Making it.

Chapter 30 - Merry Christmas!

"Merry Christmas everybody!" I greet them, my voice still a bit groggy from sprinting out of bed and downstairs like half a minute ago, though I keep it excessively cheerful. Christmas has always been my favourite holiday. There is nothing like baked sweets, family time, Christmas pyjamas, a lit fireplace, presents and the overall christmasy-vibe that can make me any happier. It's the one holiday worth waiting twelve months and 24 days for.

"Merry Christmas!" I'm greeted by various voices, Josh's standing out the most. I think he is as excited about it as I am.

"I didn't expect you to be up this early." Mike tells me, a sheepish smile on his face as I move in for a long and very much needed hug.

"It's my first Christmas with all of you. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I wasted it by laying in bed all day." I answer, slowly parting from him and moving on to Marie, who's already prepping breakfast at the kitchen counter.

"Can I help?" I ask immediately, excitement covering my entire face.

"You're welcome in my kitchen any time, dear." She says, planting a quick kiss on top of my head.

"Should I wake the boys first or start on making the hot cocoa?" I suggest and she points to the stairs.

"Get them down here."

"Ay ay." My fingers make a small salute and I rush up the stairs, to Sammy's room first.

"Wakey wakey eggs and bakey, cousin!" I refrain myself from jumping onto him and decide to spare his body from that pain.

"Go away." He mumbles, turning around for his back to face me and I sit down on his cover.

"Come on. It's our first Christmas together and we need to make the most of it."

He mutters incoherent profanities and crooks his neck just enough to look at my grinning face sideways.

"I'll see you downstairs in a minute." I jump off again, shutting the door and jump along the hallway to my room that Luke is currently sleeping in. Only that he isn't.

"Wakey wakey-" I stop myself when I see him coming out of my bathroom in Christmas pyjamas, drying his hair with a small towel.

"That was your plan to wake me up with? Seriously?" He laughs, his hands quickly reaching out to pull me towards him.

"It works wonders, trust me." I say confidently, admiring his shining blue eyes.

"I know something else that would work wonders to my morning mood." His lips quickly meet mine and I can feel myself being pulled towards my bed, soon sitting in his lap. My hands wrap around his neck and I pull away. He gives me a confused look and I just smile.

"On any other day, I would love to continue this but not today, lover boy. We have some celebrating to do."

"Fine." He playfully pouts, acting all disappointed and I kiss it away swiftly.

"Merry Christmas, by the way."

"Merry Christmas, my love."

We get out of the room just in time to see my cousin walk out as well and give us a look. "I didn't think your quicky would finish that quick." He jokes and I slap his arm.

"That's because we didn't have one, idiot."

"Hailey. Beautiful to see you are already giving my boy a piece of mind at eight in the morning." Uncle Josh exclaims from behind us and we stop, letting him, Candice and Ella catch up to us on the stairs.

"I wanted to spare you from it today, as part of my gift, of course." I answer him and he hugs me from the side, just like he does to Sammy.

"What a thoughtful thing of you to do for the both of us." He points to Aunt Candice who is carrying a sleepy Ella on her arms. I move backwards to kiss her cheek and whisper a 'Merry Christmas' before answering him, "Anytime." We walk to the already set dining table, exchanging our last set of congratulations before sitting down to eat breakfast together. As a family.