And now the final part of Christmas with the Mathai family. This chapter will be heavily Nemma focused. Hope you all like it! :)

(Noah's POV)

Everyone's gone.

Thank… GOD! FINALLY!

This whole night was like an actual hellfire nightmare that wouldn't end.

Between my parents, obnoxious siblings, insane nieces and nephews, and… ugh, why Casper?!

The only living thing in this house that I like, who literally almost never humps anyone ever… and yet he had to hump Emma in front of my whole family.

Yup, my relationship obituary has definitely been written.

Well, until somehow I heard Emma say behind me, "Um… Noah? Are you... okay?"

It was at this moment that I realized I was just standing and gently, subconsciously, yet repeatedly hitting my head against the doorframe of the front door of the house once I slammed it closed after everyone left.

And now my girlfriend probably thinks I'm certifiably insane… wonderful.

I didn't even want to turn around and look at her as I sighed and said, knowing how defeated yet dead serious I sounded right now, "I'll take you back to the airport… before anything else gets worse." Then I almost couldn't believe what I heard as she responded, "Uh, why?"

I whipped my head around as I quirked up an eyebrow as I countered, wondering if I somehow entered an alternate universe where none of this happened, "Are you serious? After… all that, you don't just want to break up with me and cut it out of here?"

She let out a self deprecating laugh and smirked as she crossed her arms before she responded, "Well, if you remember, you're talking to the girl that got written off by every guy she went to school with and had to take her little sister to Prom. So… yeah sadly, I've been through worse."

After taking a second to process, I smirked and remarked, "Sure you're not just saying that?"

She kept smirking back at me as she remarked in a similar tone to me, "Can't say I wish I wasn't."

I chuckled as she snorted out a laugh before we both went silent again, getting back into the reality of the situation. I rubbed the back of my neck as I tried to think of how to say it without sounding weird about it, especially since I had an ulterior motive behind what I was going to ask.

After clearing my throat, I started, "Um, hey, so before we call it a night and since I've been to your place a couple times… want to see my room?"

Then it felt like a weight was lifted off me when she grabbed my hand and gave me a light smile before responding, "Sure."

I smirked back and was about to start leading her upstairs when we both stopped dead as my mom called out from the kitchen, "Keep doors open, please!"

My stomach clenched as my lips pursed in total embarrassment as I called back, "Mom, seriously? Is any of that even necessary?"

"Hey, what you kids do outside this house isn't any of my business, but I don't want any pre-marital shenanigans happening in my home. Understand?"

Ugh, she did not just say any of that just now.

My whole mental state just froze as I processed everything my mom had to say out loud just now… AND in front of Emma?!

I decided not to prolong any more mental suffering for anyone else as I responded, not even wanting to look back at Emma for the sake of my pride and sanity, "Okay, fine."

"Thanks sweetie!" She called back, making me die a little inside.

But, rather than continue to think about it, I immediately just led Emma upstairs to escape the entire situation before anything else completely embarrassing happened.

Considering Emma and I do that enough just between the two of us on our own, we don't need any more 'help' in that department. But, I've got other things to think about right now.

Man… I just really hope she likes it.

(Emma's POV)

After all of that, with Noah's mom, Noah was pretty much refusing to look back at me.

I mean, sure I get why he's embarrassed, but honestly that's not anything either of my parents wouldn't say, really?

Both of my parents are pretty traditional and a little more on the conservative side too so it's not like either me or Kitty would be able to take guys up to our rooms at mom and dad's house even now without the 'open door policy' being in place.

I mean, maybe if we were engaged to the guy we had in our room then maybe, but even then?

But, I tried to not think about that as I kept following along with Noah up the stairs to the second floor.

Right as we got to the top of the stairs, a door was open to a room that was what seemed to be a slightly outdated but very well kept full bathroom.

We kept walking down the hall until we stopped in front of a door that had a couple locks on the outside.

Noah let go of my hand as I saw him pull out a key ring from his pocket, making me quirk up an eyebrow at what was happening. I think he caught my expression as he explained off-handedly, "I know this looks insane, but as you saw from the 'circus' earlier… yeah, I'd trust my nieces and nephews to not snoop around my room as much as I'd trust leaving Owen alone with a roast chicken and expecting it to still be there by the time I got back. It's just something I had to do to keep everyone out of my space. But, anyway, this is my room."

He opened his door and I saw…

Wow…

I had no idea what I was expecting when I saw Noah's room for the first time.

But it was very clean and organized.

The only thing on the wood floor in his room was a maroon area rug. A lofted bed made to perfection in the far corner with a large corner desk and elaborate computer set up on it stood underneath. A comfortable looking red and black gaming desk chair was pushed in at the desk.

But, other than a couple posters of video game characters… and also a couple pictures of me that I was trying not to smile like a total idiot about, Noah's room was very plain.

Not in a bad way, just… not really much else to see other than a dresser and closet on the opposite end of the room.

I looked back at the wall with the posters and even though I'm not really into gaming or really good at it like I know Noah is or Kitty used to be.

I looked at the posters and decided to earn myself a couple 'bonus points' as I said, "Oh, Newton, Pythagoras, and Kranthor, right? From Kosmic Kaos?"

He whipped his head back with wide eyes before he remarked, sounding impressed, "Yeah… wow, I thought you said you weren't a gamer?"

His expression turned slightly teasing at the end as I smirked back (feeling satisfied with knowing something about what he likes and impressing him), "I'm not, but Kitty used to be obsessed with it. She used to be deep into Kosmic Kaos. She was even on a team for a while with some other people and sounded like she was really good at it, but then the 'pwned online' incident happened and she literally destroyed almost the whole living room after decimating the computer console and… yeah, mom and dad gave her an understandable 'ultimatum' after that."

We were quiet for a second until Noah said, rubbing the back of his neck and saying, "Well, speaking of computers and at the risk of being corny as all get out… Merry Christmas."

He pulled out what looked like a circuit board and handed it to me.

Um… what?

I quirked up an eyebrow as I commented, not knowing what to say, "Wow, a circuit board. How… thoughtful."

It was quiet until I heard, "You have no idea what it's for, do you?" I looked up and saw him quirking up an eyebrow and smirking at me, clearly teasing.

"Honestly… nope. I speak law, not tech." I admitted with a smirk before we both laughed before he said, "Well, now that I know you're not just spitting on your gift and think it's trash, you'd be right. Because it's actually almost a literal carbon copy of your computer's hard drive. I just made some tweaks to 'soup it up' so to speak. Your laptop runs slower than an old lady riding on the back of a tortoise and it was driving me crazy the last time I used it. So, I took a look at your laptop's figures and managed to get my hands on this hard drive and make my tweaks to it to make it run like how it should, efficiently. All you have to do is give me your laptop and I can get it all set for you."

My mouth was open slightly and my eyes were wide in shock at the revelation that just hit me.

Noah gave me a Christmas present. And he made it custom for me?

Sure his dad made me that desk organizer (that I still have no idea what to think about), but this is Noah.

Noah, in his own way, went out of his way again to do something for me and is practically giving me a free new computer practically.

Again, this is Noah.

I've seen how Noah was like (and still is) before he met me and it didn't seem like 'selfless acts' were really anywhere in his wheelhouse to care about anything.

And yet… he cares about me enough to do something that for him is 'thoughtful'.

ME!

And what have I done? Nothing. I have literally gotten nothing for him since I'm a completely shitty girlfriend that broke up with him on TV, crushed his self-esteem until I broke down took him back immediately even though I promised I wouldn't until the race was over, and then hardly did anything for him since I've been so focused on law school.

I bit my lip as even sheepishly returned the internal thoughts out loud as I let out an awkward laugh and said, "Wow, Noah, this is great! I… I don't even know what to say."

He just smirked and shrugged as he said, "Then don't. Just take it."

"But… I don't think I deserve it. I mean, what have I gotten you? I don't even have anything for you. You're the one always visiting me and doing stuff for me. So… what the hell do I do to deserve it?" I returned quickly, almost weirdly feeling guilty about this whole situation.

I closed my eyes until I opened them immediately when I saw Noah take the circuit board out of my hands and set it aside as he said, "Well at the risk of being corny again… I, well… I have you now. Before you I didn't have a girlfriend or go anywhere that wasn't for a stupid TV show to epically and pathetically fail at winning some cash. But, I have something now."

I slowly looked up as Noah held both my hands in his and I saw him smiling a little at me as I just stared back speechless.

Despite how painfully awkward things can sometimes get between us, but that… that was the sweetest thing anyone (especially Noah) has ever said to me. It hardly took a second as an impulse just took over. I ripped my hands out of his before just wrapping my arms around his neck to cement my hold on his as I kissed him.

And I'm pretty sure I completely caught him off guard since his breath hitched for a second before he eventually just completely reciprocated until somehow I got him with his back against the wall before eventually we slid down to the floor with me sitting between his legs as we kept making out.

I seriously don't even care.

One of his parents could walk by and catch us and I seriously wouldn't give a crap.

I'm taking this moment with him if it kills me right now.

4 hours later

({No POV})

After saying a quick goodnight to Noah to go to bed, Emma went to his sister Christina's old room to go to bed for the night.

She was sleeping soundly until she was stirred awake when the door to her room started opening and creaking a little louder than usual.

This was followed by what could only be described claws tapping on the floor.

However, she didn't open her eyes until she felt something press down on the mattress on her side of the bed. Emma opened her eyes slowly until she saw an unmistakable canine looking at her with big doughy eyes.

Casper.

He kept pressing his head on the mattress as he kept looking at her with big sad eyes and whimpering slightly, almost as if he was apologizing for his actions earlier to her and silently asking for forgiveness.

He even sealed this as he gave her hand a slight nudge with his snoot before giving it a light but affectionate lick.

Emma just kept looking at him through drowsy eyes until she looked like she gave in as she smirked before reaching out and started scratching the back of his head as she said, "We're okay."

She could see Casper wagging his tail in the darkness, making her laugh a little to herself in amusement.

Emma retracted her hand and looked like she was about to go back to sleep until her eyes sprung open as Casper just joined her on the double bed and snuggled up to her before making himself comfortable.

Despite looking caught off guard, Emma eventually just laughed a little to herself before going back to sleep, knowing she needed to get her sleep regardless for when her and Noah got on a plan back to Toronto to visit her parents next.

Well, looks like Emma and Casper are all good with each other now. Even Casper knew he did bad by Noah and wanted to do a 'dog apology' to Emma and make peace. Aww! :) Speaking of cute, looks like Noah (despite still being Noah), is still showing signs of how being in a relationship and having feelings for Emma has made him 'care more'. Well, or at the very least care when it comes to Emma. Haha. But, not before that sweet set of interactions was preceded by Noah's mom embarrassing him by being a typical mom. Lol. XD Anyway, now we move onto Noah meeting Emma's family for the first time. Stay tuned for what ensues! ;) Anyway, thank you all so much as always for reading and constructive reviews are always appreciated.

Stay classy, healthy, and safe as always!

Dexter1995