Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
Nothing was stirring not even a mouse

Wellexcept for Bob who was rattling around in his cage, Liz who was running around the house screaming something about Santa, and Bette and Tina who were rummaging around looking for things to wrap last minute gifts in and figure out which ones went to whom

Okay okay back to reality

*********

TINA WHERE IS THE WHITE CHRISTMAS WRAPPING PAPER?

Tina rolled her eyes and looked down the hall towards Bette who had half her body stuck in the hallway closet looking for some wrapping paper apparently.

Its in the box with all the others babe

OKAY THANKS!!!

You dont have to yell babe I can hear you

WHAT?

Tina laughed and stood up. She walked to the closet and poked her head in above Bettes.

I said you dont have to yell because I can hear youand so can the rest of the street probably

SORRYohsorry babyah hah! Here it is

Bette emerged with the wrapping paper looking quite proud of herself as she walked past Tina with a smile and headed back to the living room to wrap the gifts that were left.

SANTA COMING!!!!

Liz burst into the room holding Bob who she had managed to dress up like Santa by taping a cotton ball to his chin as a beard. Tina laughed at her daughters antics and scooped up Liz and Santa and carefully sat down on the couch with the both of them.

Are you excited for Santa to come tonight honey?

Yeah!

Liz beamed at her mommy as Bob watched all this with a terrified expression. He was so tired of being the target of Lizs great ideas and honestly, he was getting scared for his life. Liz shifted in Tinas lap to lean her head against Tinas shoulders and right at that moment Tina let out a cry of pain.

OOWWWWWWWWWWW OW OW OW!!!

Bette heard Tinas cry and immediately rushed over to her. Liz looked up at mommy in panic thinking she had done something to hurt the bump in her stomach, which Tina was grabbing in pain.

OWBetteI thinkOWWWWWWWWW

Okay baby I knowlets go

Bette lifted Liz off of Tina and helped her stand up slowly. Liz watched all this in terror as she didnt understand what was happening to her mommy and she didnt understand why her other mommy had known exactly what was wrong. Liz followed behind still holding Bob and after the fifteen minutes it took to get Tina safely to the car Bette made a mad dash back into the house to grab Tinas overnight bags and her other personal belongings. She was nearly out the door before she remembered something.

COME ON LIZ!!!

What about Bob?

Liz was standing there ready to cry after being yelled at by Bette and she looked so helpless just holding Bob who looked like he was trying to wiggle free.

OWWWWW BETTE GET OUT HERE NOW!!!

Bette looked out the door then back and Liz and made a quick decision. She grabbed a shoe box from the table dumped the shoes out and stuffed Bob in there. She held the box in one hand and picked up Liz with the other arm and ran out the door pulling it shut behind her with her foot. She ran to the car got Liz situated in record time and was buckled up and ready to go in a matter of minutes.

What the ***** is this for Bette?

Its Bob sweetie

WHAT?

Well I didnt have time to put him back in his cage Tina what did you want me to do? Let him run around loose???

Okay okay sorryplease lets just go

Okay

Bette rushed to the hospital at top speed while Liz watched all this from the back seat. She kept looking back and forth between Bette and Tina and wanting to play with Bob but she had a good feeling if she asked she would get yelled at again so she kept her mouth shut.

A few minutes later they were at the hospital and Bette was helping Tina out of her seat and into the wheel chair that an orderly had brought out to them. As soon as Tina was set Bette turned to get Liz out of her car seat.

Where are we going mommy?

Inside baby

Can Bob come?

No he canthe has to stay here

But hes gonna die in the box mommy

Bette looked annoyed at Lizs questionings and she looked around the car for another quick solution. She spotted a pen so she grabbed it and made a whole bunch of holes in the top of the box by stabbing the lid over and over again to give Bob some breathing air. Not that dying would be all that bad for him, she thought as she smiled to herself. That would serve the little bugger right.

Therenow he can breatheokay come on Liz we gotta go inside

Bette held Lizs hand firmly as they followed the orderly into the hospital where he wheeled Tina into an empty room. Bette sat Liz down on the chair next to Tina and told her not to move or shed be in big trouble and Bob would go away FOREVER if she did. Tina was crying out in pain again and Liz looked so scared at what was going on around her.

Mommy?

ARRRRRRRRRR

Tina was sitting on the bed holding her stomach again and Bette rushed back in after hearing her cry from the nurses station where she was filling out the paperwork. She took Tinas hand and stroked it gently as she smoothed away some of Tinas hair from her face.

Shhh it will be okay baby

Tina whimpered softly in pain as Liz looked on still terrified to move. Just then the door burst open and Alice looked around with an anxious look on her face.

Is it time?

Hey Alice

OW OW OW!

Alice smiled at Bette and Tina and looked over at Liz.

Hey kiddowhy you so quiet? Arent you excited?

Al can you take her outside?

Sure

Liz cautiously got out of her chair and followed Alice into the waiting lobby of the hospital. She was still so confused and a little scared after seeing her mommy in so much pain. She sat down next to her aunty who was already on her cell phone calling Shane and Dana and telling them to get down to the hospital. Liz looked up at Alice who looked down at her with a big smile.

Arent you excited Liz? Soon youre gonna be a big sister!

Huh?

Your baby brother is gonna be born tonightSky is gonna be born

It took a moment for what Alice had said to sink in and suddenly Liz sprung up out of her chair.

REALLY? Really really really?

Alice laughed at Liz who seemed to come alive and laughed as she started to run back to the room. Alice reached out and grabbed her and pulled her back towards the chairs.

Woah therewait a second kiddoyou gotta be patient

But I wanna see him aunty

Well so do I sweetie but we have to wait until he is ready to come out

Liz looked perturbed at the idea of having to wait for Sky to come out so she sat down next to Alice for like two seconds before she started fidgeting again. Dana and Shane arrived together and as soon as they walked in Dana started babbling.

Is he here yet? What does he look like? Hows Tina doing? Hows Bette doing? Hi Liz how are you doing? Are you excited? Im excited

Danabreathe dude

Dana glared at Shane who was smiling at her ramblings and Alice just laughed at both of them. Liz looked excitedly back and forth between her three aunties and stood up on the chair to get
their attention.

Aunty Alice

What is it kiddo?

Is Sky Santa Clause?

Alice looked at Dana and Shane for a second before all three started laughing. Liz looked upset at her three aunties not taking her seriously and she sat back down in a huff. Alice regained her composure and sat down putting an arm around Liz.

Sweetie why do you think that Sky is Santa?

Well because Santa is coming tonight and so is Sky so he could be Santa right?

Alice looked at Dana and Shane for help on this one. She knew that Bette and Tina were still doing the whole Santa deal for Liz since she was so young and they didnt want to spoil it but at the same time she wanted to clarify for Liz that Sky isnt Santa. She thought for a moment and then looked down at Liz and smiled.

Well honeyno Sky isnt Santa. See Santa is out tonight delivering presents all over the world and it just so happens that your baby brother may be one of them.

Really? Sky is from Santa??? THANK YOU SANTA!!!

Liz looked happy and Alice breathed a huge sigh of relief. She could just imagine what would have happened if she spoiled the whole Santa thing for Liz and she wasnt ready to have the birds and the bees talk with a three year old either.

After a few hours had passed the three girls plus one soon-to-be big sister were getting restless and tired. Dana and Shane took turns pacing back and forth waiting to hear how Tina was doing while Alice had the huge task of keeping her goddaughter entertained so she wouldnt get all cranky.

Finally at about a quarter til three Bette emerged looking exhausted and ready to crash and Dana and Shane walked up to her and gave her each a big hug.

Congrats mamahows Tina?

Shes fineshes sleepingthanks for coming down guys

No problemwere so excited to see him

Bette smiled at Dana who looked so eager and then she looked around for her daughter. She spotted her and Alice fast asleep on one of the sofas in the waiting area and she walked over and smiled down at them too. She carefully untangled Liz from Alice who seemed to be completely knocked out and she laughed quietly to herself thinking how much Liz must have worn Alice out. She carried Liz to the room where Tina was sleeping and she sat down with her on the bed next to Tinas. Just as Bette was tucking her in Liz woke up and smiled up at Bette.

Hi mommy

Shhhh hi sweetie. Go back to sleep okay? Its late

Ok(yawn) oh oh mommy is he here?

Bette smiled at Liz and nodded yes. Liz beamed back at Bette before snuggling down into the bed and falling back asleep. She would go to sleep that night with thoughts of Santa and Christmas in her mind but most importantly she was thinking about Sky. She couldnt wait to teach him so much about lifelike how to get Bette to give in no matter what, and how to avoid Tina if she was in one of her really cranky moods. She wanted to play with him and show him Bob and Banks and all her other toys. She knew things would never be the same but she was okay with this. She was going to be a big sister and she knew this was a huge responsibility and she was ready. Morning came quickly and just as she rolled over and opened her eyes she got her first peek at her new baby brother. Tina was nursing him and Bette was sitting with her on the bed holding her and whispering softly to her and smiling down at Sky. Liz sat up in bed wanting to see what the fuss was about and as soon as Tina was done feeding him Bette picked him up and carried him over to Liz so she could take a look. Liz looked down at the squirmy little thing wrapped in a blanket and wrinkled her nose. He was so pink and tiny that Liz didnt know what to think. She peered down at him and studied him while he wiggled around trying to get comfortable. Liz leaned closer to get a better view and at that moment Sky opened his eyes just a tiny bit. He and Liz stared at each other in wonder and Liz smiled when she appeared to make eye contact with him. She was just about to say hi when Sky beat her to it.

WAHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Oh brotherhere we go again