The Christmas spirit was felt everywhere: in stores blasting peppy holiday songs, vendors selling lucky charms and other items, houses decorated with wreaths and Christmas trees, and light snow coating the roofs and streets.
"Merry Christmas, Uncle Aaron!"
Aaron looked behind him and suddenly there were arms wrapped around his middle, gaze going below to see his niece hugging him with such ferocity it knocked the breath out of him.
His arms automatically hugged back, eyes going upward and widening once he saw his cousin Bryan and his wife walking toward him.
"Ohh Bryan and Melinda," he greeted warmly as soon as Donna relinquished the hug. "Merry Christmas to you and your family."
He went over to hug his cousin and briefly envelop Melinda in a hug before letting go and smiling at them warmly.
"Merry Christmas indeed, Aaron," Bryan said, black eyes twinkling with merriment. He looked somewhere far ahead before focusing once again on Aaron and saying, "Kiana is still here and she invited us over for some well-needed get-together. You coming?"
Donna was tugging hyperactively on Aaron's arm insisting, "C'mon Uncle join us! I haven't seen Auntie Kiana and the others in a long while."
The introvert in him wanted to decline, spend Christmas alone, and watch the festivities with a warm cup of English tea. But the part of him that was family-oriented wanted to see his distant relatives again and maybe have a few hours of talking and catching up. Yes he also did that during his birthday but Christmas on the day itself seemed different.
So he smiled and nodded.
"I'd love to go."
~~
After spending the good part of the morning and afternoon in his family's company, Aaron then left once he received a text message from Connor that he could stop by their household to have some gingerbread and snacks while waiting for night to fall.
The snowflakes on this day were floating softly and gave the air a glow that made Aaron stop a few times on the way to admire how the flakes gently breezed past with a grace and elegance he couldn't understand but could appreciate.
Upon reaching the Diaz abode, Veronica swept him toward the kitchen to make gingerbread cookies and other snacks. In the living room, they heard Connor and Georgina bickering as they set up the decorations over the Christmas tree.
"Aww man why're you so slow?" they heard Georgina complain.
"Shut it girl, Christmas deserves to be fancy!" Connor replied angrily. "Wait your ass, will you? Idiot."
"What did you say, you freak?" Then there was loud thumping. "Take that back before those're the last words you say and I'll engrave 'em on your stone!"
Aaron groaned, seeing by the corner of his eye that Veronica slapped a palm to her forehead, also fed up with their pointless arguing.
"Could you tell them off?" she asked as she began measuring the honey. "At this rate they won't finish the decorations."
With a nod, Aaron left his station to poke his head from the open doorway, seeing the pair of cousins at each other's throats as they verbally fought.
"Would you guys keep it down? We can hear you arguing even from over here."
The cousins stopped to stare at him, looking at each other and pointing to the other.
"He started it!"
"She started it!"
"I don't care who started it," Aaron told them bluntly. "Just please quiet down."
Surprise flashed on both their faces but Aaron was back to Veronica's side before he could think too much on it. He noticed the small smirk on her face, but didn't ask. Instead, he waited for her to tell him what she found so amusing.
A few minutes later, she did talk.
"You gave those two quite a shock, telling them you don't care."
"That's because I don't."
Veronica hummed.
"You've never been so vocal before about your thoughts before."
At that, Aaron froze.
She was right. Aaron had never been one to bluntly state anything. He usually treaded with caution whenever he was about to say something that he thought might offend the person. But this time, he outright told the pair of cousins his thoughts. Was it because they were both close to him? Aaron couldn't tell. Although, he could say that it was so easy to tell them off. Dare he say that it was freeing to tell people what he thought at the moment.
But wasn't that more Georgina's style? Sometimes he thought she didn't have a filter and said what she thought at times, often inappropriate but still, she talked with no fear.
He laughed lightly and stared at Veronica's inquisitive eyes, obviously wanting to know more.
"I guess I didn't notice. But it is rather lightening to the chest to speak your thoughts."
Veronica's scrutinizing eyes softened and she hummed as she worked.
"Gina's influence?" she asked lightly, though Aaron had an inkling they both already knew the answer to that.
Still, he was silent before settling with, "Perhaps."
Veronica didn't say anything more; only hummed.
Then there was a deafening crash and a shrill yell, followed by a string of curses from the living area. Both of them looked up from their tasks, wide-eyed and nervous.
"You damn knucklehead!" Georgina screamed. "You didn't—"
"Your fucking fault!" Connor yelled back, his voice straining.
"You didn't hold the tree!"
"I was busy trying to choose ornaments!"
"I fell down the stool 'cause your stupid head didn't watch me!"
"ARGH that's it you little squirt! You've gone too far eh!"
Both Aaron and Veronica could only facepalm at their never-ending argument, this time about the fallen Christmas tree.
"You know what, I don't wanna butt in anymore," Veronica stated.
"I have the same sentiments," answered Aaron as he went along with his work. "Let's finish this before they tussle more."
"Yep."
~~
"Waaah Nica this is awesome!" Georgina said with her mouth full, stuffing another cookie in her mouth and chomping loudly.
Aaron wordlessly handed her a napkin to wipe her mouth with, Georgina taking it with a muffled thanks and simply dropping the proffered item on her lap, chewing away and moaning with glee. He rolled his eyes but couldn't help the amused smile play on his lips.
He caught the married couple looking at him, Connor giving him a sly smirk and Veronica winking at him over her cup of tea. He didn't know why they were looking at him like that but he couldn't help the blush that was creeping towards his cheeks and ears, shaking his head and focusing on his own food.
"Merry Christmas everyone!" Georgina suddenly screamed from beside him, Aaron's heart jumping in his chest in fright at her declaration.
Veronica beamed at her and said joyfully, "Merry Christmas, Gina!"
"Merry Christmas ya'll!" Connor greeted with his usual smirk, eyes twinkling in mirth.
Aaron calmed down enough to give the three of them heartfelt smiles, greeting back sincerely, "Merry Christmas to you all."
Georgina smiled wide at him, and for some reason his heart jumped a little at the radiance in her expression.
~~
Aaron had offered to take Georgina back to her home. She refused but after much persuasion from both Veronica and Connor, she relented.
Snow was still falling around them, which they both appreciated as they constantly looked upward to see them twirl in the air slowly.
"Man these things are so pretty," sighed Georgina, holding out a hand to catch a flake, the little object falling neatly on her palm. "Don't cha think?"
"Yes. They're quite the phenomenon, aren't they?" agreed Aaron silently, staring at the snowflake and watching it melt in her palm. He stared at her and said, "If I remember correctly, the library also has books about it. Would you like to stop by when the holiday season is over and borrow them?"
Georgina turned to stare at him and once again, Aaron's heart did a little jump at seeing their faces so near to each other's.
She also seemed to realize that but shook her head and put some distance between them, giggling nervously.
"Um... I'd love to check 'em out." She smiled then. "Reserve all those for me, will ya?"
"Yes."
A rich-looking man passed them by, displaying his wealth with gold rings and bracelets, his fur coat swishing about.
Trepidation filled Aaron regarding Georgina's possible reaction, but was pleasantly surprised when her hand stayed by her side, not zooming out to grab anything shiny.
She smiled wide at him then at her accomplishment, Aaron smiling back with pride.
"You taught me to control myself," Georgina said slowly. "And also, you've believed in me that something in me didn't want to let you down. So I tried and tried and now, I've reached that point where I don't wanna steal anymore."
"Please don't tell me it's only for my benefit," Aaron said, sadness in his voice. "I would hate to be the source of your unhappiness."
Georgina stared at him incredulously and laughed, head thrown back.
"Man, no. You're the opposite: you made me wanna be better." She stared at him then, her brown pools having such depth that for some reason, Aaron wanted to drown in them. "And over time, stealing just didn't have that appeal anymore. I can get other thrills like riding on roller coasters, going to haunted houses and shit."
He blinked, smiling after.
"And you're happy?"
"Mm. Lots happy!"
There was not a trace of a lie on her face and in her voice so Aaron thought her statement to be true. And he was also happy for her.
"And I have got you to thank," he said to her quietly.
Her face then displayed her utter confusion, brows pulled tight and lips in a pout. At the sight Aaron chuckled at how adorable she can be, even though he knew it was unintentional.
"Me? For what?"
"For showing me I could feel and be emotional like everyone else," he said.
Her face softened and her hand reached out to grasp his own.
"Oh honey, it's nothing."
His hold on her hand tightened.
"It's everything to a logical person like myself. So thank you, truly."
He didn't see her lunging forward to plant a kiss on his cheek but she did and the warm pressure was still there. He stiffened momentarily, brain shutting down once again at the foreign act.
Her giggle made him return to reality, seeing her face crumpled in playful joy.
"Looks like we've still got that to work on," she said in a light tone.
He chuckled nervously, but nodded his agreement.
That night, they went home with their hands joined.
Aaron couldn't help but think that from this point on, their lives would go on for the better. And he couldn't wait; if it was beside Georgina Wells, he knew they'd make it.