The late night Christmas day snow fell in gentle flurries, as it swirled in harmony with the cold December wind. The dusting fell upon the feet of collected snow that were packed along the sidewalk, brushing the tops of the frozen piles in a twinkling blanket that shimmered like a million tiny crystals underneath the glow of nearby street lights. The cement sidewalk resembling more of a gingerbread walkway with a light dusting of powdered sugar, rather than a quiet Chicago side street. The sprinkles of snow had been falling all day, through sunshine that peaked through ice crystalized branches during the peak of the daylight, and there was something about a fresh light snowfall on Christmas day that created an enchanting feeling in the atmosphere. As though you were walking through a real life sized snow globe on the most magical day of the entire year.

The winter cold whistled as though the wind that swirled around you, fell straight from the bitter blue lips of Jack Frost himself. The dropping temperatures nipping at your exposed skin peeking out from beneath your fluffy black scarf and the edge of your wrist where your wool coat inched upward. Feeling like tiny needles pricking at your flesh, as your nose felt as red as a certain friendly reindeer and your eyelashes fluttered away the watering tears of the piercing cold. But your hands, your right safely stuffed in your coat pocket, your left stretched out to the side, had never felt more warm. For your left, although exposed to the cold night air, was engulfed in not only the thin fabric of your gloves but the hand of another.

Derek Morgan's hand was the epitome of warmth. Not only in the heat that seemed to radiate from his well bundled body, like rays of beaming sunshine. That soaked instantly through your glove and throughout the palm of your hand, spreading the warmth through the numbing tips of your fingers and exploding like a wildfire throughout the rest of your body. Feeling the extent of his body heat soaring from the tips of your reddened ears beneath your knitted hat, all the way down to your chilled toes hidden inside of your tan leather boots. But in the feeling of his secure and tender hold of your hand, that warmed you on the inside. For this warmth bubbled in the pit of your chest, engulfing your beating heart that swelled from the gesture, in an overwhelming heat that made your cheeks blush with a reddened hue.

"And you're sure they weren't too hard on you?" Derek's continued inquiry breathed out in a puff of frozen December air. The breath freezing in a white cloud out in front of his lips, pausing in the air, before dissipating as though faint exhaust from a passing car.

Although it was your second Christmas spent with Derek Morgan, it had been the first you'd spent with the entire Morgan family. In fact, Derek's surprise of a spontaneous Christmas trip to his home in Chicago, was the first time you had been introduced to Derek's dear mother and his sisters. While your nerves were at an all time high as you introduced yourself to the most important women in his life, their graciousness and kindness engulfed you in a warming hug only a loving mother could provide.

Fran Morgan was sweetness; heart and soul. She loved her children with a strong conviction. But even as she feared for her son in his far away line of work, the same line of work that ultimately stole her husband from her, she supported his passion because she knew it was what he was placed on this Earth to do. She welcomed you with open arms, admitting she'd heard in Derek's sprinkle of phone calls to her about you, the way that he spoke of you. Knowing instantly that you made her baby happy. Even slipping in a subtle comment about the grandbabies she was still waiting on, bringing a pinkness to your smiling face and evoking an embarrassed groan from Derek's sheepish expression.

After a warm and filling homemade holiday dinner, filled with the flavors of Derek's childhood and even more stories to paint a vivid and adorable picture of the little boy this man had once been. In a home small and cozy, with the warmth of family nearly bursting through the seams, Derek excused himself to make a stop he made every time he travelled home. It was one near to his heart, a stop he always made time to make. Even now, as the hours of Christmas Day were drawing to a close, he still allowed himself five minutes to visit the graves of the boys who would forever hold a place in his heart. Assuring him that you were fine, sitting beside the twinkling decked out Christmas Tree with his sisters, a steaming mug of hot cocoa in hand, as it allowed for his family to get to truly know you. Without any possible outside influence from their "baby boy" or stern side eyed looks from him that made them hold onto their honest thoughts of you.

Desiree had a undeniable spirit to her and it was one that you quickly realized you had seen spark inside of Derek from time to time. She was all too forth coming with stories of Derek that she could only share the second he stepped out the front door, earning genuine smiles and laughs from your lips, as you slowly felt your anxiety melt away beside the warmth of the fireplace. She was his little sister, but at times, it felt as though she looked out for him as though it was the other way around.

Sarah was the essence of an older sister. Even now, as Derek was a grown man, she still carried around his best interest as though he was still a young boy. Out of the entire family, she had had the slowest approach in embracing your presence. She had been polite and as kind as she could be, but you could see the wheels turning in her mind all throughout dinner. A reaction that you would've thought would raise your anxiety, but instead, you understood where it stemmed from. It wasn't personal, it wasn't a rudeness on her part, it was simply an older sister looking out for her younger brother and wanting what was best for him. And as the night continued on, she soon saw that what was best for her brother... was you.  

After a half hour of story telling and sharing whatever the girls wanted to know about you, as you sat by the glowing tree, feeling a warmth and beauty in getting to know the close-knit family, Derek returned. His shoulders dusted in the light snowfall and his nose blistering red, but smiling softly at watching you getting along and bonding with his family. After watching the scene that made his heart swell with a happiness that overwhelmed him in the best kind of way, he sneaked you away for a few moments alone. Allowing for the girls to start cleaning up the kitchen from his mother's famous desserts and all of the wrapping paper scraps lining the living room carpet. Derek had been questioning your time alone with his sisters, since the moment you started down his mother's front steps.

Releasing a light laugh out into the air, freezing a few inches in front of you, you looked down at your boot prints pressing into the newly fallen snow. "They love you Derek. They just wanted to make sure I passed all of the right tests, that I was good enough for you. And I don't blame them, you're the only brother and son they've got. It's because they care about you, that's all."

Looking over to your left, as you could feel his gaze warming against your side like the fall of sunshine over your skin, your eyes meet up with his sparkling copper brown. The shoulders of his black leather coat are still dusted with the newly falling flurries, his matching boots tracking through the snow coated path in tandem with your own and although his hands are left bare and exposed to the cold winter elements, they're still surprisingly warm. His lips curl into a soft smile, as his eyes gaze down at you with a twinkle that reflects the light of the street lamp you pass by. The sidewalk is casted by the orangish hue of many that line the streets, but in some places, a fluorescent hue of cherry red and evergreen cast across the sheets of pure white snow. The Christmas lights strung around the rooftops of neighboring businesses and homes in the distance, shimmering a magical shade across the frost covered streets.  

The soft lines in the corners of his eyes crease, as his lips stretch into a smile filled with warm adoration and little sparks of his natural charismatic playfulness. His hand squeezes yours, as it sits warm and secure in his tender hold. Feeling the strength in his hands as his thick fingers wrap tightly around your nimble ones, nearly swallowed up in his protective but ever so loving grasp. The heartwarming combination of his breathtaking face as it gazes down at you with an expression that nearly leaves you weak in the knees and his sweet actions as you stroll slowly down the snowy side street hand in hand, sends your heart soaring.   

"I was just making sure they didn't scare off my girl." Derek smoothly replies, his teeth a twinkling white as he flashes them in the wholesome smile that stretches wide across his cold lips.

It still amazed you, as you stared up at the man through your fluttering mascara and snowflake brushed lashes, the way Derek Morgan continued to make you feel the bursting of brand new butterflies in the pit of your stomach. Even after years together with an apartment shared, milestones within your relationship reached, rocky and smooth roads traveled and paved, that he could look at you as he was right now. As though it was the first meeting all over again. For his eyes sparkled with a shine of pure awe and love. As though as he looked at you, with that same charming smile that made you fall for him two years ago and still to this day, he was falling in love with you all over again. It was a breathtaking sight, one that made you feel nervous and anxious with those familiar butterflies, but also light as though you were floating with the swelling of your racing heart at the depth of his love.

Composing all of the blossoming emotions that made your heart ache as it nearly burst inside of chest and threatened to pierce your eyes with the happiest of tears, you allowed for your happiness to expand into a warm smile. Taking a step to the side as you both continued at your leisurely pace, feeling the edge of his coat brush against your own, you rested your head against his arm. Feeling the snowflakes that dusted the leather, melt against the exposed skin of your neck and squeezing his hand as he had, you feel as he lifts them. Keeping your fingers locked securely within his own, as he outstretches his arm across your shoulders. Pulling your delicate frame closer to him, engulfing you in the rich scent of his cologne and the soft tones of the hotel soap that still lingers on his flesh. All of the cold that plagued your skin, instantly vanished. For you radiated warmth from the inside out.

"I like when you call me your girl." You mused in a soft breath, as you leaned further into his strong embrace. Feeling the leather of his coat brush against your smiling lips.

"Yeah?"

"Mhm." You hummed as you snuggled even closer into his side and your smile grew wider as you felt the press of Derek's lips against the top of your head. Letting his touch linger, as the heat of his lips and the pressure of his head against your own, brought forth a contentment you never knew you could feel in the blistering cold weather that swirled around you.

"Well," Derek's warm breath froze in the air and settled over the top of your head in a soft cloud, as he took a pregnant pause before letting the rest of his thought tumble out into the bitter cold air. "there was another nickname I was hoping you might like even better."

The edges of your already wide smile stretch further, as your eyebrow raises in amusement. "Oh really now? And what would that be?"

"My wife."

Your leisurely footsteps halted where they stood, far before your mind had fully registered the two words. For as soon as Derek's words hit your ears, you felt the air in your lungs dissipate out into the open air as a breathless gasp escapes passed your parted lips. His finger's untwined themselves from your own and you turned away from his embrace, as your felt your heart hammering inside of your chest. The thundering of that single organ so strong you felt it nearly strain to beat right out of your chest.

Looking over in Derek's direction, feeling instantly the chill of the night air touching against your body from the lack of his natural warmth. But also the distinct tremble in your body from the sudden wave of shock running throughout your veins. You catch sight of his sparkling grin, his eyebrows are raised in the way that only seems to help emanate the emotion in his smile, to the rest of his facial features. For his glowing smile not only spreads wide across his cleanly shaven jawline, but twinkles in the depth of his eyes, as though his irises hold their own special set of stars. Your eyes lock on his smile as you watch his towering height, slowly shrink. For his knees begin to steadily kneel down, until his dark jeans covering his knee, brush against the snow covered sidewalk.

You notice the tears welling in the corners of your eyes, for the cold finds them. Piercing the salty tears with a sharp chill that makes your wide eyes flutter quickly, allowing for them to fall and streak down your frozen cheeks. Your right hand raises, as you watch Derek's fingers dig in the back of his left pocket, and it soon covers your mouth as you gasp in shock at your reality. For it felt as though this single moment, was simply a dream you would try ever so hard to remember in the morning hours.

Sagging slightly at the silent sob you could feel beginning to grow in the back of your throat, shifting your weight from one foot to the other, your eyes watch tearfully as Derek's fingers lift a small black box into your view. Delicately, peeling the top open in his own slightly shaking fingers. Whether from nerves or the blistering late night weather you weren't quite sure, but you liked to think that he was just as mystified by this real-life fairytale moment as you were.

The Christmas lights wrapped around a nearby convenient store's roof, reflected against the glittering stone that stared back at you as Derek revealed the ring that sat snuggly inside of the box. It's beauty and purity would've taken your breath away if you had had any to spare. The simplicity of the band and the breathtaking cut of the diamond, it was as though Derek had taken everything about your personality and every little detail he could think of that made you... you and found a ring that represented you in a delicate little diamond. It was a beautiful ring, but the man who picked it out and the reason behind it, you found that to be just a bit more beautiful.

Your lashes that were now soaked with salty tears that nearly froze in the harsh December cold, flutter wildly as your eyes looked through them. Gazing up from the ring and back at Derek's face, finding his eyes as the snowfall around you picked up it's speed. Swirling large flakes around the two of you, as though they danced with the happiness that your heart soared with.

"I love you," Derek's voice spoke with the sound of his everlasting smile. It was soft in tone and you could feel the depth in his sincerity, as though they were the single most important truth buried within his soul. "and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

His eyes held a hopeful shimmer, one that was enhanced by the smile that had yet to falter from his lips or from the twinkle it reached in his gaze. The snow fell heavy upon the two of you, feeling it melt into the waves of your wind blown hair and it clung against the dark black leather covering Derek's shoulders. His knee soaked through the accumulation against the sidewalk, as it started to collect in soft flurries around his steady frame, but nothing about this moment shifted. Nothing, not even the blistering cold or the impending Chicago snow storm, could in anyway effect the meaningfulness of this magical moment.

"I want you to be my wife," Derek expressed in a tone so soft and so sure, that it almost allowed you to hear the extent in which he felt the words he spoke. "Will you marry me?"

It had been the easiest question ever asked to you in all of your life, for your answer came immediately without taking a second to think. It came tumbling straight from your heart, for you knew the answer had always been locked inside and ready for when this moment came.    

Dropping your hands away from your face, allowing for Derek to witness the tearful smile across your lips, you responded with every ounce of sureness and love in your racing heart. "Yes!"

Derek's eyebrows raised a fraction, as though he wasn't sure he had heard you quite right or had been expecting a different answer entirely. "Yeah?"

Nodding your head frantically, as you gazed down at him through the blur of happy tears, it was your turn to bend forward. For your hands cradled the sides of his face in your gloved hands and swiftly pressed your lips against his own. Feeling the bitter cold against his lips melt away as you kissed him tenderly, only puling back an inch to look into his eyes and whisper your answer once more. "Yes Derek Morgan, I'll marry you."

You felt his smile expand and the warmth of his laugh as kissed you once more, before sliding his strong arm around your body and lifting you up into his embrace. Spinning you around before setting your feet back down against the snow covered ground. Taking your left hand in his own, sliding your glove off gently as you felt instantly the bite of the late evening air dance against your bare skin. The warmth of his own touch eased away the cold, as a new spark danced its way across your flesh. Sliding the silver band down your finger until you felt the weight of the ring sitting snugly in it's new and rightful place.

Smiling down at the gesture that made your heart flutter and nearly take flight in the snowy air, you looked up at Derek's overjoyed expression once more before wrapping your arms tightly around his neck. Inhaling the scent of his skin and cologne that lingered against the fabric that adorned his strong body, soaking in the warmth that radiated throughout you as his arms coiled around your waist. Holding you closer to him, as you could feel the heavy beating of his heart against your own.

"I love you Derek, Merry Christmas." You whispered through smiling tears.

His arms tightened around you as he whispered back, "Merry Christmas baby girl, here's to all the Christmas's to come."

Your heart swelled at the beautiful image of all of the Christmas's that were to come, spent with Derek Morgan right by your side. But you knew, as you stood in his warm and strong embrace on a snow Chicago street, that it would take a lot to top this moment right here. For you felt as though you were standing in a magical snow globe, as the twinkling snow swirled around you as it did so perfectly in the movies. Or perhaps, a fairytale. For as you snuggled closer to the man who had asked you to be his wife, catching glimpses of the ring that sat delicately against your finger, feeling the heaven's sprinkling down perfectly crafted snowflakes, you questioned how this could possibly be reality. It couldn't be, could it? For perfection was impossible and yet, this moment right here in Derek Morgan's arms, felt as close as you could possibly get.  

Maybe this wasn't a fairytale, but maybe this was better. This was real life, your life... you had found your prince, in the middle of a winter wonderland, and you knew in your heart as you stood there wrapped safely within his arms, that you were going to live happily ever after.

A/N: Merry Christmas Everyone!!❤🎄

My very first Derek Morgan Christmas piece and it's so soft omg!!😍 I went back and forth for so long trying to figure out just how I wanted to craft my Christmas one, as all of my past ones for this book have a heaviness or longer length to them. But I realized after some time, that I wanted to write something that was warm and happy and a feel good piece. I wanted something softer than anything I've ever written for this book, something heartwarming through and through! I wanted something with the magic of Christmas and something that brought forth that kind of happiness. And I can say as I read it now completed, I am very happy with how this one turned out! I know it's a little "fluffier" than I usually write, I was very unsure about that fact, but I realized softer or "fluffier" pieces are perfect at Christmas, it's part of the season, its a time for warmth and joyfulness. (and let's be honest, after my heavy one shots in the past, you all deserve a feel good piece!) I hope you all enjoyed this one and that you all have a very Merry Christmas!!❤🎄🥰