Epilogue
Juni
Our first family Christmas
“Please install the baby gate at the foot of the stairs today,” I begged, sadly it wasn’t the first time I’d asked. The twins were only a couple months old, but they were crawling and climbing like mad already. “Are you sure all dragonets are this…well, far ahead of the growing curve?”
“For the most part, yes.” Kyson ran out to the shop and grabbed the drill and screwed the gate into the wall and stair post. “There, but don’t be surprised if they don’t figure the latch out soon.”
“Don’t say things like that. My heart races the entire time they’re awake as it is.”
“Sweetheart,” Kyson rubbed my back as I stood there watching the twins play, “they’re dragonets. They will get into things, they will hurt themselves, and they will heal. All we can do is kiss there boo-boos and tell them we love them.”
“That’s what mom keeps saying, but I don’t know, I’ve never been around babies before, so I have nothing to gauge this from.”
“Good, because you’d have to erase all that from your mind and relearn it dragon style. Remember how nervous you were the first time they nursed, or the first time they slept in their cribs?”
“Still nervous with them a floor away from us.”
“I put up the baby gate at the top of the stairs too. All is well. Now, let me get back to the surprises I’ve been working on for you.”
That caught my attention, he knows how much I love his surprises. “For me? Really?” So far he’d brought in blocks and a wooden train set for the babies. “Yay, my turn!”
“Silly Queenie. I’ll be back in bit.”
I’d just sat on the playmat with the twins when in came my brothers-in-law. “Delivery,” Kobalt called out. “Family and boxes.”
Each brother had a stack of boxes in their arms. Azure squeezed past with Kayden and Keegan. “Playtime.”
“Where do you want all of these?” Kobalt asked.
“Ooohhh, that must be all the Christmas decorations. Just set them against the wall, please. We still need to get a tree.”
“Got that too,” Pops came in carrying it. “One you can replant come spring per your request, sir.”
“I’m so excited for our first family Christmas.” I wondered when they’d get to town and pick up everything, but I didn’t want to come across as needy. That Juni was long gone, even though patience still wasn’t a virtue of mine.
The brothers went to check on Kyson while Azure and I played with the little ones. “Is it weird that I totally love the fact we both have kids at the same time?”
“No. Until you moved here it was just me and Kallie, but she lives on the other side of the compound. You’re just a short walk away, plus you’re my bestie.” Every time Azure said that it was like my own special win.
Ready for your surprise, Juni?
Guess it’s not something sexy since we have a houseful.
Ha-ha, nope. Headed your way.
Kobalt and Koan walked in first with Kyson and Pops behind them. Kordell must’ve gotten lost along the way. I jumped up and tried to peek around them, but they blocked Kyson with their massive bodies.
“Ready guys?” Kyson asked. “One, two, three,” Kordell and Koan pulled the tarps off the covers and what they revealed dropped me to my knees.
“Is that what I think it is?” Azure asked. “Wish we would’ve thought of that.”
Somehow, someway, Kyson had managed to reconstruct each of the twin’s eggs. The cracks were still there, outlining each piece, but inside the shadowboxes he made above the eggs were a series of pictures of the babies as they emerged, along with one of Kyson and me both holding them.
“Kyson,” I shakily gasped. “This is…I don’t have words.”
“I hope you like them?” So unsure of this amazing tribute to our babies. How could that be? Silly man.
“These are beyond amazing. I thought you were tossing the pieces when you first took them and that they were long gone. Now you have brought me these perfect memories. I absolutely love them. Your talents blow me away.”
Perfectly imperfect was the best way to describe them.
“I thought I could mount them to the wall over by the shelves where the stockings will hang. They’re kinda bulky and there they’ll be out of the way yet still visible.”
“I love that.” His dad helped him get them hung but my eyes never strayed far. The memories of our babies entering the world will never be forgotten and these works of art will serve to remind us of that day our family doubled right along with our hearts.
After everyone funneled out and the twins were down for their nap, I started unpacking the holiday decorations I’d ordered.
“Sweetheart, you have more décor than home.”
“So not true. Besides, we have to decorate inside and out, and the tree, and it’s our first Christmas together.”
“Where do you want the tree?”
“On the other side of the potbelly stove opposite the shelves.” With an outlet already there it was the ideal spot.
Kyson strung the lights around it while I put the ornaments on hooks and strategically placed each one on the tree.
“The stockings and the holders are on the coffee table if you want to put them up.” He’d mentioned how excited he was to see them on the shelf and I custom ordered them with our names on each one.
“Juni, these are perfect.” All four were in a green and red holiday plaid print with our names at the top in silver lettering. Simple yet elegant.
“I have some custom ornaments too.” I handed that box to him and he kissed me.
“Kael’s first Christmas 2025, Kalliope’s first Christmas 2025, Our first Christmas, Kyson & Juni, est. 2025.”
“Ours matches the plaque you made that hangs outside the front door.”
“Jesus, Juni. You never cease to take my breath away. Your heart is limitless and I’m glad it found mine.”
“Me too, my love. Me too.”
Christmas morning
“You get the kids changed and I’ll fill the stockings,” Kyson rattled off as I took off toward the stairs until he stopped me. “Oh yeah,” he kissed me, “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, my love.”
Good thing the kids didn’t understand what Christmas meant given we’d forgotten to fill the stockings last night. Shoot, and put the presents out too.
Don’t forget the presents.
On it!
Mate bond communication was the best.
“Merry Christmas, my loves,” I greeted them both with sweet kisses and hugs, then dressed the twins in the adorable Santa and Mrs. Clause baby outfits I found online.
They came with matching hats, but they weren’t having any of that and yanked them right off.
With a baby on each hip, I carefully maneuvered the stairs and met Kyson in the living room.
“Merry Christmas Kael & Kalliope!” Kyson kissed their cheeks. “Let’s feed them and eat then let the festivities begin!” I had one seriously excited mate.
After breakfast, Kyson and I grabbed our stockings along with one of the babies and sat with them on the floor to sift through them.
We had filled them with silly things, teething rings and toys for the babies and candy, toothbrushes, stuff of like that for us.
Though when I got to the bottom of mine there was a box in there.
“What’s this?” I shook it. “I thought we weren’t exchanging gifts?”
“We aren’t, just stockings and that was a stocking stuffer for you.”
I side-eyed the man trying to circumvent the rules and opened the box. “Kyson,” I gasped.
“Do you like it? I know we didn’t have a traditional wedding, but I wanted you to have a wedding ring set just the same.”
I swear, I’ve cried more happy tears in the year I’ve been with this man than I did my entire life. He crawled over to me and removed the gorgeous diamond engagement ring with matching white gold band from the box and slid it onto my finger.
“Juni, you’ve made me the happiest man alive, and I’ll spend the rest of my life doing my best for you and our kids. If you want a wedding, we’ll have it, but this is something I wanted you to have either way. I love you more than words can say.”
Crying, like full blown the kids are staring at me sobbing.
“It’s stunning. I love you so much, Ky. I mean, just look,” I swung a hand through the air.
“Our kids, our home, our lives. You saved me more than you know. You showed me how to love and how to be loved when I’d never known either.
You gave me a family and a life I’m proud of.
I don’t need gifts or trinkets though I cherish them all, especially the things you make with your own two hands. ”
“If that’s the case then I’ll just take the rings back.”
“Over my dead body you will,” I flashed my hand in his face. “Look how gorgeous it looks on me.”
“Ha-ha, thought you might say that,” he pressed his lips to mine. “Merry Christmas, Juni.”
“Merry Christmas, Kyson.”
“Let’s get the kids ready so they can eat more wrapping paper,” Kyson said and we glanced down at our tiny dragons, both had a fist full of colorful Santa paper. “I have no words.”
“I just have one more thing to do.” I sat in front of the computer and typed up my version of an email Christmas card and attached a picture of our happy family to it.
To: Branson at Winter Wonderland Wilderness Lodge
From: The Cinders Family
Dear Branson,
We cannot thank you enough for your flub-up that ended with this lonely omega finding his forever. Kyson and I are beyond grateful for your accidental matchmaking skills.
We hope you had a wonderful holiday and plan to bring our family to visit you next year.
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Kyson, Juni, Kael & Kalliope Cinders
If you enjoyed this story, why not check out the rest of the Double Booked for the Holidays series and see if Branson worked his magic on them