little one and everyone cherished her for it.

This is my family. We belong together. No matter what happens, we have each other. My wish came true.

It was an emotionally exhausted and sugar-crashing Little Girl who had to go down for a nap. Of course, she wasn’t just a Little Girl, but a baby who needed to be a happy baby when her friends arrived that evening. Nor was a Baby the whole story. She was a friend and a girlfriend, but that wasn’t it either. Briana was a sister, a daughter, a granddaughter, and a niece twice over.

Not a bad set of titles for someone who didn’t have any a year ago. Briana thought blissfully, drifting off to sleep.