A/N: Hey guys! I've finally got the next chapter for you. After a certain point, it was giving me some trouble, but I finished this today while watching the marathon. In fact, the finale is on as I'm typing this. Also, warning, this chapter is slightly explicit at the beginning. Enjoy!
Christmas morning, Jake woke up to find Cassandra kissing his neck.
"Merry Christmas" she whispered, a huge smile plastered on her face.
"Merry Christmas" He cupped her face in his hand and brought his lips to hers. Cassie let out a joyful sigh, falling back onto her side of the bed.
"We're getting married" she exclaimed.
"Yes we are"
Jake rolled himself over to Cassandra's side of the bed, kissing her once again. Their lips interlocked as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Slowly, she rolled onto her back. Jake hovered over her now as they continued to intertwine.
Cassandra's lips tasted like Christmas cookies. Jake was lost in the softness of her skin, and the smell of her strawberry shampoo still present on her red curls. Her hands were now running through his hair, and he began to slip off the straps of her nightie.
They were so involved in each other, that neither Librarian heard the pounding of tiny footsteps approaching their bed.
"Uncle Jake?" Ava, who was thirteen, spoke up. Jake turned around and froze when he found her with various nieces and nephews by his bedside. Quickly, he moved off of Cassandra, and they both whipped the covers up over themselves.
"What's up kids?" His voice was shaking.
Five year old Emma and seven year old Landon jumped up on the bed, bouncing excitedly. Cassandra pulled the covers up past her nose, hoping to hide her blushing cheeks. She attempted to fix her night-gown as discreetly as possible.
"It's time to open presents Uncle Jake!" Emma proclaimed. "Santa came!"
From the bedside, Avery tugged on his arm. He clutched the mattress, hoping that she wouldn't drag him out of bed, barely clothed.
Smirking, Ava picked up the preschooler and walked with her to the foot of the bed.
"Come on" she advised the other children, motioning towards the door. "Uncle Jake and Aunt Cassie will be down in a few minutes"
Soon, the kids were out of the room, leaving the Librarians alone again. Jake, mortified, lay frozen.
"My thirteen year old niece just had to stop my other nieces and nephews from finding out that I…oh God I'm a horrible Uncle" he muttered. Cassandra giggled underneath the blankets.
Hearing her laugh, Jake couldn't help but smile, all his tension releasing. Soon, he found himself chuckling along with her. He kissed her on the cheek.
"Uh…we should probably change before we go downstairs." Cassandra suggested, looking at her own slinky night gown, and Jake's bare chest.
"Probably" he agreed.
Five minutes later, Jake had put on a T-shirt over his boxers, and Cassandra walked out of the closet wearing a tank top paired with fleece pajama pants covered in reindeer. Jake held out his arm for her to take.
"Ready for your first Stone family Christmas my bride to be?" Cassandra smiled.
"Ready as I'll ever be my dashing groom" she chimed, taking his arm. They walked down to the living room, where screams and squeals could already be heard.
Late that afternoon, everything was ready for Christmas dinner. Only Jake and Cassandra remained at Harper's. Everyone else was off doing their own thing.
Cassandra wouldn't admit it, but she was a bit grateful that everything was playing out this way. All the excitement had been fun for a while, and she loved Jake's family, but some peace would be very much appreciated. All the noise and commotion had started to give her headaches, and she most definitely couldn't start hallucinating here.
However, now she had a whole new reason to be anxious. Jake's parents were coming to dinner. Sure she had met them before, but she had never met them as Jake's fiancée. Jake assured her that they loved her, but she could never be sure.
She stood in front of a mirror, examining herself. She had put on the green dress that she wore on her first date with Jake. She exhaled, trying to release tension. Jake walked up from behind and wrapped his arms around her.
"You look beautiful" he sighed. She smiled. No matter what the case, he was always able to calm her down. He was her rock, always had been from the moment that they met.
Aside from being her support system, Jake could read Cassandra like a book. Whether she wanted him to or not, he always knew what she was feeling.
"What's wrong darlin'?" he asked, sensing that she was upset.
"It's just…" Cassandra stammered. She stood tense in Jake's arms. "Your parents…"
"My parents adore you!"
"Yes, as your girlfriend not as the girl about to be their daughter in law!"
"Cassie" Jake turned her to face him and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Why on Earth wouldn't they be happy that we're getting married?"
"Because I'm not from Oklahoma. I'm not like anyone in your family. I'm…different"
"So am I!"
"Yes but they don't know that" Casandra spoke low, staring at the floor.
Jake hurt for his fiancée. He knew what it was that she feared. He had heard all the stories about her parents and her childhood
"Cassie" he grabbed her hand, slowly running his thumb over the back of her palm. "Listen to me. You don't have to worry about being different here. My family loves you, that's not going to change"
Cassie looked up and smiled at him, that beautiful grin that filled him with every happy emotion in existence.
She stiffened again upon hearing the doorbell ring. Jake squeezed her hand tightly.
"You can do this" he whispered. Slowly, she allowed herself to move her legs, and exit the bedroom.
A minute later, the couple descended the stairs. They were met by an image of Jake's parents taking off coats, greeting his family. His mother's head turned towards the stairs.
"Jake!" she exclaimed. Jake and Cassandra smiled. The woman's cheerfulness filled the room, affecting everyone in it. They walked down to greet the couple.
"And Cassandra! How lovely to see ya!"
"It's lovely to see you too Mrs. Stone" she giggled, hugging her future mother-in-law. " " She turned to address Jake's father.
"I told you sweet pea, call me Georgia!"
"And call me Luke" Jake's father added.
Cassandra chucked, the gesture making her slightly more comfortable. Still, Jake could sense that she was still tense. After embracing his parents, he rushed over to place an arm around her.
"Let's sit down at the table shall we?" he suggested. "Sounds like Harper's got somethin' real good cookin'"
Cassandra smiled at him, grateful for his efforts to keep the situation moving. She wasn't sure how she'd get through it if there was any kind of stillness.
Bringing her closer to him, Jake led her to the dining room, where they sat down for Christmas dinner.
Ten minutes later, bread and cheese was on the table. Everyone sat around, exchanging stories of the years past. The children played, pushing food around their plates.
"So I'm so happy to see you two together" Georgia said, leaning toward the couple. Cassandra smiled, placing her head on Jake's shoulder. He held her hand under the table, keeping her anchored to reality.
"You know, I'm sure it won't be too long before you're a part of this family."
Harper slammed her knife onto the table.
'Jake!" she scolded. "Did you not call Mama last night and tell her the big news?"
"Well I was planning on telling mom and pa in person, before someone went and spoiled it!" Jake snapped.
Georgia coiled back in guilt, while Mr. and Mrs. Stone had frozen where they sat. Georgia stared at Cassandra with her mouth wide open, silently questioning what she had just heard.
Jake squeezed Cassandra's hand tighter, knowing that this would be the hardest moment of all for her. Panic worked against her, and right now they couldn't afford any hallucinations.
Cassandra grinned sheepishly, shaking, and placed her other hand on the table, displaying the engagement ring gleaming on her finger.
"Oh!" Georgia squealed. "Finally! We've got a weddin' to plan! It's been too long since Sophie and Wyatt got hitched!" She had risen out of her chair now. Jake and Cassandra grinned at each other, struggling to hold in their laughter.
"You know Jakey after a while I gave up on you. And then you met Cassie and now look at you. My baby's getting married! Oh Cassandra have you started dress huntin' yet? My friend Linda's daughter owns this cute little shop. Oh and for a venue…"
"Ma!" Jake shouted, cutting off the chaos. "Give us some space. We haven't even been engaged 24 hours"
"Oh." Georgia sat back down in her seat, embarrassed. "I was just excited"
Cassandra buries her head in Jake's shoulder, stifling laughter.
"Well" Harper chimed, breaking the awkward silence. "I reckon my potatoes are about ready. Avery you wanna help mommy?"
Four year old Avery toddled off to the kitchen behind her mother, and everyone tried to resume Christmas dinner as normal.
Later that night, Jake and Cassandra burst through the backdoor into the Library.
"Well" Jake stated "I'll call that a memorable Christmas"
"Yes indeed" Cassandra smiled, quickly kissing Jake. "It feels good to be home though"
"I'll agree with you there. If I had to hear one more wedding suggestion…."
Cassandra threw her head back with hysterical laughter. She cuddled in close to her fiancée. She had barely let go of him since they got engaged.
"Well no one's here yet it seems. You wanna change into something more comfortable?"
"That sounds lovely."
The Librarians headed to their room, and five minutes later returned to the main room, Cassandra in her pajamas, Jake in jeans and a T-shirt.
The others had already returned. They were gathered around the table, and Flynn was taking off Eve's coat. They must have just returned from dinner.
"Hey you two" Eve said. "How was Oklahoma?"
"Wonderful" Cassandra chimed.
"How about you" Jake asked. "Did y'all have a nice Christmas?"
"It was good" Eve answered. "Pretty much your average holiday.'
"But you two seem overly excited" Ezekiel snapped. "I mean I know that Cassandra loves Christmas but..."
"Well" Jake said, placing his arm around Cassandra. "We actually have some news to deliver."
There was silence for a moment before Cassandra held up a ringed finger. This time it was not hard. This was her family. She didn't fear sharing anything with them. This time, she acted just as excited as everyone around her. The room exploded. Ezekiel patted Jake on the back.
Then, although all of them had each just come from their own celebration, threw a party. It was simple, the only kind of party that was always perfect for them. They couldn't have asked for a better engagement party.
That night, Cassandra lay in bed, Jake's arms around her, happier than she ever remembered being. Her life was going places she always thought it never would. Joining up with the Library really was the best thing that ever happened to her.
Her happiness was briefly ended when she came to a revelation. Jake felt her freeze up. He switched on the light and turned to face her.
"What's wrong?" he asked. Cassandra's voice came out hushed.
"I have to tell my parents" she choked.
