𝙄𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩 𝙈𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 - 𝘊𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘥

𝙁𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙮 𝙀𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩. 𝘍𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘎𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴

It was late afternoon, and I was unpacking some groceries when Caitlin walked into the kitchen, her face a mix of frustration and disappointment. I could tell something was up just by the way she sighed and leaned against the counter, running a hand through her hair.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I ask. setting down the last of the bags.

She lets out a small groan. "There's a snowstorm coming in so no flights in or out of Heathrow until further notice."

My heart sank. "So, you can't fly to Australia?" I already knew the answer, but I could see how much it hurt her to say it.

"Yeah," she replies, her voice heavy. "I was really looking forward to seeing my family this year. But it's not just me—Alanna, Macca, and Steph's flights got cancelled too. None of us are going anywhere."

I could see how much this was bothering her. She missed her family, and I knew how important Christmas was for her. I walked over and wrapped my arms around her, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Cait."

She exhales, leaning into my touch. "It's fine, I guess. We'll make it work. I've got you, and that's all that matters."

I smile softly at that, resting my head against her back. "You do have me. And hey, we're all stuck here, right? Why don't we have a Christmas here, together?"

Caitlin turnes to face me, her eyes brightening a little. "You mean with Alanna, Macca, and Steph?"

"Yeah," I say with a nod. "We'll have our own little Christmas Eve here. We can decorate, cook dinner, and just hang out. It'll be fun."

A grin breaks out on her face, and she pulls me in for a soft kiss. "That sounds perfect."

Later that evening, the apartment was filled with the sound of laughter as Alanna, Macca, and Steph arrived with bags of snacks, drinks, and even a few random Christmas decorations they'd picked up last minute. The air was buzzing with the energy of everyone trying to make the best of the situation, and honestly, it was exactly what we all needed.

Alanna immediately dove into decorating, pulling out garlands and fairy lights, while Macca stood back, laughing at her enthusiasm. Steph, of course, had already taken over the kitchen, getting snacks together like she was preparing for a big match.

I was hanging baubles on the small tree Caitlin and I had bought earlier in the week, when Mackenzie slid up next to me, a soft smile on her face. "You guys really went all out with this tree, huh?"

I laugh, glancing at the mismatched baubles. "Yeah, well, we tried. It's our first Christmas here together."

Macca's expression softens as she leans against the wall, her gaze shifting from the tree to where Caitlin was untangling lights with Alanna, laughing at some joke they'd shared. "You know, Caitlin really loves you."

Her words catch me off guard, and I blink, turning to face her. "What?"

Macca smiles, nodding as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "She's head over heels for you. I've known Cait for a long time, and I've never seen her look at anyone the way she looks at you."

I swallow, my heart swelling at her words. "I love her too," I whisper, my voice thick with emotion.

Macca reaches out and gives my arm a gentle squeeze. "That's obvious too. You're good for each other. Just... don't forget how lucky you are."

I smile, my chest warm with the knowledge that Caitlin's love for me was so clear to everyone else. "Thanks, Macca. That means a lot."

Macca pauses for a second before adding, "You know, she talks about you all the time when you're not around. It's actually kind of sickening," she teases with a playful roll of her eyes. "But in a good way, I guess."

I laugh, shaking my head. "You're exaggerating."

"Oh no, she's obsessed," Macca jokes, her smile widening. "But honestly, that's a good thing. Cait's the kind of person who only gives her heart to someone she trusts completely."

My throat tightens at that, the weight of Macca's words settling in. Caitlin had given me her heart, and I couldn't imagine my life without her in it. "I won't take that for granted. I promise."

Macca pats my shoulder. "You're both lucky to have found each other."

We both glance over at Caitlin, who was now laughing at something Steph had said, the soft glow of the fairy lights illuminating her face. My heart swells with love for her in the moment, more than I thought possible.

A little while later, after the decorating was done, Caitlin suggested we play a Christmas quiz she'd found online, much to everyone's excitement. Alanna was immediately up for it, her competitive side already showing.

"Alright, teams?" Caitlin asks. raising an eyebrow.

"Me and Alanna against you three," Macca quickly declares, pointing at herself and Alanna.

"Oh, so you think you're going to beat us, huh?" Steph grins, leaning into the playful challenge.

Alanna smirks. "Obviously."

We all grabbed snacks and huddled together, ready for the quiz to begin. Caitlin reads out the first question. "Okay, here's an easy one to start—what country started the tradition of putting up a Christmas tree?"

"Germany!" Alanna shouts, barely letting Caitlin finish.

"Correct!" Caitlin laughs. "Alright, next one."

The questions come fast, and soon enough, the apartment's filled with laughter. Steph got stumped on a question about Christmas movies, and Macca nearly spilled her drink when she tried to shout an answer with her mouth full.

"I swear this quiz is rigged," Macca grumbles after another wrong answer.

"Oh, come on, it's all in good fun!" Caitlin teased, nudging her.

As the game went on, the laughter and teasing only got louder. It was the kind of night that reminded me why I loved moments like this. The warmth of friendship, the lightheartedness, and the way Caitlin's hand always seemed to find mine in those quiet, fleeting moments.

Eventually, the quiz ended with Alanna and Macca taking the win, though I suspected they might've cheated a little. But no one really cared. We were all too busy laughing to notice.

It was getting late, and as the night wound down, Caitlin turned to me with a tired but content smile. "We should give the bedroom to Alanna and Macca. They've had a long day, and the sofa's really comfortable."

I nodded in agreement. "Good idea. And Steph's probably driving home anyway, right?"

Caitlin glances over at Steph, who was helping herself to another drink. "Yeah, she's not too far."

When we finally convinced Alanna and Macca to take our bedroom, Caitlin and I curled up on the sofa together, the fairy lights still twinkling in the dimmed room. I rested my head against her chest, and her arms wrapped around me, holding me close. The weight of the day seemed to fall away as we lay there, surrounded by the warmth of the people we loved.

"I'm glad we did this," I murmur, nuzzling against her.

"Me too," she whispers, kissing the top of my head. "This... this feels right."

I smile, closing my eyes as the soft sound of Caitlin's heartbeat lulling me into a sense of peace. "Merry Christmas, Cait."

"Merry Christmas, Els."

The night ended with the quiet hum of contentment in the air. The lights from the tree flickered softly, casting a warm glow around the room. Caitlin and I stayed on the sofa, wrapped up in each other, ready to drift into sleep, the perfect ending to our unexpected but perfect Christmas Eve.