vinnie's pov
"i miss you my love." i kiss the picture of y/n.
i sigh and quickly fix my tie, going to my daughter's room.
"uh... do you know how to do the swoop mama use to do?" lyla asks me. i shake my head and she looks down. "it's okay, i'll try myself." she smiles and attempts to do the exact hairstyle her mom use to do every christmas eve.
i slightly smile and go to dj's room.
"hey d."
"hey dad." he says lowly. i purse my lips together and let him have his own space.
this past year has been the hardest on him. he loved his mom more than anything. i hear the doorbell ring and go open it.
"hey you guys." i smile at all my friends.
"hey, couldn't leave you by yourself." jordan laughs. they all walk into the house and place the presents down.
"DJ, LYLA, PLEASE COME DOWN!" i yell up the stairs. lyla skips down the stairs and beams brightly at everybody.
"there's my favorite six year old." maddy laughs as she hugs lyla.
where's dj? i go upstairs and quietly knock on his door. no answer. i slowly open his door and see him silently crying.
"dj...?" i say lowly.
"i miss mom. i really do. i wish it was me and not her. i shouldn't have begged her to get me the ps5. i could've waited. if we did, she'd still be here." he sobs into my arms.
i close my eyes and take a deep breath.
"dj, it wasn't your fault. the driver was drunk, he had too much on christmas eve. it's not your fault, don't blame yourself. your mom loves you dearly and is always with you." i comfort him.
"dj, i love you so much, your dad is right. it was never your fault and never will be. you were only fifteen, i was thirty. i'd rather it be my life than yours. i've lived long enough. go downstairs and make lyla happy. stop living in regret."
i hear an angelic like voice say. i look up and see a shadow.
"mom?" dj whispers.
"d, i didn't raise you to cry over small things. stop crying please. you're making me proud, please keep it up. i love you baby."
tears stream down his face as he weakly smiles.
"go say hi to everybody." i kiss his head. he nods and walks out the room, looking back at the shadow.
"hey babe. you're doing a great job with our kids. stop crying every night, i can't sleep. it's christmas eve, be happy, it's my favorite day of the year. i love you so so much."
tears streaming down my face while i laugh at her jokes.
"i miss you y/n.. i really do. it's not the same without you." i cry into my hands.
"hey hey, vin. please don't cry. i'm happy, i really am. the chapter of my life is over. now it's your turn to continue yours and live for the both of us. along with our kids. i'm always with you, even if you don't know it."
i feel a cold kiss on my cheek and cold arms wrap around me. i look back and see a faint figure of y/n. i smile through the tears, looking at the face i miss the most.
she slowly fades away and everything is back to normal.
______
"it's twelve o'clock! MERRY CHRISTMAS!" liya yells as we're halfway done with opening the presents.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS!!" everybody yells back.
we all get quiet knowing that y/n would usually give us little goody bags. it's the first christmas without her.
"merry christmas you guys!! vin, look near the fireplace, there's something that's been there since last year. i love you all and you guys need to stop crying over me. it's annoying."
we all laugh as tears fall down everybody's face, missing y/n's Christmas spirit.
"why y'all standing there? LOOK!"
i look next to the fireplace and see a box. i open it and see pictures of all of us with mini goody bags. i look back at everybody, all of them smiling.
forever family, happy 10 years <33
- y/n
the little note says.
"forever." i mumble.
A/N
sad i guess.
christmas smut tomorrow or tonight tbh.
hope you enjoyed <33
-n.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!! it's only 9:56 here but ik half of y'all are like three hours ahead <33!! if you don't celebrate, have a good day and happy holidays 💗! i love you all😠💗💕💕💖💖
