When we got to Matt and Val’s, Jimmy came running out to greet us. “Merry Christmas Tiny!” He shouted as he scooped me up in a hug and squeezed me “Merry Christmas JimBones!” I laughed, hugging him back. He set me back down on my feet and I went to get the kids out of the car. “Hey Gates, Merry Christmas.” Jimmy said as the guys did some weird handshake/hug thing. “Let me help you get some of this stuff in the house” he said as he grabbed gifts out of the trunk, while Brian grabbed the desserts. “Cam Man! Merry Christmas!” he said as he walked into the house with my son “Merry Christmas Uncle Jimmy!” Cam said, hugging his leg. Once we got into the house I heard Johnny say “Oh man, is that Killa Cam?” “I’m right here Uncle Johnny!” he yelled excitedly as he took off and launched himself into Johnny’s arms. “Hey guys, Merry Christmas” I smiled as I hugged everyone. “Merry Christmas Brook, where’s your other half?” Zack asked with a laugh, watching Brian stumble in, arms full of gifts and desserts. “He wouldn’t let me help” I pouted, as everyone laughed. “You just sit tight with the girls, we’ll get the rest of the stuff in” Brian said, kissing me on the side of my head. I sat down on the couch with Madi and all the girls were staring at me “What? Is there something on my face?” I asked, “You got laid last night” Gena whisper/yelled “What are you talking about G? How do you even know that?” I asked, surprised. “We can tell, you can’t stop smiling. And Brian totally looks like he got laid” Leana said with a laugh, while Lacey and Val nodded their heads “Yeah, we know him too well, now give me my niece” Val said, reaching for Madelyn. “So, what’d he get you for Christmas?” Lacey asked “Well, I got some comfy sweats and a Syn Gates t-shirt, a Victoria’s Secret gift card, this awesome necklace and a canvas painting of Cameron, Madi, and I. I absolutely love it.” I said, smiling softly. “What’d you girls get?” we launched into a conversation about what we received from the guys and what we got the guys. Once the guys came back inside with the rest of the gifts Matt decided that it was time to eat.

We were all sitting around the table eating lunch when Matt asked Cam what he got from Santa. “Oh man Uncle Matt!” he said excitedly, “I got a puppy! His name is Bruce. I got some dinosaurs too, but the puppy is way better.” he beamed “Really? You’ll have to bring him over one day so I can see him.” Matt said “I will, mom can we go get him?” he asked as we all laughed. “Not today baby, we’re celebrating Christmas with your Aunts and Uncles.” I told him. “So if you’re my mommy, and they’re my Aunts and Uncles, then what is Brian?” he asked me curiously. I was dumbfounded. I looked around the table for help. Zack and Johnny were covering their faces, trying to hide their laughter, while Brian looked just as shocked as I did. “Well, umm, Brian is mommy’s friend.” I explained. “He’s your boyfriend right?” Cameron asked, “Well yes, he is.” “So does that make him my other dad? Brian are you my other dad?” he asked, looking right at Brian, whose mouth was hanging wide open. “Babe, close your mouth and answer him,” I whispered to him with a laugh. “Uh, well, sure buddy, if that’s what you want” Brian stuttered. The whole table erupted into laughter, Johnny and Zack wiping their eyes while hysterically laughing. “Yeah yeah laugh it up assholes, he likes me best” Brian said with a smirk. “Oh dear god” I said with a laugh, “I need dessert after that one.”

Once we finished dessert and were almost certain that we couldn’t possibly eat any more, we decided to open gifts. We let Cameron open all his gifts first, which were a Vengeance University t-shirt and a fitted LA Dodgers hat just like Uncle Zack’s from him and Gena, a remote control dinosaur from Johnny and Lacey, a huge container of assorted dinosaurs and a pair of DC’s from Matt and Val, and three huge dinosaurs from Jimmy and Leana. Madi received various clothes and shoes from the crew, including her very first VU tee and pair of DC’s. While Cameron was busy playing with his toys the adults decided to exchange gifts. All the guys chipped in and got each of us girls a gift certificate to the spa, for the full treatment: massage, facial, and a mani/pedi. I was so excited. “That’s not all you get!” Leana said with a laugh. She gave me a pair of skull and crossbones earrings, Lacey gave me a new outfit : a pair of dark skinny jeans and a black shirt with roses and a skull on it, Gena gave me a new pair of shoes: brown wedges and a gift certificate to the MAC makeup store, and Val gave me my favorite gift: two pictures, one of Brian and I, and a candid shot of Jimmy, Leana, Lacey, Gena, Zack, Brian, and I laughing hysterically. Brian’s arm was draped across my shoulder as I was giving Jimmy a high-five while the others were laughing with us. “Val I love it!” I exclaimed, “This is the best picture ever! Okay okay girls, your turn, open your gifts!” I got each of the girls a collage frame with three pictures: one group shot of us girls, one of the girls and their guy, and one of me and the girls separately. “Oh B I love it! I’m totally putting this on my mantle when I get home!” Gena exclaimed, standing up to hug me. I got each of the guys a new hat that Brian had helped me pick out, and a bottle of liquor. “Yes!” Johnny exclaimed when he opened his bottle of Jack Daniels, “Brook buys the best gifts ever!” the guys nodded and laughed, and we all cleaned up the wrapping paper and sat around talking for a few hours. The girls and I decided that we were going to go on New Year’s Eve to use our spa certificates, so we’d be freshly relaxed and rejuvenated for the New Year’s Eve bash we were going to.

Brian and I decided to head home soon after that, Madelyn was fussy and not feeling well, so we took the kids home and Brian headed back to his house to get some sleep, after kissing me goodnight and promising that he would see me tomorrow. I got Cameron into bed and fed and changed Madi, who was still really fussy, so I decided to let her sleep with me. I woke up in the middle of the night with her, and she was burning up, so I decided to take her temperature, it was 100.4, and I freaked. I immediately called her doctor’s on-call hotline, and they told me to take her to the ER. I tried calling Brian a few times, but I kept getting his voicemail, so I called Leana. “Hello?“ she answered sleepily, “Hey Lee, I hate to call you and wake you up, but can you watch Cam for me? I have to take Madi to the ER, she’s got a fever and her doctor told me to take her in ASAP.” I said, trying not to cry. “Calm down babe, of course I’ll watch him. Have you talked to Brian?” she asked, “I tried calling him, but it went straight to voicemail. I think his phone is on silent” “Okay honey, bring Cam over. I’ll have Jimmy drive you to Children’s and someone will get in touch with Brian for you.” she said calmly. I quickly got our things together and loaded the kids up and made the drive to Jimmy and Leana’s place. As soon as Jimmy opened the door I burst into tears. “Hey, come here, it’s ok Tiny. She’s gonna be fine” he said, pulling me into a hug as Leana slipped by us to get Cameron out of the car. “Jim, go ahead and take her. I’ll call the guys.” She said, giving him a kiss as she walked past. “Keep me updated, I love you two” she gave me a one-armed hug. “It’s gonna be okay B, we’ll get in touch with Bri and send him to Children’s as soon as possible.” “Thanks Lee, love you too.” Jimmy and I got into the car and headed toward Children’s hospital.

We got Madelyn checked in and into triage, where they checked her temperature again and it was 100.6. I almost started crying again, but I knew I had to be strong for my little girl. Then they told me in order to figure out what was going on, they had to take a urine sample, a blood sample, and a spinal tap. When I heard the words “spinal tap” come out of their mouth and saying they’re going to have to give my 7 week old daughter one I completely crumbled. “I’ll give you two a minute” the doctor said as she walked out. Jimmy quickly put his arms around me and tried to soothe me. I was clutching my daughter as tight as I could, praying that she would be okay. The nurse came in and took her blood and urine samples, and said she would be back to get her for the spinal tap. A few minutes later, the doctor came in and explained the procedure to Jimmy and I, then she took Madi with her for the spinal tap. As soon as she walked out the door, Brian walked in. As soon as I saw him I fell to pieces again. “Sssh babe it’s okay. I’m so sorry, my phone was on silent. I am so sorry Brook. Madelyn is gonna be ok baby, I promise.” he said as he held me. Sometime after Brian got there my tears had stopped, and Jimmy had snuck out of the room. “They’re giving her a spinal tap” I sniffed “I’m so scared for her Bri.” “I know you are baby, but she’s your child. She’s tough, she’ll be just fine.” he said, as the nurse came in and brought Madi with her. “Oh look baby, daddy’s here” she said, smiling at Brian, who just smiled and stuck his hands out for her, while I looked at him like he had two heads. The nurse said that since the labs would take about 12-24 hours to come back, they were going to give Madi an antibiotic shot, just in case. She said she would be right back and left the room. “Daddy huh?” I smirked at Brian. “I didn’t want to be rude, I just wanted to hold her and make sure she was ok.” he said sadly. “Well, I guess I could see where she would think that. The big brown eyes and dark hair” I said smiling at him. “Don’t worry, I don’t expect you to be her dad, or Cameron’s for that matter. We’ve got a long time before you have to take on that role for them” I said, kissing his cheek. He didn’t get a chance to respond because the nurse came back in to give Madi her shot. Once she was finished she allowed me to put Madi’s pajamas back on and strap her back in her carseat. We were discharged and sent home with promises that they would call and give us the test results. “Where in the hell is Jimmy” I asked once we got into the car. “I gave him my keys and told him to take my car home.“ Brian informed me, “he and Lee are going to meet us at your place with Cam to drop him and my car off.“ “Oh, okay. Thank you so much for being here with me Bri.” I said, taking his hand. “I just wish I would have been there sooner. I am so sorry I didn’t hear the phone Brook.” “Hey, it’s okay. You came, that’s all that matters.” I said, dozing off. “Get some sleep babe, I’ll wake you up once we get home.” We finally made it home, and Brian put Cameron in his room, while I changed into some pajamas. Brian came into my room and laid down on one side of the bed, while I got Madi out of her carseat. I laid myself down beside Brian, and laid Madelyn right next to me. I felt Brian kiss my shoulder and put his arm around Madi and me. I smiled to myself, kissed my baby, and drifted off to sleep.