December 25th 2124

Nathanial walked into the living room, carrying a bottle of warm milk. He smiled at his beautiful wife. She sat on the couch in the living room with their son on her lap, humming a melodic tune to him; the same tune that her music box played.

Nathanial smiled warmly at the scene. His son had been born four months ago, and still he couldn't quite believe that he was a father. He'd never really thought he'd be good father material. He'd thought maybe one day, perhaps. But even then he was in shock over his son's existence. But he wouldn't have it any other way. He loved his wife and their son more than anything; and he knew he'd die for them.

"Here's the bottle." Nathanial remarked as he neared his wife.

At his approach, Lucas glanced over at his father. His contagious smile formed on his mouth and he babbled a happy greeting in his own little language. Ayani grinned at her baby. Then she took the bottle from Nathanial.

"Here you go baby." She said softly, gently rocking Lucas.

Ayani brought the bottle to Lucas's mouth. He happily latched on and placed his own hands on the bottle next to his mother's. Nathanial grinned at his son as he sat down next to his wife. Ayani leant down and placed a light kiss on the top of Lucas's head. His bright green eyes flicked to his mother; but his focus was mainly on downing his milk as fast as he could.

"What time are your parents coming over?" Nathanial asked.

Ayani looked at her husband and smiled.

"About two o'clock. Alice said she'd be later; more like three."

Nathanial nodded.

"Well if I know my sister, she says three but it will be more like four."

Ayani laughed, but couldn't stop herself from nodding in agreement. Nathanial smiled, though it quickly faded. Although he was excited about it being Christmas, especially as it was Lucas's first, he still couldn't help but feel gloomy. That was the first Christmas he'd ever spent without his mother.

As if knowing what was on her husband's mind, Ayani leant over and kissed Nathanial's shoulder comfortingly. He smiled weakly at her.

"She's still here in spirit." She remarked.

Nathanial nodded.

"I know. That's what Alice says." He sighed before reaching out to stroke Lucas's soft, brown hair. "I just wish she had had the chance to meet Lucas."

Ayani nodded before smiling proudly down at her child.

"She would have loved him."

Nathanial smiled.

"Doted on him." He remarked.

He sighed before getting to his feet. Ayani watched as her husband trailed back off into the kitchen, muttering something about starting the roast dinner. She sighed to herself before beaming back at her son. Although Lucas would never be able to meet her, Ayani was determined he would know about his grandmother. She had been such a fantastic lady; so tough and inspiring.

Ayani leant down and kissed Lucas's forehead once more. His gaze flicked back to her. Then he pushed the bottle from his mouth and grinned. She chuckled down at him, caressing his chubby cheeks. Lucas stretched his little hands up to his mother's neck. He proceeded to grab onto her locket, shaking it ruthlessly. Ayani smiled at her precious son, before she glanced back over at her husband, wishing she knew what to say to make him feel better.

"Where is he?" Ayani's mother, Lydia, asked as she walked through the entrance of the house.

Ayani grinned at her mother as she went straight over to Nathanial who cradled their son.

"Hey sweetheart." Her father, John, greeted.

"Hi dad."

Ayani lightly kissed her father's cheek before closing the front door. She chuckled as she saw her mother had already claimed hold of Lucas.

"Oh he's gotten so big!" Her mother exclaimed, holding Lucas up in the air.

He flailed his limbs, giggling from the attention that he was receiving.

"Mum you only saw him a week ago. He really hasn't gotten any bigger since then." Ayani remarked, smiling.

Lydia sent a smirk over at her daughter, before focusing on her grandson.

"He's so perfect." She commented, kissing Lucas's thin hair. "John did you bring his present in."

"Yes dear." John remarked, rolling his eyes at his daughter.

Ayani chuckled.

"John, how are you doing?" Nathanial inquired, moving forward to shake his father-in-law's hand.

John nodded.

"Much better, thank you." He patted his chest, right over his heart. "My old ticker's still got some life in it yet."

Nathanial chuckled. Ayani smiled also, though she couldn't quite bring herself to laugh. Her father's heart wasn't what it used to be. She knew it was only a matter of time before it gave up completely.

"Yes well you still have to be careful." Lydia remarked sternly at her husband.

John rolled his eyes.

"Yes dear."

Ayani and Nathanial smirked at one another.

"Well come sit down. Make yourself at home." Nathanial remarked, gesturing aimlessly back at the living room. "And John, what are you drinking?"

"He isn't drinking." Lydia quickly piped up. "His doctor said that would only put strain on his heart."

John sighed. He knew his wife was just looking out for him, but he had always been one to live life to the max. Nathanial sent him an apologetic smile. As Ayani went back to her mother and son, John put his hand on Nathanial's shoulder.

"Don't worry my lad. I'll have a few sneaky scotches later when she's not watching."

Nathanial chuckled at his father-in-law. John winked before moving toward the lounge. At seeing his grandfather, Lucas piped up instantly, reaching out his hands. John was probably Lucas's favourite person.

Ayani grinned at her son's reaction toward her father. Her mother dutifully handed Lucas to John, smiling also. John instantly had Lucas in a fit of laughter as the two of them played around.

"So how have you been my darling?" Lydia asked her daughter as they made their way into the kitchen.

Ayani nodded.

"I've been great." She sent a grin at her mother. "I don't remember ever feeling so happy."

Lydia smiled warmly back at her daughter. She stroked her daughter's blonde locks before embracing her.

"I'm so pleased for you. You've done so well for yourself."

Ayani grinned.

"So how's dad been?"

Lydia rolled her eyes. They both looked back at John. He was sat on the couch with Lucas on his lap, tickling his grandson's stomach. Nathanial sat opposite them, smiling over.

"He's been his usual self." Lydia answered. She smiled warmly at her husband. "You wouldn't think that this time last year he'd just suffered a heart attack." She looked down at her hands, feeling a lump begin to form in her throat. "I was so sure I'd lost him last year."

"Oh mum don't worry. Look at him now, he's fine."

Lydia smiled at her daughter.

"I know. But the whole thing is just so vivid in my mind." She glanced back at her husband. "I can't stop myself from worrying about him." Ayani smiled. Then she looked back over at her father. He was chuckling over something Nathanial had remarked. Lucas had settled himself firmly on his grandfather's lap. His little fingers were tightly wrapped around his grandfather's hand. "But enough about that." Ayani looked back at her mother. "How is our little man doing?"

Ayani grinned and nodded.

"Lucas is fine. He finally slept through the whole night last week." Ayani exhaled. "That was the best night I have had in months."

Lydia laughed.

"Y'know he's looking more like Nathanial every day."

Ayani nodded, beaming proudly over at her little boy.

"I know."

"And how is Nathanial? It can't be easy for him this year?"

"It's been a difficult year." She agreed. His mother had died from Syncillic Fever three months before Lucas was born. Ayani hadn't been allowed to visit her mother-in-law due to the risk the fever could have caused her unborn child. But she'd gathered from her husband how terrible it had all been. "He's been okay recently, but I think now that it is Christmas it's just reminding him how much he misses her."

Ayani gazed over at her husband. She knew how close he had been to his mother. His father had died in combat when he was so young; he had been 3 and Alice had been 1. His mother had been the only parent he had ever truly known. She sighed to herself before going to the oven and checking on the turkey.

"Shouldn't be long now." She announced. "Hopefully Alice will be here on time."

Lydia chuckled.

"That girl doesn't know how to be on time."

Ayani smirked. Her mother was very fond of Alice; she was like another daughter for her mother. Alice even jokingly called Lydia and John mum and dad. Ayani's parents were also like grandparents to Alice's three year old son, Jack. No one knew who Jack's father was, so he'd only ever really known Nathanial's mother as a grandparent. But John and Lydia had taken him on as well. He called them Nana and Gramps.

"We'll see." Ayani remarked, smiling.

Alice surprised everyone by only being twenty minutes later than what she had said. She was the total opposite to her brother. Where Nathanial was dedicated and proper, Alice was wild and had some serious commitment issues. But Nathanial adored his little sister. Everyone did. Although she could be a tad unpredictable, she was also a complete sweetheart.

"It's so good to see you." Nathanial said as he hugged his sister. "How have you been?"

"You know me; I like getting on with life." Alice replied. She smiled at her brother and kissed his cheek. "Now move out of my way. It's been weeks since I've had a proper cuddle with my nephew."

Just how everyone else had, Alice went straight to Lucas. Ayani smiled. Lucas was the cutest baby. He seemed to cast a spell over everyone, making all fall in love with him. But when Alice went to get a cuddle, Lucas clung onto John and protested. Everyone laughed. Alice settled with just patting his head and announcing that she would get a hug later. She sat down next to John and pulled Jack up on her lap. Lydia asked how Jack was doing and he immediately reddened and turned his face into his mother. Jack was such a shy little thing.

For a while, everyone sat around chatting. Ayani kept dashing off to the kitchen to check how the dinner was getting on. Nathanial ended up with Jack on his knee as he told him all about his adventures in the army. Ayani's parents caught up with Alice. It was the perfect family vibe.

Ayani smiled over at her son as she watched his eyes flicking between people, as if he were watching a tennis match, as he listened to the conversation. She was able to see that he was taking in every word.

When the cooker finally beeped, everyone gathered hungrily around the dining table. Lucas finally allowed himself to be parted from John, and Alice got her cuddle with him before Ayani took him. She gave her son a bottle of warm milk which he accepted whole-heartedly and drank whilst everyone ate their meals.

Once the meal had been finished, it was time to open the presents. Jack sat on the floor and retrieved presents from under the tree. He then gave them to the according person. He grinned, like he felt that he had the most important job in the world.

Lucas sat on his father's lap and Nathanial helped him to unwrap his presents. It was all new shiny toys and clothes. But Lucas seemed more interested in playing with the discarded paper than the toys. Nathanial grinned proudly down at his boy. He'd never loved something so much in his whole life. He knew he'd always be there for his son, no matter what.