This month is my favorite time of the year. I have always loved winter and snow is just perfect. December has the positive vibes and also it sets the party mood which brings us here, in my house at six in the morning. We have vacation now and still I'm up early, dancing around the house with Havana by Camila Cabello blasting through the speakers.

"Didn't know we would catch you dancing at six in the morning", comes a voice which startles me and I drop the spatula which lands on my pinky toe.

"Ouch! You should have given me a warning Mason!", I exclaim as I turn and see all my friends standing by the door, looking at me with amusement.

"Okay sure. Next time I'll just tell you that I'm gonna startle you before I do that and then you can act like you were really startled. Is that good enough Lyd?", he asks while smirking at me while others burst out laughing.

"What's with the early morning sarcasm?", I ask while looking at my pinky toe which is now a little red.

"We came to help you bake and setup the tree!!" Violet answers and hugs me. One by one everyone comes to hug me and when it was Mason, I hit his head and smirk when he fake glares at me. I'm so glad everything is fine between us. We are back to being the goofy friends who love to pick on each other.

"Hey beautiful", Ash hugs me and I inhale his musky scent and sigh in content.

"Morning Ash", I wish him while trying to get out of his hold. He tightens his arms around me making me laugh.

"Leave me, I have cookies to bake Ashton", he momentarily tightens his hold but then leaves me. He looks at me with a hopeful expression which makes me look at him with a confused one.

"My morning kiss?", he asks innocently while I just laugh and shake my head. I grab his face and look him in the eyes. Our lips were about to meet when I turn his face quickly and kiss his cheek instead. He looks at me shocked, I just pull my tongue out and run in the kitchen.

"What are you baking?", Mia asks while looking at the dough.

"Christmas cookies!", I exclaim while she rolls her eyes.

"I know that but what flavour?", she asks me slowly as if she's talking to a child. I roll my eyes and grab the chocolate chips from the cabinet.

"Oreo stuffed peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies", Mia's face brightens up at my answer and she literally squeals while, out of the corner of my eyes, I see Nick trying to be discrete about eating the dough. I slap the back of his head and take away the dough while Violet helps me with making them. We put then in the microwave and sit outside with others who are busy arguing about the movie.

We both shake our heads and I scream out loud to stop them which works. Everyone looks at me stunned, while Vi and I laugh out loud.

"You guys need to chill. I'm ordering pizza while Vi puts on the movie that we have already chosen", I say while the others groan.

"Which is it?", Nick asks cautiously while we both grin.

"Elf", all the boys let out a sigh while Mia looks kinda happy.

"This is gonna be a long day", Mason sighs and drops his body on the couch while others follow suit and we laugh our asses off.

26th December

We all were at my place eating the cake that we made and the cookies are already finished. Everyone celebrated Christmas with their families first and then came here.

"Can we open the gifts now?", Mason wines for the nth time and the guys snicker loudly.

"Yeah let's open them. I want to know who my secret Santa is!", Blake exclaims and tears open his gifts.

"Oh my god!! This is the best gift ever!!", He shrieks while the others except Aaron try to get a look at it.

"The game that you always wanted, isn't it?", Jason asks while Blake nods furiously. We all laugh while Aaron smiles at him.

"Thanks Aaron", Blake nods at him while Aaron smiles and slaps his back.

We all open our gifts and everyone got what they wanted. I got GigixMaybelline make up kit as well as a grey crop hoodie which has Friends written over it. I am sure this was Mia as she smiled at me knowingly.

While we were all sitting and deciding upon a movie to watch, the bell rings.

"Let me get that", I get up and go towards the door.

"We come baring gifts!", the voice exclaims and I squeal loudly and jump into his arms.

"Cole, you're back!", I hug him tight and the tears start flowing at the sight of my two brothers, who came back, unharmed and alive.

"I'm too", Julian pouts and I laugh and hug him tightly as well.

"Merry Christmas", Mira, Liam and Ben standing with gifts in their hands and a smile on their faces.

"Hey guys, please come in", I invite them in. They'll hug me except Liam who stands there awkwardly.

"I'm sorry A—Lydia. Please forgive me", he apologizes and I just smile at me.

"You're forgiven", I hug him and then lead him inside.

"Do we get some cookies or not?", Cole asks.

"Sure thing", I reply and go towards the kitchen.

"But you told us the cookies were finished!", Nick exclaims and I laugh.

"Do you really think I would let you eat all the cookies and not keep some for them?", I reply while others just laugh at him.

Everyone were sitting surrounding the tree, talking about anything and everything, as I was wrapped in my man's arms with my head on his chest. As I looked around at everyone, I could see the happiness radiating and I couldn't help but think that, this is all I want. Happiness for the people that I love.

Ashton looks at me the knowing smile, kisses my forehead and goes back to talking with Cole.

The only thing I didn't know that, this happiness was temporary. It was the silence before the storm.

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A/N

Merry Christmas lovely readers! I hope you are all having the time of your lives!

I'm sorry for being MIA for last few weeks. The exams were tiring me out.

I'll update as soon as I can!

Love you guys!