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“Merry Christmas Eve…?” Albedo questioned with Scaramouche holding his hand. He planned to visit Dorian and Whoppy on Christmas Eve but the cave they resided in was a mess. Not unsurprising to Albedo, no Christmas decorations were up which Albedo assumed would be the case, but this wasn’t what he expected. Klee stood beside him with a small gift wrapped with a bow on top. She made sure to make it a pink ribbon with green wrapping paper to match Whoppy’s leaves, but it seemed they might have come by at a bad time. Papers were scattered and bottles had been broken. If Albedo didn’t know better he’d think Dorian was robbed or raided by hilichurls but recently Whoppy had been acting up and had an attitude none of them expected from the created being.
“Dorian? Whoppy?” He hushly called out.
“Shit, do you think Whoppy did this?” Scaramouche asked.
Albedo bit his lip and eyed the small space. Typically he’d scolded his husband for the bad language around Klee but instead, in surprise, he merely shrugged.
“NO!” Klee yelled and glared at them. “Whoppy wouldn’t do this. He’s good and if he did something like this Santa wouldn’t come and bring him good presents for Christmas. He knows better.”
Scaramouche glanced at Albedo and the blonde gave a nervous distant chuckle. “Klee, perhaps you should go home with Scaramouche.”
“No.” Klee huffed. “Somethings wrong.”
Something indeed was wrong but it was most likely Whoppy’s fault and both men knew it. “Come on, Klee, we’ll come back later. Maybe Dorian and Whoppy got confused and came to our house instead.”
Klee glared at him. This excuse wasn’t going to cut it. “Nuh-uh, look at this. Uncle Dorian wouldn’t leave his place like this. Something bad happened and you’re trying to send me away because you’re worried too!”
Scaramouche let out a deep exhale, but before he could say anything else Klee ran into the small cave and the men chased after her. There was no way to know if anything was dangerous in the cave and having a small little girl snooping around most likely wouldn’t help. Scaramouche grabbed her by the shoulder. “Hey, wait… We don’t know what happened here. Be careful.”
“Oh, yeah. You’re right.”
“Let Albedo look around, he has a sword that’ll keep us safe if there is something dangerous in here.” Even if deep down inside he wondered if Whoppy had caused this in the first place. Last time he talked to Dorian he was ripping his hair out because Whoppy had a fit about living in the mountains. He wanted to live closer to town to visit all his friends and go to school. When Dorian said that he had a better education with him. Whoppy stormed off and got into his flower pot to go to sleep.
Before that, Albedo had coffee with Dorian in the mountains and he saw Whoppy’s fit in person. It wasn’t violent, according to him but he did stomp off when Dorian told him ‘no’ to going out alone to ice skate with, Dordor the plushie, near the ice lake, which made Albedo relieved that Klee wasn’t a teenager. He didn’t think Dorian was being too unreasonable even if he could tell Whoppy needed more interaction with kids his age. Even when Dorian grumbled that he wasn’t a kid but a plant, Albedo rolled his eyes and said he was only a few years old. He acts like a kid. He has the mentality of Klee, how was that not a child?
Scaramouche knew that Whoppy didn’t act up when he was in town. Oftentimes, he would play games with Klee’s friends and the leaves on his head appeared to be more vibrant. Maybe the cold of Dragonspine was bad for him, but he couldn’t help but think it was loneliness that caused Whoppy to wither.
Albedo appeared again with a paper in his hand. “Klee is quite correct. Whoppy most likely didn’t cause this mess but Dorian.”
“What’s that paper?!” Klee squealed.
“Ah, ummm… I suppose I can read it out loud, it is from Whoppy.” Albedo hesitated. “It says, dear father, I know you never sent off the map or letter I asked you to mail to Santa. Now he will never visit our cave. You said Santa would never grant my wish but I disagree. You didn’t send my letter to him because you knew he’d grant my wish. You have let me visit Mondstadt less and less. I know you have been working on creating a better Whoppy because you don’t love me anymore. You make us live in a cave rather than a proper home because you see me as a plant. I am not a plant. I am Whoppy. So I’m going to find Santa myself and ask him to find a father who will love me. Maybe Santa will take me in and be my father. I can help him give gifts to good boys and girls since you would rather have a perfect Whoppy who is a perfect plant and not a flawed Whoppy who isn’t a real plant. I hope the perfect Whoppy you make is better than me so you can finally find happiness. Maybe while I’m at Santa’s workshop, I’ll send you a plant for Christmas because I still love you. -From Whoppy.” Albedo waved the paper around. “Did either of you know Dorian was creating another Whoppy?”
“Another Whoppy?!” Klee's jaw dropped. “Does that mean Whoppy is getting a baby brother?”
Albedo shrugged. “I have no idea.”
“You don’t think…” Scaramouche paused and mouthed out. ‘He plans to replace Whoppy.”
“Shhh… No!” Albedo hissed and then let out an uncomfortable chuckle. “I would assume this may be why Whoppy has been so difficult as of late. Maybe Whoppy was getting jealous of all the attention his baby brother was getting since he was being created. It seems Dorian was quite busy in the lab.” Albedo smiled at Klee but then Albedo and Scaramouche gave each other uneasy glances.
“Uhhh… I don’t know.” Klee scrunched up her face into a pout. “Thinking about it, maybe Whoppy is scared Uncle Dorian doesn’t love him anymore.”
“NO!” Both men said at the same time but Klee looked at them both suspiciously. “Klee, please, Whoppy is loved very much by Dorian.”
“Yeah,” Scaramouche chimed in. “Remember last Christmas.”
Klee frowned. “Yeah, Uncle Dorian wasn’t very nice to Whoppy.”
“I wasn’t very nice to Whoppy when I first met him either.” Albedo said, “but then I opened my home to him and Uncle Dorian. Now look at us, a big happy family. Dorian is a grumpy uncle, but he does love Whoppy.”
“I guess…” She mumbled. “But how is it a happy family if Whoppy felt like he needed to run away from us and work for Santa instead?” She looked down at her gift. “Did Whoppy think we didn’t care about him either? He didn’t run away to our house, but Santa’s so he could find a better family.”
The troubled look the men gave each other wasn’t missed by Klee.
Investigating the ‘crime scene’ as Albedo put it, wasn’t easy. It seemed Dorian was frantic and made a mess of the humble make-shift home while searching every nook and cranny for a hint of Whoppy. Albedo was swift in his investigation but he came up empty-handed. He didn’t find any substance to Whoppy’s accusations but knowing Dorian he might be working in secret elsewhere on the second Whoppy.
Klee remarked that Whoppy’s plushie was missing which meant he wasn’t kidnapped. Whoppy would never leave his plushie, Dordor, behind. Dordor was precious to him like Dodoco to Klee. This was a key to the inspection of the lab but it wasn’t enough.
“Where does Santa live?” Scaramouche candidly asked.
“Excuse me?” Albedo asked bluntly. “You don’t mean…”
Scaramouche gave out an exhausted huff. “He said in the letter he’s going to Santa’s and I’d assume that’s where he’s going. I know it’s some cold place.”
“The North Pole!” Klee yelled. “Santa lives at the North Pole!!”
Albedo took Scaramouche to the side. “You know quite well Santa isn’t real. What is this nonsense of going to the North Pole?!” He hissed.
“Well, if he said he’s going there then we might as well head to the place where he said he’s going to. Maybe we can cut him off before he gets to the North Pole, wherever the hell that is.”
Albedo left out a long exhale. “It’s not a bad idea, though, we have Klee with us. It could be a long trek plus Whoppy’s tracks have been covered by the recent snowfall. How will we find him?”
“Go North?”
Klee walked up to Scaramouche. “Are we going to meet Santa to get Whoppy back?”
“Perhaps!” Albedo chimed in before Scaramouche could ruin the magic of Christmas for Klee.
“Sure,” Scaramouche muttered. “Maybe we’ll meet Santa.” He replied attempting to get the silent hint Albedo was communicating to him.
“Good, we have to meet him before Christmas or else Whoppy might get on Santa’s sleigh and find a new home… Maybe that’s his wish.”
Walking from Dragonspine wasn’t an exciting experience. Klee hugged her gift tightly as they made their way down the mountain. It got warmer the lower they got into the valley even if there was still snow covering everything at least the weather was less harsh. Klee sang Christmas songs with new lyrics about saving Whoppy while Scaramouche and Albedo looked at the ground for anything that resembled footprints.
Whoppy hugged Dordor closely in his arms. “Santa will fix everything.” He spoke to the whopperflower plushie Albedo had made for him the year before. It had small spots on it from getting dirty but it was still his best friend even if it was stained and slightly stinky. Dordor was always with him. Even when his Uncle Albedo offered to wash Dordor he was scared to be away from his plushie. What if it broke? Dordor was the only plushie in the world that understood him. They kept the nightmares away when he slept in his flower pot and they were like him when he played make-believe. Dordor was a very good plushie and the perfect friend to run away with.
“Father doesn’t love us.” He said to himself. The leaves on his head withered and shook. He felt the tears in his eyes sting from the chilly breeze. “He’s replacing me and that means he’ll get rid of you too, Dordor.” He glanced over his shoulder. “He’s making a better Whoppy as I talk to you. One that’s a better house plant.” He squeezed his plushie tighter. “He wanted an assistant, not a son, but I’m bad at being an assistant, Dordor. No, we’re bad at being assistants because we like to play.” He nodded to himself. “You have tea parties with me.” Whoppy hugged Dordor closer. “You have the best pinecone mud cakes and snow slushies when we have ball and twig as tea party guests.” He looked down at his plushie knowing full well the doll wouldn’t speak. “I know Klee will miss me but Uncle Scaramouche and Uncle Albedo can’t take us in. Uncle Scaramouche is always grumpy and Uncle Albedo would send us back to Father who wants to replace me. Father never wants to play with us. He doesn’t like me.”
He halted and looked at the compass in his hand. “Santa lives in the North Pole. We have to find him before nightfall or he’ll leave us behind. I want to be useful and I think Santa will let us help with Christmas or at least find someone who thinks I’m a good son.”
Dorian was frantic as he looked around for the part-whopperflower creation. Whoppy wasn’t where he typically played. He wasn’t by the ice lake where he wasn’t allowed to play but always asked to because he wanted to ice skate… whatever that was. Dorian hadn’t researched it. “I should have asked Albedo. It must be a Christmas thing.” He ran to Mondstadt thinking that maybe Whoppy ran to Albedo and Scaramouche’s home to play with Klee. Whoppy was sort of stupid. He might think Santa was in town. He sure didn’t know where the guy was, but the home was empty. He looked around town until he saw a sign hanging up in a store window that said, ‘Closed on the 24th, Christmas Eve.’
“Shit, they went to my cave.” He slapped a hand to his forehead. “December twenty-fourth, Christmas Eve. How could I forget? Whoppy’s sensitive about Christmas. This is why I didn’t want him to go into town. He gets too sentimental about the holiday. Last year was a mess.”
He wasn’t sure where else to go. Feeling defeated, he decided to go back home in hopes of running into Albedo and Scaramouche.
His wish was granted when he saw the trio walking around the base of Dragonspine and staring at the ground. Dorian ran up, “Did you find Whoppy?!”
Scaramouche folded his arms across his chest. “No, and I’m assuming you didn’t either by the way you’re acting.”
Albedo grew near and whispered in his ear. “Why did Whoppy speak of another creation?”
Dorian chuckled. “So you saw his note. He’s a dumb plant that doesn’t know better.”
Klee furrowed her brow. “Uncle Dorian, you’re being mean. Whoppy ran away because he thinks you don’t love him and you’re calling him dumb! He ran away to find a better daddy because you’re a meanie.”
“Well, yeah, but that’s what makes him stupi…”
“Whoppy isn’t stupid!” Klee hugged her gift closer to herself. “Whoppy is awesome and you’re a big fat bully! I’d run away too if you were this meanie to me too!” She turned red in the face and stomped her foot.
Scaramouche rolled his eyes. “Can you lower your voice if you’re going to speak frankly? I don’t want to have a screaming child on my hands while searching for another one that’s run away. We should be celebrating Christmas and you decided to act like this.” He waved his hand around in the air. “What’s the deal with the other Whoppy?”
“And whisper it to me.” Albedo hissed. “I don’t want Klee’s Christmas ruined too.”
“It’s a misunderstanding. I was studying the properties of whopperflowers and accidentally created one that was…” Dorian cleared his throat. “half-dog.”
Scaramouche snorted. “So you made Whoppy a dog for Christmas?”
“Something like that.” Dorian scratched the back of his head.
“PUPPY!” Klee squealed. “Whoppy’s getting a puppy?! I want a puppy!”
Scaramouche glanced at Albedo who gave a smile and said. “It’s quite possible that Santa will get you a puppy this year.” Scaramouche frowned and shook his head. “If Santa doesn’t get you a puppy then you can play with Whoppy’s!”
“Yay, puppy! Whoppy will love having a puppy.” She bobbed side-to-side. “Does the puppy have a name?”
“Specimen two hundred and five.”
Albedo’s lips went flat. “I assume Whoppy will name the puppy, Klee. Since Dorian is bad at naming puppies. How about we find Whoppy and tell him the good news.”
“Yeah, and he can play with his new puppy!!! TO THE NORTH POLE!” She yelled.
Whoppy trudged through the snow. He dragged Dordor behind him but he was starting to feel numb and sleepy. Frost was on the colorful leaves on the top of his head. No matter how far north he went, he saw nothing but snow. Santa’s cabin was nowhere to be seen. No small elves to guide him to a place of warmth with candy canes, hot chocolate, and plant fertilizer.
He checked his compass again and saw he was still going north. “Santa can’t be too much further, Dordor. He must be over this hill. Then Santa will be waiting with lots of candy and yummy food. He’ll wait for us so we can help deliver presents to all the good boys and girls. Then Father will see how useful we are and maybe he’ll love me again…”
He continued through the snow even when his legs felt like they were going stiff only when he got over a huge hill could he see far in the distance and he fell onto his knees. There was nothing for miles.
“I don’t see Santa’s workshop,” Whoppy whined. “Maybe we went the wrong way, Dordor. Maybe he doesn’t live in the north as the name implies but south. Do you think we went the wrong way?” He looked at his plushie with a big smile. “I didn’t think Santa would live so far away and it’s starting to get dark.” He shivered into his toy. “I should have packed better for this. I’m sorry, Dordor. Maybe if we take a small break to sleep then we can continue our journey. We’ll find Santa, I know we will. His cabin should be further north. It only makes sense. Even if he leaves the workshop to deliver toys. His elves will be there to take us in until next Christmas.”
He dug a small hole in the snow until he hit the soil. He took off his shoes and pressed his feet against the dirt. Even if it was cold, it felt comfy to feel the dirt against his feet. It was like his flower pot. He tried to lay on his side where it didn’t hurt as bad. The wind whipped around him in a flurry and he let sleep take him.
“Love, I think you need to take Klee home.” Albedo stated sternly.
“What! But we’re looking for Whoppy to save his Christmas!!” Klee shivered into her coat and against Scaramouche.
The dark eyes scanned the landscape and saw what Albedo did. A small lump was curled up and he understood right away. “Come on, Klee,” He crouched down and pinched her cheeks. “We should wait at home with hot chocolate. I’m sure Santa will find Whoppy and he’ll come home for Christmas.”
“NO!” She stomped her foot. “Whoppy can’t see Santa or he’ll never come back.”
Scaramouche looked over her shoulder while feeling apprehensive about the dark mass he didn’t want her to see. “Aren’t you cold?”
“Yeah,”
“Then let’s go home. Albedo and Dorian will keep looking.” Scaramouche gave a small smile, but Dorian was already running towards what they all assumed was Whoppy. “I’m sure they’ll find Whoppy and then Whoppy will get his puppy.”
“Oh yeah! He’s gonna have a puppy!”
“Yep, a super cute puppy. We should go home and start the fire because once Albedo and Dorian find Whoppy he’ll be super cold.”
Klee gasped. “You’re right.”
“And we should make hot chocolate with plant fertilizer in it too, so when he comes back to our place he’ll have something yummy to drink.”
“Mhm, mhm! Whoppy will love that.”
“Come on, let's go home.” He grabbed her hand but when he looked over his shoulder he saw Dorian and Albedo kneeling over the curled up body.
“This is your fault.” Albedo seethed while he lightly tapped Whoppy’s cheek. “If you explained what you were doing or were nice to him then he wouldn’t have tried to run away.”
Dorian had two fingers against Whoppy’s neck. “I act as I always have. What do you expect from me?”
“I don’t know. I suppose I should know better by now.”
“Whoppy’s alive,” Dorian said cooly. “His heart rate is slow, but he’s alive.”
“Wonderful.” Albedo clenched his teeth.
“I think he’s hibernating. How fascinating.”
“You sound like Mother.”
“What… No, I don’t.”
Albedo removed his coat and placed it on Whoppy. “Do you even care that he’s hurt or that he’s freezing?” He huffed. “Or is he some experiment because I will take Whoppy in if you see him like as the latter.”
“I like Whoppy.” Dorian spoke quietly, “but I don’t understand him. I never acted like him when Mother raised me.”
“Because she never allowed us to act like him.”
Dorian sighed. “Yeah, it’s not that I want to be cold to him, but I don’t know how to act like you.” He watched as Albedo gently rubbed the leaves on Whoppy’s head. “You’re so good with Klee and Whoppy. Whenever they’re around you they’re cheering and excited but as soon as I open my mouth they frown at me.”
“May I speak frankly?” Albedo asked. Dorian nodded. “As Klee said, you’re a meanie. As my husband would say, you’re a dick. I don’t have chosen words for you other than you act too much like Mother.”
Dorian grabbed Whoppy’s hand to warm it. “But, how do I stop acting like her? We never tried running away from home because of silly holidays.”
Albedo glanced at him and placed the back of his hand on Whoppy’s forehead. “We didn’t run away because she frightened us. We didn’t disobey her because we knew what retaliation she was capable of. She didn’t allow us such luxuries as holidays, but that can change with us. Klee and Whoppy don’t have to be raised like we were.” He lightly rubbed Whoppy’s cheeks. “We may never get our innocence back again, but we can live some of it through them. Klee is wonderful. I’m so happy that Scaramouche and I adopted her. She has made our lives warmer by seeing how happy she can be with the simple things in life. Whoppy is much the same. He is truly innocent. He only knows you as a father who sees him as a plant. You could change that by having a better attitude. You asked me not long ago why Whoppy had an attitude. I understand now why he did. He thought you were replacing him.” Dorian was careful as he tried to warm Whoppy. “Do you recall how you felt when Mother made me?”
“I was scared.”
“And you had good reason to,” Albedo said with a nod. “She fed you to a dragon. Quite cruel, if I say so myself. He may see you in the same way we see Mother.”
Dorian frowned. “But I’m not her.”
“You often act like her. The only way to change is to make sure you change your behavior. When you start to realize you’re acting like her, then try your best to find the joy in your heart she never had for us. Think of all the ways you wish she treated you, then, act that way. Whoppy will see the effort being made. Children are quite perceived to that even if they are gullible and naive.”
Dorian lowered down to lift Whoppy into his arms. Albedo reached out to grab Whoppy’s plushie. “We mustn’t forget this. He treasures his Dordor.”
Dorian chuckled. “Yes, I can’t seem to get him away from that toy. It’s always with him.”
Scaramouche looked at the clock ticking on the wall. “Do you think they found Whoppy?” Klee asked.
Scaramouche smiled. “Maybe.” He knew full well they found him, it was waiting to see if Whoppy made it in the cold. He knew he was part whopperflower, but the human part was what he was worried about. Not to mention, Albedo’s fury wasn’t something he was thrilled to encounter tonight.
“Fire, check! Hot cocoa, check! Marshmallows in hot cocoa, check!” Klee danced around the room checking to make sure the home was in perfect Christmas order. “Presents, check! Christmas tree, check! Stinky pinecones in a bowl on the table, check! Candy canes, check!” She came into view. “Smiles, not check.” She furrowed her brow. “Where’s your smile? It’s Christmas and Albedo and Uncle Dorian are going to save Whoppy.” Scaramouche gave a half-smile but he couldn’t help the concern he felt. “Nope, that’s a bad smile.” She pressed her fingers onto his face and forced him to have a better smile. “Smiles, check!”
Bam!
The front door opened with a cool breeze. Scaramouche instantly knew something was wrong when Albedo came in alone. “Klee, can you make me a pb and j sandwich, I believe Uncle Dorian is hungry.”
“Did you find Whoppy?!” Klee giggled.
Albedo gave a fake smile. “You mustn’t underestimate Uncle Dorian and I’s powers. We found him safe and sound. Now skedaddle along and make that sandwich.” Klee quickly left for the kitchen.
Scaramouche could tell this was an excuse to get her out of their hair for a bit. Albedo waved outside the door and Dorian quickly walked across the room and down the hallway. “Is Whoppy okay?” He mouthed.
Albedo gave a mixed look. “Sort of. Whoppy is cold and needs warmth. His leaves might have frostbite but he seems fine overall. I think he might have woken up at some point but it was hard to understand him. He was muttering about Santa’s elves saving him.”
“Kids…”
“I’m glad he seemed to be having good dreams even if he was freezing. Things could have been far worse.”
“No shit. Wait, where’s your jacket?”
“Ah, I put it on Whoppy. He needed warmth.”
Scaramouche grimaced. “So do you. Are you stupid? Get a blanket and warm up near the fire.”
“Love, I can not, Whoppy needs me for medical aid.”
Scaramouche folded his arms across his chest and tapped his foot. “Fine, but only if Dorian can’t take care of Whoppy himself. Which at this point…” He shook his head. “I don’t think he could take care of a pet rock.”
“I believe he lost Whoppy’s pet rock a month after he received it last Christmas.”
“Dumb ass.”
Albedo was quick as he walked down the hall. He paused when he heard a small voice ask, “Did I make it to Santa’s?”
“No… ummm.. Yeah, you did. Whoppy, I found you at the North Pole.” Albedo felt like he was melting from the wholesomeness. He looked over his shoulder and waved over Scaramouche to listen in with him. “Uncle Albedo, Uncle Scaramouche, Klee and I looked all over for you, but it was very cold out. Klee and Uncle Scaramouche went home to make you hot chocolate with your favorite thing.”
“Plant fertilizer?”
“Yeah… Then Uncle Albedo and I went to Santa’s house and found you asleep.” Dorian continued to lie.
“Wow, I thought that’s what happened. I fell asleep but then Santa’s elves saved me. Then it was warm and they gave me sweets until I woke up here! Santa’s magic is real!!”
Scaramouche and Albedo looked at each other with huge grins while eavesdropping.
“Hmm… Yep,” Dorian let out a loud exhale. “Whoppy, you know I like you, right?” It was silent until Dorian spoke again. “I don’t want to replace you. You’re a good…” Another loud exhale, “You’re a good Whoppy.”
“But I saw you in that other cave making a replacement of me!”
“It wasn’t a replacement. Whoppy, I was working on something else, think of it like a Christmas gift.”
“What was it?”
There was silence much like Whoppy’s earlier. “A… A dog.”
“Puppy?”
“Yeah, a whopperflower puppy.”
“I can’t believe I’m getting a doggy! Can I see them?”
“Well, I need to make sure you’re okay. Your leaves look like shit.”
“But the puppy is probably lonely and it’s almost Christmas!”
“Ugh… Fine, you’re right. I’ll ask Uncle Albedo to look after you, but stay in bed and get warm until I get back.”
“Okay!!! Father, ummm… I know this is irrelevant but you know how I know Santa’s magic is real? He made my wish come true. You love me again.”
“I never stopped loving you, Whoppy. I wouldn’t have looked for you if I didn’t love you… ummm… son. I’ll get your puppy. Just get better for me.”
Albedo and Scaramouche tried to quickly disperse from the hall but Dorian walked out the door. “You heard us?” Albedo nodded. “Was I better than Mother?”
Albedo smiled. “That’s a start. How about you get Whoppy’s puppy and I’ll watch over Whoppy.”
Dorian walked away without another word.
Albedo moved Whoppy to the living room where the fire was, even if Whoppy protested and said it wasn’t what his father wanted. Albedo convinced him it was warmer out there plus if he had a blanket over him then he could play games with Klee, as long as she was careful. Whoppy had Dordor in his lap and hot cocoa on the coffee table.
Scaramouche lounged on the couch while watching Klee, Whoppy, and Albedo play a board game the kids had commandeered with their own rules. Albedo try as he may, but he couldn’t keep up with the constant rule change and Scaramouche snickered. “Why do you think I refused to play?” He mumbled to Albedo who was frowning while being told he lost another negative twenty points. “I didn’t think they could give me negative points. The rules don’t state negative points.”
Scaramouche shrugged. “That’s what you get for playing with them. At least you don’t have to do the hokey pokey every time you lose points.”
Albedo’s jaw dropped. “They did that to you?”
“Every turn,”
Albedo cautiously rolled his dice and moved his piece only to be told he lost a negative fifty points.
The door opened an hour later and Dorian came in with a small puppy in his arms with little leaves on its head.
“PUPPY!!!” Klee shrieked.
“There really is a puppy!!!” Whoppy bobbed up and down in excitement.
Dorian set the small dog on the ground that ran up to the children and started licking their faces. “It’s not potty trained. I hope that’s alright.” Dorian said with a sneer.
“It’s fine,” Albedo replied, but Scaramouche shut his eyes in annoyance. “Just for Christmas, love. For the kids…” Albedo pleaded. Scaramouche opened his eyes and looked at the puppy running between the two kids. “It’s too late now. The dog’s here They’d be devastated if we took it away now.”
Albedo leaned against Scaramouche. “I know you like to hear their giggles. Stop acting like a grump.”
“I’m not being a grump.”
“You sure seem grumpy.” Albedo stuck his tongue out and Scaramouche held him close.
Dorian sat on the ground and watched Whoppy as he played with the dog he accidentally created. Whoppy’s smile was wide and his giggles were loud as the puppy ran around him unsure who to play with.
Once the fire became embers in the fireplace, the kids passed out and the puppy curled up against Whoppy. Dorian grabbed a blanket to drape over Whoppy. Albedo carried Klee to bed. Dorian went to the couch to sleep but then felt his hand being tugged on. He looked down at Whoppy. “Thank you for coming for me, father. I love you too.”
It was another merry Christmas for the family even if there was a misunderstanding between Dorian and Whoppy.