So I'm a Christmas mess at the moment and I wanted to do another Christmas chapter for a story. It just felt right to do a Christmas day chapter for this one since the last update was based mainly on Christmas Eve. I hope that's alright with y'all, especially since I know that not everyone celebrates this holiday, but I hope you find join in this despite that.

All in all, I hope you enjoy this, my lovelies! Happy holidays and much love to all of you!

Even though I never cared for Christmas, there were traditions at the Casperan household that I would celebrate with Merlin and Douxie ever since I moved in with them.

On the morning of Christmas, we would exchange gifts with one another. By the afternoon we would have dinner together like a lot of loud and annoying bastards. Especially if Zoe was able to join us. Then we would end the day together watching The Nightmare Before Christmas. Mainly because it was Douxie's favorite Christmas movie, but also because it was realistic in Merlin's eyes. But even after Merlin's death, we continued the traditions as he had them. The same morning gift exchange and everything.

Yet this year, there was a pep in my step that even Zoe had noticed since it was extremely out of character for me. I had a cheerful demeanor that Douxie toyed with me on since he stated that it was like watching Wednesday Addams enjoying something other than genocide. But both of them knew exactly why as a certain metal marigold pendant hung above my chest and they wouldn't let it down even for a single moment.

"I think to thank Jim with something at some point." I felt Zoe nudge my arm as we all gathered on the floor together to watch the movie together. "I haven't seen you actually enjoy Christmas before. Is that boy made of magic or something?" I just giggled at Zoe's comment as Douxie sat down right beside her.

"You haven't seen them just hanging out together yet. It's disgustingly adorable, honestly."

"As much as we were when we started dating?" Douxie just gave his girlfriend a lopsided grin as he placed an arm around her.

"Worse actually." I rolled my eyes playfully at the two of them as a smile danced on my lips.

"I hate you both."

"Well, the Papa Skull concert shirt you got me says otherwise, my friend." Douxie gave me a smirk as Zoe curled up into his side.

"I second that with the idea that she got me a set of Ramone stickers to put on my new guitar." It was now Zoe's turn to give me a smirk as I turned my attention to the TV screen.

"Shut up the both of ya and enjoy the movie."

"Love ya too, C-Bomb."

"Yeah. Love you too, Claire Bear." I rolled my eyes at the one nicknames.

"I love both of you as well."

I giggled at the memory as I laid down on my bed. My phone held close to my ear as Jim's voice flowed through the speaker like a distant melody.

"She ended up spilling some of the greases from the ham into the stove! It nearly caused us to flea the house if it wasn't for the fact that the vent was working for once above the stove." I smiled as I heard a joyful laugh come from the other line. My heart fluttering a little at the sound as my mind betrayed me.

Zoe and Douxie might be on the right track though.

I smiled as I felt a small blush take over my face as I used my free hand to comb through my hair.

"But your mom somehow didn't catch the house on fire?"

"I know right? I'm just as shocked as you are." His chuckle came through the speaker loud and clear as I couldn't help but join in his laughter.

Could anything sound better than his laugh? I fucking doubt it, honestly. It's like a forbidden melody. Tempting and sweet and- Fucking hell Zoe was right about saying earlier that I'm a fucking simp for my boyfriend. When in the hell did you get this soft, Claire?

I shook my head a little as a warm feeling spread across my chest.

Doesn't really matter now, honestly. Especially since I enjoy it.

"So how was your Casperan Christmas? Zoe and Douxie leave you alone in the living room like you said they did to you last Christmas or did they actually stick around this time?"

"No, they stuck around this time. They only went off on their own personal endeavors when I decided that I had enough of the festivities for one evening."

"Anything from your parents?" I sighed as I heard the hesitant tone within Jim's voice.

"Other than a quick Merry Christmas from dad and a three-minute phone call with Enrique? Nothing really." I smiled as I remembered Jim's promise to my little brother. "He did end up getting the Gun-Robot thing you two were talking about. He was already asking when you were going to help him with it." Jim chuckled a little on the other line as the sound of something closing behind him could be heard.

"Seems like we're going to have to take some time to go see him, huh?"

"I guess so." I felt a curious look take over my face as I heard a sudden gush of wind go against the receiver on his end. "Jim?"

"Yeah?"

"Where are you?"

"Outside."

"Why are you outside? Didn't you say you were home already?"

"Look out your window." I pushed myself up and off my bed before trotting over to my window only to be greeted by the sight of Jim in the driveway waving up at me. A bright blue old school chevy resting behind him as he sat on the hood of it. "Gonna invite me in?" I watched as he smiled while speaking into his phone that he had tucked next to his ear.

"Door. Now." He just gave me a soft laugh as I retreated from the window to meet him downstairs.

"Whatever you say, Captain." With that, we ended the call as I made my way out of my room and down the staircase to meet Jim at the front door. Once I opened it and I saw him right in front of me, I couldn't help but jump at the opportunity to wrap my arms around his neck and pull him into a tight hug.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered the question in his ear as he just wrapped his arms around me.

"I wanted to see you." I felt his arms tighten around me as he muttered the word to me. "Felt weird not spending time with you on a day like this."

"Was your family okay with you coming over here? I remember you saying that everyone stays the night at your mom's on Christmas. Spending the whole day together from when you arrive to when you leave the next day." He chuckled a little as he pulled back from me.

"They actually wanted me to come see you, but I didn't want them thinking I was putting us before them. You know?" I gave him a simple nod as I rested my hands on his shoulders.

"Completely understandable."

"They also said something along the lines of how I looked like a sad puppy the whole time so my mom said, and I quote mind you, 'Go fucking see her already'." I giggled at that as he just smiled at me.

"Moping around without me, huh?" He gave me a toothy grin as his hands rested on my waist.

"Oh most definitely." His signature lopsided grin took over his lips as he leaned forward to press his forehead against mine. The smell of roses and burn grease coming off of him as my arms looped themselves around his neck.

"I've missed you too if that makes you feel any better." My fingers entangled themselves into the nape of his hair as his arms wrapped themselves around my waist.

"Better than ever." I smiled at his words before our lips met in a soft kiss. My mind running a million miles a minute as the single kiss turned into many as we stood there together.

Lord in-. How did I end up deserving something like this? How did I end up going from the girl that didn't need a relationship to define her to the woman that now cares more about one person than anything within her life? All it took was one chance encounter. One single ask from an old friend to come work for him and I ended up falling in love with someone that makes me feel as if I mattered more than I ever thought before. Someone that made me feel good about myself. That made me feel worthy of something like this. Someone that loves me even with my scars and issues. A guy that would leave his family on Christmas not because I asked him to or anything, but because he missed me and they knew it.

I felt him pull me closer against him and I couldn't help but smile against his lips.

Well, as they say though, Christmas is meant to be spent with those you love,

I combed my fingers through his hair as my smile widened on my lips before they met his once more.

And I sure as hell love him.

I smiled as Claire nuzzled the top of her head into my neck as Home Alone played on the TV before us. Both of us were laying on the couch together as Claire laid on top of me as she normally would when we were watching something together. I've seen Home Alone nearly a million times since it was one of Blinky's favorite movies, but I didn't mind it as I felt Claire's rising chest against my own.

I felt guilty at first when I felt my mom's house to drive all the way over here.

I reached up to toy with the ends of Claire's hair before the sound of a content shy escaped the tattoo artist.

But if you asked me if I regretted it at this point, it would be a hell no.

I turned my head to look down at the woman laying on top of me to see a wide smile gracing her lips. Her right hand laying on top of my chest as her eyes were transfixed onto the screen. The glossed over look in her eyes telling me enough that she wasn't actually watching the movie but seemed to be enjoying herself all the same. I nuzzled the top of her head with my chin to see if it pulled a reaction out of her and what I got in response was a soft giggle as her smile just grew.

I loved spending Christmas with my family, don't get me wrong, but it felt like something was missing the whole time I was there. Like a piece of me was nowhere to be seen. I thought I was rather discreet about it though, but having my mom poke at me being mopey without my girlfriend made me realize that I didn't have the greatest Pokerface to begin with.

But laying here with Claire, I feel whole again. Like everything is how it should be. It's cliche, but it's true. It felt wrong not at least spending a little bit of time with Claire on a day that is meant to be spent with those you love. It felt weird not having her there, even though I kept repeating to myself that she said she doesn't want to meet my uncles yet.

I smiled at the idea as I laid my head back so it was nearly engulfed by the pillow behind me.

I hope she knows that they want to meet her more now than ever. Especially Blinky.

"This must be one hell of a girl for her to have you all in the dumps without her on a day like this." My uncle chuckled as he draped an arm over my shoulders. "Still can't wait to meet her. Whenever she's ready that is."

"Oh trust me, Blake. I think if she didn't meet me as her friend's mom first, she would be refusing to meet me as well." Blinky gave me a curious look as I just shrugged in reply.

"That might be true, actually. She's just afraid of you and Uncle Aaron not liking her. That's all."

"Why wouldn't we like her?! She's got you all in a trance! Any woman that can do that must be even more lovely than anything I've seen, that's for sure." Blinky chuckled as I just gave him a small smile.

"You're not wrong on that."

"You've met her family, right?"

"Yeah, but she doesn't care for them. She doesn't have the best of history with them except her little brother. Her mom's not all that kind and her dad was rather hands-off when it came to the shit her mom put her through so her relationship with him isn't the greatest either."

"Poor thing. Must feel something awful on holidays like this then. Is she celebrating alone? If so, then I would have you go get her right this instant. If she wanted to or not." I laughed a little at Blinky's reply before answering his questions.

"No. She's celebrating with Douxie and his girlfriend. The two of them are like siblings so it's the closest thing to family she cares about."

"Well whenever she's ready, she'll be apart of our family as well. We'll give her a new one to care about, huh?" I smiled at his words as a blush took over my cheeks.

"I think she'll like that. Thanks, Uncle Blink."

"Anytime, my boy! Just don't get any ideas on the family thing, alright? We don't need little ones running around just yet. You wait till marriage before ya do that, okay?" My blush deepened.

"Un-Uncle B-Blink!"

"Just saying!"

I chuckled at the memory from earlier today as I glanced back down at Claire. Her eyes were now shut as a gentle rhythm of breaths escaped her slowly. A soft smile gracing her lips while she blissfully slept on my chest.

I never thought of anything too far into the future for both of us. I know I would give anything to keep her in my life, but I never actually sat down to think about what I wanted from our relationship. I always thought it was too soon to be thinking like that.

I tilted my head so I could place a small kiss on the top of her head.

But I don't mind the idea of marrying her, oddly enough. Is that too soon to think? More than fucking likely, but that's all it is right now. Just a simple thought in a sea of many.

I laid my head back down as I closed my eyes gently.

I think it all matters on whenever she's ready for whatever next step it is we decide to take. May it be meeting my uncles or something more-.

I felt a blush take over my cheeks as my mind tripped itself up on a single word.

Intimate, it doesn't matter to me. Hell, she could decide she wanted to finally meet the rest of my family ten years from now and I wouldn't mind. Claire's one that needs time to feel comfortable with anything like this and luckily for me, I have the patience to wait for that.

Love is like a staircase, anyway. Each floor is a different level of intimacy within the relationship and for someone like Claire, it's as if they don't have a railing to secure the idea that they won't fall. They have to take each flight of stairs step by step just so they make sure that they don't harm themselves in the process. I'm willing to stand at the top of the stairs and encourage her along the way.

I felt myself drift off into slumber as a single thought echoed within my mind.

No matter how long it takes.

I came downstairs the morning after Christmas expecting Claire to be sitting at the little barstool counter that Douxie threw together for the both of them drawing her heart out. Ever since I became sisterly with the younger woman, I noticed it was something she would do like clockwork. It was her way of dealing with certain things. May they be joyful feelings or haunting memories, art was her way of coping with it all.

What I didn't expect as I turned my head to look into the living room was the sight of Claire cuddled up with Jim on the couch as the 'Are you still watching?' screen glared at the sleeping couple. The two of them didn't seem to mind though as Claire's head was tucked away under Jim's chin as his arms looped around loosely at her waist.

I smiled at the sight as I turned to grab a water bottle from the fridge.

It's nice seeing Claire happy. Especially within the presence of someone outside of Douxie and me. For years she was distant with her emotions. The only person truly being welcomed into the hell that was her past being the man that protected her like the little sister he never had. But seeing her with Jim was relieving. Out of everyone I knew, she of all people deserved to be happy. Especially the hell she went through.

I shuttered a little as I remembered the first time I saw her in one of her more haunting moments.

"Don't fucking touch me!"

"Claire, you need to calm down. It was just a dream, love."

"It didn't feel like one, Douxie!" Claire hissed the words at him. "It was as if he was right fucking there, Douxie. I could fucking feel it. It was as if I was drugged again. Like I was there again." Her voice softened as she wrapped her arms around herself. "I never want to go back to that. I never want to feel that way again."

"I know, Claire." Douxie approached her slowly with his hands at his sides. "And I won't let that happen, remember? Merlin and I promised that and I won't let our word go to waste. You know that." She gave him a single nod as he got closer to her. "But I can't help you unless you let me in, alright?" She dropped her arms to her sides as she gave him another nod.

"Alright." Her voice was barely above a whisper before lifting her gaze to look up toward the man before her. "I'm sorry."

"You've got nothing to be sorry about, sis." Douxie gave her a wide smile as he opened his arms out toward her. "Now how about a hug, huh? I have a feeling you're needing one." Without a second thought, Claire closed the gap between them as her face buried itself into his shoulder.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry."

"It's okay, love." Douxie whispered to her as he gave me a sorry look. "It's okay."

I looked back over toward the joyfully sleeping Claire.

She's a lot happier than she was back then.

I smiled at the idea as I watched her nuzzle into her boyfriend's neck.

She's also a lot more willing to be close to others as well. Especially with him.

I decided at this point to take myself away from the soft scene as I took the trip back up the stairs.

I hoped you enjoyed this Christmas, Claire. I really hope it was a merry one for you.

I smiled over my shoulder as I glanced back at the sweet showcase.

You deserve it.