Epilogue
Fallon
“Can I get you to check these figures over?” I stood in the doorway of Fallon's office, my big pregnant stomach already over the threshold.
“Sure, honey. But after that we're leaving early. You need your rest. You're due any day now.”
I'd stopped taking birth control around February after I’d moved into Keir’s house. By March he'd gotten me pregnant. We were having a December baby.
The pregnancy had been smooth. It had only been in the last week or two that my energy flagged.
True to his alpha instincts, Keir was there for me every step of the way.
He took care of everything, including cooking when we didn’t resort to takeout.
But we were both busy enough that we left the cleaning to a crew that came in once a week on Fridays.
In our most private moments in bed, Keir still called me his Christmas reindeer. And he still called me honey. I loved both terms of endearment.
The team at Santa's Sleigh we're all happy for us.
Even Clea came to the wedding and wished us well.
I still didn't know if she had been jealous of my ability with numbers or my relationship with Keir.
I never asked. None of that mattered anymore.
I had the best job in the world. And the best husband.
Along with counting down the days until Christmas Eve, Keir and I were counting the days until my delivery date. We weren't exactly sure, but the doctor told us it would be sometime during the second week of December.
It was already the tenth.
Once we got home, Keir quickly whipped up a big pot of chicken and dumpling stew. With faux chicken, of course. No one in Santa’s Village ate meat. It was fantastic.
Later, we cuddled on the couch and watched Christmas movies while the snow fell like feathers out the living room windows. He rubbed my belly in slow, soft circles. The best alpha ever.
I fell asleep against his chest and he woke me only because it was time for bed.
I laughed, then slowly made it up the stairs to our grand bedroom. I was still very tired and knew I would have no trouble sleeping tonight.
Keir’s house was large. It made sense for me to give up my apartment.
The two of us would have been squished into that one-bedroom place.
I loved the house and thought of it as home right away.
It was a big gingerbread type A-frame. Since it snowed most of the year, snow on the roof made it look like permanent icing.
This year, I finally got a tree. Or we did. Keir also got me a tree for my office back at Control. He never forgot anything when it came to spoiling me rotten.
When I woke up the next morning, I was too tired to go into work.
“I just don't think I can make it today,” I said.
“Of course, honey. You need rest. How do you feel otherwise?”
“Well, I haven't had any contractions if that's what you're asking.”
“I'll work here from my office.”
“It's alright. You can go in. I'll be fine. And I'll call you if anything happens.”
“No can do. I'm not leaving you alone. Today will be a remote day. Go back to sleep, honey. I'll be just down the hall.”
I had no problem following that order. It came from both my alpha mate and my boss. That meant business and I never argued with that.
I immediately fell back to sleep, but strange nightmares pestered me. I kept seeing that strange storm from last year. In my dreams, Santa was lost in the white, endless fields of another time and we spent days and months trying to find him. When I woke I still felt exhausted.
I got up and took a hot shower but still didn't feel right, so I went straight back to bed.
At noon, Keir brought me lunch. I could only eat a few bites.
“No contractions yet?” he asked.
“Nope. But no appetite today either.”
“I can feel the baby wanting to be born.” He stroked my forehead and made sure I stayed hydrated, constantly tipping the water bottle up to my mouth.
I pushed his hand away. “You're treating me like a baby.”
“I'm treating you like my mate. It's my job to make everything as easy as possible for you.”
“That's your job description for Santa.”
“Yes. I've got two names on my list now. But guess which one is first?”
“Santa, of course.”
He laughed and affectionately patted my shoulder. “Wrong.”
How did I get so lucky? One minute I was working in the dollmaking section of the workshop and the next I had my dream job and the best mate in the world.
Later that afternoon, my lower back began to burn. That was a sign that the baby was getting ready to meet the world.
I called Keir into the room. He made me roll onto my side and then began to rub my lower back. It really helped.
The first contraction hit around five o’clock. It felt like a tight belt around my abdomen that wouldn't let up. Then the cramps began. I breathed through it and it eased almost immediately.
Keir began to time the contractions.
Soon, it was agreed that I was ready to go to the hospital and deliver our child.
We already had a go bag packed. We were ready.
He helped me down the stairs and to the car.
As we drove down the village streets, the streetlights lit the way making the road golden.
Snow fell lazily from the sky. The flakes were soft and big, so beautiful.
I had two more contractions in the car. Despite that, the night looked magical, like someone had waved a wand over the village and created this moment just for us.
At the hospital, I was wheeled into a single room. I got my first check after settling into a gown and the birthing bed. To my surprise, the nurse made a little ”eep” sound followed by, “You’re already crowning.”
A minute later, the doctor came in. “This baby is coming now.” She was an elf with a joyful tone.
I decided to have our baby sitting up with my legs in stirrups. Being on my hands and knees simply didn’t work. I was too sensitive, too tired.
Keir supported my back, holding me as I pushed.
It didn’t take long. I felt the whoosh before the doctor told us we had a new baby girl. Then I heard her cries of life.
“Usually, first babies take the longest. You got lucky,” she said.
I was still panting, but excited to see our brand-new December daughter.
The doctor gave her a quick check over, then placed her on my chest wrapped in a red blanket covered with cartoon Santas.
“Have you two chosen a name yet?”
I glanced at Keir. His slim, gold eyebrows rose as he nodded.
“December,” I said.
We’d discussed names until the very last minute. December was one of five we loved. With his nod, he was allowing me to choose.
Keir leaned forward and rested his palm on her still damp head. Her hair was golden, like his. “Hello, December,” he said.
I looked at her tiny fingers, touching them. “Hi, baby girl.”
We spent long minutes admiring her, already in love with her the moment we saw her.
“Look what we did,” I said.
“We do excellent work together,” Keir replied.
“I thought last year was my best Christmas ever. But this year’s is right up there with it. Last year I got the best mate ever. This year we have a child.”
“Don’t forget. We also saved Christmas.”
“I think maybe it’s unfair to compare the two. They’re both our best Christmases, right?”
“Definitely.” Keir leaned in and kissed me.
December lay in my arms, her wide blue eyes taking it all in.
“Merry early Christmas present,” Keir whispered.
“Merry Christmas, my alpha mate. Merry Christmas, December.”
Two days later, we got her a big red bow and put it in her thin gold hair. She cried, and we immediately took it off, but not before we got a picture proving she was our best gift. The gift we gave to each other.
THE END