a romance-y christmas.

the part where abigail crosses the line (and ben is mad as hell)

The party was in uproar, but Miranda was so daggone tired. She knows she shouldn't have worn her 5-inch stilettos, but she wanted to make a good first impression on Ben's family. Not that it worked. Abigail Warren was still glaring at her from across the room.

She sat down, and watched as Ben mingled with his cousins. He let out a laugh, and she took note of the way everybody relaxed in his presence. Miranda loved the way he commanded a room with just his charm, unlike her, which she did with an aura of power.

Miranda stood from her place on the couch and tapped her husband on the arm. "Hey, I'm just gonna check on the boys."

Ben smiled at her. "Okay, babe." He pecked her lips softly, and it sent a thrill up her spine. Her smile widened, and she went off to go upstairs.

She opened the room where the boys were playing a while ago, and she saw Angela's two little girls passed out on the bed, with Tuck at the side. Miranda chuckled. She took a blanket and put it around the kids' bodies. She kissed Tuck's forehead, and he stirred.

"Mom?" His eyes fluttered open, a little glossy from sleep.

Miranda's heart warmed. "It's okay, baby. I'll wake you up when it's nearing midnight, alright?"

Tuck nodded, and closed his eyes, falling to sleep immediately. She smiled, and kissed his cheek this time, before slipping out of the room.

Outside the door, she didn't expect Angela to be there. They almost bumped into each other. "Oh, sorry," she whispered.

Angela frowned, and lowered her voice too. "Why are we whispering?"

"The kids are asleep." Miranda giggled.

She gasped. "Oh!" They laughed, and Angela took the younger woman's arm. She hooked their arms together, and it reminded Miranda of her high school days with her best friend. "So... Curt told me about Santa."

They started walking down the hall. "Oh, right! You know about that. I almost forgot." She chuckled and tried to recall when Ben told her that his sister would be informed. She blushed as she realized it was in the middle of their foreplay yesterday. "Yeah, Ben definitely told me you knew, I just forgot."

Angela chuckled. "So, is this all an act, or what?"

"No, no. I love your brother. So much." Miranda smiled. "He's amazing."

"That's what he gets growing up with me." They laughed again, and they went downstairs. They got drinks, and Angela spoke again. "I met your son earlier, he's adorable."

"Oh, thank you. He looks more like his father than me, though," she admitted, sipping on her wine.

"What happened there, by the way? Ex... or like, a fling?"

"Ex-husband. He cheated."

Angela tipped her head back, finishing her drink. "That sucks."

"Yeah, it does." Miranda nodded.

"And Ben tells me you're a surgeon, right?"

"Yep. Cutting people open, that's my thing," she chuckled, moving her glass back and forth, watching as the red liquid slosh around.

Angela laughed. "You're funny, I can see why Ben likes you." She paused for a while. "Or maybe I'm just laughing because of the booze."

Miranda snorted, which made them laugh more. "And what do you do?"

"Oh, I'm a housewife. I have a fashion boutique, though."

"And your husband?"

"Accountant."