≈Miami, FL...

{ Christmas Eve | (2:03 p.m) }

"So, what do y'all want to watch ? " Kalvin asked the twins as the three were settling in front of the TV.

Acacia shrugged, "I don't care. Just don't put something boring. But Hunger Games is not a bad idea." 

Almar rolled his eyes then shook his head at her, "You always have to do too much than what you should."

"Tic, you know how she is." 

The young boy nodded his head, "Yes. I do know. She is something else."

"Unique is the word, I think." Kalvin sat next to her and took the remote. 

"I think it's more like weird, isn't it ? "

"You two stop talking about me like I'm not here. Immediately ! " She folded her arms.

They chuckled and Kalvin turned the TV on, then went on Netflix while Acacia covered them with the large and warm black blanket. 

Cora who was sleeping upstairs, had woken up and now was going downstairs wondering what they were doing. She walked in the living room and couldn't help but coed when she saw them bonding. That's what they were doing these past few weeks and she's happy to see them getting closer, "Aw ! You three are so cute ! Oh ! Stay right here ! " She went back in her bedroom and took her phone, then went back downstairs, "Smile ! "

Kalvin and the twins chuckled at her, but did as she told making her more happy, "Now...Uh...say Merry Christmas ! " Once again they obeyed. 

"Mummy, now can you stop please ? We're about to watch a movie." Almar said then grabbed a bag of Cheetos.

Cora beamed, "Sorry. I just got a moment. Well, I'm leaving you alone now. Have fun." She was about to walk out when Kalvin called her. She stopped on her track and turned around.

He patted the spot to his left, "Why don't you join us ? There is enough place for four on this couch. Plus, I'm sure you and the baby are hungry."

She playfully rolled her eyes and accepted the invitation, "Was I not supposed to eat more healthy ? " She asked as she picked an Oreo.

"It's Christmas time, so enjoy it while it lasts because once we change the year, I'm putting you on a diet. And it's a promise."

She chuckled shaking her head, "You won't do it. Leave me alone."

"Anyways, what are we doing tonight ? " Acacia asked annoyed by their little argument.

"And can we open the gifts at midnight instead of waiting tomorrow ? "

"Midnight is tomorrow, dummy." Acacia snapped at him.

Her brother mean mugged her before to roll his eyes, "You know exactly what I meant idiot."

"I'm not an idiot and that's a fact."

"Stupid ! "

"If you want to fight, I'm down for it ugly."

"We look alike so I conclude you're ugly too."

"Close your mouth, you're so annoying."

"And you stink ! "

"You're jealous, because I'm the perfection itself."

"Perfection, my a-"

"Almar, I dare you to say it ! " Cora warned cutting him off.

Kalvin laughed slightly remembering when him and his siblings used to argue like that. Less with Kaldrick though. But Kalia and him could do it for hours and it was always getting on their mother's last nerves, at a certain point.

Kal felt much better since he was finally talking with his mother. He had missed her, to be honest. Even if she could be a pain in the ass sometimes, he loved spending time with her. After all, he was a mama's boy -but not as much as Terry though- and his mother was his queen. Not talking to her for weeks was killing him slowly inside. All he wanted to do was to put all the unnecessary bullshit in the past and to move forward in life, but then he was really stubborn and was determined to win the little war they were having this time. Yes, the Ryans' stubbornness was definitely something else on this earth. They could be mad at each other for so long just because of that.

"So, can we open them at midnight ? " Almar asked again after a couple of minutes of silence due to them finally focusing on the movie. He shoot a quick look at the pretty well decorated Christmas tree with all the gifts under hoping she was going to give him the answer he was waiting for. 

Cora nodded her head, "Yes. We can do it." 

.

.

.

(1:29 a.m)

After having spent hours to watch different films, Kalvin and Cora decided to cook and the twins proposed their help, so soon they were the four in the kitchen getting the dinner ready singing their favourite songs and dancing together. 

Cora couldn't ask for more. She had everything she needed for the moment. She was finally relaxing and there was no drama anymore. They could finally enjoy life. It was nice to have a break and spending time with people they cared about. Since Thanksgiving, everybody suddenly became an only and big family and they couldn't get enough of each other. One thing was sure, the baby was going to be loved a lot. 

These new changes were great for the twins also, spite of the shit they went through. They haven't their father in their lives and had lost their grandpa who was filling this position, but now they had met Kalvin and thanks to him they got introduced to Kaldrick and Terry also. They had won three good men as role models and in addition now there were Nelson, Yohann and Louis. And on the other hand, there were Kalia, Mama C, Amy, Mikayla and now they had met the adorable Rhana -Nelson's wife- and Mrs.Ryans, who was actually cool people too. And there had always been Roger, who had always been like a big brother to them and the aunties Latoya, Halley and Francesca. Yes, they were well surrounded.

"What are y'all doing here ? " Kalvin asked whispering loudly and made jump the twins. At this time of the night, they were supposed to be sleeping but they were up, "You can't wait until later for these damn gifts ? "

Finally, the could only open one present and the rest was for later. They were really bothered by that decision, but that wasn't the reason why they were awake now. 

"Bruh, we're hungry." Almar answered for the both of them. 

Kal frowned a bit, "Bruh ? " He sighed shaking his head, "You're spending way too much time with Terry." 

Acacia fanned him off, "What are you talking about ? T is the homie. And you, why are you here ? " These past few weeks, Kalvin was often at their house to make sure they were alright and to bond more with Cora and the twins, and his unborn child also and sometimes he was even staying for the night. Tonight was the case. 

"I'm a grown man, I can actually walk around at almost two in the morning. Not like y'all."

She snorted with laughter, "Dear friend, it's our house."

"Yeah, so go back to your room." Almar added pointing to the guest room. 

"Excuse y'all ? " Kalvin couldn't believe his ears. They were really giving him orders like he wasn't the adults between them. No doubt about it, they were the definition of bold.

"You do need to rest old man." Acacia said smiling innocently.

"I'm not old ! " Kalvin retorted folding his arms and frowning even more.

"Well, you're about to be a father." Almar intervened beaming. 

"And what ? " They were really frustrating him. 

"And you're not getting younger. I think I even saw white hair here and there." She answered keeping playing with him. 

"I'm not old ! " He repeated irritated. 

Almar chuckled, "Do we hurt your feelings old G ? Are you going to cry ? " He questioned causing Kal to roll his eyes two times. 

Suddenly, Cora's door opened abruptly and there she was standing before them pissed off. They were talking in front of her room and she could hear everything they were saying, what was preventing her to rest peacefully like she wanted to. She was about to chock someone if they were not going to shut their mouth in the next minute. 

"You three have five seconds to get back in your room or I swear one of you is going to regret the creation of the world ! " She threatened looking at them with angry eyes. 

The three shared interrogative and confused looks, "Damn...the creation of the world ? I'm out of here. Good night." Kalvin said before to walk away. Not even ten seconds later, the twins ran off in their own room scared to find out how much their mother was aggravated right now. 

Cora rubbed her growing belly sighing, "Now we can sleep, angel."

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Feel free to comment and/or to vote =) 

•A/N: I think it's a filler more than anything else, but oh well...Hope you enjoyed it though :) For the next few chapters, it's gonna be the CALM BEFORE THE STORM. Just want to remind you that we're not in Lalaland, but...we do not need drama in every single one of these chapters lol. Sooooo, the fam is just chilling for now :D 

PS: I like to let my readers know where we are in the story, so...we are a bit more than in the middle of the book, entonces the first part of the end BUT this is not the end yet. I think I want to finish it at like chapter 55 or 60, I'll see. Or maybe it's too long ? What do y'all think ? 

Dedication goes to tamica ! I appreciate your support, thanks for reading, voting and commenting. Thank you so so so much muahh 💋❤

Thanks for reading guys !

And sorry for the mistakes.