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Alex smiled, her eyes shining. “I love you too.”

The room around them seemed to fade, the noise and movement blending into a soft hum as they kissed—a kiss that felt like a promise, like every choice they’d made to get here had been worth it.

When they pulled apart, the party had continued around them, but Vivienne felt a sense of stillness, of peace. She looked at Alex, and for the first time in years, she wasn’t thinking about the next deadline, the next obstacle. She was simply here, in this moment, with the woman she loved.

The snow outside had started to fall heavier again, blanketing the world in quiet. From the window, the lights of their home glowed warmly against the dark, a beacon of everything they’d built together.

As the night wound down and the guests began to leave, Vivienne and Alex stood together at the door, bidding each person goodbye with hugs and laughter. When the last guest had gone, they turned back to the living room, now quiet and still.

Alex wrapped an arm around Vivienne’swaist, pulling her close. “Merry Christmas, Vivi.”

“Merry Christmas,” Vivienne replied, resting her head against Alex’s shoulder.

They stood there for a moment, watching the fire crackle and the snow fall outside. The future stretched ahead of them, unknown and full of possibility, but for now, they had everything they needed.

Together.