Comeback (Sequel to 'Before the Storm')

Chapter 29: Someday

Joe's POV

"Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock!"

The sound of off-key singing and giggles echoed through the house as I quietly opened the front door, setting my guitar case down carefully.

I followed the music to the living room and stopped, my heart warming at the sight before me.

Ally was spinning Delphine around while Willa jumped on the couch - something she definitely wasn't usually allowed to do - all three wearing matching Santa hats.

Tinsel was draped haphazardly over the lamp, and half-decorated paper snowflakes littered the coffee table.

"Christmas time is here, by golly..." Ally sang dramatically, dipping Delphine who squealed with delight.

She grabbed Willa's hand from the couch, trying to persuade her to dance properly on the floor.

"Disapproval would be folly..."

"Deck the halls with—" Willa's voice cut off mid-lyric as she spotted me, "DADDY!"

Ally spun around, nearly tripping over the coffee table. Her cheeks flushed pink, Santa hat slightly askew.

"You're early!" Ally exclaimed, just as both girls launched themselves at me.

I caught them both, stumbling back a step as they collided with me.

"Surprise!" I laughed, hugging them tight, "The last show got canceled because of the snow, so I caught an early flight."

"See dancing?" Delphine asked, clinging to my neck.

"You were supposed to come home tomorrow!" Willa added.

"Well, I couldn't miss this, could I?" I grinned over their heads at Ally, who was trying to straighten up the room, "Though I see you started without me."

"Ally said we needed to practice our Christmas spirit," Willa informed me in a serious tone.

"Is that right?" I raised an eyebrow at Ally, who shrugged sheepishly.

"They found the Christmas playlist," she explained, "And then one thing led to another..."

"We made more cookies too!" Willa grabbed my hand, pulling him toward the kitchen.

"Snowflakes!" Delphine added, tugging my other hand.

I let myself get dragged along, looking back at Ally with a warm smile.

She was still wearing the Santa hat, a streak of glitter on her cheek catching the light.

The girls immediately launched into a detailed explanation of every cookie's design, talking over each other in their excitement.

I listened, one arm around each daughter, my eyes occasionally meeting Ally's as she leaned against the counter, looking content despite the chaos.

--

The house settled into silence after the girls were tucked in.

Delphine's stuffed unicorn was carefully positioned, Willa's bedtime story book closed neatly on her nightstand.

I found Ally in the kitchen, cleaning the last of the cookie decorating mess. I came up behind her, sliding my arms around her waist.

"Hey," I murmured, resting my chin on her shoulder.

Ally leaned back into me, letting out a soft sigh. "Welcome home, baby."

We stood like that for a moment, the kitchen warm and quiet.

My hands rubbed gentle circles on her back, a simple gesture that spoke volumes about how much we missed each other.

"Want some coffee?" Ally asked, turning in my arms.

I smiled. "Sounds perfect."

The coffee grew cold, forgotten on the kitchen counter, as we moved to the living room, settling onto the couch.

"I missed you," I said, my fingers tracing patterns on Ally's hand, "More than I thought possible."

Ally leaned her head on my shoulder.

"We missed you too. Delphine sang your name into her hairbrush every morning."

I chuckled softly. "That sounds like her."

Our conversation drifted - stories from the concert, the girls' adventures - small moments we saved to share.

"Remember when we first started this?" Ally asked quietly, "Watching the girls, figuring things out?"

I pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Best unexpected journey I've ever been on."

Well, I was thinking," Ally said softly, her fingers playing with the hem of my shirt, "About maybe having kids of our own someday."

My hand found hers, our fingers intertwining.

"Not right now," Ally clarified, "But someday. Maybe."

The words hung in the air. Kids of our own.