"Crackerrrrrr." You stretched over his chest brushing your fingers along his jawline as you woke him up.

He tilted his head from one side to the other, furrowing his brows as he pinched the bridge of his nose. His free hand slid up your ass to your lower back were he held you in place as he grumbled.

"Why does it feel like I didn't get any sleep?"

"I dunno." You listened to his heart beat quicken slightly as you spoke and smiled softly. "It's like, midday."

He peeked at you through his fingers. "I blame the alcohol then."

"That sounds about right."

"Why are we waking up now though?"

"My clothes are a mess and I need something to wear."

"You're fine like this." He chuckled as squeezed your ass until you squeaked.

"Not if I want to go downstairs!"

"Why would you want to do that?"

"I'm hungry."

"Nice to meet you hungry." He snickered when you pushed at his face but he didn't add to it as he rolled out from under you and stood. "Lucky for you, I always keep some clothes handy here. I'm sure I have something that can work until we take you back home."

You sat up, the blankets pooling around your middle as you watched him go through his dresser. There were long red lines going down his back from where you scratched him last night, the only marks you left on him. You on the other hand, had love bites and bruises covering your neck, breasts, and thighs, courtesy of him.

"These won't fit the best but it's something." He came back with a simple black tee and a pair of grey sweatpants.

"I'll take it." You got to your feet, accepting the clothes so that he could go back to the dresser for something he could wear.

While he was built more broadly in the chest and shoulders, his hips were trim enough that the sweats stayed put but you had to roll up the legs to keep from tripping on them. The shirt was the same as the sweater last night, falling off your shoulders constantly. There was no real solution for that problem but you were covered so you didn't make a big deal out of it. By the time you were dressed, Cracker had on a fresh pair of jeans and was in the middle of pulling on a new shirt. He muscles rippled while he went through the motions and you enjoyed the quick, free show.

"Didn't you mention wanting us to talk before?" You vaguely remembered him suggesting as much while you were in the shower last night.

"Yeah...." He gathered the clothes from last night and piled them on the end of the bed, you assumed to be picked up by cleaning staff later. You didn't envy those that worked in the home. "(Y/n), you've known me for a bit now and you know the whole reason this dating fiasco started."

"Yep." You nodded as you checked out the room. Drunk you hadn't taken the time to do so.

"So you understand I'm not just dating to date, I'm looking to marry eventually."

"I know." You had your back to him but you turned enough to give him a confident smile. "I know we've argued a lot at times and we don't always see eye to eye but I've always enjoyed my time with you. I've always looked forward to seeing you, talking to you, and well, last night was nice too. My point is, I think I'd like spending more time with you."

He stepped forward, pulling you into a tight hug from behind, kissing your cheek. "We're both stubborn and that means we're going to continue butting heads from time to time but we'll always work it out, we'll always come to an understanding."

Nothing felt more true right in that moment. You were both strong willed, he was right. It was what drove you to struggle towards a career that seemed almost impossible and drove him to spontaneously decide he liked you enough to help you keep said career. And no matter what, you'd always be able to overcome whatever obstacles came your way.

"We'll take things slow." He continued. "I don't want us jumping into anything we aren't ready for and I'm sure mom won't rush us. I think she's content with us being together as we are for now."

"I think I'm happy with this for now too. I can't remember the last time I was in a real relationship so I don't want to get ahead of myself."

"Don't worry." He gave you one last chaste kiss, this time on the lips, before pulling away with an airy chuckle. "We've got this. How about we see what the food situation is downstairs? You said you were hungry."

----

Breakfast, or technically lunch, consisted of doughnuts and whatever drinks people could scrounge up. Many of you that stayed the night were getting out of bed around the same time and breakfast foods tended to be the favorite for the Charlotte clan, especially pastries of any kind.

Most of them took their food with tea or coffee but a few brave souls went for hair of the dog. No one questioned how you were dressed but a few did give you side long glances accompanied with knowing smirks.

You ignored the looks easily though, more focused on flirting with Cracker at the admitingly large dining room table. It had to be big to fit a family his size you supposed.

Your lover decided he was starving even though you were the hungry one originally and ate enough to feed an army. You were pretty sure he went through at least a dozen doughnuts by himself. Then again, as you ate, you noticed many of his siblings ate the same way he did.

When you were finished, Cracker stretched out in his chair and groaned like he may have had too much. That wouldn't have surprised you any.

"What's our plan today?" He asked.

"Not sure really." You sipped at your drink. "If we want to go out, I'll need a change of my own clothes. But then again, I was debating trying out some different cookie recipes today."

Heads turned at the mention of baking and suddenly you had the entire room's attention. It was no secret that the entire family loved your baking, it definitely ranked as some of the best among their most skilled bakers. That wasn't you bragging, that's just what a lot of them told you.

"You're baking for Christmas, right?" Peros asked from the other end of the table.

"Sure, if you guys want. What were you hoping for?"

"Some of that cake." He answered quickly and you knew exactly which one he meant, the same one that landed you the job.

"Whatever cookies you were thinking of trying out." Another sibling added.

"Pies!"

"Cheesecake!"

"Hold on guys, don't make so many demands." Cracker growled. "How am I supposed to have time with her if she's baking for all of you?"

"You had plenty of time with her last night." Custard snapped. You didn't doubt her room was the one next to Cracker's.

More than a few laughs erupted from the table and you felt a heavy blush hit your face. Nothing was sacred here.

"Cracker." Katakuri called you from the room's entrance, leaning against one side of it. "I need to borrow (Y/n) for a moment."

"Oh, sure." Cracker brushed a hand down your arm as you got up, a quick touch before you left.

He seemed unphased by his brother decided he suddenly needed to talk to you and you bet it had to be something about work or Christmas. Maybe he was going to fill you in on the things he didn't want so you didn't buy him something useless.

When you made it to the giant of a man, he wordlessly led you to what had to be Linlin's office. It was currently empty of any other life, just a desk and a couple chairs surrounded by knick knacks and sugary themed decor. He closed the door behind you and sat behind the desk, motioning for you to take the only other empty chair. You had a feeling this was about work.

"You and Cracker seemed to have worked things out." He began.

"Yeah." You lit up, thinking about how well yesterday went for you. Your heart seemed to feel all kinds of fuzzy any time you thought about your lover now. "We're doing great."

"I'd like to be straightforward with you (Y/n) and I'd like you to do the same with me."

"Of course." This was suddenly feeling a lot less like it was about work.

He clasped his hands together on the center of the desk and gave you a laughably curious look, one similar to what a small child might give you. "Has your act finally stopped?"

"My....act?"

"You might have fooled my siblings but you couldn't fool me. The act of pretending to be with Cracker. I understand it was for the sake of helping him, I get why you did it, I just want to know if it's finished."

This was not what you had in mind. In fact, you'd assumed some time ago that Katakuri had bought that you were a couple and didn't question it. It never crossed your mind that he knew all along and chose to stay silent about it.

"I-I uh, how long did you know?" There was no hiding it so you didn't even bother trying.

"Since the beginning. You aren't a good liar and neither is Cracker. I know all his signs and yours weren't hard to figure out."

You lowered your eyes as you felt guilt wash over you. Katakuri was your boss, lying to him and getting caught in the act wasn't great. It was made worse by the fact that you actually liked him as a person and didn't want to let him down.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to be what it was but I just really wanted to help Cracker. He was so worried about what your mom wanted and I thought I'd suggest some kind of temporary solution. I never thought he'd ask me to be that solution though. And to answer your question, yes, it's no longer something we're lying about."

Katakuri gave a short, curt nod. "I'm glad you figured it out then."

"That's it?" You met his eyes once again, confused. "Aren't you angry with me? With us?"

"I was at first, after you lied to me, but when I saw Cracker afterwards, I noticed something."

"...What?"

"You were both so caught up in your joint lie that you didn't see that you were lying to yourselves. I could tell from the get go that you wouldn't pretend the entire time, I knew it would change."

"So you planned on us really getting together?"

"Yes."

"And that's why you didn't raise hell about it?"

"Correct."

"I-" You sighed and shook your head. "I'm still sorry for lying like that. I didn't know what else to do and I was so stuck in my own little world that I couldn't come up with something better."

"It's fine. I'd say it all worked out well in the end so there's nothing to be sorry for, though I will suggest refraining from doing such things in the future."

"Of course." You nodded vigorously. "Was that..all?"

"I believe so."

You owed him for letting something like this slide for so long, big time.

"I'm taking requests for Christmas baking, was there anything you wanted?" Yep, you'd pay him back with baking. It was by no means subtle but it didn't need to be.

He thought for a second before you saw a sparkle in his eyes that told you he had something in mind. "We do breakfast here Christmas morning. The doughnuts today are good but I'd like some homemade ones."

"Can do." You smiled brightly as you stood.

He let out a happy grunt in typical Katakuri fashion but stayed in his seat as you made your way back to the door.

"Actually, there was one other thing."

You stopped with your hand on the doorknob and turned to face him, giving him your full attention.

"Mom had to leave this morning for an important meeting so she couldn't ask you herself, but she was wanting to offer you a spot somewhere else for work. She likes how you bake and wants to suggest you helping create new products."

"You mean...a promotion?"

"You could call it that."

"Really?"

"If you want it."

If you were happy before, it didn't compare to how you felt now. You got to date your crush and get your dream job? Hell yeah you'd take the promotion.

"Yes! I'd love it!"

For the first time ever, you heard Katakuri chuckle. "I'll let her know then. We'll make arrangements for the change soon."

"Thank you so much!"

"Thank mom when you see her, now go bother Cracker."

You left the room on cloud nine, nothing could ruin your day. On your way back to the dining room, you found Cracker wandering in your direction at a leisurely pace and when he saw you, he sped up and grinned.

"You look like you got some good news." He said.

"I did." You beamed right back.

"The anticipation is killing me, what'd he say?"

"You and I are going to be seeing each other a lot more often at work."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I got promoted." You giggled happily.

"What? For real?" He wrapped an arm around you, resting his hand on your hip as you walked through the home together. There wasn't a sibling in sight so you assumed they were all still in the dining room.

"Yep, I'm now pretty important."

He snickered as he bent down closer to brush his lips against your ear, talking a little lower if only to get a reaction out of you.

"Miss (Y/n), you wouldn't happen to be fucking your way to the top, would you?"

You gasped and smacked his shoulder, earning a burst of laughter from him. "You're terrible!"

"I swear, if you two start something again..." Katakuri called from the office, apparently still close enough to catch your slightly raised voice.

"We're good!" Cracker shouted back before lowering his voice again to address you. "I'd say you're part of the family now."

"You think?"

"My brothers side with you before me nowadays and my sisters treat you like you've always been around."

You let out a hum of appreciation. "Yeah, I think I like your family anyway."

"Me too." He chuckled.

Without a doubt, you felt like you were a part of his family now and you could say for sure, your mom would be happy with how things turned out. You knew you were.