One Hellion of a Christmas (Pretty Little)

1. Hayat

CHAPTER ONE

hayat

Inhaling long and deep, I took in the sharp bite of cold air mixed with a freshness that I didn’t get to experience in LA, letting a little of the stress that had been building over the past few months fade away. Autumn’s Slumber had been in the studio for the last few weeks recording and editing our fourth album that was set to release in February. On the heels of our first solo summer tour, with every venue sold out, I needed this break more than I’d willingly let anyone know.

Pressing a hand to my stomach, I tried not to grimace at the cramps and acid building in the back of my throat. I just had to get through all the insanity of spending the holidays with my family, and then I could chill out for a little while, which was what I needed more than anything.

It felt great to get away from the nonstop pace of home, with all the crazy fans following us around, practically stalking me. Practically. Fuck, that was a hilarious understatement. But I wasn’t going to think about that. Spending some time with Abi and Amala was the Christmas present to myself that I’d been needing for way too long.

Abi was supposed to be taking it easy, the end of her second pregnancy approaching faster than I felt ready for. She hadn’t been able to make it down for Thanksgiving with our extended families, and there hadn’t been enough time for us to make the trip to Creswell Springs to be with her, like Kin and Jace had done. No way I was going to miss Christmas with my bestie, though.

Thankfully, the album was done, and I didn’t have to rush back. Not that I would have, even if we’d absolutely had to. Abi was only a few weeks from her due date, but her doctor was worried she could go at any minute. Sammy and I had both been there for Amala’s birth, and I refused to miss the birth of my second godchild.

Compared to LA, Creswell Springs was considerably colder. Maybe we would even have snow for Christmas. Excited at the possibility, I glanced up at the huge house Ky had parked in front of.

It was as big as a hotel. Anya and Emmie had decided we all needed one place to call home when we were visiting our Angel’s Halo MC family. Sammy had designed the house, and Elias and his brother had personally broken ground on the construction. Money moved mountains, and it had also ensured that the mega-mansion-sized house was ready to go in what felt like a blink of an eye.

For me, that was probably because no sooner had we broken ground than Autumn’s Slumber had had to hit the road for a tour. We’d co-headlined that particular summer, promoting the release of our second album. The next time I’d gotten back to Creswell Springs more than six months later, the house was ready. Despite forty bedrooms, an entertainment room the size of a theater, equipped with heated, reclining chairs, five guest bathrooms on top of the en suites in every bedroom, and an industrial-sized kitchen, Emmie still questioned if it was large enough for everyone, should we all decide to visit at the same time.

Seeing as how the place almost split at the seams with all the kids running around, excited for the chance to see cousins they didn’t get to see but a few times a year, I had to agree that Emmie might have reason for concern.

Christmas lights and other decorations illuminated the house as the sun began to set. Jamie grabbed one of our suitcases from the trunk of our rental, his face spread in a huge grin as he kept shooting the gaggle of kids screaming in the yard amused glances.

“Uncle Jamie!” one of the kids yelled. It was one of Arella’s daughters, who was swinging on the play set Elias had designed and built himself for Amala to play on. There were so many kids, it made me dizzy to keep up with who was who for a minute. “Come play! Hurry! Mom said we have to go in for dinner soon.”

Sparks nudged him, tipping his chin toward the kids, a smile teasing his lips. “Go on. We got this.”

Jamie wrapped his arm around me, pressing a quick kiss to my lips before he jogged over to the kids. Aidan screeched with happy glee, while his twin jumped on Jamie’s back in an attempt to take his prey to the ground. Expecting Ciaran’s antics, Jamie twisted and rolled the terror, inciting a cheer from Fallon as she jumped up and down at her favorite uncle’s victory.

Shaking my head, I laughed at them all. I’d missed all my little cousins. And I loved seeing Jamie playing with them. He would make a great daddy.

Another cramp squeezed my belly. A belch tried to bubble up, but I moved away before Sparks or Ky could hear me release it, the taste of stomach acid burning the back of my throat. Fucking stomach acting stupid and getting all ugly over the least little thing.

“My bestie!”

Heart lifting, I turned at the sound of that sweet little voice in time to see a flash of dark red pigtails speeding toward me. Bending, I swooped Amala into my arms. “My mini Abi!”

She smacked a kiss to my cheek. “I missed you so much, bestie.”

“I missed you more.”

“Nuh-huh,” she argued, shaking her head from side to side adamantly. “I missed you more.”

“Nope,” I popped the p. “Not even in a million years could you miss me more than I missed you, Mini.”

Her nose scrunched up in a totally Abi way, and I just wanted to stand there and soak up every tiny thing that was Amala. “No, bestie. Not in a kajillion-billion-million years could you miss me more.”

“That is a very long time,” I said, impressed. “But still, no. Wanna know why?”

Both her hands were already playing with my hair, scrunching and twirling the curls around her fingers. “Why?”

“Because I love you the mostest of anyone on the entire planet.”

“Me too!”

I gasped in delight. “You love me more than you love your tetka ?”

“I love you equally ,” she rushed to correct me, stressing the whole equal thing because she didn’t want to hurt my feelings. I was a teeny-tiny bit jealous that Sammy got to spend so much time with Amala and Abi. I missed them so damn much. “You are both my favorite aunties in the whole wide world. The universe. The galaxy.”

“Yay!” I cheered.

“Bunny kisses.”

Rubbing my nose against hers, I tightened my arms around her without thinking, closing my eyes as the last of the tension that had been coiled in every muscle began to release.

Yeah, I really needed this break.

“Bestie!”

Turning with Amala on my hip, I held out my arm in time for Abi’s weight to hit me. Thankfully, I’d learned to plant my feet, or all three of us would have been on the ground. Laughing, we curled into a hug, Abi’s big pregnant belly wedged between us. I felt the faint flutter of a powerful kick from the baby growing inside my best friend, and I caught my breath. That never failed to amaze me.

What would it feel like to experience life growing inside me?

Shaking away that thought had nausea roiling in my stomach. Swallowing in hopes of relieving the sudden indigestion, I got lost in Abi’s excited chatter while Ky and Sparks unloaded our luggage.

Sammy was already skipping happily across the yard that separated the mega house from the cottage she’d built herself only the year before, placing herself between Abi and her mother when Anya Vitucci visited Creswell Springs. I didn’t understand her need to protect Abi and Amala from her mother, but I trusted Sammy’s instincts, knowing she would always protect the two people most precious to us both.

As soon as Sammy reached us, Abi grabbed her and pulled her into our girls-only hug. Sammy’s entire face glowed as she hugged us back.

Hearing a vehicle rolling up the long driveway that connected the three houses, Sammy shifted her gaze to the truck that pulled into an open garage. “Look, Amala. Daddy’s home.”

“Hers or yours?” Jamie asked, coming to stand behind me, dropping one hand to my hip while the other joined Amala in playing with my hair. Abi was doing the same thing, tugging on a few strands unconsciously.

“Jamie,” Sparks hissed in warning as he passed us, carrying the heaviest of my cases up to the porch. We were going to be there for a while, not just the holidays, but the suitcase was mostly full of presents, the majority of them already wrapped, with Amala’s name attached.

“It’s a valid question.” I tried to soothe his agitation at Jamie poking Sammy’s crazy. “And to be fair, I prefer hers, hands down, to Mini’s.”

Sammy smirked at Jamie. “Mine. I have to go.” She kissed Amala’s cheek then hugged me. “I’m really happy you’re here, Hayat. We’ve all missed you.”

“Me too,” I told her with a smile, fighting another cramp. “Let’s have a slumber party at Abi’s one night and catch up.”

“Definitely. I can’t wait.” Waving, she skipped back toward her house, a playful giggle filling the air when she saw Elias waiting for her at the still-open garage.

“Mommy, can I play with my cousins?” Amala asked.

Rubbing one hand over her belly, Abi eyed the rambunctious kids screaming and causing mayhem on the play set. All that energy must have been suppressed during their trips to Creswell Springs, and I was glad they had an outlet to release some before dinner. “Sure. But no fighting.”

Amala gave her mother a wicked grin. “No promises.”

Laughing at how much my goddaughter reminded me of not only her mom, but me as well, I gave her another bunny kiss before setting her on her feet. Her pigtails bounced as she hurried over to the other kids, who welcomed her wholeheartedly to the group.

I watched her climb the rock-wall side of the play set. Even from where we stood, I could see the mischief in her eyes as she said something that Ciaran took as a challenge. He started climbing on the other side of her. When she got to the top, she turned to watch the prince of mayhem, who was a foot below her.

Oh shit.

“No, Amala!” Abi shouted, reading the intent in her daughter’s beautiful face. “Don’t you freaking dare.”

Blinking, Amala stepped back, letting Ciaran onto the landing instead of kicking him off.

Amala might have been her mother’s mini-me, but she obviously had a lot of Vitucci in her as well.

Her sweet but terrifyingly diabolical giggle filled the air as she grabbed hold of the first monkey bar, swinging from one metal pipe to another with confidence and ease. Hearing it, I felt my heart lift.

I loved that sound so damn much.