Page 26 of An Undisputed Christmas
"Now I understand what Christmas is supposed to feel like," I whispered. And I’d get to see Leo soon and hold him all Christmas morning.
The night deepened around us, but our little bubble of warmth and light felt timeless.
Adrian began regaling us with stories of past Christmas chaos, his animated gestures making us all laugh until our sides hurt.
I found myself sharing memories too—quiet moments with my late sister or Leo on Christmas mornings past, how I'd tried so hard to make the holidays magical for him even when I didn't understand the magic myself.
"He deserves this," I said softly, thinking of my sweet nephew who was finally getting the Christmas he'd always deserved. "A real family Christmas, with people who love him unconditionally."
"He has it now," Sierra said gently. "We all do."
Isla talked about holiday traditions from her childhood, painting pictures with words that made us all nostalgic for Christmases we'd never had.
Connor remained mostly quiet, but his occasional observations had us all in stitches, and the way he held Sierra spoke volumes about his contentment.
As the night progressed, I sank deeper into Jax's embrace, my head resting on his shoulder as I watched the snow fall beyond our heated sanctuary.
The combination of the hot water, the strong drinks, and the overwhelming sense of belonging had created a state of perfect peace I'd never experienced before.
“Princess,” Jax murmured suddenly, his voice soft enough that only I could hear. "Look at me."
I tilted my head up to meet his gaze, struck by the tenderness I saw there.
"This is your first real Christmas," he said quietly. "Your first Christmas surrounded by people who love you unconditionally. Your first Christmas where you get to be yourself completely, where you're cherished exactly as you are. And Leo's first Christmas with a real family, too."
The words hit me, emotion rising in my throat so suddenly I could barely breathe. Because he was right.
In all my years of holidays and celebrations, I'd never felt this sense of complete acceptance, this certainty that I was exactly where I belonged.
And Leo, my precious Leo, was finally experiencing the kind of Christmas magic I'd only been able to dream of giving him before.
"Yes," I whispered, feeling tears prick at my eyes. "It is."
“And it won’t be the last,” he breathed, pressing a soft kiss to my temple. "Because you both deserve every moment of magic, every single day of happiness, every bit of love we can give you. This is just the beginning. This is your life—yours and Leo's."
Around us, our found family continued their gentle conversations, unaware of the profound moment Jax and I were sharing.
But somehow that made it even more special—this quiet revelation happening in the middle of ordinary Christmas joy, like a gift wrapped in the simple act of belonging.
I closed my eyes and let myself sink completely into the moment—the heat of the water, the strength of Jax's arms, the laughter of my friends, the soft Christmas music floating in the snowy air.
This was what home felt like. This was what family meant. This was what Christmas was supposed to be.
And when we get home, Leo would be there waiting, ready to hear about our adventures and share in this new kind of Christmas magic we'd discovered together.
A Christmas where love wasn't conditional, where acceptance wasn't earned, where family was chosen and cherished.
CHAPTER FIVE
Isla
Dawn broke softly over the snow-laden mountainside, painting the cabin's windows in delicate rose and gold.
Inside the expansive kitchen, Christmas lights wound around wooden beams, while the scent of cinnamon sugar, vanilla, and butter filled every corner like a holiday dream.
I'd woken early—a habit from childhood Christmas mornings when the excitement was too much to contain. But this morning was different.
This morning was about creating something beautiful for the family I'd chosen, the people who'd become my whole world.
