December 3

The flames crackling in the fireplace feel like hot soup trickling through your veins after an evening playing with the kids in the snow. Anticipation of the joy on their faces whenever they open their presents on Christmas morning adds to the flavor like a hearty helping of vegetables in a beef broth.

"Mother, can't I stay up with you and Father?" Fuyumi huffs from the kitchen as she finishes a glass of water.

You chuckle as you stir a little cream into your mug of steaming tea. Enji's, you leave plain except for a dash of steeping tea leaves. Both mugs are topped with a swirling plume of steam.

"Stay up? Fuyumi, it's almost 10, you should be in bed. You have school tomorrow." You tut, running your fingers through her hair and pulling the strands from under her night shirt.

"I know, but I can't sleep. I had too much fun!" She laughs. "Like did you see how Toya body-slammed Shoto in the snow?! I was so worried he was hurt, but they were laughing! Boys are so infuriating and entertaining."

"They are, aren't they?" You lick your thumb and rub a stray smudge from her face; she giggles and ducks away.

"Mooomm!"

"Oh, fine." You sigh, relenting. Taking the two warm mugs, you pad into the living room where Enji sits in the armchair in front of the fire. You set both beverages on the table beside it and then drape yourself across Enji's lap. "You'll get to hear both of us talking about how much we love each other."

The moment you start making kissy faces at Enji, Fuyumi's footsteps stop.

"Eww." You turn just in time to see the way her face wrinkles with disgust as she turns away. "Nevermind. You can sit together. I'm tired."

Enji shakes his head and rewards you with a full-on laugh when Fuyumi's door closes down the hall.

"I'll have to remember that trick." His massive hand rests at your hip. "You're so cold, my frosty queen."

"Am I? I didn't really notice." You shrug, before curling up into his chest. "But I did notice you're very warm, Fire Boy."

"Am I? I didn't really notice." He quips back. He leans in for a peck on the cheek.

A playful battle ensues between you both; Enji vibrates with soft chuckles as you paw at his chest, sliding your fingers up his neck and into his hair. Kissing Enji tingles just underneath your skin like static electricity. Every touch thereafter ignites and explodes between your nerve endings, tying you both together.

He is your everything.

"Did you have fun with the kids?" You whisper after pulling back to recover from the way he makes your head spin.

"I always have fun with my family, you know that."

"Yeah, but it's nice to hear it out loud sometimes." You admit, caressing the scruffy texture of his beard. "We're your family. We love you and like to know the feeling's mutual."

After a homey sip of tea, he rests his forehead against you.

"You are all the most important people in the world to me." He vows, blue eyes searching yours. "If I lost any of you, I would lose a part of myself."

"Hmm," A soft snort escapes you as you grin. "That must mean for all of our strange mannerisms, they all give you life anytime you learn more about us and our silly habits."

"Perhaps." He tickles your sides. "Or perhaps I just love you all enough to tolerate those habits."

"You know you love the chaos in this household!"

"I wouldn't want to live without it."

The fire crackles and pops its agreement, and Enji indulges in his own silly habit: peppering tender kisses all over your face.