O' Come All Ye Faithful

Word count: 15451

Clementine gazed outside the window. Winter has arrived, as snow covered the ground. She was calmly sipping her coffee as Louis and AJ were playing a board game. She was enjoying the wintery scenery before her. But Clementine knows it is going to be a long wait for spring to come back around. Food will be scarce for a few months. Making it harder to survive. Sometimes she misses life in the old world and wishes she could return to simpler times.

Since she allowed Maya and Aniya to live among the Ericson kids, Clementine found it useful to have Maya in her group. Took a long time for Clementine to admit she was wrong about her, as she is beginning to see Violet’s point about having Maya in the group. Both indigenous sisters prove their worth, as Maya gathers as many herbs as she can to help Ruby prepare for colds and the flu. And both native American girls seem to find ways to grow veggies in the greenhouse.

It is now December 22nd. Three days before Christmas. Christmas. That is something Clementine hasn’t felt joy in a very long time. She can’t remember her last Christmas with her mom and dad. She remembers a little bit of her dad reading to her on Christmas Eve, ‘Twas the Night before Christmas’, as her mother would make popcorn and roast it over the fireplace. It seems so foreign to Clementine now, on that concept. A voice broke her concentration on a fond memory.

“Your turn, Louis!” AJ shouted.

“I’m thinking, little man, just chill,” Louis said calmly as he looked at his options.

“There aren’t many options to choose from. You know I am going to sink that ship.” AJ blurted out.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here,” Louis said.

Clementine chuckles at her two boys. “He’s got you beat, Prince Charming. Wave the white flag and surrender.”

“Never. Captain Louis never gives in,” Louis grumbles, not wanting to admit that he is losing to a 6-year-old.

Clementine arches her eyebrows at her mate as she asks, "Captain Louis?”

“Yes, in this game, I am captain. Trying to play the part.” Louis said, shrugging a little.

AJ rolls his eyes, annoyed with the stalling. “Well, Captain Louis, what is your number and letter?”

Louis looks at his board as he sighs, “Fine, H7.”

“Miss. B3,” AJ said gleefully

Louis hangs his head in defeat, “Agrh...You got me.”

“Ka-Boom!” AJ shouted with glee at his victory. Throwing up his hands, immating an explosion that occurred in the game of Battleship.

Clementine lets out a giggling laugh at AJ blowing up Louis’s carrier. “Are you trying to let him win this game?”

“Not on purpose. The little man got lucky in finding my ships.” Louis sighed. He then looks up at Clementine, who is sitting on her bed.

Clementine peeks at Louis’s board. The odds are not looking good for poor Captain Louis. “Oof. Not looking too good with you, darling. You’d better catch up, Lou. AJ will sink that ship in no time.”

“Shhh. Don’t give him any ideas now. I need to rethink my battle plan.” Louis said as he thought on his board where to plan his next move.

“I think you need more than a rethink there, Captain.” Clementine teases Louis.

Louis gives her a sneering glance at that comment. Then he looked across the board at AJ. “D9.”

“Gah...fine, one hit,” AJ said, pouting. He looks at his board. AJ knows there’s still one ship left. “E8"

“Miss. D8,” Louis looks up and sees AJ giving Louis his angry sour face when Clementine calls him a goofball. “Hit. I7"

Louis looks at his board, “Miss. D7” Louis said, knowing he got a second ship of AJ’s.

“Fine. You sunk it. But you still haven’t found my carrier. It is still out there in the sea waiting to attack yours.” AJ said with a playful voice. “A silent killer of the sea. I’m the master of the sea.”

“Give me time, little man, give me time,” Louis said, trying to make his comeback. He then looks at the child sitting across from him. He smiles as he teases AJ on the title he gave himself. “Your turn. Master of the sea. Letter, and number if you please.” Louis hears Clementine softly chuckle beside him at the clever bantering between her two favorite boys in the whole world.

“A5.” AJ responded.

Louis hangs his head again. "Sigh. Hit.”

“J5,” Louis said.

“Miss. A4?” AJ asks.

“Sank. And looks like you win, little man. I guess you really are the Master of the sea." Louis said giving AJ credit for his win. He leans back, and AJ does his little victory dance when playing rock, paper, scissors with Clementine.

Clementine giggles, “Okay, Alvin Junior. Time for bed.”

“Aww man.” AJ sighs as Clementine was a buzzkill for ruining his victory dance. He gives a little shrug. “Well, good game, Louis. We should play again tomorrow.”

“Sure thing, little man. And tomorrow, I won’t lose. I will be much harder to defeat.” Louis winks his eyes at Clementine’s little goofball.

“Right, whatever you say, Captain Louis. I’m still master of the sea. Arrrgr.” AJ holds up his hands like a pirate.

“Okay, Pirate AJ--” Clementine tries to urge AJ to his bed for sleep time, but AJ corrects her on his earned title.

“Master of the sea.” AJ reminded Clem. “Not Pie--Pierate.”

“Fine. Master of the sea. Time to go off to Neverland with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell with your dreams.” Clementine said as she led him to his bunk.

“Peter Pan? Neverland? What’s that?” AJ asks.

“Never mind. I will read you the story another night, okay? But it’s late.” Clementine spoke in a soft voice.

“Okay.” AJ sighed as he climbed up into his bed and tried to go to sleep.

Louis packs up the old board game Battleship while Clementine is putting AJ to bed. Once she knows AJ is trying to go to sleep, she walks over to where Louis is by the old school desk. He set the game on the hard surface next to Sophie’s colored pencil box. Clementine softly whispers to him. “Can I discuss something with you outside?”

Louis looks at Clementine, silently shrugs, and follows her outside the room. He closes the door as Clementine enters a dark hallway with a candle. “So what is so important that you need to discuss so that little AJ can’t hear? Anything adult-related---Like PG-13 or--”

“No, it isn’t about any of that,” Clementine said, steering the conversation away from love hormones.

“Okay, then what is it?” Louis asked.

“I know you keep records of the day and month in whatever room in this school you call your ‘calendar room’,” Clementine whispers.

“That I do, yes. It’s December 22nd, well, soon to be 23rd here once morning breaks.” Louis glances at the wall with a window. He sees snow falling in. “I sense a question coming when you point out I know the day and year.” Louis looks at her.

Clementine sighs as she looks out the window. “This may be stupid, and I know we all stopped celebrating holidays when the world turned upside down. And walkers...fucked everything up. But I feel we all could use a little cheering up these days and have feasties of our own. To bring back some old traditions from before the collapse of civilization.” She brought her golden eyes to look upon Louis. “You know, like Christmas carols, hanging up stockings from old socks, and decorating the music room.” She shrugged, sighing once again. “I don’t know. I guess I want to bring something to AJ that I remember from when I was a kid growing up in the old world. Silly of me to be thinking about that kind of stuff.”

Louis smiles and embraces Clementine. “No, Clem. My darling, it is never stupid or silly to have those thoughts. I’m sure it will bring cheer and joy not just with AJ, but to the other kids as well. Especially what we all endured the last several months. We haven’t had Christmas since there were more of us in this school. When they died, we all lost the joy in celebrating it, and it was more about survival than just enjoying the moment. I will pitch it to Ruby, Violet, and Aasim in the morning. I’m sure they will love the idea. Maybe not Violet---for say. But I’m sure Ruby will go nuts on this idea. Christmas is kinda her thing. The one time of the year she actually was not a hellraiser.” Clementine chuckles at Louis’s last comment, knowing her backstory coming to Ericson.

Clementine hugs Louis back and smiles. Louis warmly hugs her back and knows how to set up the music room. “And speaking of which,” Louis reaches into his jacket and pulls out a vinyl record of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the puppet one of 1964. “I thought it would bring joy to you and AJ. It was always my favorite when I was a kid.”

Clementine lets out a surprised gasp at seeing her old nostalgic memories. “I remember this as a child. This is exactly what I had in mind to pass on traditions to AJ.” She smiles as she holds the old vinyl record in her hands. Clementine looks up at her boyfriend as she pulls the vinyl record to her chest and leans up and plants a sweet kiss on Louis’s left cheek. “This will be perfect. Thank you.”

The next day, in the early afternoon, Maya sips a cup of hot cocoa as she stands on the snow-covered steps of the admin building. Just thinking as she gazes on the wintery landscape. She is thinking about her old fond memories of her homeland in Jackson. How herds of traveling wild mustangs and mares, as well as some buffalo, would roam about in her backyard. Traveling for grazing pastures out in the wilderness somewhere. Her thoughts were broken when a misfired snowball came hurrying to the left of her. She manages to duck out of the way in time. Maya smiles as she sees the kids having some good old-time wintery fun she used to have as a small child herself. Maya sighs. “Some things never change. No matter what crazy world we are living in.” Maya takes another sip of her hot, steamy drink as she sees Tenn, AJ, Willy, and Alicia having some pass time fun with snowball fights.

“Get her Tenn!” Willy yells out behind a snow bank. “Quick, throw me a ball.”

Violet comes in from working in the greenhouse with Aniya. Maya is glad that Violet is bonding with her sister. Makes it feel wholesome that her sister is adjusting well to their new home. Aniya swiftly dodges the children having a snowball fight as she makes her way to her dorm room. She was never the type of person who enjoys wintery scenes. Never has been her style, even when she and Maya were younglings themselves.

Violet looks and sees Maya’s entrance with the younger kids having snowball fights. A soft glow fell over her face as she could tell Maya had a soft spot for younger kids. It is kind of reassuring to know that Maya has that motherly instinct. Violet sighs as she makes her way to the admin steps to greet her girlfriend. She comes up the stairs and kisses Maya’s cheek, “Why are you out of all people out here in the snow? It’s your day off. What is the occasion?”

“Watching the kids, making sure they are being safe,” Maya says. “Has been entertaining for a while.” She gazes at Violet, who does her classic eye roll now. Maya then shrugs and tells Violet the truth. “Actually, I came to get hot chocolate and head back into our room when these kids started their snowball fights. I don’t know why. It just brought back an old childhood memory of mine. I used to do that when I was that young. Playing with Aniya and Koda. Mainly Koda, because Aniya hates the snow.”

“Yeah, I know. Had to hear about it in the greenhouse. She still hates it.” Violet commented.

“Doesn’t surprise me. My sister is more of a fall-and-spring type of girl. Not a winter one. If she were a migrating bird. She would have flown south a long time ago as soon as the first snowfall happened.” Maya chuckles as she takes a sip of her drink.

Violet giggles at Maya’s analogy, as she shakes her head on a cute callback to her special pet name for Maya. She looks at her, then at the mug Maya is drinking from. “You know that is my mug you are drinking out of, right?”

Maya stops taking sips from the mug. And almost coughed up the hot chocolate into the snow. Violet giggles at the sight of Maya being surprised by that information. It was cute to her. Maya squints her eyes and looks at the mug in her hands. It had a faint purple flower on it, and a small faded childlike letter of a V. Maya bit her lip, being apologetic to Violet as she spoke, “Sorry, I didn’t know...Ruby says I can have whatever.”

Violet giggles, “It’s fine, Maya. I have others. I’m not that possessive, and besides that, one is my least favorite. Made it when I was 11, back when this school was functional.” Violet smiles up at Maya and blushes when looking into her brown eyes. “Was cute though you being shocked. It is a unique quality I love, making you weak in the knees~ Just like Bambi~” Violet giggles happily, seeing Maya trip over herself for Violet. Maya blushes a bit, hating that Violet can use her charm on her. Then felt a slight tug on the sides of her father’s jacket as Violet was beckoning Maya for a kiss. Goddamn it. I hate how she can be so---fucking charming in her cute little ways she does to get me to fall deeper in love with this sassy~ sweet gi--Shit~

They both were moving in for a kiss, being lost in their romantic glare for one another. WUMPH! A snowball hits Maya on the shoulder, breaking up their romantic moment. Both Violet and Maya turn to look at the kids staring at them. AJ tosses up a ball of snow, as Willy is the one who spoke up, “Hey, no smooching smooch around here. We younger folks don’t want to see all the lovey-dovey sissy stuff, you older kids do! It’s gross!”

Violet rolled her eyes at Willy. She then gave her girlfriend a little devious look at what she had in mind in response to that comment. “God, I hate that kid so much." Violet paused as she had a look in her eyes just then. "You want to go fuck them up.” She tilts her head at Willy in particular.

Maya quickly cast her gaze out to Willy, then eyes Violet back with a smile. “Yeah, I do actually.” Maya sets her mug down on the steps.

Maya and Violet then take up the challenge and respond to Willy back on that comment he made. Violet yells at the little 12-year-old, “Okay, you little shit, you asked for it.” Both Violet and Maya tag-teamed, throwing snowballs at the younger kids. Soon, all of them were in a squall of lobbing snowballs at each other.

Maya launches a snowball at Willy and Tenn. SPLAT! PAFF! Violet lobs some at AJ and Alicia. All six of them were laughing and having a great time. For once, forgetting there was an apocalypse around. This is the first time anyone has seen Violet embrace her inner child, play with the younger kids, and just be a normal older teenager. Forgetting about life for one moment, and just having fun. A rare moment of her laughing with Tennessee, as the two of them chuck snowballs at each other. Maya was about to lob one at Tennessee when AJ tackled her to the ground into the snow bank. THUD. Maya fakes the impact and acts as if the kids really did knock her on her ass. The sight made Violet laugh with joy, seeing how playful Maya is around the younger kids. She couldn’t help but show her love for the Lakota girl in that moment.

Alicia giggles and jumps on Maya, and the two of them lob a ball of snow after another at the older teen. “Oh no, attacking children! Oh, Ugh. There are too many of you...Arah...I can’t take it. Come on, pick on someone your own size, why don’t you? Help, help.”

Tennessee and Willy join in the fray as they all gang up and throw snowball after snowball at Maya, lying down in the snow. Maya grabs a ball but drops it as Alicia stabs Maya in the heart with a snowball. “Oh no. I’ve been stabbed by an ice ball. Urgah, it is freezing my heart. I--UGHK--UGAHK--” Maya pretends to be stabbed by an ice ball as it freezes her heart, she fakes struggles and puts on a performance.

Violet stands there in awe of her girlfriend. And couldn’t help but giddily giggle at Maya’s performance and bad acting. It was all very cute and attractive to her.

Maya makes dying noises as she lies in the snow, pretending to die. “Oh err...Arrahh...ahhh”

Alicia looks at AJ, as they both give each other a look of "oh no, she didn’t.” AJ moves up on Maya’s chest as he bluntly calls out her bluff. “Maya. You’re not dead.”

Maya smiles and giggles at him. “No. hehe. But here.” She takes the hat off with the letter D, sandwiches AJ’s head with a crushed snowball, and puts Clementine’s old hat back on the little boy’s head.

“Hey, no fair!” AJ shouts at Maya. He moves off Maya’s chest and shakes the snow out of his hair. “That’s cheating.”

Maya smiles and giggles at Clementine’s kid. Violet had had enough of the children’s fun time. She switches into her serious mode now. “Okay, fun time is over. You guys go back to schoolyard games. While Maya and I go, do real work around here.”

Maya moves out of the kid’s way and shakes the snow off herself. AJ, Tenn, Alicia, and Willy return to whatever game they are playing. Violet giggles at her girlfriend. “Hehe~ It’s a shame you don’t like kids.”

“Argh, nasty little vermin,” Maya said, pretending to be disgusted by little kids playing into Violet’s comment.

Violet plays punches, Maya. “Oh, haha. Very funny,” she smirks at Maya. Then a soft, real, genuine love came over her face as she softly spoke. “Didn’t know you were fond of kids like that. You are really good with them.”

Maya smiles and walks with Violet to the admin building, “Yeah. I always had a soft spot for young kids. Reminds me of my memories with Koda. Played games like that with him out west. Even taught him how to ice skate. I guess in some weird way gives me what I miss about being an older sister to my younger brother.”

Violet smiles and laces her hand with Maya’s as they go up the admin steps. As soon as Maya picked up her mug, Louis opened the door to the admin building. Violet looks at her best friend as she asks. “What’s up, Lou?”

“Nothing much. Say, can we have a little pow-wow meeting in the commons room?” Maya gave him a look, and Louis raised his hand and looked at Violet’s girlfriend, “Sorry, I don’t mean any disrespect to your heritage.”

Maya looks at Louis, shrugging. “I’m a big girl and not that fragile when someone uses that term.”

Louis gives Maya an uncomfortable glance, still not knowing how to talk to her. He soon lets out a nervous cough, “Well, ahem---hm. Clementine wants to discuss something with her top people. Group meeting, if you will.” Louis spoke, pointing to Violet and Maya.

“Uh---I think what you mean, Louis, is a city council meeting,” Maya said, correcting him.

“That too. Yeah. Anyway, she has something she wants to discuss in a group chat. Come on.” Louis said, ushering Violet and Maya into the music room in the admin building.

Since the fight with Arvo and Alberto, Clementine looks to Maya and Aasim as her new chain of command for strategizing. To improve the school by growing food in the greenhouse, hunting tips, and tracking bigger game. Maya and Violet follow Louis into the music room, where Clem is waiting patiently on the piano bench. Ruby was on the couch as Aasim and Omar were out checking traps for dinner, and Aniya went to bed after working in the greenhouse with Violet in the early morning. Maya and Violet made their way to sit next to Ruby as they waited for Clementine.

Clementine looks to her most trusted head of the group as she proposes what she wants done. Ruby looks at Clementine as Louis leans on his piano. “So, Clem, what makes you bring us all here on this snowy afternoon?”

Clementine smiles as she softly speaks. “Well, I don’t know if anyone knows what day it is tomorrow. But tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and I figure with how much shit we all endured. My thought was to give everyone a day off to remember the old times. Before, we stopped living as a society and lived to be scared for our lives, trying to survive the horrors the dead gave us. I talked with Louis last night about the idea, and I want to do it. Just one day of peace and forget about walkers for a moment, and just be people. I’m open to hearing about the different Christmas traditions you all had or remember from before the age of walkers. What do you all think?”

Ruby looks at the mantle place and reflects on an old memory. Violet looks down, and Maya looks out the window. She can’t remember the last time she had joy on Christmas morning, as her only memory is keeping Aniya alive. Clementine spoke up again, “I know it may seem like a silly idea, but I—”

Maya spoke up to her leader, “No, I think it is a great idea, Clem. We all could be reminded of holiday cheer for once, and not be thinking of the dead trying to eat us. I know I can use some good cheer in this world.”

Ruby smiles at Maya’s comment, as she chimes in with agreement, “I agree. Been so long since we even had a Christmas celebration here at Ericson.” Ruby gazed at Louis as he, too, felt the empty sadness of what had been lost over the years at this school. Ruby then stood up and walked over to Clementine, as she loves the idea. “We can decorate this room. Like our hootnanny with the Raiders, but this time celebrate with everyone.”

Maya and Violet both squint their eyes in confusion, and Maya spoke up, “Hootnanny?”

Clementine giggles as she answers Maya’s question. “It is Ruby’s lingo for a party.”

Violet is the only one who never spoke up. Christmas always was a painful memory for her. She doesn’t share the same joy as the rest of her friends, including her girlfriend. Louis then adds, “Great! We can celebrate it however we want.”

Ruby lets out a gleeful sound at that idea. “So what are we going to do, gifts? Can’t exactly get a Christmas tree.” While everyone was discussing ideas, Maya noticed Violet’s absence from the group. She looks about as Violet quietly exits without anyone seeing her, but Maya, who sees a flash of blue-violet disappear out through the doors. Maya set her mug down to follow her girlfriend, while Clementine and the others discussed ideas for a Christmas celebration.

Maya exits the room and sees a blurred vision of Violet going up the stairs and disappearing into a room. She follows after her. Maya manages to make up the steps when, all of a sudden, she hears a loud CRASH from one of the rooms. Maya softly walks up to the door and hears some scuffling about in the room. She softly knocks, alerting Violet to her presence. “Vi? Violet?”

“Go away, Maya, just leave me be,” Violet calls out from behind the closed door. There was a bit of sadness to her tone just then, which concerned Maya. She opens up the door despite Violet’s request to leave her be. Maya looks and sees Violet half-tearing up, sitting in the oversized office chair. Violet glances at her girlfriend as she wipes the small tears from her eyes. Refusing to let anyone see her vulnerability. Even someone she loves. “Goddamn it, Maya, I said I want to be alone.”

Maya comes closer to her sweetheart, refusing to let Violet close up her heart. “I’m not leaving here until you are okay.”

Violet snorts a bit, avoiding looking at Maya’s face. “Hmph. Hate it that...you know me too well, and I can’t hide my feelings from you even if I tried.” Violet scoffs a bit. She lets out a heavy sigh and confesses that she rarely reveals herself to others. “I’m not okay, alright. Christmas...This whole fucking holiday. It is not the best time for me. I would like to forget this holiday exists.”

Maya doesn’t say anything as she stands beside her girlfriend. She calmly moves to the desk, softly hops up onto it, and sits down, looking at her sad girlfriend. Maya reaches for Violet’s hand and strokes it softly, offering her comfort. Then Maya utters the words Violet doesn’t want to say. “Your grandmother.”

Violet nods and sniffles a little. Her green eyes slowly glance up at the dull-lit ceiling. For the first time, in a low voice, almost a whisper, Violet speaks the truth about what happened to her grandmother. She never told anyone. Not even Minerva. “She killed herself shortly after Christmas.” Violet’s voice was so quiet Maya almost missed what she said.

Violet moves her eyes to look up at Maya, then at the old wooden desk. “She went to Christmas mass on Christmas Eve. We had a small gathering Christmas morning and the next day. Bang!” Violet uses her pointer finger as a gun and aims it at her head to illustrate her grandmother’s suicide. “Fucking messed up, right. Merry fucking Christmas, joy to me, now your grandma is dead. This damn holiday reminds me of my grandmother giving up on life and leaving me behind.” Violet’s voice had a sharp edge of bitterness and anger at her grandmother that Maya picked up on. Unresolved anger issues that Violet never got to express because she never had time to cope and accept the loss she witnessed so suddenly in her life. “How can I talk about peace and joy and pretend there is peace on earth when the one person I loved in this world fucking left me. and then the fucking dead started walking.”

Maya moves to lean close to Violet, “Maybe this is something you need right now, Violet.”

“What?” Violet asked in confusion as she turned her gaze to look at her girlfriend.

“This Christmas celebration, Clementine is proposing. To take away the bad, painful memories of the past. And make new memories to restore the joy you once had on this holiday.” Maya paused as a thought from long ago came to her. She clears her throat. “Ahem--This may sound ancient and extremely retro. But do you remember the old Disney film of Old Yeller by any chance?”

Violet leans back in the chair as she scoffs. “Pfft. Yeah. Sure. You mean the old yeller dog that gets bitten by a rabid wolf. And then dies from rabies. That Old Yeller. Yeah, I know it.” Violet looks up at Maya as she asks, “Where are you going with this analogy?”

“Do you remember what Travis’s father told Travis after Yeller died. You can’t afford to waste the good part while fretting about the bad. That makes it all bad. You start looking around for something good, like spending time with those you love, to take the place of the bad. As a general rule, you can find it.” Maya said softly. She glances out the window at the snowy landscape. “I’m starting to get what Jim Coats is getting at with that quote, after all of those years. Me losing my entire family. Raising my sister alone, keeping her alive. I was so consumed by the bad shit in life that I forgot to look at the good blessings that came my way after my tragedy.” Maya said.

She briefly glances down at Violet as she lightly shrugs. “Coming to know you and being a part of your group. Finding love to share with you, which I never thought I would experience. You make me feel I have a life and purpose again, more than just surviving. You make me feel like I am finally home and helping me know I am loved and valued, and living a normal life as best as we can with our changed reality.” Maya finally glances at Violet, and there is a small but noticeable smile on her face.

Softly, Maya nudges Violet with her foot, as she adds, trying to convince Violet to honor her grandmother’s memories by living a life she couldn’t give to Violet. “Will you give it a chance. I will be there with you, Spring Meadow Beauty. I meant what I said when I---ahem. Admit that I love you. I love you all. Even the ugly scars you hide deep in your heart. You’re still beautiful to me. ”

Violet wipes her nose on her sleeve, as she is a bit nervous to trust the idea. “You really think it will help? I will still feel broken after this celebration.”

“Never could know if you don’t try. And we all feel broken and live with the scars in our hearts from what we lost. Mine certainly didn’t magically go away.” Maya admitted to her mate that she still has a bit of her trauma she still bears. Maya then leans back a bit on the desk, as she playfully kicks her legs out beside Violet. “Plus, I got a special gift for you, I want to give to you,” Maya said as she glanced at Violet, who did her iconic eye roll when she was annoyed.

“Not another totem necklace. I love you, and grateful for what you made me, but I don’t need more than one.” Violet said.

“No, no. It is not that. Something that can be useful in your everyday life when you leave these walls here. What do you say? We will leave and have our own celebration in your room if you are not a fan of group celebrations. And just you and me. Alone.” Maya said a bit playfully.

Violet looks into her eyes and lets out a sigh, “Alright, fine. Only because you are looking at me a certain way that makes you so damn cute and charming, it’s hard to resist.”

Ruby, Clementine, Louis, and Aniya worked hard to convert the common room into a magical Christmas celebration. Christmas Eve came, and when Violet was fast asleep in her room, lying in Maya’s arms. Maya softly stroked her beloved’s golden hair and smiled. She glances up at Violet’s wall and notices a childlike drawing hidden behind a calendar from long ago. Slowly, she climbs out of Violet’s embrace and is careful not to disturb her.

Maya carefully inspects the drawing that Violet wanted hidden for some reason. It was a drawing of Violet, obviously, and beside her was her weapon. Maya feels bad that Violet lost her meat cleaver when her former group mates took her hostage. A soft, silent sigh came out of Maya’s mouth as she glanced back at Violet asleep in her dream world. Maya’s brown eyes linger long on Violet’s turned back, then on the piece of paper in her hand. Maya has the perfect present for her girlfriend for tomorrow’s Christmas. Maya tucks the sheet of paper in an empty drawer. Then goes back to snuggle in Violet’s warm embrace until morning.

When dawn came, it turned Ericson into a Christmas wonderland. With snow everywhere, and bringing in peace. Didn’t take long for the younger kids to wake up, excited for this special day. Noises can be heard through Brody’s old room, as well as Clementine’s room, which is next to Violet’s dorm. “Hnnngggh.” Violet groans as she buries her head under the pillows with her hands on top of her head, not wanting to leave this perfect slumber. There was suddenly a KNOCK, KNOCK on her door. Waking both Violet and Maya from their dream world.

“Vi? Maya? You guys up. It’s Christmas!” Louis said behind the door.

Violet moves the pillow slightly as her green eyes peek from the shadows of her dark cave. “Can I throw your boot at the door to make him go away?”

Maya giggled at Violet not being a morning bird. “No, you can’t.” Maya then lets out a yawn as she slowly sits up in Violet’s bed and does her morning stretches. “Don’t be a Scrooge now.”

“What the fuck is a Scrooge?” Violet asks, pulling her head out from under the pillows as she lies her head on the soft mound.

Maya chuckled as she turned to glance down at Violet. “You never heard of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickenson before?”

Violet thought for a moment, and then it came to her, “Actually, now that you mention it. I have, but that was a long time ago. My brain doesn’t work properly when I first get u—”

“Vi? Did you and Maya? You know...Ahem--errta---Ahem.” Violet skews her face as Maya sees how red she has gotten at the mention that they had intimate relations. Or so Louis thinks about what happened. Violet still doesn’t know how to convey the love emotion to Maya, just quite yet. Louis continues to speak through the closed door. “Because there is a time and place for---”

Violet quickly moved out from the warmth of her bed and to her door. She opened it with such force that it stunned both Louis and Maya, who had been caught off guard by her sudden change of emotions. Violet angrily looks at her best friend and puts her hand over Louis’s mouth, “Will you keep your commentary to yourself, you idiot!” Violet hisses at him. She huffs out an angry sigh. “No, we didn’t do what you are thinking in that perverted mind of yours. And quite frankly, it’s none of your goddamn business, alright! God.”

Louis was shocked to see Violet react so fast. He glances at Maya, who is clothed like Violet, although Violet is not wearing the usual vest thing she always wears. “Just wonder why it took you so long to answer the door.” He smiles at Violet’s angry but slightly embarrassed face. He glances at Maya, still in Violet’s bed. “Good morning, Maya. Merry Christmas.” Louis waves awkwardly.

Maya waves back, trying to hold a smile back on the awkwardness that suddenly filled the room. She ends up doing her iconic nervous tic by scratching the back of her neck when she is in uncomfortable scenarios. Violet quickly closes the door to give her girlfriend some privacy. In an annoyed voice, she spoke to Louis. “What is so goddamn important you have to disturb me from my slumber, huh? Did it ever occur to you that I was still asleep when you pounded on my door and interrupted my beauty sleep?”

Louis tugs on his coat collar as he avoids Violet’s angry green eyes. He then nudges with his head at the little kiddos beside him. “It’s Christmas, Violet. And the celebration awaits us in the common room. Clem and AJ are heading there now.” He then eyed Violet, who was not amused. He then jabs her with his elbow to try to get Violet to be cheerful on the occasion. “Come on, Vi, we haven’t had Christmas in forever. Wouldn’t want to disappoint the kids now?”

Violet looks at the little girl, who is now AJ’s new bff these days, and Tenn, who is looking at her. Violet eyes Louis, “You brought the kids to persuade me to come with you guys.”

Louis looks up innocently, then taps his foot, “Maybe.”

“Maya, wake up, you sleepy head. Goin’ to sleep the whole morening away!” Alicia exclaimed from the hallway, as there was a bit of sass to her tone, that she clearly picked up from being around AJ.

Maya shakes her head at the sassy attitude. She gets up from Violet’s bed, grabs her iconic green plaid flannel shirt, and comes to stand beside Violet. “No, I wouldn’t miss it for the world, Alicia.” Maya yawns as she waves her hands a bit. “I’m up. I’m up.” Violet moves away from the door a bit and leans her back against the edge of the frame. She doesn’t like all this Christmas cheer atmosphere when she is trying to wake up.

Tenn looks at Violet as he speaks to her in an innocent tone. “I remember you used to sing Christmas songs with Minnie and Sophie. I would love to hear your voice again.”

Louis looks at Violet as he backs up Tenn’s statement. As he tries to persuade her to join. “Wouldn’t be the same without you there, Vi.”

Maya looks at her girlfriend. Her eyebrows rose a bit at the news that Violet can sing. Violet caught Maya’s glare, looking at her as she felt pressured by everyone. “Okay, this is dirty pool. I don’t like it.” She rolls her eyes and lets out a sigh as she caves. “Ugh...Okay, okay. Fine, you all win. I will come.” Violet looks as Louis gives Tenn a high five as they got Violet to cave. She rolls her eyes now at the dirty trick he did to use Tenn that way. She crosses her arms over her chest as she glares at Louis in an irritated fashion. “Can I at least get a few minutes of privacy to get ready, please?”

Louis nods as he steps back, turning to usher the kids to the admin building. Once Violet sees them turning the corner, she shuts the door again. Then she started pounding her head against the backside of her dorm room’s door. Mumbling, “Bah, humbug.”

Maya stands there still shocked to hear that Violet can sing. She arches her eyebrows at Violet, being very intrigued by the new trivial thing she learned about her girlfriend’s hidden talent. “You sing? When were you going to tell me?”

Violet stops pounding her head as she momentarily glances at Maya, but quickly avoids these flirtatious eyes of hers. “Ahem--not we--well. But yes, I can sing. And I wasn’t going to tell you because it isn’t anything spectacular about my voice. Not like I have Whitney Houston’s voice or anything.” Violet turns and places her back on the door. She sighs as she angles her head up, looking at the ceiling. “God, why did I agree to this stupid thing?”

Maya watches her, and she lightly shrugs, reminding Violet of what they discussed up in Clementine’s office. “Making new memories to replace the bad ones as a step for you to heal from your trauma.”

Violet turns to look at her with her annoyed eyes. “I’m only doing this for the kids and for what you said. Not to satisfy Louis’s amusement. Or encourage his behavior. I’m not a Christmas cheer person like Lou. As you are the only one who knows why.” Violet then reaches for her purple-blue denim vest and puts it on.

Maya knows deep down that Violet is somewhat more inwardly appreciative of the holiday. She can sense what Violet is trying to conceal. She was about to speak when she felt a light touch on her lips. Violet has started to become in sync with Maya and can feel what she is thinking out loud. “I know what you are going to say. And I---I am not in the mood to hear an inspirational motivation saying right now, okay.”

Maya nods, respecting Violet’s wishes. She lightly kisses Violet’s finger on her lips to reassure her partner, reading her emotions. “Okay.” Maya softly whispers to her. There was a bit of a blush and smile from Violet as she looked away from glaring at Maya’s attractive eyes.

Violet removes her finger from Maya’s lips as she huffs out a heavy sigh, this time, trying to suppress a deep pain in her heart. “It’s--not easy for me, Maya, to be open like you are. But you are making it easier for me to try. And to get past this anger, I still feel from my grandma’s death that I’ve been suppressing for so long.” Violet gave her girl a half smile.

Maya reaches for her father’s jacket, “That is comforting to know. Glad I can be your positive influence in life. And I know it is not easy for you, Vi. You are like an onion. You have layers. And need to work through those layers, to get to your golden heart that makes you beautiful and sweet to me~” Maya said as she smiles a warm smile to her girlfriend. “One of the reasons that made me fall in love with you is your beautiful heart, Violet.” Violet melted at what Maya just said. There was a rare, never-before-seen expression in Violet’s eyes that shimmered at those pure romantic words.

Blushing hard, Violet then steps away from Maya to conceal her deep desires she has for her. And to avoid this heavy topic. She rolls her eyes, changing the heavy subject. “Stop being charming, and make me lose my senses. Come on, let’s just get this day over with and not keep Louis waiting.”

Maya smiles at Violet’s schoolgirl blush, making her lose control. She then quietly adds, “That and your sassy, no-nonsense attitude.” Maya then flipped her hair out from behind the collar of her tribal jacket.

When Maya flipped her beautiful black hair out from under the collar of her coat. It made Violet blush like a schoolgirl, and gay panic filled her face at what she was feeling. Maya looks at her as Violet just stares blankly. “Vi? Are you okay? Violet?” Maya smiles as she waves her hand in front of her girlfriend’s eyes. “Paging, Violet Miller?”

Violet then snaps out of her moment of weakness, she has for the indigenous girl standing in front of her. “Wha--t. Oh sorry. I’m fucahh--Fi--fine...I’m good. I’m good.” Maya silently chuckles, seeing Violet for the first time tripping over herself for her. “Aehm--hm--Leeeet’s go and amuse Lou. Shall we?” She moves past Maya and towards the door. Trying to hide these new onset feelings. Not knowing how to process it or how to deal with such emotion that hit her like a freight train.

Maya blushed as she caught Violet checking her out when she put on her father’s tribal jacket. It is obvious to her that Violet is very attracted to her appearance. What Maya is still unsure about is reconnecting that passion with Violet. She felt that night back in the fishing shack a month ago, before fate had other plans. She wants to have the feeling with Violet again. But her former group threatens to hurt Violet and everyone at Ericson. Maya almost died to save Violet from Alberto’s poisoned mind. She doesn’t want to be the source of Violet’s pain if she meets her untimely death, and leave her mate brokenhearted to never love again. Maya sighs, pushing those dark thoughts away as she follows after Violet to head to the admin building for the Christmas celebration.

Violet and Maya were the last to arrive in the music room of the admin building. Maya hears old Christmas music being played on the gramophone, and Aasim and Willy fix the fireplace to have a roaring fire blazing from it. It does remind Maya of home again and of turning this old school into a homey environment. She quickly glances down at Violet, who is not a bit for the idea. But even Violet admits that it brings back fond memories and feels like home to her. Especially seeing Tennessee interacting with AJ and Alicia during the Christmas festivities.

Maya gives a comforting nudge to help Violet enjoy this time with some of the people she loves most in this world. Violet gave a nonverbal nod back and went to sit with Tenn and AJ. Ruby took a candle and lit it up as little angels danced around with the air current from the heat. She shows this to Aniya, who is fascinated by it. AJ and Tenn were drawing, and Tenn made a dove with the words ‘Peace on Earth.’ As Violet joins him.

Clementine stands by the piano, sipping coffee and observing the family celebration. Maya moves in her direction as she stands beside her new leader. “You did an amazing job, Clem. It makes me feel like I’m right back at home. And gives me a sense of comfort. This was a very good thought-out idea of yours.”

Clementine smiles at her newest group member. Her past prejudice over Maya dissolved when she proved her worth to the group by having her back. Clementine lets out a soft sigh. “We all could use it, and to remind us. We are all we have. Part of the reason I suggest this idea is that I wanted to create something where we don’t have to worry about a shitty life and, for once, live in peace, like before...before the age of walkers.” Clementine sighs as she shrugs. “I don’t know, bring some hope and joy that one day this age will end, and we can go on living before the dead start walking.” Clementine’s eyes follow AJ. Maya follows her gaze. Clementine lets out air and eyes her little goofball. “And another reason for me to plan this celebration. Is giving AJ something I once had with my mom and dad when I was his age. Silly of me to think when we should be---”

“No, it’s not Clementine. It’s good to bring back old traditions from the old world that we have forgotten exist, because we are so consumed now with trying to survive that we have forgotten our humanity. And you are giving AJ something, I’m sure he will treasure this moment forever.” Maya said in a soft voice. “I know my sister would. I haven’t seen her smile like this in forever.” Maya glances over at her sister, who is smiling and laughing for joy with Omar and Willy. “I don’t think she even remembers the last Christmas she ever celebrated with my family. But I remember.”

Maya takes her eyes off her sister as she glances at Clementine. Maya sighs as she openly shares one of the few last happy memories of her time out in Jackson. “We were making cornmeal cookies as part of my family’s Christmas traditions. When a herd of mustangs ran through our backyard. Aniya had never seen wild mustangs before, and she was so excited to witness this magical moment. She ended up tipping the flour bowl all over the counter from excitement. Aniya rushed outside to the backyard as the herd of mustangs pounded the earth, running free in the backfield where I used to live. I rushed after her, fearing she would go after the wild horses and get herself trampled. Or seriously injured by not respecting wild nature and keeping a safe boundary. But as I stood on the back porch and watched my sister closely. She just stood there in the middle of the backyard watching the animals. And for the first time, I saw my sister embracing the moment and knew she wasn’t in any danger. She closed her eyes and pretended that she was running wild and free with the horses.” Maya smiles at the faint, distant memory that feels like a lifetime ago.

The whole time Maya shared her story as a young girl, Clementine was in a trance, transfixed by Maya’s life before the age of walkers. And her description of her homelife feels like a faraway land, very surreal in today’s world. Clementine looks at Aniya for a moment as she smiles. Seeing the other teenage girl smiling with laughter. Forgetting that they are still living in a zombie apocalypse world. Clementine looks back at Maya as the older teen speaks softly to her. “That is some memory you have there, Maya. It almost seems like a long-forgotten dream. Your childhood must have been something exciting that my younger self would’ve loved to witness.” Clementine giggles slightly at her new acquaintance.

She gives a cute shoulder shrug, revealing a hidden quality she hasn’t shared with anyone. Not even Louis. “Yeah. Horses were a huge obsession of mine when I was six. Begged my dad to own one as a pet. Even made a whole chart of argumentative reasons why a horse would be the perfect pet for me. But all I got was a hamster, because my dad said horses are too expensive to own, and didn’t have the space for one where I lived.” Clementine admits as she chuckles. She looks at Maya and asks, tilting her head, “Wild horses really do roam free where you lived?”

Maya chuckles at that, “Yeah, all the time. Common like a herd of deer, or elk, which are like deer in a way. And sometimes buffalo, but that is rare.” Maya said. She shrugs her shoulders, “You can say I lived an interesting life in my younger days, seeing wildlife that is not common around this region.”

“I would say so. My younger self will be slightly jealous of your life experience. All I got for wildlife is deer, rabbits, squirrels, and birds. Nothing like that. But then again, I grew up in rural Georgia.” Clementine replies to Maya’s comment. Clementine smiled at Maya, and her eyebrow arched a little as she asked, “How old were you when the world turned upside down?”

Maya leans on Louis’s piano. As she answers Clementine’s question. “Oh, um. Thirteen. Aniya was eight, and Koda, my little brother, was three.” Her eyes glance over at Clementine as she gives a respectful nod.

“Your sister is my age, then. I was eight, or turning nine, when the world went to shit, and civilization was gone.” Clementine said as she took a sip of her coffee.

“Really? What month were you born?” Maya asks, looking at Clementine.

“October. October 26th, 1994, to be exact. Why?” Clementine replies back eyeing Maya.

“Just curious, is all. Because Aniya just turned eight when the fall of civilization happened. She was born in June.” Maya said. Revealing her sister’s age. She glances over to where her sister is for a moment. And then looks back at Clementine, “Me...the apocalypse happened before my 14th birthday. Not the birthday present I wanted, that is for damn sure.” Maya looks at Clementine as she shrugs. “Since you gave me your birth date. I was born in August. August 1st, 1991.”

“Wow. You got royalty screwed then.” Clementine replies in shock at how much Maya is being open to her. “The world went to shit before your birthday. That’s got to be the shittest birthday present ever.”

“Hmph, yeah, tell me about it.” Maya chuckles back. She then lets out a sigh as her face grew serious, and Maya drops her joking manner. She looks Clementine in the eyes just then and expresses her gratitude to Clementine’s compassionate heart. “You were right. We all needed this, even if the world outside is a shithole trying to eat us. So thank you for this, really. It is a very sentimental idea that reminds me of what I once lost in this world. You guys are my new family.”

Clementine smiles brightly at those words. She replies to Maya and shares what Kenny told her years ago. “Well, I will pass on a saying a great friend of mine once told me. ′Family is what you make it.’” The two share a moment when Clementine nudges with her head to the rest of the Ericson family. “Go and mingle, Maya, and enjoy this one special day. After today, we will resume chores and life as usual. But we all deserve one day to be human for one day, and forget about our shitty lives. The dead move like alligators in the cold, anyway. They won’t be too much of a threat.” Maya nods to her leader as she steps away from Louis’s piano and mingles with her sister and other kids. Clementine smiles at Maya and then leaves the piano to sit with AJ, Violet, and Tennessee.

After a bit of Christmas cheer, Louis comes to Violet, who is by the fireplace, looking at the fire. “Hey, I know you don’t celebrate Christmas after what happened, but Tenn wanted you to sing to him what you sang years ago before the world went crazy.” Louis eyes her, “It will make his day.”

“You really like to push things with me, do you?” Violet groans a bit. “You know I swore off all Christmas singing when we stopped being a family here.”

“I know. But can you? Just one. For Tennessee,” Louis said in a low, soft whisper.

“Fine. For Tennessee. Just one. None of your Louis shangings. And I will pick the song.” Violet sighed as she glanced at Tennessee by Louis’s piano.

“Sure thing. Vi,” Louis said, and didn’t object. And the two of them head over to Louis’s piano.

Maya was listening to Omar talk about his chief experiences when she started hearing the piano play. Louis softly plays the melody of "O Holy Night," Violet’s favorite Christmas tune. Everyone stopped for a moment and listened as Violet took a deep breath and sang the song’s notes in her sweet voice.

“O Holy Night,

The Stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.

Long lay the world, in sin and error pining’

Til he appear and the soul felt its worth

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn.”

Maya moves forward now. Hearing the love of her life’s sweet singing voice for the first time. Maya is totally in awe of Violet just then, so in love with her. Maya leans on Louis’s piano, just staring at her girlfriend, captivated by Violet’s sweet voice. Ruby glances over at the older teenager, and a giggle comes out of her as she watches Maya swoon over Violet. There is no doubt. As Ruby is witnessing Maya being totally smitten by Violet.

“Fall on your knees,

Oh, hear the angel’s voices

Oh night, divine, oh night

When Christ was born

Oh night. Divine, oh night

Oh Night, Divine”

Maya was spellbound, and her face glowed with love for her girlfriend. She lets Tennessee and Violet have a moment and smiles at her beloved as she quietly moves away from the piano.Damn~ I never thought her voice would be so sweet and captivating. Pulling me in, like a siren’s ca---Only to run into Aniya. “What?” Maya looks at her sister, who is grinning cheekily. “Why are you looking at me like tha--”

“Hehe. I’ve never seen you look at anyone that way, as you were gawking at Violet just now. Especially no one in Jackson.” Aniya giggles, teasing her sister about her romantic love feelings for Violet. “Robert is not kidding when he told me you had it bad for her. Now I see what he means. You’re so in love with her, sis. You’re glowing.” Aniya laughs as she teases Maya even more, the more her sister tries to deny it.

“I—Oh. Shut up.” Maya blushes and playfully nudges her little sister away as Aniya giggles.

Maya makes her way over to the couch and tries to hide the glowing blush on her face. She watches Alicia and AJ bond, taking her mind off romance for a bit. She looks over at Louis, playfully teasing Clem to get a kiss under the mistletoe. An idea came into her mind just then. Interesting. Hmm. Idea~ Maya smiles at the thought of making the perfect memory to help heal Violet’s hurting heart from her past. She glances up and sees Violet exit the room. Maya glances at the rest of the kids, occupied with the Christmas celebration, and decides to make her move, giving Violet her present. She sneaks away without anyone noticing their brief absence.

Maya slips out and follows Violet up to the office, where she found her once before. She peeks in and sees Violet leaning over the broken railing of the balcony, gazing at the rising sun. Just reflecting. Maya comes from the shadows and leans on the door frame of the small overhang balcony. The sunlight made Violet so beautiful to Maya. Maya shrugged as she softly spoke to her girlfriend. “Needed some air.”

Violet pulls back from leaning on the railing as she turns to look at Maya standing in the doorway. “Yeah.” Violet eyes her as she softly spoke. “But you don’t have to follow me. I am okay, I just needed to be alone from too much joy in the music room.” She hugs herself, closing her heart off a bit, avoiding the real reason she wanted to step away from the celebration.

Maya knows this, but is letting Violet make the move of sharing what is hard for her. She is patient and wants Violet to open her wounded heart when she is ready. She shrugs as she lets Violet be in peace. “Well, I just want to make sure you are doing well. If you want to be alone, I will honor that and let you have your space.” Maya turned and started back into the office when she felt a touch on her wrist that stopped her in her tracks.

“Maya, wait. I---hmpf.” Violet let out a sigh as she closed her eyes for a moment. Then raises them to gaze into Maya’s eyes. “Stay with me.” She pulls Maya to her as she presses her face to Maya’s strong chest. “I--I don’t know why. But I feel so much calmer when you are near me. I get a sense of safety being with you, as you make my fears and heartache disappear, and I feel...whole.”

Maya smiles as she embraces her girlfriend. She doesn’t say anything, as she just holds Violet close. Then sweetly, she takes off her tribal jacket and drapes it around Violet’s shoulders. Giving her warmth when she needs it. Violet looks up at Maya and asks, “But aren’t you going to be cold?”

“Yeah, but you need it more than me,” Maya said softly as she sweetly gave Violet a peck on her forehead, showing affection and love to her. Violet lets out a soft giggle as she snuggles under Maya’s chin, showing the affection right back.

Violet moves out of the embrace slightly as she stands by the railing holding Maya’s jacket around her shoulders. The two stare out on the horizon for a moment as Maya moves to stand next to Violet, placing her hand near hers. “You do have a very pretty voice, Violet. It left me spellbound back there as I was drawn to your sweet voice. Never knew such a pretty sound would come out of someone as sweet as you. Was enchanting to hear.” Maya softly spoke to her girlfriend, admitting how much she is attracted to her. And charming her somewhat. The flattery words made Violet giggle that cute girly giggle when she is feeling giddy.

Violet couldn’t help herself as she let out schoolgirl giggles to Maya’s smooth talking. She can’t believe her luck in finding someone as charming as her, and for once, sweeping Violet off her feet. That was only Violet’s wishful thinking in her youth. She moves her hand to Maya’s and slowly intertwines their fingers together. “Thank you,” Violet said in her low, raspy voice. She sighs as she shakes her head a little. “I sometimes don’t like to sing or hear the sound of my voice.”

“Well, you have a very lovely voice. Captivating even. But I am curious why that song? Since you are not really religious.” Maya said, tilting her head a little to the left.

“I don’t know.” Violet hugs Maya’s jacket closer. She lets out a frustrating sigh, “I guess, in some ways, it reminds me of my grandmother, or some weird spiritual connection I still feel her with me.” Violet pauses as she stares out at the sun. She closes her eyes as she shares a hidden memory she kept buried for a long time. Until now.

Violet opens her eyes again as she opens up for the very first time about her youth before her shitty trauma. “On Christmas Eve, we go to mass to celebrate the birth of Christ. My grandma would sing the song “O Holy Night” in the church choir. I always felt something powerful move inside me when I heard it. Especially the way my grandmother would sing it. I guess in a weird, twisted fate. I inherited her gift in music.” Violet huffs an annoying sigh. “In some fucked up way, to honor or keep the very few fond memories I still hold treasure in my heart, before my grandmother killed herself. O Holy Night was her favorite, and mine as well. That or Hark the Harold Angels Sing, as I used to watch that old A Charlie Brown Christmas cartoon movie with my grandmother on Christmas Eve before going to bed.”

Violet turns to face Maya now as she shares something she never told anyone before. “It was my grandpa’s favorite holiday movie. Grandma and Grandpa would put on A Charlie Brown Christmas when I was seven, and we used to make holiday cookies for Santa, while my mom worked late on Christmas Eve in the store.” Violet grew silent then. She slowly rested her head on Maya’s shoulder and just let Maya comfort her. “You know, that is the first time I ever talked about my grandpa to anyone. I was so traumatized when I came to this school that I never talked about him or blocked him from my memory. His death is what drove my grandmother to join him.”

Maya looks down on Violet as she shares more of her life story with her, a story Violet kept from everyone. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up painful memories. I was just curious why you chose the song when you sang it to everyone.”

Violet moves slightly from resting on Maya’s shoulder to look at her. She reaches up and places her cold hand on Maya’s soft cheek. “You don’t need to apologize, Maya. And I didn’t attend to sing to everyone, just to Tennessee. Since he asked me to. I sometimes don’t have the heart to disappoint him.” Violet admitted her soft spot for the young kid. She looks away as she lets out a sigh. “I’m learning to be more open. It’s something I am working on.” Her green eyes then met Maya’s stare as Vioet bit her lip a little bit. “I don’t know why. You bring it out of me. For the first time, I feel a sense of peace and understanding when I am around you. You do have that quality about you.”

Violet blushes as she finally moves away from her girlfriend. Still trying to keep her composure of being mysterious, but she can’t when she is around Maya. And shows her the real Violet beneath those hard layers she built over the years.

Maya smiles at what Violet just admitted. Maya never teased Violet in this rare moment of her shedding her true desire for her. She softly encircles her arm around Violet’s waist and pulls her close as they look at the late afternoon sun. “What was your grandma’s name?”

Violet was silent for a moment. She closes her eyes, picturing the old, gentle, kind-hearted woman who felt more like a motherly figure to her than her actual mother. “Christina. Christina Miller.” Violet finally utters the name out loud for the first time. She looks up at her girlfriend. “She was my father’s mother. She took it upon herself to raise me when her son neglected his duties of fatherhood due to alcohol. ”

Maya nods silently. As she snuggles her nose in Violet’s hair. Giving her all the love in her heart. Later on, Maya wants to do something to give Violet some closure and a place to go. To reflect on her memories of her grandmother and remember the remarkable woman who raised such a resilient granddaughter. They remain silent and listen to the festive activities below them. Maya then clears her throat and eyes, Violet, “I uh...ahem----um. I want to give you something since it is Christmas and all.”

Violet pulls out of Maya’s embrace a little, as she starts shaking her head, rejecting the gift she really doesn’t need. “Maya...I don’t need an—”

Maya softly places a finger to Violet’s lips this time. Stopping her from finishing that sentence. “I know you don’t need anything, but I think this will come in use for you.” Maya removes her finger from Violet’s sweet pink lips. She reaches to her side and pulls a new weapon for her girlfriend. Maya places it on the railing in front of Violet. It was a handmade tomahawk. “I know it is not your meat cleaver. And I wish I could make you a new one. Or find your original one that Alberto and Arvo tossed away when they took you hostage, that shitty day. I can’t even begin to look where they took you to find it. Or else I would, like how you gave me my father’s knife back.” Maya said in a heartfelt tone. She felt nervous as she explained to Violet the purpose of giving her a weapon she had made, so Violet would have something to rely on when she was in danger. “I--ahem--So I hand-made you a weapon you can call your own to slay those smelly bastards when out savaging or hunting. And be the warrior you always were, Vi, and protect me and others you love. More than that pathetic little shiv you have there.”

Violet was speechless in this moment as Maya took her breath away. She looks at her new weapon for a moment. Then her green eyes meet Maya’s, awed by what this charming girl is doing to her heart. Without another word, Violet moves to Maya and places her hands on Maya’s cheeks tenderly. Then leans up and kisses her. Maya was stunned by this unexpected move. Violet fully leaned in and gave her a sweet, romantic kiss. Her eyes closed as she kissed Violet back and melted into her beloved’s embrace.

After several tender heartbeats of Maya and Violet kissing, Violet breaks the kiss as she smiles, looking at her girlfriend with admiring eyes. She then reaches out, touches the wooden handle, and feels the smooth wood against her cold fingertips. Violet smiles as she encircles her arms around Maya’s strong neck, “Thank you for this. I---I..don’t know the right words to express, how much you are making me melt for you~.”

Maya leans down and plants a sweet kiss on Violet’s lips, and slowly she puts her forehead to Violet’s, “Merry Christmas, Violet. I love you too~.”

Maya and Violet returned from their little break away from the group. As the two of them returned, they both had their hands interlocked with each other. Maya decided to be sweet and brought Violet’s hand to her lips, lightly kissing it. She always wanted to do that gesture for someone she loves. Violet blushes so hard on that, as she is beginning to see that Maya is the prince in her life. AJ and Alicia placed a mistletoe near the room’s entrance. It was supposed to be for Clem and Louis, but it happened that Maya and Violet got stuck under the mistletoe together. Ruby sweetly pointed out. “Hey, you two are standing under the mistletoe, you know what that means.”

Louis and Clem look toward Maya and Violet, and Louis yells out, embarrassing Violet. “Kiss her, Vi, I know you want to. I see how you are blushing so hard right now.”

Violet’s face turns red, and so does Maya’s. Maya didn’t want to be the center of attention even more than Violet did in displaying their love for each other. She never looks at Violet and cares about her mental state. “You don’t have to, Spring Meadow Beauty. Even if it is a tradition. We can say fu--”

Violet shakes her head and leans closer to Maya. She softly speaks to her in a tone Maya hasn’t heard from Violet. Since the morning, they had almost given in to their desire for one another. “Let’s quickly do this to get everyone off our backs, okay. They won’t stop until we----amuse them.”

Maya looked at Violet and knew she secretly kind of wanted to kiss her under the mistletoe. Either that, or she is still high on the moment when Maya gave her a sentimental Christmas gift. Maya sighs as she sweetly tucks Violet’s soft golden hair behind her ears. Gazing into those shining green eyes, looking back at her. She lowers her face to Violet’s as she sees Violet closing her eyes. A soft, warm smile fell upon her face as Maya’s love for her. Then Maya closes the gap and softly places her lips on her girlfriend, giving her a sweet, romantic kiss. Violet unconsciously grips Maya’s green flannel shirt. Pulling her closer to Violet as she really sinks her lips into Maya’s. For the first time ever, Violet smiles against Maya’s lips during the kiss.

Tenn manages to look up from his drawing at the commotion near the front end of the room. What he saw made his heart break for the first time. And unexplainable emotions swell inside him. He doesn’t have the words to express what he is feeling. Anger at Maya. A sense of hurt and betrayal from Violet. Of seeing Violet truly happy with another soul and forgetting about his sister, Minerva. When he saw Violet smiling in a way she hadn’t expressed towards Minnie, it hurt him. He now understands AJ’s sudden anger at Louis several months back. When Clementine showed true love for Louis.

Tenn drops his picture on the ground, which he had been coloring. Then he turns and storms out of the room with tears in his eyes. Clementine saw the look on Tenn’s face as he slipped away from everyone. Knowing all too well that look. She heaves a sigh, getting up from the small sofa, and makes her way to Violet.

Violet pulls back from the kiss, pressing her forehead to Maya’s and smiling at her. “I will give you a more well-deserved passionate one when we are alone. And we do not have an audience~” Violet whispers to her girlfriend. There was a hint of a bit of seduction to her voice on the last part.

Maya’s face blushes hard at what Violet is suggesting, as she bites the corner of her lower lip. A giddy, infatuated giggle came out of her when she spoke, “I---I would---love that~.”

Clementine then approaches the two love birds, trying to interrupt their moment. “Ahem. Sorry to interrupt. But Vi, can I-- uh. Borrow you for a moment.”

Maya cocks her head and lets Clementine steal her away for a moment. The two parted ways as Violet tucked her new weapon into the holder Maya gave her. Then she eyes Clementine, who happily replies. “Sure. What’s up, Clem? Is this about Maya and me displaying affection for one anot----”

“No. No. It’s not about that. That is not why I pulled you away from your sweetheart.” Clementine said.

“Okay, then what?” Violet asks curiously.

“I think you need to have a talk with Tennessee. I saw how hurt and upset he was at the way Maya kissed you under the mistletoe.” Clementine said in a whisper. “I think he might be jealous or something of---” Clementine trails off as she specifically eyed Maya as Louis teased her about something.

“Maya? Why would he be jealous of her?” Violet asks, looking at her good friend.

“I don’t know, Violet. But AJ behaved similarly a few months ago when Louis started showing me more affection. And me falling in love with him.” Clementine spoke, offering Violet her support, since she had been through this experience with AJ.

Violet gave a heavy sigh and knew what Clementine was saying to her. "Sigh. Somehow, I knew he would not be okay with the idea of me showing love to another person who is not Minerva.” Violet sighed as she eyed Clementine. “Which way did he go?” She watches as Clementine silently points to the dining room doors. Violet nods and gives Clementine a gentle pat on the arm, and follows where Tenn went.

Violet enters the dining room as she sees Tenn with his hands around his head. Clementine is not kidding. He is definitely upset at her. Violets slightly sighs as she dreads having this conversation with Tennessee about her loving someone else, that is not Minerva. She presses her back up against the door as she eyes Tennessee with soft eyes. She softly spoke to him in a tender voice. “Tenn, what’s wrong?”

Tennessee looks up as his tears hit the table. He wipes his tears away on the sleeve of his shirt. Avoiding the heavy topic. “Nothing.”

Violet can see through his deflection. She steps closer to him. “Nothing, huh. Tenn, you’ve never been good at keeping your feelings a secret. You’re one of the honest people who doesn’t shy away from the truth. If something is bothering you, you let it show.” Violet places her hands on the back of one of the old dining room chairs. “Talk to me, buddy.”

SLAM! Tenn pounded his fist on the table. As he screams at her, swearing for the first time. “Don’t call me that! You don’t give a damn about me. All you care about is your new girlfriend!”

“Tennessee Adrian McKenzie! That is not tr---” Violet called Tennessee’s full name that she never had to do until now. And that stunned Tennessee for a moment.

“Yes, it is! Don’t you dare lie to me, Violet. I saw how you kissed her.” There was venom in the way he said her. Referring to his huge resentment towards Maya. He was so angry that he stood up, shouting at Violet. “You never smiled like that when you were with my sister!” When he did that, the chair he sat in violently banged against the wall. He then bolted from Violet as he ran off into the kitchen.

Violet wastes no time and goes after the hurt little boy. She sees him start to take out his confusion and anger on the cabinets, having a meltdown over the emotions he never knew he had. Violet pulls Tennessee from the old tile countertop before he does self-harm. She holds him in her tight embrace as he screams at her. “Let me go! I hate you! I hate you! You always thought of me as a damn screw-up.” The more Tenn struggles, the tighter Violet holds onto him to keep him from harming himself. As the floodgates finally broke in Tennessee, the trauma his sister left behind in his tender heart.

Violet held back her tears as she spoke to Tenneesee, still holding him firmly in her arms. “Tenn, I am not letting you go. You can scream, kick, or punch me. Fuck. Even call me whatever vile names you want to say to me. I don’t fucking care.” Violet held him tighter and gave the child a bear hug when Tenn tried to flee. “But I am not letting you destroy yourself. I love you, Tenn. You are all I have left, as I consider you my little brother. I made a promise to both Sophie and Minnie to look after you, and I tend to keep that promise.” When Violet finished speaking, she felt Tenn had stopped squirming to get out of Violet’s embrace.

Tenn grew tired of fighting Violet’s restraint on him. And broke down in her arms for the first time. After a bit of hard crying. Tenn eventually settled down as both of them sat on the old, torn-up green tile flooring. Violet strokes Tenn’s back to comfort him. “You want to tell me what is really bothering you.”

Tenn lets out a sniffle as he wipes his nose with his sleeve. "Sniiiff. I just don’t understand. Why her? Why now? Did you ever love Minnie?”

Violet exhales a heavy sigh. “Yes, Tenn, I have always loved your sister. Why do you ever believe I haven’t?”

“Because of how you are with---Maya," Tenn said kind of bitterly. “Seems you never loved Minnie or forgot about her, like she doesn’t matter to you anymore.”

Violet looks down at the angry little boy, confused about what love is. I now understand Clem’s meaning here. She clears her throat and softly has a heart-to-heart talk with her soul brother. “Tenn. Love is not a linear concept, nor is it as black-and-white as people view it. It is complicated and very nuanced.”

She reaches for Tenn’s chin to have her look at her. “Just because I love Maya now doesn’t mean I never loved your sister.” Violet looks deeply into the young boy’s eyes. “Tennessee, I can’t keep living my life in the past. Minerva is gone. The sister you knew in your past memories and the girl I fell in love with. Died the moment the Delta turned her into a monster and erased everything that made Minnie, Minnie. Lily turned your sister into someone we both no longer recognize as being Minerva. I’m now coming to terms with my mistake in trusting her, which could’ve killed the very people I still love. I think you need to come to terms with this, too.” Violet said as sensitively as she could. Telling Tenn to let go of the idea of his sister and go through the grieving process. “We both need to accept that and move on with our lives. Minnie would want us to.”

Tennessee avoids looking at Violet. He still doesn’t want to accept the truth that Violet is telling him. He mumbles, folding his knees up to his chest, confronting his feelings. “I know.”

Violet softly runs her hand through his short, black, fuzzy hair. “Don’t you want me to be happy, buddy?”

He then looks at Violet as his hands drop from holding his knees. “Of course I do. I never said you can’t be happy. Just---I just--- I never thought you would be happy so soon after everything that has happened.” Tennessee looked away from Violet’s eyes as he admitted his true feelings on the matter.

Violet looks at her ex-girlfriend’s brother and gets to the root cause of his tangled-up emotions. She reaches out and softly rubs the tears out of his face. She gently scooches closer to him and pulls him onto her lap when he was a scared toddler. A rare nurturing moment she is expressing. “I know. Believe me, I too fought against my own feelings and ran away like the coward I am. And kept denying the truth that I was falling in love again. Talking to the queen of denial, Tenn. I am a master at it, as I have been playing the denial game all my life.” Violet confesses her deepest flaw. She wishes she could undo this quality about her.

She softly gazes into Tenn’s eyes as she wants to make this clear to him about her new relationship with Maya. “I want to make this clear to you. I am not looking to replace Minnie when I am with Maya. Or erase my memories of what I had with your sister. Those firsts will never leave my heart, and they will always belong to Minerva. But I need to make new memories and moments with Maya as she is becoming someone important to me. Can you try to accept Maya being my new girlfriend? And me loving someone else, that is not your sister?” Violet softly spoke to the boy in her arms. “Can you give her a chance, Tennessee? For me?”

Tenn looks down and sees Violet’s necklace of a panther around her neck. He lets out a heavy sigh, but sees how much Violet has changed since Maya came into her life. She never used to be this warm to someone. Even with her time with his sister. And it is new to him. He then sighs, “I can try and give her a shot. Just please don’t forget about me.”

“Oh, Tenn, that will never happen. I love you, and that will never go away.” Violet said with a warm voice. She embraces him in a sisterly hug, holding him close to her chest. “You are the closest thing to a little brother I’ve ever had in life.” Violet felt Tenn hugging her tighter as they had a long heart-to-heart talk.

Violet convinces Tenn to come back to the party after their little moment. The Christmas music stopped as Louis switched over to entertain the kiddos. On the old gramophone, he pops in the vintage record of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. As the kids all shared a cultural classic that the older kids grew up with. Violet leans on Louis’s piano, listening in as the memories flood back to her on this very old animated film she used to watch as a young child. She notices how Alicia is in Maya’s lap, listening to the story for the first time. Seeing Maya and Alicia react was a moment frozen in time for her. How great her partner is with kids, and that nurturing part of Maya is calling something internally in Violet’s heart. She never knew she would be attracted to a mate who loves and adores children as much as Maya. Violet is now starting to see a future with her, which she never felt or saw with Minerva.

Violet then moves away from Louis’s piano and joins the kids. She chose a spot next to Tennessee as she pulled him close to her. Letting him know she still adores the shy boy. Violet felt Tenn place his head on her arm as he sat next to AJ. Her eyes slowly rose to meet Maya’s as she caught her girlfriend looking at her. Without saying a word, they spoke through their gazes. Violet placed her hand next to Maya’s and soon felt Maya entwine their fingers. As they both sat there with the kids, listening to the old tale of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Ruby looked out the window as it started to snow. Aasim looks at her and cock his head, “What is it, Ruby?”

“It’s snowing. A Christmas miracle.” Ruby said with a happy sigh. Aasim smiles and kisses the back of Ruby’s head as they watch the snow from the window.

Evening came around as everyone went back to the dorms to get some rest after a relaxing day. No stress of walkers and food situation. And everyone had a normal day, like how things used to be. A special day everyone will never forget. Violet hugs Tenn goodnight; it’s been a long while since she’s given the small child a hug, but it was a much-needed one. Tenn truly hugs her back, and others can tell there was a special bond between Violet and Tenn that would never break.

Maya watches the sweet moment from her dorm as Violet cares for the little boy. In a rare moment, she saw a motherly quality in her mate. She then turns and heads into her and Violet’s room. She was in the process of hanging a mistletoe above Violet’s door when the door opened up and knocked Maya off balance. Stumbling to the ground. before entering their bedroom and hanging a mistletoe above Violet’s door. Violet comes in and almost knocks into Maya, “Shit.”

“Ow...oof. It’s okay. I---hmmm.” Maya was flushed with embarrassment after doing a stupid, corny thing to her girlfriend. “I was just...getting things settled in.” Maya hides the mistletoe behind her back and plays off innocently to fool Violet. But she can tell Violet is not buying it. So she quickly asks. “How are things with Tennessee?”

Violet looks at her as she squints her eyes at Maya’s strange behavior, suddenly. She responds to her question. “Fine, he will be fine. What do you have behind your back, Maya?”

“Oh--Uh. Nothing,” Maya nervously said as her voice rose a bit more than she wanted to. Trying desperately to hide her embarrassment of being a walking cliche.

Violet arches her eyebrows at her girlfriend as she sighs an amusing sigh at what Maya is hiding. “People just love to throw that word around tonight, like it means something.” She then approaches Maya and tries to reach behind her. But Maya plays keep away. “You have something behind your back, Maya. What is it?” Violet tries to go behind Maya’s back to see what it is. But Maya turns too quickly.

“I’ve told you nothing.” Maya giggles a little, trying to conceal her childish fantasy.

“Then why are you avoiding me and dodging when I get close to you if you have ‘nothing’?” Violet counters her sweetheart as she reaches for the object behind Maya’s back. Violet and Maya play a little tag, when Violet suddenly trips Maya up with her foot, and the two of them crash down in the middle of Violet’s floor. Violet victoriously lands on top of Maya’s chest, as she sits on top of her rugged warrior girlfriend. “Ha! I win. Now, what are you hiding?” She reaches for the object Maya holds. She brought it out in view as she looked at Maya’s innocent but adorable grin plastered on her face. Her left eyebrow arches at her girlfriend as she asks, “Mistletoe? hehe~ This is what you were hiding from me?”

Maya runs her hand nervously through her hair as she starts to stutter when she is nervous. “I--I um--ahem. I thought it would be romantic and fun to do more than just a simple kiss.” She eyes Violet, who is looking at her with those senseless eyes. “B--but we don’t have t—hmpf~” Maya couldn’t finish the sentence as Violet crashed was too quick for her, as she placed her sweet pink lips onto Maya’s. Maya was a goner and folded like a lawn chair on that sweet, effective move Violet did on surprise kisses. After several moments, Violet then pulls back and eyes Maya playfully.

“You talk too much, you know that.” She giggles at her charming, rugged, indigenous warrior. Violet holds the mistletoe in her hands as her green eyes look into Maya’s, and she has an idea how to make this interesting. “That is the most romantic thing you have done for me since...defending my honor~ and saying how much you love me.” Violet blushed a bit as she spoke the next words that lit up Maya’s face. And caused Maya to smile that goofy look. “I kind of always wanted to make out with someone under the mistletoe. Hehe~Hmm. And I did promise I would give you a more deserving kiss under the mistletoe without an audience. So--” Violet eyes Maya now playfully but secretly seductively. This shocked Maya, turning her cheeks rosy. Violet knew she got Maya’s heart racing. Violet moved to her quads as she got up from being on Maya’s chest.

As Violet hangs the mistletoe under the old lamp on the ceiling fan, Maya slowly rises to stand on her feet that felt like jello rather than anything. The two females look into each other’s eyes. Then very sweetly, Violet wiggles her eyebrows at Maya and calls her over to her with the wave of her finger. Maya grins her silly grin at Violet and stands before her, looking into her bright green eyes. Their heads were coming closer together when suddenly, a singing voice sounded behind Violet’s closed door. Violet looked at Maya and held a finger to Maya’s lips, “Hold that thought. Don’t move. I’m going to get rid of him,” Violet said in a somewhat irritated voice at Louis ruining a perfect romantic moment. Maya watches as Violet turns, and she couldn’t help but snicker at her girlfriend’s frustrations.

“Last Christmas Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

But the very next day, you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears

I’ll give it to someone spec--” Louis stopped singing as the door suddenly opened up, as Violet had an angry expression on her face. “Uh..Hi, Vi.”

“Do you have to sing? Kind of having a romantic moment here.” Violet spoke in her annoyed voice to Louis.

“Just want to say goodnight and hope you had a good Christmas,” Louis said, innocently looking at her.

“Thanks,” Violet said, confused by this. “But can you do it normally and not in an annoying way? And it couldn’t have waited until...I don’t know the morning.” Violet looks at him with annoyance in her eyes.

“But it is fun to piss you off.” Louis chuckles.

Violet snorted as she rolled her eyes. “Gah. Goodnight, Lou.” She closes the door and turns to look at Maya. Violet goes over to her girlfriend. Trying to restart the romantic energy before Louis ruined it. But before their lips met. Violet hears Louis’s singing voice again.

“We wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new yea—” Violet throws something at her door to get Louis to shut up. Maya laughs at that. And without any more interruptions. She pulls Violet into her embrace, where they finally have a romantic Christmas make-out.

Clementine stands outside her dorm, eyeing Louis as she shakes her head at her boyfriend. “You know that is one way to get on Violet’s bad side.”

“Yeah, I know, but messing with her is so much fun. Especially now, she is all twitterpated with Maya. You see how much they both were glowing during the mistletoe kiss? ” Louis walks down the hall, leaving his best friend with her new girlfriend to do whatever they do.

“Yes, I saw. It’s good she has someone who can make her smile.” Clementine softly responds as she takes a peek down the hallway at Violet’s dorm room.

Louis looks at Clementine as he asks her a more serious question now. “So, did this day meet your expectations of a good Christmas?”

Clementine looks at Louis and smiles. As she quietly whispers. “Almost.” Louis’s face squints in confusion. And before he asks about the almost. Clemintine points to the mistletoe above the door. Louis follows her finger and looks up at the small flower hanging above his head. Soon his face went red, and his pupils dilated a bit. Clementine tugged on his coat collar without any hesitation, and the two of them kissed under the mistletoe for the first time. She pulls back softly, looking at Louis, all starry-eyed. “Merry Christmas, Louis.” He smiles, and a giddy chuckle came out of his lips just then, on that romantic gesture he didn’t see coming. He soon takes his hand and interlocks it with Clementine’s as they turn in for the night. The kids at Ericson enjoy Christmas for the first time since the start of the zombie apocalypse.