A/N: Please remember to check back on the previous chapter so you don't miss out on reading any! Thank you so much for all the reviews, favourites and follows. x

Disclaimer: Not mine.


Day 2: Little Christmas Miracle

When they get back to the loft it already smells of Chinese takeout. Kate texts Alexis on their way home and suggests she go ahead and order for the family since everyone feels too depleted after the day they've had to cook dinner.

Arriana timidly approaches Alexis and Nate, guilt and shame colouring her cheeks with a pink flush.

Baby Nate shrieks in delight upon seeing Arriana, gumming away at one fist as the other hand made grabby motions towards the girl. "Oh Nate, how can you still want me?" Arriana asks, letting him catch and tug on her finger enthusiastically.

"That's just what family does," Alexis tells her, bumping her hips into her sister playfully since her hands are occupied with the baby. The redhead continues with a wink, "We love each other no matter what and we will always forgive and love you."

Arriana gives her a small smile in return, sobering up only when she speaks to Nate again. "I promise to be a better sister. I'll look after you, I'll look out for you."

Rick and Kate join their children, all five of them standing in a tight huddle, maintaining light contact with each other. "And we promise to be better parents."

"To be a better family," Alexis finishes off, smiling at the gathering of people in front of her. To think that just a few short years ago it had just been her dad and grams plus her. The addition of Kate, Arriana and Jim has enriched her life infinitely and now with Nate in the picture, she truly feels lucky and thankful for the family they've created. Broken fragments connected by bonds that made them stronger as a whole. It's truly a miracle they manage to emerge from a day like this unscathed, and in fact, stronger as a family.


That night, Arriana gets tucked into bed by both her parents while Alexis puts the baby to sleep. They finally talk about Arriana's day and the consequences of her actions, how things spun out of control so quickly.

Noticing his daughter's drooping eyes and increasingly frequent yawns, Rick finishes up their conversation by telling her, "Remember you can come talk to us whenever, okay? Even when we're busy, we're never too busy to make time for you. Don't keep it all bottled up inside."

He gives her a goodnight kiss on the forehead and Kate follows suit, murmuring, "Love you, Arriana. Sweet dreams."


And for the first time ever, baby Nate sleeps throughout the night. Kate thinks it might be due to over-excitement in the day, but Rick knows better. It's their own little Christmas miracle.