Note:

Hello. It's Fantasinner / Aya's fiancé again. I realize at first this update will seem completely unexpected so I'll briefly explain. I've spent quite a bit of time going through Aya's writing files. Most of them are password protected and her master file on her fanfiction writing was as well. It took me a while to guess the password so that I could get into it, and what I found was her entire story followed by over 25 pages of extra writing labeled "Future Chapters". After reading through it it became obvious that she had often written ahead of herself with the intention of including things. Most are just clips with no real ending or beginning but at the very bottom of the file I found one complete scene. It obviously takes place over a year after where the story is now. Apparently this was something she was building toward and who knows how long it would have taken her to get there. I just felt that the only thing to do is to post it. It's a wonderful scene, and almost personal to Aya. I hope it's enjoyed.

I'd also like to try, even though I know I'll fail, to express my deep gratitude for the wonderful and heartwarming things that have been written about Aya. It brings tears to my eyes every time I read through them. There are truly no words to thank you all for your kindness, and posting this very last scene is partly my way of trying to say thanks. It deserves to be read anyway, and especially by those who truly appreciate it. I know I really don't have the actual authority but I'm taking a little "fiancé's license" and dedicating this last post to anyone who has read this story, and especially to those who have taken something from it. My gratitude to you all, just knowing you're out there anywhere reading my beautiful love's words, is boundless.

And to luci465… you top the list.

Onward.

Future

There was something about frost covered windows that did something to Marissa. Something about their sparkle as they caught the warmth from inside houses filled with joy and happiness made her feel like the ice collected there for the specific purpose of twinkling in at her, reminding her that the soft white blanket outside, while by concession extremely beautiful, waited in dampened silence without disturbing the cheerfulness inside the house; it merely lay and waited, glazing the frozen panes as a simple reminder that the warmth was inside, not out. As she stood in front of the expansive bay window peering through the snow laden glass she felt an involuntary smile creep to her lips and she relaxed into it while indulging in the sweet sounds of children's laughter from just behind her. On the left of the window the glowing lights of the Christmas tree reflected back at her and the blurry shapes of three little heads bobbed around in front of it, sizing and comparing the presents that lay beneath. She thought about turning around to watch them but decided against it, instead relishing the sounds mixed with the spectacular view through the window.

The backyard rolled in gentle snow blanketed hills until it met the snow topped trees behind it, the small pond at the edge of the property frozen into a solid block of ice and the glow of the clear moon illuminated the swooping cuts made from five pairs of ice skates. The fountain which in the summertime spewed sporadic plumes of dancing water sat still and spackled with the remains of launched snowballs, and had a fresh blanket of snow not fallen that evening then the deep trenches they had cut through it would have been visible until they reached the back porch, where five pairs of frozen boots huddled beside the door. The snowman they had built a few days prior had been destroyed in their snowball fight and lay in three heaping mounds in the middle of the yard, and Marissa laughed as she noticed the carrot nose jutting halfway out of the snow.

"Whatcha laughing about?" said a small voice from behind her and Marissa immediately recognized the hands that wrapped around her waist as Miranda's. She draped her arms around the girl and hugged her close while gesturing out the window.

"Our snowman's nose," she told her. "It's sticking straight up out of the snow from where you and AJ knocked it over earlier."

Miranda squinted through the glass and started giggling herself. "Oops. At least we remembered to bring in Uncle Jack's top hat."

Marissa nodded in agreement and went about gazing onto the yard, enjoying standing there with Miranda who was happy to join her in contended silence, the fuzzy fleece of her new onesy-pajamas so soft under her hands as she affectionately rubbed her shoulder. After a moment though her attention was caught by a small movement at the edge of the yard just inside the trees, and she gasped quietly as an enormous deer slowly emerged from the shadowed trees and cantered slowly out into the openness of the yard. From the size of the antlers Marissa could immediately tell that it was a buck and its graceful nobility took her breath away. It trotted slowly across the open ground, leaving delicate hoof prints in its wake, and soon the two girls saw another deer follow it from the trees, this time a doe of much smaller stature but still immeasurably stunning.

"Hey guys you've got to come see this," Marissa called over her shoulder. "Hurry!"

She heard the sounds of packages being dropped followed by the scurrying of tiny footsteps and soon AJ bumped gently into her other side as Gabby skidded around to stand in front of them. Bianca came up behind her and placed a warm hand on her shoulder. "What is it?"

Marissa only pointed. The buck and the doe were by then nearly halfway across the yard, meandering their way through the dense snow in the direction of the three piles that remained of the snowman. AJ pressed his face up against the glass to get a better view and the two younger girls followed suit.

"Oh look!" Gabby twittered excitedly a moment later, pointing enthusiastically back toward the trees where another deer was emerging. "It's the baby reindeer! It's a family!"

"Are those Santa's reindeer?" Miranda asked in a hushed tone just as the buck reached the carrot, and Bianca's heart swelled as she looked down at the top of her daughter's head and savored that even at eight years old she hadn't given up on believing in Santa Clause.

"I bet they are," AJ whispered, his green eyes widening as they all watched the buck begin to munch on his find. "The daddy is at least. He's beautiful. Just the kind of reindeer Santa would have."

"Which one do you think he is?" Gabby asked, her voice just barely loud enough to be heard over the intense hush that had fallen over the family. Her breath left a circle of fog on the glass and she hastily wiped it away with her sleeve.

"I don't know," Miranda answered. "But I hope he gets back to Santa before he has to leave tonight."

"I think he looks like Prancer," AJ supplied, and Miranda shot a questioning look his way.

"Why do you say that?"

"Dunno," AJ said with a shrug. "Just a guess."

"I think it's Donner," Gabby told them confidently, her pigtails swishing behind her as she nodded.

"You're just saying that because Donner's your favorite," AJ countered, and Gabby only replied with a shrug of her own. Marissa glanced behind her at Bianca whose eyes were alight with amusement, both women delighted to listen to their kids discuss the possibility of one of Santa's reindeer happening into their yard. AJ craned his head backward and addressed his mother. "Which one do you think he is mom?"

Marissa tilted her head to the side, sizing up the deer as she repeated the song in her head so she could remember the names. "Well I think he does kind of look like Prancer," she agreed after a moment. "But then I think maybe he looks like Blitzen to me."

"I think he looks like Comet," Bianca offered with a grin, and Marissa nodded at the suggestion.

"I think it's Dasher," Miranda said confidently, and Bianca draped her hand over Marissa's on her daughter's shoulder.

"Why's that Mimo?"

"Because he's so big," she explained with a glance backward at her mother. "Dasher's the one that's closest to the sleigh and so he'd have to be really big and strong to be able to pull it. Look at him – he's huge. And you can see how strong his legs are. That would be really important."

Both Marissa and Bianca had begun nodding their agreement as she spoke, and by the time she finished AJ and Gabby were as well. "That's really logical, Mimo," Marissa told her, impressed yet again by the girl's ability to sort through anything with logic and reason. "I bet that is Dasher."

"We should go give them more carrots," AJ suggested quietly as the baby deer finished off the last of the one they'd left, but Bianca sadly shook her head.

"We can't go out there or we'll scare them away buddy," she explained. "But we'll be sure to leave extras out tonight for Santa to give them."

"They're leaving anyway," Miranda whispered, and sure enough the little family were making their way slowly toward the trees and Bianca found it interesting that they each followed the same path back through the snow. After they disappeared she glanced down at the three children who still stood with their noses pressed against the glass and the little thrill that still hung in the air sent a shiver down her spine.

"That was amazing," Miranda said finally as she pushed away from the window and turned around. "I've never seen a reindeer that close before. That was so cool."

"Do you think they'll be back next year?" Gabby asked as she lifted her arms for Marissa to pick her up. The redhead scooped her into her arms and nodded.

"Maybe. Next year we should put a whole bunch of carrots out on the porch for them."

"Yeah!" AJ and Miranda agreed heartily.

"Maybe there will even be more next year," Miranda said hopefully, and Bianca beamed at her.

"That would great," she told her daughter with a warm smile. "We'll leave a whole bag out there for them next Christmas."

"Okay guys it's almost time for bed," Marissa said happily, spinning Gabby around which earned her a delighted giggle. "Everybody run upstairs and brush your teeth and then we'll meet down here in front of the fire. Got it?"

"Got it!" three excited voices exclaimed and Gabby leapt from her arms and bolted for the stairs behind the older kids. Bianca chuckled and wrapped her arms around Marissa's waist as she rested her head on her shoulder.

"Well that was kind of magical," she said quietly into her ear and Marissa hummed her agreement.

"I hope they all still believe in Santa next year just so we can camp out by the window and wait for reindeer," she said with a soft sigh. "I do believe we couldn't have picked a better place to build our house. You were right – being out here on the edge of town with all the trees has really paid off."

"Told you," Bianca replied as she kissed her cheek and pulled away to lead them to the couch. Marissa cuddled up next to her girlfriend and leaned back against her shoulder, sighing happily again as Bianca trailed soft kisses along her cheek. "Our first Christmas in our house," she whispered, and Marissa smiled as she closed her eyes.

"It's been perfect, even when your mom and Kendall got into it over the place-settings at dinner."

Bianca laughed. "Yeah that's an every year occurrence," she explained. "Kind of like a tradition. Only this year instead of Kendall defending her own table she was defending mine, which I kind of weirdly appreciated."

"Me too," Marissa agreed. "Only then I was left with your mom huffing around the kitchen while I was trying to cook."

Bianca kissed her forehead. "Sorry."

"Eh, the things you do for love."

The couple reclined in peaceful silence for a moment as they gazed serenely at the crackling fire, each warmed completely by the flames as well as the warmth of the other's arms wrapped around them.

After a moment Bianca lifted her head. "Have you heard from JR?"

Marissa sighed listlessly. "Yeah he called earlier from New York. Said he was too busy for me to get AJ but that he'd call tomorrow to talk to him. I'll believe that when I see it."

Bianca nodded. "Did AJ ask about him?"

"You know he's kind of stopped asking so much," Marissa told her, and once again Bianca nodded at information she'd already gathered herself. "Ever since he's started travelling so much and especially after we finally moved in here AJ just hasn't seemed as interested. But I could tell he was anxious today."

"Yeah he kept jumping at the phone every time it rang," Bianca supplied. "I could tell he wanted him to call."

"Well he'd better call tomorrow," Marissa said flatly, her tone carrying that hard edge that usually associated with her ex-husband.

Bianca kissed her head again. "I'm sure he will." Marissa glanced back at the brunette, her eyes squinting slightly as if weighing her decision to ask her next question but Bianca decided to just answer it for her. She shook her head slowly. "Reese won't call."

"Not even on Christmas?" Marissa asked hopefully, but Bianca only continued to shake her head.

"Well she didn't call last year so I don't expect a call this year. She hasn't sent a card or anything either. But at least this year I think Miranda and Gabby aren't thinking about it so much. And by the way I still think it's amazing that Gabby's calling you mommy now."

Marissa smiled and felt her heart swell before sinking again. "I never wanted to replace…"

But Bianca stopped her with a gentle finger to her lips. "Don't baby. She gave up that role and you happily stepped in. Truth be told you're a thousand times better at parenting my girls than Reese ever was. She's out of our lives by her own choice and both Miranda and Gabby now look to you where she used to be."

Marissa sighed heavily. "You know how much I love that," she began, unsure exactly where she was going. The subject of Reese had remained an understood off-limits topic ever since her disastrous visit the previous year, and still every time Marissa thought about it she still imagined Miranda's hurt and tear-streaked face as well as Bianca's anger and once again she relished the fact that she'd finally gotten to have her say with the woman. Still, she hated the abandonment that she knew Miranda still felt and had worked tirelessly to take it away or at least ease it, but she still noticed the tiniest flash of – pain? – in Miranda's eyes every time she heard her younger sister address Marissa as "mommy." She looked up into reassuring chocolate eyes and pressed forward. "I love Miranda and Gabby like they're my own, and I consider them to be mine now. I guess I just still wish that something could have been salvaged with Reese, for Miranda's sake at the very least. Gabby was really too young to understand but I know Miranda still struggles with it."

Bianca thought about it for a minute before responding. Finally she said, "You know I used to wish that too. I wanted Reese to stay in our daughter's lives for their sake, but after her behavior last year it all kind of changed for me. Reese didn't want a family; she wanted someone to come home to so she wouldn't feel lonely. You on the other hand want nothing more than to come home to our family, and this family in this house tonight is the only family I'll ever want or need. You are my family. You and AJ and Mimo and Gabby. That's all that matters to me. I know Miranda still struggles but it's getting better, and that's because of you. She trusts you and she loves you and most of all she knows that you're not going anywhere."

"I'm not," Marissa breathed, and Bianca lifted her face so she could look at her.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," she assured her softly as she leaned in for a kiss, and the gentle hum of Marissa's happiness made her heart blaze in her chest. When she pulled away she rested her forehead against her girlfriend's and the two simply sat together for a while as they partook of one of their favorite pastimes – just smiling at one another.

After a long moment Marissa sat back and glanced up the stairs. "Where in the world are the kids?" she wondered. "It shouldn't take them this long just to brush their teeth."

Bianca raised her eyebrows and moved to pull herself off the couch. "I'll go check."

She wasn't gone thirty seconds before hurried footsteps bounded down the stairs with AJ in the lead, their annual Christmas Eve story book jammed under his arm as he flew over the last couple of steps and landed with a loud thump on the carpet.

"Slow down buddy," Marissa laughed as he launched himself over the back of the couch and landed on the cushions next to her. Miranda and Gabby both skipped around it and settled themselves on the floor while AJ just grinned up at his mother with a sparkle of excitement in his green eyes and a wide grin on his face. "A little excited about Christmas are we?" she asked the three children, who all nodded vigorously. Marissa shook her head. "Okay well I understand that you're excited but you'd better calm down so you'll be able to sleep," she told them, trying not to sound too downer mommy, but all three kids were squirming nonstop in their anticipation. Jeez did we give these kids one too many sugar cookies or something?

"You heard her guys," Bianca told them as she reseated herself next to Marissa. She fixed them each with a stern look and Marissa sat back, deciding to let Bianca take over. "We all have to calm down if we're going to get any sleep. And you'll all need your rest so you'll have the energy to play with all your awesome new toys that Santa's going to bring you tonight. Remember?"

The three kids only nodded silently as Gabby stood up abruptly and climbed onto the couch between her parents, nestling herself snugly between the two women. Miranda sat up on her knees and tugged the book from under AJ's arm before resettling herself on a plush pillow on the floor near the fire. "Can I read the book this year mommy?"

Bianca nodded and smiled fondly at her daughter. "Of course Mimo," she told her happily. "In fact why don't we all go and snuggle up by the fire."

AJ immediately jumped up and started tossing the back cushions from the couch on the floor while Gabby darted off to collect blankets, and within just a few minutes the family of five were cuddled together on the warm carpet in front of the crackling fire. Before joining them Bianca shut off the lights, leaving only the Christmas tree and the fire to illuminate the room. She sank down on a pillow behind Marissa and the two reclined against the coffee table. AJ draped a blanket over their legs and then rolled up inside his own, cocooning himself into a cylinder of patchwork wool with blue fleece footies sticking out of one end. He rolled onto his stomach and propped himself up on his elbows, his full attention then focused on Miranda who sat to one side of the fireplace with the book open in her lap. Gabby scooted over and laid her head on Marissa's legs while her sister began to read.

"'Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot, but the Grinch, who lived just north of Whoville - did not,'" Miranda read from How the Grinch Stole Christmas. "'The Grinch hated Christmas - the whole Christmas season. Now, please don't ask why; no one quite knows the reason…'"

And on she read with her family enraptured, and to Marissa's extreme surprise all three of the kids – including notoriously dozy Gabby – stayed wide awake for the entire reading, Miranda's excitement only growing the closer she got to the end. Well that's interesting, the redhead thought to herself as Miranda turned over to the last page of the book. When we did this last year all three of them were snoring by halfway in. Good god we did give them too many sugar cookies after dinner…

"'Christmas Day will always be just as long as we have we,'" Miranda rushed through the last lines. "'Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart, and hand in hand.'" She shut the book with a quiet pop of the pages and put it down on the hearth while AJ and Gabby both sat upright and twisted around on their butts so all three were looking at Bianca and Marissa.

"That was really nice Mimo," Bianca said. "You have a wonderful reading voice."

"Thanks mommy," Miranda replied, and this time Marissa was really interested in her still present squirminess.

She raised her eyebrows and peered at the kids who each wore a wide grin. "What's up guys? You seem awfully… jumpy."

"We have a surprise!" Gabby exclaimed, and both AJ and Miranda nodded enthusiastically.

"Well what is it?" Bianca asked them, sitting forward and Marissa followed as the kids jumped up and darted over to the Christmas tree. Marissa watched them go, fully expecting them to rummage through the piles of gifts and pull one out, but to her extreme surprise and confusion AJ, being the tallest of the three, reached up into the branches and pulled one of the ornaments down before handing it gently to Miranda. Marissa glanced over at Bianca and silently asked, Are you following this? Bianca just grinned and returned her attention to the children. They made their way back over to the comfy pallet in front of the fire and Miranda showed the ornament to the couple.

"We made this for you," she explained quietly as she placed it gently in Marissa's hand. "We hung it on the tree a few days ago after we finished it. We hoped you wouldn't notice it."

"I didn't," Marissa whispered as she turned the ornament over in her hands, her chest expanding just like the Grinch's growing heart as she struggled to keep the tears away.

It was stunning. A two-inch glass orb sat on top of a circular golden base, obviously super-glued there by uneven hands. Inside the glass ball there was a tiny brown house with a pond in the back, both sitting on white rolling hills that ended in tall trees. As she looked closer she realized why the house seemed familiar, and one quick glance up at the beaming kids confirmed her guess – it was their house. The scene had been made from some sort of clay and then painted to match the real-life version, and the uneven and smudged lines of the paint immediately told her that the kids in front of her had done it themselves. The ball had then been filled with a water solution and white flecks floated around inside, snowing down plastic flakes on the house where her family lived.

Marissa closed her eyes against the swell of tears, unable in that moment to comprehend the beauty of the thing in her hand. She felt a warm hand on her shoulder and its size told her that it was Bianca's but still she couldn't open her eyes, instead leaning into her comfort as she allowed the blazing balloon in her chest to grow. This is unbelievable, she thought inwardly, shaking the snow globe ornament gently as she opened her eyes a tiny crack, broken laughter erupting from her full heart as she watched the plastic snow cover her home.

"Do you like it mommy?" Gabby asked, leaning forward until she could look up into Marissa's eyes. "We wanted to give you something special."

"You did sweetheart," Marissa managed to say, slightly proud that the tears hadn't made their appearance yet. She felt Bianca's arms snake around her waist and pull her tight and once again Marissa eyes snapped closed to fight the tears again.

A small, warm hand covered hers and grasped something on the bottom of the base and Marissa opened her eyes to watch her son crank something in a circle, the familiar click click click of the mechanism making her gasp just before the tune started playing. The smooth, quiet tones of "The First Noel" sounded from the base of the ornament and Marissa's hand flew up to cover her mouth.

"It's a music box too?" she asked quietly, her breath hitching slightly as she listened to the chiming tune of her favorite Christmas song. "How in the world did you guys make this?"

None of the children answered, instead only broadening their grins. "Read the bottom," Miranda told her, and slowly Marissa turned the ornament over.

The bottom was made from a smoothened piece of dark wood and across it someone had carved something. Marissa leaned closer to the fire so she could read it in the darkened room.

Bianca + Marissa

+ AJ + Mimo + Gabby

= Love + Family

And then there was nothing she could do to stop the tears. They flowed freely as she struggled to see through them to read and reread the carved inscription, the tinkling music filling her ears and the arms around her waist tightened further and she felt warm lips against her cheek and tiny hands on her knee, and she finally looked up to see all three of her beautiful bright children smiling so happily up at her. She opened her arms wide and they all struggled to smush themselves onto her lap, Bianca finally scooting back and around to envelope the kids in her arms as well.

Marissa didn't ever want to let go and she knew in that moment that she wouldn't, not really. She rested her cheek on Gabby's braided head and shared a long look with Bianca, whose eyes were filled with tears as well as they both held tight to the three angels in their arms. Finally AJ pulled away and sat back again, fixing his mother with another excited stare. "That's not all mommy," he said quietly, and Marissa laughed happily that he'd called her "mommy" again after he'd decided he was too old to keep doing it. AJ glanced down at the ornament in her hands and grinned crookedly. "Open it."

Miranda and Gabby nodded and looked back at the ornament too. Marissa lifted it again and peered at it, confused. "How does it open?" she asked.

"Just pull the glass part from the base," Bianca replied, and Marissa's eyes shot up to her girlfriend, completely stunned that she'd answered.

"How…?" she started to ask but Bianca just nodded and gestured toward the ornament again.

Hands shaking slightly with anticipation and also a little anxiety that she would break the spectacular gift, Marissa tugged lightly on the snow globe until she felt a tiny pop. Gently she eased the glass orb away from the base, seeing that the two were connected by a hinge. And then her breathing stopped completely and her entire body turned to stone as something sparkled from inside, it's silver edges catching the glow of the fire and sending tiny beads of light dancing across the inside of the base.

She blinked. And still her breath held and her arms stayed frozen around the thing in her hand. Oh my god…

The rustle of blankets caught her attention but didn't enable her to move or pull her gaze, and soon Bianca's hands settled around her own as they held tight to the open ornament. Her nimble fingers slid across Marissa's and pulled the ring from the box.

"Marissa," her gentle voice broke into the silence and Marissa forced herself to swallow. She closed her eyes as a silent flood of tears ran down her cheeks and she felt the ornament being lifted from her hands, and when she finally opened her eyes again Bianca sat before her, her legs crossed in their snowman pajamas, her hair tied back in pigtails to match her daughters, and those shining chocolate brown eyes filled with tears fixed only on her.

"You…" Marissa tried to speak but was incapable, and Bianca smiled warmly and took her left hand in hers.

"I asked for a little help to make this moment special," she explained.

"We wanted to help," AJ chimed in from behind her, but for the first time Marissa couldn't look at her son. She was too transfixed with the woman looking at her.

"Yes they did," Bianca agreed with a quiet chuckle, her eyes not leaving Marissa's either. "They worked tirelessly on the ornament. They wanted it to be perfect."

"It is," Marissa rasped on a shaky breath. It was all she could manage.

"I wanted it to be perfect too," Bianca went on, brushing a strand of hair from Marissa's eyes. Her touch sent a stinging tremor of chills cascading down the redhead's body and she shivered. "Because you're perfect Marissa. Perfect to me and for me anyway. Perfect in so many ways I can't even count them." She paused and drew in a long breath, letting it out in shaking waves and Marissa realized that she was nervous.

Jesus – I'm making Bianca Montgomery nervous…

Bianca lifted the ring in her hand and Marissa's stomach turned over like she'd just done a loop on a roller-coaster. "Marissa I've wanted to do this for so long I… I can't even remember the first time I thought of it. I've known I wanted – needed – to spend the rest of my life with you before we even kissed. I just know. I can't help it and I don't want to try. I love you. I love you so much it hurts my chest sometimes. I love you more with every breath you take and I want to marry you. I want to marry you and spend the rest of my life trying to make you feel the same."

"You already do," Marissa told her, her voice so overcome with emotion that it was almost inaudible. But Bianca heard and she smiled deeply as more tears tumbled down her cheeks.

It took her a moment before she found her voice again. "Marissa," she said finally, kissing Marissa's hand as she held it and the ring up, side by side. "Will you marry me?"

Marissa choked loudly, the expected words still sending her body into reactions she couldn't quite control. She nodded first, and then her shoulders started to hunch as she fought against the joyful sobs that pooled in her chest. Then her knees started to bounce up and down while her breathing became uncontrollably erratic, and after a few seconds of all this she was utterly overwhelmed and let herself loose, launching herself forward into her love's arms as her voice finally exploded from her throat. "YES!" she bellowed as she crashed against Bianca's shoulder, the two tumbling over into a mess of cushy pillows and blankets, their intense laughter joined by three tiny voices as Miranda, Gabby and AJ piled gleefully on top of them.

"I knew she'd say yes!" Miranda cried, she and AJ exchanging loud high-fives while Gabby squirmed her way under Bianca's arm.

"Of course I'd say yes!" Marissa agreed, her voice finally back with her as she tugged at the backs of Miranda and AJ's pajamas and they came crashing down between her and Bianca with elated giggles. "What else could I possibly say?"

"That's what I thought!" AJ giggled as Bianca tickled his stomach and he curled himself into a tight ball in defense.

"Give her the ring mommy!" Miranda cried, rolling herself out of the middle of the pile. AJ finally followed after making sure there wouldn't be any more tickle attacks, and Bianca happily leaned forward over Gabby and took Marissa's hand again. Their eyes met as Bianca pushed the ring onto Marissa's finger, and Marissa wasn't sure if her brain was getting enough oxygen as she watched and felt the ring slide into place.

Before the tears had a chance to come back again she grabbed Bianca's face and pulled her in, their mouths crashing together with such force that it rattled through their entire bodies. Bianca's hands snaked into glossy red hair as they embraced, and if not for the wriggling child in Bianca's lap Marissa likely would have never pulled away.

"YAY!" Gabby cried as the couple reluctantly pulled apart. "Mommies are getting married!"

"Ooh can you have a spring wedding?" Miranda asked as she scooted over to Marissa. She lifted the redhead's arm and draped it around her shoulders as she snuggled in closer and Marissa squeezed her tight. "I think you should get married in the park."

"Will I have to wear a suit?" AJ asked, standing up on his knees as he shuffled behind Bianca and leaned against her shoulder.

"We'll talk about all that soon guys," Bianca promised them with a smile. "But tonight it's Christmas Eve and we all need to get to bed. Santa's coming. And despite your excellent performance in helping me I can tell that you're all really tired. So come on – bed."

It took a few minutes for the five of them to disentangle themselves, nobody really moving all that fast anyway as hug after hug was exchanged. Finally the three exhausted children trudged up the stairs followed by their mothers, Gabby very nearly falling asleep on the floor of her bedroom but Bianca managed to steer her until she made it to her bed. After safely seeing Miranda and AJ into their rooms the rounds were made, Bianca peeking in on the older kids while Marissa went in to kiss Gabby goodnight.

"Bianca?" AJ whispered as Bianca had turned to leave. She turned around, surprised that AJ was in fact still awake.

"Yeah buddy?"

AJ sniffed loudly and burrowed into his covers. His eyes were still open though, reflecting the light from the hall behind Bianca as he gazed intently at her. "Thanks for loving my mommy," he told her sleepily. "And thanks for loving me. And for being around. I love you."

Bianca swallowed the lump in her throat as she tiptoed back across the carpet. She leaned over and kissed the top of his head fondly. "I just can't help myself buddy. You and your mom both are too good to be true. I love you." She knew AJ was still awake by the smile that spread across his face. He took a contented breath and rolled over. "Merry Christmas AJ," she whispered as she eased the door shut.

Hands were immediately around her waist and lips were gently kissing the back of her neck, and when Bianca slid her hands to cover Marissa's she smiled at the feeling of the engagement ring under her palm. "You're perfect," Marissa breathed against her skin and Bianca shivered violently at the feeling. Her knees started to wobble but Marissa held her steady. "I can't believe I get to marry you."

"Believe it," Bianca whispered back as she turned around, and before she was fully facing the redhead their lips crashed together in a hungry dance as arms worked to pull more tightly to the other.

Neither woman knew how long they stood there nor did they care. The only thing on their minds were the feeling of the other in their arms, the diamond ring on Marissa's finger, and the rest of their lives, intertwined.