A few hours later, Brylee was standing in her bedroom, wrapping the finishing touches on Bennett's gift. She was nervous and anxious as she waited for Bennett to come over so they could exchange gifts. Thanks to Shawn, the gift looked much better than it would have if she'd done it on her own. Shawn was honestly pretty good at wrapping gifts. She glanced around her room, taking in the holiday decorations she had put up. The small Christmas tree in the corner sparkled with lights, and the festive garlands added a touch of cheer. Despite her nerves, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. She loved Christmas and couldn't wait for Bennett to get here. She left the window unlocked, knowing he would most likely climb in like he always does.

Sure enough, a few moments later, Bennett climbs through the window, grinning. "Merry Christmas!" He greeted her cheerfully, heading over to her with a gift in hands and surprising her by pulling her into a kiss.

Brylee laughs against his lips, pulling away after a few moments. "Merry Christmas." She murmured, her gaze flicking over him. He was wearing a dark green sweater with blue ripped jeans, and his hair was slightly messy, but it just made him look more adorable. She couldn't help but smile at him.

Bennett grins, giving her an affectionate look. "You look beautiful," He comments, his eyes scanning over her outfit. She was wearing a red sweater, her favorite, and black leggings, and her hair was down in loose waves. "As always." He added, his tone teasing.

Brylee laughs softly, leaning her forehead against his shoulder. "Thanks, baby." She glances up at him, her heart fluttering. "You look great, too." She told him, reaching for his hand.

Bennett chuckles, squeezing her hand gently. "Thanks." He says, pressing a quick kiss to her lips. "Ready to exchange gifts?" He asked, his expression growing more eager.

Brylee rolls her eyes fondly at his excitement. "So impatient." She teases, her tone affectionate. "But yeah, I'm ready." They both settle on her bed, sitting in front of each other and close enough their legs brush against each other. "Okay, how do we decide who opens the gift first?"

"Flip a coin?" Bennett suggested, shrugging his shoulders.

"Okay, works for me." Brylee agrees, getting up to find a quarter in her wallet that was in one of her purses. "Heads or tails?" She asked as she held up the coin.

Bennett thought for a moment before responding with a grin, "Heads."

Brylee flips the coin and caught it, then reveals the result. "Tails. Looks like I'm opening my gift first!" She announced with a playful smirk.

"Aw man, so close." Bennett groaned jokingly. He watched as Brylee started unwrapping the gift, a small smile on his face.

Brylee chuckles and rolls her eyes at his antics, beginning to unwrap the gift. She furrows her eyebrows when she saw what the gift was. She didn't know how to feel. "Why did you get me this?" She couldn't help but ask, her voice quiet. In her hands was a painting set, specifically a Christmas themed one where you could paint snow angels. Painful memories of her dad flashed back in her mind and her heart ached. She had always wanted this painting set and her dad promised that he would get it for her that Christmas and they would paint it together. 

Every Christmas he promised that, she waited, but never received the gift. Then her parents divorced, and things became tense between them and he stopped calling her or seeing her as much. After a while, she gave up and realized her dad didn't want to spend time with her which made her heartbroken. And now, Bennett was giving her the very gift that she had longed for years ago, bringing back all those memories she had tried to bury.

Bennett notices the shift in her expression and immediately grew concerned. "I-I'm sorry...Just when you told me this story the other day when I caught you painting, I wanted to get this for you. I mean, you said you always wanted this."

"I-I mean, yeah...." Brylee says softly, her voice wavering. She felt like this was kind of insensitive, even if Bennett didn't mean for it to be. She could feel tears starting to well up in her eyes and tried to blink them away. She didn't want to cry, especially on Christmas. She felt so conflicted.

"Baby..." Bennett trails off, feeling terrible. He didn't realize this would make her upset. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry." He apologizes, reaching for her hands and taking the gift out of her hands, placing it aside. "What can I do? Is there anything I can do?"

"N-no, it's fine. It's stupid." Brylee replied, her tone clipped. She shook her head, refusing to look at him. She didn't mean to suddenly sound harsh, but the emotions were overwhelming. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

"It's not stupid. If it's upsetting you, then it's not stupid." Bennett insists his voice soft, reaching over to grab her hands. "Tell me what's wrong."

"I'm sorry, it's just...this painting set is something I always wanted when I was younger. My dad promised to get it for me, and we were supposed to paint together, but it never happened. Every Christmas he'd promise, and every year, it didn't come true. After the divorce and everything, I kind of gave up on the idea. Seeing this now, it just brought back all those memories I tried to forget." Brylee confessed, her voice wavering. She could feel the tears welling up again and blinked them away. She didn't want to cry over a stupid painting set. She sniffles and wipes her eyes. "I'm sorry for overreacting. It's stupid." She mumbled, feeling embarrassed.

Bennett squeezes her hands gently, shaking his head. "Hey, no, it's not stupid. Don't apologize. I'm sorry I made you upset. I didn't mean to. I just wanted to give you something you've been wanting." He reassures her, his voice gentle. "And I know how much your dad has let you down in the past...I hate you had to go through that. You didn't deserve it. But if you're not comfortable with the gift, then we don't have to do anything with it. We can return it, or we can donate it, or something. I just decided to get you this since it's something you've been wanting and I thought we could do it together. Even though I'm not really great at painting. And I just want you to know that I never want to let you down like your dad did and I'm here for you, always."

Brylee looks up at Bennett, her heart swelling with his sincere words. She takes a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. "Thank you, Bennett. I really appreciate you understanding and not being upset with me. It's just...It's hard sometimes to face those old memories, especially during the holidays."

Bennett gives her a reassuring smile. "I get it. It's okay to feel how you're feeling. And you know, we don't have to do anything with the painting set right now. We can just be here for each other and enjoy the rest of Christmas. If you want, we can still paint together later, whenever you feel up to it."

Brylee's eyes soften as she meets his gaze. "That sounds nice. I'd like that. And thank you for being so understanding and patient with me."

Bennett leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Of course. I'm here for you, Brylee. No matter what."

They share a quiet, comforting moment, and Brylee feels a sense of relief and warmth from Bennett's support. She's grateful for his understanding and kindness. As they continue to sit together, the tension from earlier gradually fades, and they focus on enjoying each other's company.

"Okay, now open your gift." Brylee encouraged, gently nudging him. She felt better now, the emotional tension having dissipated. She was thankful for his patience and understanding.

"Alright." Bennett agrees, grabbing the neatly wrapped present. He begins unwrapping the gift and his face fell at seeing the gift. "Is this how you see me?" Hurt laced his voice as he stared down at the gift she got him. It was a book that had the title 'Math for Dummies'.

"No, no." Brylee quickly chimes in, shaking her head. "Benny, I got you this to prove to you how much you've grown and proved yourself. You have come along way and I'm so proud of you. I don't think you're a dummy, far from it. I got this for you to show how far you've come, and I hope that you see yourself in a different light." She explains, her voice sincere. "I know you think you aren't that smart and always put yourself down, but you are. You are a lot smarter than you give yourself credit for."

"Really?" Bennett asked, his tone hesitant.

"Yeah, really." Brylee nods, smiling softly, gently nudging him and taking the book from him. She began reading some of the questions out with him effortlessly answering them. She smiles proudly at him, leaning over to wrap her arm around his shoulders. "See? You're a lot smarter than you give yourself credit for. And you've come so far, Bennett. I just wanted to remind you of that."

Bennett's expression softens, and a smile slowly spreads across his face. He looks at Brylee with a mix of gratitude and affection. "Thanks, Bry. That means a lot to me. I guess I didn't really see it that way." He glances at the book and then back at her. "I know it may seem like an odd gift, but I'm glad you gave it to me. And I'm even more glad and happy that you see me the way you do." He admits, blush creeping up his neck. "I really love and appreciate you. Thanks, again."

Brylee's heart flutters at his words, a warm smile appearing on her face. "Of course. I'm just so proud of you, Bennett and I want you to know how much you mean to me. You've been so supportive and understanding, and I couldn't ask for a better person in my life."

Bennett reaches out and pulls her into a tender hug. "I'm lucky to have you too, Brylee. Thank you for always being there for me and for believing in me." They hold each other close, enjoying the comforting presence of one another. The room is filled with a peaceful silence, broken only by the soft crackle of the Christmas lights and the gentle hum of holiday music playing in the background.

After a moment, Brylee pulls back slightly, a playful glint in her eye. "Alright, now that we've exchanged gifts and had our emotional moments, how about we dig into some Christmas cookies? My parents and I baked some earlier and I think they're calling our names."

Bennett chuckles, nodding eagerly. "Sounds perfect. Then if you want we can paint that snow angel painting set. Well, you paint, me try and miserably fail." He grins, playfully. "But seriously, I'm up for it if you are."

Brylee laughs softly, the earlier tension now replaced by warmth and cheer. "Deal. And don't worry, I'll be more than happy to help you with any painting tips you need."

They both stand up, hand in hand, and make their way to the kitchen. The scent of freshly baked cookies fills the air, and Brylee eagerly grabs a plate of cookies from the counter. They sit together at the table, enjoying the festive treats and each other's company. As they chat and laugh, the earlier emotional moments seem like a distant memory. The Christmas spirit is alive in their cozy little bubble, and they both feel grateful for the love and support they have in each other.

****

Later that afternoon, Bennett had gone back home to spend some more time with his parents when Katy and Maya had gone back home. Katy had gone to the Matthews to try to help Maya navigate a challenging family situation. While they were gone, Brylee spent some more time with Shawn, helping him clean up around the apartment and bake more Christmas cookies. By the end of it, the kitchen was a mess. They might've gotten a little distracted but in Shawn's defense, Brylee had started the food fight.

This was when Katy and Maya entered the house, shocked and amused at the sight before them. Christmas music played softly in the background, and the apartment was decorated with garlands and twinkling lights. On the kitchen counter sat a tray of cookies fresh from the oven. Brylee sat on the counter next to where Shawn stood, the two of them covered in flour and frosting. They were laughing and chatting, seemingly unaware of the chaos surrounding them.

"I can't believe you threw a whole container of sprinkles at me!" Brylee laughed, trying to catch her breath.

"Hey, it's only fair. You started it by launching that icing at me!" Shawn replied with a grin, looking just as amused and messy as Brylee. Katy and Maya exchanged glances, their shock giving way to smiles as they took in the scene. Katy couldn't help but chuckle as she saw the two of them, clearly enjoying their spontaneous baking adventure. 

"Well, obviously we can't leave you two alone for long." Katy teased, shaking her head.

Shawn and Brylee looked up, startled by the sound of their voices. They exchanged sheepish glances, the reality of their messy situation hitting them. "Sorry about the mess," Brylee said, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "We may have gotten a little carried away."

"Clearly," Katy replies, a hint of amusement in her tone. "But I'm glad you two are having fun."

Shawn grins, the sparkle in his eyes betraying his attempt at a serious expression. "We'll clean it up, promise. We just wanted to surprise you two with more cookies when you came back." His face softens as he glances at Maya, his gaze growing more concerned. "Maya, are you okay? I was worried when Brylee said you weren't here earlier."

Surprise flickers in Maya's eyes as she registers his words, followed by a mixture of guilt and appreciation. "I'm okay, dad," Maya replies hesitantly, testing out the word. "Thanks for worrying about me...And for being here."

Shawn looks surprised yet pleased, even excited, when she called him 'dad'. She hadn't called him 'dad' much or at all yet, and he hadn't pushed her to. He was waiting for her to do that at her own pace. He knew how hard this was for her and he didn't want to force anything. A warm smile crosses his face, his eyes shining with affection. "Of course, Maya. I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

Brylee smiles softly at the exchange, a wave of relief washing over her. She was glad to see that Maya was okay and that things seemed to be going well between her and Shawn. "So," Maya joins them in the kitchen, climbing on the counter to sit by her older sister. "Any cookies left for us?" She asked teasingly, raising her eyebrows.

"Of course," Brylee replies with a laugh, grabbing a cookie and handing it to her. "Only the best for my favorite sister."

Maya snorts, taking a bite of the cookie. "I'm your only sister." She pointed out, rolling her eyes fondly.

"Well, that's why you're my favorite," Brylee responds with a cheeky grin. "But really, Maya, I'm glad you're okay."

"Thanks, sis. I'm glad too." Maya smiled gratefully.

Katy smiled as she watched the two sisters interact, her heart warming at the sight. Even though the apartment was a mess and there was still a lot to sort through, she couldn't help but feel hopeful and grateful for the love and support they had around them. As she glanced at Shawn, his face lighting up when Maya called him 'dad' again, her heart swelled with joy. She was glad Maya seemed to be opening up more and connecting with him, and she knew they would continue to grow and strengthen their bond. And that made her heart feel full.

Once the kitchen was clean, they settled down in the living room with mugs of hot chocolate, the Christmas tree twinkling nearby. They picked out a movie, and soon enough, the sounds of laughter filled the room as they watched the holiday classic, sipping hot cocoa and finally opening presents. The room was filled with the warm glow of holiday lights and the comforting sounds of laughter. Katy, Shawn, Brylee, and Maya were all seated together, enjoying the peacefulness of the moment. For a brief period, the struggles and challenges they had faced seemed distant, replaced by the joy and love of the present. Shawn took a moment to admire the scene before him. The last few years had been tough, but looking at his family now, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude. He glanced over at Katy, who caught his eye and gave him a warm smile. Shawn reached over and squeezed her hand gently, his heart swelling with love for the woman who had stood by him through thick and thin.

Maya was curled up next to Brylee, her head resting on her sister's shoulder and smiling at the sight before her. She finally had a real family, one that she felt safe and loved in. And even though it was chaotic and messy sometimes, she wouldn't have it any other way. As she looked around at the smiling faces of her family, her heart felt full. She knew they would have plenty of ups and downs in the future, but she was confident they could face them together, as a family. It was moments like this that made her feel safe and loved, reminding her that she wasn't alone in the world. She had her family, and that meant everything to her.

Brylee, sensing her sister's comfort, wrapped her arm around Maya, pulling her close. Her heart was full as she looked around at the people she cared most about, her thoughts wandering to Bennett. She couldn't wait to spend more moments like this with him and her family, and she was grateful for the love and support they had around them. As they sat together, enjoying the comfort of one another, the rest of the world seemed to fall away, and all that mattered was the warmth and happiness that filled their hearts. This was definitely the best Christmas each of them ever had.