A/N: Merry early Christmas and a happy new year, everyone.
Looking again at the spot in the living room, Leah smiled at the tree that she still couldn't believe was in it's rightful place after what felt like a lifetime.
She saw Sumo sniffing it like he had done every chance he had gotten to before he barked and Leah petted him.
"I know, Sumo, we get mad when you bring a stick into the house and that's not fair to you." Leah responded gently and Hank and Connor smiled as they finished putting up the silver and gold banner that read Merry Christmas before Hank turned to Leah.
"It's okay, Babydoll. I wouldn't have gotten the tree just for you not to put it up there." Hank explained softly.
Looking at the handmade Charlie Brown ornament in her hands with a bubble by Charlie's mouth that read "First prize?!", Leah brushed her tears away and put it on one of the branches…
Seeing Cole grab an ornament, 15 year old Leah stood up and walked to him.
"Cole, let me help you, little buddy." Leah responded as she gently picked her 4 year old cousin up into her arms and Cole placed the handmade ornament onto one of the branches as Sumo observed them and barked softly.
"My teacher was crying happy tears when she saw it. She said she always watched A Charlie Brown Christmas with her parents." Cole explained as best as he could without one of his baby teeth that had fallen out the previous day.
"When you see your teacher again, you give her the biggest hug, okay?" Leah responded softly, Cole nodding as Hank and Seline walked in and brushed the snow off of themselves after he set the shovel aside.
"All shoveled. Well, for now. I hope we got all of the snow off the driveway." Hank replied before he and Seline kissed and Sumo rushed to them before they petted him.
"It'll just pile up later and we'll make another snowman, Babe." Seline responded as they smiled before they hugged Leah and Cole and the kids petted Sumo…
Feeling Connor's arms wrap around her waist, Leah snapped out of her thoughts before they kissed.
"He would've loved to have seen you happy again." Connor whispered, Leah smiling slightly.
"He would've." Leah responded quietly before they let go.
She heard Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Darlene Love playing and pulled Connor closer to her before they slow danced, Hank smiling and Sumo going and getting his green, white and red gingerbread shaped stuffed toy out of his bed before he brought it to Hank and they walked outside after Hank grabbed his coat and put it on.
"Alrighty, boy." Hank replied once he had the toy in his hands and got Sumo to stand up on his hind legs before he threw the toy and Sumo chased after it.
And Hank thought back…
As the snowfall seemed to lighten up a bit, Hank reached the Anderson house and glanced at the large puppy in the passenger seat who he and Gavin had found earlier... and Hank petted him.
He couldn't quite tell what the dog was but when he had seen him, the dog was pleading with those big sad eyes and Hank couldn't bring himself to leave him there.
"I can't believe you were in an alley all alone… don't worry, boy, you're gonna have a good home and life." Hank responded softly as he got out, helped thd dog out of the car and locked up as they walked to the front steps.
The dog sat down without so much as a command and Hank saw Seline open the door before they kissed... and her eyes lit up after seeing the dog before they turned to the kids who were decorating the tree.
"Kids, look over here." Seline replied, Leah and Cole looking away from the tree and to them… and their eyes lighting up when they heard several barks before a blur of white, brown and black ran into the house.
"Doggy!" Cole exclaimed as he jumped out of Leah's arms and was immediately greeted with slobbery kisses from the dog.
"He is so adorable! Hi there, little guy." Leah responded with the biggest smile that both Hank and Seline had ever seen as they watched the redheaded teenager petting the dog, who immediately started licking her too. "Oh, I love you too. I love you too." She replied in a child-like voice and Hank gently closed the door.
Hank smiled as they all sat down, Seline giving him a kiss.
"He's so cute and very friendly with the kids. But we need to think of a name for him." Seline explained.
Looking at the Tv, Cole saw an old sumo wrestling match playing and he smiled.
"Sumo!" Cole cheered and they all smiled, Leah petting Sumo.
"Welcome home, Sumo." Leah whispered as Sumo touched his nose to hers...
Sumo nuzzled Hank's right hand after noticing tears in Hank's eyes and Hank brushed them away and petted Sumo.
"I know, Sumo. It's not the same but at least it's something so we all can start to heal." Hank spoke after a few seconds before the two went back into the house and Hank saw Leah and Connor kissing under the mistletoe. "Alright, you two, save the mistletoe kisses for tomorrow." He joked as they smiled.
When it was morning and they were opening presents while Sumo was chewing on one of his new toys, Hank looked around the house and smiled.
What had been a depressing place since Cole's death three years ago was once again filled with joy and laughter.
It wasn't going to fix everything but it was a start.