“I got a secret…” She grinned.

“Okay, tell us.  We won’t tell.” Bette said.

“Nope.  Alice said don’t tell.  It’s about Christmas.”

“Is it about a gift?” Tina asked, noting that they hadn’t received their gifts from anyone yet.

“Maybe.  It’s a good secret.  You’ll see!”

“Okay, you’re just like you’re aunt Alice.” Tina said.

“Except she can actually keep her secrets.” Bette teased, “Okay, clean up time and then off to bed for you.”

As Tina cleaned up the kitchen and dining room, Bette put Angelica to bed.

“Whatever the secret is,” Bette leaned over and kissed Angelica on the forehead, “I hope it’s a really good one.”  Angelica kissed her mother’s cheek, “Have a good night, honey.”

Leaving her night light on, Bette closed the door to Angelica’s room and made her way back to the kitchen.

“Hey, T, do you need any help in here?”

“No, I’m good.  I could use a tight hug and a kiss.”

“A hug and a kiss, coming right up.”

Bette wrapped her arms around Tina’s waist tightly and kiss her lips softly, “Mmm.  That’s exactly what I needed.”

Tina sighed with her head against Bette’s shoulder.  She was lucky.  Though they were without their core group this holiday season, they had each other.  Tina realized how lucky she was to have Bette again.  She didn’t imagine, over a year ago, that she would be standing in Bette’s embrace, feeling all the love she had for her.  Angelica had both of her mothers under one roof and Tina had her true love back.

Quickly, they found their way out of their clothes and into the bed.  Tina opened her arms to Bette, who placed her head gently on Tina’s chest.  Running her fingers across Bette’s scalp, Tina sighed for the second time that night.

“Are you okay, T?”

“Yeah. I just miss our friends.”

“Me too.  But I am happy that we’re together this Christmas.”

“Did you think we’d have another Christmas together?”

“I was scared that we wouldn’t.”

“I couldn’t stay away from you too long, Bette.  You should know that by now.”  Bette chuckled.

“I wonder what this secret is.  What could Alice have up her sleeve?”

“You know, Bette, I have no idea.  It’s Alice though, so you never know.”

Christmas Eve

Angelica had been excited all day, even more so than other Christmas Eves.  She wrapped her scarf around her neck and waited at the door.

“Mama, Mommy!  Let’s go!  I’m ready to leave!”

Bette and Tina smiled as they made it to the door.

“Okay, okay.  Cool your jets.”  Tina took Angelica by the hand and led her out the door with Bette following close behind.

They took the New York City Christmas tour that took them throughout the city.  Angelica pointed out almost every building with lights and named it.  She made it a daily game to remember the names of all the buildings in Manhattan.  But what Angelica looked forward to most was Grand Central Station.

The three of them walked together, Angelica in the middle, holding both of her mothers’ hands.

“Let’s go see the carolers!” Angelica led them to a group of carolers.

“Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king.  Peace on Earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.”

Bette recognized the voices, but the carolers had their faces covered by their lyric sheets.  As they continued to sing, they pulled the sheets down, revealing the faces that she and Tina had missed since moving to New York.

Kit, Alice, Shane, and Max, holding baby Jeremiah Sweeney, smiled at their friends.

“Oh my God…” Tina whispered, “This was the secret!”  She looked at Bette and then at Angelica.

“You didn’t think we’d have Christmas without you, did you?” Shane asked, pulling Bette into a hug.

“There was no way we’d stay in L.A. for Christmas when you guys are out here.” Alice continued.

“Because we love you guys so much and that’s what this holiday is about.” Kit smiled.

“And it’s about family.” Max kissed Jeremiah’s cheek and turned to his friends, “And we’re a family.”

Happy Holidays guys!!!