The Hybrid

Chapter 51

Important Note: I have never visited Alaska, USA. I did my research online and therefore, if there are any mistakes I apologize. If you know the correct information, please let me know as I would love for this to be as accurate as possible. 

Chapter 51 - Exploring

The others have arrived and met up with us down in the dining hall for breakfast that Vulcan and I had prepared since they would be exhausted from travelling last night. Nero had let Natasha sleep in for a while before bringing up a tray of food, as her pregnancy is starting to take a toll on her. Although she is only three weeks along supernatural babies take extra energy and nutrients out of the mother because of how much strength they need and how quickly they develop in the womb.

Because Christmas is tomorrow and based on how late we arrived to the lodge, a tree was already picked for us and sat in storage, which Vulcan and Nikolai are currently moving into the sitting room. My jaw drops at the enormous size of the tree, it almost reaches the ceiling!

One of the helpers brings in two boxes full of ornaments, making Caia and I rush over and begin our search through the various themed decorations for the tree. I can feel the excitement and joy bubbling within me the more I get involved and I know Vulcan can sense it too, judging by how he chuckles quietly to himself every few minutes when I'll jump up to hang a bauble or wrap some tinsel around the tree with him helping me.

We work on the tree, chattering away in delight about how the most wonderful time of the year is tomorrow and how much we have achieved in the past months up till now. Nero joins us in decorating the tree soon after, ordering Natasha not to strain herself too much and restricting her to the couch with a cozy blanket. The four of us work quickly and soon enough, I'm on Vulcan's shoulders wrapping the last bit of the lights around the top of the tree and finishing it off with a star on top.

He sets me down on my feet and we step back to admire our work, beaming at each other at how pretty the tree looks. Nikolai crouches and switches on the lights making it all the more festive. I clap my hands in delight, a wide grin on my lips as I stare at our Christmas tree, now all it needs are presents under it which I'm sure everyone, including me, will be sneaking down in the night to place them under the tree.

I feel Vulcan's lips press firmly against my temple making me hum in content and cuddle into his side as he wraps an arm around my shoulders. We walk back to the couches and decide to watch a movie before the weather settles down so we can go out and explore. And so, I press play on a classic Christmas movie and top my warm mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows, sighing blissfully as I snuggle up to my mate.

***

Caia and Nikolai are currently arguing by the doorway of whether we should go into town first to look around famous sights or visit the places Caia has been begging to go to all morning. On the other hand, Natasha walks around with Nero watching her like a hawk as he chats with Vulcan by the archway leading to one of the gardens.

I lazily observe everyone from the couch. Although the family tries to hide it, I can see that coming back to their parent's lodge after many years is affecting them greatly. Vulcan had become quiet when we first arrived and I would catch him gazing around with a longing look in his sad, green eyes.