All characters that are from the TWILIGHT saga by Stephanie Meyer belong to Stephanie Meyer. All others belong to me. I do not receive profit for these stories except for the joyous enjoyment of reviews.

This story follows right after When I'm Gone: Third Installment to GONE Saga, so if you haven't read that one or the two before, please do.

The timeline of the story will coincide with Gabriel Michael Laskaris' growing up years, starting at Seth and Rosa's wedding day, April 12th and will progress from there.

AN: Sorry about the delay...I've been sick most of the week but hey, got it done to keep up with my weekly updates. Already have the next chapter (or three) in my brain and will be working on it within the next four days.

Gaby -I love you! I enjoy the fact that you're almost always the first one to review. It's awesome!

Ses -is this ten? Ten chapters to catch up on, girl! Man, what a joy that'll be. Looking forward to your reviews.

Moani, Lette, Chelsea, Giannaa -you're all so wonderful, constantly reviewing whenever you read a new chapter of mine. Can't wait to read your reviews either.

As always, enjoy while you're reading and please review!

Chapter Fourteen
Christmas Day morning

"Oh my God, Seth," Leah turned to glare at her brother as Zaky let out a squeal of delight, "What is the matter with you?"

Everyone –except for Leah who was still glaring at Seth –laughed as Zaky, still wearing his footie elf pajamas, ran towards the front door, dragging along a child sized surfboard as he squealed, "Go surfin'! Unca Eth, go surfin'!"

Seth laughed as Zaky jumped in an attempt to reach the doorknob, turning to give his sister a smile, "Relax, Lee. It's a soft surfboard specifically designed for children and beginners –that one's only four feet two inches."

"Which is twice his height," Leah watched her little boy slap his hand against the door a few times before turning expectant eyes towards them, "How are you going to explain he can't go surfing in the middle of December?"

Seth stretched out his arm towards his nephew, "Come here, buddy."

Zaky toddled over to him, bringing his board along as his uncle pulled him in to sit on his lap, "Go surfin'."

"We will, buddy," Seth gave his little shoulders a squeeze, "But first, you need to learn how to take care of your board. We can't just toss it into the water like that."

Zaky's dark eyebrows lowered over his blue eyes as he looked down at his bright red surfboard, giving it a couple of pats before looking up at Seth again, "I learn, we surf?"

"It's gonna take us a while," Seth gave him a smile as he tapped his finger on the board, "We have to wax your board, wait for warm weather and get you a wet suit."

Seth grinned as Zaky tilted his head to the side, quietly contemplating what he'd said before asking, "Then we surf?"

"Then we surf."

He couldn't help the laughter as Zaky gave him a serious nod, wiggling out of his lap to toddle across the living room floor towards the couch, surfboard held in both little hands.

Chuckles filled the living room as he placed the small surfboard on the couch then grabbed a fistful of Rick's pant leg to pull himself up.

Snuggling into Rick's side, he pulled the board up onto his lap, giving his sister a big smile –she was sitting in Rick's lap with Mou-bear tucked tightly in her small arms –as she leaned forward to pat his board, "It's a pretty board, Zaky."

Zaky hummed as he nodded in agreement, running his little hands over the smooth surface of his board as Seth returned to his traditional job of handing out the gifts under the tree.

The family –Laskaris, Clearwater and Swans –were all gathered at Seth and Rose's place being they had the bigger living room.

The floor was littered with torn wrapping paper, boxes and tissue paper as the kids played with their newly acquired toys, turning in excitement whenever Seth reached for another gift under the tree.

Except for two of them –Zaky was enthralled with his surfboard, lovingly admiring it as he traced the wooden stringer with his small fingers and Emmie who sat snuggled in her father's lap, holding tight to Mou-bear as she kept blue eyes on the front door.

"This one's for Emmie," Seth handed the box to Leah who handed it to Rick, "From Granma and Grampa."

Emmie looked down at the wrapped box, her eyes bright with curiosity but she didn't reach for the gift Rick had set before her.

"Don't you want to open it, meli mou?"

She shook her head, looking up at her father as she stuck a small finger into her mouth, "Mou den einai akomi edo." *Mou isn't here yet*

"I know, moro, but your grandparents want to see you open their gift," Rick stroked her fine dark hair, smiling as he cupped her little face, "He'll be here soon. You can open the gifts he brings for you when he gets here."

Emmie looked at the door for a few seconds before looking up at Rick, pursing her rosebud mouth as she gave a nod.

Looking down at the box, she studied it for a few seconds, small fingers tugging at the colorful ribbons.

Turning the box awkwardly with one hand while she kept her other arm wrapped tight around Mou-bear, she found the seam where the wrapping paper overlapped.

Little fingers went to work on the paper, the ripping sound followed by a squeal of joy, "Ladybugs!"

Emmie turned the bright yellow box over, looking up at her father in excitement, "Daddy, its ladybugs!"

"What," Leah's eyes grew wide as she looked over at her mother, "You got her ladybugs? Did you and Seth decide to conspire against me?"

"It's a ladybug habitat," Sue had a serene smile on her face as she leaned back into Charlie's arms –she was sitting on his lap in one of the armchairs –adjusting Andrey in her lap, the little boy wearing red footie pajamas with printed snowflakes, his twin brother wearing similar ones but with snowmen, "The actual ladybugs will arrive in February."

"Why," Leah rubbed her forehead, already envisioning the little critters let loose in her house, "Why would you get her ladybugs?"

Sue's smile widened as she watched her granddaughter let go of her teddy bear to hold up the box for her father to open, "Remember the water guns?"

Charlie and Rick laughed as Leah let out a groan, Seth chuckling as he turned to look at his wife sitting cross-legged on the floor between him and the front door, "We're not having any kids."

Rose's eyebrows arched in surprise, "Why not?"

"'Cause if water guns deserve that," he pointed at the box his niece was quickly emptying, Rick holding a yellow netted cube along with a magnifying glass, tweezers, and other sundry items needed to observe ladybugs, "I don't want to find out what my mother will come up with to pay me back…believe me, water guns are nothing compared to the things I did."

They all laughed as Seth continued to hand out presents to the kids.

Gabe exclaimed in excitement over a new airplane model for his growing collection, Marc's eyes wide with awe as he carefully flipped the stiff pages of a sketch book, a box of silk colored pencils on his lap.

Vivi ran to Seth and kissed his cheek after opening his gift, her small hands clutching a brown leather journal with her name engraved in silver on the bottom right hand corner, a small heart shaped lock holding it close.

Zaky grinned over the new tub of legos and matchbox cars but really, there was no way anything could beat the surfboard on his lap.

"Ho! Ho! Ho!"

"Mou!"

Emmie scrambled off her father's lap, her teddy bear tumbling to the floor as she ran towards the opening door, Embry dropping the gifts he held in time to swing her up into his arms, laughing as she threw her arms around his neck and squeezed with all she was worth.

"I'm happy to see you too, Princess," Embry kissed her round cheek before looking down at the strewn boxes at his feet, "Good thing nothing's breakable."

"About time you got here," Seth easily pulled Rose into his lap, moving a bit closer to the tree to make room for Embry on the floor, "Rick had to coax Emmie to open one of her gifts."

Emmie pulled back to look into Embry's brown eyes as she grinned excitedly, "Giagia and Pappoús got me a ladybug house!"

"Really," Embry laughed as he settled her on his lap, twisting his torso to grab the gifts on the floor and pile them beside him, "Did it come with ladybugs?"

"Those are arriving in February," Leah let out a sigh as Emmie clapped her hands, looking down to watch Alyx as he crawled across the living room rug, grabbing a large piece of bright wrapping paper before sitting back on his bottom, one little foot tucked under as he flapped his arms, giggling at the crinkly sound the paper made.

"Now that I'm here," Embry picked up a box, placing it on his lap as he smiled at Emmie, "This one's for you, Princess."

"Yay," Emmie clapped her hands again before leaning forward to rip into her gift.

"Alyx, no," Leah got off the couch, her round belly making her slightly unbalanced as she crouched down to take the paper her baby boy was shoving into his mouth, his little hands gripping tight as he attempted to wrestle it away from her, "You can't eat paper, baby. It'll make you sick."

Andrey leaned forward to grab his toes, babbling to his brother who turned to look up at him, his little nose scrunching up before looking up at his mother with a dimpled grin and letting go.

Kissing his forehead, she was about to push herself to her feet when he beat her to it, his little hands splayed on the floor to push himself onto his feet, wobbling slightly as he straightened up.

Leah's mouth fell open in surprise as he grinned up at her, Andrey clapping his little hands in a show of support as he bounced on Sue's lap.

"Oh my," Leah's eyes filled with tears as she bit her lip, Alyx crouching down, his little hands on the rug before he straightened up again, swaying as he worked on keeping his balance, "My baby's standing on his own! Rick, look!"

"I see him, love," Rick's voice was slightly thick –the only outward sign of how proud he was to watch his baby as he took one wobbly step forward.

Andrey pointed at his brother with a giggle, tilting his head back to grin up at his grandmother before looking back at Alyx.

Emmie let out a squeal, Alyx jerking in surprise as he lost his balance, falling back onto his diapered bottom, his eyes wide as he looked at his sister, the shock on his chubby face morphing into a look of joy.

For some strange reason, the twins loved seeing their older sister excited…any kind of excited.

"What is that," Seth asked as he watched his niece trace a little finger over a flower design carved into a dark wooden rectangle set on another piece of wood, same size and thickness, two black Velcro straps holding them together.

"A flower press," Embry watched as Emmie opened the cloth bag that came with the press, her little hands pulling out a packet of botanical paper and colorful cardstock along with a couple of sheets of stickers and several packets of flower seeds, "We used one during the crafts time at the park up in Seattle –Emmie really liked it."

"I have a garden," Emmie held up the seed packets in her little hands, her eyes bright as she looked at her mother, "Look mama! I have flowers!"

"Yes you do, baby," Leah smiled at her daughter as she pulled Alyx into her arms –he had crawled over to where she was still kneeling –his little feet rappelling up her belly so he could snuggle his face into her neck, tangling a small hand in her hair, "Spring time is going to be busy next year."

Rick grinned at his wife as she sat back, moving her legs from under her to sit cross-legged on the floor, "Let Seth take care of the surfing lessons, I'll chase Andrey and Alyx and you can work on the flower beds with Emmie."

Leah laughed at that, Alyx pulling back to look at her, bright eyed as he reached up to touch her face, his little fingers squeezing her nose as he placed a rather exuberant and wet open mouthed kiss on her cheek.

"Thank you, baby," Leah kissed his small nose, laughing when he tried to do the same but ended up with her nose in his mouth instead.

Seth rested his chin on Rose's shoulder, his arms wrapped around her as he watched his niece open another gift –the fourth one in a row, all from Embry, "Did you bring any gifts for the rest of us?"

Embry looked up from watching Emmie's awed face as she flipped through a thick book on butterflies, "Ah, dude, I forgot yours back in Seattle."

"That means he didn't get you one," Rose leaned her head back to grin at Seth, reaching up to squeeze the back of his neck.

Embry picked up a small squared box wrapped in shiny silver paper with a red bow and handed it to Rose, "This one's yours."

"You forgot mine but remembered hers?"

"She's my best friend."

"What the hell am I? Chopped liver?"

Embry's mouth spread into a grin, "That two year hiatus put you under Rose."

"Ah," Seth grinned as he gave his wife's small waist a squeeze, "Well, then, no problem with that, considering I like being under my Rose."

They all laughed –not the kids, they were all too busy playing with their toys –as Rose's face flushed, Seth giving a yelp at the stinging pinch she gave his arm.

"Mou," Emmie reached up to tug Embry's face down with her little hand, "I want to be your best friend."

"You are, Princess," Embry pressed a kiss on her forehead, his fingers cupping her small face as he smiled into her bright blue eyes, "You're my best friend, my sunshine, my beautiful flower, my bright butterfly and the only one that makes my world go round."

Emmie's small face brightened with joy as she scrambled to stand on his lap, throwing her small arms around his neck and giving it a hard squeeze, "You're my bestest friend too!"


Dublin, Ireland
December 31
st, 10:45PM

The air was cold and sharp as she stepped out of the hotel, pulling the lapels of her jacket tight as she stomped her booted feet a few times.

"Taking a walk?"

She looked to her left, catching a glimpse of a lighted cigarette being flicked into a snowdrift as he stepped out into the light, his dark brown eyes studying her face.

"I needed the fresh air…it's getting crowded in there and the guys are doing their own thing, which means lots of girls," Julie pulled out her red mittens from the pocket of her jacket, "You shouldn't smoke. It's not good for your voice."

"I don't smoke," Lian moved closer, reaching out to take the ends of the red scarf hanging around her neck, wrapping them around her exposed throat before tucking the fringed ends into the collar of her jacket, "I light cigarettes whenever I have something to think about. My grandfather used to smoke…he was a very wise man…always gave me good advice up until he died of lung cancer a few years ago."

"Second hand smoke can kill you," Julie slipped her hands into her pockets, letting out a breath that plumed into a cloud before her as she looked up at the bright moon hanging high up in the dark sky.

"That would require someone breathing it in and then blowing it into my face," Lian rubbed his hands together before reaching into his pocket for his black leather gloves, "Mind if I tag along? A girl shouldn't walk the streets of Dublin at night alone."

"I suppose," Julie hunched her shoulders as she turned right, walking several blocks in silence with Lian next to her.

"You got that sad little girl look on your face again," Lian's voice had a deep timbre to it that Julie had started to recognize as anger –she didn't get why he got angry whenever she got sad but she had finally gotten a handle on how to deflect the onslaught of heated emotion, "I'm missing my family. This is the first time I've spent the holidays away from them."

"What would you be doing," Lian slid his gloved hands into his pockets as he kicked a snowdrift before turning a corner –he had a particular destination in mind that he knew would make her smile, "If you were with them."

"Mom, Lyn and I…" Julie reached up to swipe at a curl tickling her nose, awkwardly tucking it behind an ear before returning her hand into her warm pocket, "We snuggle in the couch under this big ratty blanket that's seen better days. Watch the Dick Clark Rocking Eve show on TV…countdown as the ball drops in Times Square."

Lian chuckled as he reached out to take her elbow, ushering her across the cobbled street, the silence around them almost surreal as a snowflake here and there began to make its way down from the dark sky, "Sounds like fun."

"Yeah," Julie rubbed her nose, looking around the empty street, the lighted lampposts creating pools of light along the snow dusted street as they kept walking, "Last year, I flew them up to New York. We went to Times Square to ring in the New Year…we were there for hours, it was cold and there were so many people…Lyn said as much as she enjoyed it, she preferred celebrating from the comfort of our couch."

Lian's laughter was visible as the moisture clouded in the cold air before it dissipated, "My first New Year's Eve in New York, I went to Times Square to celebrate…that was it for me. It's the same thing every year…and it's just…too impersonal...too lonely."

"You don't go home for the holidays?"

Lian shrugged as he reached out to place his hand on her back, guiding her around another corner, a distant sound of a honking car letting them know the rapture hadn't occurred and left them behind –it was that quiet, "My father wasn't happy with my choice of careers…we were never really that close, anyway, Dad and I. I'm a lot closer to my mother and my sister…and after I left for New York, Dad just…he didn't make it easy whenever I came home so I just…stopped."

"I'm sorry," Julie blinked away tears, thinking how sad it was that he didn't have the close relationship with his family that she had with hers, "It must have been hard, making the choice to cut yourself from them."

"Yeah…I miss mom…and Emily," Lian saw her arch an eyebrow, "My older sister. She's married…with three kids. I call them every week…send Christmas and birthday gifts…but I know it's not enough for them."

"It's not enough for you," Julie touched his arm in a show of comfort before pulling back, her cheeks flushing slightly as she tucked her chin into her scarf.

Lian didn't say anything to that, simply kept walking, the silence comfortable in an odd sort of way as they came up to a small foot bridge over a frozen creek, his hand shooting out to keep her stable as her foot slipped on a patch of ice, "Careful. The rocks here are slippery. It'll be better if you hold on."

Julie nodded, slipping her arm into his, her other hand gripping his forearm tightly as they made their way across the arched bridge, "You do know how to get back, right? I have no sense of direction."

"I would think for a girl with mermaids in her family tree, direction would be no problem," Lian teased as he stopped at the halfway point of the bridge, pulling his hand out of his pocket to wrap it around her waist and turn her around.

"There's a big difference between finding your way around on land versus the bottom of the ocean," Julie stomped her feet as she raised her mitten covered hands to her face, blowing into them to try to warm her cheeks as she looked up at him, "Why are we stopping?"

"Look," Lian motioned with his chin, standing behind her, his hands on either side of her waist as she turned to look, her breath coming out in a gasp at the beauty that spread out before her.

The bright moonlight turned the frozen creek into a ribbon of diamonds, the snow dancing as it fell softly onto the ground, miles and miles of pristine white blanketing the ground, a cluster of dark green pine trees standing a few yards away, tiny lit candles on the branches making the snow glitter.

"It's beautiful," Julie whispered, blinking as a gust of air kicked up a swirl of snow, the small flames in the trees fluttering without going out, "How did –"

"I've been here before –several times, actually, for Christmas and the New Year," Lian stepped closer, his chest brushing her back as he placed his chin on top of her head, his hands staying where they were, "There's a family that lives several miles at the other side of those trees…they light the candles before midnight…the father comes out after their celebrations to blow them all out."

"You've stayed here that long," Julie kept her arms crossed over her chest, fighting the urge to lean back into him.

"It's a good thinking spot."

They stood there in silence, their breathing synchronizing without much effort as the falling snow began to speed up a little, covering them in a fine dust before Julie shivered, moving away from him as she gave him a smile, "Maybe this time, we can save him the trip."

"We can't blow them out until after midnight," Lian watched her as she carefully made her way towards the trees, a few seconds passing before he followed after her at a leisurely pace, "It's Irish magic –apparently, each candle is for each day of the New Year…for good fortune, good health, happiness, success…if we blow them out before midnight, none of it will come true."

"We won't ruin their year," Julie let out a soft breath as she reached the cluster of trees –ten to be exact –reaching out to gently touch the soft green nettles before looking over her shoulder at him, "We'll wait 'til then."

Lian smiled as he stood just outside the small forest, watching as she walked in between the trees, the entire scene magical as he caught a glimpse of her every once in a while, "I guess we wait."

Julie breathed in the fresh smell of pine, the cold air painful in her lungs but so sweet as she walked around a small pine tree, about six feet tall, smiling at the simple paper angel tucked into one of its boughs, "Lian."

He tilted his head, hands in the pockets of his jacket as he watched her disappear between two trees, "Yes."

"Have you ever had a broken heart?"

His eyebrows rose in surprise as he watched her move around a tree several feet away from him, her purple eyes bright as the flames of the candles lit her face, studying her for a few seconds, "Why do you ask?"

"Sometimes you seem…" Julie touched a small wooden snowflake that had been hung on a tree branch before moving again, Lian disappearing from view making it easier for her to continue, "So impatient with me…whenever you see me…struggling with my own…I just wondered if you've ever experienced one."

Lian let out a long breath, watching as she continued to weave her way around the trees, occasionally touching an ornament tucked into the branches among the candles.

"I moved to New York when I was eighteen," Lian looked up at the sky, finally moving from where he was standing –his feet were getting cold, "I was…lonely and real homesick."

Julie watched him as he walked around the outside of the tree perimeter, his steps slow as he continued with his story, "Camille…she was a sweet girl; reminded me of home. We dated…she never liked going to any of the public appearances Jerry set up for me, didn't like having me spend money on her. She was simple…sweet and funny…and I fell hard."

Reaching out, he straightened a red ribbon on one of the trees, watching as Julie moved between the trees, moving in juxtaposition to where he was –two magnets moving slowly, irrevocably towards each other, "I asked her to marry me and she said yes. I was twenty years old, quickly rising to the top of the best in the music business…making more money than I knew what the hell to do with. I was on top of the world…and I was crazy in love with her."

Julie moved around a tree, watching as he stepped into the small forest, feeling the whole world shrink to just them…just that small place…like they were inside their very own snow globe.

They weaved around the trees, staying away from each other without realizing that they were both making their way towards the small clearing in the middle, the trees a ring around this pristine untouched spot where only two can stand.

"The wedding was…small and out of the public eye," Lian straightened a small candle that was in danger of toppling off the bough it was sitting on, "We went to Italy for our honeymoon…a month after we got back…"

Lian moved around a ten foot tree, able to see Julie out of the corner of his eye as she moved between two smaller trees, both towering at least two feet above her head, the candlelight bringing out the red in her hair.

She stopped, both of them standing at opposite sides of that small clearing, eyes locked as Lian slid his hands into his pockets, his shoulders hunched and eyes dark with the memory he was sharing, "She handed me divorce papers…told me there had been a time when I could have given her everything…before I had everything…she told me I no longer had anything of value to offer except money and fame…and she wanted more than that."

Julie swallowed back the tears, a lump in her throat making it difficult as she watched his face: there was no expression of pain or sorrow, not even anger…but looking into his eyes, she could see it there –the echo of a bleeding, broken heart that had somehow survived by growing hard and impenetrable.

"It didn't stop her, of course," Lian tilted his head as he reached out to touch a small angel made of tissue paper tucked between the boughs, moving it slightly to the left to get it away from one of the lit candles, "From taking half of everything I make…and continue to make."

"That seems unfair," Julie spoke up for the first time, her voice soft as he swung his head to look at her, their eyes locking on each other as snow continued to fall.

"That's the way the judge ruled it," Lian dropped his hand to his side, feeling suddenly drained, completely empty –he had never before shared his own sob story with others, "Until one of us gets married again, she will continue to profit from my success."

They stared at each other, their breathing visible in the sharp cold air as the sound of bells began to ring across the clearing along with far-off shouts and cheers.

Simultaneously, they stepped forward, eyes on each other as the bells continued to ring.

Slowly, giving her time to move away, he reached up to cup her face, his thumb brushing a snowflake from her eyelashes as he gave her a soft smile, "Happy New Year, July."

She swallowed, reaching up to place her hand on his chest over his beating heart, her breath short and shallow as she tilted her head back, "Happy New Year, Lian."

They stared at each other for a few more seconds before he dipped his head, their cold lips touching softly, tenderly, breaths mingling as the bells gave one last ring, the echo of them undulating in the night air before silence fell once more.

Pulling back slowly, he stared into her wide purple eyes, wondering for the first time in years if it were possible –if it were possible to fully trust and love a woman again.


La Push, Washington
11:28PM

The last day of the year and it had been exhausting.

Tucking the pink blankets around a sleeping Vivi, he smiled as he leaned down to kiss her forehead, the little girl mumbling before she turned to the side, her arms wrapped tight around Emmett.

Stroking his thumb over her cheek, he smiled before reaching to turn off the lamp, moving out of the room and softly closing the bedroom door behind him.

Heading down the hall, he gave Marc's door a soft knock before opening it, looking around the room as soon as he saw the empty bed, swallowing back a laugh as he caught sight of Marc asleep on the floor next to Einstein's doggie bed, the puppy's head resting on Marc's stomach –poor boy was so exhausted, he had fallen asleep while doing his nightly ritual with Einstein.

Quietly moving across the room, he leaned down to pick up Marc, pulling back in surprise when Einstein growled at him, lifting his head to stare at him as he placed a paw on Marc's chest.

Shaking his head, Seth narrowed his eyes on the blue-tick hound, keeping eye contact until the dog let out a soft whine, wiggling back into his plush bed before rolling onto his back.

"Good boy, Einstein," Seth gave his soft belly a rub before picking Marc up off the floor, the little boy jerking awake, "Wha-"

"It's okay, Marc," Seth shifted him up into his arms, Marc's small head settling on his shoulder, "Go back to sleep."

He mumbled something Seth didn't quite catch before letting out a soft breath, his little body relaxing back into sleep.

Pulling back the comforter and sheet, he gently lowered him onto the bed, making sure not to wake him up as he tucked the blankets around him, brushing back the dark hair from his forehead.

Studying his sleeping face, Seth let out a quiet sigh as he leaned forward to kiss his forehead –Marc wasn't much for displays of affection while awake so he took this opportunity to show his love for the boy.

Moving across the floor, he closed the open shades over the window-wall before crouching down to scratch Einstein between the ears, the puppy letting out a soft bark as he wagged his tail, his dark brown eyes closing in pleasure, "You're a good dog, Einstein. Sorry I haven't been very nice. I'll try harder, okay?"

Einstein let out another soft bark, lifting his head to lick Seth's hand, his whole body stretching in pleasure as Seth scratched his back.

Giving him one last scratch, he patted the puppy's head before straightening up, "Sleep tight, Einstein."

His steps were silent as he exited the room, the door closing softly behind him before he made his way towards the stairs and down to the living room, finding Rose asleep on the couch.

She had told him she would wait while he tucked in the twins, along with two cups of hot chocolate so they could ring in the New Year together but apparently, the events of the day had exhausted her too.

Taking the cups from the coffee table, he went into the kitchen and dumped out the now cold chocolate, rinsing out the cups before drying his hands and returning to the living room.

Brushing her hair away from her face, he kissed her soft lips before lifting her into his arms, kissing her cheek as she burrowed her face into his chest, a small hand gripping his t-shirt as he made his way to their bedroom.

Laying her in the middle of the bed –she had already pulled back the comforter and sheets, apparently –he kissed her forehead before straightening up, heading into the bathroom to brush his teeth and take care of business.

Pulling on his pajama pants, he picked up his clothes and tossed them into the hamper, turning the light off before making his way across the dark room, the glowing numbers of the clock letting him know there were five minutes left before midnight.

Climbing into bed, he reached for his wife, pulling her small warm body into his arms as he kissed her face, his lips moving over her forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks, chin, finally ending at her lips.

Rose hummed, her lips blooming open as he slipped his tongue past them, one of his hands moving down her back, his other arm wrapped around her shoulders, fingers tangled in her long hair.

Moving her arms around his waist, she opened her eyes to look into his, blinking a few times as he moved his lips over her jaw and down her throat, "Is it midnight yet?"

Looking over his shoulder at the clock, he turned to look at her, sliding his hand under the long sleeve top she wore, "Three more minutes."

"Mhm," Rose kissed his shoulder, burying her face into his throat as she took in a deep breath, letting it out in a rush as he slid his thigh between her legs, "What are we to do until then?"

"I don't know," Seth moved his mouth down her throat, kissing her collarbone before sliding his tongue over her freckled skin as he rolled her onto her back, his hands pulling the cotton top up her torso and over her head, "We can play a game."

Rose giggled as she lightly dragged her fingers up his back, his muscles tightening and loosening under her touch as he moved his fingers over her chest, "What game? Connect the dots?"

"That's my favorite game," Seth smiled at her before lowering his head to place a kiss against her sternum, his nose drawing a line down between her breasts before he retraced the line back up with the tip of his tongue, "You in?"

Rose wiggled under him as she slid a hand up the back of his neck, her fingers spearing into his hair, "Of course."

Seth smiled against her skin, moving his hands over her ribs and down to her hips as he placed a string of kisses over the slope of her breast before closing his mouth over the tip, sucking hard enough to make her cry out, her hips rising off the mattress.

Making his way down her body, he kissed every freckle he could see, sliding her pajama bottoms down her long legs, his fingers gently squeezing and stroking, his mouth moving over her stomach before he dipped his tongue into her bellybutton.

Tossing the pajama pants aside, he gripped her hips with his hands, moving his mouth to her hip, his teeth scraping against her skin, leaving behind a love bite right over his name tattooed into her hip.

Rose arched her back, her fingers gripping the bed sheets as he closed his mouth over her, sucking a few times before stroking his tongue over the sensitive bundle of nerves.

He breathed her in, the spicy-sweet smell of her arousal pushing his desire to a higher plane as he slid his tongue over her opening, her Spanish pleas falling on deaf ears as he feasted on her.

Reaching down, she fisted her hand on his hair, tugging hard until he looked up, moving over her body to settle between her legs, somehow having divested himself of his pajama bottoms without her realizing it.

"Love me," Rose whispered against his mouth, tasting herself on his lips as he deepened the kiss, his hands pulling her hips up as he sank into her.

"Always," Seth whispered as they broke the kiss, peppering kisses over her face before he let go of her hips to wrap his arms around her, his hips moving of their own accord as she wrapped her long legs around him, her heels digging into the small of his back spurring him on.

Rose could feel herself rushing towards the glorious fall, her arms moving over his shoulders as she moved her mouth over his, their tongues dancing in a slow rhythm that matched their bodies.

Before long, they were both racing towards the finish line, their souls rocketing into outer space as they fell upward.

It was a trip along the Milky Way of their universe, the stars streaking by in colors as they held on tight to each other, hearts racing and bodies slick with sweat as they tried to catch their breath, slowly coming back to earth.

Realizing he was probably crushing her, he rolled onto his back, holding her in his arms, their bodies staying connected as he reached up to brush back strands of hair from her face.

Letting out a sigh, Rose turned her head to place a kiss on his chest, taking in a deep breath of their mingled scents before looking up into his eyes with a soft smile, "Feliz año nuevo, Seth."

He smiled, lifting his head to kiss her swollen lips before whispering against them, "Feliz año nuevo, Rosa Maria."