Despite everything, spending Christmas with Monty is going to be wonderful.
Christmas has always felt like a storybook holiday to me, something I’ve read about or seen but never truly experienced. Amongst the Old Blood, It is not considered acceptable to celebrate it. And Ritchie never bothered to make anything nice for us in the harem.
Sure, there were fleeting moments in my life when I caught glimpses of the lights, the trees, the cheer. Now, though, standing in this bustling house filled with my friends and their chosen partners, I can feel it. The warmth, the magic, the wonder. And it is only Christmas Eve.
I’m in the kitchen with Ned, juggling oven racks and trying not to lose my mind over the logistics of cooking for this many people. It turns out, roasting enough turkey for a small army might take more than one oven. I’m so glad we decided to work out the practicalities now rather than leaving it until the big day itself.
“How long is it going to take?” I ask, holding the rack and squinting at the enormous uncooked turkey on the counter. “And will it fit?”
“At least five hours,” Ned replies, his tone clipped but not unkind. He’s focused, as always. “And it will fit, but there’ll be no room for anything else. We are going to have to use my oven in the annex as well.”
The oven rack slips from my hands and clatters to the floor with a loud bang. Hastily, I bend down and snatch it back up.
“Everything okay in there?” comes Lello’s voice from the doorway. He’s practically bouncing on his toes, radiating excitement.
“It’s fine,” Monty answers from where he’s seated at the kitchen table, sipping mulled wine and watching us with quiet amusement. “Pink just dropped the rack.”
Lello takes that explanation at face value, because of course he does, and skips back out of the room, humming a Christmas tune.
I glance at Monty, and he’s looking at me in that way he sometimes does. Soft, unguarded, like he’s seeing all of me and doesn’t mind the messy parts. It makes me want to say something clever or profound, but instead, I just clear my throat and turn back to the oven. Only to find Ned staring at me with an amused gleam in his eyes.
“What?” I mutter, trying to sound casual.
“Nothing,” Ned replies, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Just... happy to see you like this.”
“Like what?”
He doesn’t answer, but I know what he means. I’m happy. I’m in love. And Ned can tell.
“Stop staring and get back to work,” I tease, and his chuckle warms the room.
Then Ned swiftly moves on to the next problem, muttering about the timing for the side dishes. I let his words wash over me and I use them to drive all thoughts of my problems away. I’m going to focus on what I can control. Being here, in this moment, with these people.
Savoring every single second of it all. Because every moment is precious.
The next day, when Lello bursts into my bedroom at five a.m, shouting, “It’s Christmas!” I can’t help but laugh. His energy is infectious, and even though I’m groggy and would love a few more hours of sleep, I’m grateful for his enthusiasm.
Monty and I share a smile and a quick kiss and then hurry downstairs before Lello decides to come back and drag us out of bed by our ankles.
I sit cross-legged on the floor near the tree just as the kids begin diving into their presents. The room is a chaotic blur of wrapping paper and squeals of delight. Lello is glowing with joy, and even Gray, who’s been quieter than usual lately, seems to soften under the warmth of the moment.
Monty shifts beside me, clearing his throat. The adults turn to him as he speaks.
“I can only hide their presence for one day. The wards to conceal them take a lot of power,” he says.
I feel my face heat up. He doesn’t say it directly, but we all know why his magic is so strong right now. I’m the reason he has a lot of power, and I can’t decide if I should be embarrassed or proud.
And I have no idea what he is up to? What is he pulling off for one day only? What on Earth is he up to?
Before I can dwell on it, Monty lifts his hands, and a portal swirls into existence. Yellow and black energy crackles in the air, and I’m struck, as always, by how effortless he makes it look.
Three figures step through, and my breath catches. Jade, Red and Brodie. They’re here.
Monty has planned this wonderful, amazing thing, and I’m so overwhelmed.
The room freezes, the noise of Christmas morning swallowed up by the sheer weight of the moment. I glance at Ned, who’s staring at Jade like he doesn’t know whether to hug him or walk away. Morgan wraps an arm around his shoulders, grounding him, and I watch as Ned takes a deep breath, nods sharply, and turns back to the children.
Relief floods me, and I feel a smile spread across my face. This is what I wanted. Everyone together, even if just for a day.
