Lannan, Rose and Cara had stayed up late the night before Christmas arranging all of the presents under the tree perfectly.
Lannan took on the most difficult chore of all, biting a few cookies so it looked like Santa had been there.
Rose watched him, a soft look on her face.
Him bringing her sister and niece to have Christmas with her was the best present he could've given her.
They went to bed that night, cuddled up in matching Christmas pjs, with smiles on their faces.
Cozy and peaceful, they slept through the whole night soundly, only to be awoken by a wild swarm of blond hair bouncing on their bed at 6:48 in the morning.
"UNCLE YENNON AUNTIE ROSE ITS CHRISTMAS SANTA CAME GET UP!!" Grace giggled as she bounced between them.
Lannan growled as he scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder. "Santa came! Did he bring presents for me, too? Or just for you, Gracie?"
Rose giggled, following them out to the living room, where the tree was lit up and the presents were piled up.
Willeh ran in between their legs, barking exitedly.
Cara grinned, handing her sister and Lannan steaming cups of coffee.
They settled down on the couch and watched as Cara handed her daughter presents until there were only a few left under the tree.
Cara picked one up and read the label, "This one is for.........Lannan!"
She handed it to him and he gently shook it, trying to guess what was inside.
"Uncle Yannan! That's not how you open presents!!!" Grace marched over to him indignantly.
"Why don't you show Uncle Lannan how to open it?"
Grace gently took one of the corners on wrapping paper and gingerly peeled it back a little. "See it's like this!"
He laughed, following her example and finishing the unwrapping of the medium sized present.
A brown cardboard box was taped shut and he took a knife to the tape carefully.
He couldn't help his sharp intake of breath when he saw the PAX picture reframed perfectly.
Underneath were a new mouse and headset for his gaming videos.
He leaned in to kiss Rose gently on the lips, "Thank you so much, honey."
"Okay, next!" Grace shouted, dragging a box at least two times as large as her across the floor.
Lannan couldn't keep the nervous smile off his lips when Rose began opening the wrapping paper.
She squinted, reading the sharpie on the first box, "Rose, this first box represents the first time I saw you. Your presence was so powerful, it captured my attention from the first moment we locked eyes. The sheer size of this box is still not enough to show how big the love I have for truly is." Rose turned to look at Lannan, who gestured at the box.
"Keep going, baby."
Another cut through tape revealed another, slightly smaller box, this one a painted golden color.
"This box represents the day at the beach that I knew I wanted to be with you forever. The golden light illuminated your beautiful features and I knew you were the one."
Grace sat on Cara's lap, sucking her thumb and watching them with big eyes.
She opened the golden box and pulled out the next one, a rose red color. "Sure this one is cheesy, but you're my Rose and I wouldn't have it any other way." Tears began dripping down her cheeks slowly as she sliced into that box and pulled out a smaller, stormy grey box.
"This box represents the day we got caught in the rain and you just laughed and kissed me. You weren't worried about how we looked in the rain. I want to weather all the storms of life with you."
The next box was an even smaller black box, silver sharpie writing on the top, "This represents my world without you. Black, not a light around. Empty. The worst month of my entire life."
She held back a sob as she opened the black box, to find an empty space with writing on the back. "Turn around." She did and there was Lannan, down on one knee, holding a ring box to her.
"Oh my God, Lannan." She looked over at her sister, who was both beaming and crying at the same time.
"Rose, you've always been the only one for me. I want to go to bed with you and wake up with you every morning for the rest of my life. I want to start a family together. A part of me has always known you were the one for me, from the very first moment in time fate crashed us into each other. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
His voice wavered at the end, holding out the ring and doing his best to look confident.
"Oh my God, yes, Lan, yes a million times yes!" She dropped to her knees, kissing him deeply.
Lannan slid the ring on her finger gently.
It was only them in that moment.
Things were picture perfect, if only for a moment, when Grace wiggled off her mom's lap, barreling into them, "I wanna see the ring!!!!!"
Then Rose noticed the photographer, snapping pictures and her sister, crying happy tears on the couch.
"Lannan?"
"Yes, darling?"
"We're getting married!" She giggled, turning the ring in the light to admire the sparkle of the diamond.
"Yes, we are." He pressed a kiss to her forehead, helping her to her feet.
Cara threw her arms around them, "Our parents would be so proud."
a/n this was just supposed to be a cute fluffy christmas chapter but then the story took over and here we are. this isn't the end, i promise. Rose and Lannan have a long story ahead of them.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
I'll probably take a break until after the New Year.
