It's a Hard life | Hardzello♡

66. French braid

Christmas chapter! A loooong time ago someone asked for a chapter with older Liz, and what time is better than Christmas for that? We're starting off angsty, but I promise you all a happy ending. Enjoy!

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"Liz, please put on your dress?" Joe asks his daughter.
But the seven-year-old shakes her head stubbornly. "I don't feel like wearing a dress." Liz grumbles.
Joe sighs softly. "That's fine too, but you can't wear your princess pajamas to dinner. Your aunts, uncles and grandparents are coming over to celebrate Christmas with us." He says.
The girl shrugs, not looking up from her colouring book. "Fine."
Not wanting to add onto Liz's tantrum, Joe decides to leave her alone in her bedroom for now. He closes the door behind him, and walks into the living room.
There his husband is seated on the couch, focused on the book he's been reading for the past weeks. When Ben notices the frown on Joe's face, he puts down the book. "What's wrong?"
Joe shrugs. "Have you noticed anything off about Liz lately?" He walks over to the couch, plopping down next to Ben.
"What, that she's more moody than the usual teenager? Yeah I noticed." Ben scoffs. "I don't know what's been going on with her. She used to get excited about Christmas halfway through August, until this year." He frowns.
A small smile appears on Joe's face at the thought of little Liz counting down to Christmas each day. "Right now she doesn't even want to wear her dress. I won't force her to wear some dress, but I did tell her she can't wear her pajamas." He says.
Ben nods in agreement. "Good." His eyes move towards the pile of gifts underneath the Christmas tree. "Do you think it's a good idea to give her the bracelet this year? If she says something moody about it, it will hurt your sister." He says, knowing how much of an emotional value the bracelets hold for Mary.
Joe shrugs. "I'm not sure. Maybe we should keep that gift on the side, and decide throughout the evening if she should get it." He suggests.

Before Ben can agree to that plan, the two are interrupted by Liz. "Dad, can you braid my hair for dinner tonight?" She asks Joe.
Both her fathers smile at her. "Thank you for changing out of your sleeping gear sweetheart." Ben says. Even though the girl isn't wearing the dress she usually wears during Christmas, she looks presentable enough for dinner tonight.
To which the girl just shrugs.
Joe gives Ben a quick kiss on the cheek before getting up from the couch. "Of course I'll braid your hair, Lizzy." He says to his daughter.
"Can you do a french braid?" She asks.
Joe raises his eyebrow. "Sorry love, you know I can't." He says a bit confused. The past few years, both him and Ben have perfected the skills every girl-dad needs. The only thing both of them haven't been able to manage yet, is french braiding. Which was fine for all of them, since it gave Lucy an excuse to spend some extra time with her little niece each time Liz wants a french braid.
Liz crosses her arms. "But you said you'd ask Lucy to teach you!" She slowly starts to raise her voice more and more.
Ben gets up from the couch as well now. "Liz, please watch your tone." He warns her.
"I know I said I would, Liz. But the holidays are a busy time, and your papa and I have both been working really hard." Joe knows she won't understand why he and his husband have been working this much lately, but still hopes it will calm her down.
"No! It's not fair! I hate this Christmas! I hate you!" Liz yells at Joe.
For a good few seconds, Joe is dumbstruck by his daughter's outburst. Sure, the girl had her moments as a toddler, but Joe has never seen her this angry.
Ben, on the other hand, is not planning on letting his husband get yelled at. "Elizabeth! Don't talk to your father like that. Go to your room!" He commands her.
"Fine!" Liz turns around, stomping off to her bedroom. The door closes with a loud bang.

The living room is filled with a deafening silence for the next few seconds. Then Ben realises what he just did.
"Ben?" When Joe sees Ben's eyes sparkle with tears, he takes the boy's hand in his own.
Ben blinks a few times. "I... I just yelled at her. Over a french braid. Something is clearly bothering her, and I just yelled at her." He whispers.
"Love, it's okay. Parenting without arguments is impossible. You gave her a chance to cool off." Joe reassures him. Obviously noticing how Ben is still shaken up by his own actions, Joe pulls him into a hug.
For a minute, the two just hug in silence.
"I think that's the first time I've ever used her full name." Ben mutters during the hug.
Joe can't help but smile a bit at that. "I know these firsts are scary. But that's how we felt about parenting in general before Lizzy became our daughter." He reminds Ben.
Ben tightens his grip on Joe a little. "That's true." He sighs. The two let go of the hug so they can look the other in the eye. "Should I go talk to her?" Ben asks.
But Joe shakes his head. "I think sending her to her room to cool off a little wasn't a bad idea. Right now having a normal conversation isn't gonna happen anyway, I'm afraid." He says, looking at Liz's closed bedroom door.
"So what do we do?" Ben asks, not sure where to go from here.
Joe places his hands on his husband's hips, and pulls him closer to let their lips meet. "Why don't you make us a cup of tea? I'm gonna give Lucy a call. Maybe she noticed anything wrong when she picked up Liz from school the other day."
Ben slowly starts nodding. "Sounds like a plan for now." He says softly.
As a last reassurance, Joe gives Ben's hand a squeeze. "Don't be too hard on yourself, okay? You're an amazing father. Which is an even bigger achievement since you were only seventeen when she came into our lives." He reminds Ben, knowing that they both have had doubts about their parenting.
"I love you." Ben whispers before letting their lips meet once more.
"I love you more. I win." Joe winks.