Survivin' - [B.C.]

Chapter 23: My Pretty Weeper

I sobbed a few good times into my pillow made out of an old hospital gown.

Merry Christmas, Chloe.

======== SURVIVIN' =========

In the morning, the usual feeling of Christmas excitement flowed through me. During the first few moments of waking up, I forgot that it was Christmas. I did my usual routine of yawning and stretching and begging for a few more moments of sleep. I looked around my room and saw Toby lying asleep on the mini-sofa. For a second, I was like, "what the heck is he doing here?" And then it hit me.

My very first Christmas with the Cumberbatches.

I practically threw myself out of bed, waking Toby up in the process of rifling through my dresser for clothes.

"Oh. Morning, Cal." He says groggily, wiping at his eyes. I completely disregard him and continue pulling out odd-colored Christmas wear. I can feel him staring curiously at me as I rush around my room to get ready.

"You're excited..." he says in a mock-obvious tone. I shut myself in the bathroom and immediately changed clothes. I don't bother to do anything else but. I could hear Toby shuffling to get ready as well.

After I was in acceptable Christmas attire, I ran out of the bathroom and down the two flights of stairs into the foyer, where fancy lawn chairs had been brought to surround the Christmas tree. Dozens more presents had been added to the already mountainous pile. Festive music was once again playing through speakers that were installed God knows where. Everyone but Toby was sitting in the chairs, talking to each other and laughing. There were two empty spots for Toby and I. Coffee and gingerbread were the faint smells underlining my oxygen. When the folks sensed my presence, they turned and showed various terms of greeting.

"Oh, merry Christmas, darling!" Ben said cheerily, getting up from his seat and prancing over to me. He wrapped me in a warm and tight embrace.

"Our first Christmas..." He barely whispered, rubbing my back. I smiled and hugged him tighter. A wave of strong emotion washed over me when I realized that this is my life now, and it's real. That I am part of Benedict Cumberbatch's family. That this is our first Christmas together. That when we go into the new year, we go in together.

Ben let go of me, momentarily rubbing my shoulders before sitting back down. Sophie pat my knee after I took a seat in a chair next to her. She gave me this motherly look -- the same kinda look that I used to see in my mom's eyes.

Toby staggered down the stairs and took his place next to his grandma. That was when Ben and Sophie finally let the present-opening commence.

The adults moved. They weren't shy about it; they just dove in and started grabbing at the boxes. This was my first proper Christmas in three years. I was very nervous.

"Here's one of yours," Patrick said, handing me a shinily-clad present. I checked the tag and it did, indeed, have my name written on it. I looked at Sophie for confirmation and she gave me a nod that meant "go ahead."

I ripped through the wrapping paper and to a colorful box that said '3D PRINTING PEN.' I thought that it was hella cool.

(A/N: I'm not gonna give you an entire list of every present they got because... idk.)

Many half-opened boxes and trash bags full of wrapping paper later, all 15 of us sprawled out in the foyer by the Christmas tree, our stomachs full with cookies and various seasonal drinks. Rodney had come to join us in festivities that morning.