Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Christmas was coming, and all of Los Angeles was in a festive mood. Even the Classification Center - normally, like the doctor, dentist, and DMV, a place you only went when you had to go (unless you worked there) - was in a festive mood. At least, Amanda had to be there, she was working on training their new intern, who was with them over her holiday break from university.

Speaking of which...

"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way..."

Amanda raised her eyebrows, following the merry humming from the break room to the back door of the Classification Center - which had been left ajar again, prevented from closing by those damnable magnets .

Someone's going to have to have a word with that child before Miss Beverly takes it into her head. She rolled her eyes and moved the magnets out of the way, locking the door properly. The humming had been coming from inside the filing room, so she knew her quarry wasn't out in the staff parking lot, even if she had been just five minutes ago.

Amanda stopped, took a breath, and let it out before following the song into the filing room, where their intern was tipped precariously on a stepladder, taping loops of gold and silver braided garland onto the top shelf. More of the same stuff festooned the front desk and lobby, brightening the place up for once.) Hastily, Amanda crossed to the stepladder, standing behind the intern.

And three...two...one... Amanda put her arms out as the intern toppled backwards, catching the young woman in her arms before she could hit the ground.

"What," she said, "have I told you about climbing on that stepladder, Hannah Mandie Cardwell?"

Hannah turned innocent, beguiling green eyes on Amanda. "Ummm...but I needed to get the decorations up before Miss Beverly came back, it was gonna be a surprise? Considering we're gonna have all your friends..."

"You want to invite Tobin, and Christen, and AT into the filing room?" Amanda raised an eyebrow. "Pretty sure this room is off limits to anyone but employees."

"Uh...No? I wasn't gonna do that," Hannah  protested.

Amanda shook her head. "And what have I told you about sticking the door open with magnets?"

"Not to, but--"

"No buts," Amanda sighed, looking around the filing room. Most of the shelves were covered in the braided garland. "Did you do all this?"

"Um...yes?" Hannah looked nervous. "I thought the filing room would look more festive."

"Well, now you have glitter and tinsel all over you," Amanda sighed, dusting Hannah off as best she could. If a few smacks to the girl's backside were a little sharper than strictly normal to dust off tinsel, well, that was only to be expected. "Come on, let's get back to the break room and finish taking care of you," she told Hannah firmly.

"Ow! Hey!" Hannah sputtered, pouting adorably as she followed Amanda back to the break room. "I didn't do nothing wrong!"

"It's 'I didn't do anything wrong', and yes you did, little girl," Amanda said, shaking her head. "Bring me your hairbrush."

Hannah's eyes widened, but she fetched the brush from her bag. Amanda guided her to sit down (thank god for that) in one of the break room chairs, and Amanda began brushing out Hannah's mussed brown hair in swift, purposeful strokes. The tinsel tangled in her locks was brushed out piece by piece, until Hannah's scalp was stinging but her hair was pristine.

Then, Amanda began deftly plaiting Hannah's hair in a pair of pigtails, and Hannah relaxed into the sensation of Amanda's quick fingers working on her tresses. The braids were finished with festive red elastic bands, and then Amanda stepped back to admire her handiwork. 

"Much better, little girl. If you're going to be running amok in the back rooms, you need your hair up, not loose."

"Amok, amok, amok," Hannah sing-songed under her breath, and Amanda rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"You're silly."

"Uh huh. Can't help it," Hannah smiled smugly. 

"You and AT are going to be quite the pair."

"Are we?" Hannah's eyes lit up.

"If you survive long enough to meet her, little girl." Amanda smiled in exasperation. "Which you won't, if you keep leaving doors unlocked."

Hannah squirmed. "Oops?"

"Third time this week," Amanda sighed. "We're not going to fire you, you're here for school, but that doesn't mean you can keep acting out without consequences, little one."

"You're not my mother," Hannah pouted. "Even if Miss Beverly says we're all like family here."

Amanda had her own thoughts on that. "You'll have to introduce me to your mother sometime," she said calmly. "What made you want to pick here for your internship?" What is the college kid of one of the richest families in the area doing interning for us, anyway? "You're one of the Cardwells, aren't you?" She had more than a passing familiarity with them, having attended university with a few Cardwell kids herself, back in the day (though that made her feel old.) 

"Yes." Hannah rolled her eyes. "But I'm not like them, and they don't like me, so I'm not going home." 

She tried to disguise it, but Amanda saw the flash of hurt in her intern's green eyes, and a rush of protectiveness welled up in her. She couldn't let this little one spend the holidays alone on campus.

"Why don't you come home with me, then?"

Hannah gaped at her. "But isn't your home like...with Glennon Doyle? And Abby Wambach? The Abby Wambach?"

"Yeah," Amanda shrugged. "They're my sisters. Well, sister and sister-in-law. You and Glennon will get on like a house on fire. As long as you don't actually set the house on fire, we're golden."

"No arson, got it," Hannah deadpanned. Amanda laughed.

"Definitely none of that, please. So will you join us? It must be lonely in the uni housing. And if I drive you to work, you can't be marked tardy anymore."

Hannah brightened. "Well, that's a point in favor," she agreed. "Alright, if you're sure they're okay with it."

"They'll love you," Amanda promised.

Chapter Text

As Amanda turned to go back to the front desk she couldn't help but start thinking 

She has issues with the Cardwells and her middle name is Mandie she sounds a lot like… NO! It can't be! Well it can, but…. "Ah!!"

What Amanda didn't expect was Hannah to be right behind her the whole time

“You scared me! Don't sneak up on people like that!” Amanda sputtered.

“Sorry, but I just wanted to say about the magnets-” Hannah fretted, pulling on one of her braids anxiously.

“Just don't do it anymore and we'll forget it ever happened.”

“But-”

“Leave it, Hannah Amanda Cardwell!” 

Unfortunately, the shout brought Miss Beverly, appearing so swiftly and silently she might as well have been a ghost. Amanda jumped again, startling a giggle out of the nervous Hannah.

“Someone want to explain what's going on here, ah? Maybe tell Beverly why magnet keep door open? Confession good for the soul, ah?”

“It was me.” Hannah's nerves rose, and Amanda stepped closer to her.

“No, it was me!” Amanda burst out, defending Hannah.

“I highly doubt it was you, Amandah. Continue little one.”

“Well, no one gave me my key, you see. So, I had to keep the door open somehow.”

This confession got a raised eyebrow from both Amanda and Beverly. 

“I see, and you didn't think to ask anyone for a key instead of leaving the door open where someone bad could have gotten in?” 

“In her defense, nothing bad happened.” Amanda didn't know why she was defending the behavior, except that Hannah needed someone in her corner, and besides, if Amanda was right...

“Thankfully, no. But is still naughty. And whose job was it to give out the keys to the interns, hmm? I think Miss Beverly ought to deal with both of your naughty bottoms now before we all leave, ah?”

“Bev-”

Just as Amanda was about to offer another rebuttal, all three turned to the sound of shoes on the floor as someone passed through the entrance door. 

“Yeah, I'll be home soon, my love. I'm picking her up now. Hold on, stay on one moment.”

Amanda took in the fact that her sister was standing in front of her, and possibly heard some of this. Great, just great! While Glennon took in Bev's face, Hannah stood there with her mouth open in shock. Wait, that's the actual Glennon Doyle. I know Amanda said she was her sister, but...that's the ACTUAL Glennon Doyle. Like in real life.

“What's going on here?” Glennon asked. 

“I was just about to deal with these naughty girls.”  Beverly folded her arms.

“Can you maybe not have to?” Glennon suggested.

“Sounds like you might need to join them hmm, Glennon-ah?”

“She's not far off. Watch yourself, cherie, and pass me to Beverly, please.”

The last thing any of the four expected was the phone to interrupt!

Amanda looked shocked, Bev narrowed her eyes, and Hannah squeaked and quickly hid behind Amanda. oh my god that's Abby freaking Wambach isn't it...

Tentatively, Glennon handed her phone over to Beverly.

After a short conversation with some quick responses, the conversation ended and Glennon's phone was handed back to her. 

“It seems Abby-ah will deal with you, Amandah. As far as the little one-”

“You can't!” Amanda burst out, pulling Hannah close, getting a surprised yelp from the younger girl.

“Oh, I can't? You three need smacks, how do you say, yesterday, no?”

“I just meant I promised Hannah she could come stay with me….”

“Good. She be more punctual from now on, ah? I guess Abby-ah can handle all three of you. Tell her I am praying for her how do you say her sanity. See you all later, I have a good weekend, even if you will be sore.”

With that the three made the journey to Glennon's car, and eventually toward home.

Chapter Text

As Amanda and Hannah followed Glennon back to her car, Amanda placed a hand on Hannah’s shoulder. “It’s going to be alright,” she said, in as soothing a tone as possible, trying to keep the girl from panicking. “I know what Bev said, but it’s going to be okay, Hannah.” 

She hoped that Hannah could trust that, and also that Abby wouldn’t make a liar out of her. They got into the back seat of Glennon’s car together, Amanda buckling Hannah’s seat belt before seeing to her own. She rested a hand on the fidgeting girl’s knee, and squeezed gently. “Easy now. That’s it,” Amanda soothed, “just breathe.”

“But Amanda,” Hannah objected, “Beverly said we were all gonna get spanked. By Abby.”

Glennon glanced at her in the rear view mirror as she pulled out of the parking lot. “Do you deserve it, little one?”

“No!”

“Then I’m sure Abby will sort it out, honey.” Glennon kept her tone calm. “Don’t shout please.”

“Sorry.”  Hannah paused. “And I’m sorry for earlier. About saying you can’t yell at me because you’re not my mother.” She peeked up at Amanda worriedly. “I don’t have one of those.”

“You don’t have a mother?” Amanda inquired.

Hannah blushed and shook her head, staring at her lap again. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all this.”

“Well, I won’t push for information you don’t want to share,” Amanda soothed her, “unless I need to know for legal reasons, or your health or something.”

“Sister’s good like that,” Glennon put in reassuringly. “She’s a really good listener, too, though.”

Hannah nodded, scooting closer to Amanda, as far as the seat belt would allow. “My father - my family said my mother didn’t want me,” she admitted, and Amanda felt a surge of anger at the Cardwells.

“I’m sure that couldn’t be true, Hannah, honey,” she said gently. “I’m sure they told you so, but I can’t see any mother willingly walking away from someone like you.”

“Well she did.”

Glennon looked in the rear view mirror to see both of her passengers looking glumly out the windows, unable to look at each other. The whole scene seemed kinda- Wait!

Was Sister crying?! She looked to be trying to hide it from Hannah, with her head in her arm. I wonder what that was about. 

“You two okay back there?”

“Uh huh.” Hannah didn’t sound convincing.

“Ye- yes, fine.” Definitely crying that answer sounded like she was crying.

Glennon noticed even Hannah looked over to check on Amanda, it was quick though Glennon surmised Hannah didn't want either of them to know she was concerned. Jokes on you, kiddo. I'm already a mom, I have mom eyes, I saw.

Glennon made that observation just as she was about to turn down her street, a private road that led up over the coastal vista of Los Angeles. 

When she turned down the street Glennon heard a gasp and scoff behind her. She parked and looked back, surprised that the reactions were the opposite of what she would expect from Sister and her intern.  Hannah sat with her mouth hanging open while it appeared that Amanda was scoffing at the notion that Hannah should be surprised. 

Glennon finally turned to her companions and asked, “Okay, what is up with you two?”

In a moment of surprising brattiness, Amanda scoffed once more and said, “Ask her.”

Hannah for her part innocently replied, “I know what she's probably thinking, “Oh, you had a big mansion before this probably doesn't compare, Yada Yada Yada. And yeah it was big, but it didn't have a pool on the freaking roof , and it wasn’t by the beach, and it didn't have a soccer pitch in the backyard. Wait does it have a mini pitch in the backyard? I just assumed because the Abby Wambach it would. So stupid Hannah you shouldn't assume things, and it just looks so homey and that place was large but not homey cause they were very cold, and-” 

“Hannah, sweetheart, take a deep breath for me. You have all the time you want to explore it.” Glennon intervened when she saw Sister wanted to intervene but was nervous to do so. Glennon motioned in Hannah’s direction.

“I uh, I'm sorry about scoffing before. I didn't know that.”

“It's alright.”

 “Now, who's ready to go see Abby? Oh, right probably none of us, huh? Face the music together?”

“Oh crap! I'm about to meet the Abby Wambach? I'm gonna be sick, this isn't good.”

“Hannah sweetheart, follow my breathing, in 1,2,3,4 out through your nose 1,2,3,4. There you go! Now, I know it's hard to believe, believe me I know,  but Abby is just another regular person in front of family, you ready? Glennon almost missed Sister’s watery gasp; it was so low in the back seat. 

“But I'm not-”

“You listen to me, Hannah Cardwell, as long as you're under our roof, you're our family. Now, let's go, before Abby decides to come out-”

Knock knock

“Ahh! You scared me!”

“Maybe don't stay outside in front of the house when you could be coming inside, cherie?”

“Do I need to drag you two- wait no- you three? in by your ears?”

Receiving three headshakes in the negative, Abby responded with only two words, “Inside, now. ”

Hannah seemed frozen in her seat, so Amanda reached over and unbuckled her seatbelt for her. She had already undone her own seatbelt, and now she came around to the other side of the car and opened Hannah’s door.

“Come on honey, you heard Abby,” she said gently, tugging one of Hannah’s braids lightly. Sniffling, Hannah let Amanda help her out of the car, and lead her, behind Glennon and Abby, up the path to the front entrance.

As Abby put her hand on the door handle, she glanced back at Hannah. “You don’t have problems with dogs, I hope? Sister says you’re like an excitable puppy yourself.”

Hannah blushed, looking reproachfully at Amanda, who smirked.

“Well, you are, little one.”

“I guess…No, I don’t have any problems with dogs, unless they’re the mean, shouty kind. I like friendly dogs.”

“Okay, Hannah. We’ve got Hattie, she’s big, but I promise she’s not ‘shouty’, and Honey, she’s a little French bulldog. She might talk a lot, but she’s not mean either,” Abby said reassuringly.

“Let’s get settled in the family room. We obviously have things to discuss.”

Amanda put a supportive arm around Hannah as they entered the house. There was rather a lot of barking coming from deeper inside, but no sign of paws thundering into the entry, so Amanda counted that a win. She didn’t need the dogs distracting them right now. As usual, they were in the backyard, with the sliding door slightly ajar.

Abby had everyone remove their shoes in the entry; she had house slippers for them to put on over their socks, and Hannah sat down on the bench next to Glennon to put hers on. It saved her looking at Abby too much. “She’s Abby Wambach.”

“Yes, and I’m Glennon, and that’s Sister,” Glennon said patiently. “So now that you’re sure we all know each other, you can’t be too nervous, can you?”

The question startled a nervous giggle out of Hannah. “I guess…I guess it’s not Abby that’s making me nervous,” she said.

“Well that’s good to know.” Abby sat down on Hannah’s other side. “I’m just a human being like everyone else, little one. So what’s got you nervous, then?”

Hannah ventured a wary look at Abby, blindsided by her warm, welcoming smile. “I thought you were mad with us.”

“No, of course not, Hannah, sweetheart. I said we have something to discuss, and we do, but that doesn’t mean I’m mad with any of you.”

“ That’s the part I’m worried about.”

“Don’t worry about it yet. We’ll talk first - just talking, I promise. Have you got your slippers on? Yes? Good.” Abby squeezed Hannah’s shoulder reassuringly. “Glennon gets antsy if dirt gets tracked in her house, you see.”

Glennon reached over and poked Abby. “Just as much your house as mine.”

“Hmm.” Abby chuckled. “You’re really overdue, brat.” 

“You love me, Abby,” Glennon protested, and Abby nodded.

“You know I do. Now come on, all this waiting is just bound to make Hannah more anxious.” She guided her three miscreants into the family room, settling them on the couch. “Here you are, Hannah,” Abby soothed. “All cozy on the comfy couch. Do you want a blanket?” She offered the yellow afghan draped over the back of the couch, and Hannah burrowed inside it gratefully.

Amanda and Glennon were on each side of Hannah, and Abby settled in a triangular, 

comfortable looking chair, angled to face them. “Okay then. Who wants to start?”

“You can't spank me! I'm not family!”

“1, I'm sure Glennon already told you, if you're in our house, you're our family. 2, I am not smacking any of you three right now, because we're talking so I can get caught up on current events, okay? And finally 3, though, I would watch your outburst, I am not smacking you right now for whatever happened earlier, but I can smack you for your attitude and give you a small taste of what is coming. Now, I'll ask again, who wants to calmly be first to explain what happened?”

Glennon and Amanda exchanged looks over Hannah’s head, and Amanda tucked an arm around Hannah, giving her a gentle squeeze. “We had a rather exuberant Christmas elf decorating the back room at work, and she was up on ladders she wasn’t meant to be on unsupervised,” Amanda said wryly. “Not to mention leaving doors ajar and using magnets to close them.”

“Well I didn’t have a key,” Hannah pouted. “That’s not fair.”

“Mea culpa,” Amanda replied readily. “Though then the sensible solution would have been to ask for one, Hannah, sweetheart - ask me, or ask Bev.”

“I didn’t want to be a bother--”

Once again, Amanda silently swore vengeance on the Cardwells for what they had done to this beautiful child. “You’re not a bother, honey, I promise.”

“How can you say that? I'm not your kid.”

“You've got that wrong.” Amanda mumbled. She took out the locket she was wearing tucked under her shirt, lifting it off her neck and holding the cameo in one hand.

“ What ?!

“You're wrong, I'm your mother!”

“ My mother abandoned me!”

“No she didn't. I'm right here! I didn't have a fu-,” at Abby’s cleared throat she rephrase, “I didn't have a choice!” Amanda held out the locket to Hannah. It fell open, showing two strands of hair twined together.

“What do I want with a locket? What does hair prove?!” Hannah jumped to her feet, dropping the afghan on the floor, and turned to run for the door, but Abby’s voice stopped her cold.

“That's enough! Before you leave you both just booked a trip over my lap. Inside voices please.”

“What are you saying, Sister?” Glennon asked. 

“I’m saying…Hannah Amanda Cardwell is my child. Unless James left a string of illegitimate daughters around Los Angeles,” Amanda scowled. “Hannah would be his legitimate heir. Even if the family forced him to annul our marriage when they found out.”

She looked at Hannah. “Hannah, honey, please believe me. I believe that you’re the child the Cardwells took from me, unless there’s another Cardwell daughter no one’s heard of.”

“I- I was the only one.”

“What do you mean, was?”

“They- they kicked me out when I said I wanted a career in sports, not the “family business”.”

“Guess you’re lucky sports is the family business, huh, kiddo?” Glennon raised an eyebrow. “If you want to stay, and not run out on us that is. You know Sister wouldn’t lie, don’t you?”

“I don't think so, but I don't know you well enough.”

“That’s fair,” Abby said. “How about you stay the weekend, at least, you can room with Tish if you want, and on Monday morning we can go get a DNA test done? Can you not take each other’s heads off for one weekend?”

Amanda blushed. “Sorry, Abby.” She looked at Hannah. “I’m sorry, honey, more than you can ever know. I didn’t have a choice, but you still have the right to be mad with me.”

“Now, before you both leave, for Tish’s room-”

“Really, Abby?”

“They earned it, do you want to join them, cherie?’ Abby crooked her finger at Glennon, who sighed and crossed the room to join her wife on the oversized chair. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten about your smacking, cherie, or theirs. We’re just putting that on hold until we can get the matter figured out.”

Glennon opened her mouth to protest, then shut it again when Abby squeezed her thigh warningly.

“The girls will be home soon. Chase isn’t dropping in, he’s got typical college kid stuff to do with his typical college kid friends, or that’s what Craig says anyway--”

Glennon rolled her eyes. “Of course he does. You realize, I would be panicking over him right this very second if I didn’t have--” She snapped her mouth shut at Abby’s look.

“If we didn’t have a kid who needed more looking after right now,” Abby said quietly.
Glennon nodded.

“Alright, so, the girls will be home soon and we’ll handle dinner before handling anything else. I hope everyone can be civil to each other at the dinner table, hm? We wouldn’t want to let anything slip, when nothing’s official yet.”

Amanda looked down at the locket in her hand. “But I’m sure…it’s the only thing that makes sense.”

“And you’re probably right, but we have to wait to do the test to know. However, Hannah is family whatever the test says,” Abby said firmly. “But I don’t think I have to tell you what will happen if you slip up, especially in anger. Will you please show Hannah where she’ll be sleeping, Amanda?”

Amanda nodded. “Come on, honey, let’s get you settled.”

“Just a second, Sister, before we forget, we have one little piece of business to take care of.”

Amanda sputtered at Abby. “But if you forgot, it doesn’t count.”

Hannah couldn’t help a nervous giggle, but it quickly faded as Abby looked at her. “Please,” she said anxiously, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be bad--”

“Hey.” Abby softened. “Come here, kiddo.”

Hannah looked at Amanda for reassurance, and she nodded, getting up and walking Hannah over to Abby. 

Amanda guided Hannah into Abby’s embrace, the girl squeaking as she ended up sitting on Abby Wambach’s lap.

The Abby Wambach, she thought, frozen, as Abby rubbed her shoulder.

“Hey. Shhh. It’s going to be alright, little one. Yes, we need to discuss your attitude, so we’re going to do that in a minute, but you really don’t have to be scared, honey.” Abby spoke soothingly, doing her best to reassure Hannah. “It’s not going to be fun, no, but it’ll be quick if you don’t try to fight it, okay?”

“I don’t want…” Hannah whispered, then stopped, wondering if that counted as fighting it.

“I can’t help if you don’t finish your sentence, sweetie,” Abby prompted, implicitly giving her permission.

“I don’t want to be…you know,” Hannah squirmed. “That.”

Abby raised an eyebrow. “Have you ever been ‘you know, that’, before?” she inquired dryly.

Blushing, Hannah nodded, hunching into herself. “Grandmother had this strap, and--” She shuddered, and Abby put a protective arm around her.

“Oh, sweetie, no,” she murmured. “No, no, it’s okay Hannah, honey, just my hand, little one. Do you think you can manage that?”

Meekly, Hannah nodded. “Uh huh, except…”

“Except what, little one?”

“Except you’re Abby Wambach,” Hannah protested.

“Would it help if you closed your eyes?” Abby suggested.

“Why would that help?” Hannah sounded baffled, until Amanda came and knelt by the chair, taking Hannah’s hand.

“Because then you can’t see that it’s her, honey,” Amanda commented wryly. 

“Oh. Maybe.” Hannah sucked on her lower lip. “What’s supposed to happen? When it’s just your hand?”

Amanda looked at Abby, alarmed and pushing down the fury that was building inside her at the Cardwells. She didn’t want Hannah to see and misconstrue its intent.

“Well, the best way to answer that is to show you little one,” Abby replied calmly, though Glennon and Amanda could see that she was just as stunned by Hannah’s question and its implication. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes, but ca- can you give me just one to see how it feels and get adjusted to your hand, it's different from that and her.”

“Of course, sweetie,” Abby soothed Hannah. “I won’t do anything without telling you what’s going to happen first, okay?”

“O-okay,” Hannah agreed reluctantly.

“There, our brave girl,” Abby soothed. “Now this isn’t the spanking chair, honey, so we’re going to go back to the couch, alright? It’ll support you better. I’m going to carry you, alright?”

At Hannah’s nod, Abby got up with Hannah in her arms, letting the girl cling to her as she crossed the room. When she sat down in the middle of the couch, it was with Hannah turned gently facedown over her lap. 

“There you go, you’re safe on my lap, little one, does that feel comfortable?”

“Not really, considering what's about to happen.”

Abby smiled wryly. “Considering your inexperience, I’ll take that as blunt honesty and not sass, the way Glennon would intend it. Let me rephrase. Is your body in a comfortable position? I don’t want you to be hurt by anything else, if I can help it. Your bottom will feel a little bit of pain, but nothing else should.” 

“I…I don’t hurt anywhere.”

“Good,” Abby said. She glanced over Hannah’s attire; Classification Center uniform scrubs, top and bottoms. She hummed in thought. “Your scrubs bottoms are going to have to come down, Hannah, but you can keep your panties up. Alright?”

“Okay. Can M- can Amanda do it please?”

At Abby’s nod, Amanda came around to that side of the couch.

“Lift up for me, kiddo.” As Hannah lifted her hips, Amanda took down her scrubs before settling her back in place.

“Amanda, why don't you come hold her hands. Sweetheart, take a deep breath for me, good girl. Here we go.”

Hannah took a deep breath in and out, and as she exhaled, Abby landed the first - for now, the only - spank with carefully moderated force, not wanting to be too hard on Hannah for her first time, but keeping in mind she wasn’t a tiny little girl, either. The spank was more sound than sting, though it was enough to make Hannah yelp.

“Oww..”

“Shh, there you are honey, that was one, our brave little girl. Are you alright?” Abby asked soothingly.

Hannah sniffled. “Uh huh.”

“Then do you think you can handle a few more, Hannah? Let’s say maybe nine, so it’ll just be ten this first time? Is that okay?”

The idea of the first time didn’t sound okay to Hannah, but she nodded, sucking on her lip anxiously. At Hannah’s nod, Abby delivered nine more spanks at the same strength as the first, sharing them out evenly over Hannah’s bottom. It wasn’t a terribly hard spanking, all told, but Abby figured ten was enough for now.

Tears were spilling down Hannah’s face as Abby turned her face up and gave her a hug. “S-sorry, Au--Abby,” she changed direction mid-word, and Abby pretended not to notice.

“It’s okay sweetheart, you took that like a brave girl and I’m proud of you,” she reassured Hannah. “That was for the attitude, we’ll address the rest later, but not before you’ve had a chance to get some rest.” She tugged Hannah’s scrubs back into place for her. 

“When you're ready I want you to switch places with Amanda, please.”

“With m-with Amanda?” Hannah looked at Amanda worriedly. “But…”

“It’s going to be okay, honey,” Amanda promised. “Abby’s just as much my sister as Glennon is, she won’t do anything I can’t handle. Not like, maybe, but not that I can’t handle.”

Hannah looked warily back at Abby. “Are you gonna do what…what you did to me? To M-to Miss Amanda?” she tried to cover her slip-up.

Amanda rolled her eyes. She wasn’t Miss anything.

“Yes. She earned it, same as you. Don't waste time, now. You don't want another round, do you Hannah?”

“No ma’am,” Hannah squeaked nervously, and she allowed Amanda to help her off Abby’s lap, feeling frozen again.

“It’s okay darling,” Amanda soothed. “Just sit here - you can still sit, can’t you?”

Hannah blushed and nodded. Her bottom was warm but not unbearably so, and Amanda nodded.

“Good girl, just sit here then, and don’t worry, okay?”

Hannah nodded again, but she still couldn’t help worrying about her older colleague - who was, apparently, likely much more than that, something Hannah was still processing. Amanda settled herself over Abby’s lap without further arguing, taking Hannah’s hands in hers again. 

“There you are, now you aren’t required to watch or anything like that, honey, I’m here for you, not the other way around.”

“Make sure you have a tight grip Hannah, your colleague is prone to reaching back.”

“Actually, babe-”

“The look Abby gave Glennon made her quiet instantly. Oh I see she's giving Hannah something to focus on other than what is in front of her.

As realization dawned on Glennon's face, Abby focused back on her task at hand. 

“Alright, Amanda, you and Glennon are allegedly adults and should know better than to display such a bad attitude in front of our guest,” and possibly more, “so you’re getting twenty, do you understand, Sister?”

“Yes Abby,” Amanda answered without raising a fuss, though she wasn’t at all looking forward to it. She clung to Hannah’s hands as Abby moved her clothes out of the way. At least she’d chosen to wear sensible panties, with plenty of coverage.

Not, of course, that it mattered when the hand delivering her punishment was Abby Wambach’s. She grimaced as her spanking began in earnest. Five. Ten. Fifteen. She managed to hold on until fifteen before her tears spilled over.

“Sorry, Abby…”

“I know, now hold still please.”

Amanda held as still as she could, the last five swats adding to the scorching heat. When all twenty were over, Abby lifted Amanda up enough to get her bottoms back in place, then helped her to her feet. 

A quick look at Hannah, sitting on the floor, told Abby something had changed. The younger girl was holding one braid in her fist, and her eyes were shining with tears as her other hand grabbed for Amanda’s, clinging tightly. Abby thought it would be best to repeat herself, just to make sure her earlier orders weren’t forgotten by the obvious Little - how little, she wondered, scolding herself for not asking that question earlier. She should have known Hannah was likely to drop in this circumstance. Giving herself a mental shake, she stopped scolding herself and reminded Hannah - and Sister - of the plan.

"Now, the kids will be home later, I don't want anyone saying anything and no outbursts out of spite at the dinner table, because we don't know anything and we want to be certain before saying anything, right? I don't think I have to tell you two what will happen if you slip up, especially in anger. Now, Amanda, would you please show Hannah where she will be sleeping, thank you."

Amanda had noticed the obvious change in the girl’s demeanor, too, softening her voice and giving Hannah an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

“Come on, sweetheart. Let's go see your new room and new bed.”

“New woom and wed?!”

Okay, that answers that. Tiny little. You might need to coax her into a pull-up if she stays dropped, Amanda told herself. But one thing at a time.

“That's right, you might have to share, but I promise it will feel more like home, okay?”

“Otay.”

“Good girl,” Amanda praised. She gave Hannah a comforting hug, letting Hannah cling to her as she led Hannah out of the family room and down the hall toward Tish’s bedroom. “Okay sweetie. This is Tish’s room, that’s Glennon and Abby’s older daughter - your cousin, she thought, almost definitely - “but she won’t mind if you stay here with her. Okay honey?”

“Otay.”

As little Hannah curled up on Tish’s bed, with Amanda sitting next to her petting her hair, Glennon was still back in the family room with Abby. She eyed her wife guardedly.

“I suppose apologies won’t make any difference.” 

“It never hurts to say it and mean it , but no, it won't get you out of it.”

“I am sorry, Abby, and I do mean it,” Glennon said quietly.

Abby nodded. “Bring the hairbrush that's in your bag, please.”

“Abby I-”

“Should we add a soaping on top? It's been a while..”

“No, please,” Glennon said hastily, cheeks flushing as she fetched her hairbrush for Abby. “I’m sorry, ma’am,” she said, submitting properly. That was an apology for trying to protest her punishment, and she hoped Abby would forgive her for it.

“Alright, over my knee, lift up for me.”

Glennon draped herself over Abby’s lap promptly, done sassing. “Abby…” She looked up at Abby, at her Top with a stab of anxiety. Glennon hoped she hadn’t made Abby angry by her bit of backchat.

The feel of Abby’s hand in her hair a moment later dispelled such fears, as Abby’s fingers stroked through her blonde tresses. Letting out a breath of relief, she slowly adjusted herself, lifting up as Abby guided her.

Abby bared Glennon’s bottom without preamble, and she shivered as she was settled back in position.

“Alright cherie,” Abby said, giving Glennon’s back a gentle pat. “You’re overdue for maintenance, you know, so this is going to be with your hairbrush. You understand why that’s necessary.”

Glennon had been a teacher, she was thoroughly educated. She knew. “Yes ma’am.”

“Alright then, Glennon, hand me the brush.”

She surrendered it, shivering. If Abby was starting with the brush, she must be really overdue, Glennon thought, but Abby’s hand on Glennon’s back steadied her. 

The brush began falling with deliberate smacks that peppered Glennon’s bottom, leaving pink ovals behind. By the end of the first dozen, Glennon was trembling, and Abby gave her back another gentle rub.

“Easy, cherie, we’re almost finished with the brush, just three more of those, then five with my hand,” Abby soothed as she heard Glennon crying softly. “Take a breath, love, you’re all right.”

Glennon took a deep breath, let it out, and nodded. “A-almost over?”

“That’s right, Glennon, sweetheart. Hold on, love, just a little more.”

Glennon clung to Abby as the last three smacks of the hairbrush were shared out across her rosy pink bottom. Abby put the hairbrush aside, and then finished with five handspanks, two to each bottom cheek and one across the middle. They weren’t   very hard spanks - they didn’t need to be. She tugged Glennon up into her lap, still bare bottomed, and kissed her forehead.

“When you’re calm, we’ll get you up and you can have your clothes back, cherie. But right now that doesn’t matter when it’s just you and me, alright?”
Glennon nodded into Abby’s shoulder, letting her wife calm her down, and when Glennon felt soothed, she got slowly to her feet. Abby pulled Glennon’s bottoms back up, and stood, giving her a gentle kiss.

“Okay, I feel like Craig’s forgotten he was supposed to drop the girls home. I’ll just text him to make sure, shall I?”

Glennon nodded, but before she could panic, Abby’s arm was around her. “Hey Siri, call Craig,” Abby added pointedly in her phone’s direction. 

When her wife’s ex-husband answered, he sounded dismayed. “Oh fuck, sorry Abby, I didn’t mean to--”

“Hello to you too. I’m going to come pick up the girls, assuming you’re all still at home?”

“Yes, sorry--”

“I know. Be there shortly, make sure Tish and Amma are ready.”

“Okay,” Craig sighed. “I’d better dash then. Bye Abby.”

“Bye.” Abby ended the call, giving Glennon a reassuring squeeze.

 I'm going to go pick up the girls, I can also pick up a pizza, if you want. Maybe you get started on some healthy sides for the meal?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Chapter Text

“Now that you have checked out your new room, what do you say to a nap before supper?” Amanda asked.

“Wuddle wit me?” Hannah pleaded, and Amanda was only too happy to oblige.

“Of course, sweetheart.”  As both got on the queen bed and found a good position, Amanda began to sing. She'd never been one for lullabies, so she went with the first song that came to mind.

"Red is the rose that in yonder garden grows, fair is the lily of the valley, clear is the water that flows from the Boyne, but my love is fairer than any,"  she sang softly, and before long her  baby was asleep, safe in her arms after all these years. 

Both of the heavy sleepers were awoken by the smell of steamed cauliflower and broccoli.

“You ready for supper, little one?”

“Yes.” Hannah cuddled into Amanda’s side, and had to be nudged to sit up, but then she definitely looked ready.

I'm just glad she's no longer little, at least I don't have to help explain that to Tish and Amma.

“Let's go down and see about supper, shall we?” 

“Yes, please. I'm starving.”

“HI, starving. Nice to meet you, I'm Amanda.”

This got the desired giggle out of Hannah, and after some ginger movements both were able to make their way downstairs.

As they entered the kitchen Hannah and Amanda saw Glennon preparing the vegetables that were obviously going to be paired with a main dish that was nowhere in sight.

“Anything you are allergic to or don't like food wise, Hannah?”

“Well, if I'm eating cauliflower or broccoli I prefer ranch on the side.”

“Ranch? Really?”

“Yes, really Ranch goes great with vegetables and-”

“And pizza. Ranch also is good with pizza.” Glennon said.

***

As Abby came back inside with the girls, she repeated what she had said earlier, 

“Now remember girls, we're having a guest over, they are a guest of Aunt Amanda, so treat them with respect alright? Well, let's go.” 

“ Mama, I hear a voice. I'm going to say, hi. No one turns down pizza.”

“Okay, but then wash your hands, please.” 

“ Yes , mother.” 

What is with the sass in this family today. She's lucky she's not older.

“ Hannah, this is our daughter Tish. Tish likes writing music and playing guitar, and ranch on pizza." 

“ Go wash your hands, please Tish?” Glennon put in before the teen could forget.

“ Now that the pizza is here, we can all eat supper together.”

As they all sat down to their meal, Tish struck up a conversation with Hannah. Abby had been unsure what kind of pizza Hannah would eat, so now she and Hannah were perusing the boxes - one pepperoni and cheese, one half-supreme, half-vegetarian delight..

“What, no fish?” Hannah joked.

“”You like anchovy pizza?” Tish looked surprised.

“Well, I haven’t tried it, but you know the Italians and Greeks put anchovies on pizza, if you don’t like that, what about other fish?" Hannah looked thoughtful. “I wonder how tuna would go on pizza?”

"I'd be willing to try that. Oooh, we could make homemade pizzas? Hey, cauliflower, cauliflower crust?" Tish suggested. “Tobs does a killer cauliflower pizza crust.”

Amma looked up, wrinkling her nose. "You guys are.... different."

“So, do you play any instruments Hannah?” Tish asked, letting her sister’s remark go.

Hannah wrinkled her nose. “I took piano lessons, and recorder, when I was younger. Because I had to be a proper lady,” she rolled her eyes. “I was never any good at recorder, I sounded like an asthmatic seagull. I was okay at piano, but I’ve always wanted to try guitar or something cool like that though.”

Tish ignored her aunt Amanda stifling laughter behind them. “I could teach you, maybe starting tomorrow.”

“ I'd like that. Thank you very much.”

“No problem.”

That night, for the first time in a long time, Hannah Cardwell went to sleep with a full stomach and joy in her heart and her life.

****

Glennon had just poured her first cup of coffee the next morning when she heard three pairs of overzealous feet running right for the kitchen. 

“ Can we leave soon please? I want to get there before all the good ones are gone.” Tish asked.

Seeing the confused expression that Hannah wore, Glennon clarified, “The Christmas tree lot.”

Hannah’s eyes widened in surprise. “A real Christmas tree?” she squeaked. Her grandmother had never let one in the mansion - too untidy, not to mention pagan, of course, Hannah thought sarcastically.

“Yes, a real Christmas tree. And you can even help pick it out.”

“I can?” Hannah asked skeptically.

“ Yes, you're not intruding, you're family.”

Hannah looked to Tish and Amma, as if to confirm what their mother was saying.

Before she couldn’t utter her next rebuttal however, something she never would have expected to happen, happened.

All at once four separate voices called out, “No.” “Nope.” “Uh uh.” “Not this year.”

Confused, and frankly scared by the voices behind her, Hannah looked back to see Abby in an ugly Christmas sweater.

Seeing her confusion, Abby took a moment to explain, “You see Hannah, every year the girls bicker over which tree we should take home and then it spills over into the other two brats taking sides, and I'm left to choose. So, a few years ago, I started choosing by the tree that looked closest to the one on my sweater, different sweater, different tree every year. But this sweater is from the first time, I ran out of new ones. What I imagine Amma means is why go through that when you can help pick. Believe me everyone is okay with you having a voice, especially after last year.”

Hannah tilted her head to one side. “What happened last year?”

“Daddy ended up breaking the tie,” Amma grumbled.

“Oh?” Hannah asked.

Amanda rolled her eyes. “Yes. Craig said since we couldn’t stop bickering , he’d choose the ugliest tree on the lot, on purpose.”

He has his moments, thought Abby. Though there's always other alternatives as well. Let's just hope this year, I don't need to utilize them.

“At least he paid for it?” Glennon shrugged.

“Well then, you won't have to worry about that this year.” Should we get going then?” Hannah replied with a smile.

“Yes, let’s, honey.” Amanda smiled warmly. “I’m so glad you’re coming with us. Have you ever been Christmas tree shopping before?”

Hannah shook her head. “Grandmother wouldn’t have them in the house. She said they were untidy and pagan. But I always wanted one.” Hannah’s smile faded. “She didn’t like decorations unless they were ‘proper’. But I like decorations.”

Ah, that explains why our exuberant little Christmas elf got so excited about decorating the most random corners at work, Amanda thought with a pang. “Well, now you’ll have one, Hannah. Let’s go.”

Amanda made sure that Hannah had put her coat on, and they left the house with Abby, Glennon, Tish and Amma. Craig was going to meet them at the cut-your-own Christmas tree farm not too far away.

How do pine trees, fir trees, whatever they are manage in Southern California anyway? Hannah wondered to herself as she was bundled into the back seat of the van with Amanda next to her. Amanda, it was clear, wasn’t letting Hannah out of her sight anytime soon but Hannah didn’t seem to mind.

When Abby started the drive down to the Christmas tree farm, Hannah watched out the window. Big palm trees, little palm trees, I wonder if that one grows coconuts, she thought with a giggle.

“What’s so funny, Hannah?” Amanda asked.

“Just wondering if there’s coconut trees, would you have to decorate one of those.”

“Don’t worry sweetie, it’ll be a real, proper Christmas tree,” Glennon assured her from the front seat. “You’ll see.”

LA traffic was horrendous, even or maybe especially as Christmas drew nearer, but Abby knew all the backroads; it didn’t take them too terribly long to reach the cut-your-own Christmas tree farm, and it was early enough in the day that it hadn’t been swarmed with people yet. Still, Craig was already there with Chase, waiting for them.

Almost as soon as Abby parked, Tish and Amma bolted from the car, running to hug their father and brother.

Hannah was more careful, waiting until Abby actually parked before getting out with Amanda by her side. 

Hannah looked up, just mesmerized by all the different sizes and shapes of the trees.

“It's amazing, isn't it?”

Just as Hannah turned to Amanda to respond to her, the two, plus Abby, already heard bickering and all three could easily guess what was probably happening.

As the trio moved toward the commotion, they were unsurprised to see that each younger Doyle was standing at opposite sides of the lot, looking at completely different trees, Glennon already on the side of her youngest. Despite wanting to be near Hannah, Amanda couldn't resist heading in Tish’s direction. Meanwhile, however, Hannah noticed the same thing that apparently Craig, Chase, and Abby had noticed before her.

Further directly in front of them, that the sisters had apparently not noticed, was arguably a tree that put both of the other trees to shame. 

The other three turned to Hannah and gestured for her to say something.

“Me? Why would- oh.” They figured both pairs of sisters would probably think Abby and Craig are making them view a crappy tree and that Chase might have his own selfish choice, but they might listen to me.

“I think this one’s pretty,” Hannah ventured shyly, pointing to the tree she’d noticed. “Is…is that all right?” She looked at the rest of the family anxiously. “Tish?” she appealed. “Amma?”

“How did w-”

“We miss this.” “It's perfect!” “Jinx.” “No, you jinx.”

“I'm glad you like it.” Hannah said.

“Like it? We love it!” Tish replied.

“Yes, thank you!” Amma said.

Both girls rushed to hug the person who finally made this an easy, dare they even say fun experience this year. 

Not to be outdone by his younger sisters, Chase decided to join in calling out, “ Family group hug!”

Hannah found herself squished between Tish and Amanda. It felt…surprisingly cozy. 

As Craig and Glennon saw to paying for their selected tree, and cutting it down, Abby came over to check on Hannah. “Alright there little one?” she asked. “You picked out just the right tree, I’d say.”

Hannah nodded shyly, but before she could say more, she heard a voice that made Abby’s head turn, calling from a few trees down the row.

“Maman! Why didn’t you tell us you were going to be here?”

“Who’s that?” Hannah peeked up at Abby.

“My eldest,” Abby rolled her eyes in fond exasperation. “Well, by choice anyway, but I’ll introduce you later, okay sweetie?”

“We're already here. What's the worse that can happen, you tell me it's Tobin Heath and Christen Press?”

“Well actually, I'd say it's them, plus Alyssa Thompson?” Abby ventured warily.

“I was joking,” Hannah protested anxiously.

“She’s not.”

The newcomer proved to be the one who’d called over to Abby a few moments ago. And while Hannah had never got to see her play, she knew who Tobin Heath was, of course.

“Hey,” Tobin said as Hannah gaped at her. “It’s alright little one, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“But, but you’re Tobin Heath.”

Might as well rip off the bandage now. Tobin beckoned and Christen joined them with Alyssa. “Yeah, and this is Christen, and Alyssa, though our family and friends call her AT, for short.”

Hannah’s eyes got even rounder and she looked like she might either make a run for it or could faint at any moment, and she couldn’t decide which would be worse.

Amanda wrapped her arms around Hannah, steadying her. “It’s alright Hannah,” she soothed, “this is your cousin Tobin, and Christen and Alyssa. You don’t have to worry, they’re family just like you are.”

Tobin raised an eyebrow at Abby. “ And I was going to be told about this, when?” she asked in French, deliberately.

“It was a surprise to the rest of us, too,” Hannah spoke up in the same language, shocking Tobin, before reverting to English. “What? My grandmother made me learn it, and anyway you shouldn’t speak in foreign languages to hide things from people just because you think they can’t understand you, cousin Tobin.” She huffed in irritation.

Abby hid a smirk. “I’ve been trying to teach her that, thank you for illustrating my point.”

AT had been standing wrapped in Christen’s arms as her Mama Tobin talked with Grandmere Abby, but now she turned to Hannah with interest. “You know French?”

“I’m fluent, Grandmother insisted that ‘proper young ladies’ needed to know it,” Hannah sighed in irritation.

“I know a little, but I should probably learn more, especially if…” AT paused and looked back at the single blonde figure in their family group busily cutting down their chosen tree. She looked as though she felt the need to murder something.

“What is it?” Hannah asked.

“Sofia,” AT said quietly. “She shouldn’t even really be here, Sweden still have a match to play, but Mama Tobin promised to put Sofia on the plane back to Malaga herself if she had to. She just…well…”

Christen rolled her eyes. “She didn’t exactly run away, she got leave to come back for a couple of days, but she wouldn’t ordinarily be here.”

Suddenly it clicked. “Wait…that’s…Sofia Jakobsson.”

“Uh huh,” AT nodded.

“Like…the Swedish Sofia Jakobsson. Like the Sweden that…um…did the thing in the World Cup.” Hannah faltered. “Am I going to make you all mad with me by mentioning it?”

“No,” Tobin said quietly. “Sweden did ‘do the thing’ in the World Cup, yes. But now they’ve lost in the Nations League, and lost any chance of going to Paris next summer.”

Hannah’s eyes widened. “Oh. And she still has to go back and play a match anyways?”

AT nodded. “And she’s my big sister and I don’t like it that she’s hurting. She said she might feel better if she got to kill something, so Mama Christen said as long as it was a tree it would be okay.”

Hannah giggled. 

“Something funny?” Tobin asked, eyebrow raised.

“I- I'm- I'm sorry. I'm just remembering that video of the animated tree with the decorations video, then Sofia killing it….” Tish had been watching it avidly on her laptop last night before the girls bunked down.

Tobin chuckled. The ‘Do You Like My Decorations?’ video was a hit with the Preaths as well, even though (or maybe because) the singing tree was a little creepy. “Anyway, are we still on for the Christmas meal, Maman?”

“Of course,” Abby said promptly. “But don’t forget, we all also have Beverly’s on the 22nd, for Winter Solstice, and the Carrascos have invited us to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.”

“That’s Abuela Gloria, Tia Vivian, Tia Alex, and Tio Servo,” AT explained to Hannah, as though that explained everything. “Alex Morgan,” she added as an afterthought.

“ The Alex Morgan?!”

“I’m sure she’d have told us if she was some other Alex Morgan,” AT said with an air of puzzlement.

Tobin snorted in amusement. “Behave, little love. Yes, the Alex Morgan,” she confirmed with a nod. “Who is, as I’m sure you’ve heard about Maman, Mama Glennon, me, Christen and AT already, just as human as the rest of us.”

“Are you sure?”

That comment came from Sofia, as she joined the others. She’d worked out her energies (for now) on the tree, and it was being tied up for the trip back to the Preath residence. “Oh, hello there,” she said, noticing Hannah and offering as natural a smile as she could muster. 

“Hi.” was the meek response from Hannah at meeting yet another footballer, just while picking out a Christmas tree.

“Storasyster, this is Hannah, she’s Mama Tobin’s new cousin.”

Sofia blinked at AT’s summation of the new information. “Oh, well, it’s a pleasure to meet you Hannah.” She managed a warmer smile this time. “I’m glad you were able to come pick out a tree with the family.”

Ring ring “One second. Hello? Uh huh, uh oh. Okay, we'll be there as soon as possible.”

“What's the matter, Sof?”

“That was Rachel. All I heard was “emergency, NOT hurt. That could be anything, but I'm sorry to say we kinda need to leave now? It was nice meeting you, Hannah. We'll see you soon.”

“Oh…I hope everything works out,” Hannah offered quietly. “See you soon, I guess.” 

Much to her surprise, AT hugged her tightly.

“You will. And it’s gonna be okay. When Grandmere Abby and Grandma Glennon make someone their family, they’re family,” she promised. 

Tobin nodded firmly. “Alright then, Maman, we’ll keep you posted,” she promised. “See you all soon. And you three - four,” she corrected, glancing at Hannah. “Behave and try not to make trouble.”

“You’re a funny one to talk, Tobs,” Tish bantered back. “But really, hope everything’s okay. We’ll see you later.” 

With a nod, Tobin shepherded her little family away. Abby watched them go worriedly, but turned back to Hannah and the others, trying to keep up a cheerful demeanor. 

“Well, we have a tree, and it’s just about time to start getting lunch together. Nothing we can do about the emergency until Sofia finds out more, so what do you say we get home and wait for news?”

“Yes Abby,” Glennon and Amanda said, both trying not to worry.

“So long as I get to man the grill,” Craig put in. 

Abby rolled her eyes. “Remember which one of the grills is for vegan stuff and we’re golden. Let’s get going.”

Craig ensured their tree was strapped into the bed of his pickup truck. “Meltons, in,” he ordered, and Chase, Tish, and Amma got into their father’s truck obediently, leaving Hannah to return to Abby’s car with Abby, Glennon, and Amanda. Together, they all made the drive back to the Wambach-Doyle residence.

After they had lunch together, Amma decided to take a nap, the cousins had something to bond over learning the guitar.

“Okay, so put one hand and one here. Now, let's play something simple, easy to learn.” Tish rummaged in her closet and found her practice guitar, the one she’d learned on before saving up enough to buy a new one. Carefully, she ensured the guitar was in tune before placing it on Hannah’s lap.

Tish started teaching Hannah how to play simple chords, then began playing ‘Jingle Bells’ on her own guitar, slowly and carefully. 

“Is that-”

“Let’s just say we've heard you're a fan of it. Aunt Amanda talks about you a lot, you know.”

“It’s one of the Christmas songs Grandmother would allow that wasn’t strictly religious, because it was traditional,” Hannah explained. She followed Tish’s playing as best she could, and while she wasn’t perfect on her first try, it was clear Hannah had an eye for the finger positions of the chords and could pick it up quickly. 

They practiced for a bit longer, though Tish kept glancing sideways at Hannah when she thought Hannah wasn’t looking, and when Tish thought Hannah had the hang of it she let Hannah try on her own. “Let’s see what you can do.”

Slowly, Hannah picked out the first few chords of ‘Jingle Bells’ - there were a couple of wrong notes, but nothing disastrous.

“That was pretty good,” Tish smiled warmly. “But you’ve probably had enough for right now, otherwise we’ll be accused of waking Amma up from her nap.”

Hannah nodded, yawning a bit herself. Tish wasn’t surprised.

“Tired? Aunt Amanda said you might be, it’s been an exciting day. Why don’t we get some rest too?”

Nodding gratefully, Hannah put the guitar away and lay down on Tish’s bed, glad when the other girl joined her. It was good not to be alone, after such an exciting day.

Soon both girls were sound asleep. They were drained (especially Hannah) after the life changing secrets being revealed, and the hectic morning. Tish had been pulling late nights (and secretly some all-nighters) writing her music lately, so it wasn’t surprising that exhaustion had finally hit. They slept straight through to dinner time, and had to be woken, still groggy as Abby brought them warmed leftover pizza. 

“You two feeling alright, petites?”

“Tired,” Hannah yawned, but she obediently ate her slice of pizza as Tish did the same, accepting wet wipes to clean their hands.

“Then you should go back to sleep, I won’t insist on normal bedtime routine tonight if you’re not feeling well. But as for you, Morticia--”

“Tish,” Tish grumbled. Mama Abby just liked to call her that when she was in trouble, since ‘Tish’ didn’t sound ‘in trouble’ enough. 

“Morticia Glennon,” Abby added, and Tish tried not to huff in displeasure. She was too tired anyway. “If I find out that you’ve been pulling all-nighters again…”

“What are you gonna do, spank me?” Tish snorted.

“You're not far from 18. I could, and probably will, just keep track for when the time does come, because it will come. Don't test me, little girl. You really are your mother's daughter, aren't you?”

“Well I hope so,” Tish yawned. “I think Mom would have told me if I wasn’t, Mama.”

“That's not what I meant and you know it. In any case, sleep good, the both of you. I'll see you in the morning.”

“Night, Mama,” Tish yawned again, and she was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Hannah looked at Abby. “Goodnight,” she said quietly. “And…thank you. For everything.”

She snuggled up to Tish, and was asleep within moments.

Chapter Text

It was as early as reasonably expected in the Doyle-Wambach household when the three kids barged into the kitchen in an attempt to sneak a peek at the potential ornaments they could make, the excitement was palpable.

“Hey, breakfast first, girls. What would you like?” Glennon asked.

“Pancakes?” Amma and Tish asked hopefully. Tish saw Hannah’s doubtful expression.

“You’ve had pancakes before haven’t you?”

Hannah shook her head. 

 “Too untidy?” Amanda guessed sardonically, sipping from her mug of tea. 

Hannah sighed and nodded. “And too common,” she added, beginning a sardonic imitation of her grandmother’s affected aristocratic accent. “My dear child, when will you ever learn, we Cardwells are above such common tastes.”, she mimicked her grandmother’s fluting tones. “ Proper ladies must enjoy lighter fare.” 

Amanda snorted. “That sounds like her, all right. I only met James’ mother the once, but that was enough.”

Hannah nodded again. “I’d like to try them though.”

“If you like them, we can even have them for supper. Daddy showed us this video where you can take mini leftover pancakes and use them like tacos.” Amma told Hannah. “Do you still have the video?” 

All eyes turned to Tish, the resident Wambach-Doyle foodie, who was looking diligently on her phone for said video.

Tish happily pulled out her phone and showed the video to Amma and Hannah. 

Hannah watched the video with her mouth open, seeing the little pancakes cooked up and folded into ‘taco shells’, filled with breakfast sausage and eggs. “That is incredibly adorable and Grandmother would hate it. I love it, and I want them.”

“Maybe for supper later, sweetheart. We have a lot of work to do today. You know, decorating the tree, the house, lights, etc.”

“Did someone say pancake tacos for supper? Whoever you are, God bless you, I've been trying to get them to try it for years.” Craig lamented as he now entered the kitchen.

“What are you doing here so early this morning?” Amanda said dryly, looking at her former brother-in-law. “Did Chase tear you out of bed? Or did you two crash in his old room last night and I didn’t notice?”

Craig yawned.  “The first one, sadly. Didn't even think about the second. Now, I feel dumb.” pitching his voice louder he added, “and it's not even Christmas morning, son.”

“We have new people to welcome, I wanted to be early. Sue me.” Chase rolled his eyes.

“The sleepy side of my brain just might.” Craig sighed.

“Did you know that in some states, people can sue minor kids if they cause injuries?” Hannah supplied. “Like you’d think the person would sue the parents, obviously, but in some places they’re legally obliged to sue the person who caused the injury, even if they’re an eight year old kid.” 

Hannah vaguely remembered hearing her grandmother scoffing at an aunt who had sued her nephew, an eight year old boy, because he’d jumped on her, toppled her over, and her wrist had broken. The aunt hadn’t wanted to sue her nephew, she hadn’t even wanted to sue his parents, but the insurance wouldn’t cover her injury unless she did. 

“Sorry,” she added, “it’s just you said ‘sue me’ and I remembered my grandmother and my father discussing a case like that.” She hadn’t really heard the phrase ‘sue me’ tossed around lightly; anyone who tried to sue a Cardwell usually got their ass handed to them.

“I can only imagine how that went. Scratch that, I don't want to know.” Amanda replied.

Hannah nodded. “I don’t think they got to the part about how it turned out before Grandmother told him not to say anything in front of me about it anymore.” She sat down at the table, entranced as a plate with a trio of fluffy pancakes was set in front of her. “Thank you,” she added shyly to Amanda. “They look good.”

“Okay, try them plain first, but then there's options, regular syrup, cane syrup, blueberry syrup, and strawberry syrup,  then you got toppings: blueberries, strawberries, banan- Mama Abby!! Did you eat all the pancake bananas?” Tish asked.  

“What do you mean, “Pancake bananas”? You mean the bananas in the fruit bowl?

“Which I commented on the last time we were in the store together, should be used the next time we make pancakes! Now, what are we gonna do?”

“What you're “gonna do” Morticia Glennon, is sit there and eat your breakfast and be thankful you have breakfast.” Abby responded. I'm just glad your mother wasn't thinking with the same attitude this morning. 

“Hey, it's okay. I don't need bananas now. I can have bananas with supper. Really, it'll be perfect because it will be something I haven't had with it yet. And the fruit will be good to lighten up the meal being it’s at night.” Hannah said, seeing her cousin   was upset. “Now, which syrup do each of you think I should try first?”

“It’s alright Abby,” Amanda said soothingly, “no need to take Tish’s head off. We can get bananas later. Why don’t you try the maple syrup first, darling?” she suggested, looking at Hannah. ‘Regular’ syrup in their house was pure maple syrup - none of that high fructose ‘pancake syrup’ nonsense that only imitated maple syrup.

“Not to mention you forgot the best topping,” Glennon added, pulling a bag of chocolate chips out of the cupboard. “How you did that, I don’t know. Better with strawberry syrup, of course.”

“Chocolate chips…. With strawberry syrup?” Hannah asked skeptically. “I'll try anything once, but I uh I don't know about this…”

Seeing Hannah was nervous, both Amma and Tish followed their mother's idea, and ate a bite with that exact combination.

Seeing both sisters agree on something, without being coerced, Hannah decided to give the combo a try.

Amanda set a little pitcher of the strawberry syrup in front of Hannah, so she could drizzle a little bit on her pancakes and not worry about making a mess, and added a bowl of chocolate chips with a spoon to the table.

Craig, who’d sat down with a plate of pancakes and a mug of coffee, pretended to make a grab for the chocolate chips. “I could eat that whole bowl,” he said teasingly. “You have yours first, though,” he added.

“Craig Melton, you leave those alone,” Abby scolded. Glennon rolled her eyes at the two’s antics. 

When Hannah had enough strawberries and chocolate for her pancakes, she took a bite, and the fluffy texture, plus the sweetness of the strawberries and chocolate, was absolute bliss. She perked up and devoured bite after bite of the pancakes, getting a grin from Amanda.

“Slow down, honey, they’re not gonna run away.”

Obediently, Hannah paced herself, accepting a little of the blueberries as well. “Isn’t it difficult to get fresh blueberries in December?”

“They’re frozen,” Abby admitted readily, “but they’ve been thawed out.”

“They’re really good,” Hannah said, eating them with the pancakes happily. “Grandmother definitely wouldn’t have approved.”

“All the more reason to have them, then,” Amanda said dryly. “Honestly, the things that woman doesn’t approve of are probably a list twice as long as you are tall, little one.”

“Which is why we should focus on breakfast so we can start on decorations.” Amma said. 

This was followed by a chorus of Hear Hears and then silence as the remaining breakfast was finished.

When Hannah had finished her breakfast, she carried her plate to the sink to wash up, but Craig intercepted her. 

“I’ve got it, little one. You wash your hands and go ask your Aunt Abby what needs doing.”

Aunt Abby. The thought made Hannah’s stomach flutter nervously. Abby and Glennon seemed pretty well convinced that they were her aunts, that Amanda was…well, if that locket proved anything. It seemed likely, but they couldn’t really be sure until they got the DNA test done tomorrow. That made Hannah even more nervous.

She followed the sound of a string of jingle bells into the family room, where Chase was draping the jingle bell garland around the tree. He’d already got the lights on.

“Did you even eat the pancakes?” she asked, and he shrugged. 

“I got some fruit and coffee, I’ll make myself some toast in a bit.” 

“Excited for Christmas much?” Hannah teased.

“Hey, in my defense it's the one time a year those two don't fight.”

“ Which two?” Hannah replied jokingly.

“Haha, I meant my sisters but it can probably work for any of the six, including the back-and-forth between Mama Abby and Dad.”

“Most of the other men I know would be more disturbed by the fact that their wife met her favorite footballer at a book signing and felt a zing,” Craig quipped from the doorway, rolling his eyes, “as that Hotel Transylvania movie Amma likes so much puts it. But I think we sorted things out all right, don’t you, son?”

“Right. You're better than most, and you've been a great example and role model, Dad.”

“Aww, you guys…How’d you manage with that?” Hannah looked perplexed. “It sounds like it must have been a complicated situation.”

“To say the least,” Craig said wryly. “But we made it work in the end, and the three of us have raised the kids together ever since. Well, I have my own place, and Glennon moved in with Abby, obviously, but we share the kids and I’m over here all the time for meals and family stuff whenever they want me.”

“It helps having Sister here, too,” Glennon said, stepping into the room with a box of ornaments. “Here, sweetie, why don’t you help put these on the lower branches now the garland’s done. We’re not asking you to try for the high up stuff.” She gave Hannah an encouraging smile as she opened the box, and an assortment of glass balls and snowflakes peeked out.

“Yeah, come on, Hannah,” Tish encouraged, joining her. “We’ll do the lower branches and Dad can help with the top.”

“Okay,” Hannah ventured. She set to work picking out red, green and blue round balls and carrying them to the tree, a couple at a time, interspersed with white, silver and blue glittery snowflakes. The lower branches were quickly filled, between Hannah and Amma’s attentions, and Tish helped Chase fill in things that were a bit higher up. The elder generation worked on the highest branches, Craig ensuring nothing fell down. Then he took out the tree topper.

Usually his daughters squabbled over which one of them Daddy was going to help put it on top of the tree, but as he raised an eyebrow at them, they shook their heads.

“Hannah can do it, Daddy,” Amma said, speaking for both her and her elder sister. Hannah gaped at her.

“The tree’s ginormous, I can’t reach it without a ladder, and M--Amanda doesn’t like me on ladders…”

“I’ve got you little one,” Craig assured the petite girl, “you’ll be tall enough if I put you on my shoulders, and I won’t let you fall.”

Hannah looked at Amanda, Glennon, and Abby for permission. “Can I?”

“You can,” Amanda said. “I trust Craig with you, Hannah, honey, he won’t let you go.” 

When it came to the top of the tree, Craig had picked out the best topper for it, Hannah thought, taking it in her hands before he lifted her onto his shoulders. It was a simple gold star, nothing too ostentatious, but it was beautiful in its simplicity. He held her up to the tree, and she carefully put the star on top. 

Then he lifted Hannah back down, setting her on her feet. “There you are, well done little one,” he said encouragingly. “That was a very good job, especially for a first try.” If the star was a little askew, he wasn’t going to say anything. Chase could fix it. But really it didn’t matter, it was straight enough to stay on.

Not that being straight matters in this household anyway, he thought humorously. He’d have to share the thought with Glennon and Abby; no doubt they’d find it funny. 

As he’d been helping Hannah put the star on, Amma had been lying down under the tree smoothing out the quilted tree skirt. She quickly crawled back out and hugged Hannah. “There, now everything’s ready for presents to go under it!”

Hannah looked nervous. “Presents?””

“Yes presents, silly,” Amma giggled. “Everybody gets presents on Christmas.” She hugged Hannah reassuringly.

Everybody gets presents on Christmas. Hannah couldn’t help a shred of doubt niggling at her. They’d spent the morning decorating the tree, and after a quick lunch they were back to decorating other parts of the house. Lights and garlands were mostly handled by Craig, Chase, and Abby, though Hannah, Tish, and Amma got to stick snowflakes and other decorations to the windows. Glennon and Amanda went back and forth helping, The main rule seemed to be that all inside decorations had to be higher than dog height (with the exception of the tree, but the dogs seemed to be trained to leave the tree alone.)

Speaking of Hattie and Honey, Hannah finally got to spend some quality time with the two of them later in the afternoon, once most of the decorating inside was over. They headed out into the backyard - which, as Hannah had guessed during her nervous babbling on arrival, was partially marked out for playing soccer. Obviously it wasn’t as large as a proper football pitch, but for just messing around in the yard (a rather extensive yard, of course, this was a mansion after all) it’d do. 

“What positions do Hattie and Honey play?” Hannah inquired as the two dogs chased after the soccer ball.

“Honey’s not half bad at goalkeeper, which is funny considering she’s the small one,” Abby replied, laughing. The little French bulldog, indeed, was running back and forth in front of the goal, barking happily. “But when we have AT and her friends over, she has to play forward instead. Angelina and Didi take turns in goal instead.”

Angelina Anderson and Didi Haracic. Hannah’s mind reeled. “Oh, um, do AT and…and her friends come over a lot?”

“When we all have time. I’m sure they’ll be over at some point during the holidays,” Abby assured her, and Amanda gave Hannah a reassuring squeeze.

“They’re normal girls, just like you, sweetheart,” she said reassuringly. “Don’t you worry.”

“Are they going to come over tomorrow?” she squeaked.

“They have flights to catch tomorrow, some of them. And we have somewhere to be too, don’t we darling?” She tugged Hannah’s braid gently. 

“How does the DNA test work?” Hannah’s stomach fluttered.

“Well, I’m not a geneticist so I don’t know all the intricacies, but you know they have everyone’s DNA on file, from the blood test they do to begin the Classification process,” Amanda reminded her. “It’s not a matter of sequencing our DNA, so much as matching it to what they have, and then matching it - if they can - to each other.”

“Oh.” Hannah fidgeted anxiously. “What if it says…what we think it says?”

Amanda gave the young woman a carefully measured look. “If it says you’re my daughter? That I’m your mother?”

Nervously, Hannah nodded. 

“Then it’ll confirm the feeling we already had, and that’ll be good news for both of us, won’t it?” Amanda asked gently.

Hannah nodded slowly. “But what if it doesn’t?”

“Then I’m sure it can tell you who your biological mother is, honey. But I’ll still want you to be mine, too.”

Hannah looked startled. “You will?”

“M-hmm. Didn’t we tell you? You stay under our roof, that makes you our family. Like magic.” She smiled, giving Hannah a reassuring hug. “Don’t you worry, Hannah, sweetheart. It’s going to be alright.”

“I…I want it to be true.”

“So do I.” Amanda patted Hannah’s back gently. “Either way, honey, you’re a part of my heart.”

Hannah snuggled into Amanda’s embrace. “What happens after we get back from the test?” she asked.

Amanda drew back to look at Hannah, cupping her cheek with her palm. “Well, angel…that’s when Abby finally gets around to handling what happened with Bev.”

Hannah’s stomach dropped. She’d nearly forgotten. “Do…do we have to?”

“M-hmm.” Amanda gave her a gentle squeeze. “Don’t worry about it right now, sweetheart. Let’s forget about that today. Think about pancake tacos tonight, alright?”

Hannah nodded. Pancake tacos, she thought, trying to push her worries away. The pancakes that morning had been wonderful. So pancake tacos, as good as they had looked on the video earlier, must be amazing.

At Amanda’s urging, she absorbed herself in chasing, and being chased, by Tish, Amma, and the dogs, Abby joining in as they all ran around the mini soccer pitch. 

Amanda watched from the sideline, as Glennon came over and hugged her.

“You okay, Sister?”

“Nervous about tomorrow. Not the test so much,” Amanda clarified, clasping her locket. “I’m sure about what I know. She’s mine in my heart no matter what happens. But after, with Abby…”

“Are you sure Abby’s going to spank her, Sister?” Glennon asked, arching an eyebrow, and Amanda blinked twice.

“Huh?”

“Well, she is yours, you said so yourself. Especially if the DNA agrees with you,” Glennon pointed out. “Abby’s more likely to say it’s time for you to step up.”

Amanda squeaked. “Me?”

“Are you her mother or not?”

“Yes, but--”

“Don’t worry, Sister, we’ll help you,” Glennon soothed. “You and Hannah won’t be alone. Promise.”

Nervously, Amanda nodded. “Okay.”

“Good. Now let’s watch the soccer.”

Amanda laughed, snuggling close to her sister as they cheered their girls on. By the time they were ready to go in for pancake tacos, the dogs were thoroughly worn out and the girls were tired but happy. Not too tired to fall asleep over their dinner, of course.

Glennon and Amanda busied themselves with the little pancake ‘taco shells’ as Craig and Chase set the table. Abby was cooking the scrambled eggs and sausage, and soon everything was ready. 

“Come on family, let’s eat,” Abby said, and they gathered at the table, happily tucking into the meal together.

Afterward, once they’d clearned their plates, it was time for Craig and Chase to go home, but they promised they’d be back soon, even if they ought to give Amanda and Hannah some space the next day.

“Thanks Craig,” Amanda said. “That’s probably best.”

He nodded. “Any Meltons coming, come,” he called, and Amma gave Hannah a reassuring squeeze before going with her father and brother.

Tish shook her head. “Sorry, I’m staying. Hannah might need me tomorrow.”

“Good kid,” Craig praised his older daughter. “Just make sure not to trample all over her, Tish.”

“I won’t, Dad.”

When Hannah went up to bed that night, she settled in with Tish, who held her comfortingly.

“Whatever happens tomorrow happens,” Tish told her bracingly. “You’re gonna be okay. And we can have another guitar lesson, after,” she added. 

Hannah nodded, relieved by the gesture. “Okay.” She yawned. “Night, Tish.”

“Night, Hannah.”

For once, Tish didn’t pull an all-nighter. Her new cousin needed her, and the two cuddled close all through the night.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Glennon, Abby, and Amanda got up and got ready for the day. Amanda was nervous, but Abby put her in charge of starting the coffee (a task Sister was pretty good at) and while she and Glennon worked on sorting out breakfast, Abby went to wake Hannah.

She tried to manage without waking Tish, but that failed miserably; the teen was a light sleeper (when she wasn’t exhausted from pulling all-nighters) and didn't seem to want to get ready for the day, waving off her Mama Abby’s attempts at waking her up.

“I’m not ready to get up yet! You’ve still got to get Hannah up anyways,” she pointed out. “She’s sleeping like a log, though.”

“Morticia Glennon today is not the day to brat me about getting up, little girl.”

“You’ve said you won't smack me, what can you do?”

“I said I wasn't spanking you yet , this just added to your tally in my notebook I write in while you’re writing in yours. Speaking of, I can take away your YouTube privileges. How do you feel about that, little girl?”

Tish’s eyes widened. “Mama Abby!” She knew that Abby knew how important her YouTube presence, plus her assisting with We Can Do Hard Things was for her. Not as essential, maybe, as just being able to have her guitar in her hands - that spoke to her soul, and being able to share it with Mama Glennon was as integral as breathing. Being able to share it with the world wouldn’t kill her, but it would definitely hurt for as long as it was taken away.

“...Please don’t, Mama Abby, I’ll get up,” Tish conceded, deciding bratting further would do her no good. “I’m sorry.”

 Abby nodded, and when the teen slid out of bed, she pulled Tish in for a reassuring hug. “Alright, but no more sass today or you still get that tally. Clear?”

“Yes Mama Abby.” Tish went to start her morning routine, and Abby sat down on Tish’s vacated side of the bed (after pulling the sheets and blankets back up) and shook Hannah’s shoulder gently.

“Hey, Hannah, sweetie, time to wake up,” she coaxed. 

There was a rather pointed snore, and Abby rolled her eyes. “Uh huh. Try again, sweetheart, I know when you’re faking.”

“Nggg…” Hannah groaned, and Abby rubbed her back through the covers. “Donwanna.”

“I know,” Abby said. “But it’s time to get up, you don’t want to miss breakfast, Hannah. Glennon and Sister are making it right now.”

“But…” 

Abby pulled the covers back and scooped Hannah up, carrying the startled girl around the room as she clung to Abby for support. “Easy does it, little one. I know you’re nervous about today, but I promise, everyone just wants what’s best for you.”

Seeing Hannah still looked doubtful, she added, “There’s gonna be scrambled eggs, with cheese, plus bacon, and toast, does that sound good Hannah?”

Hannah peeked up at Abby. “Uh huh.”

“Good. Come on then darling.” Abby coaxed Hannah to get up, and helped her tidy herself, getting into her freshly laundered Classification Center scrubs again. She’d have to pick up the rest of her clothes from home if…if…well, the if didn’t want to go there just yet. Not to mention that home wasn’t really much right now, and…

She clung to Abby as the older woman washed Hannah’s face, brushing and plaiting her hair for her, then led her into the kitchen. The sight of Amanda made worry surge up again, but Amanda just took Hannah from Abby and held her tightly.

“Come on sweetheart, you need to eat something. We both do.”

“Can we?”

Amanda nodded. “We can.” She got Hannah settled at the table, where a plate of eggs, toast, and bacon waited - along with a glass of chocolate milk, and Hannah’s ADHD medication.

Hannah blinked. “How’d you know about this?”

“It was in your bag, Hannah,” Amanda replied. “Glennon recognized the signs and thought to check while we were asleep. Have you been off your medication?”

Hannah gulped nervously, taking the pills under Abby and Amanda’s twin looks. 

“Forgot,” she said meekly, quickly tucking into her breakfast.

“You won’t be forgetting again sweetheart,” Amanda said, both a warning and a promise. Slowly, Hannah nodded.

 “All done sweetheart?” Amanda asked.

At Hannah’s meek nod, Amanda took her plate and passed it to Glennon for her to wash.

Abby meanwhile left to check on Tish and make sure she was settled, she would be staying home to watch over the house. There was really no point in her also traveling with, she wouldn't be needed until they returned back home anyway.

Upon Abby’s return it became obvious to Hannah that everything was now in motion.

“Do we have to, Ma- Miss Amanda?” Hannah asked. 

Amanda ignored the slip and focused on placating Hannah, at least for now. 

“Yes, we do. It's time, sweetheart. Let's get you buckled into the back, okay? I'll sit with you, promise.” Amanda hastily added seeing the apprehensive look on Hannah’s face.

As Amanda buckled Hannah into the back seat, then climbed in beside her, Abby took the front passenger seat, letting Glennon drive, knowing it would occupy her wife’s attention and wouldn't allow her to focus too heavily on the nerves she was feeling, at least for now. 

Before the four knew it the van was parked in the parking lot of the Classification Center. 

As Hannah realized they were now one step closer, she started whining and her knee started bouncing up and down. 

“Hey, it's going to be okay. We're going to get through this, together, as a family.” Amanda replied as she reached a hand out to still Hannah’s nervous leg.

“Well, we're here. Might as well get this thing over with. No point in dragging this out.”

With that statement from Abby the four exited the van and made their way inside the Classification Center, bright and early Monday morning. 

They were greeted immediately by Beverly.

“Good morning, Amandah, little one. You coming for your test, ah?” She nodded knowingly.

“We’re going to help them through it, we promised,” Glennon interrupted, subsiding when Abby squeezed her upper arm warningly.

“Of course you promise, Glennon-ah,” Beverly nodded solemnly. “Take care of family is most important thing. This is shou so deep it live in your bones, how a daughter honors her mother. And how she can do that if she does not know her mother, hmm?”

Glennon exchanged a look with Abby. “If I didn’t know better I’d think you were up to something, Beverly Riley.” 

“Me? I not know what ever you mean, Glennon-ah.” Bev winked at Glennon. “ The results I am told are in these envelopes. BUT before you open them, promise me something… No matter the result, you stay in contact with Hannah, no?”

“Of course I’d stay in contact with Hannah, she’s ours,” Amanda said vehemently. “I already told her so, and I won't break my promises.” She looked at Bev. “So…that’s it? We just open the envelope, we don’t have to take blood or anything?” Amanda asked, just to be sure.

“Nope, I checked to make sure and put the request before I left Friday. I had feeling you might be back with questions, I was right. Here you go. Word of advice: you might want to open them back at home where you are in safe space, regardless of result. You take day off.” With that final sentence, Beverly left the four standing there as the first appointment of the morning, and the week, now entered the Center.

Amanda exchanged glances with Glennon and Abby before looking back at Hannah. “Are you okay, sweetheart?” she prompted, as Hannah stared after Beverly.

“I don’t know yet,” Hannah admitted meekly.

“Why don’t we do as Miss Beverly said then, go back home and open these,” Amanda suggested gently.

Hannah swallowed nervously. “And…and after?” She peeked at Abby. “I was gonna say sorry to Miss Beverly,” she added, feeling anxious. “Really I was, but she didn’t give me the chance.”

“We can text her later, or even call if you want to, I'm not mad at you, Hannah, and I guarantee you that Beverly is not mad at you either, work just came calling.” Abby gestured to both the line that was starting to form leading to Beverly’s desk and to the waiting room and chairs that were slowly, but surely starting to fill up.

With Hannah now feeling better that Beverly didn't just walk away, the four women made their way to the van that was parked outside in the parking lot, and would take them home.

Abby drove this time, and Glennon took the passenger seat as Amanda sat in back with Hannah, the two holding their envelopes. Both were equally apprehensive about the results contained inside, even though Amanda, at least, couldn’t see how they could be anything other than she suspected.

They drove in silence until Abby finally pulled up to the house, parking in the driveway, and then the four of them went inside. They were greeted by the sound of Tish’s guitar being strummed softly not far away.

They headed out into the backyard, where the small soccer pitch was, and found Tish sitting on the patio in the porch swing with her guitar. The door had been ajar, and the dogs were running amok on the soccer pitch.

Abby rolled her eyes at the dogs’ antics, and guided Hannah and Abby to sit down at the patio table. “Here you are, sweetheart,” she said gently, “if you want, I can ask Tish to go back inside and Glennon and I can take the dogs for a walk,” as if they’re not already exercising enough. “What do you think?”

“They can stay,” Hannah offered quietly. She looked at Amanda, both of them still clutching their test results anxiously, and took a shaky breath.

“We’ll open them at the same time, sweetheart,” Amanda prompted, and Hannah nodded. At Amanda’s signal, they opened their envelopes together, and looked.

Tears filled Amanda’s eyes, and Hannah let out a choked sort of noise, causing Tish to stop playing her guitar and look up.

“What happened? Is everything okay??” Tish demanded. “What did the test say?”

Amanda scooted her chair back and opened her arms to Hannah, who scrambled into her lap and clung tight.

“It’s true,” she whispered. “Really.”

“Really,” Amanda agreed, holding Hannah close. “It’s alright sweetheart. Mama’s here, little one.”

Hannah buried her face in Amanda’s shoulder with a sob and tightened her hold as Amanda rocked her gently.

“It’s okay angel, I’ve got you,” Amanda soothed. “You’re alright, I’m right here, I won’t disappear, shhh, it’s alright, just hold on to me as much as you need.”

Hannah nodded into Amanda’s shoulder, and Amanda rubbed her back comfortingly, feeling how touch-starved Hannah - her daughter - was and silently vowing to rectify the situation. 

“I know, sweetheart, I know you’re nervous, but I’m here and we’ll figure it out together, promise. Your Auntie Abby and Auntie Glennon will help too.”

Hannah peeked up at Abby and Glennon shyly. "Really?"

"Really," they promised together.

Chapter Text

“Okay honey, if you’re ready we’ll go back inside.” Amanda had seen Abby’s look and knew what that meant. She rubbed Hannah’s back again gently. “I can carry you if you want, Hannah, angel, you don’t have to let go of me. I may not be quite as strong as your Auntie Abby, but I can still manage with you.”

Hannah pressed her face into Amanda’s shoulder and nodded, holding tight as Amanda got up, carrying her inside. Abby followed, leaving Glennon and Tish in the backyard for the moment, and they settled in the family room, on the couch, with Hannah cuddled in Amanda’s lap.

“Okay sweetheart,” Amanda soothed, “Mama’s here, it’s all gonna be okay, alright Hannah?”

Hannah lifted her head, eyes wide, and looked at Abby. “O-oh please…not now…Aunt Abby, please , no…”

Amanda gave the tiniest eyeroll. She knows who’s in charge in this family. She continued murmuring soothingly to Hannah, stroking her hair.

“Yes, Hannah,” Abby said calmly and matter-of-factly. “I know you’re worried about it, but the best way to stop worrying is just to have it over with. No one’s mad with you, I promise, and once you’ve been disciplined it’ll be forgiven and forgotten, no one’s going to say any more about it. That’s how it is in this family.”

“W-what about that tally you keep talking about for Tish?” Hannah ventured.

“We can talk about that later, little one, now’s not the time,” Abby said quietly. She scooted closer, and rubbed Hannah’s shoulder comfortingly. “Now, if I remember right, you said your grandmother had a strap she used for your spankings, you’d never had a hand spanking before?”

“Yes. And no, not that I remember anyway,” Hannah added in response to the second part of the question. “Why?” she asked warily.

“Can you tell us what it looked like?” 

Hannah approximated the considerable length between her hands, spreading her arms out. “And it had a big silver buckle, I guess it was more of a belt, really.”

If she ever used the end with the buckle-- Amanda looked murderous, clutching Hannah to her. “That’s never something you’re going to have to worry about in this house,” Abby said calmly, and something in her tone helped Amanda calm down. “There is a strap here, but it’s only about a foot long. It’s usually used on the hands, though it can be used for spankings. Just a few smacks, either way, and it’s not at all heavy. No buckle, either.” 

Hannah gulped. “Are you going to--”

“Remember when you had your first spanking from me, Hannah?” Abby prompted. “And we started with one, just to see if that was alright, and it turned out to not be too scary after all?”

Slowly, Hannah nodded.

“It’ll be the same way this time, little one. You’re not going to be touched with anything without being aware of it first. I know the idea is scary, and I think you’re a very brave girl for facing up to it,” 

Not that you’ve given her much choice, Abby, Amanda thought wryly. But she supposed this was Abby’s way of helping Hannah learn that she was safe, even when things seemed scary.

“I’m trying, Auntie Abby,” Hannah said hesitantly, and Abby patted her knee gently.

“Good girl. I know you’re trying, it’s going to be alright,” Abby soothed her. “I’m going to go get the strap, okay honey, and bring it here so you can have a look at it?”

Hannah nodded anxiously, and snuggled back into Amanda’s embrace the moment Abby left.

“Mama?” she whispered, and Amanda kissed the top of Hannah’s head lightly.

“I’m right here angel. I know it’s scary, sweetheart, but I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere,” Amanda promised. “You’re being so good for me and Auntie Abby, Hannah, honey, and it’s going to be all alright soon. Mama’s here.” She rocked Hannah gently, cuddling her until Abby returned.

Abby sat down beside Amanda and Hannah, and rested one hand on Hannah’s knee, squeezing gently. “Okay sweetie, breathe and look at me, alright?”

Nervously, Hannah looked up, and Abby put the strap in her hands for Hannah to look over. It was about thirteen inches long, and two inches wide. Some of that length was the handle, which definitely didn’t have a buckle on it, and it definitely didn’t feel anywhere near as heavy as Grandmother Cardwell’s strap.

“What do you think, little one?”

Hannah swallowed nervously. “Still a little bit scary,” she offered, “but not big scary like Grandmother’s.”

Abby nodded, rubbing Hannah’s shoulders comfortingly. “It’s not going to be very much with it, sweetheart. But it does need to be some with it, because you broke some important safety rules on Friday, and we need you to remember to be more careful. Do you understand?”

“Uh huh,” Hannah whispered.

“Okay. Good girl,” Abby soothed, taking the strap back. “Now, first of all, your hands were naughty, Hannah Amanda. Because you were using them to stick magnets and other things to the door to keep it open. Isn’t that right?”

Nervously, Hannah nodded.

“Can you hold out your hands for me, honey, if Amanda holds them still for you? Just one at a time,” Abby clarified. “I don’t expect you to do it on your own. One each will be enough for your hands, for a first time.”

Hannah gulped.

“I’m scared.”

“Mama’s here, sweetheart,” Amanda reassured her. “I’ll hold your hands still for you, and you can stay here on my lap. It’s okay to be scared, but that part will be over so soon.”

Quickly, before she could change her mind, Hannah nodded. 

Amanda squeezed Hannah’s left hand, her dominant hand, presenting it first, palm up. One of her hands was cupped under Hannah’s, the other holding her wrist still. “Close your eyes and take a breath for me, Hannah,” Amanda murmured, and Hannah did as her Mama said. As she inhaled, the strap came down across her palm, making Hannah yelp.

“Oww!”

“I know, honey,” Amanda rubbed the pink stripe across Hannah’s palm, soothing it just a little. “Other hand, please, Hannah, sweetheart, then your hands won’t be getting any more, promise.”

Sniffling, Hannah obediently offered her other hand, and Amanda held it still to receive the single smack. That elicited another yelp from Hannah, and Amanda hummed sympathetically, letting her rub her sore hands together.

“I know, baby girl. Mama knows it hurts, little one, but you took that bravely and there’s no more for your hands,” Amanda murmured, cuddling her. 

Eyes shining with tears, Hannah clung to Amanda. “I d-don’t want it on my bottom, Mama.”

“I know. I know you don’t, angel. But you earned it, hmm?” Amanda sighed, rubbing Hannah’s back. “Believe me, Hannah, sweetheart, if it was me I’d be protesting just as much. I understand, really I do.”

“But you won’t make Aunt Abby not do it?”

“Oh, I’m not doing this next part, am I, Amanda?” Abby raised an eyebrow. 

“Mama?” Hannah looked worried, and Amanda looked back at Abby in silent appeal.

Do we have to?

Abby leaned in, whispering in Amanda’s ear.  “Your reluctance is only confusing, and probably slightly scaring her, plus only adding to your punishment with me, Sister.”

Amanda swallowed nervously. “Yes sweetie, I’m going to handle it. But Auntie Abby’s gonna stay with us,” she added. “And nothing happens without you knowing about it first, okay? We have to deal with your spanking, for using the ladder after being told no, and  using the magnets after being told multiple times not to and the soaping is for lying and not 

 asking for your key to start with.”

Hannah gave Amanda a worried look. “Have you ever spanked anyone before, Mama?”

“Not really. Usually I’m on the other side of things.”

“Oh.” That wasn’t reassuring. 

“I’ve been spanked enough to know what it feels like. And I probably should feel a lot weirder about admitting that to you, but it’s not like we didn’t talk about things like that at work when I was just your work mom.”

“Yeah, but then you weren’t going to do it.”

“I know, Hannah, honey.” Amanda sighed. “But it’s time, and we have to get it done. It’s going to be just like last time with Auntie Abby, okay? Ten, is that fair? We’ll start with one, just to make sure you’re alright.”

“O…okay, Mama,” Hannah said anxiously.

“That’s my angel. Come on then.” Amanda settled Hannah facedown over her lap, and Abby took Hannah’s hands in hers, holding them gently. “Now, your scrubs bottoms need to come down, but I’ll let you keep your panties on just like Auntie Abby did, alright?”

Hannah nodded, squirming as Amanda tugged her bottoms down, and letting out an anxious whimper.

“I know, sweetheart,” Amanda said. “Now, here we go, you tell me if it’s too hard, Hannah.” 

Hannah cringed in anticipation, but the spank that crossed the middle of her bottom had almost no force behind it; it might as well be a birthday spank for all the good it did.

“Mama?!” Hannah sputtered, tone questioning, and Abby raised an eyebrow at Amanda, clearing her throat.

“You're being too soft Sister. A little more force, come on a little more,” Abby said pointedly, and then pitching her voice lower for Amanda’s ears alone, “If I have to take over I will be harder on both of you, you know the strength I'm looking for, and that she needs, use it, now.” 

Amanda’s cheeks flushed pink. She did know what Abby was looking for, and to be absolutely fair it wasn’t all that hard, so she supposed not making it hurt at all was a disservice.

“Sorry, I got nervous,” she admitted. “Do you trust me, honey?”

“Yes, Mama,” Hannah replied. “I don’t want it, but if you have to…was that one?”

“No, angel. This is.” Amanda swatted down a little more firmly, sharp enough to sting this time, and Hannah yelped, whimpering.

“Oww, Mama…”

“I know, there you are,” Amanda soothed, “take a breath for me and we’ll finish up this part.”

  Hannah squirmed and squealed. Sniffling, Hannah nodded, and Amanda petted her hair before resuming the spanking, giving her nine more stinging but not terrible smacks. It was enough, for Hannah, to start tears, and Amanda picked her back up, giving her a cuddle.

“You’re doing so well for me, angel,” she cooed. “It’s alright Hannah, that’s all with Mama’s hand now. We just have two more bits to take care of.”

“You and me, or Auntie Abby and me?” Hannah asked anxiously.

“You and me, sweetheart. But Auntie Abby will also be with us. Let's go to the bathroom okay, just trust Mama, sweetheart.”

At Abby’s nod, the trio made their way to the house's downstairs bathroom, Abby checking on Glennon and Tish who were making their way up to Tish’s room.

“Everything okay, cherie ?”

Tish jumped like a startled cat and came over to peer at Hannah critically. “Mama Abby, where are you taking Hannah?” she demanded. “Is she alright? Is she going to be alright? She’s been crying.”

Hannah blushed and buried her face in Amanda’s shoulder. “Sorry,” she whispered.

“No, no, it’s alright to cry when you need to,” Tish backtracked. “I’m not mad with you, Hannah, promise. Just worried about you.”

“I’m worried about what you two think you’re doing,” Abby replied, raising an eyebrow. “Were you going upstairs, or were you hiding outside the family room?”

“Um.” Glennon and Tish exchanged glances. “We’ll go upstairs now, Abby.”

“See that you do.”

Glennon took Tish by the hand and guided the teenager upstairs. Despite Abby’s stern tone, neither her wife or teenage daughter seemed particularly afraid of her wrath, and Amanda murmured soothingly to Hannah as they left. 

“It’s okay honey, Mama’s here, we just have to finish up, and then if you want, we can see Tish and Auntie Glennon, okay?”

Hannah nodded into Amanda’s shoulder as they entered the bathroom, Abby following behind them. She closed the door, and the click of the lock made Hannah jump.

“Sorry, petite,” Abby soothed, squeezing Hannah’s shoulder gently. “Just making sure no one comes in here until we’re finished. I don’t want you worried about that.”

“I’m not…it’s not…”

Abby unlocked the door, opening it the slightest bit. “Is that better, little one?”

Relaxing, Hannah nodded. “But…now what?” 

“You lied to Bev, Hannah,” Amanda said. “And to Glennon about whether Bev was right that you were naughty or not. I know you’re going to apologize to them, but you still need a consequence for that.” She glanced at Abby, who raised an eyebrow.

Abby took a clean washcloth out of the bathroom cupboard, and a new bar of soap, still wrapped in its paper. As Hannah watched from the security of Amanda’s arms, Abby lathered the cloth at the sink, coating it with soapsuds.

Then she brought the cloth to Amanda.

“Have you had your mouth washed out before, angel?” Amanda asked sympathetically, and Hannah gulped, nodding.

“Grandmother made me chew on a bar of soap and hold it in my mouth for…things.”

“Okay, well, the bar of soap isn’t here, it’s back over on the sink, sweetheart. And I’m not going to leave the cloth in your mouth either,” Amanda said soothingly. “If it’s too much, just let me know, okay? Mama’s here.” 

Hannah nodded, and obediently, if reluctantly, opened her mouth for the cloth. Amanda ran it quickly around the inside of Hannah’s mouth, with just gentle swipes to lightly coat her teeth and tongue with the suds. Then she removed the cloth, tossing it into the sink. “Just a minute, then you can rinse out, my angel,” Amanda soothed. “Hold on to me, I’ve got you.” 

Hannah clung to Amanda, sniffling into her shoulder as she tried to ignore the bitterness in her mouth. “S-sorry Mama, I’m sorry I lied to Miss Beverly and Auntie Glennon, I’ll try to be better…don’t wan’ to be a bad girl…”

“Shh, you’re my very good girl, angel, you’re doing so well, my brave little one, almost done now, really truly,” Amanda soothed, as Abby brought a small cup of water for Hannah to rinse out at the sink. “There you go sweetheart, rinse out, it’s alright.” She rubbed Hannah’s back comfortingly after Hannah had got all the soap she could out of her mouth.

“Mama? W-what’s left?” Hannah quivered, and Amanda kissed the top of her head gently as Abby brought the little strap back out of her pocket.

“Two more, little one. Not on your hands,” she added. 

Hannah gulped, eyes wide, and put her hands back to protect her bottom instinctively. 

“That’s right, there, angel,” Amanda murmured, rubbing her back. “I know you’re worried, sweetheart, but it’s just the two, and then it’ll be all over finally, all finished, and you’ll be back in Mama’s arms, it’ll be okay.” 

“Besides, it’ll be your Mama taking care of this last bit,” Abby remarked. She meant it as reassurance, but Hannah looked alarmed.

“M-Mama?”

“I don’t know, Abby,” Amanda said quietly, as she stroked Hannah’s hair gently. “I’ve never done that before. I’ve at least given birthday spankings, but this…what if I get it wrong?”

“You won’t, Sister,” Abby said bracingly. “It’s alright to be nervous, but just remember, Hannah’s your daughter, and we trust you.” 

Amanda looked at Hannah, who swallowed and nodded.

“Auntie Abby can hold me?”

“I will, petite,” Abby soothed. “I’m here. And you’ll be right back in your Mama’s arms after.”

Abby stood with her back against the bathroom counter, pulling Hannah gently into her arms and helping her niece bend over to take the strokes of the strap. Her scrubs bottoms were back up, and Abby left them there. “Hold on to me, sweetheart. Close your eyes. Relax. Breathe.” 

Hannah did her best to obey, leaning into Abby’s hold, closing her eyes, and exhaling as she relaxed her bottom. 

“Okay angel, here we go, don’t tense up,” Amanda cautioned, and Hannah tried not to, she really did. The strap connected with her bottom, one stroke below the other, and then it was gone. She tightened her hold on Abby with a sob, and Abby rubbed her niece’s back reassuringly.

“There you are, brave girl, all done,” Abby soothed. “It’s okay, all forgiven, petite. Your mama’s right here, it’s all okay now.”

Amanda leaned over and kissed Hannah’s forehead, and Hannah propelled herself into her mother’s embrace, tears spilling over.

“Mama it hurts and I sorry and I never ever be bad again.”

“Oh, honey ,” Amanda murmured. “It’s okay Hannah darling, you’re all forgiven, and you took your discipline so well, my good, brave girl.” She cuddled Hannah close, rubbing her back. “It’s okay sweetheart, no more soaping, no more smacks, it’s all finished.”

“Never ever?” Hannah asked hopefully, through her tears - Amanda could see she was slipping.

She laughed reassuringly and gave her little girl a fondly exasperated look.

“That depends entirely on you, my angel. But even if or when you get smacked again, it’s going to be all alright after. You’re still ours, we still love you and we always will.” She cuddled Hannah close. “Just remember, baby girl. If Mama isn’t too big to be spanked, you’re not either, and that’s okay. It’s all okay.”

“Okay, let's get you a glass of milk and maybe some cookies, how does that sound Hannah?”

“Wood, tanks Aut Auby.”

“No problem, little one. I have a surprise for you, too.”

“Suwise?!”

“We like surprises, don't we, sweetheart?” Amanda asked. 

“Well follow me to the kitchen, then.” Abby responded. 

Once the trio made their way to the kitchen, Amanda sat at the breakfast table with a clearly little-spaced, and clingy, Hannah on her lap while Abby got the milk from the fridge and the multiple types of cookies from the pantry. She didn’t stop there, however. Finally Abby reached way in the back of the highest cabinet   and came out with a sippy cup, sized for adult hands, in a pattern Littles would find pleasing.

After a quick wash and dry, Abby poured some milk in the cup and offered all three options to both mother and daughter, leaving a glass and the carton should Amanda want to partake also.

“I'll be back. You two stay here and enjoy the snacks, okay?”

Receiving two nods in response and, wanting to not only give the pair some time to bond but also wanting to wait until Hannah was once more in a grown up state of mind, Abby decided to test a theory and go check on her girls. 

Amanda poured herself some milk, sighing as she set Hannah on her feet for the few moments it would take to put the carton away. She ensured her body stayed angled toward Hannah, so she was facing her little one the whole time, and in just a few minutes Amanda was back in her seat with Hannah in her lap. 

“Alright honey,” she soothed, “Mama’s here, let’s just relax now, my angel.” As she cuddled Hannah and they had their cookies and milk, Amanda wondered what Abby would find.

As Hannah and Amanda were snuggled in the kitchen, Tish was upstairs in her room with Glennon. At the present moment, the teen was lying on her bed next to her mother, snuggled close as they talked.

“Do you think Hannah’s going to be alright, mom? And Aunt Amanda? If Mama Abby’s doing this tally thing to them that she’s always talking about.” Tish was just loud enough with this question to catch Abby’s attention as she approached.

I'll have you know, I'm not, but I just added to yours, Morticia Glennon. Abby thought while she waited outside. She wanted to see what her love's response would be. 

“I think Hannah’s going to be fine, Tish. She’s going to probably be a bit sore, because she was naughty enough to be spanked, but she’s going to be properly comforted after,” Glennon responded. “As for Aunt Amanda…” Glennon paused, reframing her daughter’s question in her head. “I think she’s probably feeling very emotional, finally getting her daughter back--”

“Her daughter we didn’t know anything about,” Tish pointed out.

“Abby and I will talk with her about that,” Glennon assured Tish. “You’ll hear everything you need to know. As for tallies… ” Glennon raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think your Mama Abby mentions them half as much as you think she does, sweetheart, but that doesn’t make your feelings any less valid. You know what I think? I think you’re worried because you’re going to be eighteen in a few months, and then you’ll be Classified, and then your Mama Abby will see about that tally.”

Tish gulped nervously. “Has she been saving up every naughty thing I’ve ever done since she got to be Mama Abby?”

“I don't think for everything since ever , but even I can tell you all the sass recently definitely counts. Believe me, I know what too much sass too often gets you. ”

“That's right! Your mother tried to pull this same excessive sass routine when we were first getting serious, I haven’t had to use the tally system as often, since then.

Until now, that is my darling naughty little daughter. You might be happy to know however there are multiple tiers, currently you're on the lowest one. The one with the least punishment. Though you're there multiple times recently. Tsk tsk.”

Tish looked up as Mama Abby stepped into view, framed in the doorway. Her eyes widened as she processed Mama Abby’s words. “Multiple times, Mama Abby?” she ventured anxiously. “Does…does that mean…” She faltered, unable to find the exact words she wanted, and looked at Glennon for help.

“Despite what Abby and Sister think, I’m not really a mind reader, sweetheart,” Glennon said wryly. “You’re going to have to be a little more specific if you want my help figuring out what you mean.”

Tish huffed in frustration, staring at her lap.

“You know what I think? I think there's been a lot of changes, good changes thankfully, but changes nonetheless, and your bratty side is trying to express all of the emotions that you are feeling. It's probably not easy because you're essentially the oldest now and that comes with lots of different things. You decided subconsciously to start bratting, but especially after you realized you wouldn't get smacked for it. How close am I?” Abby asked as she crossed the room to sit on Tish’s bed. 

Tish looked wide-eyed at Abby, snuggled between her mothers now. “I…you…” She sputtered, blushing pink. “I’m not a brat,” she protested. “I’m not.”

“We don’t know yet, darling, and if you are there’s nothing wrong with that,” Glennon said gently. “You’re a teenager is all, and that involves some bratting no matter what you turn out to be. It’s alright, you’re learning how to express yourself, and you’re almost an adult, not quite there yet. But is your Mama Abby close otherwise?”

Slowly, Tish nodded.

“And you already smacked Hannah, didn’t you?” Tish asked quietly. “Even though we just got her not that long ago, and she’s only just ours for real now?”

“Yes, that's right. But her smacking was only harder once she was ours for sure, and most of it was given by her mama.”

Tish gulped. “Does, does that mean that-”

“What, hey it's okay. Talk to me, Tish.”

“Does that mean that you aren't truly my mama until you can spank me?”

Abby looked taken aback by this revelation.

Abby: (choked up) “N- no sweetie. That's not what that meant. Aunt Amanda was Hannah’s mother long before smacks would get involved and she will be long after. Did something bring this on, besides the obvious, little love?”

“It's just, you were my last parent to form our family. I guess I always just wondered if like, there'd be a certain moment or thing that made you Mama. I'm starting to realize it might be right now?”

Tish crawled over to sit in Abby’s lap while her tears soaked Abby’s shirt as she cried into the nape of Abby’s neck.

Glennon meanwhile tried to capture photographic evidence, all while feeling misty eyed herself.

Abby rocked Tish gently as the teen cried. “Alright, little love,” she soothed Tish gently, “you’ve convinced me. You want to know what it’s all about, do you, little one?” She brushed tears off Tish’s cheek, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

“Um…” Tish looked up nervously as her mamas exchanged a meaningful look. She wasn’t sure what this look was, but Glennon and Abby had looks for each other that definitely meant something.

“Maybe we save this conversation for another time? But anytime it's just the three of us, just remind me and I'll breakout, “Storytime with Mama,  okay?"

Knock knock 

“Well well, little love. It seems Amanda and Hannah have come to us instead of me having to go to them. You think you could show Hannah your new song and keep them company for a bit? I need to have a discussion with Mama Glennon. Come along, cherie.”

As her mamas left, Tish curled up on her bed, watching Aunt Amanda and Hannah warily. She wondered just what Mama Abby had in mind that had been sidelined by their arrival, probably because Mama Abby heard their footsteps approaching before Tish was aware of them. She was good at that.

“Are you okay, Hannah?” She pushed her own worries to the side and tried to be the adult she almost was. “If you want, maybe I could show you my new song if that would help?”

Hannah curled up in Amanda's lap and nodded. She liked listening to Tish's songs.

"Otay."

Tish managed a smile for the obvious Little - Hannah was adorable in this condition, she had to admit, and picked up her guitar. Slowly, she began picking out chords, watching as Hannah's eyes followed her fingers' movements. Soon, her melodious voice joined to her tune, and Tish's singing soothed both cousins' fraught emotions.

Amanda, too, found herself relaxing as she heard her niece sing. There was more to discuss, she knew, but all that could wait. For now, music was a salve to her girls' wounded hearts.

And I'll be there for them, too, every step of the way. Amanda slipped one hand into Hannah's, and rested the other on Tish's knee. I've got you, loves. Don't you worry.

Chapter Text

As Abby and Glennon made their way down the hall, Abby could tell that her wife was nervous.

Glennon was twisting her necklace between her fingers, a tell-tale sign she had too much on her mind. 

“Are you sure Sister and the kids are gonna be okay?” she ventured. “After she just had to…” Glennon looked anxiously at her wife. “How much of that did you make her take care of?”

“Enough of it, she's her mother now. The same amount I'm about to give you, just enough. Not more, not less. They're both fine.”

“Yes ma’am,” Glennon subsided, knowing that tone. “I didn’t mean to be insulting or bratting,” she added with a note of anxiety, “it’s just, she’s Sister and she’s never had to--” Amanda would always be her little sister, and finding her suddenly a mother in her own right had Glennon reeling, she couldn’t imagine how Amanda herself must be taking it.

“Hey, she did a wonderful job for her first time. They're both comfortable now, listening to our wonderful girl and her passion. And we'll be here to help them with all the bumps in the road going forward.”

“Yeah,” Glennon agreed with a nod. “I’m glad they’re all right, Abby. How worried should I be?” she added, wondering just how much trouble she’d landed herself in.

“Well, let’s see, cherie. What are we worried about?” Abby asked. She led Glennon back to their bedroom, where no one was likely to spy on them. “How much trouble do you think you ought to be in?”

Glennon absolutely hated that question, and grimaced as Abby closed the door behind them. “Oh, not fair.”

“Yes fair, Glennon,” Abby said patiently. “Why don’t we start with where you went wrong on Friday.”

Glennon sighed. “I tried to get Hannah out of her punishment by talking Bev out of doing it.”

“I think Miss Beverly would be more appropriate right now. I know we’re friends, but still.”

“Yes ma’am,” Glennon conceded. “I tried to talk Miss Beverly out of punishing Hannah, and I guess I hoped you’d let her off, too.”

“You hoped?” Abby raised an eyebrow. “You know me better than that, Glennon. Hannah broke some safety rules, she was always going to need that taken care of. What do we call that, hmm?”

“Brat solidarity?” Glennon asked, and Abby chuckled reluctantly.

“I suppose. But now you’ve earned yourself discipline too, so ask yourself, was it worth it?”

Glennon swallowed hard..

Helping a fellow brat, not to mention a tiny Little, break safety rules? Or, well, if not helping, implicitly agreeing that she should be let off? No, she was doomed, Glennon thought as her wife pulled out the same short strap she’d just used (and had Sister use) to spank Hannah. “I’m already regretting it,” she sighed, eyeing the strap.

“Good,” Abby said dryly. “But don’t worry, cherie,” she added, “Hannah only got four with it, two on her hands. Which reminds me, your hands are safe.”

“But not Sister’s,” Glennon inferred, and Abby nodded.

“She ought to have given Hannah the key, you had nothing to do with that.”

“Please be careful with Sister,” Glennon pleaded, and Abby nodded.

“As much as I will be with you, cherie, or as I was with Hannah. But for now it’s you I’m concerned with. On my lap please.”

Sometimes Glennon would take this as license to sit on Abby’s lap, there on the bed. She didn’t try that today - it had been a long morning already, and she doubted it was even ten-thirty - but obediently draped herself across Abby’s thighs, shivering a little as her wife bared her bottom.

“You won’t be cold long, cherie. ”

“Not funny,” Glennon mumbled into the pillow Abby gave her to hold, hugging it close.

“Forty, Glennon,” Abby said warningly. “I want you to count.”

Gulping, Glennon squeezed the pillow harder as the first spank descended. “One, ma’am,” she said, just loud enough for Abby to hear, and Abby’s other hand smoothed over Glennon’s hair comfortingly as the spanks continued to fall. They weren’t Abby’s full strength (thank everything holy), but just enough to be felt, and Glennon’s whirling, disjointed thoughts settled as she took her spanking, grounding herself as she counted each swat. The sting and heat built slowly, and by thirty she was fighting tears.

“T-thirty-five, ma’am--” Glennon choked on a sob, and Abby rubbed a little of the burn from her bottom, pausing.

“Color, my love?”

“Ow…green, ma’am,” Glennon sniffled as she caught her breath.

Abby nodded, running her gaze over Glennon to ensure she was telling the truth. “Alright my love, only ten left - five with my hand, and five with the strap, which I don’t expect you to count for me,” she added. 

Glennon groaned, but she’d guessed Sister wasn’t the only one facing the strap. Or not facing as the case may be. At least it was only five. “Yes ma’am.”

“Ready, then?”

Sighing, Glennon nodded, taking the last five swats from Abby’s hand more calmly, though fuck did that hurt.

The strap was worse, of course, but it was a little thing as straps went, only the size of a ruler and some of that length handle. It was even called a ‘ruler paddle’ by some due to its short length and narrow width. Glennon hated the thing, but it wasn’t as bad as some straps or leather paddles could be.

The five smacks from the short strap came down across the tops of Glennon’s thighs, so far unmarked. She sobbed anew into the pillow, but Abby didn’t prolong it and soon they were done. Glennon was lifted back into Abby’s arms carefully, and Abby held her close as she cried.

“All done, cherie, it’s all finished,” she soothed Glennon gently. Glennon hissed in pain when Abby eased her bottoms back up, but she was no longer shivering. “I’d suggest you take a nap before lunch, but first I need you to send Sister to me.”

“Hannah’s going to have a meltdown,” Glennon said, taking this in as her tears slowed.

“Not if you stay with her, cherie. She needs Auntie Glennon, and our Tish needs you just as much. You can rest with our girls, I’m sure they won’t object.”

Reluctantly, Glennon got up off Abby’s lap, and let her wife wash her face free of tears. “Yes ma’am,” she said softly. “I’ll do it for the girls, but please--”

“I’ll take care of Sister, my love,” Abby promised. “I always do.”

Glennon nodded, and slowly left the bedroom.

As Glennon came back into Tish’s room, she noticed the girls were still focused on each other and motioned for Sister to go to Abby and get her part finished. Glennon sat down gingerly on Tish’s bed, trying her best to suppress the yelp that wanted to come out, as not to alert the girls to her being back, and now sporting a warm bottom. Apparently she failed miserably as both girls turned in her direction, and Tish quickly put the guitar down. “Mom? Are you okay?”

“Auntie Glennon?” Hannah’s voice quavered as she reluctantly got to her feet so Amanda could get up.

“I’m going to be okay, sweethearts,” Glennon promised. “Hannah, little one, Auntie Abby needs to discuss matters privately with your Mama. She’s just going to be down the hall in mine and Abby’s room, and you stay here with me and Tish, okay?” Glennon prompted.

“Mama,” Hannah objected, as Amanda reluctantly headed for the door. Amanda turned around and wrapped Hannah in her embrace, rubbing her back.

“It’s going to be okay, angel. I should have done better, I know that. I should have given you your key at work, whether you asked me for it or not. And getting in Miss Beverly’s way wasn’t smart of me either,” Amanda said reluctantly. “I’m sure I’m in at least as much trouble as your Auntie Glennon was, and maybe a bit more, but I trust your Auntie Abby, alright, Hannah, honey?”

Hannah nodded reluctantly. “But Mama I don’t want you to be smacked.”

“I don’t want it either, sweetie, but it’ll be better to get it over with, then we can nap before lunch, and feel better, okay?” Amanda patted Hannah’s back reassuringly. “Why don’t you nap right now, sweetheart, and have cuddles from Auntie Glennon until I get back. I love you sweetheart and I promise I’ll be back really soon, your Auntie won’t do anything I can’t handle.”

Hannah sucked on her lower lip and nodded. “I’ll try,” she offered, watching anxiously from the safety of Glennon’s arms as Amanda left the room.

Tish scooted closer, the teen resting her head on Hannah’s shoulder. “It’s alright, Hannah,” she said bracingly. “Mom’s here, and so am I.”

“That’s right,” Glennon agreed. “It’s going to be all alright, sweetheart.”

Meanwhile, Abby could hear Sister coming down the hall and clearly dragging her feet, not wanting to face her comeuppance.

When Amanda finally made it to Glennon and Abby’s bedroom, she knocked on the door.

“Come in, Sister,” Abby said patiently. Amanda obeyed, closing the door behind herself and eyeing her sister-in-law warily.

Abby had shifted from sitting on the bed, where she’d disciplined Glennon, to standing next to the seat at the end of the bed. 

Lying on top of the seat was an acupressure mat. 

Amanda paused and looked down at it. “What’s that for, Abby?” she asked warily.

“An option,” Abby replied calmly. “Glennon asked me to be gentle with you. I could reduce the number of smacks you’re going to get…but then you sit on this, first.” She spread a hand towel over the top, and Amanda looked nervously at it.

The towel was enough to protect her bottom from being prodded too firmly by the sharp points, but it was still going to be uncomfortable as hell. And, she wasn’t fooling herself, it would tenderize her bottom before she took the smacks that Abby was still going to give her. 

“What happens if I don’t want that?”

“Then you take the spanking I had planned for you,” Abby replied calmly. “The strap first, Sister, because out of you, Hannah, and Glennon, you were really most at fault here.” She raised an eyebrow at Amanda. “Or do you think I’m wrong about that?”

Meekly, Amanda shook her head. “No, you’re not wrong, Abby,” she admitted. “I got a lot wrong on Friday.”

Abby nodded. “But,” she added, “you got a lot right this weekend, and you’ve been doing well with Hannah, Sister. So well. I don’t want you to forget that.” She gave Amanda’s shoulder a comforting squeeze. “So this is up to you, Sister. Either you sit here for me for a little while before we get started, and I’ll reduce the smacks accordingly, or else we proceed as planned.”

“Bare?” Amanda asked doubtfully, grimacing at the thought.

“Panties up,” Abby promised. 

Amanda nodded, processing. That and the towel wouldn’t be much protection from the acupressure mat, but it was something, and if it meant she got a shorter spanking she could get back to Hannah sooner, hopefully…

“Okay, Abby,” Amanda exhaled. “I’ll try.” 

“That’s alright, Sister, all you need to do is try,” Abby agreed, giving her a comforting pat on the shoulder. “We’re going to set the timer for ten minutes to start with, alright?”

Amanda nodded, blushing as Abby lowered her scrubs bottoms to her knees and helped her sit on the mat. As the cushioned points pressed into her bottom, Amanda yelped, squirming. The squirming didn’t help in the least, so she gave up trying. “It’s awful already,” she informed Abby, who hummed sympathetically and rubbed her back. 

“Time’s started, Sister, so unless you’ve changed your mind…”

“No,” Amanda said quickly, keeping her hands clasped in front of her. “But whoever came up with this idea was a sadistic bastard.”

“Probably,” Abby said mildly. “But at least you’ve got the towel there. Imagine if you hadn’t.”

Amanda cringed at the thought. “Please don’t take it away.”

“I would never. It’s alright Sister, I’m here,” Abby soothed.

Tears were pooling in Amanda’s eyes by the time the ten minutes were up. When Abby’s alarm (Shakira’s “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)” ) went off, she bounced up, hands flying back to cover her bottom protectively. Abby rolled her eyes.

“Take a minute, Sister, it’s fine, we’re not in a rush here. You’re alright, now, you’re getting your strapping first and the hand smacks second, but they’ve both been reduced by ten, understood?”

Amanda swallowed and nodded. “Yes Abby. T-thank you for reducing them.”

“Of course, Sister. Do you want a hug before we continue?”

Amanda propelled herself into Abby’s arms, glad when her sister-in-law pulled her scrubs bottoms back up for now. They wouldn’t be much protection from her spanking anyway, not from Abby, and she clung to Abby for a few moments.

“There, there,” Abby soothed. “You’re doing good, Sister, I know you’ve already had a hard day of it. Let’s finish up, sweetheart.”

“What happens now?” Amanda swallowed nervously.

Abby pulled the strap out. “Hands, Sister,” she prompted. “One at a time.” 

Gulping, Amanda presented her right hand, palm up. Abby’s free hand cupped hers, offering at least a little support, as the short strap smacked her palm twice.

“Oww…” Amanda whimpered tearfully, and Abby stroked Amanda’s palm with her thumb. 

“I know, Sister, but that’s halfway done now,” she soothed. “Other hand, please.” 

Reluctantly, Amanda held her left hand out, and Abby supported it with her own, two stripes from the strap crossing her palm. Then, that part was over. Abby rubbed away a little of the sting from that hand, too, letting Amanda’s hand go and watching her rub her palms together.

“Okay Sister. You’ll be over my lap for the rest of it,” Abby prompted. She helped Amanda back on the bed, and settled her facedown, stretched out over Abby’s thighs. “Comfortable?”

“Oh, fuck you Abby.”

“No thank you, that’s your sister’s job.” Abby let the bratting go with no more than that because she knew Amanda was distraught, wanting nothing more than to get back to Hannah.

“Okay, deep breath Sister. Good, I'm starting now.”

Amanda clasped her sore hands in front of her, burying her face in the pillow, as the short strap smacked down across her bottom cheeks. Abby hadn’t displaced her clothes again, but thin as her scrubs bottoms were, it didn’t make much difference, especially as she was still tender from sitting on the mat for ten minutes.

“Oww, sorry, Abby, I’m sorry!”

“For sassing back? I’m sure you are little one,” Abby said, resting her other hand on Amanda’s hair as the strapping continued.

Amanda sobbed as the tenth smack fell, and then the strap was gone, Abby’s hand moving to rub her back gently.

“Almost finished, sweetheart,” Abby murmured. “Ten more with my hand, Sister, then five more minutes on the mat and we’ll call it done.”

Amanda whined in protest, especially when Abby tugged her scrubs bottoms back down first. The rest of her spanking would be delivered over her panties, and she’d have to sit on the mat like that again. She buried her face in the pillow, holding tightly to it for support.

“Count these for me, Sister.”

Amanda groaned, but nodded, and when the first smack fell with Abby’s hand, she managed to get “one, ma’am” out obediently. Abby took her time, and Amanda was able to manage counting all the way to “ten, ma’am” without missing a number. Then Abby paused, rubbing between Amanda’s shoulders.

“Alright, good girl, settle down Sister. Catch your breath, nearly done, just five more minutes on the mat now,” Abby murmured soothingly, and Amanda did her best to do as Abby instructed. When she was able to get up, she settled gingerly on the mat, trying to shift so her weight wasn’t fully on it.

Abby noticed. She shifted Amanda back into the proper position, and held her shoulders gently. “I know, Sister, but it’s going to be over soon,” she promised.

When the five minutes were up, Abby helped Amanda up and fixed her clothes for her, then led her back to Tish’s room. Tish was strumming her guitar lightly, Glennon and Hannah were half asleep, but Amanda’s re-entry was enough to have Hannah leaping up, barrelling into her mama’s arms.

“Oof…” Amanda staggered back a few steps, then led Hannah over to the big, squishy soft beanbag chair in the corner of Tish’s room, where they could cuddle together. Glennon turned over and fell deeper into slumber once she was assured of Amanda being intact, and Abby sat down on the bed next to Tish.

“Mama Abby? What were you going to say earlier, when Aunt Amanda and Hannah came up?” Tish asked quietly, not wanting to disturb Glennon or be overheard by Amanda and Hannah themselves.

Abby gave her daughter a measured look. “I was going to say, if you’re that worried about being spanked, little one, there’s nothing that says you can’t get a small taste of what it feels like. Just an idea, so you’ll be less worried about what’s actually going to happen in future.”

Tish looked startled, so Abby continued, “How about you just try getting in position and seeing how that feels first, then the whole prospect won't be as scary. If you're familiar with the positioning, the smacks themselves probably aren't as bad, I'd imagine..”

Tish sucked on her lower lip. “What do I do, Mama Abby?”

Abby looked at the nervous teen. “Just come here and settle, petite. ” She helped Tish lie facedown over her lap, and rubbed her back gently. “Like this, there you are. How does that feel?”

Tish took a breath and let it out slowly. “Not as scary as I thought, yet anyways,” she offered hesitantly. 

“That’s right. You see, nothing scary, little one.”

“But nothing’s happened yet,” Tish added doubtfully, wondering how far Mama Abby was willing to go with this.

“And nothing will. I do this gradually. You won't be spanked until at least your birthday, preferably not until you're classified. Any younger than that, a proper spanking, with Classification implements is illegal. And I prefer to be-”

“ Grandmother didn't think so.”

Four pairs of eyes whipped around towards a now obviously big Hannah curiously.

“When I was a teenager, she used her strap-” Hannah turned and pressed her face into her mama’s shoulder.

“Shh, it'll be alright. You'll never have to see her or that again. I promise , okay? Now why don't we dry those tears and maybe Tish will help you practice that new song about the soccer so that when AT comes over you can surprise her. How does that sound?”

“Yes Mama,” Hannah lifted her head from Amanda’s shoulder as they cuddled together in the beanbag chair. They’d mostly been leaving Abby and Tish to their private conversation, until Abby had made Hannah think of that.

Hannah moved to sit by Tish on the bed so they were closer together in case Tish had to correct any minor mistakes, and Amanda moved the beanbag closer so she could watch. Note by note, chord by chord, Hannah practiced, Tish correcting her hand placement every now and again.

“You’re doing so good, Hannah,” she praised her cousin. “I think you’d probably be happier with a guitar of your own than my old practice guitar though.”

“Christmas is coming, after all,” Amanda mused. “Maybe if you’re very good, my angel, Santa will bring you one.”

Hannah blushed. “I’ll try.”

“Just remember, you’re not the only one who can get into trouble, sweetheart,” Abby said gently. “And now it’s all forgiven. What else would you like for Christmas?”

Hannah looked down with a blush. “I…I don’t know. I should probably get my stuff from my old apartment, that is if there’s somewhere to put it--”

“There will be, angel,” Amanda promised. There were a couple extra bedrooms, and fixing one up to Hannah’s specifications didn’t sound difficult. “But we want you to have new things, too. Before Christmas, even. How about we head to Littles Emporium after a nap and lunch, and you can pick out some things you really want for now, and let us know what kind of things you’d like later?”

“Okay,” Hannah said shyly, blushing. She’d never ventured in the enormous store on her own, even though she passed it every day on the way to work. “Will we all go?”

“How about you, me, and Auntie Abby?” Amanda asked. “I think Tish would feel better if Glennon stayed close.”

Hannah looked at Tish, who nodded.

“Okay,” Tish agreed.

For now, they settled into a cuddle pile for a nap. Abby in particular was exhausted after doling out all that, and Glennon, Amanda, and Hannah were tired from receiving it. Sleep was called for. Fun would come later.

Chapter Text

After their nap, everyone felt much better. They got up and tidied themselves, Amanda taking it upon herself to brush and plait Hannah’s hair for her as she’d taken to doing. When they got downstairs, it was to find Craig, Chase, and Amma had returned, and the latter was keeping herself busy unpacking sandwiches for the family. 

When everyone came into the kitchen, though, the younger girl threw herself into Hannah’s arms, giving her a squeeze. “Me and Chase and Daddy got sandwiches and drinks on the way here, cause Daddy said you prolly wouldn’t feel like making lunch,” she reported. “But you’ll never guess who we saw at Subway.” She watched as her brother set out the cups of coffee and hot chocolate. 

“Miss Beverly?” Hannah ventured doubtfully, and Amma nodded, looking disappointed that Hannah guessed so accurately.

“Uh huh. She was yelling at a mean lady.”

Hannah’s stomach knotted.

“Miss Beverly wouldn’t yell at a fast food worker,” she objected, and Amma huffed.

“Course not, Hannah, I said she was yelling at a mean lady. In the restaurant. Cause she was being mean to the cashier.”

“Well, I'm glad Miss Beverly was there then. What kind of sandwiches did you get?” Hannah asked Amma.

“Daddy picked up a sandwich platter bundle,” Amma explained. “ One each of the Italian B.M.T, Cold Cut Combo,  Turkey Breast, Black Forest Ham & Tuna. They’re all footlongs.” She thought about it. “There’s drinks and chips and cookies, and the bundle says it serves seven when there’s eight of us. Mama Abby likes a salad so Daddy got her that instead. But really there’s ten sandwiches, since the footlongs get cut in half, so we can have whatever we want. They’ve all got American cheese, lettuce, and tomato, and there’s mayo and mustard packets so you can put whatever you want on yours,” she added. “But Daddy wasn’t sure which one you’d want, so you can pick first. We don’t mind.”

“The bundle did come with bottled soda,” Chase added, “but we put those away, and Dad picked up coffee and hot chocolate figuring you’d appreciate something warmer.” He handed one of the cups of hot chocolate to Hannah. “If you want a soda and Aunt Amanda says it’s alright, there’s Coke and Sprite though.”

“I  think I want to try the cold cut one, I'm happy with this hot chocolate, though. Thanks.” Hannah responded. 

“What about you all, what do you like?”

“I’ll split the cold cut one with you, Hannah,” Amma said happily enough. Chase and Craig took the Italian, while Glennon and Tish shared the turkey sandwich. Abby had her salad, so that left the ham and tuna sandwiches to be saved for later. They were just as good as leftovers, Amma promised Hannah.

“Especially when Mama Abby heats the tuna and cheese up in the sandwich press, then it gets melty. But I don’t mind not having it right now,” Amma said. “”The cold cuts are good too.”

There were an assortment of chips - Lay’s Potato Chips, Baked Lay’s, Doritos Nacho Chips, Sun Chips Harvest Cheddar, and Miss Vickie’s Jalapeno Chips (which Chase took for himself, making Amma wrinkle her nose)

The cookie assortment included chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, white chocolate macadamia, raspberry cheesecake, and double chocolate chip. “You can have whichever ones you want, angel,” Amanda assured Hannah. 

On that note, Hannah chose baked Lay's and a double chocolate chip cookie. 

Amma took the same out of cousinly solidarity, cuddling close to Hannah as the rest of the family chose their chips and cookies, and sat down (on very well-cushioned chairs) to eat at the kitchen table. 

“Dad says after lunch we’re going back to your apartment to help you move stuff,” Chase said to Hannah. “Is that likely to take long?” He frowned slightly, concerned; from what Mom had said to Dad, it sounded to him like Hannah’s family had basically abandoned her to the college and not let her come back home, so how much stuff could she really have that was hers, in the little studio apartment in the university housing?

“Sadly no, not too long. Buuuut I get to shop for new and other items, so that'll be fun.”

“Oooh, speaking of shopping, have you got your list together yet Hannah?” Amma asked. 

“My list?” Hannah asked.

“Your list for Santa,” Tish said with a fond grin.

“Oh, um no. Grandmother wasn't really a fan of that. That's not what Christmas is about, child.” Hannah mocked her grandmother’s voice with a laugh, getting laughs from her cousins.

“Why am I not surprised,” Amanda muttered. “You’re more than overdue for a visit from Santa, angel.”

“Your grandmother can take her stupid opinion and shove it up her--”

“Chase Melton,” Craig said warningly.

“Oh come on, you think so too, Dad.”

“I think Miss Beverly did a good enough job,” Craig countered. “It’s not your place to deal with that woman.”

“Thank you for the sentiment though, cousin.” Hannah said with a grin.

Amanda looked up in alarm. “Craig, the ‘mean lady’ in the Subway was her? She’s here? I thought Aurelia Cardwell never came down from on high to mingle with the commoners, what’s she doing in a Subway restaurant?”

A flicker of alarm crossed Craig’s face. He hadn’t thought of that.

“Well, I for one am glad you're coming with us to Hannah’s old place.” Abby said.

I'm glad I won't have to try to restrain Sister from hitting her by myself if she shows up. Abby thought.

“Don’t worry, we won't miss it. And we’ll make sure she doesn’t come near you, Hannah,” Craig said firmly. “It’s all going to be okay. I promise.”

Amma took another bite of her sandwich, and when she swallowed, she nodded. “When Daddy makes a promise he means it,” she informed Hannah. “He says he’s only broken one promise he ever made and he kind of had to.”

Glennon rolled her eyes. “Yes, well, let’s call it mutual by agreement and leave it at that, little one. Not relevant right now.”

“ Anyway Hannah, is there something you want this year being you get to make a list?” Amma asked. You're welcome, Daddy, I want an extra gift, she thought.

Hannah squirmed, sucking on her lower lip, thinking hard. “Mama said I might get a guitar,” she offered. “But…I don’t know, I’ve never really been allowed to want anything,” she admitted. “If I could, though…” She faltered, and Amanda rubbed her shoulder.

“You can, sweetheart. We want to know what you want.”

Hannah found herself fidgeting with one of her braids again. “I don’t want to sound awful, Mama, because I like when you brush my hair, but…I don’t really like having long hair,” she offered. “I want it short like Auntie Abby. If that’s allowed.”

“That’s definitely allowed, angel,” Amanda promised. “And in that case you’ll need things to take care of short hair properly, hmm? A new hairbrush--”

“She needs a new hairbrush anyway,” Abby murmured, and Amanda poked her. 

“ Not what I meant.”

“Well, what would you do for fun besides family time?”

“Oooh, a … new soccer ball like- like the ones ACFC has for when A- when AT and her friends come over?”

Amma nudged her Daddy subtly with her elbow.

“Anything else?” Amanda prompted.

“Umm…” Hannah thought it over. “LEGOs? I mean, maybe that’s silly,” she backtracked anxiously, “only, some of my friends at college had the most amazing models they’d built in their rooms, and they gave me a couple sets, so if I could do more…”

“I think that’s a reasonable ask, petite. All I ask in return, if you start collecting sets around here, is that you don’t leave pieces dropped on the floor, or where Honey and Hattie could get at them. Alright?” Abby inquired, looking at Hannah with a gentle smile. “Sound fair?”

“Yes. Totally fair, Aunt Abby. Any ideas, Tish? Amma? Mama?”

“I’m guessing nothing too pink or girly,” Amanda chuckled, “though if you wanted those too, there’s nothing wrong with that, either. There’s a soccer stadium set that I know a certain pair have been looking at, but it seemed pretty big and complicated for just the two of them,” Amanda added, looking at her nieces.

“Do they have Angel City?! Like specialty ones?” 

“Not specifically mass-produced, but I know you can customize figures and a lot of the girls have done it for the National Team,” Abby mused. “It shouldn’t be too hard to get something that looks like Angel City out of that.”

“Oooh, that sounds like a good idea. Speaking of though I don't know how you feel about board games but I- I saw something-” Hannah faltered looking down.

“We go regularly to Miss Beverly’s for game night,” Abby said with a reassuring smile. “She’s especially good at mahjong, but there’s other games around to play, the Carrascos and Ertzes come too and bring theirs, and--”

“I will beat Beverly at the mahjong one day,” Glennon said determinedly.

“Oh , I meant here, you know just- just us , but that's nice to know.”

“We play games here, just us, all the time too, little one,” Craig said gently.

“Well, I saw online that Monopoly has NWSL themed board games coming out for Christmas, I just- I just thought why not combine some of our favorite pastimes.”

“Oh, I think that would be amazing, Daddy,” Amma piped up.

“And it could even be brought to Miss Beverly’s game night, for the younger cousins?” Hannah asked. 

“Oh, definitely,” Amanda agreed. “I don’t see why not.”

“You don't have a Nintendo Switch do you?” Amma ventured.

“No, I do not, but I've heard about them,” Hannah responded. 

Amma looked knowingly at her brother with a glint in her eye once Hannah turned her attention to something Glennon was saying. 

“Well, we can write Christmas lists after supper, right? Maybe we should get a move on and deal with the belongings and buying new things sooner rather than later?" Chase asked.

After receiving nods in the affirmative all around, Tish, Amma, and Glennon started tidying up while the others left for the day. Craig and Chase took Craig's truck, while Abby drove the 'soccer mom van'. Amanda stayed in back with Hannah, keeping her child as close as their seat belts allowed. 

Their first stop was the college campus housing, to the apartment building where Hannah lived. 

She led them up to her studio apartment. It was all one room, with very simple furnishings, none of which were Hannah's personal possessions - a bed, a desk, a chair, bookshelves on the walls. The shelves held textbooks, which Chase packed up for her, and it took little effort to pack Hannah's clothes into another box. They were mostly still in it, anyway, as there wasn't much room to hang clothes up in the apartment. 

Displayed on a shelf above the bed were two assembled LEGO sets; Harry Potter and the Black Lake Triwizard Tournament, and the Avengers Quinjet. Craig took special care with packing those up. "Do you have anything in progress right now, or any other sets you haven't started yet?"

Hannah shook her head.

"Okay, anything else personal? Phone, charger, laptop, tablet, anything like that?"

Hannah grabbed her laptop bag out from under her bed. A slightly battered shoebox came with it, and Abby raised her eyebrows, kneeling down to look as Hannah picked it up and held it possessively against her chest.

"Hey, petite, it's alright sweetheart, I won't touch it if you don't want me to. It looks important," Abby said in a coaxing tone. "If you don't want to share what it is I won't press, but I bet you want it to come with, hm?"

Slowly, Hannah set the box back down and removed the lid, nudging the box closer to Abby. Inside, Abby could see packs of trading cards - some Pokemon, some baseball, but most important, clearly, were the soccer cards. She riffled through the pack and eased one out, holding it out to Abby tentatively.

Abby looked down at her own, younger, face and smiled slightly.

"You can definitely bring the box, sweetie. I wasn't going to say you couldn't." Abby gave her card back to Hannah, who put it away, and looked back into Hannah's box as she rearranged it some more. Besides the card collection, Abby could see a sketchbook with a broken pencil, and a small beanbag toy, a stuffed bear in a rich royal purple color. A purple ribbon bow was tied around the bear's neck, and there was a white rose on the bear's chest.

Abby recognized it immediately, though the hang tag had been clipped off. "The bear seems very special to you, hm, petite?"

Hannah looked down at it, and picked the bear up in one hand, squeezing it tightly. "It's the only thing Father said Mother left behind for me."

Yes, that's right. Abby's sharp eyes had spotted the very faded AD written on the bear's leg tag in permanent marker. Glennon had one with GD on the same tag. "I imagine your grandmother thought it was suitably aristocratic enough to keep?" she asked neutrally, and Hannah nodded. So Sister was at least allowed to give this to gods-damn-him James Cardwell for her, even if that woman told Hannah the story back to front.

Speaking of which...

Abby wasn't the only one who had seen the bear. Amanda had come over, and the sharp intake of breath showed Abby that Sister had seen it too. "I...I didn't know you'd still have her," she whispered. "If I'd known you still had her we probably would have got this sorted out even sooner."

Hannah blushed. "I...I'm sorry, Mama, I didn't think - and it's not like I have a desk at work to put her on."

"Probably just as well, angel. You'd never be able to keep it clean." Amanda quirked a smile, giving Hannah a hug. "But we both know she's here now. She's looked after you for me for all these years."

Hannah's heart pounded and she nodded. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry I thought--I used to say to her that at least when you left us behind, you left us behind together."

Tears pricked Amanda's eyes and she hugged Hannah tighter. "You didn't know, my angel. It wasn't either of our faults, how could you know anything but what they told you?" She rubbed Hannah's back comfortingly. "But here we are, and here you are with your treasures, and I'd never ask you to give them up. Is there anything else under the bed?" she prompted, not wanting Hannah to dwell on the lies she'd been fed by the Cardwells about the situation.

"No Mama, this is everything," Hannah said softly. Amanda nodded, stroking her hair. 

"In that case, let's get your boxes packed up, and we'll let the school know you've moved out." Amanda kissed Hannah's forehead gently. "You can carry your treasure box, sweetheart, no one's going to take your things away from you."

Hannah put her bear in the treasure box, and as Craig, Chase, and Abby carried Hannah's few remaining boxes out to the van, to put in the hatchback, Hannah stayed in Amanda's arms, trembling but slowly starting to feel safe.

"Think of what if I had a desk and I'd had her on it, Mama, then you would've seen."

"I would have," Amanda agreed gently. "But let's not worry about the lost time, angel, we're making up for it now. Ready to go shopping?"

Hannah nodded, eyes wide. She let Amanda lead her from the apartment (after one last sweep by Abby to ensure absolutely nothing personal remained) and then they were off to the Littles Emporium.

They parked in the lot in front of the store - it was impressive, three stories tall, and decorated with an abundance of lights, tinsel, and glitter for the holidays. The exterior sliding glass doors opened as they approached. 

Inside the front entrance were a couple of cart bays, and racks of rented harnesses to discourage Littles from wandering in-store.

"Alright cherie, hold still," Abby said as she plucked one off the rack.

Hannah let out a soft whine as she was strapped into the red harness with the store's logo on it. "Auntie Abby, I'm too big to be tied to the cart!"

Craig snorted under his breath and Amanda chuckled.

"That's definitely not the way to convince Auntie Abby of that, angel."

Realizing how she'd sounded, Hannah blushed and ducked her head. "Sorry, Aunt Abby," she said meekly, and Abby patted her shoulder.

"That's alright, petite. I know you're not used to it, but it's to keep you safe, especially in case you slip, sweetheart, okay?"

"Uh huh." Sighing, Hannah resigned herself to being tethered to the shopping cart, as they left the cart bay and headed through the second set of sliding glass doors into the store itself.

Chapter Text

“Furniture - so you need a bed, a dresser, bedside table, would you maybe want a writing desk?” Amanda asked, remembering the notebook and broken pencil a desk might be wanted for drawing, or journaling. Or if Abby makes her write lines. Amanda thought but didn't say.

“Yes please Mama,” Hannah said, heart leaping with the idea of a writing desk. “I would love that so much.” She loved writing out her thoughts.

Well I know what Glennon's going to be wanting to get you for Christmas, sweetheart. Amanda thought.

Before they knew it, Hannah was surprised that they reached the section in question. 

An employee of the Emporium showed them the sample furniture, and there was a touchscreen display of the store catalog, so that Hannah could scroll through and pick the colors and styles that she personally wanted. The furniture would be brought out to Craig’s truck in the back in boxes, or they could have it delivered if they wanted someone else to set it up. 

Consulting with Amanda and Abby, Hannah picked out a bed that was the same size as Tish’s. It was fitted with railings that could be raised and lowered (in case of tiny Littles needing security at night), and the walnut wood was a light shade that would brighten her room. There was a matching double dresser (with a top that could be utilized as a changing table, the employee pointed out. Hannah hoped it never needed to be put to that use.)  The bedside tables completed the matching set, and the furniture codes were handed over to Craig.

“I’ll take care of these, sweetie,” he promised. “Chase, you stay here and keep helping out, okay, son?”

“Yes Dad,” Chase agreed, as they moved on to look at bedding. Sheets, pillowcases and blankets - three sets, one each featuring dragons, jungle animals, and soccer balls - were duly bought, and Abby added a fourth blanket, a weighted one, in Angel City sol rosa . It was Angel City branded, too, and Amanda smiled at the addition.

“Writing desks might be in a different section?” Chase asked out loud. 

Abby nodded. “There. Desks aren’t strictly bedroom furniture,” she said, gesturing across the way to where other furniture was on display. “They can be, of course, but not necessarily.” She led the group away from the bedding, over to where the desks were on display.

It didn’t take them long to find a desk that would match the bedroom furniture. It was a Scandinavian-style walnut wood desk, with drawers and shelves, and Abby sent Chase to bring the code to Craig.

“What's next Mama?” Hannah asked. 

“Well, there’s clothes, toys, other stuff-” Amanda glanced at the signage for the various sections. ‘Other stuff’ wasn’t quite how the sign put it, it was “Littles supplies”, but Amanda wasn’t quite sure how well Hannah would handle a sign listing things like pull-ups and sippy cups underneath the main heading. A lot depended on how prone Hannah was to going tiny little and under what circumstances, and for how long she stayed dropped. 

Amanda wondered how Hannah had been managing her little side up till now, since Aurelia Cardwell didn’t strike her as the sort to approve or be gentle about such needs. “We’ll be getting some from everything, but you can pick where we go first, angel.”

“Clothes, then other stuff, then, saving the best for last, toys?” Hannah replied. 

“Sounds good to me,” Amanda agreed. They headed into the clothing section, which was filled with sensory-friendly clothes - all soft fabric, no rough tags getting in the way. There was a large selection of onesies, pajamas with feet, and clothes that made pull-ups easy to handle. 

Amanda looked around at the range of styles and colors. Despite being fashioned to be easy for people in a Little state to handle (or, more likely, for their Caregiver to handle), the colors or patterns weren’t all obviously childish. Some of them would fit in quite well in grown up spaces. And, she saw with relief, there was a whole section of scrubs, which naturally came in fun colors and patterns even when they weren’t aimed at Littles. She was sure Hannah could appreciate those.

They ended up with a good assortment of clothes in the end, and Amanda was pleased that it included two new sets of scrubs that would be appropriate for work. “Ready to move on, sweetheart?” she said sympathetically, as she could see Hannah getting more and more restless as they browsed the clothes.

“Yes, please. “other stuff” now Mama?”

“Definitely.” As they crossed from the clothing section into ‘other stuff’, the first thing they reached was an aisle of pull-ups in various patterns, some disposable, some cloth that could be laundered. Amanda had a feeling Hannah wasn’t looking forward to this but they might sometimes be necessary, even if not always. “What do you think, angel?”

“These, these, and those? The same as the backpacks?” Hannah replied. 

Amanda picked up the packs of washable pull-ups - one with jungle animal patterns, one with sports balls, and one with solid colors. She put them in the cart and gave Hannah a supportive squeeze. 

“Good choices, sweetheart,” she said reassuringly. The next aisle had bottles (which Amanda ignored), and packs of sippy cups. The packages also included cups that had lids with regular straws attached. “There’s a lot of different colors here,” Amanda observed. Then she spotted a set with Angel City branding. “Or would you like these, sweetheart? You can have whatever you like.”

“Definitely those. But maybe a multi-color pack too?” Hannah responded.

“Absolutely,” Amanda agreed at once, getting both packs down and putting them in the cart. Nothing was too good for Hannah, she told herself. And between her, Glennon, Abby and Craig, they could certainly afford whatever Hannah wanted.

Next they ran across an aisle of everything from pacifiers to chewable stim toys - necklaces, keyrings, and other such things. Hannah selected a pack of chewable necklaces, and further down the aisle were glowsticks and other shiny, bright attention-getting objects. At the end of the aisle was a selection of nightlights, some that played music, and while Amanda was still looking at a glowing bouncy ball (she had a feeling Hannah might like them to play with Honey and Hattie) she didn’t notice Hannah’s attention caught by the assortment of nightlights.

I’m not going to bother Mama with questions, Hannah thought, earliest training kicking in. I’ll just take a look and--

Before she’d got far, the harness yanked on the cart, pulling Hannah up short. She huffed in disappointment.

“And where exactly did you think you were running off to, sweetheart?” Amanda asked. 

“Sorry mama. But look!” Hannah responded. 

Amanda let out a low chuckle when she saw the particular rose color that her daughter was pointing out.

“ Sol rosa, Angel City. Why am I not surprised. Well, you need a nightlight anyway. But, we'll walk over slowly and together, okay?”

“Yes Mama,” Hannah sighed. “I don’t like being stuck to the cart.” There was a definite sulky edge to her tone now, and it made Abby arch an eyebrow.

“Little girls who exhibit poor attitude require attitude adjustments, petite. And I’m sure you don’t want that right now. Can you correct your attitude for us, please.”

Hannah gulped. “R-right now?” she squeaked, and Abby ran a soothing hand over the back of her head.

“Not right here in the middle of the aisle, no. They have a room for that sort of thing.”

“Oh,” Hannah said meekly. “I’m sorry Auntie, please don’t smack me.”

“Not right now, no. That’s better, petite. You’re a good girl, we know that,” Abby encouraged Hannah. “I know the harness is hard to get used to, but you’ve been doing well.”

“You’re learning, we take that step by step. All we ask is for you to try and we'll listen first before making decisions.” Amanda added.

In the middle of all this Chase had taken the initiative and put the ACFC nightlight in the cart. He now chose to be the one to break the silence.

“On to the toy section?” He asked.

He grinned at Hannah because no matter how old someone becomes, no one ever dislikes going down the toy aisle. Adults could even buy things for nephews/nieces or grandchildren as an excuse for going down the aisle, he thought. 

Hannah jumped, Amanda’s hand on her shoulder keeping her from upsetting the cart. “Chase, I didn’t see you there,” she sputtered. He’d gone to help Craig with the furniture, but he must have been extra quiet coming back. 

Amanda rolled her eyes and gave her nephew a grin. “Serves her right for sneaking up on me all the time. Doesn’t it?” The question made Hannah blush and nod reluctantly.

“Okay, so yes, the toy section. Come on, loves, let’s get there before all the toys run away,” Amanda teased, and Abby smacked the back of Sister’s head lightly, getting a satisfying yelp. 

You don’t say things like that when Hannah could be littlespaced, brat.

Or could encourage her to run away from the cart. Though I imagine that's mostly something her cousin might say, not her Mama, though you're all brats

Amanda kept her head down and one hand on Hannah’s shoulder as they headed into the toy section. The toys here were suitable for Littles who regressed to toddler through preschool age, and the signs informed them that the elevators (wide enough to hold two shopping carts at least) went up to the toy sections for middle and older Littles on the upper floors.

Exploring the aisles yielded a bounty of amusements for littlespaced Hannah. Duplo building blocks, a Toy Story playset (Woody, Buzz, Rex, Trixie, and the Potato Heads), and (hidden quickly at the back of the cart) a Disneyland train set. Abby got a box of Play-Doh in a rainbow of colors.  

And it’s not even Christmas yet, she thought in amusement. But these will do for a start. Hannah hadn’t specifically asked for any of them except the Toy Story set, but having suitably been distracted by it while Chase squirreled the train set away, she was wide-eyed with surprise at all the other things Abby and Amanda had fetched down for her.

“I can even have Legos when I’m little?” she inquired, looking at the Duplo blocks. Abby nodded.

“Of course, petite. ” 

They got to the stuffed animals, and it surprised no one when Hannah begged for a soft brown plush monkey, which Chase fetched down for her. 

“Here you are, our little monkey,” he chuckled, “it matches your new harness, too.”

It did, Hannah noticed. She squealed when Chase ever-so-briefly unstrapped her from the store harness to put her in the as-yet-unbought monkey harness, hugging the new plush close.

“There, now you match even better.” Chase deftly snapped the harness onto the cart, ensuring she was still secure, and poked Abby. 

Hannah had practically squealed out loud, hugging the monkey close to her chest and bouncing up and down. 

“You look adorable, petite. And what do you think of Mr. Monkey, hmmm?” Abby tugged on the harness lightly.

“Auntie!” Hannah laughed. “His names George, you know that.” 

“Oh that’s right,” Abby grinned. “And what about this one?” she asked, tapping the plush’s head. 

“Mmm… dunno,” Hannah peeked at Abby nervously. “Is okay? Mama?”

“Of course it’s okay, my angel,” Amanda soothed. “Sometimes they tell you their name right away, and sometimes you need to get to know them better first. Right?”

Hannah nodded shyly. “Uh huh.”

“Do you want to look at any more toys, sweetie?” Amanda asked her little girl.

“ Is still Christmas.” Hannah said.

“Ready to go, petite? I have somewhere special to take you later, just the two of us. What do you say?” Abby asked with a grin.

“Are you sure you should leave Aunt Amanda unsupervised, Mama Abby?” Chase interjected.

“I was going to drop her off at the house, Chase.”

“I'm right here, you know.”

“Yes, I do know. Watch your sass. Checkout everyone?”

“Yes, yes!” Hannah said excited to do an activity with just her Aunt Abby.

“I'm ready. I could use a nap.” Chase said.

“There, it's settled. Three to one.” Abby said.

“Alright petite, if I unhook you from the cart and give your harness to your Mama, do you promise to stay here until we’re out of the line?” Abby asked. She didn’t want Hannah to see the train set that she planned on being one of Hannah’s ‘from Santa’ presents.

“Uh huh,” Hannah nodded. The excursion had overwhelmed her with excitement, and she had definitely slipped into littlespace for sure. “Promise.” 

“Well, we have to be in line long enough to buy your harness, angel, but then we can step out,” Amanda reminded both Hannah and Abby. So they, Abby, and Chase got into the nearest line - thankfully, not too busy - and the first thing they did was scan the harnesses, including the monkey one Hannah was wearing.

Then Amanda and Hannah could step back out, sitting on the bench near the front entrance to wait. 

It wouldn't take long for Abby and Chase to finish checking out, but to little Hannah it felt like Auntie Abby and cousin Chase were taking forever. "Mama, are they ever gonna be done?"

Amanda laughed, tugging her harness gently. "Yes, Hannah, angel, they'll be done soon. I know it doesn't feel like soon, but it will be. Now settle, or don't you want Auntie Abby to take you to get your surprise?"

"Oh. Uh huh. Sorry, Mama."

"I know." Amanda smiled, and when all was ready, they went to load the bags in Abby's van. Craig had gone on home with the furniture, to begin the assembly and setup, so Chase got in the front passenger seat while Hannah and Amanda got in back. 

Their first stop would be to drop Chase, Amanda, and their purchases back home. Then little Hannah and Auntie Abby could have their adventure.

Chapter Text

When they reached home, Chase was quick to get out of the car and join Glennon and his sisters in unloading the bags. Amanda was still holding tight to little Hannah in the backseat, as the little one clutched her monkey plush in her arms.

“Mama stay,” Hannah begged.

“Your Auntie Abby wants to take you to get a surprise, angel,” Amanda said coaxingly. “What if you’re getting Mama’s Christmas present, hmm? I can’t be there to see that.”

Hannah sucked on her bottom lip. She hadn’t thought about the fact that her new family would need Christmas presents from her. What did you get people who seemed to have anything, anyway?

Never mind that she, as a Cardwell, had been raised in much the same environment. Hannah had been brought up by hand, by Aurelia Cardwell away from the rest of her father’s family, barely seeing them at all, and they’d certainly never gone out of their way to exchange Christmas gifts.

“Your mama will be here when you get back, promise. Plus,  I have a super secret plan, you play a big part in it, petite.” Abby tried to convince her niece.

“Seekwet?” Hannah inquired, and Amanda laughed adoringly.

“It sounds like it, angel. Can you be a good girl for Auntie Abby, and go with her? I’ll be here at home when you get back.”

Hannah hugged her plush monkey tightly. “Uh huh,” she conceded. Amanda kissed little Hannah’s forehead, and settled her into the front seat with Abby.

“Good girl. I’ll see you when you get back, my angel.” She buckled Hannah in, and gave her sister-in-law an amused look. Good luck, Abby.

As Abby made her way to the new store, she noticed her niece was going back to a big headspace before she even realized she was marked in the parking lot of a different branch of the Littles Emporium. 

Hannah blushed and put her toy monkey down.
“Do I still have to wear the harness there, Auntie Abby?” she asked worriedly. “What happens if I…” Her blush deepened; she was embarrassed at how easily she’d been slipping in her new family’s presence - and a little afraid. Grandmother had never permitted such lapses in decorum to go unpunished. 

“Yes, petite, you’ll wear the harness in the store. It’s the rules,” Abby said gently. “But it’s just like a fun backpack, remember sweetheart? It’s okay, it’s just how it goes.” She squeezed Hannah’s hand. “Ready to go?”

Anxiously, Hannah nodded.

They went into the Littles Emporium, Hannah attached to Abby’s belt by the end of her harness. Abby and Hannah didn’t get a cart, this time, as they were only after one thing - well, two, but only after one gift, in particular, so Abby carried a shopping basket in her other hand, instead. She put her arm around Hannah, keeping her niece close as they followed the signs to the elevators, to the salon on the upper floor.

There was an area for doing hair and nails, next to a jewelry section - everything from child-style jewelry, clip-on earrings, costume necklaces and such, to paired jewelry that was meant to be a gift from a Caregiver to their Little, or the other way around. These included engraved necklaces, and they browsed the section intently, Hannah’s eyes brightening as she saw all the choices.

A gold bar pendant - rose gold, close to Angel City Sol Rosa in tone - engraved “Mama” - caught Hannah’s attention. “Can I get it for Mama, please?” she asked, and Abby smiled.

“Sister will absolutely love that.”

“Now that's taken care of. How would you like to get your hair cut like mine?”

“We can do it now? YES!! Yes, please.”

Abby chuckled at Hannah’s excitement. Somewhere between happy and surprised that someone who is family wanted to look like her. Usually the family wants to look different, but anyway it's what Hannah wanted so to the salon area we go.

“Do you have an appointment?” The person beh ind the counter asked.

“No, but I have been known to ask for forgiveness." Abby smiled wryly.

"Abby! Hey, Abby!" The stylist popped up, giving her a grin. He tossed her a salute. "What can I do you for? Scratch that, reverse it. What can I do for the great Abby Wambach?"

"Oh, shut it, Bee," Abby said with an amused snort. "I'm not here for me, I'm here for my niece. She wants to look like me, though. Far as I can tell, she hasn't had her hair cut, other than trimming the edges to keep it neat, but she wants it short now."

"Is that right?" Bee asked, looking at Hannah's braids with interest. "Alright then, I can do it, but let's be careful here. And you're a Little, aren't you?" he asked Hannah. "What's your name?"

"Hannah Doyle," Hannah said firmly, getting a surprised blink and fond grin from Abby.

"Pleased to meet you, Hannah Doyle. Your - aunt, right? calls me Bee. But I don't sting, though if there's knots that might sting a little. I'll try not to, though. Deal?"

"Uh huh." 

Bee carefully undid Hannah's braids, and then began gently brushing them out. Abby stayed by, holding her niece's hand as Hannah kept a deathgrip on her.

Brushing led to putting up in sections, and - very carefully and precisely - cutting sections away. Hannah gasped as long strands began falling to the floor, a great weight slowly lifting off her neck and shoulders bit by bit.

When Hannah's hair was short, though still long enough to work with, Bee spoke up. "Good girl, well done, we're almost there. I'm gonna wash what's left, so then it can be cut like Abby's, alright Hannah?" 

"Uh huh."

"Good girl," Abby soothed, rubbing Hannah's hand as the procedure began. Bee was careful not to get soap in Hannah's eyes, and once her hair was clean, he proceeded to style it like Abby's. A few last bits of hair were shaved and clipped away. which Bee duly warned Hannah about before doing it, but then they were done.

"Good job, little one," Bee praised as Hannah smiled shyly .

"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you Auntie Abby."

"You're welcome, petite. Let's get going shall we?"

Eagerly, Hannah nodded, wondering what their next adventure would be.

Chapter Text

When Abby finally got Hannah home, after dinner at In-N-Out (burgers, fries, and soda for the two of them), she tucked Hannah’s gift for Amanda away, promising to wrap it for her. “It’s alright petite, she won’t know anything about it until it’s time. Now, I think it’s time for someone to go see her new room, hmm? I know you’ve been having an okay time bunking in with Tish, but it’s about time you had your own space. Your Uncle Craig ought to be finished setting the furniture up by now.”

Hannah took the stairs two at a time, Abby rolling her eyes as she hurried behind her. “Careful petite, your room’s not going to run away,” she laughed. 

When they got to the upstairs hallway, Chase was waiting outside the door across from Amanda’s room. “Hey, there’s our little monkey,” he grinned. “Come on then, want to see?”

He led Hannah to the door, and they walked through, into--

Well, Hannah wasn’t sure just what to call it. 

The walls were painted a soft pastel blue, fluffy white clouds (added on wall stickers) skittering across them. The floor was hardwood, but a soft green plush rug covered most of the middle of the room. It was marked out like a mini soccer pitch, just like the backyard, with the ‘goal’ at the far end of the room, a curtain that hid a reading nook.

Hannah’s books were on the shelves that framed both sides, with a writing desk facing one way and a beanbag chair under a sensory swing  hanging from the other side. The nook had a window looking out on the yard, and a ceiling light.

On one side of the room was Hannah’s bed, a bright, cheerful walnut wood with storage space underneath it, and flanked by end tables with cozy soccer ball lamps on them. The bed (covered in a soccer-print sheet and comforter set) was large enough for Hannah and one or two friends to cuddle together, if she wanted a sleepover, and the dresser, on the other side, matched both the bed and the writing desk.

On a shelf above the writing desk sat Hannah's Princess bear, and the trading cards from her treasures box which were separated out by sport (and Pokemon), placed into sturdier clear plastic boxes. Hannah's sketchpad was on the desk, and her broken pencil (newly sharpened) was in a cup next to it, along with a pencil sharpener and a few extra pencils and pens. 

The box itself, battered as it was and empty now, sat on the floor of the nook beside the beanbag chair and sensory swing. Even if its contents were tidily put away, Craig wouldn't force Hannah to give up her box.

As Hannah stood rooted in the doorway, taking in the sights of the room, she could only get one word out. “Mine?”

“That’s right, angel,” Amanda said softly, stepping up behind her. She put her hand on Hannah’s shoulder, and the girl turned, throwing herself into her mama’s embrace with tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Oh, honey,” Amanda soothed, hugging Hannah close. “My angel. It’s alright, it’s all yours, I promise. All for you, my sweet girl.”

Hannah pressed into Amanda’s embrace, clinging tight, and Amanda scooped her up, walking over to the bed. She sat down on the bed with Hannah cradled in her lap, and leaned against the big, fluffy pillows.

“It’s alright sweetheart, cry it out, it’s okay to be overwhelmed,” Amanda soothed. “It’s a big change. I see you have another big change to show me, too.” She stroked Hannah’s short hair, now identical to her Aunt Abby’s in style.

“Do you like it, Mama?” Hannah ventured, and Amanda smiled.

“I love it, angel. Short hair looks just as good on you as long. And so long as it’s what makes you happy, I’m happy too.”

“I’m happy, Mama.” Hannah yawned, and Amanda chuckled quietly.

“It’s been a long day, sweetheart. Why don’t you go to bed, angel,, in your new room, in your new bed--” She smiled. “And think about what else you want to do for the holidays? Tobin and Christen picked up the custom of setting out wooden shoes for a visit from St. Nicholas, so we’ll do that tomorrow night, and AT”ll be sleeping over. She can bunk with any of the girls, including you if you’d like her to. But that’s tomorrow night, you get your bed all to yourself tonight.”

“Uh huh,” Hannah whispered. “AT can stay.” She snuggled down into the pillows, one arm around her plush monkey, and Amanda tucked the blankets around her.

“Alright then. Sleep well, my angel.”   

. 

The next day, the house became a hive of activity - chiefly for the adults, well, the adultier adults, as Christen and Tobin arrived to help Abby and Craig tidy up the house. Really, there wasn’t enough to do to take all day about it, and the kids stayed in Hannah’s room out of the way, Tish alternately teaching Hannah guitar or helping her kick around her soccer ball beanbag pillow on the ‘soccer pitch’ carpet. Amma joined in the latter activity with some enthusiasm, especially since it was the only kind of soccer ball they were allowed to kick inside the house.

They all came together for lunch, and Hannah found herself seated between Tobin and Christen, freezing up in momentary panic.

“It’s alright, petite, ” Abby soothed, “your cousin Tobin and Christen aren’t going to bite. Take a breath, there, that’s good, and another. They just want to get to know you better is all.”

“Oh,” Hannah said, feeling silly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to freeze up, I just…”

Tobin shook her head. “It’s alright,” she promised. “We get that reaction sometimes, but really, we’re just as human as Maman.”

“Of course there was the time I found out even your maman doubted that,” Christen snickered, and Abby blushed as Glennon and Amanda laughed.

“I’d never been terrified by a rookie before, okay?”

Hannah gave Christen a doubtful look. “What did you do to Auntie Abby?”

“Do to her? Nothing, sweetheart,” Christen said, amused. “She’d just never seen someone meditate in real life before.”

“Perhaps it might be good for you to learn meditation, my angel,” Amanda suggested. “Glennon and Abby picked it up once Abby got over being afraid of it, and Christen’s a good teacher.”

Hannah nodded shyly. “I can try.”

After lunch, Christen gave Hannah her first lesson, with Tish joining in by setting the mood. The teen softly strummed ‘The Road to Santiago’ on her guitar, making Christen smile a little as she settled in. They were kneeling, facing each other, on cushions in Hannah’s room as Tish sat on the bed. 

“Now, we’ll start for like…30 minutes, okay? I know how fidgety AT can get, we don’t want to overdo it,” Christen said. Hannah nodded.

Even though Christen had promised they’d start small, Hannah lost herself in the meditation, wrapped up in the music and the rhythm of their breathing, and she wasn’t sure just how long she’d been kneeling when she was finally brought out of it - but the quality of the light slanting through her window had changed, the shadows lying at a different angle, and when Christen helped Hannah to her feet, her knees ached a little.

“Ow…”

“Sorry, sweetheart, I shouldn’t have gone on so long. It takes practice,” Christen said sympathetically. She checked the time. “It’s almost dinner time now, we were at it all afternoon.”

Hannah’s eyes widened. “Oh.”

Christen grimaced. “Yes, oh.” She rubbed her knee. “I’m fine, just haven’t been used to kneeling all afternoon for a while. I should have paced myself too, not just you, and Tobin’s going to fuss when she finds out.”

Hannah gave her an impish grin. “You mean if she finds out?”  

“If who finds out what, little one?”

“No- Nothing.”

“I heard the last time you lied and said “nothing” there were consequences. You want to try that again?”

“No. I don't think she does.”

“ Really, Christen Annemarie ? She needs you to speak for her, does she?”

“N-no, ma’am,” Christen said automatically, looking warily at Tobin. “Of course she doesn’t.”

“Then let’s try this again.” Tobin softened her tone. “Little one, what are we trying to hide now? Because I can tell you, the night before St. Nicholas and the Krampus visit isn’t the right time for it.” Tobin side-eyed Christen. “I can think of one little girl who’s definitely getting visited by Krampus tomorrow.”

Christen’s jaw dropped. “Tobin, you're joking.”

“Umm…” Hannah bit her lower lip anxiously. “Miss Tobin, ma’am?” she ventured.

“Just Tobin is fine from you, sweetheart, I’m not your Top after all.”

“What’s a Krampus, Tobin?”

Tobin snorted. “Don’t worry about it, you’ll find out all about it tomorrow. Time for supper now, come on.”

“Can I sit between you again?” Hannah asked.

“Of course you can, sweetheart.” Christen put an arm around Hannah in solidarity as Tobin led them back downstairs. Tish had gone on ahead, probably to keep out of being a target for her adoptive sister’s ire.

They sat down at the table with the rest of the family, and they didn’t linger over the meal, though Hannah found herself playing with her food just the tiniest bit. “Tobin?” she asked in a small voice - not slipping Little, just nervous. “Are you very mad with me and Christen?”

“Of course not, little one,” Tobin soothed. “No one’s mad, honey. Are you done eating? Good, then we can give you these, call it an early Christmas gift, you’ll need them for tonight. We already brought Alyssa’s with us.” She fetched a wrapped package, about the same size as Hannah’s shoebox that had held her treasures, from the entry and brought it to Hannah to open.

Hannah slowly opened it, in fear that something was fragile and might break.

“Wooden shoes? This isn't the 16th century?”

Amma and Tish giggled, and Amanda tried to hide a smirk behind her hand.

“Don’t say that in front of Sofia when you see her again, my angel,” Amanda counseled once she’d managed to stop herself laughing. “These are a St. Nicholas tradition, leaving hay and carrots in the wooden shoes at night for St. Nicholas’ horse, to be replaced by sweets and small presents for the good children and little ones in the morning.” She gave Christen a pointed look. “And as for you, Christen Annemarie Press, you don’t have to be a Little to be visited by the Krampus, as well you know.”

“Hey,” Christen sputtered. “Unfair.”

“Hay is for St. Nicholas’ horse,” Tobin said promptly.

“There’s more carrots if you want those, though Christen.” Amma said with a chuckle. 

“I’m sorry, alright Tobin? I’m sorry I kept Hannah all afternoon, I shouldn’t have, I know it wasn’t good for either of us,” Christen exhaled. “Just please…not that.”

“Stop it Christen, you’re going to scare Hannah,” Tobin said, because she could see Hannah freezing up again.

Tish took this moment to break the tension. 

“What's for dessert?”

“Chocolate banana ice cream,” Abby said with a reassuring smile. “And yes, we got more pancake bananas, or rather Tobin did, I asked her to pick them up for us for tomorrow. But the chocolate banana ice cream was Christen’s contribution.” It was simple and healthy; a blend of frozen bananas and cocoa powder, with just a small drizzle of honey to make it a bit sweeter.

 As the bowls of ice cream were passed around, Abby spoke to Tobin. “Don’t worry, there’s plenty left over for tomorrow, AT won’t have missed out.”

“Aaron’s picking the girls up, so don’t worry,” Glennon added, “he’ll bring AT here.”

Tobin nodded. Aaron Schoenfeld, the husband of their USWNT teammate Abby Dahlkemper, was picking up the San Diego and Angel City girls from LAX. The San Diego players, and Aaron, had been invited to stay over with the Morgan-Carrascos tonight, but he’d drop MA Vignola at home and AT here. “Good to know. Though I’d much rather pick AT up myself, I get it.  It makes sense.”

“After you're finished, brush your teeth and bed please, my angel. We have a long day tomorrow.” Amanda told Hannah.

“Yes Mama,” Hannah said meekly. Her stomach flipped a little at the mention of tomorrow and the mysterious Krampus that everyone kept talking about. She finished her bowl of ice cream, and let Amanda take her back upstairs, wooden shoes in hand. One of them had a small bundle of straw in it, neatly tied; the other had a handful of baby carrots, and Amanda set these down in the hallway as Hannah went to brush her teeth and get ready for bed. 

Amanda came in to tuck Hannah into bed, and ran a hand over her short hair gently. “Don’t let Tobin worry you by talking about Krampus, my angel. You’re a good girl, and only naughty ones have to be spanked by Krampus before they can get their St. Nicholas gifts.” She rubbed Hannah’s shoulder. “In some households it might be instead of, but not our family, alright? You and AT will get visited by St. Nicholas in the morning, and he’ll bring Krampus with him, but he’s not there for you. Okay?”

Hannah yawned, feeling skeptical. “Okay, Mama,” she agreed, still unsure.

“That’s my good girl, angel. We’ll try not to wake you when we put AT to bed. Sleep well, okay sweetheart?”

Hannah nodded and snuggled down into her pillows. Hopefully her Mama was right and Krampus was nothing to worry about. But Christen had seemed genuinely concerned. But Christen’s a real grown-up…

Puzzling over that, she fell asleep, barely stirring when, some hours later, a half-awake AT was tucked in with her.

Soon both girls were sound asleep, two pairs of wooden shoes outside the door waiting for the morning.

Chapter Text

Hannah awoke to footsteps outside her door. 

Is that-

As Hannah was thinking it was one certain person, it ended up being two different people as she saw once they came through the opened door. 

“Aunt Abby?” Hannah asked sleepily.

“Shh, petite. It's just your cousin Alyssa. AT are you okay sleeping with Hannah tonight?” 

After Abby received a sleepy nod in return she made sure both girls were tucked in and snuggling each other.

“Alright, sleep well. Someone will be there to wake you up later. Grandmere-Auntie loves you both.”

“Night, Grandtante,” Alyssa teased sleepily. “Joking. Love you, Grandmere.”

“I love you too, petite-fille. Sleep well.” Abby kissed both girls’ foreheads, tucking them in more snugly as they went back to sleep…

***

A few hours later, they were woken by some soft yelps down the hallway. “What do you think that was?” Hannah asked nervously.

AT bit her lower lip anxiously. “It sounded like Mama Christen’s voice, but she’s with Mama Tobin,” AT said slowly.

Hannah blushed vibrantly at the mental image that supplied. “Maybe we shouldn’t interfere.”

AT thought it was very likely they should not, if probably not for the reasons Hannah was thinking of.

*****

On the other side of the hall, Christen Press had woken on the morning of St. Nicholas’ Day with two facts very clear in her head.

One, Tobin was beside her, but their bed was not their bed in their house. (It took her only a few moments to recall they were at Glennon and Abby’s, though.)

Two, they weren’t alone. 

Standing by the doorway was a tall blonde figure dressed in red bishop’s robes, leaning on a familiar shepherd’s staff. She hadn’t bothered with the beard yet, though, so as the light clicked on Christen could see clearly the figure was Angel City’s young goalkeeper, Angelina Anderson. “I’d say sorry for bursting in on you like this, Christen, but she’s not.” She pointed to the figure standing behind her.

She was wrapped in a brown robe, lined with shaggy fur, and had brown hair and a long beard. Chains were affixed to the robe for dramatic effect, and the figure carried the ends in one hand. In the other, she carried a familiar object - familiar not only because Christen had seen it in Clarisse’s hand before, but Abby’s as well. 

“Risse--”

“That’s Krampus to you, Press .”

“Come on, I wasn't that bad. And from you? ”

“ That attitude just shows you need this. And from the look on Tobin's face, more to come later at home. Now, I heard your knee was hurting you……”

“I didn’t re-injure it,” Christen protested. “It just ached a little bit because I’d been kneeling in place a bit too long. I put Bio-Freeze on it and it was fine.” She wondered why she felt she had to defend herself to a teammate six years her junior.

Because Risse is a Top and I’m not, regardless of age difference, Christen thought, annoyed with herself.

“That’s enough, Christen Annemarie Press,” Tobin said quietly. “You risked re-injury, and we can’t have that. Angel City can’t have that. Would you rather take this now, from our Krampus, or wait for Ali to hear about it?”

Christen winced. “Sorry, ma’am, I’ll behave,” she sighed. “Sorry, Risse.”

“Take it as you ought, otherwise we might be telling Ali regardless,  it would be Krampus's present. Now speaking of, I have a little something to help with keeping still.”

Christen looked warily at ‘Krampus’, wondering what Clarisse had up her furry brown sleeves. “Like what?”

Clarisse took something out of the pocket of her Krampus costume, wrapped in brown paper and twine, and handed it over to Christen with a flourish.

Warily, Christen unwrapped it.

The contents thus revealed were a plug of peeled ginger, slick with its own juices. She stared at Clarisse.

“You’ve got to be joking.”

“No, no I'm not. Is that sass or has it just been a while?”

“For maintenance or that? ”

“Let’s say both, so I know what attitude I'm working to curb.”

Christen swallowed. “I’d guess I’m about due for maintenance,” she admitted meekly, “but Tobs doesn’t usually use that on me.”

“You don’t usually overexert yourself by kneeling all afternoon, either,” Tobin replied, though she carded her fingers through Christen’s hair and rubbed her shoulder as reassurance that she was worried, not angry with Christen. “Can you be a good girl for Clarisse, please?”

Slowly, Christen nodded. She let Tobin pull her back down so she was lying over Tobin’s lap on the bed. Her nightgown was tucked up in back, and then Tobin eased her panties down, making Christen shiver.

The rest, she realized, was up to Clarisse. But at least Tobin was holding her, keeping her safe.

“Take a breath for me, Chris.” Tobin’s voice was keeping her grounded. “In and out.”

She obeyed, and tried not to cry out loud as the plug was slipped between her bottom cheeks. “Tobs--”

“Shh, I know, try to hold still,” Tobin stroked Christen’s hair. “That’s just to keep you in position, my love, you know what moving will do to it.”

Christen squeaked. “Please no--”

“Try and hold still,” Tobin said again. “Give me your hands.”  

Tobin took Christen’s hands in hers, then nodded to Clarisse, and the first blow of the fouet smacked down across Christen’s bottom cheeks, the handful of soft leather tails striking gently. Christen fought the urge to squirm as the whipping continued, some of the blows harder than others.

“I don't hear anything. If you're biting your lip, there will be an extra punishment, 

Christen Annemarie Press. Is she biting, Tobin?”

“Not exactly, no. She’s biting down on the pillow, but that’s not hurting her mouth, although I imagine the pillow won’t appreciate it,” Tobin commented dryly, stroking Christen’s hair reassuringly. “Come on now love, that’s enough of that.”

With a choked sob, Christen pulled the pillow out of her mouth. “B-but I don’t want…” she whimpered.

Tobin held up a hand to Clarisse, then looked Christen over intently. “Color, Chris?”

“Yellow.”

“What is it?” Tobin asked gently, rubbing between Christen’s shoulders.

“I don’t want the girls to hear,” Christen sniffled.

“They won’t think any less of you, love. They both know what being spanked is like, and if you’re embarrassed that they might hear you, well, that might be all to the good,” Tobin pointed out. “But I promise, they’re not going to think badly of you, Chris, sweetheart. Just let it out, you don’t need to be afraid.”

Christen nodded into the bedcovers. “S-sorry. Green, ma’am,” she said, just clearly enough for Tobin and Clarisse to hear her.

“You’ve had ten, Christen. Thirteen more,” Clarisse said quietly. “Understand?”

Christen swallowed and nodded. She held tight to Tobin, as the strokes resumed. They were harder now - not severe by any means, but not as light as they had started out, and Christen couldn’t help crying aloud now.

Eventually, though, it was over, and Christen shuddered as she felt Clarisse start to pull her panties back up.

“P-please Risse, don’t leave it…”

“I’ve got it, love.” Tobin eased the ginger plug out and dropped it back on the brown paper before fixing Christen’s clothes for her. “There you are, Chris, all finished, sweetheart. You did so good for us, you hardly moved.”

“I didn’t want it to…to…what it did was bad enough,” Christen shuddered. “I’m sorry I didn’t take care of myself or Hannah,” she added, and Tobin’s hand caressed Christen’s sore bottom over the two thin layers.

“I know, Chris, love. I know you are. It’s forgiven,” she promised, and Clarisse nodded, putting a gentle hand on Christen’s shoulder and squeezing gently.

“Feel better, Chris,” she said softly. “I did it because you needed it, it’s all for your own good so you can rest and heal, and not re-injure yourself, okay?”

Christen nodded, slowly drying her tears. “Okay.”

“Now, St. Nicholas and I have a couple of more people to visit. But get some rest now.” 

***

Hannah and Alyssa were sitting up in Hannah’s bed, listening anxiously, when they heard footsteps approaching. AT pulled Hannah back down, pulling the covers over their heads just so they wouldn’t get caught.

There was a knock at the door now, though, and a voice called out, “Little ones, may we come in?”

Hannah looked doubtfully at AT under the blanket, and AT nodded. The girls got out of bed, and Hannah went to answer the door.

Abby and Glennon entered first, Amanda behind them. The two Doyle sisters each carried a pair of wooden shoes brimful with sweets and small toys - Hannah could even make out what looked like a shrink-wrapped pack of trading cards in one of each pair. She was quickly distracted, however, by the pair of robed and bearded figures who had followed Abby, Glennon, and Amanda into the room.

The wooden shoes were placed in a neat row on Hannah’s desk, and then Abby stepped aside, letting her wife and sister-in-law go to the bed. Glennon sat down and tugged AT into her lap, so that Hannah wouldn’t feel self-conscious about getting the same treatment from Amanda in front of her. Hannah snuggled into her mother’s arms and peeked up at the robed figures.

One was clad all in brown, a robe lined with shaggy fur that matched his beard and wound around with chains, for dramatic effect. The other wore a bishop’s hat and robe of vibrant red, his white hair and beard a pleasing contrast.

AT already knew that the brown-robed one, carrying a fouet - a many-tailed, soft leather whip - in the hand that didn’t hold the chains, was the Krampus. (She also knew that the Krampus was being played by her Angel City teammate Clarisse Le Bihan, but knew better than to say such a thing.) 

St. Nicholas, on the other hand, was slightly more of a puzzle to her. Last year, the Saint had been played by Clarisse’s Swedish friend - who had, after that, quickly become a big sister to her. Sofia Jakobsson. But AT knew Sofia couldn’t do it this year, so the tall blonde who had donned the costume was, once again, naggingly familiar and an unknown all at once.

“Mama? I wasn't bad though.”

“You're right. You were probably the least naughty in this house. Though that doesn’t mean you haven’t been naughty at all.” Amanda pressed a light kiss to the top of Hannah’s head. “Especially if you were trying to hide something from Tobin, hmm?”

“Krampus what-”

“Shh Alyssa. Nothing bad, just symbolic for the both of you,” Abby stroked her granddaughter’s hair, standing next to Glennon. “No worse than last year, petite. I promise.” 

While AT was pondering things, her cousin was on the other side of the bed having a different reaction, a slight touch of pink was spreading across her face, which was embarrassing when you consider she was being held by her mama.

“What’s wrong, my angel?” Amanda soothed Hannah, cuddling her close. “Talk to Mama, I’m here.”

“Grandmother Cardwell she- she had one.”

“Shh, petite. This is not like hers. Will just be very light okay. And you'll be happy to know that Krampus will be paying her a visit as well. And hers won't be light, believe me. Would you rather AT go first, so you can see how things go?”

Hannah looked up at Abby and nodded. “Uh huh. If…if that’s alright.” Hannah peeked over at AT nervously.

Nodding, AT took her position over Glennon’s lap obediently. “Grandma Glennon? Are my mamas okay?” 

“They’re fine, sweetheart,” Glennon promised soothingly. “They just needed a little time alone, alright, you’re going to both see them soon. We just need to get finished here.”

AT nodded, squirming just a little bit as Glennon lowered her pajama bottoms for her. Her panties stayed up, but she hadn’t expected anything different since it was supposed to be like last year.

‘Krampus’ moved to stand by Alyssa, and raised the fouet, flicking down the soft leather tails three times gently. It was enough to raise a mild sting in Alyssa’s bottom, and to make her squirm a bit, but then it was over, and her pajama bottoms came back up. She was barely even sniffling as Glennon picked her back up, cuddling her close.

“There you are, little one,” Krampus said. “Clean slate for another year.” ‘He’ winked. “Unless you’re naughty again before Christmas of course.”

Alyssa poked the Krampus lightly. “Don’t tease like that, you might scare Hannah.”

“She's fine. Ready Hannah?”

Krampus moved around to the other side of the bed.

Hannah squeaked nervously and nodded. 

“Is this still too much for you little one?” The Krampus’ voice softened ever so slightly, and Hannah’s cheeks pinkened, nodding.

“Usually St. Nicholas doesn’t give the smacks, but I think in this case we could make an exception,” Krampus continued.

Hannah peeked up at the tall, blonde figure in red robes and with an obviously fake white beard. She thought both the Krampus and St. Nicholas were girls despite their male disguises, but wasn’t sure. Probably more of the family. Maybe even AT’s teammates? She tried to puzzle it out.

“N-not with the stick?” she begged, seeing the staff in St. Nicholas’ hand. ‘He’ put it to one side, and spoke just as gently.

“No, never. Just my hand, little one. Though, since you were actually naughty, it will have to be on the bare, from me.. Is that acceptable?”

Hannah swallowed and nodded. “Uh huh. I mean yes, Mr. Saint Nicholas, sir. Ma’am?” She bit her lip anxiously, and St. Nicholas chuckled, rubbing her lower lip.

“Never mind now, you’ll see soon enough. Release your lip though please, we don’t want you bleeding.” 

Meekly, Hannah obeyed and then was settled as comfortably as possible on Amanda’s lap. Stl Nicholas sat down on the bed beside her, shifting Hannah so he’ could reach her bottom more easily. Then, her pajama bottoms and panties were tugged down together.

Hannah’s blush deepened and she clung to Amanda’s hands. “Mama--”

“Shh, I know angel, just take a deep breath for me and let it out, Mama’s got you.”

She did as she was told. Hannah couldn’t help trembling just a little though, thoughts spinning. She couldn’t believe she was about to be spanked by St. Nicholas. Well, not really, obviously, but still.

“Another breath, there, that’s a good girl,” ‘he’ interrupted her spinning thoughts. “Hold tight to your mama, but try not to tense up, alright? Here we go.” 

Hannah squealed as the first swat impacted her bottom. St. Nicholas’ hands were big, and firmer than she expected. The smack hadn’t been severe, but it still stung, and five more just like it followed, making her bottom as warm as Abby’s ten had that first time.

“Ow, sorry, sorry,” she cried, and the smacks stopped falling. A gently callused hand rubbed her back, and she heard ‘St. Nicholas’ hushing her, speaking soothingly.

“There, there, little one, it’s alright, brave girl, good girl, all finished.” ‘He’ gently righted her clothing, and then there was a rustling sound above Hannah before she was picked up to sit up on St. Nicholas’ lap. When Hannah looked up, though, she saw that the beard was gone, revealing the smiling face of Angelina Anderson, the Angel City goalkeeper.

“There you are, Hannah, sweetie, all done, you took that like such a brave girl.”

“You’re- you're Angelina Anderson! Your keeping helped get them in the playoffs, the saves you had against the Dash were in some of the 90th percentile. And you’re sooo much better than Isenhour.” Hannah said surprised.

Angelina was also surprised, it wasn’t every day a fan knew the percentile her keeping was, much less for a match at least a month old.

‘Krampus’ removed her beard and wig now too, shrugging off her robes to reveal her Angel City kit underneath. Angelina did the same with hers, giving her costume to Clarisse to put to one side.

Clarisse Le Bihan, now de-Krampused (if that was even a word), gazed intently at Hannah. “I’m sorry I frightened you, little one. Being scared can be fun sometimes, but if it’s not, then I won’t push you, we just find an alternate solution like we did just now, okay?”

“And you’re- you’re Clarisse- Clarisse Le Bihan!” Hannah said with mouth agape. 

“What, no stats for me?” Risse teased.

“You're Clarisse Le Bihan!”

“Don't keep teasing my cousin, Risse. She's obviously starstruck. ” AT said, not wanting to give away any other possible reasons in front of Hannah’s mama.

“Cousin?” it was Risse's time to look surprised. 

“It's a bit of a long story, save for the breakfast table. Speaking of, we should give the les petites time to freshen up and get dressed. Should we start on breakfast?”

Glennon asked to get the morning moving. 

“Presents first, then breakfast,” Angelina said decidedly, bringing the pairs of wooden shoes over to AT and Hannah.
Clarisse handed one pair to Hannah (they had her initials carved into the wood) and gave her a reassuring smile.

“There you are, you’ve earned these, little one. You took your smacks properly, even if they weren’t from me this time.”

“What do you have there, sweetheart?” Amanda asked Hannah. 

Hannah looked into the wooden shoes, which were filled with a mix of individually wrapped hard candy and chocolates, and some small fidget toys. Tucked into one of the shoes, too, was a pack of trading cards - she saw that AT had about the same. AT was carefully sorting through her sweets and toys, but Hannah went straight for the cards, unwrapping them to reveal Ali Krieger and Julie Ertz’s ‘thank you’ retirement cards, plus a Kristie Mewis card. Her eyes widened.

“Ali Krieger it’s Ali Krieger??” She had cards for all of Angel City in her collection, even Julie Ertz, but she hadn’t yet got Ali Krieger. And Kristie Mewis. Maybe she would have to start collecting Gotham…”Look Mama, it’s Ali Krieger.”

Clarisse covered a grin as Hannah showed the acquisition to Amanda. “Should I be disappointed it wasn’t us?” she asked Angelina quietly.

“Something tells me she already has ours.”

Angelina responded, pointing toward the stack of Angel City cards. “ Your card shouldn't even be first, at least not numerically.” Angelina teased Risse with an eyebrow raised.

“What, upset yours isn’t, Angelina?” Clarisse bantered back.  “Neither of ours should be first, unless Hannah has her own system. But yours would normally be before mine, at least, whether numerically or alphabetically.”

AT was showing her acquisitions - Megan Rapinoe’s “thank you” card, Kelley O’Hara, and Christen Press - to Glennon. “I have to collect more, I want Mama Tobin’s card,” she informed Glennon, looking happily at the cards. “Do you think she’ll be upset that I didn't get her?”

“No, I think your Mama Tobin knows you can't get every card at the same time. You know she asked me the same thing about my card years and years ago.”

AT looked up at Abby. “Did she? Oh,” she said. “Do you have Mama Tobin’s card, Grandmere?”

“You'll have to ask her that, petite-fille. Now, ready for breakfast?” Abby responded. 

AT nodded. She and Hannah were still in their pajamas, but they tidied away their gifts (AT separated the sweets and fidgets into different wooden shoes, putting her cards with her fidget toys) and they left the shoes behind for the moment, lined up on Hannah’s desk again, as they were shepherded downstairs to eat breakfast with the rest of the family.

Tobin and Christen had been taking care of the cooking, or rather Tobin had been doing it while keeping Christen sitting down, where she could see her. Christen had been allowed up just long enough to set the table, and came to hug the girls when they appeared. 

“Mama Christen, are you okay?” AT hugged Christen tightly, giving her a perceptive look.

“Oh, she’s fine, mon bijou. As fine as she can be after getting a visit from the Krampus,” Clarisse said.

AT’s jaw dropped. “Mama Christen! You didn’t.” She turned to look at Clarisse. “You didn’t?”

“Only what was deserved, little love.” Tobin said, looking at Christen.

“I’ll be alright, sweetheart,” Christen promised. “It’s okay, really. Risse wasn’t horrible to me. Are you two alright?”

“I’m fine, Mama Christen,” AT said. “But Hannah got scared and Angelina had to take care of hers, only we didn’t even know it was Angelina yet.”

“She was a very good girl. They both were,” Angelina assured Tobin and Christen as they all sat down to breakfast. “In fact, Hannah’s very clever. You’ll never guess.”

Christen raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“She was listing off stats like that. Mine, mostly. She got a bit tongue-tied on Clarisse’s,” Angelina said with a teasing smile. “What’s next, little one? Going for ‘Mini Christen Press’? Or Christen’s herself?”

“Cousin's goal was the fastest of someone in her age group for a club not 3 seasons in since the NWSL, same match against the Dash. As for Christen, that's a matter of what you want to know; did you know her and Tobin have the most assist-goal combos among rumored or confirmed “partnerships”? (I made this up 🤣)

“No way is that a stat.” Le Bihan retorted. 

“Is too, most on a national team, far and away, 2nd most on club behind Sam Kerr’s Mamas, though that could move to third if their child replaces Ali Krieger at Gotham, cause you know Kristie Mewis. ”

“Do you have proof?” Clarisse asked.

“How about a stat just for you instead?”

“What, my most failed attempts at goal?”

“No, I was thinking most likely to steal my bacon, but if you want to talk so much why don't you show me how good you are later, there's a pitch outside. Friendly competition?”

AT looked between Clarisse and Hannah, eyebrows raised slightly. “That would be fun,” she encouraged Hannah. “Do you want to?”

Hannah nodded, though she didn’t count on winning this one. “Okay.”

“If you're doing that, you all need breakfast, eat up.” Abby said. 

AT nodded, turning her attention to the cinnamon rolls, fruit, eggs, and juice that had been set out. It definitely wasn’t typical, but for a holiday, Tobin didn’t mind doing that for the family. Besides, she knew Abby and Glennon liked them. So did AT. She was less sure about Hannah, but hoped she would.

“Umm, cousin, How am I supposed to eat this?”

AT blinked in surprise, but showed Hannah how to cut the cinnamon roll into smaller pieces, to eat with a fork. “And it’s alright if you get icing on you,” she added  “Icing isn’t going to hurt you.”

“Always eat the middle last, Miss Doyle. It's the best part.” Clarisse encouraged with a smile.

“Miss Doyle?” AT asked, amused. “But Risse is right, it’s definitely the best part.”

“Crunchy’s better,” Abby countered.

“Maman’s just being weird,” Tobin said, and Christen smiled, feeling better.

“All the parts are equally important,” she informed them. Abby rolled her eyes at Christen.

“Alright, everyone finished? What's next?” Glennon asked.

“We’ll do the washing up, my love. And I heard someone wanted to play soccer out back, with Honey and Hattie as goalkeepers, I’m guessing?” Abby teased.

“Excuse me.” Angelina folded her arms. “Goalkeeper available.”

“I'm sure the pups don't mind conceding to your greatness, this time.” AT said.

“They can play defense and midfield,” Angelina suggested. “Shall we go, then?” 

AT enthusiastically agreed, so after a pause for the girls to get dressed properly, Angelina and AT went out back with Hannah and Clarisse. Tobin and Christen followed. The latter two were mostly just watching, as Hannah was drilled by AT, Angelina, and Clarisse on various soccer moves. 

Hannah gaped as AT pulled off a spectacular trick she’d learned from watching Christen’s tapes, before the Preaths had even begun to be this involved in her life. “That…was insanely cool.”

“You want to learn how to do it?”

“Can I?” Hannah sputtered, and AT nodded enthusiastically. “Sure! You stand here , and kick the ball like this,” she began, demonstrating every move in the technique as Hannah did her best to pay attention. “The idea is to get the ball past Angelina, into the goal. But don’t worry if it doesn’t work the first time.” 

It did not, in fact, work the first time, but Angelina had to admire Hannah for continuing to try again. “Would you like to visit the stadium tomorrow? Ali could give you the grand tour.”

“I’ll help.” Clarisse volunteered.

“We all will,” AT agreed.

Hannah smiled. “I’d like that.” The four played under Christen and Tobin’s watchful eyes for a couple hours longer, then headed back inside. Craig had come over with the kids, and enough Panera for everyone - soup, salad, sandwiches, green tea and lemonade all round.

During the meal, they discussed their favorite games to play besides soccer.

“Does video game soccer count?” AT supplied, and Hannah looked hopeful. “I’d like to try that,” she offered. “Or do we have Monopoly?” She might not be able to beat AT and her teammates at ‘the soccer’ (as Aunt Glennon said) but she just might be able to beat them at ‘the Monopoly’.

Especially with Amma on her side. They all agreed to a game.

After lunch, the girls set up for a game and Chase excused himself, preferring to watch them all destroy each other rather than participate.

Who would win the Monopoly game? That remained to be seen.

Chapter Text

“Girls! Breakfast!” Glennon called up the stairs.

When no one other than AT and Hannah trudged down the stairs, Abby sighed and left the counter going to the stairs.

“When she said “girls” that includes the rest of you up there. If I have to come up there and we're running behind schedule, les cuillère is coming up there with me. 

You have 3 seconds. 3, 2- Well hello Christen, nice of you to decide to join us, AT'S already at the table. 2 and a half, 1.” Abby finished counting. As she walked back to get “Mrs Spoon” she smiled at Christen helping AT with her orange juice.

She probably didn't want to wake up to that again, unlike two others, I see.

Amanda was scrambling to get out of bed when Abby came up to her room. “Sorry, Abby,” she said meekly. “I didn’t mean to oversleep. Please don’t be mad?”

“I’m not mad, Sister,” Abby said calmly. “But you knew you were supposed to be up on time, and even AT and Hannah beat you downstairs.” 

“Shit--sorry,” Amanda groaned. She hurried to get dressed, and because it didn’t take Amanda long to throw on some clothes, Abby waited for her, calling across the hall in the meantime.

“Tobin, get up please, you’re late.”

“We have something to deal with, don't we Sister?”

Amanda grimaced. “I’m sorry , Abby.”

“I’m tired, Maman, go away,” came Tobin’s response at about the same time. Amanda facepalmed.

“I'll deal with you first, Sister since there's a bigger brat down the hall.”

Amanda gave Abby a wary look. “Exactly how much trouble are we in?”

“Enough trouble that your breakfast will be in the car.”

Amanda nodded reluctantly. She’d dressed hurriedly in an Angel City t-shirt and long, colorful skirt, not figuring on participating in the athletic activities herself. Now, as Abby answered her, she was pulling her brush through her hair, smoothing it into place. “You don’t need this, do you Abby,” she asked, hoping not, and her tone made it more of a statement. Hopefully Abby didn’t mean to spend as much time on her as she did on Tobin, since Amanda wasn’t fighting her on the issue.

Abby moved to sit on the bed. “No I don’t need that, Sister, I brought Mrs. Spoon up with me.”

Amanda groaned. The spoon was better than the brush, true, but when Abby talked like that-- “Okay.” She wrapped a hair tie around her dark blonde hair, and pulled it back in a loose ponytail to keep it out of the way, before reluctantly coming to join Abby on the bed.

“Over please.” Abby patted her lap, and sighing, Amanda took her position, burying her face in her arms as Abby tucked her skirt up out of the way. She didn’t move any other clothing, much to Amanda’s relief, and gave her back a gentle pat before beginning the spanking with her hand. 

Amanda tried to stay as still as possible, silently counting her way through the ten sharp smacks with Abby’s hand. “Oww… Abby… ”

“About half done Sister,” Abby promised. “But now it’s time for Mrs. Spoon.” 

Really, Amanda realized, Abby was being lenient. Then again, being late to breakfast was hardly high crimes and treason. But all the same, both Abby and Amanda knew she could take more than that, much more, if Abby was minded to do it. 

She was just glad Abby had decided not to. 

“Ow fuck,” Amanda hissed as the spoon smacked down for the first time. Abby let it go, focused on giving the dozen swats she’d planned, no more and no less. They were sprinkled randomly over Amanda’s bottom, each stinging a different spot, and it was obvious Amanda was trying not to squirm out of position - especially as the last two smacked the top of each thigh. But soon, it was over, and Abby smoothed Amanda’s skirt back down.

“There you are, Sister, calm down, it’s alright, sweetheart. Come back up now, I’ve got you.” Abby helped Amanda sit up and hugged her close. “There now, it’s alright, Sister, you did good for me.”

Amanda nodded, exhaling shakily. “Thank you for being lenient, Abby.”

“Oh well, it’s not as though you broke something, sweetheart. And you were very cooperative, unlike a certain eldest of mine who I can still hear complaining from here--”

“Leave me alone, Maman!”

“Not happening, Tobin Powell Heath.”

Amanda grimaced. “Wonder what’s gotten into Tobs.”

“I’ll get to the bottom of it,” Abby said dryly, and Amanda rolled her eyes.

“I just bet.”

“Yes, well I had better do that. You go down before Hannah gets too worried about you, alright Sister? You okay?”

Amanda nodded, brushing away stray tears. “Yes, thanks Abby.” She went to wash her face and go downstairs, shaking her head at the thought of Tobin’s confrontation with Abby. Whatever had gotten into Tobin, Abby clearly wasn’t having it.

“What has gotten into you this morning, little girl?” Abby said as she entered the guest room. 

“I don’t want to talk about it, Maman.” Tobin was lying sprawled facedown across the bed, dressed in a t-shirt and khakis, face buried in her arms. “I just want to be by myself right now.”

“That's not an option, Tobin. We have a separate appointment, and Riley is here to pick up our girls to take them to the stadium. You're excited about the partnership with Grassroots Soccer, right?”

Tobin lifted her head and nodded. “Yeah, it’s good that Angel City wants to get involved.” Still, she didn’t sound excited, there was still a distinct edge to her tone. “Please, Maman, I don’t feel good right now and I don’t want to take anyone’s head off, especially the kids.”

“Seems Maman needs to light a little fire in your bottom to light a fire in you to get you moving this morning hmm?”

Tobin covered her bottom with her hands, rolling away from Abby and scooting backward on the bed. “ Unnecessary ,” she protested. “I’m up. I’m dressed. I’m just pissed off and can’t people right now.”

“And why is that? You need to be able to people today. You want to tell Maman what's bothering you, you know I won't judge.” Abby replied calmly.

“I don’t know!” Tobin shouted, then snapped her mouth shut, horrified. You never raised your voice to Abby Wambach. “I’m sorry, I don’t know,” she repeated in a quieter tone.

“You do not raise your voice at me, Tobin Powell Heath. It seems you need some time over Maman's knee whether you want it or not, little girl.”

“I’m sorry, Maman,” Tobin repeated, biting her lip nervously.

“No biting, Tobin.”

Tobin released her lip, staring at her lap, ashamed. “Please don’t be angry with me, Maman. I didn’t mean to shout at you. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“We'll get to the bottom of that, little one. Don't you worry.”

That was the part Tobin was worried about. However, she knew she’d been outmaneuvered, and there was nothing for it. Sighing, she decided to cooperate, and shifted on the bed so that she was sitting up facing Abby, her hands in her lap.

“I’ll behave, Maman,” she said quietly, because the words alright Maman, I’ll take my spanking like a good girl stuck in her throat and she had to rephrase. She hoped Abby understood.

“I believe you. Besides I have a little something that will help with that anyway.”

Tobin was immediately reminded of what ‘Krampus’ had done to ensure Christen’s compliance the previous morning, and paled. “Maman no, please, you don’t have to--”

“I think your reaction is exactly why I need to, Tobin Powell, over you go.”

Tobin didn’t even consider disobeying, at this point. She lowered herself over Abby’s lap, pulling a pillow into her arms, and hid her face as her khakis and boxer briefs were pulled down together. The cool air on her bare bottom made her shiver.

The rustling of the paper wrapper above Tobin just confirmed her worst fears - evidently ‘Krampus’ had left some extra ginger plugs at the house. Unless Maman keeps them around, and I really don’t need to know that about her and Mama Glennon. But I don’t think it’s usual. 

“Alright petite, hold still.” 

Tobin did her best to obey, groaning as the ginger plug was inserted. Her boxers were tugged back up over it, which just stopped Tobin from trying to reach back and pull it back out.

“Maman do you have to?” 

“Yes, you had the nerve to pull it out last time, Tobin Powell. It's staying, until I say so, period.”

Tobin groaned. “It’s going to be horrible.” She looked up pleadingly at Abby. “Not too many?”

“Just what's needed. Squirm all you like.” Abby said wryly.

Tobin looked reproachfully at Abby. “Maman, that’ll just make the ginger worse. I know I need to keep still so it doesn’t do that.” It was keeping still that would be the problem. She wasn’t proficient at finding a calm headspace to focus on, like Christen could. But she would try.

“Just my hand to start, petite.”

Tobin exhaled in relief at that, though to start wasn’t promising either, but she could cope with Abby’s hand. She could. She closed her eyes and nodded, trying to center herself even as her confused, angry feelings churned inside her. Maman often said Tobin did her clearest thinking when upturned over her knee, even if Tobin didn’t want to admit it. She hugged the pillow tight as Abby’s hand came down for the first smack. 

Tobin gasped at the impact, but at least it had missed the ginger plug. For now.

Abby’s hand swatted down five more times on each side. Eleven did connect with the plug, and Tobin yelped. “Oww, Maman!” Christen took it yesterday without this much trouble, she reminded herself, blushing in embarrassment.

Christen was being smacked by Risse though, maybe it’s---oh, wait. Tobin clung to the stray thought as Abby continued the swats, pausing again at twenty. “Maman wait,” she gasped. “I know. I know what’s wrong.”

“Oh? Let's hear it. No dawdling now.”

“It, it was Risse,” Tobin said quickly. “Clarisse smacked Christen yesterday. My Christen. I know it was because she was playing Krampus, but still…Christen’s mine, it’s different.” 

“You gave her permission, correct?”

“Well…yes, but…” Tobin faltered, unsure how to articulate the rest. “I didn’t expect it would make me feel…” She gestured vaguely, frustrated that she couldn’t find the word she wanted. “You know, Maman, Risse is young and pretty, and French, and--” 

“Enough, Christen loves you and only you, Tobin Powell Heath.”

“I’m sorry, I know it’s stupid, Maman,” Tobin groaned. “It doesn’t even make sense.”

“Feelings can be like that sometimes. Feel better?”

“I think so,” Tobin said quietly. “I’m sorry for being horrible this morning. I just felt awful and was trying not to be awful to anyone, and then I yelled at you anyways, and it all went wrong.”

“It’s alright, let's finish this.”

“Finish?” Tobin asked warily. She’d hoped they were finished.

“Yes, count these for me.”

Tobin groaned as the wooden spoon tapped her right bottom cheek lightly. “Un, Maman?” she offered, hopeful but not sure that counted as ‘one’.

“I think not. Try this one.”

The swat was repeated, with enough force to sting behind it, and Tobin yelped. “Un, Maman,” she said again, groaning as the smacks continued peppering her bottom and continuing ‘deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept--” She cut off with a yelp. That one had landed on the plug. “Maman!” 

“I think that's enough. Though that plug is staying in for now.”

“What,” Tobin sputtered. “For how long?”

“At least the ride. Now let's make sure it's in there good, and won't “fall out”.”

“How are we going to do that?” Tobin eyed Abby warily.

“By giving it a few turns, little one.”

Tobin’s eyes widened, but she didn’t want to risk further punishment, so she went limp over Abby’s lap, closing her eyes as her boxer briefs were tugged back down. Tobin took a shuddering breath. “Maman, do you have to--”

“Yes, now hold still.”

Tobin wouldn’t dream of moving after an order like that, so she closed her eyes and tried to ignore what was happening. Really, she knew that if she told Abby to stop, that she’d had enough and couldn’t do it, then Abby would. But she also knew Abby had been there to take care of her for years, she depended on her to know what Tobin needed. And if Abby thought Tobin needed this, well, she was unlikely to be wrong.

Even so, the feeling of the plug being twisted around - well, it was far from pleasant. Tobin groaned, and cried some more over Abby’s lap, feeling thoroughly naughty and thoroughly punished. 

Then her boxer briefs were pulled back up, and her khakis followed. She was pulled up to sit on Abby’s lap and buried her face in Abby’s shoulder. “You wouldn’t do this to Hannah--”

“No. I wouldn’t,” Abby promised quietly. “Which isn’t to say that no one would, but you’re different than Hannah, petite, you know that. You know I wouldn’t usually do this to you , even, except for special circumstances. But you were bratting for me so much it seemed the Krampus missed out on you.” 

“I’m sorry I was so horrible,” Tobin said quietly.

“I know. It’s not like you,” Abby said, giving Tobin a reassuring hug and helping her up. Deciding to be merciful, she carried Tobin downstairs - not an easy feat, but easier for her than it would be for Glennon. By the time the whole family was assembled in the kitchen, there were breakfast wraps packed for Tobin, Amanda, and Abby, and the rest of the family had already eaten.

They headed to the stadium (a very uncomfortable ride for Tobin, especially) and were met by Ali Riley, Clarisse, and Angelina. They divided up then, with Tobin, Christen, Abby, Glennon, and Amanda heading for the re-inc/We Can Do Hard Things event with Grassroots Soccer, while AT and Hannah followed Ali, Clarisse, and Angelina on their tour. 

"Captain, you've got to hear what this kid knows," Angelina was telling Ali, and Hannah was only too glad to rattle off some stats for her - first Ali's, then, now that she was less tongue-tied, Clarisse's. It helped that she didn't have Risse's eyes locked on her now.

At least not within her view.

Clarisse was walking behind, with AT, and muttering to herself in French. "She has a gorgeous ass, though she could really do with a lot more good spanking."

AT's head came up and she whipped around, staring at Clarisse. "Whatever you're saying, it wasn't me, Risse," she protested. "I don't need a good spanking. Or any kind of spanking. Not again. I've been good since yesterday, swear."

Clarisse snorted. "And this is why eavesdropping does no one any good, little one. I didn't say you needed a good spanking. Though you do every so often, but no, not right now, don't worry."

"Then who were you talking about?" AT asked, guileless eyes innocent as she blinked at Clarisse, who mentally swore in four languages.

"No one."

"Uh huh."

"It's not your business, little girl."

Alyssa pouted. "Oh, not fair." 

Clarisse sighed. "If you must know--"

"Yes please."

"It's a girl."

"Well duh Risse."

"A girl I might be interested in. And that's enough. No more questions."

AT sighed and kicked at the ground before hurrying to catch up with Hannah as the other girl carried on about Angel City stats.

"She's impressive, pet, you know that?" Ali inquired as AT joined them. "She's absolutely wasting her time working at the Classification Center."

"Don't know if they'll let Mama supervise my internship anymore anyways," Hannah said quietly. "Now that, you know, we know. I should probably, ethically, find a different one. But where could I get a different one in a hurry?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe you know someone who'd gladly put in a good word for you with Becki? Not to mention, your aunts co-own the team, though it's not a conflict of interest because they wouldn't be supervising you." 

Hannah perked up. "Really??"

"Really. I'm sure Ma would be thrilled to turn you over to us. Not that she doesn't like you of course, She's always talking about how sweet you are."

Hannah blushed. "Oh. I'm glad. I mean, yes, please, I'd like that."

"Good. Soccer practice first, though?"

Hannah's eyes lit up. "Yes!"

"AT, pet, why don't you get Hannah kitted out, we have spare uniforms. The rest of you, get dressed." Ali was already dressed for the occasion. "Ten minutes, then I want you on the pitch."

They were assembled within the allotted time, Hannah bouncing on the balls of her feet in her borrowed cleats. Then Ali started them on drills, and Hannah began racing around the field like a maniac, burning off her excess energy.

They'd been at it for about an hour when Hannah heard a call from the sideline. "Hannah Amanda Doyle, come over here."

Blinking, she obeyed, and found her Mama there waiting for her. 

"Yes Mama?"

"Did you take your medication, angel?"

"Ummm...yes?" Hannah hazarded. She groaned when Amanda took the detachable compartment out of her purse, with Hannah's morning and afternoon doses still filled up. "Oh."

"Oh. Sit down here," Amanda instructed. "You're lucky it's not too late yet." She poured the morning dose into Hannah's hand, and offered her a small bottle of water from the nearby vending machine. Hannah obediently swallowed the pills, and slowly began to calm down.

Amanda stood behind Hannah, massaging her shoulders gently to help her daughter relax. "It's alright angel, you're not in trouble like Tobin was today. And she's out of it, so don't worry. All finished and forgiven."

Slowly, Hannah relaxed. "Are you doing this for her too?"

"I imagine Christen is," Amanda commented. "But as long as you're relaxed, my angel, that's what I care about. Are you stressing over something?"

"Yes, what if Grandmother Cardwell finds me here and tries to, I don't know, take me back?"

"Then I'll do what I should have done twenty odd years ago and knock her lights out. I may not hit a lady, but vile excuses for human beings are a different matter." Amanda hugged Hannah protectively. "I love you, darling, don't you forget it."

"I won't."

Chapter Text

“Sister, we need you over here. Ali needs a word with Hannah anyway.” Glennon called over, and Amanda jumped, looking a little guilty. 

“Sorry for monopolizing you, angel. I know we both have things to do today. I just wanted to make sure you were okay, alright Hannah?”

“Yes Mama, I’m okay,” Hannah said, and after accepting one more hug and a kiss on the forehead, she turned away from Amanda to see Ali approaching, phone in hand.

“There you are,” Ali said. “I took a moment to call Ma and talk to her, and she reminded me someone was sitting up in the box today you ought to meet. She’s running stats on the scrimmage today with Becki, so if you want the internship, it’s them you’ve got to impress.”

Hannah gulped. “Someone like who someone?” She eyed Ali warily, still unsure about her.

“I don’t bite, and neither do Becki or Lori,” Ali said reassuringly. “Come on, you know my Ma, I’m not any scarier than she is, promise.”

That’s not necessarily reassuring.

“AT calls me her Captain Tia, or Tia Ali,” the Angel City captain added reassuringly. “You can too, if you’d like. Come on, it’s going to be alright.”

Slowly, Hannah followed Ali to the announcers box, swallowing hard. She hoped she looked presentable, after running around in Angel City kit (that she was still wearing.) 

Oh my god it’s the head coach, Becki Tweed and--

“You’re Lori Lindsey.” Hannah sputtered.

Lori raised an eyebrow. “Last time I checked.”

“Like, USWNT Lightning Lori Lindsey. Gay icon Lori Lindsey. Most amazing stats announcer in all of the ever, Lori Lindsey,” Hannah babbled. “That Lori Lindsey?”

Lori stifled the urge to grin. “‘Most amazing stats announcer in all of the ever’?” she echoed.

Hannah blushed. “Well, um, I mean…”

“Never mind what you meant, little one. Let’s see what else you can do.” Lori nodded down to the pitch, and Hannah went to stand next to her, watching as the rest of the Angel City team assembled for the scrimmage. Ali had left her alone with Becki Tweed and Lori Lindsey, returning to the team, to AT and Clarisse and Angelina, and everyone, and Hannah glanced up at Lori before returning her gaze to the girls again. 

 As Lori pointed each of them out, Hannah responded with the stats she knew off the top of her head, becoming more relaxed and comfortable in Lori’s presence as time passed and she found her footing. She’d memorized pretty much all the Angel City cards she’d collected (gifts from her friends at college, mostly), plus the USWNT, and constantly checked for new updates. 

“There, that move that AT did just then? She learned it from watching Christen Press’ tapes, did you know?” Hannah piped up. “That one that had the announcer screaming ‘Christen Press, what have you done?’” she mimicked. “Iconic.”

“Mhmm, and do you remember what his name was?” Lori asked lightly.

Hannah paled. “I know his name. I should remember it,” she fretted anxiously. “I really should, shouldn’t I, but--”

Lori shook her head. “Interview jitters, I expect. You’re doing great, little one,” she said encouragingly. “Ali’s right, you’re impressive, especially at your age. There’s always room to learn and grow, you know. She said you were interested in an internship, and switching college programs to the one covered by Angel City - sort of ‘homeschooling’, I guess you could call it, since it’s here at the training facility and you wouldn’t have to go to the college anymore?”

Hannah nodded. “I’d like that. I’d miss my friends at college, but, well…I’m not living in campus housing anymore, and my family’s all here, so…” 

“I’m sure your family would let you see your friends whenever you like, Hannah,” Lori said reassuringly. “What do you think, Becki, is she suitable?” 

The head coach nodded. “I’d say she’s a good candidate for the program, both the internship and the schooling. It would put her in lessons with Alyssa, which I’m sure they’d both enjoy.”

Eyes wide, Hannah stared with her mouth open. Finally she managed to close it and nod gratefully.

“Thank you ma’ams, I promise I won’t disappoint you. I’ll work so hard, really I will.”

“Good girl,” Lori said, making Hannah blush. “Here Ali comes, you can give her the good news.”

Relieved to see a familiar face, Hannah practically stumbled into Ali’s arms, and Ali petted her hair gently.

“Captain Ali, they said yes,” Hannah sputtered breathlessly.

“Did they, Hannah, pet? Well, I think that deserves a celebration,” Ali smiled warmly. “We’re done with our scrimmage, so how about we go for sorbet?”

“In December?” Hannah wrinkled her nose.

“It makes more sense than you’d think,” Ali chuckled, and Hannah nodded doubtfully. “Or, if you’d prefer, there’s the pastry shop next door. Clarisse has been dying for their new macarons.” 

Clarisse.

“Macarons, please,” Hannah agreed.

She didn’t see the amused look Ali shared with Lori as she led Hannah away. Clarisse joined Ali and Hannah as they headed out.

They went across the street to get the macarons, picking up a couple of selection boxes with a variety of fillings. 

As they exited the shop, the sound of a throat being cleared behind Hannah froze the young intern’s blood in her veins for a few moments.

“ Hannah Amanda Cardwell. What are you doing with…these people , and what have you done to your hair and your clothes?” There was a pause. “Did your mother do this to you? I know you found her. Enough of this playing at being independent. It’s time to come home with me where you belong, away from that woman. She’ll just walk away from you again anyway, when you get too much for her. Grandmother knows best, child.”

Hannah spun around, chest heaving, to face the tall, willowy figure of her grandmother, Aurelia, matriarch of the Cardwell family. Aurelia was staring down at her granddaughter with a disapproving sneer. She lifted a hand, reaching out to grab Hannah and drag her away.

With a shriek of rage, Hannah threw herself at Aurelia, striking out with her fists.

“Don’t-you-talk-about-my-Mama!” she screamed, kicking Aurelia’s knee so the woman staggered back. Ali and Clarisse stepped forward quickly, shaking off her shock at Aurelia’s appearance, and Ali pulled Aurelia backward, while Clarisse grabbed Hannah around the middle.

“Enough,” Risse commanded in French. “Stop that right now, little girl.”

With a frustrated sob, Hannah went limp. Ali’s strength had aided her as she signaled for nearby security to come over and deal with the woman, handing Aurelia off to them.

“These brats assaulted me without provocation! They’re trying to kidnap my granddaughter and take her away from me!” Aurelia shrieked.

“They are not. These are my friends,” Hannah said. “And it’s Grandmother who started it. She was being horrible about my mama.” 

Clarisse cuddled Hannah close as the security guards asked a few more pressing questions, which Ali was only too happy to answer, even if she was a bit impatient. She gave them her information, and then Ali, Clarisse, and Hannah were free to go (with Aurelia being taken away in the back of a squad car, for now) with the promise security would call Ali if they needed anything further. They would review the security camera footage from inside the store and out in the parking lot to see what else they could find out.

Ali and Clarisse took Hannah home, Ali messaging Abby using hands-free in her car to let Abby know they should get back home right away if they weren’t already. 

Amanda’s already there, Abby replied, and Ali was relieved by that. From what she could tell, Hannah had definitely dropped as soon as she was hustled into the back seat, and no wonder.

“Risse, pease no be mad with me,” Hannah protested, and Clarisse sighed, soothing Hannah with a gentle hand on her shoulder. 

“No, sweetheart, not mad. We know you were upset,” Clarisse said soothingly. “Come, let’s get you to your Mama.” 

“Mama?” Hannah sniffled, looking around anxiously.

“You’ll have her again soon, Hannah, pet. She’s waiting for us at home.” 

They reached the Wambach-Doyle house as quickly as Ali could manage legally, and headed up the front walk, where Amanda met them with a worried expression.

“What happened?”

“Aurelia Cardwell happened. Hannah’s fine, but she hit the woman, and went little after. She was provoked,” Ali added hurriedly, “but still.”

“Okay angel,” Amanda said, pulling Hannah protectively into her arms. “You’re okay angel, I’ve got you. Come on, let’s go sit on the step while we think things over.”

The step, Hannah knew (even littlespaced) meant the naughty step, which she’d heard about from Tish and Amma. She hadn’t been sent to sit on it yet, but there was a first time for everything.

And besides, it sounded as though Mama intended to sit with her. Little Hannah was glad of that, it proved Grandmother was a liar, she thought as she and Amanda went to sit on the step between the kitchen/dining area and den, Hannah settled in Amanda’s lap.

“Ten minutes, pet,” Ali decreed, and Amanda nodded, holding Hannah tightly.

When the time was up, Hannah was still deeply littlespaced, and Amanda began to worry. 

“Hannah? Angel?” Amanda called softly, but Hannah was deep in tiny space, and just buried her head in Amanda’s shoulder for answer.

Amanda scooped Hannah up and got to her feet, taking Hannah up to her room. The littlespaced girl seemed oblivious to everything around her, and Amanda could tell she would be dropped for longer than usual. Maybe even overnight.

With that in mind, she settled Hannah on the pad on top of the dresser, and thanked everything that Hannah seemed to be too overwrought not to be compliant. Amanda stripped Hannah efficiently, putting her in a pull-up, fuzzy socks, and onesie before tucking her into bed.

“Okay angel, you’re exhausted and little, and you need your sleep,” Amanda said quietly. She lay down on top of the covers, stroking Hannah’s short hair. “Mama’s here, Mama won’t leave you.”

Hannah snuggled close to Amanda, and although Hannah was teetering on the edge of sleep, Amanda decided to help, reciting softly.

“In the great green room, there was a telephone, and a red balloon, and a picture of the cow jumping over the moon…”

Before she’d gotten much further, little Hannah was sound asleep.

Chapter Text

When Hannah woke the next morning, she was still feeling little, though not tiny little. She’d been exhausted by her encounter with Grandmother Cardwell, and it surprised no one that she was still not in a fully adult space yet. She was finally brought out of sleep by the feel of Amanda’s hand in her hair, stroking the short locks gently.

“Angel, wake up,” Amanda said regretfully. “I need you to hear me, sweetheart.”

“Mama,” Hannah objected, clinging tightly to her. “Mine.”

“Yes I am, my angel,” Amanda promised. “But I need to go to work.” She kissed Hannah’s temple gently. “You’ve got a little time off, to adjust before you start your new internship, sweetie, and Auntie Abby and Auntie Glennon are going to be here with you. Is that okay?”

Hannah wrapped her arms tightly around Amanda. “Mine.”

Fuck you and everything you ever did to my precious baby, Aurelia Cardwell. Amanda sat up, gathering Hannah into her lap, and rocked her gently. “Yes, yes I am my angel. But Bev will scold me if I’m late, and she might do worse if she’s really unhappy.”

Hannah processed this. “No spanking Mama,” she objected, and Amanda blushed. “Then you have to let me go to work, my angel. I promise, I only have a short shift today. Okay sweetheart? I’ll come home for lunch.”

The little one thought this over. “You promise, Mama?”

“I promise, my angel. It’s alright,” Amanda soothed. “I’ll come home as soon as I can, you’ll have me back and we’ll have the rest of the day together. Is that okay, sweetheart? Can Auntie Abby and Auntie Glennon look after you for me?”

Slowly, Hannah nodded. “Don’t want Grandmother.”

Neither do I. Don’t worry my angel, that bitch is never coming near you again. Amanda cuddled Hannah tight. “She’s not coming here, my angel. Don’t you worry, you’re safe here.”

“Okay,” Hannah conceded reluctantly. She allowed Amanda to help her up, and change her into slightly ‘bigger’ clothes, as she was no longer feeling tiny Little. Her hair was too short to plait anymore, but Amanda still took a little time to comb it properly, before leading Hannah - dressed in an Angel City t-shirt under black overalls - down to breakfast.

Glennon and Abby were waiting in the kitchen, and Glennon took her niece from Amanda, hugging her protectively. “Your Uncle Craig has the kids, sweetie, so you’re ours today,” she soothed. “Auntie’s here, don’t you worry about a thing.”

Hannah studied Glennon intently, then looked over at Abby anxiously. “But I was bad,” she said worriedly. “Auntie Abby’s gonna be mad.”

“Auntie Abby is not mad little one. You sat on the naughty step, all is forgiven. Besides I don't expect you to react any other way when your Mama's loyalty is questioned. I know Auntie Glennon would react the same way,” Abby said with a grin towards Glennon, “and I have a sneaking suspicion that your cousin Tish would react the same way if my loyalty and presence was called into question, though she hasn't been classified, yet. My point is you're not alone, petite. Now how about some breakfast?”

“Yes please Auntie Abby,” Hannah said quietly. She still felt small, and scared, but Glennon gave her a cuddle and a kiss on the forehead.

“It’s alright sweetheart. Come and sit down,” she urged, and settled Hannah at the table, with a bowl of oatmeal, swirled with vanilla yogurt and topped with chopped apples and raisins. “Here you are, little one.” 

Hannah ate ravenously, having skipped supper the night before because she was so deep in littlespace, only stopping when a different dish was placed in front of her. 

A plate of French toast sticks (with a little cup of maple syrup for dipping) and bacon was set in front of Hannah, and Glennon gave her an encouraging smile. “You don’t have to finish if it’s too much, so pace yourself little one. But you can have as much as you want.”

“Kay Auntie Glennon. Thank you,” Hannah said softly, intrigued by the French toast sticks and following Glennon’s example in eating them.

After breakfast, Hannah frowned anxiously. “Auntie Abby? I didn’t mean to get all sticky.”

“Of course you didn't, petite. That's just a part of that dish. Tired?” Abby asked at Hannah’s yawn.

Hannah nodded. “..but Auntie Abby I just slept for hours and hours,” she objected.

Glennon rubbed Hannah’s shoulder gently. “You had a shock you’re still recovering from, sweetheart, it’s understandable that you need extra sleep, especially when you’re feeling little.”

“Okay Auntie,” Hannah yawned again as Abby cleaned her hands and face with a damp cloth. She snuggled close as Abby picked her up, and didn’t protest as Abby carried her up to bed and tucked her in with her stuffed monkey.

“Does your friend have a name yet, petite?”

“Uh huh.” Hannah wrapped an arm around the plush. “Mr. Banana. Cause he likes them.”

“That’s a good name, petite,” Abby said, smiling in amusement. “You and Mr. Banana sleep well then. We’re having a quiet morning today, so you might spend some time in your sensory swing when you get up, okay?”

“Uh huh.” Hannah yawned again and snuggled under her blankets, falling asleep with Mr. Banana clasped in her arms. Abby thought this was adorable, and sent Amanda a picture of her sleeping little one, quickly snapped on her phone.

She’s still getting over the shock of that woman turning up, so I think a quiet day is just what she needs. Mr. Banana’s taking good care of her for us.

Thanks Abby, Amanda responded. I’ll be home for lunch, promise. I’ll try not to go kill Aurelia Cardwell on my break, but it’s tempting.

Watch yourself, Sister, Abby warned. Though I can’t really blame you for that.

With that taken care of, Abby kissed Hannah’s forehead lightly and headed downstairs.

An hour and a half later, Hannah stirred to wakefulness, to find her plush monkey friend clinging to her face. She sat up with a groan and Mr. Banana fell onto the bed. Hannah picked him up.

“You’re not supposed to be on my face. Silly,” she informed him, setting him down against the pillow. She was feeling bigger than she had been earlier, and scrubbed the sleep from her eyes before going to sit in her sensory swing, curled up, and lost herself in thought. 

The party at Miss Beverly’s! What if I make something to bring!

With this thought in her head, Hannah dressed and headed downstairs to the kitchen. Oooh banana! Cause Mr. Banana, banana. Her stomach grumbled and confirmed the choice for her. As she ate Hannah scrolled through her phone for a few different recipes before placing a text, then a call.

“Hello? Tia Ali?”

“Yes… Who is this?”

“It's Hannah. Umm Hannah Doyle. AT’s cousin. I wanted to bring something to your Ma's party but didn't want to bring something being made. Do you know what you or your Ma are making?”

“She has me on Tangyuan duty, she says I “have the hands for it.” I don't know what she's making, though. She keeps it a secret from me because “you told that one time and everyone know.”

“Can you please give me her number?”

“What are you up to, pet?”

“ Hopefully, a surprise she doesn't see coming, to show my thanks. Number please?”

Ali rattled off the number. “Her English isn't as good as mine, though.”

“That's okay, I could always switch languages. (In Cantonese) “See you at the party Ali.”

“Wait Hannah! How do you know Cantonese?”

“Gotta go! Thanks, bye.”

“Since when do you speak Chinese, Hannah Amanda?”

“Mama! You scared me! Don't do that!”

“And you still haven't answered my question.” 

“Look! It's Auntie Glennon and she looks like she needs help!”

Amanda turned to look and her Sister did indeed seem to be struggling with a very large wrapped gift.

“She's probably trying to hide Auntie Abby’s gift, go help her please.”

“Why do I feel like I  should be directing that statement to you?” Amanda asked, but left Hannah to be of assistance anyway. 

Now time for another phone call. 

“Hello? Miss Beverly?”

“Hannah? Amandah’s little girl?”

“Yes. I wanted to bring something to your party and didn't want to end up with the same dish as you. What are you making, if you don't mind me asking?”

“I make pork, it more palatable to some of “American” guests than duck or pigeon.”

Hannah switches to Cantonese.

“Sounds good, I wasn't planning duck or fried pigeon anyway. Your Ali she tells me you don't tell her what you cook?”

“Ali she tell everyone what dish will be so I stopped telling her. Between you and me, what she doesn't know is every year it rotates back to 5 years ago, there are 5 different main meals you see. My Alexandra, she has not caught on. Your Cantonese is good, but it sounds business like.”

“Yep. I will explain at your party. Have a good day.”

As Hannah turned around her Mama was right behind her. 

“Again with the Chinese, what are you hiding sweetheart?”

“Nothing important Mama. Auntie Abby! Do you know what you are bringing to Miss Beverly’s party?”

“Well we hadn't exactly-”

“Don't worry about it! I'm making something!” Can you guys take me to the international store, please?”

“Meds first, petite. Let us grab shoes and coats, get your coat from your room.”

After everyone was sufficiently medicated and bundled, the family drove to the Grand Central Market. 

They parked in the lot (shared by other businesses) and got out, Amanda strapping Hannah into her harness.

“Hey! I don’t need--”
“Hannah, I’ve heard about this place from Bev, and I can guarantee you you’re not going to be able to stay by the cart if we don’t.”

Sighing, Hannah nodded reluctantly to her Mama’s retort. “I’ll be good Mama.”

“I know you will. You are.” Amanda squeezed Hannah’s shoulder supportively, and kept Hannah’s harness attached to her belt as they went in. Amanda and Abby picked up shopping baskets, and Amanda kept a supportive arm around her daughter as a cacophony of lights and noise greeted them; an abundance of neon signs announcing a multitude of vendors of almost every national cuisine Hannah could think of. 

They were food stalls, essentially, little restaurants or counters. But beyond all that was the actual market, where food was being sold for cooking at home. Aisles of an insane variety of produce, dairy, meats, pastas, breads - about anything Hannah could dream up, they’d be able to find.

Hannah headed straight for the American section of the market, to the surprise of the elder Doyle-Wambach household.

Hannah added eggs, sugar, then proceeded to grab double the amount of each ingredient. 

As she turned around though, Hannah ended up walking straight into a solid form.

Wait! This is a human. 

Amanda halted and turned to see who her daughter had collided with, trying to save the eggs and sugar from an untimely demise.

“Well hello Hannah Doyle” the voice said.

I know that voice. “Clarisse?”

“Oui, what are you doing here, Hannah?” the French footballer asked.

“Shopping for Miss Beverly’s party. What are you doing here, Risse? Making a dish to bring?

“Oh, no. I, how do you say I suck in the kitchen. I was planning to just pick something up from the bakery we went to-”

“Don't! I'm sorry! I mean, you don't have to buy something, I can bake it better.”

“You? You can bake French desserts?!

(Replying in French) “I can do more than just bake French dessert, Bee ,” Hannah replied with a wink. "So if you're not here for ingredients….”

“Oh, I'm here with Scarlett and Angelina. Cap invited Scar over to also celebrate her before she leaves for that-team-up-north.”

“Ah, well I'll see you at the party?”

“I'll definitely be there, but also see you at lunch tomorrow after your classes. Later, Hannah.

Oh, right. Classes, duh Hannah. So stupid! Her face just makes me forget things.

“Petite? Hannah?”

“Huh?”

“What French dessert you going to make?”

“One moment, Auntie Abby.”

Cousin in Box: Cousin! Emergency, can you text Angelina and tell her to distract/get Risse out as soon as possible?

Cousin on pitch: Umm, do I want to know why?

Cousin in Box: You'll learn later, just do it please! It's for a good reason!

Cousin on pitch: Umm, I'm pretty sure Risse is already out of the closet, cousin. Lol

Cousin in Box : NOT funny, cousin. We're both in a store! I'm planning a surprise for her.

Cousin on pitch: Okay, okay. Have fun. I texted her.

On that note, Hannah rechecked her ingredients in the basket and went through the list in her head again. Not long after she added a carton each of vegan milk and whole milk, did her phone chime once again. 

Cousin on pitch: Your Queen has left  the building, you are free to do whatever you need, cousin.

Cousin in the Box: Thanks, I owe you one, cousin.

With that finished, Hannah turned to her Auntie Abby. 

“I'll answer your question, but I need some help. Do we have anyone in France that can travel somewhere?”

“There's Horan, but she's in Lyon….”

“That works, can she travel to Quimperlé?”

“I imagine so. But, what do you want with Clarisse’s home town?”

“Soo anyone can make a French dessert that is popular everywhere, like say a chocolate croissant, right? But what Bee probably isn't expecting is for me to get her grandmother’s recipe for her favorite dessert.” Hannah said with a grin.

“I want you to be prepared that this is a tall task you're asking of Lindsey, okay sweetheart?” Amanda told Hannah gently, not wanting her to get her hopes up.

“Come on, we will be back tomorrow morning, by the time Lindsey gets there and gets the info, if she gets it.”

As the family went through checkout and the drive home, Hannah was hoping that the Lindsey Horan would come through. 

************************************************

Bright and early the next morning, Abby and Hannah made a special trip back, bonding time included, to gather the ingredients for La Pain au Chocolat, the secret ingredients being nutmeg, dark, white, and semi sweet chocolate. Ingredients in hand, Hannah took comfort in the fact that she would be able to surprise two people near and dear to her with dishes they haven't had in years and she still had a week before the party!

“Excited for your first day tomorrow, petite?” Abby asked her niece.

“Yes, excited, but also nervous. At least my cousin will be there with me. Just glad I was able to find everything. I can't wait to see their faces!”

“ I can't wait to figure out what you're doing, but I know it's nothing bad.” Abby said with a grin and an arm around Hannah’s shoulder. 

Hannah nodded. “It isn’t, promise.” It didn’t take them long to find the ingredients for Clarisse’s special dessert. This, she hoped, would be a good addition to Miss Beverly’s party - she had heard from Tia Ali that Bev preferred cooking or buying the main meal herself, while guests could supply extra drinks, sides, or desserts if they wanted to bring them. (There would be enough for everyone even if they didn’t; Bev would never let a guest go hungry if she could help it.) 

When Hannah and Abby got home, Abby let Hannah into the kitchen long enough to put her ingredients away. “You’re not going to start whatever it is right now, petite,” she cautioned. “You have time to get it done. In here.” She steered Hannah into the living room, where Tish, Amma, Glennon, and Amanda had been occupied with building a pavilion out of sheets and blankets, a proper blanket fort to snuggle inside and watch movies.

Hattie and Honey decided they should be invited too, though only the smaller of the two dogs really fit. The little bulldog flopped down in Hannah’s lap, as soon as the girl was inside the fortification, and the bigger dog lay down at the entrance, guarding the fort from intruders.

“No boys allowed,” Amma said firmly.

Abby rolled her eyes. “I’ll tell Craig and Chase they’ve been exiled.”

“You can keep them company, Mama Abby.”

Abby leveled a look on her youngest daughter, who responded with an innocent smile.

“Can I, Amma? Thank you ever so much.”

“You’re welcome, Mama Abby.”

That girl is lucky she's not Tish, with that sass.

“ Fine, but I want something,” Abby looks at Glennon getting a blush in return, “and the next time we have a family day, I  am choosing the activities, deal?”

“Yes Mama Abby,” Amma said dutifully. “Mom picked this time.”

Glennon’s blush deepened at Abby’s raised eyebrow. “ What ?”

“I see. We will discuss this later, cherie. I should probably get started on supper anyway, you girls enjoy.” Abby said with a wink in Glennon's direction.

Amanda cuddled Hannah as Glennon turned the movie on that Tish had picked - something stereotypically ‘girly’ and ‘fluffy’, mostly to keep Chase out, she assumed. She didn’t mind it, but was only half-watching. All these Hallmark Christmas movies are the same anyway, they have about three plots and half a braincell between them. Still, can’t help enjoying the holiday setting.

“Girls! Supper! You know what happens if I have to come get you. I know you girls don't want that.”

Hannah, who was bored with the movie anyway, took the threat as a wonderful sign and was the first to jump up.

I was this close to daydreaming of Bee, now that would be a hallmark movie I'd watch, but good thing I didn't might have got myself a bedtime spanking that way.

Wonder if someone will test Auntie Abby.

Amanda was two steps behind Hannah, and Glennon followed with Tish and Amma, none of them keen on testing Abby tonight. 

Especially Glennon and Amanda, since they knew very well what kind of consequences Abby could deal them for setting a bad example to the children. 

They got to the table and found that Craig and Chase had taken their ‘exile’ as an opportunity to grill up salmon fillets, which Abby paired with steamed broccoli in cheese sauce (a tried and true way to get Glennon’s kids to eat it). There were redskin mashed potatoes with garlic, too, and all in all it looked good to Hannah, especially. 

“Thank you Auntie Abby, Uncle Craig, Chase,” she said without being prompted, and Chase pulled Hannah close, ruffling her short hair.

“You’re welcome, little monkey,” he teased. “I don’t blame you for exiling me and Dad from the blanket fort.”

“You wanted to help Daddy cook dinner anyways,” Amma pointed out. “You said Hallmark movies are too sack-ring.”

“Saccharine,” Craig corrected as Chase snickered. “It’s alright Amma, and be quiet Chase, it’s alright that Amma didn’t know that word yet.”

“Oh. What is it, Daddy?”

“Too sweet,” Craig defined it for her. “Chase means he thinks Hallmark movies are too silly and he’d rather watch something else.”

“Oh.” Amma wilted a little, and Chase pulled Amma into his hug with Hannah, giving her a squeeze.

“One is okay for me once in a while,” he explained. “I just don’t want to watch like twenty of them the same week, okay? It’d be nice to watch something else with you, little one, even something else that’s Christmasy. Hallmark just gets kind of same-y after a bit.”

“The Grinch?” Amma suggested.

Chase raised an eyebrow. “Please tell me you mean the cartoon, not the Jim Carrey one.”

“Yes.”

“Then yes,” Chase confirmed.

“That's great and all, but you’re squishing me! Plus I  want to eat this wonderful meal while it's still hot, thank you very much.“

With that the family sat down to eat the wonderful meal.

Hannah was flanked by Amanda and Amma, and the youngest Melton had her brother on her other side. She was focused on her food, drawing her fork through her pile of potatoes and tracing patterns in it in between bites of salmon and broccoli.

“Are you alright, Amma?” Glennon asked, sitting across from her youngest daughter.

“Yes Mom.” Amma’s tone made Abby raise an eyebrow.

“Are you sure, Amma?”

“Yes Mama Abby.” Amma sighed.

Abby, Glennon, and Craig shared a look that wasn’t missed by any of the Melton children.

“What’s the matter, cousin?” Hannah asked in a softer tone, thinking it might be because it was the adults asking the question that has Amma not wanting to answer. 

“Not now, Hannah,” Amma whispered back. 

After dinner, Amma escaped the table and followed Hannah, trying to avoid Abby, Glennon and Craig’s prying questions.

They returned to the blanket fort, and Amma snuggled in with Hannah, settling with her head resting on Hannah’s shoulder.

“I wish Chase wouldn’t laugh at me when I don’t know words,” she said quietly. “And I really wish people would like to watch the movies with me. I know that they mostly have the same plots and it’s easy to figure out who’s gonna do what, but that’s what makes it…” She trailed off, not wanting to mix up her words again. “Like a safe place, cause I know what’s gonna happen and it’s always gonna be a good thing in the end.” Amma looked at Hannah. “Isn’t that alright, cousin?”

“I completely understand. It's like stats for me, I can get completely lost in the numbers cause like someone can't mess with the numbers. Can I tell you a secret?”

Amma nodded in understanding. “Yes please.”

“I don't hate the movies, honest. It's just…” Hannah struggled with explaining the next part.. “You know how your Mama Abby loves your Mama Glennon? And you know how I kinda look up to Auntie Abby? Well um what I'm trying to say is um….” Hannah herself trailed off, unsure how to explain this to her younger cousin. 

Amma frowned slightly, head tilted to one side. “In the movies, it’s always like a guy and a girl find each other and fall in love happily ever after,” she ventured. “You don’t really see movies about guys and other guys, or girls and other girls, like Mom and Mama Abby.”

“Exactly! Um for those people it can be hard to watch movies like that when there are other realities, couplings that, those producers refused to make a movie about.

Umm people like your Mamas, and um people like me, too.” Hannah admitted with a watery chuckle.

“Don't worry, I'll keep your secret safe until you’re ready to live your truth.” Amma promised.

“Thanks, cousin. How would you like to sleep in my new room? It would certainly make your sister jealous.” Hannah replied with a mischievous grin, trying to take both of their minds off their recent, respective admissions. 

“Uh huh.” Amma nodded. “I thought Tish was your most best friend though.”

“Well, I can neither confirm nor deny that. (In deep voice) That's classified information, soldier. (In normal voice) But I can say for tonight you've moved up into her spot.” Hannah said with a big smile. 

“I truly appreciate you listening and trusting me. Your sister would have probably wrote a song about it by now.” Hannah said with a giggle.

“Probably,” Amma agreed. When Amma and Hannah were ready, they headed up to Hannah’s room.

Amma looked around, not having spent as much time in it as Tish had. “Mama Abby put a whole soccer pitch in your room. Or maybe it was Daddy, but I bet it was Mama Abby’s idea.”

“Yeah, most likely. Regardless, I'm grateful for it. You want to get ready for bed first?

“Uh huh.” Amma dashed back to her room and reappeared five minutes later in her pajamas. She looked rather pleased with herself for how quickly she’d managed it. “There.”

“Oookay, that was fast! I'll be back.” 

Upon Hannah’s return, both girls got in her bed and snuggled together before drifting off to sleep.

Chapter Text

“It’s Coronation Day!”

“What.” Hannah sat up in bed, raising an eyebrow at Tish, who fell over giggling.

“Well okay no. But it’s the first day of school in your new program. And Mom says I can join you next year if my grades are good enough.” She poked Amma awake. 

“Come on come on come on, Hannah has to get ready for school, Aunt Amanda’s already made lunch and everything.”

“Why, do you want to build a snowman?” Amma retorted, yawning and sitting up with her arms around her cousin. “Mine.”

“Snowman after. School first,” Tish retorted. “Mama Abby’s gonna go nuts if Hannah’s late.”

“That’s why she’s gonna get breakfast from Starbucks for the two of them. Get up and get dressed, please, Hannah Amanda, I’ve got your bag waiting. You need to take your medicine too, young lady, don’t think I forgot.” Amanda said from the doorway of Hannah’s room. “The two of you, scoot.”

Grumbling, Tish and Amma scooted, heading past their aunt as Amanda stepped inside. “Good morning, my angel.” She was carrying a cup of water and Hannah’s morning dose of medication. “Here, so you don’t forget this time.”

Hannah blushed. “Yes Mama.” She took the medicine and got up, hurrying to get dressed and running a brush through her hair. “Is Auntie Abby going to go crazy if we take too long?”

“Let’s just say you don’t want to risk it, angel. But she won’t be mad with you. Everything’s waiting for you, let’s go. Do you want any of your fidgets or your bear?”

Hannah scooped up her Princess bear and a handful of fidgets from her desk and followed Amanda downstairs, where her backpack and packed lunch were waiting. (Hannah’s afternoon medication was tucked into the bag.) There, too, was Hannah’s harness, and she looked indignant.

“Auntie Abby. I don’t need to wear it everywhere.”

“We’ll see, petite. For now it’s going in your backpack just in case.”

Sighing, Hannah complied. She followed Abby out to the car with her bag. “Does it have to be Starbucks? Can we go to the French cafe by the stadium instead?”

Abby paused with her hand on the car door. “You mean the one where that woman turned up?”

“Not that I want to see her again, but the pastries were good, and you have to admit that it being closer to the stadium saves time, gas, and money.”

Abby gave Hannah a measured look. “Alright, but if Aurelia Cardwell turns up again, I can’t promise I won’t deck her.” Abby’s eyes narrowed at the thought. “She’d better have found somewhere else to get her pastries if she knows what’s good for her.”

“I’m sure she’ll know better than to come back since security made her leave,” Hannah said, sounding more sure than she felt. “But I really want the pastries from there, please? And a croissant for Bee.”

Abby raised an eyebrow. “Oh, so that’s what this is about. Yes, alright,” she conceded as they got going, “and at least we’re right by the stadium if anything happens.”

Abby made the drive to the bakery in no time, and before they knew it Abby was ordering 3 different croissants: one plain for herself, one blueberry for Hannah, and one chocolate for “Bee”, along with a smaller mini “sampler” croissant because, “Hannah wanted to perform an experiment”.

Before they even crossed the street, Hannah had swallowed the mini croissant.

Abby’s look only became more inquisitive when Hannah frowned and nodded at the same time. 

“You didn’t like it? You wanted it.”

“No, it's not that. It just confirmed my theory.”

“Which is?”

“It's probably not as good as I can make Bee's grandmas. This one is marketed to lots of people, you know.”

“Oh? And when did You get so good at baking French desserts?”

“Grandmother. It was the one time of month she left me unsupervised. She brought in different chefs, pastry and regular, from different cuisines. Cause, “A proper young lady should know how to cook and bake classics, “for her husband.”

It's whatever. But I  do know how to make this breakfast one better. Got pen and paper?”

“Yes, let’s get to the stadium and I can give them to you.” Abby focused on getting Hannah across the street safely, without her running off considering she wasn’t wearing her harness (yet).

“Here. What are you going to write?”

“Just a note to brighten her day.”

    “Dear Bee, 

Now you don't have to keep running into me. You can just text like a normal person.”

She added her phone number and signed the note, la fille au cul magnifique.” Abby saw this and raised her eyebrows. 

“What’s that about, young lady?”

“Bee shouldn’t be so loud if she doesn’t want to be overheard.”

Alyssa met them inside, taking the bag and the note with ‘Bee’ written on it. “I’ll put it at Risse’s place in the film room okay? Cause it’s the classroom and she’s joining us for class. Angelina, too.”

“Okay…” Hannah paused and nodded. 

“Come on.” AT hugged Abby hard. “I’ll take care of Hannah, Grandmere. Promise.”

“See that you do, petitie-fille. What are you two up to with Clarisse, anyway?”

“Can’t tell, I promised.”

“Is anyone getting hurt or in trouble?”

“No, I swear. If there is trouble, I’ll tell so we can ask for help. But otherwise I promised no telling.”

“Alright,” Abby conceded. “As long as it’s not naughty and no one’s getting hurt, keep your secrets. Just know you can both come to me if you need anything.”

“Thanks Aunt Abby, bye.” Hannah dashed away, AT right next to her, leading Hannah to the film room ‘classroom’ setup.

“Miss Press-Heath, Miss Doyle, you're here early.” Lori Lindsey stood at the front of the film room, with head coach Becki Tweed next to her.

“Early bird gets the worm, ma'am. Are there assigned desks, Coach?”

“Not yet, AT. Though If there's distractions,  there's other ways Ali or Miss Lori can get to the bottom of it, understand? But for now, sit where you want, girls.”

AT chose a chair in the front row, putting the croissant down on one side, and letting Hannah sit on her other side. 

“No sense in letting them sit next to each other and end up getting smacks on the first day.” She thought.

Hannah, for her part, just sat down open-mouthed at the set up and the more teacher-like strictness radiating from the Lori Lindsey, Miss Lori Lindsey now, she supposed.

Clarisse, Ali, Angelina, and the other Angel City teammates who’d elected to attend Miss Lori’s class filtered in moments later. Once Ali was there, Becki excused herself to the rear of the classroom; she’d let Miss Lori run this, with Ali acting as teacher’s assistant. 

Clarisse sat down next to AT, seeing the bakery bag labeled ‘Bee’ and giving AT an inquiring look. “What’s this, little one?”

“The breakfast fairy left it for you, Risse.”

“The what…never mind, I’m hungry anyway.” Clarisse opened the bag after ensuring she wasn’t the only one who had food in the classroom. Miss Lori watched this unfold with slightly raised eyebrows, but didn’t interfere.

Clarisse ate the croissant, grimacing slightly - she’d definitely had better, but appreciated the intent of whoever this ‘breakfast fairy’ was. Then she saw the note, and picked it up.

Miss Lori frowned. “Passing notes in class, are we?” she asked, arms folded.

Clarisse blinked. “Erm…well, it came with the croissant, madame.” She tried her most respectful tone. “I was just about to see what it was about.”

“Care to share with the class, Le Bihan?”

“Not particularly, madame,” Clarisse said, perfectly truthfully. “It’s a personal note.” She had spotted the signature, such as it was, and colour rose in her cheeks at the thought of saying that out loud.

“Let me put it this way, Clarisse Agathe Le Bihan,” Lori said calmly, and Risse flinched. “You have a choice here. Either you read the note aloud, I read it for you, or you take your smacks in front of the class for the disruption.”

Risse’s jaw dropped and she sputtered. “Madame! That’s undignified!”

“Miss Lori?”

Lori’s gaze turned to look at her newest pupil, who had stood up and was facing Lori with a nervous but determined expression. “It was my note. I’ll read it.”

“Very well, Miss Doyle.” Lori nodded to Clarisse, who, blushing even more now, handed the note back to Hannah.

Hannah unfolded it, and smoothed out the page.

“Ma chère abeille--”

“In English please,” Lori cut across her, and Hannah blinked innocently at Lori.

“Oh, sorry Miss Lori.”

She cleared her throat and started over, noticing that Clarisse was fighting the urge to laugh.

Good.

“My dear Bee,” she said again. “Now you don’t have to keep running into me, you can just text me like a normal person. Yours, Hannah Doyle.”

Lori raised an eyebrow. “Is that all?”

“And my phone number, but like I said, it was a personal note,” Hannah shrugged, handing it back to Clarisse deliberately. “Is that good enough, Miss Lori?”

“Fine,” Lori said. “Moving on, then.”

“To start, I will give you something simple. I asked a few players here voluntarily because I would like you to learn a little from each other. So, who can tell me what this would be as a stat, and what went wrong with the move from a football level?”

Hannah raised her hand. 

“Miss Doyle?”

“The cross from Scarlett to Clarisse counts as a turnover statistically. And umm it could have set up a goal if it was in front, anticipating her, not behind where she was, but even then it would have been her wrong foot?”

“Very good, Miss Doyle.” Though Lori gave her a weird look for knowing what foot was Clarisse’s dominant one, not even she knew that.

“Moving on, do you want to take the next slide, Alexandra?”

Ali blushed at being full named, but resigned that it was simply Miss Lori asserting herself.

“No problem, Ma'am.”

And so the morning continued with questions back and forth, answers and questions of understanding until lunch was upon them.

 Lunch was delivered from the French bakery- the sandwiches were a selection of Croque Madame or Croque Monsieur, depending on whether one approved of egg on sandwiches or not, and side salads, with an assortment of chocolate pastries for dessert. Ali contented herself with a sandwich she’d brought from home to go with her salad, and while Amanda had packed Hannah a lunch already, it sat untouched in its insulated bag. (To be entirely fair to both Amanda and Hannah, neither of them had been forewarned lunch would be provided)

“Risse?” Hannah ventured, as they ate their lunch with the others. The French girl looked over at her. 

She couldn’t believe Miss Lori had threatened to…to do that. Until Hannah had taken it out of her hands. But to think that Hannah had written that note…and signed it with those words…

“You heard me, Hannah?”

“You weren’t as quiet as you thought, I guess. Buuut through text you don't have to worry about that, do you?”

And if that caused Clarisse to smile and frankly almost choke on her dessert, well Hannah was pleased with herself. 

“Alright girls, fun time is over”, Miss Lori said with a look towards two people in particular. “Today is a short day, so footballers to the pitch, my girls up to the box.”

As the students started to file out, Miss Lori spoke again. 

“Miss Doyle, Miss Le Bihan. Stay behind please.”

“Ma'am?”

“Close the door and have a seat.”

After Clarisse closed the door, and all three were seated, Miss Lori started on her lecture.

“Because today was the first day, I figured the act of reciting the letter was punishment enough, but make no mistake that was the only warning that I will give you both. The next time, I send a note home, the time after, with guardian permission, you will be learning while you squirm. Clear?”

“Madame, I um don't have a “guardian” while here?”

“I imagine your captain, or even Miss Doyle’s mother would not mind taking that role. You are living in a team apartment, yes? I imagine it would be no trouble for your captain to smack you here, drive there and repeat for “smacks at home” it was in your documents to be a part of my class. However, it will only be used for the most terrible indiscretions, and accumulation of offenses, 4, think double the card accumulation. Everything clear?”

Receiving two rapid nods, Miss Lori dismissed them.

“Le Bihan to the pitch, Miss Doyle with me. Don't dally now, unless you want that note today. Bit ironic considering a note got you in this in the first place.”

“Non, Madame.” Clarisse excused herself to the pitch, blushing pinker than her uniform. She found herself wondering if Hannah would get herself into any trouble up in the box.

She also found herself wondering if Madame would take Hannah over her knee, and how she’d look if that happened.

“You forgot to take your meds. You need to do that, cherie. ”

Hannah paled. Oh right meds.

Hannah took her meds before following Miss Lori up to the box. One, one hour practice later, the day was finished. 

Hannah took the first opportunity she had to make her way down the pitch, making her way to Clarisse, bypassing two other players. 

Angelina Anderson and Claire Emslie exchanged glances and knowing grins, the Scot chuckling to herself at the keeper’s smirk.

Meanwhile, being the brat she is, Scarlett Cambreros took it upon herself to separate them….. using the water cooler.

“Cold! So so co- cold!”

“Yeah, what the fu- fudge Scarlett!”

“What the fudge?” 

“It was- was the- the only thing I could th- think of!”

“Can we leave, Bee?”

“ Scarlett Nefer Camberos Becerra!”

“That will be dealt with bright and early tomorrow. Apologize, now.” Ali said.

“Hannah Amanda Doyle! What are you doing ?”

“Mama!” As Hannah tried to run toward her Mama, Clarisse was quick enough to grab the harness and pull Hannah back into her.

“Co- cold!” Hannah shivered.

“I know, let's get you home, angel.”

“Bee mine!”

“I already am yours, sweetheart. Let's go home. You'll see her tomorrow.”

“Bee mine!”

“Actually, ma'am-”

“You, don't talk. Hannah Amanda, come.”

“No! Bee mine!”

“Amanda Doyle! What are you doing?” Abby asked.

“ She won't let Hannah leave.”

“Then she comes with, is that okay, Clarisse? Petite?”

Receiving nods in return, the family, plus Clarisse loaded up. The drive back home was one with a lot of tension. 

“Family room, everyone now.” Abby said. 

Hannah and Clarisse settled on the love seat huddled together to keep warm as Glennon passed them the afghan to provide some amount of warmth. 

Abby took the middle seat of the couch, Glennon on one side, Amanda took the other.

“Now, really quickly so we can get the girls in warm clothes, please explain the situation. Sister please start, calmly .”

“Hannah didn't take her meds. And she was near a freezing Hannah, what were you doing huh?”

“ We were huddling for warmth after getting soaked by Scarlett, blame her. And how exactly do you know Hannah didn't take the medicine, Madame?” Clarisse questioned.

“Her lunch was not touched, I imagine she forgot the meds with the lunch!”

“I said calmly Sister, shouting helps no one. Clarisse what do you know?”

“I know I reminded Hannah to take her meds, in front of Miss Lori. I know that Capitana Ali ordered lunch from the bakery next door to the stadium, which I watched Hannah eat, and lastly I know that Miss Lori and Capitana will back me up. Call them or check the lunch box if you don't believe me.”

“Is that true, petite?” Abby asked.

Hannah’s nod was enough for her.

“Okay, you two get out of those wet clothes and shower, separately, then you can take a nap in Hannah’s room, you both look like you can use it. I'll handle the rest myself.”

As the two girls scampered off to do just that, Abby, and Glennon, turned their attention towards Amanda.

“Well, what do you have to say for yourself?” Abby asked with the raise of an eyebrow. 

“I don't know! I guess seeing them together made me react badly?”

“I think you do know, but don't want to say. We can fix that. Into the corner. There's more than one way to ask a question.”

“You know you freaked her out right Sister.”

“What do you mean Glennon?”

“I'm going to try and explain and see if that will help you talk without Abby needing to get “Mother’s little helper.”

At this Amanda paled and nodded, that was passed from their mother to Glennon and was technically Abby’s now. She wanted to avoid that hairbrush at all costs, it was literally a paddle hairbrush!

“I think right now, Hannah is a little scared cause your reaction and placing blame on her might have reminded her of before. ” Amanda didn't need to be told before what, her reaction was probably frighteningly similar to her,  at least in little Hannah’s brain.

“Oh god! What have I done?!”

“Hey, Shh. It'll be okay, just tell us what's wrong, okay?”

“It's the anniversary!” By this time, Amanda was broken down and sobbing on Glennon's shoulder. 

“Anniversary? Of your annulment?” Abby asked. 

“No! Dear God no. One minute  he seemed in love,  two months later we were no more. He actually- he actually wrote me a love poem. And two letters. The first, was for me to open two months later, that was him breaking up with me. The second, I didn't even open after what was in the first one . It had a weird address it said, I remember it said, “If Mother is ever Arrested”. I still have it, but unlikely that happens. Ooooh, I should go apologize!”

“I wouldn’t do that, Sister.”

“And why not?”

“Well, for one they're probably both asleep,  and two have you ever had a calm, caring Top. They don't grow on trees, but they are super protective. I love Abby for those qualities, but I recognize some of the same in Clarisse. Let's just let them sleep for now, okay?”

************************************************

Upstairs, Hannah was snuggling with Clarisse trying to huddle for warmth.

“What exactly possessed you to pack shorts in December, Bee?”

“I wasn’t planning on getting soaked- she ignored Hannah’s giggling- by water(!) how do you Americans say, “To the bone?”

“You have me to keep you warm.” Hannah yawned. 

“Yes, yes I do. We should try to nap, cherie. I'll be right here while you sleep, promise.”

Only once Hannah drifted off and her snores could be heard, did Clarisse finally close her own eyes.

The French footballer woke up a couple hours later. Seeing Hannah was still sleeping she wiggled out of her hold and replaced her body with the stuffed monkey on Hannah’s bed.

Based on the rumblings of her own stomach, Clarisse figured Hannah would be hungry when she woke up so she headed toward the kitchen.

Upon reaching the breakfast bar, her phone dinged with a text.

Capitana: Ma was impressed by, and I quote, “Her newest grandchild” so she had me replace the sandwich with something “more special” in Hannah’s lunch box.

See you at practice. - Captain Ali. 

Ps: don't eat it all, Clarisse.

Hesitantly, Clarisse lifted the lunchbox cover to see… fried pork?

Knowing as little of her captain’s mother as she did, Clarisse suspected this was a taste test of sorts for her party. Wonder what Hannah did to get in Beverly Riley’s good graces?

In any case after an ingredient search, Clarisse settled on making a fried rice to go with the pork that just needed to be heated.

It didn’t take Clarisse long to make the rice, and she dished it up in two bowls, arranging the strips of pork on top of the rice and putting it on a tray to carry back upstairs. 

When she was making her way down the hall with the loaded tray, she nearly ran into Glennon. “Oh…erm, hi,” Clarisse offered.

“Hi, yourself,” Glennon said calmly. “Need some help with that?” She took the loaded tray so Clarisse could open the door, and carried it into her niece’s room, following Clarisse inside. Putting it on the desk for now, she looked soberly at her sleeping niece.

“I’m sorry about what Sister said to both of you. She’ll apologize too, I’m sure. She’d never want to hurt Hannah, she’s just got…things that need working through.”

Clarisse nodded and sat on the bed, leveling a look on Glennon. “Ah, oui, things. Well, I do not care what Amanda thinks of me, but if she hurts Hannah’s feelings, then she will not like what I have to say about that.”

Glennon nodded. “Trust me, Abby will have plenty to say about it first.”

Clarisse smirked. “Good.” She leaned over and trailed her fingers down the side of Hannah’s neck. “Cherie, wake up, there is food, you are hungry, non?”

“Clarisse?! It wasn't a dream? You're here?”

“I am here, cherie. I will not leave you, I promise. Here, I brought you dinner. Partly a gift from Capitana,” she added as Glennon handed her the bowls. 

“Do you want me to stay here, sweetheart?” Glennon asked Hannah. “I’m sure you’ll be safe with Clarisse, and won’t do anything inappropriate .”

Define inappropriate, madame, Clarisse thought with a snort of amusement. Yes, they had established that she and Hannah were attracted to each other, but attraction didn’t mean they were ready to move into inappropriate. A bit of cuddling would be perfectly all right, especially since Hannah needed the closeness. 

“We'll be fine, Auntie Glennon.”

“Okay, but if Auntie Abby has to come next time, you'll probably get bedtime spankings and be sleeping on your stomachs. Keep that in mind.” Glennon said with a look towards Clarisse specifically before closing the door behind her as she left.

“Well that was, how do you say, concerning, cherie, ” Clarisse said as they ate their bowls of pork and rice. “What would your Auntie Abby be coming in here for, if she has your maman to take care of right now?”

“Mama?” Hannah stared at her lap. “Mama’s mad with us just like her. I know what Auntie Glennon said, but--”

Clarisse shook her head. She encouraged Hannah to finish her meal, then stacked the empty bowls on the tray on Hannah’s desk, and settled back on the bed with her. 

“Here, cherie, you can hold on to me as long as you need.”

Hannah clung gratefully to Clarisse, crying on her shoulder. She couldn’t believe Mama had just…just snapped at them like that, what was wrong, what had she and Risse done that was so wrong, nothing that’s what, it wasn’t fair. She sobbed apologies for not being good, or good enough even for her mama, and Clarisse gave her a gentle shake.

“Stop that. You are good enough, Hannah Doyle. You will always be more than good enough,” Clarisse said, stroking Hannah’s short hair. “Settle down, I have you.” 

Hannah, it seemed, was doing her best to try and make herself disappear, pressing her face into Clarisse’s shoulder. She sobbed as Clarisse cuddled her, and eventually, exhausted, fell asleep again.