𝑳𝑬𝑺𝑺𝑶𝑵𝑺 & 𝑳𝑨𝒀𝑼𝑷𝑺

𝑻𝑾𝑬𝑵𝑻𝒀 𝑺𝑰𝑿; 𝑨𝑷𝑨𝑹𝑻 𝑶𝑭 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑭𝑨𝑴𝑰𝑳𝒀

The sun was barely up when Sloane woke up in Paige's childhood room, the faint scent of pine and cinnamon already drifting through the house. The room felt cozy, soft lighting casting a warm glow over the white walls , which were decorated with framed posters of basketball stars and old family photos. Sloane turned to see Paige still sound asleep beside her, her face calm and peaceful. For a moment, Sloane felt an overwhelming sense of belonging. This was her second day with Paige's family, but it already felt like home.

She shifted slightly, trying not to wake Paige, but as she moved to slip out of bed, Paige stirred

"Mmm... You're not sneaking out, are you?" Paige mumbled, her voice muffled by the pillow as she reached over and pulled Sloane back down.

Sloane smiled, leaning down to brush a kiss on her forehead. "Just stretching my legs. Don't worry, I'm not going far."

Paige grinned sleepily before letting go and rolling onto her back, stretching her arms above her head. "Good. You're part of the family now."

Downstairs, the aroma of breakfast wafted through the house. Bob was already in the kitchen, clanging pots and pans as he worked on pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Monique hummed a Christmas song in the background, putting the finishing touches on some homemade cinnamon rolls. When Sloane and Paige walked into the kitchen, Monique's face lit up.

"Good morning,! Hope you're ready to eat," Monique greeted them, setting a plate of steaming cinnamon rolls on the counter.

"I could smell the cinnamon from upstairs," Sloane said with a grin, feeling a sense of comfort wash over her. "It smells amazing in here."

Bob turned from the stove, giving Sloane a warm smile. "Well, get ready to eat all day, we don't hold back when it comes to food."

Paige laughed.

They gathered around the large wooden kitchen table, a mix of plates and mugs scattered around as Bob and Monique served breakfast. Drew, joined them a few minutes later, groggy but with a mischievous smile on his face.

"Morning, Sloane. Ready to get owned in Fortnite later?" Drew teased, already stirring competition.

Sloane chuckled, shaking her head. "Yea mhm we'll see drew"

Breakfast passed with lots of chatter, laughter, and shared stories. Bob asked Sloane about her family traditions, genuinely curious and happy to have her at the table. Monique made sure her plate was always full, making sure Sloane felt like she belonged.

After breakfast, the family retreated to the living room, where the Christmas tree stood tall in the corner. Lights twinkled softly, casting a colorful glow over the room. Stockings were hung by the fireplace, and the floor around the tree was already packed with gifts, neatly wrapped in festive paper. Paige and Sloane sat on the couch together, close enough to hear Drew and Bob's playful banter over a card game at the dining table.

Monique, seated in a cozy chair by the tree, handed Sloane a cup of hot cocoa, complete with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. "How are you enjoying yourself so far?" she asked, her voice warm and kind.

Sloane took a sip, feeling the warmth spread through her. "I'm having the best time. Your home is amazing, and everyone's been so welcoming. It feels like I've been here for forever."

Monique smiled, reaching out to give her a gentle squeeze on the arm. "You are always welcome here, Sloane. We're so glad you're part of Paige's life."

Sloane glanced at Paige, who had been quietly listening, a soft, happy smile on her face. Sloane and her step
mother talking made her feel even more grounded, even more connected to this new chapter of her life with Sloane and her family.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of festive activities. The family set to work making Christmas cookies, each of them taking turns cutting out different shapes from the dough while laughing about the silly, lopsided results. Paige and Sloane even shared a few playful moments, flicking flour at each other and sneaking bites of cookie dough when no one was looking.

Later in the afternoon, they gathered in the living room again, this time to play a board game that Bob claimed was a Christmas Eve tradition. It was competitive but in the best way, with Paige and Sloane teaming up to beat Bob and Drew, who were relentless.
Monique cheered them on,
siding with whoever seemed like they needed it most. Sloane felt a deep warmth in her chest throughout the game—a mixture of happiness and a sense of belonging that she hadn't quite expected.

As evening approached, the sky outside grew darker, and the house glowed with soft lights and the cozy flicker of the fireplace. Dinner was just as lively and delicious as breakfast had been, with Monique making incredible food that reminded Sloane of her mothers.

After dinner, as the night slowly wound down, Paige stood and stretched, announcing she was going to take a quick shower. Sloane nodded, leaning back into the couch as she watched her walk upstairs.

Monique and Bob exchanged glances as they cleaned up the table, but their voices faded into the background when Sloane noticed Drew sitting on the floor, playing Fortnite on the TV. He glanced over at her, then tossed a second controller onto the couch. "You want in?"

Sloane grinned, sliding off the couch and grabbing the controller. "Bet."

The next half hour was filled with playful comments as, the sounds of guns and explosions filled the room as Sloane tried her best to keep up with Drew's quick reflexes. Laughter erupted from both of them as Sloane managed to stay alive longer than Drew.

Unbeknownst to her, Paige had quietly come downstairs, her hair damp from the shower, dressed in a pair of sweatpants and an oversized hoodie. She stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching with amusement as Sloane and Drew were completely immersed in their game.

"Are you seriously playing Fortnite with my brother?" Paige asked, feigning mock outrage.

Sloane looked up, grinning sheepishly. "yup! and winning." She said making Drew playfully roll his eyes and laugh

Paige shook her head, laughing as she crossed the room to sit beside Sloane.

Drew shrugged, his eyes still glued to the screen. "I can't believe I died first." He said still in disbelief.

Sloane winked at Paige, leaning in for a quick kiss before turning her attention back to the game. "See? I
have to be part of the family now."

Paige smiled, feeling her heart swell with warmth. "Yeah, you have too now."

A/N: hi guys so sorry for not updating in like 2 days but i'm still sick and slightly lazy ngl... anywyssss i have two games and their both against my friends + practice today and monday😩 but im excited i love it ALSO I GOT A NEW BATTTTT ITS TEAL💦💦💦😩😩

ANYWAYSYYSS

love u allll

-lea

sept 21