Happily Ever Christmas

~Forty-Five~

"You are?!" Several members of my family gasped.

Candace's cold eyes glimmered with a banked fire now as they narrowed at me. "You are?" She hissed.

"We are?" Steve settled his big hands on my shoulders and gently turned me around to face him. "You're saying 'Yes'?"

I bit my lip, smiling like a fool and feeling shy, but ultimately happier than I could ever recall feeling. "You can propose to me again properly later, with maybe a ring that's just slightly less ostentatious? Pretty please with a cherry on top?"

Steve grinned down at me. "Just promise me that this time you'll actually say 'Yes'."

"Yes."

He kissed me before I was done even speaking that one tiny little word.

Then he picked me up and spun around with me and when he finally set me down, Candace was long gone.

*~*~*~*

"C-congratulations, sweetie?"

I smiled down at my grandmama. "You disapprove." Was what I said.

She shook her wise head of silver hair, holding up a finger to stop me. "Now, child, you're a grown ass woman and you can do what you want, you know that, and I just want you to be happy."

I grinned then because I loved my grandmother so much. She was the most amazing woman I knew and I only hoped that one day I would be just like her, with that adorable South Boston accent and everything. "But I just want you to make this decision for the right reasons, not because of some...woman. Not because of jealousy, or envy, or fear, you understand me? Not even the fear of being alone."

I bit my lip and nodded solemnly, dropping my gaze. I wanted her to know that I was listening, that I was taking her seriously.

"I know, Grandmama, and I promise that that's not what it's about. I admit, it sort of slipped out in the moment. That...fairy woman...she just really gets to me! But the fact of the matter remains, and I'm glad that she helped me see it fully. I don't want anyone else to have him. Ever. I love him. This one...this one's Mine. Do you get that, Grandma? Is that how it is with you and Grandpa?"

My grandma scoffed and turned to stand with her shoulder against mine as we both crossed our arms. We gazed fondly into the room together; at the sight of our ever growing family sitting together around the giant Christmas tree.

"So you really love him, eh? Not just flattered? Not just infatuated? Not just dazzled by those dimples of his and those perfect teeth..." she burst into merry laughter, though, and had to cover her mouth to try to stifle the mirthful sound. "Sorry, but my God, the man is gorgeous! Who am I fooling?! Marry him as soon as you can, girl, and have lots of his babies immediately!"

We both dissolved into giggles together then and finally Susan joined us and Grandpa sidled over to steal Grandma for a dance to a particularly slow Christmas song.

"So, that Elf bitch?" Susan said, nudging my shoulder with hers much as Grandma had.

"Need us to beat her up for ya?" Lila asked, materializing at my other shoulder and making me jump.

I laughed as I looked back and forth between my two faithful goons. "You guys are, like, both playing Devil's Advocate right now, you're not very good Divines!"

They shrugged unapologetically in nearly identical fashion.

I sighed. "Well, Candace is a member of the Fae, not an Elf."

"I don't care what she is, she a bitch." Susan assured me.

My lips twitched. "I don't think Steve even likes her, though, so let's not go grab the pitchforks just yet."

"No, Steve is too busy proposing to you, apparently! Well, you had better go get to it, Embers! What're you waiting for?! Your Prince is right over there, go get your ring, girl!"

"So...you're all okay with me staying here?" I asked softly, looking around at all of them.

My parents, I saw, much to my surprise, even had their arms around each other, something I had not seen in a long time.

"As long as we can come visit?!" Lila said with the adorable snorting laugh she was famous for.

"But...I'm not sure you all understand fully...yet." I said, meeting the eyes of my two small children.

I squatted down and held my hands out to them so that they ran to me and stood dutifully, holding my hands.

"You guys need to understand...time moves slowly here."

"But you can leave whenever you want." Steve countered, stepping forward. "And yes, all of you are welcome to come visit here, any time you want. I only ask that you tell no one else about this place; it will only cause trouble for us all."

Lila slowly raised her hand. "Uhm, what if I meet someone special, though?"

Steve sighed. "Yes, you can bring a plus one, but please choose wisely, don't just use my home to pick up male models, hmm?"

She blushed and dropped her gaze, investing herself in her glass of eggnog. She was a professional photographer and this little tidbit made us all raise our eyebrows.

Santa had dirt on all my family members?! Cool!

Not that he was naughty enough himself to actually let me ever use it to hang over their heads, I thought with a weary sigh.

Oh well.

I looked back into the eyes of my children.

"We wanna stay, Mommy." Bradley told me quietly, with an uncharacteristic level of sincerity.

"Please? We want to be a family here." Olivia turned and held her hand out to Steve.

Steve was happy to come join us, taking her little hand then taking mine and helping me stand.

"You can give Mom her ring now!" Olivia informed him in a loud whisper.

I had to stifle a nervous yelp of laughter.

Steve was right on it, though, quick as a wink, and in front of my kids and God and everybody, he withdrew the little box covered in black velvet. He presented me with the contents, a beautiful and tastefully remodel of the ring he had originally proposed to me with.

It was set on a slim golden band; a princess cut solitaire surrounded by a choir of snowy white diamonds like ballerinas dancing around the prima donna of the stage.

Tears flooded my eyes instantly and I had to put my fingers to my trembling lips. I was such a sap.

And I was a total fool for this man sliding his ring onto my finger.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Merry, merry Christmastime! Hope everyone has a glorious holiday season and that all your North Star Fairy wishes come true!

Thank you all sooo much for reading!

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HRH