Metallic Memoriam

Chapter 10: A Cerulli Christmas Eve

Blythe's P.O.V.

"Cadence Lily! Leave the ornaments alone!" I hear Chris laugh in the living room. I've been working on a Christmas EP with Levi and Kat. It's going fairly well, except the slight interruptions from my lovely husband and now walking-on-her-own one year old. It doesn't help much that we just moved out of the building and into a beautiful old house that definitely took a lot of baby proofing, but later on it'll be worth it. After all, Cadence will only be a baby for just a short while longer, no matter how much I wish she could be little forever. "Blythe, I'm sorry to bug you, however-"

"I'll be right out." I stand and kiss Chris on the cheek before scooping up my little mini-me. I find it so funny that the only thing she got from Chris are her beautiful brown eyes. She has my curls, my smile, I thought she was going to have Chris's nose but - much to his relief - she got my little pixie-like one. I blow bubbles on my baby girl's belly and kiss her little nose. I love it when she giggles like crazy. "Are you giving Daddy a hard time? Tell him, 'once Uncle Brax and Uncle Ange get here I'll be to distracted to play with Mommy's ornaments'."

"How about we stick to just 'Momma' and, 'Dada', shall we?" Chris laughs and kisses me. He's even worse than I am when it comes to keeping Cadence small as long as possible, even going so far as to look for a medicine or potion to keep her so. Obviously I took this as an adorable joke and odd case of Daddy Denial. "I love you, Blythe Cerulli."

"And I love you, Chris Cerulli." I still find it crazy that one day at Warped tour changed my life forever in the best possible way. Not only did I get a bunch of new friends, I got an absolutely amazing husband, found a new brother, and gave birth to the most beautiful baby girl I could ever hope for. Yes, don't get me wrong, I wish my parents and Lily were still here to see Cadence and love her as much as Chris and I do, but I've learned that quite often, the good and the bad must find it's way to balance out.

Cadence whimpers a little until we both kiss her cheeks. "And we both love you, Cadence Lily Cerulli." We both laugh and tell her. The best thing about her being so little is that we can hold of on the Christmas morning present explosion for a little while longer and can wait until everyone else is here. Speaking of which, I should probably check on dinner.

Kat walks out and sees us, "So, Bly, what did you want this year?" She croons, spinning on a stool. She moved here from New Orleans with Levi and became a permanent part of our band. This year is the first year that both us and Motionless in White didn't have to be on the road for the holidays as we are both working on albums. I can't think of how perfect that panned out for Cadence's first Christmas.

I smile and look at my daughter, then my husband, and last back to Kat, "Kitty Kat, I can't think of anything other than what I've got. I love my family, both blood and band. I wouldn't change a thing."

The front door to our new house flies open and my bonehead brothers parade in adorned in Santa hats and carrying huge sacks of what I'm assuming as ammunition for spoiling my daughter. Kelly and Hazel follow their respective buffoons into the library with the tree and put another stocking up for Cadence. I can already see all of these toys being abandoned for their empty boxes. As long as most of them are somewhat educational and not to suffer the fate of being a teething toy, I'll be content. "Where's the baby? Where is my baby?" Kelly speeds up to me and appeases my daughter, eager to be with her best friend. Cadence loves Kelly and vice versa. I'm so happy and proud to have her for a sister-in-law.

I take the chance of an occupied Cadence to go to the kitchen and check on the turkey. I finally got to make my Gemmy Cady's corn casserole recipe and I'm fighting the urge to eat every last bit of it. I had to make a huge batch of it mostly because of mine and Braxton's minor obsession with it. Everything seems just about ready, but I can't help but feel like there is one thing missing. "Hey, Blythey-boo." Hazel chirps and places a huge bag and cake box on the kitchen island. "I brought an eggnog cake, vanilla, and red velvet cupcakes, and brownies I cut into little Christmas trees."

I lean next to the island, "I thought something was missing. I completely forgot to make any kind of dessert or sweet. Good thing I have you, Purple Haze."

"Well don't think I'm going anywhere. At least, not because of any warden cousins." She smirks at me. "Although I could definitely do without that damn nickname." She rolls her eyes at me and I loop my arm around her shoulders, "Well then, dinner is ready. Let's go get the others."

"You go on ahead. I'm going to make Cadence a bottle really quick." I turn and grab the can of formula out of the cupboard dedicated to Cadences baby foods and bottles. Just an FYI formula is SUPER expensive. She had to get switched from a brand that was $22 a can to one that is $26 a can. Yes its a small difference but let me tell you those four dollars add up. I make her bottle and add a little rice cereal to it to help her sleep seeing as it is almost her bedtime. Thankfully, Chris had already given her a bath while I was in the studio. Someone likes to splash Mommy.

I follow Hazel into the library and manage to get my daughter back from her Auntie Kelly. Sometimes it's like getting a mouse from a boa. "Dinner is ready guys. Go on ahead and I'll meet you in there once I get Cadence fed and put to bed." They all parade to the dining room and I sit in the plush rocking chair and start feeding Cadence. Looking up I see that Chris still remained, "Everything okay, Love?" I say softly, as Cadence's eyes slowly flutter closed.

He smiles at me and walks over to kiss her head, "Goodnight, baby girl." He turns to me, "Everything is perfectly fine. I love you, Blythe Agatha Cerulli."

I slightly cringe on the inside at the use of my middle name, "And I love you, Christopher Thomas Cerulli." He leans down to kiss me. "Now go get food, I'll be there in a minute." He nods and goes to join the others.

I look back to the sleeping bundle in my arms. I can't believe how big she's gotten already. Soon she'll be walking and talking, maybe singing. It's insane, where did my little baby go? I take in the little veins lacing around on her eyelids, her little lashes, her chubby little cheeks. She's such a beautiful child and I wouldn't trade her for the world. Cadence squirms a little bit when I walk her upstairs to her crib. She smiles in her sleep and I run my hand over her head. "Merry Christmas, Cadence Lily."

I turn on her mini Christmas tree and shut the door, hearing the tree quietly play a lullaby version of The Nutcracker Suite. I walk to the dining room and take my place at the large, round, dark wood table between Chris and Angelo. We've already had a big Christmas party with both bands, plus Black Veil Brides and New Years Day. That one was actually Andy's wife, Juliet's doing, I've only met her a handful of times and can't help but love her. I look around at my family and think about how lucky I am to have them. How could I ever ask for more? Well...for now.