Page 93 of 300 New Year's Eves

Holden brings another plate and places it down in front of Henry. “Don’t worry, champ.” He ruffles Henry’s hair. “I made pancakes just for you.”

“Uh, Henry,” Adrien says, leaning in towards him. “Want to trade?”

“No!” Henry yells at the same time Holden yells, “Hey!”

Adrien starts laughing again.

“I’m not sure if I should be insulted or not.” Holden brings his hand to his chest.

“You do make excellent pancakes,” Sergio says.

“The best,” Jeremy agrees.

“And I’m sure your eggs Benedict are good as well,” Daphne says.

“I knew I liked her,” Holden says, pointing at Daphne as he takes his seat.

Adrien leans into her and loudly places a kiss on her cheek. He’s grinning as he pulls away, his eyes admiring her profile. “Damn right, you do,” he says. “We all do.”

As everyone begins to fill their plates with food, Rose pops open the champagne. She pours them each a mimosa, except for Jeremy. She gives him a champagne flute full of orange juice, and Henry gets his juice in a little glass. Once everyone has their drinks in hand, Sergio raises his into the air with one hand and puts his other arm around Jeremy, pulling Jeremy into his side.

“I’d like to propose a toast,” he says, then looks at each of them one by one. His heart swells at the sight of all of them together around the table on this morning of new beginnings. It starts to rise into his throat, causing a lump he swallows down. He settles his gaze on Adrien first, then begins to speak again. “When our parents died, I remember thinking that that was it. That I’d never have another family because the one I’d always known was gone and couldn’t be repaired. That Adrien and I were utterly alone.”

“You do know toasts are supposed to be uplifting?” Adrien jokes, but he’s wearing a soft smile, and his eyes portray a solemn hint of understanding.

“I’m getting there.”

Holden claps Sergio on the shoulder. “I’m with you, buddy.”

“Thanks,” Sergio says to him, then continues. “Now, as I was saying, at the time, I never could have imaginedthis.” He lifts his hand from Jeremy’s shoulder and gestures at the table. “Honestly, up until yesterday, I never thought my life could beso full. Or that Adrien and I could have so many people around us who accepted us as theirs. It’s been me and Adrien against the world for so long that I missed the fact we had managed to create a whole new family. It started with Holden, and then he brought in Rose. Together they gave us all Henry.” Henry beams with a mouth full of syrupy pancakes. “And for whatever reason, Daphne stuck with that one” —he points at Adrien—“despite his innumerable charms.”

“He does have a lot of charms,” Daphne agrees and kisses him on the cheek, causing Adrien to glow.

“He does,” Sergio says, then turns his attention to Jeremy. “And then there’s you. Jeremy, I should have incorporated you into this makeshift family years ago. Luckily for me, Rose and Holden brought you in instead and gave us the chance to pick up where we started.” He leans in and gives Jeremy a kiss, then turns and raises his glass a little higher. “To the seven of us,” he says. “May we always keep the faith in each other and never forget that a family can be remade and built stronger than ever before. Happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year,” everyone at the table says in unison.

Even Gus lets out a meow from somewhere underneath Sergio’s feet.