Everyone's in a rush to make everything perfect for the holidays....

꧁Ariana꧂

Every year Aaliyah spends Christmas with me and Dalton. That's how it's always been. Dalton and Aaliyah have the best relationship even though Dalton isn't her biological father. If you didn't know who they were and saw the way they interact with each other you'd think he was her dad. When me and Dalton first started dating, Aaliyah was very shy. She always is around new people. It took awhile before she was comfortable with him driving her places, or them having a full conversation without me in the room. Over 2 years they've become best friends.

Last night I got a call...from Pete.

Her real father, my ex.

He said he wanted to spend Christmas together this year. Like all of us in the same room at once. The second he said that my heart almost jumped out of chest.

Dalton and Pete well, they don't get along.

The only reason I agreed is for the sake of Aaliyah. I let her see Pete as often as I can, but for holidays she spends those with me. I couldn't ever imagine spending Christmas without my babygirl and Pete respected that. Usually the week after I'd let her go see him and she could open presents, eat sweets, and watch movies, and spend time with him. She doesn't care. She thinks of it like two Christmases.

Which is in 7 days and everything needs to be perfect for this little family 'reunion'. "Dalton your ordered enough wrapping paper right?" I asked as I crossed off my to do list for everything that I had to get done within the next 6 days.

"Um sure"

"Okay great," I tapped my pen on the next thing on my list find out what Aaliyah wants most for Christmas. I would if I could, I asked her if I could see her Christmas list. She said "it's for Santa's eyes only" CHILD I AM FUCKING SANTA!

Christmas is less than a week away and I still don't know what she wants. It's made my stress level at an all time high, adding to my ex and boyfriend holiday chaos. I always get her what she wants. Pete told me that I should stop doing that but I can't. I love seeing my little girl happy. Honestly he does have a point though. Christmas is basically every day of the year for her.

"Aaliyah" I called going into her room to find her sitting on the floor, Toulouse laid across her lap while she played with her toys. I fell down next to her. "Aaliyah mommy needs to ask you a question" I say softly picking up one of her stuffed animals. "No mama no touch!" She shouted taking it away from me. "Wow okay, what do you want Santa to get you for Christmas?" She went back to playing and I sat there patiently petting Toulouse on the head. "I'm going to tell him" I sighed, here we go "No baby I need you to tell me so I can tell him" She lost interest in what I had to say and ignored me.

"Do you want a toy?"

Nothing.

"Do you want another dog because I actually wouldn't mind that"

Silence.

I decided to give it a rest...time for a plan b I guess. Is there a plan b?

☃︎ ☃︎ ☃︎

"So I invited Pete over for Christmas dinner" I tell Dalton laying my head on his chest.

"You did?"

"Yeah...he kind of invited himself but, same thing right?"

"Wow so are we just not communicating with each other anymore? Because our never told me about this. So you agreed?"

"Yes he wants to see his child. And I know it's been 2 years since I've been able to get you two in the same room together so please, act like men this time. That whole entire conversation that you guys just had to have in front of everyone was so unnecessary and made me very uncomfortable."

2 years ago

"So Pete, this is Dalton, my boyfriend"

I said introducing my ex to my boyfriend. The most awkward thing in the world. I really didn't want to do this, because of how socially awkward I am myself, but Pete wanted to know who was going to be caring for his daughter on a regular basis.

"Nice to meet you" Dalton held out his hand to shake and Pete shook his head. "No need for that," He moved his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. "So you're going to be spending all the time with my daughter huh?"

"Your get her every other weekend"

"Your right, I tried to get full custody-"

"OKAY" I interrupted running my fingers through my hair. That was definitely not something that I wanted to discuss right now. "Pete you've met him now"

"Have I?"

"Yes you have what more do you want?!"

"I want to make sure Aaliyah is safe"

"And why wouldn't she be?" I stepped in between them. "Pete I promise she will be. You know I wouldn't let anything happen to her. She's my whole world, I wouldn't put her under the same roof with him if I didn't feel comfortable. Now can you leave, this whole conversation is making me uncomfortable" I said not liking the tension that was filling the room.

Present.

"He's the one that brought it up"

"Are you serious? Baby forget about it it was two years ago! Let's stop worrying about the past and focus on the future. I want this Christmas to be perfect."

"You always want it to be"

"Yes," I sat up on the bed looking down at him, "is that too much to ask? I still need to find out what the kid wants for Christmas" Dalton pulled me back down next to him. "Kids always give little hints on what they want. I'm sure she's talked about some toy she's wanted." I raised my eyebrows, "If I listened to every single thing that that little girl has said to me, I don't think I would have any brain cells left"

"Have you tried actually taking her to see Santa? Like at the mall or something and then she'll tell him, you'll hear, get a cute photo and there you go." My mouth fell open, I never thought of that. "Baby your a genius! The only thing is, I don't have time to take her. I'm booked for the week." "Me too" I tapped my fingers on Daltons chest trying to think.

"I know someone who could take her..."

☃︎ ☃︎ ☃︎

"Okay Court, Vic I need you guys to take Aaliyah to the mall at 10 sharp to see some random guy dressed up in some red suit with a beard" I say as soon as the both of them got on the facetime call.

"Ariana you said that there was something wrong" Victoria said flatly with a blank look on her face.

"Vic there is, I don't know what my baby wants" I whined as I began to pick out Aaliyah's clothes for the day. "We'll do it" Courtney blurted out speaking for them both. "Yeah sure" I smiled, "Thank you so much, Courtney...Victoria."

"Why 5?"

"Because there's way too many people at the mall and I don't need you two fucking up anything so I arranged a 20 minute private time window" Victoria leaned in close to the camera, "Excuse me? We never f'd up anything what the hell are you talking about?"

"No what are you talking about? Just last week I asked if one of you could watch Aaliyah. Both you and Courtney bailed!"

"No! Victoria said that she was doing it"

"Um no Court I'm pretty sure it's the other way around." They started going at it again making me roll my eyes and hang up.

"Aaliyah come on baby let's get dressed" I turned on the light in her room and opened the curtains. "Morning sleepy" I cooed picking her up out of bed. She placed her hands on my face squeezing my cheeks together and giggled. "Hi mommy"

"C'mon your going with Courtney and Victoria today" I moved her on my hip and carried her to the bathroom. "But I wanna stay wif you" She pouted jutting out her bottom lip. "Awww, mommy has to get a few things ready for Christmas bubbly"

"Chwifmas" I chuckled, "Yes Christmas" I brushed her hair putting it up into a ponytail. "There we go" "NO" She screamed pulling off the hair tie. "No?"

"No, I want it down mom"

"I want it down mom" I repeated mimicking the cute little pout that she was wearing. "How about a bun? You can wear it down tomorrow"clip in the back of her hair even though the outfit I was going to put her in had silver but noooo she wanted gold.

...

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arianagrande 🤍🌙

view all 1.237.493comments

funsizedbby she's like a doll

joangrande that baby and her beautiful eyes

courtneychipolone my niecey 🥺
victoriamonet nice try, she's mine
arianagrande don't start pls

user9483 a dahhlingg✨❤️

iamskot can I have her pls
arianagrande I'll have to think about it

dalton_gomezz pretty like her mama
arianagrande stop

fentibeauty she is not human. that's impossible. no human is this beautiful

arianashand I want my child to look like this

...

"Are we ready?" I asked sliding her shoes on. "Yes I go see Dalty now?" "Go ahead he's in the kitchen bubs" Aaliyah took off running down the hall me following after her. "GOODMORNING" She screamed jumping into Daltons arms.

"Morning princess. You look beautiful today"

"I look beautiful everyday"

Me and Daltons eyes met each other's. I could tell how much we wanted to laugh but we didn't. "Oh-yes your always beautiful" I went over giving him a quick kiss on the lips. "Your mommy looks beautiful too" He says and I covered my face, "Ew no I don't have any makeup on stop" "You look gorgeous" He whispered in my ear, a smile then coming across my face.

"I'm going with Victoria and Courtney today" Aaliyah started rambling and Dalton stood there listening to everything she had to say. Could never be me, Aaliyah always has something to say, sometimes getting on my nerves. I love how he takes so much interest in everything Aaliyah says or does. And to think Pete thought he wouldn't be a great step-father.

"I'm sure your going to have fun today huh?"

"Yes daddy" Aaliyah said making my eyes go wide shooting up to see my boyfriends reaction. She's never called him that before. Dalton looked surprised as well stopping what he was going looking back over at me. Aaliyah noticed and spoke up. "I'm sowy"

"No Aaliyah your fine it's okay..." Dalton looked up at me as if he was asking me if I was comfortable.

"Come here," I picked Aaliyah up taking her spot in the chair and sat her in my lap. "I was gonna tell you later but I think it's best to tell you now. Daddy's spending Christmas with us this year...so maybe not just yet." I say not wanting this to happen with Pete here. He would totally flip, that'd be a nightmare.

"But I wanna call him daddy" She said, her eyes glossing over. I gave Dalton an apologetic look as Aaliyah hid her face into me. "I want you to too. One day okay?" Dalton kneeled down in front of her. "Hey don't cry pretty girl. Your okay," Aaliyah nodded wiping her tears away with her fist.

"I'm going to the store today to get the rest of the ingredients for the cookies you and mommy are making, what color frosting do you want?" Aaliyah smiled,

"PINK"

"That'll do"

My phone went off letting me know that Vic and Court were here. "Their here. Say bye to Dalton I'm gonna go get the door"

"VICTORIA AND COURTNEY HERE TO SAVE THE DAY" My friends screamed along with doing some random choreography that looked like they had spent hours on learning on the way over. I shook my head. "You guys practiced that didn't you?"

"Sadly, Victoria you were supposed to go left."

"Left? You said right"

I walked away as they had started arguing once again. "Aaliyah come on- oh there you are"

"Auntie Courtney" Aaliyah squealed pushing past me and giving her a hug.

Victoria coughed to draw attention, "Hello? I'm here"

"See Vic she clearly likes me better"

Aaliyah held up her index finger making Courtney shut up.

Thank god.

"Be patient Auntie Vicky I was getting there" Aaliyah sassed and gave Victoria a hug.

"Aaliyah be nice...find out what she wants" I whisper screamed and closed the door.

꧁Victoria꧂

"What did you get Aaliyah for Christmas" Courtney asked poking my arm. We got here a little early and the whole time we've been waiting, Courtney and Courtney ONLY has not stopped nagging me for the past 20 minutes. "I got her the great gift of love" I said sarcastically rolling my eyes.

"Mhm maybe I'll get that for you too Vic" I playfully pushed her, "Well at least after this we'll know what present she wants most"

"Yeah if we don't fuck it up" Courtney grinned and we both start laughing thinking of what Ariana had said. "And when have we ever done that?"

(this conversation with "Santa" is badly written🙃)

"Good morning what is your name?"

"Aaliyah"

"Okay Ale-e-yuh"

"Aa -lee -yah" Aaliyah corrected. Ariana told me that people pronounce her name wrong all the time. She found it quite funny but Aaliyah would always be quick to correct them. Say the baby's name right.

"Oh Aaliyah okay, your mother Air-ree-ahn-nah"

"No ARE-ree-ahn-nah" Aaliyah corrected again this time seeming slightly annoyed. Child is something else.

"Alright Ariana- have you been good this year?"

"Maybe-I don't know"

At least she's honest.

"And what would you like for Christmas?"

"Courtney stop breathing so hard on my neck" I groaned turning around. "Stop standing so close to me then."

"Me? Your the one-"

"Victoria shhh now your breathing on me"

"No I am not, what are we in preschool-"

"Wow that's very good, merry Christmas Aaliyah" Aaliyah came over to us Courtney taking her hand and we headed out of the building. "So what did you ask for"

"It's a secret" Me and Courtney stopped in our tracks looking down at the girl. "You need to tell us"

"No he know's he's Santa" I cringed, Aaliyah can really get to be difficult sometimes. "Just tell us" She crossed her arms and shook her head.

"No"

Me and Courtney looked at each other, man we fucked up.