December 25th - 5:00pm

                                                                                     Virgil settled back into the couch once he had won another race, watching as the results came up on screen to see what places the CPU'S came as he was currently playing alone. "Yeah, fuck you Luigi" he muttered under his breath with a smirk, clicking onto the next race when his boyf- fiancé came into the room with a smile, tucking his phone into his pocket.

"Did you tell them?" Virgil asked, standing up from his seat so Roman could sit down and he could cuddle back onto his lap. "I did, they took it very well" he responded, circling his arms around Virgil's waist, taking the controllers as it was his turn to play. They would do split screen but at the moment they were pretty worn out from earlier Christmas activities and the last thing they wanted to do was get competitive over Mario Kart.

"Over sixty people freaking out over the phone" Roman smirked, starting the race with the perfect speed boost. "It was hilarious" he concluded and Virgil chuckled, resting his head on Roman's shoulder, watching the screen with a faraway look in his eyes.

He was honestly still a little in shock from, well, everything - seeing his family after ten years, dealing with his grandmother, everyone siding with him like he was Rocky and they were the Russians and then Roman proposing to him?! He thought shit like this only came out of fan-fiction! But this was real life, completely real, and he was currently sitting with his fiancé while the rest of his family either sorted/played with their gifts, helped cook the grand dinner tonight or slept.

He did think where his grandmother could be, earlier that day when everyone's gifts were opened and put away the tree still had some under it - her presents. Nearly everyone wanted to throw them away but both Amelia and Matthew agreed not to stoop down to her level and instead they put them in her car so she could discover them at a later time.

He assumed she was currently in her room doing whatever, but honestly? He didn't want to think about her. He didn't really need to anymore. He'd be surprised if she was allowed back for other holiday's or celebrations - then he began to wonder what her funeral would be like...

Closing his eyes, he relaxed against Roman further, tucking his head between his shoulder and neck comfortably. A chuckle escaped through Roman's lips and vibrated his chest as his arms hugged around Virgil tighter, still keeping most his attention on the game he was definitely about to win.

His mind then began to wander further, imagining his life if he never left home, or at least in the way he did it. What if he stayed in this country, carried on dealing with their bullshit while getting on with his life? He never would've met Roman which is a crushing thought in itself but he did want to know one thing. Would his family have changed? Or stayed the same? Was him leaving the one thing they needed to finally realise what they had done to him and how wrong it was?

He sighed, not really wanting to think more about it - although he did know one thing, Elizabeth was right, he needed to leave at the time and he was happy she was apart of his life.

"Hey, Ro?"

He hummed for him to continue, moving the controllers to Virgil who sat up and shuffled in his lap to face the television.

"We should get married in Spain" he suggested and a smile brightened up on Roman's face. "That sounds like a wonderful idea! My family have wanted an excuse to go there for awhile" he instantly agreed and Virgil smiled gently, forgetting the game in favour of turning around in Roman's lap and kissing him softly.

And when Roman kissed him back he let out a happy sigh, hands resting on his shoulders. "I'm over the Moon this Christmas turned out the way it did - and I don't think I could ever be more proud of you" Roman tapped his chest lightly, staring up at him with his large loving brown eyes.

Rolling his own, Virgil kissed him again. "If this carries on I'm becoming lactose intolerant"

Roman's laughter pulled out the grin Virgil so desperately tried to hard but one couldn't blame him - to him his fiancé's laugh would always bring a smile to his face.

And thankfully that's how the rest of December planned out for the family. That Christmas dinner feast was one of the best the family had had in years and that was definitely something they could all agree on. With Virgil being there, sitting on the large table again with them all made it feel like they were a complete family again - the one thing they were missing for ten years had finally returned and they weren't letting him go again.

The kids were knocked out afterwards and sent to bed while the adults including Gabriel and Harper made ruckus in the living room, playing game after game on the only console they had - the Wii. But even if it was old and not the greatest anything else wouldn't have felt the same. This made them feel like a real family and watching people freak out when their golf balls didn't go into the hole or they didn't get a strike once again on Wii Sports Resort was a sight they'd never forget.

They all went late into the night before the numbers began to drop and finally, nearing one am, everyone was in bed, lights off and fast asleep.

And finally the Bright's household was at silent peace once again.

It was the twenty eighth of December when all the family saw Charlotte again. With the snow finally giving them some slack it was the perfect day to drive away if one wanted to - but only one did. Everyone emerged from their room when they heard her demanding voice, children poked their head out the basement door, adults leaned on the banister from the balcony upstairs watching Amelia and Matthew help her move her belongings into her car.

She stood in the doorway, wrapped head to toe in winter gear, her face devoid of emotion other than anger. And Virgil couldn't help but feel elated because of it.

"Safe driving!" He cooed before she could leave. She paused in the doorway, turning her head to stare up at her grandson one last time wearing a look Virgil knew - it was the expression that used to scare him as a kid but now? It was nothing. It was pathetic. And all he did was smile.

She didn't say a word, she couldn't think of anything to say - she just turned around and left, Gabriel wanted to yell something but Harper grabbed his arm with a subtle shake of the head - it was a silent gesture that told him everything. 'That was enough'.

Matthew and Amelia stepped back inside and closed the door, in the silence everyone could hear the car roaring to life and driving away down the road. Everyone shared a silent glance, some opening their mouths but none could think of what to say.

"Let's hope she arrives home safely" someone finally spoke - it was Elizabeth. No one judged her for it, everyone merely nodded and returned to their rooms to get ready for the lazy day ahead, the space between Christmas and New Years was definitely an awkward one to say the least. The kids a little more active after Olivia told them 'Santa starts his naughty list at the start of the year and ends it on Christmas - that means you have six days to do whatever you like'.

Yeah, their parents definitely didn't like that comment.

Over the course of those six days Virgil was mildly excited, he didn't expect he would stay for the New Year's party at the start of the month, honestly he assumed he would be in Charlotte's shoes, if he managed to stay until Christmas he would leave before the new year but plans change and this change was inarguably a great one.

The kids were practically vibrating in excitement the entire day knowing that night they would be able to stay up until midnight! Every time they could they would reassure any adult in the near vicinity they wouldn't fall asleep but many adults had their doubts - most had bets they'd pass out as soon as the counter reached zero.

Even still the party was a glorious occasion! Just as good as Christmas, maybe even more, with the adults drinking and the children celebrating with an array of Christmas songs blasting through the speakers, singing along to the lyrics without a care. And of course Roman joined in.

"Roman!" Gabriel suddenly yelled from where he sat beside the phone connected to the speakers, the man looked away from the children to see what he wanted. Gabriel didn't need to say another word for the starting notes of a certain Christmas song began to fill the room - the children cheered while Roman gave him a 'really?' look.

"Sing it, Roman!" The children cheered and who was he to say no?

"Feliz navidad!" He blurted and Virgil rolled his eyes fondly, knowing Roman was enjoying every second. "Feliz navidad, Feliz navidad próspero año y felicidad" he carried on and Olivia jumped up from where she sat with Camila following, the two joining in on singing, dancing crazily with Roman in the middle of the room, nearly everyone else clapping along, smiling at the sight.

"I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas! I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas! I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart!" The room filled with voices from everyone in the room, even Abigail and Mason after Oliver encouraged them with that pleading smile of his.

In that moment, the past ten plus years were swept from everyone's mind, in that moment everyone was happy, content.

In that moment and forevermore they were all a family.

Including that gay American.

January 1st - 12:00am