Half an hour later, her doorbell rang and she opened it to find her mom and Brian smiling at her, despite the freezing cold. In truth, it would still be a lovely dinner because they hadn't had the chance to be a normal family celebrating the holiday in years due to her intense training schedule.
Stepping in from the cold, trying to defrost, Chloe wrapped her in a hug, at the same time trying not to crush the food in her hands. "Sorry we're so late honey. I dropped the stuffed red peppers and I had to defrost the left over that I had in the freezer so I wouldn't show up without part of the main course," she laughed apologetically.
"No worries," Emily replied, taking the food out of her mother's hands, motioning the rest of the pack to follow her in. She pulled off the lid, relishing in the scent of the home cooked food.
"It's been ages since I've had this," she breathed in, closing her eyes. "God, I can't wait to stuff my face."
"Emily," her brother interrupted. "I forgot the dessert in the car. Will you get it?"
"Can't you do it?" she questioned, , who was making himself quite comfortable on the couch.
"Uh, I gotta go to the bathroom, sorry!" he said, suddenly dashing to the bathroom. She narrowed her eyes at her mom. For someone who wanted to be in the holiday mood, she certainly was feeling like the Grinch. She slipped on her coat and shoes and unlocked the door. "In the backseat or the trunk?" she called to her mom.
"The trunk"
It was freezing out, and she should have put on her winter coat, she realized, as she covered herself with her arms to protect herself from the wind. As she approached the car, she suddenly stopped in her tracks at a loss for words.
"What the…?" she stared, unable to move, as Damon hopped out of the Kmetko's backseat, grinning.
"You wouldn't really think I wouldn't try to at least see you for Christmas, now would you?" he asked,. Walking up to her, he swept her in his arm, cradling the back of her head. "I missed you so much my mustang," he murmured.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, relishing in his touch. "I missed you more my rockstar," she responded. She kissed his cheeks, despite her lips beginning to freeze, from being outside in the cold.
"Come on," she waved, grabbing his hand unconsciously. Elated with happiness, she felt foolish suddenly. It didn't matter if Damon had been able to come or not. She was going to be with family. That's what truly mattered. But the sweetest thing of all was that her family did everything they could, to make her happy.
She opened the door to find Brian and her mom grinning from ear to ear, with her mom holding up his phone, clearly taking pictures of the happy couple.
"Thank you," she said sheepishly. "I really love you guys."
"Yea, yea," Brian said, a devilish look in his eyes. He suddenly appeared beside Damon and Emily holding up a mistletoe. "Now, be cute so Mom can get a picture to send to the Keller's and I can stop hearing her complain about how she doesn't have one please."
Flustered, she turned to her mother in disbelief. "Really, mom?"
"Hey!" Chloe protested. "Kim Keeler has pictures of Payson and Nicky. I want some cute pictures to show off too!"
About to respond, Emily opened her mouth, only to squeal in surprise as Damon spun her around and dipped her, just like they had done months before, only this time, a bit less graceful. She laughed, as she saw out of the corner of her eye her mom lifting his camera to capture the moment.
Grabbing the back of his neck with her hands, she ran her fingers through his hair and she gazed at him with love pouring out of her heart.
"Merry Christmas Mustang," Damon said softly, the two suddenly in their own world as they stared at each other lovingly. He gently leaned in, feeling a smile forming against his lips. She relished in the taste of his lips, knowing they would have let go of each other in a matter of seconds. After one smaller kiss, he flipped her back up to a standing position, only for her to attach herself back to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. If this was her Christmas gift, she couldn't have asked Santa for anything better.