Anna || HS

Anna 2- CHAPTER 54.5

~Winter 2022: Part 2~

Harry- 27/28
Anna- 27
August- 5
Robin- 4!
Florence- 2
Hazel and Milo-17-18 Months

~December 2021~

Harry POV:

I've never experienced a 'normal' Christmas like the one we have had this week at our house here in Norway.  Mum, Gemma and Michal have been staying with Heidi and Erik and their family. Elinor, Nate, a pregnant Sofie and Norah have been staying with Oma and Papa. We were able to enjoy time with all of them on Christmas evening, attending services in the small town we now own a house in. Nobody bothered us or asked for photographs. We were given the same Christmas greetings as everyone else. The anonymity afforded us, even if it is was only for one day, was beyond glorious.

Today, we are going over to Oma and Papa's house for the traditional Christmas bonfire and a spread of food that could rival one that any Michelin Star chef could prepare.  "Harry!" Fredrik shouts from his post at the fire. Norah is already bundled up and rolling the base of a snowman as we walk over to them.

"Hi, Fredrik. Can I help you out here?" I ask him as we approach and he points at the gaggle of children following behind Anna.

He gives me a hug, patting my back and turning me away from the fire towards the house. "I think you should help her get them all settled first, then you can come and man the fire with me."  I nod and follow behind August. Anna had packed their warm weather gear in five backpacks, each labeled with their names on them.  We get inside far enough to be greeted by Helen, and her girlfriend Mya. They scoop up the twins while the older kids hug them tightly.

After giving the kids attention, they move to greet us. Mid-embrace with Helen, Anna asks, "would you two mind helping us change them into winter gear?"

"Not at all," Mya responds. I have grown to love Mya, as she has been at all of our family gatherings since the first Christmas we met her when August was just a baby. I assume that they will likely talk marriage at some point, but maybe not. Either way, they are the perfect match. "Miss Hazel, would you like to come with me?" she asks holding out her hand. Helen takes Florence. Anna takes Robin into the kitchen to greet her mom before getting her ready which leaves me with the boys.

"Alright, gentleman. What do you say we beat the girls outside?" I scoop up Milo and Auggie picks up both of their backpacks and follows me into the sunroom. He quietly sets them down and I lean over to kiss his cheek. "You are such a great big brother, bubbs." His smile grows at my compliment and he starts to unpack Milo's bag, proving my point. I take over Milo while August dresses himself. As I figured we would, we're all dressed and ready to go outside long before the girls, who are still busy talking to Oma and Elinor.

"My boys! Come on over and help with the fire," Fredrik calls to us. They stand on either side of us and stare up. Fredrik continues, "So, how is the house?"

"She loves it. Yeah, like LOVES it," I say, shaking my head a little at how we pulled the whole thing off. "I don't think there is anything she would change, which is the best kind of compliment from her."

"Son, the fact that you built it for her, that you continually put her wants in front of your own and love your family so well,  she would have loved a shack. The real compliment here is that you made it perfect. You just allowed me to be a piece of it." He smiles up at me and breaks the moment with adding, "we also love that it is so close by." I hold onto Milo's hand, squeezing it after his words sink in. I'm trying to be a more present father and the fact that it's being noticed means the world to me.

~Robin's Fourth Birthday: December 31st~

Anna POV:

Robin's birthday is always held at a different location, depending on what we are doing for Christmas and New Years. This year, since we are in Norway, aunt Heidi and uncle Erik told us they wanted to host it at their house, taking over all planning and telling me to just show up and enjoy the party.