A/N: Publishing the last chapter early since I'll be out of town for the weekend. Hope y'all enjoy this as a Friday night snack ;)

VIII.
epilogue

Ever since that day, Souma never talks about children or the fact that he wants a family of his own. They go through day by day as if that fight never happened. They still challenge each other, tease each other, and love each other all at the same time.

And it only came to her thoughts after he proposed during their trip to Paris.

But what he always does is showing his affection towards children everywhere he sees one. He would ignore Erina for the rest of a party to play with one of the guests' little boy or doing one of those Yukihira charities for that one orphanage in Tokyo he always goes to every Christmas Eve and shower them with toys and his cooking.

And this year, Souma insisted Erina to ditch the Nakiri Group annual Christmas Eve party to come with him to the orphanage.

"I put a ring on your finger and you still don't want to spend Christmas Eve with me? Some fiancee you are, Nakiri."

Of course she detected that sarcasm of his, but she also knew he was serious, so that's how Erina ends up in the middle of this small, dinty dining room, scooping some beef curry to plates after plates for the happy children along with other volunteers.

But this actually doesn't feel bad. At all.

Erina loves how this place (that's always been depressing in her head) brings so much joy to her heart. The squeals of delight and excited frenzy in the multifunction room is even more present once gift wrappers are thrown around the room because of the toys they get from them (Yes, Soma and Erina shopped for the toys themselves). Even a 4-year-old girl keep thanking Erina for the Barbie doll she picked and refuses to let go of her the entire night.

Not even when Souma introduced her as "my friend Erina", and one of the children instantly jumped and yelped, "No, they are engaged! I saw it on the news!".

These kids nowadays.

Though that compassion side of him did come out once again when he read them the classic tale of Nutcracker in the middle of the room. She never thought she'd see this side of Souma, and she welcomes those flowers that are growing in her heart, happily, and there's no denying to it.

"So… what do you think?" Souma asks her by the time they cool down beneath the Christmas tree and most of the children have gone back to their rooms.

"What do you mean?"

"Y'know, it's your first time here. And I know it could probably get too chaotic for you especially during dinner and when they-"

Erina places her hand on his thigh, "I enjoyed it very much, Yukihira. Thank you."

And she means it- she actually thinks this is the best Christmas she's ever had so far. Especially now when Michael Bublé's version of All I Want For Christmas Is You echoes softly through the dimmed room. For some reason, the smile Souma offers says that he knew it all along.

"Well, Chiyo seems to really like you." He refers to the little girl who's been on Erina's tail all night, but is now asleep on her lap.

"Maybe it's the dog Snapchat filter." She shrugs, but never stopping the gentle brushes along the strands of her brown hair.

"No, seriously. You're so good with 'em." He chuckles, "The only time your haughty side doesn't jump out."

"What? I-I don't have a haughty side anymore! What are you talking-"

"Sssshh, you'll wake her up, y'know." Souma whispers, grinning at the same time. "You think I don't know what your cooks have been saying 'bout ya?"

She lowers her voice this time, but still ever so demanding, "W-Well that is a completely different situation! I am running a kitchen, for crying out loud!"

"Geez, Nakiri. Relax. It's not like I'm gonna leave you if you're being haughty again."

"What?! Th-That's not what-"

"Sssh!"

"Hey, do not shush me!"

"Sssh!" Souma does it once again.

"That is seriously annoying, Yukihira!"

"Then don't make me kiss ya in front of all these kids."

Like hell she would! "Hmph, you are seriously infuriating. I'm blaming myself for thinking that it's your high school phase only."

"And yet here you are all set to take me as your husband." He takes a hold of her hand and kisses the Cartier ring gracing her finger, which causes her eyes to roll at his giggle.

It's when he says nothing anymore she really takes in her surrounding. With her head resting on his shoulder, the almost broken heater is starting to take a toll on the chill that's seeping into her cashmere sweater, but strangely, she feels warm.

It may be the sleeping Chiyo and the remaining 4 children in the room that are distracted by their toys and their smiles, or it may be the little Christmas light that twinkles ever so beautifully, or the little specks of snow that decorates the window in such ethereal order.

But she's pretty sure it's the person next to her, when she catches him stealing loving glances at her when she thought his gaze is somewhere else. Souma- he never ceases to bring that blush back to her cheek like it's the first time.

"I-Is something wrong?" She finally asks, lifting her face from his shoulder.

"Nah it's just uh-" He pauses, seemingly having a debate with himself, "I planned to give you your gift tomorrow morning, but here ya go."

Erina receives the small, neatly wrapped package. It's bendable- almost foldable, and it gets her thinking if this thing was on her wishlist she gave him a while ago.

"What is this, Yukihira-kun?"

"Open 'em." He says.

So she tears the paper slowly, trying not to wake Chiyo up in the process. When it's finally free, her mouth hangs open because of what she's holding gently in her hands, and the dots have finally connected on why she hasn't seen this white cloth on him for a few days.

"Y-Yukihira, you cannot give this to me…"

Yes- Yukihira Souma has given her his signature headband. And words cannot describe how she can even cope with the idea.

"Why?" He asks.

"B-Because this means too much to you. I-I mean this once belonged to your mother and I just can't easily-"

"Sure you can, and I want you to have it." He reaches out and rests his hand on hers, and then he offers her one of those looks on his face everytime he talks about his mother. "I'm sure mom would've wanted you to too."

She stares at it again, still mesmerized by the softness and the stories behind it. Even just thinking about it, and now that Souma has given her the only thing he holds onto him closer than life itself, fills her eyes with tears.

"Y'know you don't have to put it on ya the whole time like I did, eh?" He reminds her.

Erina knows he means it since he used to carry it literally everywhere, so it only feels natural when her heart tells her to tie the cloth around her head and tuck the bow under her long, honey blonde hair, just like what she's doing now.

And it feels… fulfilling.

"Is this looking alright for everyday look?"

He eyes the top of her head, trailing down to her chin, then giving her that sheepish smile she cherishes. She knows he didn't expect her reaction with that slight redness on his cheek.

Oh, if only he knew this won't be the last time she'd left him speechless. Why she was missing for a good 30 minutes during their toy shopping trip, or the fact that a sky blue box is already waiting for him on his side of the bed.

And that little baby onesie inside it will be the only thing that speaks to him.

"Merry Christmas, Erina."

"Merry Christmas too, Souma."

»»-¤-««

A/N: *in case y'all are wondering, the onesie says "Let's do it!"

And wow oh wow! Thank you so much to those who has been supporting me from the beginning of this short series until the end. Thank you for all the love because it really means a lot for me to be able to express my love for this ship and receive some sort of validation that my stories are really worth reading. Thank you for your time to leave reviews, and for reblogging, liking, commenting this on Tumblr. I hope you've been enjoying Akai Ito and its little universe and I'll hope to see you all again on my next stories!

-MA