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Kerry returned from her Christmas Eve shift with a grin on her face, like one of a child’s, with pure joy for Christmas. Sandy had a grin to match when she saw her festive wife. As well as the wreath pin she’d donned when she left for work that morning, she had gained an adornment of red and green tinsel winding all the way up her crutch. Carter had decorated it while she was distracted on a phone call, and Kerry had only kept it because it seemed to delight the children she treated that day. “I’ve got the candy canes!” Kerry exclaimed excitedly.
Sandy picked a very giggly Henry up off her lap where she’d been bouncing him to the beat of Christmas songs, and balanced him on the side of her hip so they could greet their beautiful wife and mother. Henry reached his little hand out and placed his sticky fingers to his Mom’s face. Kerry leaned into his hand then pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Merry Christmas, Hen.”
“Mama,” Henry babbled. Kerry and Sandy gasped simultaneously.
“Did he just say ‘Mama’?!” Kerry squealed.
“You’re such a clever boy, Hen,” Sandy praised.
“Your Mama’s love you so much,” Kerry cooed.
“Kiss attack!” Sandy feathered a dozen kisses on Henry’s cheek and Kerry did the same to his other cheek. When they stopped, Kerry had to wipe Henry’s cheek dry, because her tears had soaked his little face. Sandy mirrored this action on her wife’s face, and caressed Kerry’s cheek, watching her eyes dance and glisten as she smiled radiantly back at Sandy.
They’d been through so much to have Henry, it had nearly broken them when Kerry had miscarried, and when Kerry had begged Sandy to carry the baby and Sandy had said she couldn’t. Kerry had apologised profusely the next morning when she hadn’t been feeling as raw, and had promised she wouldn’t ask Sandy again, and wouldn’t hold it against her if she felt she couldn’t have their baby. She hadn’t meant for Sandy to feel forced into it, she was just scared. Scared that if it were down to her, they wouldn't be able to make a family. Kerry craved a family. She had been so alone for so long; she didn't just want a family, she needed one. Sandy had a big family, Kerry only had her. She hoped she could be happy with just Sandy if it came to it. Just Sandy - she felt guilty just thinking it, she didn't mean it like that. Fortunately, Kerry didn’t have to find out if she would inadvertently resent Sandy, because Sandy changed her mind.
Sandy had agonised over it for weeks, and decided that as much as she didn’t feel the need or desire to grow and birth their child, she did love Kerry, she did want this baby with her, and she couldn’t bear to see Kerry have another miscarriage, or to have complications with the birth because of her hip dysplasia, and so it was agreed that Sandy would try to have the baby. That hadn’t come easily either. It took three cycles of IVF before implantation was successful, which meant Sandy had a lot of time off work going stir crazy and being pissed at Kerry. Then every step of the pregnancy they both held baited breath, praying for a healthy baby. But Henry had to go to the NICU; they were just grateful that Abby had been such a comforting presence to them.
Despite it all, now they had their healthy baby boy, their darling Henry, and he was saying “Mama” to them for the first time on Christmas Eve.