Archive of Our Own

December, 2019.

Saying that Caitlyn was anxious was the understatement of the century; her body trembled so intensely that she truly believed that if she stood up from that chair, she would probably faceplant straight onto the floor. Her legs felt weak as they bounced repeatedly, another nervous habit, as she waited for some kind of reaction.

But Cassandra remained completely silent, staring intently at the family portrait hanging above the fireplace, behind the chair Caitlyn was sitting in, as if she were far too lost in her own thoughts—probably trying to process the information.

Caitlyn couldn’t judge her mother, even though she still hoped for a slightly quicker reaction. Ever since she had found out, less than twenty-four hours ago, she herself had been trying to understand what had happened.

Being pregnant wasn’t something expected—barely even considered—when you were in a relationship like hers with Vi, but it had happened. Miraculously, technologically, pick the word you like best, but the truth was that it had happened, and Caitlyn was still trying to process it.

Just like Cassandra seemed to be. Just like Tobias was. Just like Jayce—who, despite being responsible for creating the device, was also surprised that it had actually worked, when the chances had been minimal.

It felt like some kind of magical miracle, really, and considering they were incredibly close to Christmas, it seemed almost ironic, like she’d received a gift. One she had dreamed of having, of course, but not at that moment.

Not when everything around her and Vi felt so… chaotic and messy. Not when so many things were happening at once: college, side projects, the new life her girlfriend was building.

Caitlyn was far more terrified of how this news would affect Vi’s life than of Cassandra’s reaction, which, after several minutes, was still silence.

Alright, this was torture. She needed to say something, or she was going to explode from anxiety.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?” Caitlyn asked, her voice low, almost fragile. It trembled just as much as the rest of her body.

Only then did Cassandra turn her gaze toward her daughter, and for the first time in all of Caitlyn’s nineteen years, she saw her mother’s eyes fill with tears, slightly red around the edges.

It made Caitlyn swallow hard, her own eyes stinging as tears gathered once more.

This was probably the tenth time she had cried since finding out about the pregnancy. The tears streamed down her cheeks for different reasons, growing heavier as her desperation and fear of what might happen built inside her.

All she could think was that she couldn’t destroy Vi’s life, that this couldn’t ruin the real chance her girlfriend had to change her life and achieve everything she’d been dreaming of for years.

“I don’t know what to say, Caitlyn,” Cassandra finally spoke, taking a deep breath and standing up from the couch, only to sit down in the armchair beside her daughter. “This is news I never imagined you’d give me—so suddenly.”

“Are you mad at me?” Caitlyn asked, breathing deeply as the first tears began to slide down her cheeks.

“No, sweetheart, of course not.” Her mother replied quickly, leaning forward slightly and taking Caitlyn’s hands in her own. “I’m worried, actually. Did Jayce say anything about how this might affect your health? We need to talk to your father, run some tests, make sure that you, above all, are safe and healthy. Hextech is still such an early technology; I can’t believe Jayce listened to you and put you at risk like this. I need to have a serious conversation with him and—”

“Mom, Jayce did exactly what I asked him to do.” Caitlyn cut her off, unwilling to let her best friend take the blame for creating the Hexstrap when the idea had been entirely hers, meant as a gift for her and Vi to use together.

Cassandra closed her eyes for a brief moment, long enough to take a deep breath and shake her head, before settling into a more protective posture.

Caitlyn knew her mother well enough to recognize that the look in her eyes was far more than simple emotion. Cassandra seemed genuinely frightened and worried, after all, it wasn’t every day you discovered that a highly advanced technological device could result in a pregnancy.

“Even so, we need to talk to Jayce. I want him to explain exactly how this… was built, so we can prepare for every possible scenario,” the older woman insisted, and Caitlyn simply nodded. “Have you talked to Violet yet?”

Just hearing her girlfriend’s name was enough to make Caitlyn’s heart start racing again, after a brief moment of calm upon realizing that Cassandra wasn’t angry or disappointed with her. Suddenly, breathing became more difficult, and Caitlyn had to take several deep breaths, trying to steady the tremor in her body.

Her mother noticed, of course, because in the very next moment Cassandra sat on the edge of Caitlyn’s armchair and wrapped her daughter in a protective embrace.

“Oh, dear, everything will be okay,” she heard Cassandra murmur, as she felt her mother’s familiar touch in her hair, fingers sliding gently from the roots to the ends.

“I’m scared,” Caitlyn confessed in the same low voice, wrapping her arms around her mother’s waist and leaning closer, soaking in the comfort and safety only her mother’s embrace could offer. “I don’t want Vi to give up her life because of a baby that came at the wrong time. You know how she is, and I’d never forgive myself if—”

“Caity, you’re overthinking, like you always do,” her mother interrupted gently, kissing the top of her head before pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. “We’ll deal with one thing at a time, okay? First you talk to Vi, and then you both think about how this will affect your lives.” She made a point of emphasizing it.

“I’ll talk to her in person, when she comes back for the end-of-year break,” Caitlyn sighed, resting her head against Cassandra’s shoulder again, not wanting to let go of that embrace just yet. “I don’t think this is something we should talk about over text.”

“Yes, you’re right,” Cassandra agreed, shifting in the chair so she could hold Caitlyn more securely. “But no matter what happens, I’ll be by your side. Everything will be okay, Caity.”

Caitlyn nodded once more, feeling her mother’s reassurance ease some of the weight on her shoulders, calming her heart just a little.

She was going to be a mother… she already was the mother of a baby so small it didn’t even show in her belly yet—and still, all she needed right now was the comfort of her own mother.

***

Caitlyn felt like her head was about to explode from nervousness as she paced back and forth, tapping the folded sheet of paper against her hands, far too restless to stay still.

Her mind raced through thousands of different scenarios, and in every single one of them, things only seemed to get worse, never truly working out between the two of them. She thought maybe Vi would hate the news—which felt completely impossible, really, but her anxious mind created that version just to torment her—or maybe Vi would love the news so much that she would give up absolutely everything to stay by her side, which, if she was being completely honest with herself, felt even worse than the first option.

Caitlyn had worked incredibly hard over the years of their relationship to help Vi internalize the idea that she was just as important as all the people she took care of every single day, and even more so. Vi should be her own priority; putting her own life and dreams above everything else was far more important than giving them up for others, even when those people were her family.

She and Vander had spent weeks convincing Vi to go to university, when all her girlfriend wanted was to get a quick job and help pay for Powder’s medical expenses, which were, in truth, incredibly expensive.

Caitlyn had even offered to help once, but Vi, with all her pride, had refused immediately, so bluntly that Caitlyn thought it best to never bring the topic up again.

In fact, the entire subject of money and help was delicate, and that was why Caitlyn was so nervous in that moment, almost sweating despite the freezing weather outside.

She felt nearly suffocated by the red Christmas sweater she was wearing—a gift from Vi, who wanted to include her in the small tradition her family had—tugging at the collar for a moment, as if that would allow her to take a deep breath.

“Cait, you’re scaring me.”

Vi’s voice pulled her out of her spiraling thoughts and internal chaos, enough for her to finally look at the girl sitting on the bed.

Caitlyn stared at her for a long moment, wondering how it was possible to love someone the way she loved Vi. And even though she was absolutely terrified and overwhelmed by everything that was happening, the idea that they loved each other enough to create another human being together had begun to settle inside her, making her cling more and more to the thought of becoming a mother.

Vi looked absolutely beautiful in her own red sweater, ridiculously matching Caitlyn’s. Her hair was a little longer now, pulled into a side braid Powder had done just moments earlier. Her grayish eyes—eyes Caitlyn was utterly in love with, and which, for a fleeting moment, she found herself hoping the baby would inherit—watched her with a nervous, uncertain expression, as if she didn’t know what to expect next.

“You know you’re beautiful, right?” Caitlyn heard herself say, making Vi let out a nearly desperate, nervous laugh.

“You dragged me into my room just to tell me I’m beautiful? You could’ve done that without almost giving me a heart attack, cupcake.” Vi stood up from the bed, wrapping her arms around Caitlyn’s waist and pulling her closer. “What’s going on with you, Cait?” she whispered, her lips close to hers.

Caitlyn smiled faintly, melting into her girlfriend’s embrace as she looped her arms around Vi’s neck, hiding her face there. She took a deep breath, breathing in her familiar scent, amazed at how her heart seemed to calm almost instantly.

Just being close to her girlfriend—feeling Vi’s warm hands on her body, her steady breathing against the exposed skin of her neck—was enough to make Caitlyn’s entire body relax, her mind finally quieting down, almost completely silent.

“I need to tell you something,” Caitlyn began, loosening her hold just enough to guide Vi back to the bed, sitting beside her. “But before that, I need you to promise me something. No matter what happens, you won’t change your life for me. You won’t drop out of college, you won’t give up your scholarship. You need to be your own priority, at least until you graduate.”

Vi raised an eyebrow, now even more confused, looking at Caitlyn as if she were trying to solve an incredibly difficult puzzle.

“You’re scaring me. What happened, Caitlyn?”

“I need you to promise me before I tell you what’s going on.”

“You’re not sick, are you?!” Vi asked, sounding more desperate now, cupping Caitlyn’s face in her hands and examining her closely. “That’s not it, right?”

“Stop it—I’m not sick,” Caitlyn let out a low laugh, lifting her right hand to rest it against Vi’s face. “It’s nothing like that, don’t worry. But I won’t tell you until you promise.”

“Okay. Fine. I promise, whatever this is supposed to mean.”

Caitlyn needed another moment to breathe deeply, gathering the very small amount of courage she had left, repeating an internal mantra that everything would be okay over and over again, just to calm her racing heart a little more.

“Okay… we need to talk about the Hexstrap…”

“You’re doing all this build-up over a strap-on, Caitlyn?!” Vi interrupted, exclaiming so loudly that Caitlyn feared someone might overhear.

Which wasn’t unlikely, considering Vi’s family was incredibly lively during parties—and even from the second floor, with the bedroom door closed, Caitlyn could still hear loud conversations and music coming from downstairs.

Still, you never knew. Powder wasn’t exactly familiar with the concept of privacy, so there was always a chance she was lurking near the door, trying to eavesdrop on their conversation.

“Can you please let me talk?!” Caitlyn shot back, more nervous than before, letting go of Vi’s hand only to clutch the cupcake pendant on her bracelet.

Vi raised her hands in surrender before nodding for Caitlyn to continue.

“Three days ago, Jayce told me that the Hexstrap can result in a pregnancy. He said the chances are less than one percent, but considering how many times we’ve used it… I think we pushed the odds.” Caitlyn said everything in one breath.

“Okay… I can buy condoms for us to use with it. I still don’t see what the big deal is here.” Vi raised her eyebrows, then her face lit up for a moment. “Oh… this is all because you don’t want to use it anymore and think I’m going to be upset? Because if that’s it, I really don’t mind—”

“Vi, it’s not that. For God’s sake.” Caitlyn shook her head, handing her the paper she’d been carrying since the moment she walked into Vander’s house that Christmas Eve. “Just… read this.”

If Vi had seemed like she finally understood before, now she looked completely confused and suspicious again. Without much hesitation, Vi took the paper from Caitlyn’s hands and unfolded it, reading carefully.

As Vi’s eyes scanned the words on the page, Caitlyn grew more anxious by the second, her heart pounding so loudly she felt like she might have a heart attack at any moment.

Involuntarily, her left hand moved to her nonexistent belly, while her mind formed the thought that the amount of stress she’d been under these past few days couldn’t possibly be good for the baby—who definitely needed a much more peaceful environment to grow.

Caitlyn’s body must’ve felt like a war zone for it, with her heart racing and her muscles trembling from the constant anxiety she’d been living with.

“Caitlyn…” Vi began slowly, still staring at the test as if trying to fully absorb all the information. “Is this yours? When did—”

“My dad ordered the test the day after you left. Remember how sick I felt the morning after your birthday?” Caitlyn asked softly. Vi slowly lifted her head and nodded. “So, he got worried too, and we started running some tests and…”

Caitlyn stopped mid-sentence when Vi suddenly stood up. With her hands on her hips, she began pacing back and forth across the bedroom, moving in much the same way Caitlyn herself had earlier that day.

Vi muttered to herself, speaking so quietly that, despite how close she was, Caitlyn couldn’t make out a single word, and that only made her more nervous, terrified of what might come next.

But it was too late to turn back now. And it became undeniably final when Vi stopped pacing and turned to face her. Her grayish eyes were hazy—darker, yet somehow brighter—as the shadow of a smile began to form on her lips.

“Cait… are you pregnant?!”

Caitlyn simply nodded.

“And this baby is mine too?!”

“Of course it is!” Caitlyn replied, her voice louder now, more nervous, offended by the question.

But Vi didn’t seem affected at all. Her smile only grew, and before Caitlyn could process what was happening, Vi dropped to her knees in front of her, eyes filled with tears.

There was a huge smile on her face as she held Caitlyn’s cheeks with care and tenderness, as if she were fragile, like she might break at any moment.

“We’re going to have a baby?”

“Yes…”

“You and me. The two of us. You’re expecting our baby?”

“Changing the questions won’t change the answers, Violet.”

Vi let out a joyful laugh before pulling Caitlyn’s face closer and kissing her for a long, lingering moment, pouring all of her love into that kiss.

When Vi finally pulled away, she didn’t move far—foreheads touching, noses brushing, lips still just inches apart. Caitlyn could see the beautiful smile on her girlfriend’s lips as she looked at her with so much love that Caitlyn nearly forgot how to breathe.

“This is the best Christmas present you could have given me,” Vi murmured softly before kissing her again.

All that anxiety—the nervousness that had made her physically ill over the past few days—seemed to evaporate completely. As she kissed her girlfriend, feeling Vi’s mother gently rest a hand over her still-flat belly, Caitlyn breathed easily, certain that she and Vi would make it work, for that baby.

That Christmas night, Vi didn’t leave Caitlyn’s side for even a second. They agreed to keep the news to themselves for a while, mostly because Vi wanted to talk to Vander alone before telling Powder about the pregnancy.

There was a lot to explain to her father, and in the middle of the celebration didn’t feel like the right moment, so they decided to wait.

But anyone in that living room could tell something was different, because the two of them seemed to exist inside their own little bubble, living a different kind of happiness.

Vi kept Caitlyn close—always holding her hand or her waist, getting her whatever she wanted to eat, and drawing soft, delighted laughs from her girlfriend, who insisted she could do everything on her own. Vi agreed, but still made a point of doing everything she could to keep Caitlyn comfortable, safe, and truly happy. 

***

December, 2020.

The past year had been, in truth, far more difficult and challenging than they had originally planned. There had been countless conversations about what they would do, how they would manage their schedules and new responsibilities. Caitlyn had been unwavering the entire time: their priority was Vi’s university, her girlfriend getting her degree came first.

At first, they tried to keep their studies separate, with Caitlyn and Vi both returning to their universities as soon as winter break ended. If the distance had been hard before, now it felt even more impossible.

Vi wanted constant updates on how Caitlyn was doing, texting and calling throughout the day just to reassure herself that her girlfriend and their baby were okay.

Caitlyn, for the most part, wasn’t doing well—spending most of her days deeply nauseous, unable to eat properly. She and Vi argued more than once when Violet insisted she needed to be closer to Caitlyn, to help her through those hardest moments.

“You promised me, Violet. You’re not dropping out of college because of this.” Caitlyn always ended the arguments by bringing that up, listening to the frustrated, defeated sigh of her girlfriend on the other end of the line.

She knew it was harder on Vi, and because of that, Caitlyn ended up stepping away from university herself a little before the start of her second semester, close to summer. After many long conversations with her parents, she concluded that her best option was to return to Piltover—because that put her just a few hours away from Vi, which meant they could see each other more often, especially on weekends.

Vi, obviously, didn’t like knowing that her girlfriend had left university, but understanding that arguing with a pregnant Caitlyn—who had very strong opinions and very little patience—was pointless, she eventually let the subject drop.

Caitlyn traveled often, especially on weekends, to visit Vi when things were too chaotic and Vi couldn’t make it to Piltover herself. It was complicated, exhausting—especially as the pregnancy progressed—but they were making the best of what they had.

Vi constantly shared her frustration about not being able to be more present during the pregnancy, and in August, when Caitlyn began showing the first signs that Lavender’s birth was nearing, Vi truly spiraled.

She was probably far more anxious about their daughter’s arrival than Caitlyn, who frequently found herself torn between calming her mother or her girlfriend, a situation that endlessly amused her.

After Lavender arrived, Vi found it even harder to stay away from Piltover, with Vander needing to step in and remind her that if she dropped out now, it would be incredibly difficult to return and provide a comfortable life for her daughter.

Vi was completely in love with Lavender, and Caitlyn took every opportunity to video call her girlfriend so she could see their daughter.

When winter break finally arrived, the two of them felt truly relieved for the first time since Vi had moved back to her new city in September, knowing that, finally and deservedly, they would have a few quieter days to enjoy together as a family.

For Caitlyn, having her girlfriend there was a genuine relief. She missed Vi every single moment, and postpartum life had been more difficult than it needed to be while dealing with the constant distance from the only person she wanted close.

Of course, Caitlyn wasn’t alone. Her mother was constantly by her side—walking with her, staying with Lavender for a few hours during the day so Caitlyn could sleep, helping with baths, diaper changes, or anything else that didn’t require Caitlyn’s constant presence—doing everything she could to ease her daughter’s burden.

Learning how to be a mother was a complicated task, but everything became much easier when Vi returned to Piltover, running straight to the Kiramman house, eager to finally be with the two most important girls in her life.

With Vi there, Caitlyn managed to sleep a little more at night, knowing her girlfriend was close by to help her handle anything that might come up. And Violet was more than ready to do whatever was needed.

While Caitlyn breastfed Lavender, Vi sat beside her reading some random book out loud, offering her water or grabbing whatever her girlfriend felt like eating, sparing her any extra effort.

That year’s Christmas was… smaller. Caitlyn and Vi decided to spend Christmas Eve together in Caitlyn’s bedroom, with Lavender, and on the 25th they would have lunch with both their families, a long-anticipated gathering at the Kiramman house.

Vi was lying on the bed with Lavender resting on her chest. The baby was on her tummy, tiny hands gripping her mother’s fingers as she babbled softly.

“Cait, I think Lavender is going to learn how to talk before any other kid,” Vi commented as soon as her girlfriend climbed onto the bed, moving closer to the two of them.

Without a second thought, Vi opened her right arm, stretching it across the mattress so Caitlyn could rest her head on her shoulder, which she immediately did. Once her girlfriend was settled, Vi slipped her hand beneath the hem of Caitlyn’s pajama shirt, gently stroking her bare back.

Caitlyn broke into a wide smile, savoring the feel of Vi’s fingers as she used her free hand to softly touch Lavender’s clearly exhausted little face.

“I think so too. She really seems like one of those genius babies.”

“Right?! How many four-month-olds do you know who already say ‘mama’ to us?!”

“Well… none,” Caitlyn let out a quiet laugh, amused by her girlfriend’s excitement. “She’s amazing, isn’t she?”

“Yes. She reminds me so much of you,” Vi agreed immediately, hugging Caitlyn a little tighter before placing a kiss on both her girlfriend’s forehead and their daughter’s, who let out a small yawn, making them both smile.

They fell into a comfortable silence as Vi’s body rocked gently, lulling the baby to sleep—and Caitlyn as well, who yawned too, feeling completely at peace in the arms of the love of her life, watching their daughter slowly drift off.

That life—this specific moment—felt like the fulfillment of all of Caitlyn’s dreams. She didn’t mind giving anything up, as long as, at the end of the day, she was like this: sharing a bed and a life filled with comfort beside Violet and their daughter. 

***

December, 2021.

That year’s Christmas was… chaotic.

The chaos was so overwhelming that Caitlyn found herself wishing that last year’s Christmas could repeat itself, that she could spend the day tucked away in the comfort of her bed, in her girlfriend’s arms, sleeping alongside their daughter.

But unlike the year before, Lavender seemed far more aware of what Christmas was—and it was driving her mothers completely insane, chasing after a baby who crawled freely around the house, always heading toward the one place she absolutely wasn’t allowed to go: the Christmas tree.

The Kirammans were known for their grand decorations. Tobias loved the occasion, and Cassandra enjoyed pleasing her husband, which meant the house was always lavishly decorated for the holidays.

With Lavender’s arrival, Cassandra had put even more effort into the decorations, and since this was her granddaughter’s first official Christmas—considering the previous one had been entirely slept through—Caitlyn should have expected her mother to go a bit overboard.

The only problem was that Lavender was completely fascinated by the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree, and if she was left unattended for more than two seconds, she would inevitably be found at the base of the tree, trying to pull on the glowing wires decorating it.

Vi was constantly running back and forth, chasing after the little escape artist. For such a small child—only one year and four months old—Lavender had an incredible ability to get around, at an almost enviable speed.

“Why won’t she just stay still in my lap?!” Vi whined for the tenth time that night, scooping the baby away from the tree once again.

“Because she apparently thinks she’s old enough to stay on the floor by herself,” Caitlyn let out a long, tired sigh as she sat down beside her girlfriend on the living room floor. “Hey, bunnie, how about trading the tree for your monkey?!”

It was yet another attempt to redirect the baby’s attention away from whatever she wasn’t supposed to be playing with. Lavender was at that age where, despite having plenty of toys—and she truly had many—she always wanted whatever she wasn’t allowed to have: a remote control, a phone, or the damn Christmas tree Caitlyn was seriously considering removing from the room, even without her mother’s permission.

Lavender, however, turned her attention to her mother and the stuffed monkey in her hands. Pushing herself up with her chubby little hands, the baby stood up from the floor and remained still for a moment, as if she were trying to figure out a new sense of balance.

Caitlyn and Vi exchanged a look, eyebrows lifting, careful not to make any sudden movements that might disrupt Lavender’s intense concentration.

The baby took a step forward and stopped, swaying back and forth before managing to steady herself again. Immediately, Vi stood up, keeping her hands close to Lavender’s sides, ready to catch her if she truly lost her balance.

Caitlyn felt her eyes sting as a broad smile spread across her face. She knelt down, focusing all of her attention on her daughter, who was still discovering these brand-new concepts.

“Hey, Lavie, come to Mama,” she coaxed gently, her voice soft and low, making the little girl break into a wide smile that revealed her four tiny teeth.

“Mama!” Lavie exclaimed, taking another step forward, then another—and then, finally, picking up speed as she toddled straight into Caitlyn’s open arms, who welcomed her with a joyful laugh.

She hugged her daughter close, standing up from the floor and moving toward Vi, who wore the very same smile across her face. Her grayish eyes—the same color as Lavender’s—shone with pride as she opened her arms toward the baby, who immediately leaned forward, reaching for her other mother.

“You’re my smart, amazing girl!” Vi exclaimed, covering the toddler’s rosy, chubby cheeks with kisses, making her laugh happily at the affectionate attack.

“I can’t believe she just walked!” Caitlyn cupped her daughter’s cheeks and pressed a long kiss to them. “Our baby is growing up, Vi.”

***

December, 2022.

That was the first Christmas they would spend in their small rented apartment; when Vi returned to Piltover after graduating college in the summer of that year, they decided it was time to move in together.

Vi had landed a job at Jayce’s company, which was growing at a rapid pace, eager to help him with some of the social projects where Hextech would be applied.

It was her first real job, and Caitlyn couldn’t have been happier to witness every one of her girlfriend’s accomplishments. Looking back and thinking about how much she had endured so Vi could live this moment made everything worth it.

Especially moments like this one—when she was lying in their bed, in their bedroom, inside their home. The feeling that everything was finally in its rightful place allowed her to breathe easier, completely at peace.

It probably wasn’t much later than seven in the morning. It was cold, despite the heater being on, and Caitlyn could see the white snow that had gathered on their bedroom window. The absolute morning silence made her far too lazy to move, fully enjoying the warmth of her girlfriend’s arms around her.

Vi, like her, was awake as well, savoring the rare quiet. When you had a two-year-and-four-month-old child in the house, moments like those were truly rare, and cherished as such.

She could feel Vi’s hands moving along her back in a slow, steady caress. Her own fingers trailed along Vi’s arms before settling at her waist, pulling her closer.

“I really can’t believe we’re living a life like this,” Caitlyn murmured softly, unable to keep the thought to herself. “I was so afraid we’d never make it here.”

“I was too,” Vi replied in the same low tone, her hands never stopping. “I thought about giving up so many times. Being away from you both was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

“Well, now you’ll never have to be away from us again,” Caitlyn said, lifting her face just enough to meet her girlfriend’s beautiful gray eyes.

Vi was breathtaking at all times, but in the dim morning light, with her eyes slightly puffy and her cheeks flushed after hours of sleep, she was even more beautiful.

Caitlyn couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have a woman like her by her side.

“I really don’t plan on doing that,” Vi said, brushing her free hand over Caitlyn’s face, pulling her closer to hide her lips in hers in a quick good-morning kiss. “Actually, I’ve been thinking about us living together, and maybe it’s time to us—”

She was interrupted when the bedroom door was thrown open with a loud bang and a small purple whirlwind jumped onto the bed, landing right between them.

“Good morning, Lavie,” Caitlyn laughed at her daughter’s obvious excitement as she settled on Vi’s stomach before throwing herself forward to hug both of them.

“Santa already came!” Lavender exclaimed excitedly, her face still buried between her mothers.

Caitlyn and Vi exchanged an amused look.

“We have to go. Now,” Lavie added, lifting her head and staring at them with her big, pleading eyes.

“Did you brush your teeth yet?” Vi asked, and Lavender only shook her head quickly. “Then you need to brush them, or Santa will know you didn’t do what you were supposed to and will come back to take your presents away.”

Lavender’s eyes widened in alarm before she stood up again, grabbing Vi by the hand to pull her along.

“Then come help me, mommy. Please, please, please,” Lavender begged until Vi finally got out of bed.

She scooped the little girl up in one swift motion, tossing her gently into the air before slinging her over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes, making her burst into laughter.

“Come on, muffin. Let’s brush those teeth before opening the presents.”

“Open the presents, open the presents!” Lavender kept chanting, even as Vi started moving toward the door.

Caitlyn laughed once more, realizing her peaceful, quiet morning had been short-lived—but even so, she wouldn’t trade that chaos and Lavender’s loud laughter, still echoing through the apartment, for anything in the world. 

***

December, 2023.

“No, Mommy, not that one.” Lavender took an ornament from Vi’s hand, placing it back on the floor before starting to search for other decorations amid the mess the floor had become.

Caitlyn was sitting right in the middle of the chaos, after carefully sorting the ornaments by color, only for Lavender to mix everything up again while searching for the perfect decorations for the Christmas tree the three of them were putting together.

Since the year before, they had been trying to establish this tradition of decorating the Christmas tree as a family. Caitlyn had grown up in a household where that job belonged to a specialized decorating team, so she was loving every second of the experience.

Vi, on the other hand, had grown up decorating the house with her dad and her sister. When they moved into their apartment together, she wanted to start that tradition with Caitlyn and Lavender—and that was how their first little Christmas tradition was born.

Unlike the previous year, when Lavender had been too young to really have opinions, this year the little girl already had a more defined personality, complete with strong preferences and arguments neither of her mothers even tried to challenge.

“Then pick the one you like best, boss,” Vi joked, exchanging an amused look with Caitlyn, who let out a soft laugh at the way Lavender lit up at being called boss.

She truly was the one in charge of that house—and of that family as a whole. Lavender had everyone wrapped around her tiny fingers, ready to do exactly what she wanted, exactly how she wanted it.

Caitlyn often found herself surprised that Lavender wasn’t the most spoiled child in all of Runeterra, even though she knew her daughter was probably in the top three of that competition.

“This one, Mommy. This is the right one,” Lavender said after a few minutes of careful analysis, pulling out the decoration she liked best.

And so, she, Vi, and Caitlyn kept working on the decorations as Christmas music filled the small apartment, blending with Lavender’s delighted laughter as she enjoyed every moment of it.

When the decorating was finally finished and only the star remained, Vi lifted Lavie onto her shoulders, and the three of them, together, placed the final ornament atop the tree.

Vi stepped back, keeping Lavender perched on her shoulders, while Caitlyn switched on the colorful string lights, illuminating the entire Christmas tree—and Lavender’s face as well, her eyes shining with wonder at what they had created.

“It’s beautiful!” Lavender said as Vi set her back down on the floor. The little girl continued admiring their work, walking back and forth with careful eyes, probably checking whether everything was exactly as it should be.

“Do you remember when she was a baby and couldn’t see Christmas lights?” Vi asked, slipping an arm around Caitlyn’s shoulders and pulling her closer.

“It feels like a lifetime ago,” Caitlyn replied with a soft smile, resting her head against her girlfriend’s shoulder. “Can you believe how fast she’s growing?”

“We sound like two old ladies, complaining about how fast our daughter is growing up,” Vi chuckled, and Caitlyn shrugged, not really caring.

“I like to think I’m growing old next to you,” she said, just a moment before feeling Vi’s lips press to the top of her head and her arm pull her in closer.

“I like that too, cupcake. I really do.”

***

December, 2024.

“Mommy?” Lavender called out, turning her little body to look at her moms, who were sitting on the couch.

The little girl was lying on the floor, with several sheets of paper and colored markers spread around her, writing letters to Santa Claus and drawing pictures she planned to give to her family as Christmas presents.

Caitlyn and Vi shared the couch in the living room. Caitlyn’s long legs rested across Vi’s lap, while Vi gently massaged her girlfriend’s feet, making her sigh in relief as they watched some random Christmas movie.

It was just another ordinary day in their routine. But that didn’t mean Caitlyn appreciated the normalcy of her life any less—so calm and peaceful that, more than once, she found herself wondering if it was all really real.

Caitlyn loved being able to share her life and her days with her girlfriend—who, that year, had finally been promoted to fiancée after a slightly chaotic proposal in which they had both had the same idea on the very same day—and to know, with complete certainty, that Violet would always be by her side, no matter what happened.

Of course, there were harder days. Sometimes they argued over silly things or more serious issues, but despite the rough moments, they chose each other every single day and worked to make it all work. They talked things through, made up, and fell asleep in each other’s arms every night.

In the mornings, they usually woke up to Lavender storming into the bedroom and crawling under the covers, looking for the comfort of her moms, who always welcomed her with open arms.

Family mornings were slower, lazier, with the three of them refusing to get out of bed until the alarm went off and forced Caitlyn to start rushing Vi and Lavender.

It was comfortable, sweet, and endlessly wonderful. Caitlyn was grateful every day that this was her life—having Violet by her side, having Lavender, and being able to experience the privilege of watching her daughter grow.

“Can I ask Santa for anything?” Lavie asked, tilting her head slightly, adding to her curious expression.

“Of course you can, muffin,” Vi replied immediately, smiling at the little girl. “Is there something special you want to ask him for?”

Caitlyn was already mentally noting whatever Lavender wanted so she could add it to the Christmas shopping list when her daughter nodded and said:

“I’d like to ask for a little sister.”

“You want what?” Caitlyn blurted out instantly, eyebrows lifting, while Vi burst into amused laughter.

For weeks, they had been talking about maybe having another baby. Vi hadn’t really been able to enjoy Lavender’s first years, living in another city and focusing on her studies.

She had missed so many of her daughter’s firsts—her first tooth, her first words. Caitlyn always tried to call Vi during important milestones so she could at least witness them from afar, but it was never quite the same.

That was why the subject kept coming up. Caitlyn was a little hesitant, remembering how awful her pregnancy had been—months and months of nausea, never really getting that “pregnancy glow” people talked about—but even she agreed that having another baby could be a good thing.

Not just because Vi wanted it, but because she herself missed holding a tiny baby in her arms, especially now that Lavender had grown so fast.

Caitlyn had assumed Lavie wouldn’t want a sibling, being very used to her only-child life and not having to share attention with anyone else—and Lavender did love the attention she got.

So when the words came out of her daughter’s mouth and Vi let out something close to a victorious laugh, Caitlyn found herself frozen in complete shock, convinced she must have heard wrong.

“You want to ask Santa for a sister?” Caitlyn asked again, just to make sure.

Lavender sat up on the floor, looking at her mom with a curious, slightly confused expression, as if she didn’t fully understand why Caitlyn kept asking.

“Yes. I want a sister like Mommy has Aunt Powder, or like you have Uncle Jayce,” she explained simply, just as Vi stood up from the couch.

Vi raised her hand for a high five, and Lavender met it immediately.

“That’s the best gift you could ask Santa for, don’t you think, Cait?” Vi said, a wide, victorious smile on her lips.

Caitlyn rolled her eyes, trying to look serious, but failed almost immediately as a stubborn smile tugged at her mouth.

“You can ask Santa for that, bunnie. Let’s see if he can manage to bring you a little sister,” Caitlyn said with an almost theatrical sigh.

Lavender let out an excited sound and went back to her original task, focused on keeping her letters neat, just like she was learning at school.

Caitlyn’s attention, however, was entirely on Vi, who was still looking at her with that beautiful smile and shining eyes, completely happy.

Before she could even think about it, Caitlyn stood up too, walked over to her fiancée, wrapped her arms around her tightly, and buried her face in her neck.

“I love you so much, you know that?” Caitlyn murmured softly, her lips brushing against Vi’s neck as Vi held her a little tighter.

“I love you too, cupcake. You have no idea how much,” Vi replied in the same low tone.

Caitlyn settled deeper into the embrace, not wanting to leave Vi’s arms, when she felt small arms wrap around her legs. She looked down and saw Lavender joining in on her moms’ hug.

Vi laughed softly, then broke the embrace just long enough to scoop Lavender into her arms before wrapping Caitlyn up again, holding both of them at once.

There was so much love in that house, in the small family they had built together, that for the first time since she and Vi had started talking about it, Caitlyn felt certain that it really was the right time to have another baby.

Suddenly, all she could imagine was how another little girl would fit perfectly into that hug—and into their family.

The family she had wished for, dreamed of for years, and loved deeply.

It was incredible to realize she was truly living all of this alongside the love of her life.