-Author's POV-

Everyone leaves her, even with a heart made of gold, lined with insecurities and uneasiness. She hiccups through a restless sleep that night, with Cheryl and Kimberley lying right by her side. She had erupted into cries and howls that had no end.

Madison was a complicated soul; she lived life terrified to lose the people she loved deeply. Cheryl and Kimberley were her world, and soon enough Jamie had become part of this madness.. Now, with him gone, her world was falling apart, or so she'd thought.

Cheryl nor Kimberley slept that night, lying in the darkened bedroom, speaking with their saddened eyes, reflecting from the moonlight, giving Madison a comfort that Christopher was here, with her, in this distressed moment.

The teen sighs in her sleep, a hiccup slipping past her puffy lips.

"You okay?" Cheryl whispers.

No reply, because even in Madison's deepest sleep, she was still crying within her dreams.

The married couple cautiously shifts around until they were comfortable with their daughter lying in their arms. It took a lot for them to get Madison off the living room floor, carrying her straight up to the large bedroom, still remaining in a heap of tears.

Now, Madison's back is molded into Cheryl's front, with her head resting atop of Kimberley's chest. The blonde's desperate to hold her girls close; the shattering of her family was breaking her own heart.

"C'mere." She whispers to the Geordie, beckoning her for a soft kiss to the lips

Cheryl cranes her neck, pouting her lips for a single kiss.

"I love you," Kimberley whispers, wrapping an arm around her girls. "Everything is going to be okay." She whispers finally, resting into the feather stuffed pillows, sighing softly

"I hope so." Cheryl whispers back, finally giving sleep a try.

Christmas was in five days to come and soon enough both the Tweedy and Walsh family will be arriving for the holiday ritual. The last thing they needed was their parents to get involved in the chaos they called their reality.

Morning always conveyed a sense of calmness into Madison's being. Maybe it was the early hours of the unknown, the first sunray of hope streaming through her bedroom, the first thought that sparked in her mind, the first everything, awakening her into another day.

Today was different, she awakens with sadness coursing through her, with a heavy heart and eyes; they slowly flutter open. Her eyes softly flutter shut as Kimberley's fingers run through her hair once more with a kiss to her forehead soon followed.

"I knew you were awake." The mother whispers softly, placing another kiss to the teen's warm head.

"I wasn't." Madison rasps a reply, unraveling their beautiful cocoon and sleepily climbing out of bed.

"And where are you going?" The blonde asks; Cheryl remaining silent as she witnesses her daughter's eyes shift wildly.

"Why are yous even in my room?" Madison frowns, making contact with Kimberley. "I can't even get my own space—"

"Says the one that kept repeating for us not to leave her." Kimberley shoots back.

"Girls please—"

"I think youse should leave my room." Madison says calmly, cutting the Geordie off.

This time Cheryl climbs out of bed, sighing, needing to fix this mess. She hated it; she fcuking hated it when her family fought. All she desired was tranquility in this large home. She needed it. She desperately needed it.

"Can we please have a sit down." She speaks, calmly.

"Why?"

"Please, Maddy. Just sit down—"

"I'm honestly not in the mood to hear—"

"Sit. Down." Cheryl hisses, gritting her teeth.

She's had enough.

Madison huffs, rolling her eyes. She walks a few short steps, taking a seat in the teal blue colored armchair.

"Kimba come here too, please."

Kimberley doesn't need to be told twice, she instantly climbs out of bed and sits on the large sofa beside her wife, across from the teen.

"We need to talk." Cheryl confidently takes the lead, "We need to resolve this."

Madison shrugs, "There's nothing to fix."

"So you think this is okay?" The Geordie continues, frowning. "You think all of this is okay?"

"Stop pretending like you even care. You wanted all of this to happen—"

"Don't you dare." Cheryl's tone rasps, on the verge of tears. "Don't you dare." She takes a deep breath, suppressing every tear. "I want nothing then to see you happy, I would never take that away from you."

"You didn't want Jamie here the second he came into my life." Madison rasps in return, "You are glad he's out of my life!"

"Lower your voice—"

"There's no one around!" Madison's voice rises nonetheless, "You never want to hear me out—"

"When have I ever made it seem like I don't give a sh*t for what you have to fcuking say!" Cheryl's voice too now matches the teens, both enraged with one another. "You say some stupid fcuking sh*t when you're mad at us!"

Kimberley clears her throat, ready to cut in, but of course, Madison has a few things to say.

"What did you tell Dad?!" She roars, "What did you tell him?" She demands an answer.

"I'm not talking to you when you're yelling at us like this—"

"Exactly. You know I'm right." Madison sits back, taking deep breaths in hopes to calm her raging heart.

"Do you really want to know what I said to him?" Cheryl sits up.

"Babe." Kimberley attempts to stop her wife, knowing exactly what she was ready to spill.

"No, she's mature enough to hear this – aren't you?"

"Obviously." Madison rolls her eyes, arms folding across her chest.

Cheryl takes a deep breath, taking a few seconds before speaking once again.

"Jamie walked out on us when he found out I was pregnant with you, Madison." She begins, "I fell pregnant and when I told him, he wasn't okay with it, but he said we'd work it out together because I wanted to keep you. I wanted to carry you, I wanted to bring you into this world and love you, Madison." Cheryl bites her lower lip, not wanting to cry. "I begged him. I begged him to let me keep you, because apparently if I had you I wasn't going to be happy."

Madison remains quiet, eyes shifting down to her lap as tears well up in her green eyes.

She wasn't sure if she wanted to hear this anymore.

"But he said we would work it out together." Cheryl repeats, her own eyes tearing, along with Kimberley who's heard this memory before. "He said he would stand by our side and push through this with us. He said.. He said he-he was going to be there." She sniffs, uncaring of the tears streaming down her cheeks.

Madison never looks at her Mam, ashamed of her tears.

"I never thought for a single second I would wakeup one day and he was gone, gone without a letter to tell us where the fcuk he'd fcuked off to." Cheryl cries, "He-He left u-us and all I fcuking had was a 50 note to me name. That's all I had to me fcuking name. I soon left and stayed with me Mam thinking maybe it would still work out for us. That maybe I can bring you into this world with all the promises I had silently made to you. B-But life was a b*tch for us." She sniffs, "Me Mam, bless her, could barely put food on the table. So I had no fcuking choice!" She speaks passionately. "If your Dad had fcuking stayed then I would have raised you meself." She takes a deep breath, wiping away her tears irritably. "But do you want to know something?"

Silence.

"Look at us, sweets."

Madison shakes her head, trembling as she holds her sobs back.

"Baby," Cheryl stands to her feet and walks over to her daughter, getting on her knees, gently reaching up and taking her daughters hands into her own. "Look here."

Madison daringly looks, crying instantly.

With a single contact of her Mother's kind brown eyes, she was a mess.

"I wouldn't change a thing." Cheryl sniffs, pulling her daughter into a cuddle until Madison has slipped off the armchair and fell right into her arms. "Do you want to know why?"

Madison hiccups, "W-Why?"

"Because," Cheryl gently pulls her back, "Because you would have never been the girl you are today, you would have never met Christopher." With her brother's name sounding, she loses it, completely. "You would never have realized the passion you carried in your heart for this world, the love you still keep locked inside. You would have never had Kimba as your Mum either."

Madison tearfully giggles.

"Everyone is going to come and go in your life, sweets." Cheryl whispers, wrapping her arms tightly around the sobbing teen; desperate to keep her close. "Everyone will come and go, but your Mum and I aren't going anywhere." She breathes. "You need to get the thought of us leaving you out of your head. No more."

Madison continues her sobs, muffling against her mother's chest.

Kimberley crawls to them, wrapping her arms around both of her girls once again, holding them tightly in a loving embrace.

Maybe the teen was going to be all right in the end, maybe this puzzle was the last piece needed for her uncertain heart. She was sad nonetheless; she'd hoped to mean something to her father, that she wasn't just another person to keep his time occupied for a second or two.

She needed to let the toxic thoughts go, but it was hard, it was hard to let something go with just a single wave of the hand. It would take time for her to overcome this all, time had to be her friend now.

Madison was sluggish all day and both Cheryl and Kimberley understood. They weren't going to push their daughter to smile, laugh, or converse. They were going to allow her to come around at her own pace.

But they still showed love to her, through words and action.

"Babe!" Kimberley shouts from the kitchen, "Babe come through the kitchen!" She calls out again.

Cheryl sighs, "I'll be back." She tells her daughter, unraveling their cuddle and exiting the front room.

"Babe—"

"I'm bloody here. Stop your shouting—"

"Oh." Kimberley giggles cutely, "Baby, your lot is on their way I just got off the phone with your Mam and my lot should be here later on tonight." She bites her lower lip, "Does this mean I'm not going to be able to have sex with you while they're here?"

Cheryl rolls her eyes, "Is that why you called us in here?"

"Well.. Obviously. I'm not going to ask you in front of our daughter." Kimberley huffs.

"Not like that's stopped you before – let us go!" Cheryl squeals, slapping her wife's hands away as Kimberley yanks her into her arms.

"Shhh." She whispers, sealing their lips together, wasting no time to stick her tongue right into the giggling Geordie's mouth.

She gropes the back of Cheryl's bum, fondling the silk pajama covered backside as they make out in the kitchen.

"Mmm." Kimberley groans, rolling her tongue in time with her wife's. She did love a good make out; she loved the taste of Cheryl's mouth.

They're soon torn apart with the doorbell ringing, over and over and over again.

Kimberley laughs, breathlessly.

"That would be your lot."

Cheryl giggles, rolling her eyes. She too breathless.

"After you, darling." Kimberley waves for her wife to take the lead.

"You know I'm not sure I want them around this year." Cheryl giggles along with her wife, both walking to the front door. "I just remembered what a headache they all were."

"Let's just pretend no ones home then."

Cheryl tuts, opening the front door – to complete chaos.

"Aunt-Aunt!" Billy and Elaina hop in their spot, running straight into Cheryl, both ready for a cuddle.

"Hi ya little monkeys." She laughs, missing them.

"It's bloody freezing out here, move aside." Joan pushes her way in, shivering from the winter breeze.

"Come on in." Kimberley beckons Gillian and Garry through "Come on before you get as dramatic as your Mam."

Joan swats the blonde, "Watch it before I get you into sh*t with me daughter." She narrows her brown eyes at her daughter-in-law.

"Wont be new to me," Kimberley cheekily winks, "I'm always into some sort of sh*t with this one. You've got an overly dramatic daughter you see."

Joan and Kimberley share a wholehearted laugh.

"How's about you two stop chatting sh*t about us, ya?" Cheryl shoots her wife a look.

"Aunt-Aunt! What'd you get us for Christmas?" Elaina asks, smiling widely.

"You'll have to wait for that wontcha?" Cheryl winks, "Go on in and say your hellos to your cousin." She gives them both a pat to their backsides, directing them to Madison.

"Have you got the beers in the cooler?" Garry asks, already making his way to the kitchen.

"Is Madison home then?" Joan asks, "She better be."

Cheryl laughs lightly, "She's in the front room – wait." She stops the older Geordie. "Be gentle with her, yeah?"

"Why?" Joan frowns, as does Gillian. "Has something happened?"

"She's just... a little sensitive right now so don't be in full on cheeky mode right now—"

"Alright calm down love, I've got a gentle bone in us."

Kimberley laughs, "She's fine. Go on." She nods her head towards the front room, Joan walking to where her granddaughter was, leaving Gillian and the couple behind.

"Is everything alright?" Gillian asks, worried for her niece.

"Jamie." Cheryl rolls her eyes, "He's done a runner again."

"Bastard." She grits, "I told you, Chezza. It wasn't a good idea—"

Kimberley cuts her off, "It's happened. So nothing can be changed. Let's just enjoy this Christmas gathering and forget about him, come on, I've got the eggnog done to perfection." The blonde leads them into the front room, where the married couple setup a bar area with plenty of food and drinks to keep everyone satisfied.

Cheryl smiles to the sight of her daughter playing with her niece an nephew, the sound of innocent giggles erupting into the warm home brings love straight into the heart.

She was glad everything was turning around for the better.

"Chezza you want a drink?" Gillian asks, already pouring her sister some strong eggnog.

"No thanks—"

"Eh? Come on," Gillian encourages. "It's your favorite—"

"I'll just have an orange juice, like."

Gillian laughs, "Stop talking shite Chez, take it—"

"No seriously." Cheryl lowers her voice; glad nobody was giving them much attention.

Gillian frowns, "Why not?" She giggles, taking the drink for herself instead.

Cheryl bites her lower lip, and whispers. "We.. We are trying for a baby soon."

"WHAT?!" Gillian splutters, nearly spitting her drink right out of her mouth and getting everyone's attention. "SHUT UP!"

"What's going on?" Joan frowns.

"Shut up." Cheryl grits, turning to her Mam and alarmed family. "She just figured out the eggnog had some alcohol in it." She laughs, nervously.

A shocked Gillian still stood by her side.

"Stop being stupid." Joan rolls her eyes, turning back around and giving her granddaughter attention. "I swear to ya," She begins, getting a giggle from Madison. "You'd think they were still five and not mature women."

Madison giggles, "Mam still acts like a kid, so does Mum."

"You always come to me house when they're giving you a headache, you hear us?"

The teen nods, really enjoying her grandmother's company.

"Don't be surprised if you see me stood at your doorstep."

Joan smirks, wrapping an arm around Madison. "I wouldn't want anything else, you should come stay at me place."

They share a smile.

"That wouldn't annoy you?" The teen asks, remembrance of her grandparents uncaring for her presence.

"Annoy us?" Joan scoffs, "Stop talking shite and eat the plate I put you."

Madison giggles, tucking straight into the overflowing plate Joan had thoughtfully put piled for her.

"I have a question." The teen asks, mouthful of cheese and crackers.

"What's that?"

"How... How come I still haven't met your husband?"

Joan laughs, "He hasn't been me husband for ten years love."

"Oh." Madison swallows her food, "Sorry—"

"Don't apologize, he was a bloody headache."

This gets the smile to return to Madison's expression.

"Do you think I'll ever meet him?" She asks, truthfully. Finding herself melting to the older woman's company, she knew she would never be judged when Joan was around.

"If you want.. I mean... He's got his own family going on, so maybe that's why he hasn't come around."

Madison shrugs, "Mam hasn't really told me that part, like." She never did hear about Cheryl's father, and she wondered why.

"Aye there's nothing really interesting about that old bag of rotten tomatoes."

Madison howls out in laughter, nearly dropping the plate in her hand.

"Told ya I was a comedian Chez!" Joan calls out to her daughter, pointing down to the hysteric teen clutching her stomach.

Cheryl smiles, soon giggling at the sight of her daughter. She makes her way over, sitting beside her Mam and giggling daughter.

"What're you two nutters chatting up?"

Madison remains giggling.

"She just knows her Nan's funny, unlike you." Joan gives her daughter a sarcastic smile, "When is the Walsh lot coming then?" She changes the subject, just in time for Madison to come down from her laughing high.

"I mean.." Cheryl glances back to her wife, noticing Kimberley on a call. "They should be here soon." Just as those words leave her lips, the sound of the doorbell sounds throughout the large home.

Kimberley is first to exit the front room, now her family coming through with chaos.

"Youse better have the fire on." Diane shivers into the home, making her way straight into the front room with John, Amy, Sally and Adam trailing behind her.

Madison stands to her feet, setting the now empty plate atop of the coffee table.

"Hello you." The teen is kissed and hugged by each Walsh member; she did love her new family. It was something growing quickly in her being; she's never had people surrounding her with such warm light.

"What'd you get me for Christmas?" Adam gives Cheryl a cheeky wink, flirting with his sister's wife.

"Some tape." Cheryl smirks.

"Tape?"

"Yeah, to tape your mouth shut before you get your arse kicked by your sister." Cheryl shoots, earning a laugh from Adam.

"Oh please." He scoffs, "You think I'm scared of that?" He nods his head to the blonde, catching Kimberley in a moment of sweet cuddles with her nieces and nephews.

"I'll snitch."

Adam laughs, "You're missing out on the best piece of Walsh here." He waves his hands, "Don't worry.. You'll come around."

They playfully flirt back and forth.

"You ever gonna give up?"

"Never." He chuckles, walking away.

The hours are spent in loud chatter and laughter, happiness emitting from all around the mansion. It was always so calm and peaceful, in a time where Madison wasn't part of Cheryl and Kimberley's life. Everything seemed to be stilled, in a moment, frozen in time. Now, everything was falling together, piece by piece the family was completing and a final addition would be the last puzzle to their masterpiece.

Kimberley takes a seat beside her daughter on the dinner table that night, giving the teen plenty of attention.

"You having a good night so far?" The Mum asks, smiling warmly at her daughter. She could still see the sadness in the teens eyes still remaining, the doubt and insecurities lingering, but.. Gradually fading.

"Yeah, why would I?" Madison frowns, looking away from her mother and focusing her attention on the plate of food.

"I was just asking." Kimberley tuts, giving up for the time being. She wasn't going to argue with her daughter on the table, especially not in front of their family members, knowing exactly what would happen, they would surely get involved.

Madison sighs, keeping quiet and heaping down her dinner.

Adam takes the attention back on him, "I know what I want for Christmas this year—"

"Yeah a death wish, is that what you want?" Kimberley cuts her brother off, "You need to quit it—"

"I was going to say a new car... but okay." He chuckles, knowing damn well that's not what he wanted for Christmas.

"Okay you two." Diane shushes her kids, "Can we have a meal without the endless bickering between the two of youse—"

"Well he needs to get it through his thick head that my wife is mine."

Cheryl giggles, shyly. She rests her hand atop of her wife's thigh, stroking it beneath the table.

"You need to control your territorial nature—"

Cheryl cuts Adam off, "I think that's her best asset."

"You like psycho partners—"

"I agree with Uncle Adam." Madison cuts in, "She is a bit—"

"Finish that sentence and you're getting coal for Christmas." Kimberley warns her daughter, playfully.

"I would be surprised if I got anything else."

Joan chuckles, "Have you been naughty this year?"

The teen shrugs, "Most likely."

Her Grandfather John laughs, "I knew you were a good one." He laughs further, "Have you been giving my daughter a hard time?"

"Yes she has in fact!"

"Good." John gives the smiling teen a wink, "Now let us eat this bloody meal before my headache starts to kick in from you lot."

They all laugh in unison, light chatter settles shortly after. It would be the first Christmas without Clara and Connor for Madison, she hoped this year would bring unforgettable memories.