"So Mal what's it like being home after spending a few months in the NICU," Carlos told his baby sister as he was excited to finally be taking Mal back home. Mal had developed a pretty serious lung infection and had to spend a while in the NICU.

She had also been put on a feeding tube while there as they still weren't able to get her to eat. She takes the bottle now though and is no longer on a feeding tube to Carlos' relief. "See Mal this is what happens when we don't eat," Carlos told his baby sister as he brought her back inside the dorm.

Carlos sighed when he went inside the dorm and saw that Jay was out again which meant it was just them again. "Alright come on Mal! Oh guess what! You're finally old enough for the crib! No more bassinet! How cool is that," Carlos told his baby sister as he was excited that Mal was starting to become more active and the small baby just smiled.

"I'm gonna take it as you agree! Okay great come on let's get you to bed now," Carlos told his baby sister as he placed her into her crib and then kissed her on the forehead. "Night Mally I love you," Carlos told his baby sister who smiled as she looked at him as if saying I love you back and then fell asleep.

Carlos just sighed in relief as they were finally past the newborn phase as Mal was now about 4 months old as they had spent about 2 or 3 months in the hospital trying to help Mal. Carlos loves his baby sister, but the newborn phase is just the worst. Carlos prefers a sister that can interact and do things instead of just cry, sleep, and dirty her diaper.

Carlos groaned again as he tried to call Ava again, but she still wouldn't answer him. It was almost Christmas now and he was really hoping that they would spend Christmas together, but he was pretty sure that wasn't going to happen as he still couldn't get a hold of his big sister and Christmas was in a week.

Carlos was feeling really bad because he just knew Christmas was going to be a disaster this year. It was going to be Mal's first Christmas and she was only going to have him to celebrate it with.

That's not how Mal's first Christmas should be. Mal's first Christmas should be a magical time with all of her family together instead she was getting just him. And there was no way that Mal would be getting any Christmas spirit as Carlos couldn't afford decorations or anything.

And all of Carlos' friends were gone spending family time with their families at home. Carlos wanted to cry as he thought about how horrible Christmas was going to be. He loved Christmas as it was his favorite holiday.

He just loved how happy and cheerful it was and how much family time they got, but now he had no family except his baby sister as he didn't even count his cousin and big sister anymore.

Carlos just started crying a little as he sat down on his bed while he ate a candy cane and watched some Christmas movies by himself as he had no one else to watch them with him. Carlos smiled a little bit though when Mal reached up from her crib as he quickly picked her up making her giggle.

"Aw Mal do you wanna watch Elf with me?" Carlos asked his baby sister, making her smile.

"Okay great come on you can watch it with me! This is my favorite Christmas movie and Ava and I watch it together every year. It's kinda a tradition, but I guess Ava just doesn't care anymore. It's okay though because I'm continuing it with you," the young twelve year old told his baby sister as he sat her down with him on his bed.

Mal just giggled as she looked at the candy cane Carlos was eating. "Oh do you want one too! Okay here you go," Carlos told his baby sister as he handed her a candy cane despite her not being old enough as he didn't care and the small girl started to eat it right away.

"You like it huh! Yeah candy canes are really good," Carlos told his baby sister as he pulled her closer and they watched elf together as Carlos was starting to feel happy again as he had his baby sister to be there for him when he thought he was all alone.

It made Carlos happy to know that no matter what he could always count on his baby sister to be there for him just like she could always count on him too. They were both in this together as they were both abandoned by their families and forced to fend for themselves.

Carlos laughed as he looked at Mal who was glued to the tv and laughing making Carlos laugh as his baby sister was enjoying his favorite Christmas movie as much as him. "You like it huh pup! I told you it's a really good movie!" Carlos told his baby sister who got the biggest smile on her face when baby Buddy appeared on the screen as she tried to reach towards him lovingly making Carlos glare at the baby on the TV.

"Hey Mal stop looking at baby Buddy like that he's too old for you! He's already crawling and standing up and you can barely lift yourself up during tummy time! Plus you're not dating until you're 21! Nice try Buddy!" Carlos screamed out making his baby sister giggle as she stopped reaching towards baby Buddy making Carlos smile in victory.

"Yeah that's what I thought!" Carlos screamed out to the TV making Mal laugh again at how funny her big brother was being.

About half way through the movie Carlos smiled when he saw that Mal had fallen asleep while still chewing on the candy cane. Carlos just carefully removed the slobbery mess of a candy cane and replaced it with Mal's pacifier as he didn't want to wake her, but he didn't want her to choke either.

Carlos then tried to place her back into her crib, but as soon as the small baby realized she wasn't cuddled up with her big brother anymore she started crying as she reached for him. Carlos just laughed as he picked up Mal again.

"Aw what's wrong pup," Carlos told his baby sister, but he laughed when the tiny baby stopped crying as she cuddled up on him. "Okay well I guess we should finish the movie huh," Carlos told his baby sister who laughed as she reached towards the TV as if saying yes,

Carlos just laughed again as he sat back down on his bed and hit play on the movie. When the movie finished Carlos smiled as he picked up his baby sister again and kissed her forehead.

"Night Mally thanks for staying up and watching Elf with me. Tomorrow we can watch Rudolph! I think you'll love it!" Carlos excitedly told his baby sister as he placed her back down in her crib and the small baby smiled as she fell asleep.

Carlos just smiled again as he watched his baby sister sleep. Carlos was so grateful for his baby sister. He was feeling down about Christmas, but at least he had his baby sister to make it better and now he had someone to watch Christmas movies with which he was really excited about especially Rudolph which he was going to show Mal tomorrow.

Once Carlos was sure Mal was sleeping he just made his way to his bed as he fell asleep now excited for the morning as he was now determined to make the best of his situation and still give both Mal and himself a good Christmas, but first he needed sleep.