Acceptance

Chapter 42

On Christmas morning I didn't know what to expect. A squealing and overly excited genie who was wearing a red dress and a Santa hat wasn't what I was expecting. I felt Qin sit up and I whined at the loss of warmth. "Come on Alice," Cindy said excitedly. "The others are waiting on us." I got up and stretched, sighing in relief when I felt my back pop. I was in desperate need for one of Pyrus's messages. I saw Cindy had clothes laid out for both Qin and I. I noticed my dress was a pretty emerald dress with black tights to go under it. I put it on then put on my knee high heeled leather boots. Cindy smiled and put a sparkly emerald green Santa hat on me. "You're so pretty," Cindy with a smile, causing my cheeks to feel a little warm. Qin wore black slacks, a wine red button up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His ginger hair was pulled back and he wore his cute smile. He took our hands and we left our room.

We went in as Pyrus licked Nathaniel's cheek causing Nathaniel to growl softly and wipe his cheek. Drake and Shelton were talking but stopped when they noticed us. "I told you I wouldn't need to use force to get them up," Cindy said happily. We then had a large breakfast where we talked and laughed so easily. I thought back to the past Christmases where I either spent it covered in someone else's blood or trying to get some money for my next meal. Most of my life I was alone, but now I have more love and warmth around me that I never knew would appear in my life. We have our problems, and struggles, but I truly did love them all and I was so grateful to have them in life. 

We sat around and passed out presents. We all had very large piles, and I hated that they spent so much on me. Of course I can tell they all hated we each spent a lot on one another, but I couldn't resist it. I enjoyed having people I care about to shop for, for Christmas, so who cares if I went a little overboard, I know I didn't. Qin was the first one to open a present since he was the latest addition. It was a gift from Pyrus. It was a spray bottle filled with a clear liquid. "It's a spray for your books that keeps them from being burned. It was originally created to protect books and papers from little fae who don't know how to control their flames, but I guess protecting your books from your hotheaded mate is a good reason as well," Pyrus explained to him. "How come you never got me anything like that," Nathaniel teased him. "Because I can always buy more of your books," Pyrus told him seriously. He still felt the guilt from when he made the fire catch the book his brother had gotten him on fire. 

"I love it, thank you," Qin said with a small smile. Then it was my turn. I picked a small red bag that had tissue paper in it. I carefully took out the paper and saw a framed photo of my parents holding me in a swaddled blanket. It had been so long since I had seen them that I thought I had forgotten what they looked like. "It took some bullying, but one of the pack members was able to find a photo of your parents," Shelton told me. I tried so hard not to cry as I looked at it, but I couldn't help it. I looked at Shelton as I hugged the photo to me, "Thank you." "You don't need to thank me baby," He told me. "It's something you deserve in your life." I smiled softly and tucked the photo away as Cindy picked a present to open. It was a bottle with a dark green substance from Qin. 

"It took some research with a few genie researchers who have been trying to find a cure for the effects from the illness, and although we couldn't find a cure, we were able to find a way to strengthen your womb and increase the chances of delivering without any problems," Qin explained to her. "A simple dose in the mornings with breakfast is all you need to take during your pregnancy." Cindy teared up, "Thank you so much." Hopefully with that we could all relax a little easier. "It might not taste very good-" Qin tried to tell her. "It could be the most disgusting thing in the world, but it'll be worth taking every drop," Cindy told him. We then looked at Pyrus.

He looked through his pile of presents and chose a box wrapped in black and red paper. He opened it and saw a black leather sketch book that had an area for a photo to be inserted inside the cover and it had one of all of us smiling and happy. In gold letters in various areas on the cover were declarations of love from each of us. He's been working so hard to make us another place to live that he deserved something really nice to design them in. He smiled as he ran his hand over the front cover, "Thank you." Next it was Nathaniel's turn. 

He looked through the pile of presents and decided on a small box in wrapping blue snowflake wrapping paper. Inside the box was a really old book. "I actually managed to find one at a flea market," Drake told him. It made Nathaniel smile as he showed us the cover. "I never thought I would see my own works again," He said with a soft chuckle. "Fun fact about our loving prince of darkness was that he was once an author who wrote horror stories many centuries ago," Pyrus shared with Cindy, Qin, and I. "I had been looking for one of my works for a while, eventually I gave up, because I thought they would all be dust by now," Nathaniel shared with us. "That explains why horror movies don't faze you," Cindy said with a soft giggle. 

"I can try to restore it," I offered to him. He held it out to me, "If you'd be so kind." I took it and used a time reversal spell on the book to make it to the point it almost looked new. I then opened it and I was happy to see that even the ink was restored on the pages. I handed it to him and he smiled as he opened it. He then closed it and looked at Drake, "Thank you." 

Now it was Drake's turn to open a gift and he chose the smallest box. When he opened it, inside was a red heart heat charm. "When you shift, it'll still be around your neck so that even when you're flying really high altitudes, you will stay warm," I told him. I was always so worried when he would go flying that the thin skin of his wings would freeze. Now I don't have to worry about that happening anymore. He smiled, "Thank you my treasure." 

Last it was Shelton's turn to open a present. By the pretty pink wrapping paper, we knew it was from Cindy. Inside of the package was a silver Rolex with a black and white photo of us as the face of the clock, and on the back of the watch it had the words, 'We love you' . "I know you spend so much time working to be able to provide for us, and I wanted you to know that we are thankful for the time you spend taking care of us," Cindy told him. They all worked to provide for us, but Shelton worked the most. Whether it was for his company or for the council, he was always working. His smile was soft and tender, "Thank you for this baby." 

After that we continued to open gifts, laugh, and talk. We ate a wonderful meal and danced to music playing from a radio that ran on batteries. Once the sun went down we stood in the windows to watch the fireworks that lit up the sky. It was truly the best Christmas I have ever had, and it was all thanks to my wonderful mates.