Chapter Text
Snowflakes gathered around the windowsill, winter winds billowing outside, and the smell of cinnamon was fresh on the space of their living room, having nibbled on cookies and promptly flopping down on the couch to be—as Ellie put it—two pancakes buddies with the way they splay out.
The TV screen flickered in front of them, Ellie’s nose burrowed into her side, and she chuckled, threading a thin hand in her messy braid.
Early morning, brush in hand, the routine was to first do her hair and then help the little girl with the nest atop her head.
“Told me you weren’t fallin’ asleep on me this time, hon.” Tess teased, the gentle pressure of her little body tucked comfortably—winters were too cold in Boston, and since the move, sometimes Ellie still had a hard time adjusting. So, the thick blankets were clutched tight in her hold, plush and cozy.
“Not sleepin’ mama.” She explained, voice muffled.
So Tess laughed under the soundtrack as the credits to Home Alone played on the screen. It was her favorite Christmas movie since she thought it was a classic, and its replay value was high for how funny it was.
Not like she couldn’t enjoy a classic. As a little girl, Tess used to be obsessed with The Nutcracker ballet and had her soft spot in Tchaikovsky’s music.
Turning to face her; hiding from sight, the Ellie burrito had her attention captured by the TV.
“Oh, so you’re just playin’ hide and seek with me.” Caressing her head, giggling as Ellie scoffed.
Then, her kid finally raised her eyes to stare at Tess, yawning and pressing her cheek to the hand that came to squeeze it. The little girl laughed, showing her missing tooth, and something inside her eased, something warmed. These days, she seemed happier, more relaxed around them, and it seemed like fostering was the best idea they could get.
There were no children in the family to gift toys as they passed those shops back in time, so if Joel ever caught her staring at cute dolls and wooden animals that he could've carved for one of theirs, he wouldn’t comment. But he would squeeze her gloved hand and stay by her side.
A bittersweet memory that shaked her heart. Now, though, the present was more hopeful. Instead of shopping for themselves, they could add another list, another tiny person with wishes and dreams to consider.
Ellie’s gifts sat in the bottom of the tree, wrapped and inviting to curious eyes, and her name was scribbled in the tags.
There hadn’t been someone as excited as Ellie—This would’ve been her proper first Christmas, with the whole reindeers and carols stuff, as she’d put, and she’d spent the whole month being a little helper.
Like Santa’s elves, so proudly exclaimed from her mouth as she tagged along to buy the pine tree and decorated it alongside her parents, jumping in joy as they lent her the duty to put the star at the top. Shines as bright as you, Mama, Ellie had told Tess while Joel had her in arms, so high in the air to be able to reach.
Ellie was drowsy and quiet in the present; who could blame her after all the snowball fights and sleigh riding paired with shopping? Rest, after hot cocoa and cinnamon cookies, was dreamy.
But she had got a sparkling personality that shone through—loud, funny, and totally curious. Sassy as only Tess could be, too.
The timid scared child they received in their home with open arms was only a sliver of her personality, and Tess could be grateful for the change. It was what Ellie deserved.
“C’mon,” encouraged Tess, squeezing her shoulder, “you wanna watch another one?”
“Can we watch the Muppets again?” Ellie yawned wide, settling into the warm comfort of Tess’s arms and the cocoon of Christmas themed blankets, “the Christmas one.”
Alright. She would entertain her requests until she was older. For that smile, anything was worth it.
“Hm. I'm too cozy here.” Tess joked, poking her side, “That nap didn't sound bad.”
Ellie gently nudged her forward with an elbow between the ribs, and Tess kissed her temple before standing up to humor her kid.
“I’m back!” Joel entered the house after taking off his jacket, clad in a dark sweater that protected him from the harsh cold. Warmth approached him suddenly, they did have the heater turned on, and he deposited his beanie hat with his keys on a table by the door.
“Where’s my little helper?!” Dropping bags with the goods for dinner on the counter, he called for their daughter.
His hands were numb, and he remembered that Texan winters weren’t so hard on him. Snow fascinated kids, made Ellie rush to create snow angels and snowmen, but for his aching bones, that ain’t of his likes.
“I’m here, Daddy I’m here!” Ellie arrived shortly, peeking at what he got and asking if she could have even more sugar to a Joel who couldn’t help but spoil her, messing with her hair, “nooooo not my hair- Mama just braid it.”
“Sorry, kiddo. All that sugar ain’t gonna do good to you but what can I do,” as a way to apologize, Joel pressed a kiss to her hairline while Ellie frowned at him, “where’s she?”
“Had to pick up the phone, I was watching a movie ‘n had snacks,” Ellie explained, nodding, following him around the kitchen like a little shadow, “Dunno if- it was serious but she looked like it was.”
Joel paused, took a look at Ellie to catalog what to do with said information. For Joel, a phone call didn’t seem to be a huge deal, and he would have later, at night, privacy to ask his wife.
For Ellie, instead, it could be a myriad of bad scenarios. Kids' ability to imagine was unparalleled, so much that adults had to catch up to them. Theirs took flight while adults simply ran.
“You ain’t gotta worry about that, yeah?” Softly, Joel crouched down and talked to Ellie face to face as the little girl took in his words, “if something is wrong I’ll talk to her ‘cause we’re adults, and you don’t need to do more,” by the relief in Ellie’s young features, it seemed like she sometimes forgot that now she was in a safe environment, and no one would shake the foundation and leave her alone, “alright, what if you help me here to have dinner ready for Mama?”
Lightening up, Ellie grabbed Joel’s hand and asked for her apron, passing Joel what he asked for, “can you hand me that spoon, sweetie?”
It was a nice distraction, for Ellie was eager to be involved in the house and to spend time with both of them. Marlene had said that she’d attachment issues, that it seemed like she had anxiety if left alone for too long, but nowadays, she did better. Maybe it was because after a long time, Ellie didn’t question her place in their home.
“We gonna build gingerbread houses?” her little voice mentioned while Joel cut vegetables, handing him a bowl, “saw one of ‘em at the mall. Looked fun.” Quickly, Ellie added on, her green eyes wide and expectant.
A chuckle pushed forth from his lips, and a smile was soon wide on his mouth; Ellie laughed too, “haven’t done one of those in ages, but we can do it again this time.”
“We can?” Ellie was nearly gasping, clasping her hands together as Joel finished, nodded to affirm his words. “All of us?”
“Your Mama says she’s the best at wrapping presents,” Joel explained as he cleaned up the counter, stealing a look at Ellie to see her hanging at his words, “but nobody has beaten your uncle Tommy at decorating a gingerbread house, so that's somethin’ she ain’t the best at.”
Surprise flashed in Ellie’s face, most definitely imagining what Joel retell. They would visit them just in time to open presents, and Tommy already promised Joel to make room for the million gifts Maria and him had bought Ellie.
“Hey, I heard that.” Sounded behind their backs, the dulcet voice as fond as ever.
“Mama!” Ellie abandoned her task, running back to Tess while Joel looked over his shoulder.
“All good?” Joel tested the waters, leaving cooking aside as Tess approached him, the red matching sweaters of his kid and his wife bright in his line of vision.
“Hot chocolate helps,” was her reply, rubbing at his arm and kissing his cheek, her warm lips lingering as she stepped back, “and good company.”
Whatever it was, it wasn’t as upsetting. Or at least, Tess could endure. She was the strongest person Joel had ever met. He was aware of that.
“Well, my lady, we get plenty of it.” Joel drawled, heavy accent bringing a roll of her eyes. Good-natured, fondness leaking from her features even if she wanted to hide it.
“Lots of chocolate.” Ellie backed up, hugging Tess as she softened, nodding.
Quiet melancholy was far away these days. With their arms full of Ellie, it was easy to forget the trial and errors, the shared past of waiting for a parenthood that never arrived.
Whatever it was, it never lasted. So Joel got back to work and made sure that today’s dinner wasn’t just a source of nourishment but that it was made with love.
As Ellie innocently gave him half of her cookie and Tess checked on the dinner by wrapping her arms around him from behind, he had got no trouble—in a home full of love, it was easy to give it back.