Kris' POV

I was awakened by the subtle shift of my body, followed by the unmistakable sensation of a warm presence settling in behind me on the sofa. For a moment, I was disoriented, caught in that hazy space between sleep and wakefulness. Then I felt an arm wrap gently around my waist, pulling me closer, and the scent of him washed over me.

"Josh?" I whispered, still groggy, my voice barely audible.

"It's me." he murmured, his voice low and filled with warmth. "Didn't mean to wake you, babe."

I turned slightly, enough to see his face, illuminated softly by the twinkling lights of the tree. His eyes met mine, and a tired but genuine smile spread across his face.

"You're here." I said, a wave of relief and joy flooding over me. I gently touched his face.

"I told you I'd make it." he replied, pressing a kiss to my temple. "Nothing was going to stop me. I'm sorry for making you wait for me and I'm sorry to have put you through all of this. I never want you to feel like that again."

"It's fine." I said, my voice quiet but steady. "You're here now, and that's all that matters."

His arm tightened around me, pulling me closer as if he needed the reassurance as much as I did. "I mean it, Kris." he said, his voice laced with emotion. "I'll always do whatever it takes to be here for you. I hate that you had a hard time."

I rested my hand over his, feeling the strength in his grip and the sincerity in his words. "It's okay," I said, my voice softening. "...you made it. You always find a way, and that means everything to me."

His forehead rested against mine, and for a moment, neither of us said anything. The fire crackled softly in the background. He added more wood to the fire. He knows how much I love the fireplace going.

"I love you." he whispered, his voice heavy with meaning.

"I love you too." I replied, my words carrying the same weight.

We stayed like that for a moment longer, letting the tension of the night melt away. He was here, and suddenly, everything felt right again.

After a couple of minutes, I shifted and sat up, brushing the blanket off my lap. "I know you're hungry..." I said, glancing over at him with a small smile. "Let me make you something to eat."

Josh shook his head, reaching out to grab my hand and pulling me back toward him. "Nah, baby, you don't have to do that." he said, his voice soft but firm. "I already had a cookie when I came in."

I looked down at him, raising an eyebrow. "You did?"

He smirked, leaning back against the sofa. "Yes, I stripped out of my clothes and ate a cookie. I knew you'd be disgusted if I touched you with my airport clothes on."

I couldn't help but laugh, shaking my head. "You know me so well."

"Of course I do." he said with a playful grin. "I've learned a few things in these months—like how you'd probably throw me off this couch if I sat down covered in plane germs."

"You're not wrong." I laughed.

Josh chuckled, tugging me back down beside him. "Come here and just relax with me for a bit."

I let him pull me close, resting my head against his chest. "I appreciate your sacrifice." I teased, my voice muffled against his chest.

"Anything for you." he said, his voice dropping into a softer, more serious tone. And just like that, the teasing melted into something quieter, something deeper.

"What time is it?" I asked, my voice soft but steady as I rested against him.

He shifted slightly, glancing at his watch. "A little after 4:30."

We sat there in comfortable silence, the warmth of the fire and the glow of the tree filling the room with a gentle calm. His arm rested securely around me, and I could hear the steady rhythm of his breathing.

I closed my eyes, letting the peace of the moment wash over me, and before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep.

********

9:38 AM (PT)

A couple of hours later, I stirred awake, feeling his warmth surrounding me. My legs were draped over his body, and his arms were wrapped tightly around me, as though even in sleep, he was holding on.

I tilted my head to look at him, his face relaxed in a way that made my heart swell. It was rare to see him like this—completely at ease, without the weight of the world on his shoulders. I smiled softly, savoring the intimacy of the moment.

Not wanting to wake him, I shifted slightly, nestling closer against him. His hold instinctively tightened, and I felt his hand rest gently on my back.

"I'm here." he mumbled, his voice low and groggy, and my heart melted.

"I know." I whispered, brushing a light kiss against his shoulder. "You can stay here. I'm going to get the day started. I planned on cooking breakfast for us, then I wanted to open gifts."

He smiled, his eyes still half-closed with sleep. "There's an itinerary?"

I laughed softly, running a hand through his hair. "Not an itinerary, just a plan. A loose one."

"Hmm..." he hummed, stretching lazily before looking up at me. "I like your plans, but you don't have to rush. I'm happy right here."

I grinned, standing up and wrapping the blanket around his shoulders to keep him warm. "I'll call you when it's ready, Mr. No-Itinerary."

He chuckled as I walked toward the kitchen, the sound of his laughter following me and filling the apartment with a warmth that matched the morning light streaming in through the windows. This was how I wanted the day to feel—easy, joyful, and filled with love.

*********

10:25 AM (PT)

After we ate breakfast and opened gifts in front of the tree, I felt a deep sense of contentment settle over me. The earlier chaos and emotions of the past day seemed like a distant memory now, replaced by the soft glow of the morning and the warmth of Josh's presence.

Josh was leaning back against the sofa, sipping his coffee and admiring one of the gifts I'd gotten him. His relaxed smile was everything I needed to see.

I glanced at the dessert tray on the table, now missing several cookies after our post-breakfast indulgence, and let out a soft laugh.

"What's funny?" he asked, setting his coffee down and looking over at me.

"Just thinking about how different last night feels compared to now." I said, pulling my knees to my chest and leaning against the sofa. "It's like a complete 180. You being here changed everything. I feel so much better."

He reached over, taking my hand in his and giving it a gentle squeeze. "That's all I wanted. To be here with you, too make you feel better and to make this feel like the Christmas it's supposed to be."

I smiled, looking down at our hands intertwined. "You did." I said softly. "You really did. Last night, I felt like I was drowning, and now..." I glanced around the room, at the glowing tree, the remnants of wrapping paper, the half-empty dessert tray. "Now it actually feels like Christmas. Like it's supposed to feel."

Josh leaned back against the sofa, still holding my hand. "Good," he said, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. "Because this—us—is what Christmas is about for me. Being with you."

"You really are the best gift." I said.

"No, that's you." he said, his voice steady, his eyes locking with mine.

I felt my cheeks warm, and I smiled softly, leaning into him. But right before my lips touched his, he stopped me, his hand gently cupping my cheek to pause the moment.

"I have two more things I wanted to give you." he said, his tone soft but serious.

"Two?" I asked, remaining close, my lips hovering near his as I tried to steal my kiss. "Can't it wait?"

He chuckled, his thumb tracing lightly along my cheek. "You're impatient, you know that?"

"Always." I said with a grin, trying to lean in closer, but he held his ground.

"Trust me, you'll want these first." he said, his smile growing as he reached toward the ground, sliding his hand under the sofa. "Then you can have all the kisses you want."

I pulled back just enough to watch him, curiosity bubbling in my chest as his hand fumbled for a moment. When he straightened, holding a small box in his hand, my heart skipped a beat. His playful expression softened, replaced by something deeper, more serious.

"Josh..." I whispered, my voice catching as my eyes locked on the box.

"Let me start with the first gift." he said, his gaze never wavering. "The plan was to give this to you last night and the other today, but I couldn't get to you. I'm sorry for that."

"Babe, it's fine." I said quickly, my voice tinged with nervous excitement. My eyes flicked between his face and the box. "Just... open it already."

He smiled softly, his thumb brushing over the top of the box as though steadying himself. "I've been carrying this with me for a couple of weeks, waiting for the right moment. And even though last night didn't go as planned, I think this moment is exactly how it was meant to happen."

He opened the box slowly, revealing a delicate ring that sparkled in the light of the Christmas tree. The band was rose gold, with a brilliant-cut diamond at the center that seemed to catch every glimmer of light in the room. Smaller diamonds were set along the band.

My breath caught, my hands instinctively flying to cover my mouth as my heart raced. It wasn't just a ring—it was a promise, a reflection of everything we'd been through and everything we were building together.

"Kristina..." he said, his voice steady and filled with emotion, "I love you more than anything. Last night reminded me just how much I need you in my life—not just for the good days, but for the hard ones too. We've only been together six months, but I've never been more certain of anything. You get me through my day. Just knowing you're there makes everything feel lighter, even when things are hard. I don't just want you in my life, Kris—I need you in it. Forever."

Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision as he continued, his voice steady but thick with emotion.

"I want to spend the rest of my life making sure you're good. Making sure you never have to feel alone, never have to question how much you're loved. You mean everything to me, and I can't imagine my future without you in it. Will you marry me?"

My heart swelled, and I nodded through the tears streaming down my face. "Yes!" I whispered, my voice trembling before growing stronger. "Yes, Josh, I'll marry you."

His smile widened, and he gently took my hand in his. His fingers were warm and steady as he slipped the ring onto my finger. It fit perfectly, as though it had always been meant to be there.

He pulled me close, his lips brushing against mine in a kiss that was soft but full of everything words couldn't convey. His warmth, his presence, and the depth of his love were all wrapped up in that moment.

As I pulled away, I couldn't help but lift my hand, holding it up to admire the ring. The way it caught the soft glow of the Christmas lights made it sparkle even more. "This is beautiful." I said, my voice full of awe.

He smiled, his eyes fixed on mine. "It had to be," he said softly. "You deserve something as beautiful as you are."

I glanced at him, my heart swelling at the sincerity in his voice. "You didn't have to do all this." I whispered, the tears threatening to well up again.

"I wanted to." he said, reaching out to gently take my hand in his, turning it slightly so the ring shimmered even more. "Because you mean everything to me. Every moment with you feels like home, and I want you to know just how much you're worth to me."

"I don't even know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything." he said with a grin, leaning in to kiss my forehead. "You said all I needed to hear when you said yes."

I laughed softly, letting the tears finally fall, and leaned into him. The ring on my finger, the tree glowing softly behind us, and the man I loved more than anything—it was all perfect. Everything I could've hoped for and more.

He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer as if he never wanted to let go. I rested my head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart, feeling more at peace than I had in a long time.

We pulled away, and he just sat there, looking at me with a soft, almost amused expression, his chin resting on his hand. His eyes held that familiar warmth, the kind that always made me feel seen, loved, and safe.

"And the other thing..." he said, his tone teasing yet soft.

He reached to the same spot under the sofa, his hand disappearing for a moment before pulling out another box. This one was slightly bigger than the first, and it made a faint rattling noise as he handed it to me.

I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity instantly piqued. "What's this?" I asked, leaning in closer.

"This is the reason I was in Chicago." he said, pointing to the unopened box in my hand.

I shook it gently, and it made a lot of noise—something metallic rattling inside. Josh smiled, watching me with a mix of amusement and anticipation as I tried to guess what it could be.

Finally, I opened the box, and my breath caught as I saw what was inside: a set of keys.

"What are these keys to?" I asked, staring at him, my heart beginning to race.

Josh leaned forward, his eyes soft and full of emotion. "Those are the keys to your grandparents' house."

The words hit me like a wave, and for a second, I just stared at him, unable to process what he had just said. But then it clicked, and tears burst from my eyes as I clutched the keys tightly in my hands.

"Josh," I managed, my voice trembling. "How... how did you even—"

"I know how much that house meant to you." he said gently. "You told me about all the memories, how it was your safe place, the one place that always felt like home. I wanted to give that back to you. So, I found the current owners, reached out, and convinced them to sell it. It wasn't easy, but I knew it was worth it. I flew to Chicago to get the keys. Yeah, they could've shipped them but I wanted to thank them face to face."

I was shaking now, overwhelmed by the enormity of what he had done. "You did this for me?"

"For us." he said, reaching out to take my hand. "Because I want us to build a future somewhere that already feels like home. And because you deserve to have something that means so much to you."

I couldn't find the words. My chest was tight, my throat thick with emotion, as I stared at the man who had just given me the most thoughtful, meaningful gift I'd ever received.

"Say something." he said softly, a nervous smile tugging at his lips as he wiped a tear from my cheek.

I launched myself into his arms, holding him as tightly as I could. "Thank you." I whispered through my tears. "I don't even know how to thank you. This is more than I could have ever dreamed."

Josh held me close, his hand stroking my back. "You don't have to thank me." he murmured. "Seeing you happy is enough for me."

I pulled back just enough to look at him, tears still streaming down my face but a smile breaking through. "This is the best gift anyone has ever given me."

He smiled, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Good," he said. "Because I intend to do more."

I looked down at the keys in my hand, still overwhelmed but so deeply grateful. He hadn't just given me back the house—he'd given me back a piece of my heart, a piece I thought I'd lost forever.

"So when do you want to move?" he asked, a playful smile tugging at his lips, though his tone was sincere.

I let out a breathy laugh, wiping the tears from my cheeks as I looked at him. "Move? You're serious?"

"Of course I'm serious." he said, leaning back on the sofa, his arms resting on the cushions. "The house is yours. Ours, if you'll have me. It's ready whenever you are. I'm ready whenever you are."

The thought of moving back into my grandparents' house, of making it a home again, sent a wave of emotions through me. I stared at him, still clutching the keys, trying to gather my thoughts.

"I can't believe you'd move with me." I said softly, my voice tinged with both awe and disbelief.

Josh chuckled, sitting up slightly and leaning toward me. "I just proposed, Kris. Why wouldn't I? You're going to be my wife."

His words made my heart skip a beat, the weight of them settling in a way that felt both surreal and so completely right. "Still," I said, shaking my head, "it's a big change. Your life is here. I'd never want to uproot you."

He reached out, taking my hand in his, his gaze steady and full of love. "My life isn't here or there." he said, his tone gentle but firm. "My life is with you. Wherever that is, that's home for me."

Tears welled up in my eyes again as I looked at him, overwhelmed by the depth of his love and commitment. "You really mean that?"

He nodded without hesitation. "I wouldn't have asked you to marry me if I didn't. We're a team now, Kris. Wherever you go, I go. Simple as that."

I let out a shaky laugh, squeezing his hand tightly. "I don't deserve you." I whispered, my voice breaking.

He smiled, leaning in to brush a kiss against my forehead. "You deserve everything, and I'm going to spend the rest of my life making sure you have it."

For a moment, we just sat there, holding each other, the glow of the tree casting soft light over the room. With him by my side, moving into that house didn't feel like a step backward—it felt like the start of something new, something beautiful.

I leaned into him, resting my head on his chest as his arms wrapped securely around me. The keys sat between us on the sofa, a quiet symbol of everything that was ahead—our future, our home, our life together.

Josh pressed a kiss to the top of my head, his voice soft as he murmured, "Merry Christmas, Kris."

I smiled at him, feeling a peace I hadn't felt in a long time. "Merry Christmas, Josh."

And in that moment, wrapped in his arms, with a future brighter than I'd ever imagined ahead of us, everything felt exactly as it should.

*

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