We're all stories in the end 🤍

Elliot gave a playful roll of his eyes, "Alright, I won't tease you too much for liking milk in your hot chocolate." More of a water kind of guy in his but easily swapped it out for the milk she had asked for, pressing a kiss to her forehead as he kept moving around the kitchen. Going to grab the creamer for his coffee when he felt another pat on his arm, raising an eyebrow in question as he turned towards Alice once more. "I mean- I'll take Theo's word for it." Laughing as he quickly poured his coffee into his mug before grabbing a knife and cutting the panettone for Alice before Sawyer was trying to get back to him. Wondering how the hell she was going to be a year old in just a few short months. Easily placing her back onto his hip as he grabbed for his coffee, taking a long sip of it this time around before he sat it back down. "Alright, now I can remotely function." He grinned, tickling Sawyer's belly as he looked over at Alice, their Christmas already off to the best start he could have asked for.

Passing Sawyer back to Elliot, once the panettone was cut, Alice grabbed a whisker and whisked the eggs and milk together, adding a dash of vanilla extract and cinnamon to the mix before picking up a pan and buttering it up before it went on the stove. All this while humming and singing to herself since she couldn’t be talking to Elliot as she cooked. The blond gave her a soft smile when he signed that he could function now, kissing his cheek quickly and moving to soak up the bread a little to put on in the pan. "Do you want to grab some plates and forks and bring it to the living room? I'll be right there with all of these!" She signed but watched the pan carefully. Not the best when it came to cooking but she loved making any type of breakfast food or simple baked goods.

Alice 'wasn't working lately'? What did that even mean? Was she using Elliot for a free place to stay? Her talking about how she was 'roaming' set off even more alarm bells. Elliot was so clearly still in love with her, and she saw herself as passing through? "You can't just pass through because it's convenient for you to be here. Elliot really cares about you," Ash phrased carefully so that it could be taken platonically, rather than romantically. "He's way too nice for his own good, and if you just take off again when you find somewhere better to live, it's gonna hurt him."

"What? No, I'm not- that's not..." Alice shook her head, looking down at her own fingers fiddling with the hem of her well worn Bowie shirt that she was wearing over a long black dress with white flowers in them, her legs crossed underneath her. She was frowning, trying to find the right words to explain to Ash that she wasn't just passing through. "That's not what's happening. Does Elliot think that's what's happening?" She asked, more to herself than Ash in a quieter voice. "We still talked all the time when I moved away and I visited him over the Holidays, no that's not- what happened. I'm not just passing through." Alice looked up at Ash letting out a shaky breath. "I know he cares about me. I care about him too, I didn't mean to hurt him, we talked about it. I just didn't know how to be me... anymore." The more time Alice spent around Elliot and Sawyer there with them, the easier she found it to talk about what happened to her, at least without bursting into tears. She just wasn't sure Ash was remotely interested in hearing it.

The brush against his arm sent shivers along his back, even if she simply did it to let him know she was there. He was about to raise his free hand, let her know whichever was fine but Sawyer was already trying to get out of his arms and to Alice. Laughing, he handed her rest of the way over. "Well, seems like she decided that one for us." Shaking his head with amusement, beyond glad that Sawyer and Alice had connected as well as they had done. That his daughter seemed to love Alice just as much as he did so. A grin making its way back onto his face, he gave a nod of his head. "Of course we do, have to keep a stockpile just for you." He signed back, that was one of the first things he had done when Alice moved in, made sure they had all of her favorites. He let out a yawn, stretching his arms above his head some as he moved to put on the coffee maker and then grab the electric kettle to heat up the water for her hot coco. Moving to grab each of them a mug. "I was thinking about making us all some cinnamon rolls for breakfast if you want? Don't worry, all I have to do is heat them up in the oven." He teased, though he was in fact trying to get better with his cooking as time went on.

More than happy to, Alice grabbed Swayer in her arms easily and she signed milk to her and to Elliot as she moved with her to the fridge, getting Sawyers formula and just regular milking, bringing it to the counter next to Elliot. "I prefer hot chocolate with milk, please?" She signed with a sweet smile, not wanting to be a burden or an annoyance, she would do her own hot chocolate herself if needed. At the mention of cinnamon rolls, she suddenly remembered something which made her jump with a bit of excitement and patted Elliot in his arm. "Theo gave me a tip last night!" recalling the brit's suggestion for breakfast which was something she could actually do, she moved to grab the left over panettone they had left the night before. "Could you cut this in slices? They said we can make French toast with it!"

Even though Elliot couldn't hear it, Alice was sure he could feel the vibrations of her laughter as she ducked her head into Sawyers side, feeling just so contento about all of this. The Christmas morning of her dreams, waking up next to someone she loved and with a baby between them; her perfect little family. It didn't matter that Sawyer wasn't biologically hers, Alice loved her as if she was. The blond moved her hand to cup Elliot's face over Sawyer's head, thumb stroking his cheek as she grinned at him, them kissing the top of Sawyer's head as well. The baby giggles between and if there was only one reason she wished Elliot could hear it was just to listen to his baby laugh. It was the most perfect sound in the world. "I'm not ready to get out of bed." She lifted a hand to sign to him. "But I'm also very curious to see what else you got Sawyer. And I wat tea." She giggled.

The moment her hand cupped the side of his face, Elliot let out the most content and happy sound. His heart bursting with so much love. If someone would have told him that this is how he would be waking up this Christmas morning, well, he would have thought they were out of their minds. But this, this was perfect in every way imaginable. Letting out a soft laugh as he watched Alice's hands. "Me either-" He signed back, more than content to spend a bit longer in bed. But his laugh grew even more as she mentioned wanting tea and seeing what Sawyer for for Christmas. "Fair enough, I could go for a coffee and I want to watch both you and Sawyer open your gifts." Having gone way overboard for the both of them. With it being Sawyer's first and the first him and Alice were having as a couple, well, how could he had not gone overboard? He gave Alice one last look before he let out a dramatic groan, pushing himself to sit up as he grabbed for Sawyer, snuggling her in close and placing a few kisses all over her face. Grinning as he felt the vibrations of her laughs. Yes, this was truly all he needed in life. He propped her onto his hip, bringing his free hand up. "Lets bring some blankets with us downstairs, then we can get all cozy on the couch afterwards?" He suggested, placing one last quick kiss to Alice's lips before he grabbed a blanket, bouncing Sawyer on his hip as he made his way downstairs to start on their coffee and tea.

Alice smiled into the kiss and got up as well, Freddie who was sleeping at the foot of the bed propping his head back as he woke up, not knowing what was happening but following her around as soon as Alice got up from the bed, grabbing another blanket and following Elliot down the stairs and into the kitchen, stopping by the living room to drop the blanket and tell Freddie to wait there. Once she made it to the kitchen, she brushed his arm to let him know she was there and signed quickly. "Want me to do anything or take Sawyer?" Alice offered with a smile. "Oh, instead of tea, do we have hot chocolate?" He eyes glinted suddenly at the idea and really hoped they did have some.

If there was one thing Elliot wasn't, it was a morning person. And he was pretty sure that had it not been for the little foot kicking his ribs, he would have rolled over and got a few more hours of sleep. But he slowly blinked his eyes open, his entire demeanor changing as he did so at the sight of Alice and Sawyer in bed with him. It was more than he could have ever dreamt of, him and Alice, and now waking up to her in his bed? Well- it was by far the best start to his Christmas. He reached out a hand, pulling Sawyer back into the middle between them before she tried to climb her way over Alice, his eyes instantly going to her lips as he melted under the hand that stroked his side. Easily catching what she was saying to him, not quite ready to move his own hands just yet, he let out a soft sound, hoping Alice understood it was his way of returning the sentiment of Merry Christmas. Snuggling both his daughter and girlfriend close to him, more than happy to lay there for a few moments longer with the both of them. Pressing a kiss to Alice's lips before placing one against the top of Sawyer's head.

Even though Elliot couldn't hear it, Alice was sure he could feel the vibrations of her laughter as she ducked her head into Sawyers side, feeling just so contento about all of this. The Christmas morning of her dreams, waking up next to someone she loved and with a baby between them; her perfect little family. It didn't matter that Sawyer wasn't biologically hers, Alice loved her as if she was. The blond moved her hand to cup Elliot's face over Sawyer's head, thumb stroking his cheek as she grinned at him, them kissing the top of Sawyer's head as well. The baby giggles between and if there was only one reason she wished Elliot could hear it was just to listen to his baby laugh. It was the most perfect sound in the world. "I'm not ready to get out of bed." She lifted a hand to sign to him. "But I'm also very curious to see what else you got Sawyer. And I want tea." She giggled.

Ash returned Alice's expression right back at her and then decided to focus her attention on the roommate she was actually happy to see. As she switched from speaking to Alice, to signing with Sawyer her mood very quickly changed. Even Alice couldn't ruin how much she loved holding babies - hopefully she'd have on of her own in the next few years but that didn't seem likely. She didn't let herself dwell on that reality. Now in a little bit better of a mood, she turned her attention back to Alice. "So, you moved in. Does that mean you plan on staying?" This time she talked to Alice in ASL, so that Sawyer could see the signs even if she wouldn't understand what they were talking about anyways.

The question surprised Alice but she nodded before she looked up at her. "Yes I'm staying. Elliot was kind to offer me a room since I was living out of my mum's sofa and she didn't like my dog very much." She explained, not trying to play the victim really, just answering her question. "I haven't been working lately so I can't afford a place of my own at the moment, that's why I've been sort of... roaming." The blond so wished she would be more put together than this, it wasn't something she liked, how she was right now but slowly and with Elliot's help, she was finding her way back into the world.

Ash was trying, even though she knew it was hard to tell. But she had lived most of her life in a very blunt culture, and faking niceness just wasn't something she had a lot of experience with. It was easier to just keep her mouth shut, but then she still seemed cold and rude. "I've been back for about a year." She explained, not really sure if she was confirming or correcting. Alice asked how different everything felt and Ash knew her answer - everything changed when her dad died. New Bellevoux would always be home, but it would never be the same. Ash simply shrugged at that question. At the mention of not biting she almost smiled. "I bite. But Elliot's not gonna be thrilled if he comes home to find his...you with teeth marks on your hand, so I'll stay where I'm at."

Alice clenched her teeth and swallowed at Ash's bluntness but it wasn't like she didn't expect her to be direct. She was always intimidated by the brunette, whenever they spent time the three of them but at least there was always Elliot to between them and well, she didn't use to hate her like she apparently is now. "I'd very much like to keep my hand unmarked, thank you." She gave Ash a tight lipped smile and a nod.

"I do, I really do." He signed back in agreement, beyond thankful that Alice had took the time to learn to sign all those years ago. Just one of the many things that made him fall more and more in love with her as the years went on. Though as she mentioned kissing her, he felt his face instantly go red. He had wanted to kiss her for so long, had wanted to kiss her he moment he told her that he loved her. But knowing she wanted that was well- Elliot scooted closer to Alice so that their knees were touching, one of his hands coming up to cup her face. His thumb lightly brushing over her cheek once more, "A..l..ice-" Elliot spoke carefully again once more, wondering just how close he was truly getting to her name. Making a slight mental note to ask her later about that.

It really made her melt that Elliot was saying her name out loud. She really didn't need to hear it and never thought she would but the fact that he took the time to learn it to say to her was just beyond sweet and touching, making her eyes well up a bit as he pressed his lips to hers. Alice heart skipped a beat before it raised quickly, her skin filling with goosebumps at the feeling of his mouth on hers, his hands on her. Even if they were very touchy before and never shied away from cupping each other's face or a cuddle, this was so different. She felt it all over her body and it made her short of breath so she pulled back after a little but stayed close, forehead resting against his, her hand on the side of his face as well as she breathed. She didn't want to sign, she didn't even what she wanted to say, feeling a little overwhelmed about everything going on.