The Buckingham household is crazy which really isn't necessary because Sara and Nick have their own house. Joshua got an apartment in the heart of Los Angeles because his band did end up taking the RCA deal and signed a backing partner called Asylum.

However, Mason and Emmeline still live with us. Mason is freaking out because some girl named Violet is moving out here and started to work at UCLA and he's going to UCLA for Engineering. How my child got the urge to be an engineer, I will never know. But it's something that he's wanted to do since middle school. Building things and making things work.

Christmas is around the corner and I've been sneaking my wife's Christmas gift around between Karen and Ray. Somehow, my wife's Assitant and mine are sleeping together. The gift is from Stevie's mother. She's spending Christmas with Jess' sister. It's the same Christmas gift she got her a few years ago. A Yorkie. I told her we didn't need more than one dog and Sulamith was more than fine with being the only animal because she gets all of Emmeline's attention. She even sleeps with the small animal. But, Barbara said she didn't know what else to get someone who has everything and her daughter always had a soft spot for dogs.

"Daddy, what can I get momma for Christmas?" Sweet little Emmeline asks crawling onto the couch next to me.

"Dove, you don't have to give your momma anything. The best gift you ever gave her was being born." I sigh as she cuddles into me.

"I know daddy, but everyone else got her something." Emmeline pouts.

"How about this. Why don't you make her something for Christmas." I say running my fingers through her brownie blonde hair.

"I could write her a story." She sits up.

"You could, I didn't know you liked writing," I state.

"Mhm, we do it at school a lot. Do you have any paper daddy?" She looks at me.

"I can go get you some." I smile standing up and going to my office.

I return with a notepad and some pencils and she eagerly takes them from my hands and perches herself at the mahogany coffee table. I sink back in the red suede couch and observe my child. The way she holds her pen is just like how Stevie holds her pen and the way she's sitting on the floor is how Stevie sits up against the coffee table. Their mannerisms are so similar it's almost scary. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that I was not in the child's DNA at all, however, her temper proves me wrong. My attitude definitely was handed down to her in the gene pool.

But then again, that might just because Stevie and I are both extremely dramatic so it makes sense that our combined genes make our children just as dramatic if not more than we are.

"Lindsey! Are my Christmas decorations all in from the garage?" I hear Stevie yell from the entryway. She had a hair appointment and I was given specific instructions to have them in our house by the time she got back.

"I have them all in the kitchen," I yell back.

Emmeline and I hear her feet slowly pad to the living room. Emmeline's eyes go wide and she snaps the notebook shut. She sprints out of the living room and runs right smack into her mother.

"Hey, hey, hey...Why were you running? Is there a fire?" Stevie scolds squatting down to Emmeline's level. She's done that with all of our kids when she scolds them as infrequent as that is, she goes to their level and looks them in the eye. I, on the other hand, stand at my full height and yell. Because it's the "Dad" thing to do.

"No mommy, I'm sorry. I have to go put something in my room." Emmeline shakes her head.

"Emmeline, you know better." Stevie looks at her.

"I know momma, I won't do it again. I promise." She pouts, her lip wobbling, and tears welling up in her eyes.

"Alright, hey...Behave, I love you." Stevie says lightly patting her bottom and shooing her away.

"What has her so excited?" Stevie asks crawling onto the couch with me and laying her head on my shoulder.

"She's excited for Christmas," I state rubbing her shoulder.

Emmeline comes back down a few minutes later and crawls onto Stevie's lap.

"How was school today Dove?" Stevie asks playing with our daughter's hair. Hair that would be identical to hers except she dies it straight blonde now and has for years.

"It was good. My throat hurts though." Emmeline says.

"What, why didn't' you tell me when I picked you up?" I ask looking at her

"You didn't ask." She shrugs.

"Dove, we shouldn't have to ask, you should just tell us if you aren't feeling good." Stevie sighs placing her lips on Emmeline's forehead.

"I'm sorry." She looks down like she's about to cry for the second time in twenty minutes.

"Oh no baby, Don't be sorry. Mommy's just worried about you and if you aren't feeling good Mommy wants to make you feel better. The good thing is you don't have a fever. I'm going to make you some tea, maybe it'll help you feel better. It always makes mommy feel better." Stevie says flipping into the what I call her "mother hen mode".

Sara, Nick, and Josh come for supper and to help decorate, but at three in the morning I wake up to cries of Daddy. I look to my right and see Stevie fast asleep. crawling out of bed, I go to Emmeline. She's sitting up in bed sobbing.

"Dove, what's the matter?" I ask crawling in with her.

"My throat really hurts and I don't feel good." She cries into my bare chest. Salty tears are cold against my skin. She also starts rubbing her feet against my flannel pajama bottoms. It's a habit of hers, when she feels safe and comfortable she crickets her feet against the fabric.

"Oh sweetheart, you're warm," I say placing my hand onto her head.

"What does that mean?" She asks.

"You're sick sweetheart. Come on, do you want to sleep with mommy and daddy?" I question.

She just nods and nuzzles her head into my neck.

"Alright, first medicine," I say picking her up in my arms and carrying her to the spare bathroom where we keep the children's medicine.

I bring everything into the bedroom and turn my bedside lamp on. Stevie stiffens and rolls over.

"Where are the damn directions?" I ask turning the bottle around in my hand.

"What are you giving her?" Stevie asks taking Emmeline into her arms.

"Fever reducer. She's burning up." I state.

"15 millimeters. Oh, she definitely has a fever." Stevie closes her eyes and places her hand on her head.

"Momma, do I have to go to school tomorrow?" Emmeline looks up at her mother while I pour the liquid medicine.

"No, but Momma and daddy are taking you to the doctor," Stevie says firmly.

"No, just momma. I have to go to San Francisco. I'll be back Saturday though." I explain as Emmeline slowly drinks the medicine.

My poor baby has strep throat. I can handle Strep, I've had four children it's common. What worry's me is that the doctors said that her tonsils are abnormally swollen and we have to watch them because they may need to be removed.

As we're walking into the house my prescription in her hand, I know she's feeling slightly better because she's quickly making her way upstairs. I chuckle and walk into the kitchen where Violet and Mason are sitting at the table drinking tea.

"I hope I'm not interrupting," I say placing my groceries and purse down on the island.

"Oh no, I just moved here. I took the UCLA job. Mason was showing me around town. I can leave if..." She starts but I stop her.

"No, no. Stay for dinner. I'm making tortellini soup." I say getting a cutting board out to cut up the baby spinach.

"I don't want to impose and I still have to get a motel, my apartment doesn't open up until Monday." Violet shakes her head.

"Violet, I wasn't asking...I was telling and you ARE staying until Monday. I have a perfectly good guestroom." I give a pointed look.

"Thank you, Mrs. Buckingham." Violet sighs.

"Stevie, Violet...call me Stevie. Mason, go get her luggage." I demand still chopping my spinach.

"Yes, mother." Mason sighs standing up.

"I really appreciate it, Stevie," Violet says.

"It's nothing dear, honestly." I chuckle as Emmeline comes running into the kitchen.

"Emmeline, you must be feeling better because YOU ARE RUNNING IN THE HOUSE," I say firmly.

"My throat still hurts but I am okay. I'm sorry momma." Emmaline pouts crawling up onto the barstool.

"Emmeline, you know better," I state.

"I know, I'm just excited. What's your favorite animal?" Emmeline asks me.

"Well, I like Dove's and Dogs," I explain.

"You call me Dove!" Emmeline cheers.

"You're right Dove, I do. Emmeline, this is Violet. She is Mason's friend." I explain.

"Hi." Emmeline smiles.

"Well hello, Emmeline. You look just like your mommy." Violet smiles back.

"Thank you! Momma, I want to go watch a movie, can I?" Emmeline questions.

"Sure. Have Mason help you when he comes back in." I state moving to shed some carrots.

"Wow, Stevie she really has some great manners," Violet says when Mason leads her out into the living room.

"Lindsey and I have raised four children and with all of them we enforced please and thank you but something clicked in Emmeline that we don't understand. She got it right away. I still have to remind Joshua my youngest son who just turned 19 that he still needs to use his manners." I chuckle.

Violet goes to say something when the phone rings. I apologize before going to answer it.

"Buckingham Residence, this is Stephanie, how can I help you?"

"Hi Angel," It's Lindsey.

"Oh Hi, Linds. Did you get to San Francisco okay?" I question.

"I did. Jeff said Cory was coming into town on Monday to tour UCLA. I told them I'd take her on the tour. How's Emmy?" He says.

"Emmeline has strep throat. They gave her some antibacterial medicine, but we have to go see an ENT. Her tonsils I guess, are dangerously swollen. We have to keep an eye on them. Worst-case scenario, they have to come out. Anyway, why don't you just Bring Cory back with you tomorrow? We can put her in Sara's old room. I'm letting Mason's friend Violet stay in the guest room. Her apartment doesn't open up until Monday." I explain.

"I'll bring it up to Jeff and Christi. I gotta go, my meeting is starting soon. I love you." Lindsey says.

"I love you too," I say hanging up.

"Full house this weekend?" Violet questions.

"There's a possibility." I smile turning the heat on under my pot of soup.

"I didn't mean to listen in, but you sound a bit stressed out about the idea of Emmeline having surgery," Violet says.

"I am. Violet, I've done some crazy bad things. When I was younger, I did Cocaine and Alcohol and pot. Right after Mason was born, did it get worse. I detoxed from cocaine during my pregnancy and Lindsey doesn't know that I relapsed. I kept it pretty well hidden. During that time, I started two affairs. Joe Walsh and Don Henley. I ended up essentially moving in with Don while I was recording my first solo record. We got a call at like two in the morning but we were so drunk and in the middle of well...sex...when the phone rang. We didn't' answer it, a few hours later, I finally pressed the answering machine button. It was my best friend Robin. Lindsey had tried getting a hold of me and failed miserably, he gave up. Robin said she was the hospital with Sara and Lindsey because Sara needed an emergency appendectomy. By the time I got there the surgery was over but that feeling of is she okay kept nagging at me the whole flight back here. I wasn't even there for the operation. That was the time when I really decided to get off the cocaine for good. So I did and I broke off my affairs. Honestly, I don't think I would've even had the affairs had I not been high and we were the last ones at the party. But it did and still twenty years later, I'm getting the backlash from it. Mine and Lindsey's relationship hasn't been the same since in many different ways. But anyway, back to Emmeline...I'm terrified. She's my baby and I know that feeling will be tenfold if I have to sit through a surgery," I say tears falling, "I don't even know why I'm telling you this. You didn't need to know my baggage like that. Hell, you don't even really know me."

"No, I'm glad you told me. Sometimes talking through things is nice. It sounds like that's been bothering you for 20 years." Violet says placing her hand on mine.

***

The next morning I was walking towards the kitchen, my black silk nightgown and bathrobe trailing behind me when I stop hearing voices.

"Violet, you didn't have to make me coffee. I know you don't like it." Mason says.

"I wanted to." I can hear Violet's smile.

"Vi, I've been thinking about this for a while. Since I left Walter Reed actually. I know it's sudden and not ideal to ask when we're in my mom's kitchen wearing pajamas but would you like to take the relationship to the next level. Like, be my girlfriend ." Mason says.

I hold my hand over my mouth and slightly laugh. Mason has always been awkward around girls and the way he just said that proved it.

"I'd like that," Violet says as I silently cheer.

Maybe he won't still live with me until he's in his 40s. The phone rings and I hear Mason answer before continuing my trip into the kitchen.

"Good morning Stevie." Violet smiles and the girl is absolutely glowing.

"Morning dear. Is that coffee I smell?" I question.

"Yeah, I just brewed some." Violet points.

"You didn't have to do that," I repeat Mason's words.

"I wanted to." She smiles.

"Mom, phone," Mason says holding the receiver to me.

"This is Stephanie," I answer.

"Hi, Aunt Stevie."

"Cory dear how are you?" I ask.

"Great. Uncle Lindsey and I are leaving now we should be there around three unless we stop for lunch. But we'll be there for dinner." Cory explains.

"Great, what do you want for dinner?" I ask.

"Junk food." She states.

"You can have that for lunch. actual food for dinner please." I cross my arm over my chest.

"Please! My sisters' new dance teacher put her on a strict diet. I've only eaten Fish and salad for the past three months." Cory's pouting.

"Alright, we'll get pizza tonight but tomorrow I am making something homemade of your choosing." I sigh.

"Thank You! I love you!" Cory cheers.

"I love you too. Tell your uncle to drive safely now." I sigh hanging up the phone.

"Full house this weekend huh," Violet smirks.

"I love it though, I'm a nurturer or a feeder. Whatever you want to think of me as." I explain going to start making banana pancakes.

Moments later as if on cue as soon as the pancakes hit the plate, my sweet Emmeline climbs up onto her seat.

"How's your throat baby?" I question placing my hand on her forehead.

"It hurts but not as bad as yesterday," Emmeline says grabbing for a pancake.

"That's good. But first, here's your medicine." I stop her giving her the cup full of white chalky looking liquid.

"Momma it's yucky." She pouts.

"I know dear, but it's making you get better," I state kissing her head.

***

I was paying bills when the front door opens.

"Aunt Stevie." I hear.

I pause my math and walk into the hallway.

"Hi, Aunt Stevie." My seventeen-year-old Niece says wrapping her arms around me. She's taller than me by a lot but she still sinks down into my arms.

"Hi, baby," I say rubbing her back.

"Hey, Angel," Lindsey says kissing me.

"Daddy!" Emmeline cheers running into the room and leaping into Lindsey's arms.

"Hey, Dove!" He collects her in his arms.

"Alright, go get settled. I have to finish paying bills and then we can order pizza." I smile going into my kitchen.

Should I be eating this greasy round think, no. Am I, yes. As we're sitting around eating Cory tells us about how school is going and Violet tells us about herself.

Cory and I went shopping on Sunday and I honored her request for lasagna for dinner with a salad. Every Sunday, all of the kids come by for dinner and as we were eating and laughing, Mason clears his throat.

"So, as you all know, I did some time in Walter Reed. Violet, though wasn't my nurse she did a lot of my paperwork, and I became close friends with her. Recently, we decided that we were going to start a relationship." Mason explains.

"Ooh...baby brother is becoming a man." Sara squawks and I lightly smack her arm.

"What, he's twenty-five years old and I have never once seen him with a girlfriend." Sara starts.

"I will have you know, I became a man when I enlisted in the army." Mason gives his big sister a look.

"Stop it. Both of you. I'm happy for you." I say holding my wine glass up to them.

"Thanks, mom. At least someone cares about us." Mason smiles.

***

Christmas break came in a flash, Lindsey's family joining us this year. My mother got us another dog. The kids and I decided to name her Mana.

"Momma, this one is for you," Emmeline says coming in from upstairs it's in a little baggy and I gladly take the package from her.

"Thank you dove." I smile opening it.

"Oh, Emmeline. You wrote me a book can I read it?" I question taking her into my arms.

"Not in front of everybody." She pouts crossing her arms.

"Okay, I won't. I'll read it tonight before I go to bed." I smile kissing her cheek and squeezing her tightly.

Laying in bed reading it I'm stunned.

"Lindsey, she's a writer," I say taking my glasses off.

"What do you mean?" He questions.

"She's only eight and I may be biased because I'm her mother but this is really good," I explain handing it to him.

He reads it and smiles.

"Jesus Steph, she's you." He chuckles.

"What do you mean?" I question.

"She's a great writer like her mother, and she looks just like you. She is literally a carbon copy. She's a younger, smaller, package of you." Lindsey explains.

"Yeah, but she has your temper." I smile laying my head on his chest.

***

We're sitting in the waiting room while Emmeline is getting her tonsils out. Right after Christmas, her tonsils swelled up again and we took her straight to my ENT. It was simply too dangerous to let them go so here we are.

"Stephanie, sit down you're wearing a trench in the carpet." Lindsey scolds shutting his magazine.

"Lindsey, I'm freaking out. My baby has been in surgery for an hour and a half. now." I whine.

"How's our patient?" Sara asks coming out of the double doors.

"Which one. Em is still in surgery as far as we know, but your mother is a nervous wreck." Lindsey explains.

"Mom, Tonsilectomy's are a fairly simple procedure. I'm sure they're finishing up right now." Sara says.

"And besides, Sara's Appendectomy took four hours." Lindsey states.

"But I wasn't here for the waiting part. And when I got here Sara told me to go away." I cross my arms.

"Her heart also stopped but she's still here and I survived waiting. Emmeline is in good hands." Lindsey sighs.

"Her heart stopped! You kept that from me for 22 years." I scold quietly as he just shrugs.

"Emmeline Buckingham." The doctor announces.

We shoot up and go over to him.