Shoulders

Chapter Twenty One - Four years later

                A/N- Yay! Christmas morning! This is my Christmas present to my readers! Special surprise incoming!! This is for all of my Camber fans! The song, however, is for messenger237, who loves this song. Listen all the way through! Merry Christmas!

               Amber's POV
                        Christmas Day! Finally! I had a surprise for my parents and Conor today. He has just gotten to our house, and he was nervous, for some odd reason. Rebecca, or Beki, as we called her, was asleep in the crib, and Kaia was trying to get past dad, who was guarding the living room, which was where the presents were. Mom finally gave the okay, and Kaia charged in, squealing. I followed mom and dad, and Conor took my hand. We sat on the sofa, and Kaia was given the okay for her first present from me. Pink sparkly boots with faux fur,and a t-shirt with all the emotions from Inside Out, her favorite movie, on it. She tackled me in a hug, and pulled the boots and shirt on, just like that. Thankfully, she had a tank top on, so she didn't have to take anything off to get it on. I was wearing my knit teal top with the black belt, and my purple trench coat style jacket that matched my dad's dark red one. T had been a sixteenth birthday gift, and I mostly wore it to perform. Mom got a necklace from dad that had all the kids initials. There was J.D, for Joran David, A.H, for Amber Hope, K.L, for Kaia Lane, K.J, for Katie Joy, and R.L, for Rebecca Lynne. Then, I gave everyone the news.

                "So, I had the surgery two weeks ago, as you know, and other got the news that they believe they, at long last, have finally gotten all of it out. They're pretty sure I don't have cancer anymore!" Mom started crying, and dad, Kaia, and Conor pretty much dog-piled on top of me. Everyone was so happy, and then gifts started going around again. Dad got egg dye tablets and water balloons from me, Mom got a framed picture of me, Kaia, and Beki, and there were two shadows on either side of the three of us, for Joran and Katie. She loved it, and within five minutes, it was on the wall. Conor got a guitar from the three of us, and Kaia gave him Whoppers, a type of candy that he loved. Then, he gave me my present, but mom and dad had gone to get the hot cocoa. We were sitting side by side, and he pulled a small velvet box out.

                  "Amber, when we first started dating, I thought that I knew what love is. Fact is, I didn't. And now, I do. Thanks to you, I know what love is. So, Amber Hope Smallbone, will you be my wife? Will you marry me?" I looked at him, and at the ring. It was gold, with two small pearls and a tiny diamond. It didn't matter. I loved him, and I had been hoping he would ask.
                 "Yes! Yes, I will, Conor." He slipped the ring on my finger, and he leaned over, and we kissed. It was short, but it was wonderful. Then, we heard a small voice.
                 "Ewww!! Amber, why you kissing him?!" We laughed, as Kaia protested, but she was consoled when we told her we were going to get married. Then, dad came in.
                  "Well, took him long enough. Guys don't usually like to wait." Conor chuckled.
                   "Well, I was trying to find a decent place for us, and I was waiting for a time when I was least likely to get turned down when I asked for permission." I smiled, and Kaia crawled into my lap, begging to see the ring. She studied it for a minute, then pronounced,

                       "Dat gorgeous!" Then, she held her boot up for me to see.
                       "Yeah, they're pretty. You like them?" She grinned.
                        "Yeah! They gorgeous!" She ran around the room, shouting 'gorgeous!' until dad told her to stop or she wouldn't get any hot cocoa or cake. After that, she called down a good bit. I looked at a picture from mom and dad's wedding, and mom quietly came up behind me.

                        "If you want to try it on, I still have the dress. You'd look beautiful in it. I also still have the tiara as well." I smiled, hugging her. We had grown so much closer over the last four years, and now, I couldn't imagine living without her. Through everything, mom had been the one to hold me up. Dad was the one that kept me from going beck to the way I used to be. Since I'd been adopted by them, I think I've used makeup about....10 times. I used to wear it everyday, because I thought I was that ugly, but I just needed dad's assurance that yes, I am beautiful and priceless. I had worn my necklace and bracelet every single day, just like dad. Just then, the doorbell rang, and in walked Luke, Courtney, who was carrying Phoenix, and Jude charged in behind them, nearly tripping dad. I caught him by his legs, and he turned upside down, squealing. I sat down, and he tried to get away, knowing what was coming, and I tickled him. He finally got away, and we all headed to the table. Dad prayed, and food started moving back and forth. Then, Luke caught my hand while I was reaching for the cranberry sauce. He looked at my ring, and then looked at me questioningly.

                "What is that?" He asked, and Courtney caught sight of it too.
                "Engagement ring." I said simply.
                "May I have the cranberry sauce?" He obliged, handing me the bowl.
                 "Who's that lucky guy?" He asked, biting off a piece of roll. Just then, Conor kissed me on the cheek, stealing my turkey.
                 "Hey! What is it with you and stealing my meat?! First it was bacon, then ham, then chicken, now turkey?! Quit it!" Everyone laughed, as he handed me my turkey back. We finished eating, heading back to the living room to finish opening presents. Luke got new drumsticks, Courtney got a necklace like mom's, with Jude and Phoenix's initials on it. Jude got a set of Hot Wheels cars, and Phoenix got a stuffed bear and a really cute outfit with dogs on it. After several hours of laughing and just enjoying family, Luke, Courtney, and the boys left, and Conor left as well. We had done some planning for the wedding, and it had been a lot of fun. I still couldn't believe it. I was getting married in May. I was going to be Mrs. Amber Williams. The five of us snuggled up on the couch, looking at the tree, and the snow blowing around outside. It was beautiful. Suddenly, it all felt so real. The Savior, born in a manger. His mother, Mary, truly only a girl. His life and death on this earth, and everything since. I was so grateful for what he did. If he hadn't, we wouldn't be able to even have a chance to get to Heaven. We'd all be condemned for our sins. If he hadn't been willing to come into the earth into the lowest of places, if he hadn't humbled himself so far below what he deserves, if he hadn't been willing to die on the cross, we'd never be good enough to get into Heaven. Only perfection is allowed in Heaven, and we're so far from perfect, not even every single good thing we do is enough to get us to Heaven. Only a perfect sacrifice could pay for our sins, and Jesus, God's son, was the perfect sacrifice required to pay for our sin. If he hadn't done that, there'd be no way for us to get to Heaven. As I thought about that, I was so grateful for the people who led me to Christ. Christmas isn't about the lights, or the tree, or the presents. Yes, those things are fun, but it's not the real reason for the season. It's all in the name. CHRISTmas. Nothing, not even death, can separate is from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.