Page 23 of Beared at Christmas

“We’re parents,” I whispered, not sure if that idea would ever not excite and frighten me at the same time.

Ulrik walked to the side of my hospital bed and brushed some hair off my forehead before kissing it. “We are. And I’m so happy to have you as my mate, my lover, my best friend, and now daddy to our babies.”

Tears formed in the corners of my eyes. I was so emotional, I couldn’t hold them back. “I love you. And I love our babies so much.”

When I’d taken the bus to the Winter Wonderland Wilderness Lodge, I hadn’t expected my life to change so much. I only wanted to avoid my family at Christmas. I had no idea I would end up with a different family who loved and accepted me exactly as I was. And I especially hadn’t expected to learn that shifters exist or to give birth to two of them. My life now seemed so unreal. All because of a double-booking mix-up.

Chapter Nineteen

Ulrik

Two months later…

“Do we have everything?” It was a common question both Brody and I asked each other every time we left the house, still often forgetting something. With two babies and very little sleep, our exhausted minds couldn’t remember all we were supposed to. Most of the people we interacted with seemed to be understanding. And our family members all had baby supplies at their houses, so that was never an issue.

“I think so.” Brody had a baby carrier in one hand and dragged a suitcase full of presents behind him with the other. “Food, presents, and kids. Those are the most important things. Actually, just the kids. They’re the ones your parents want to see, even though we’re over there every Sunday.”

I laughed. My dad and pops did love to see their grandchildren. Since it was Christmas Eve, they had spent the last couple of days focused on preparing dinner for us and my sister’s family. One more extravagant than our weekly dinners. Brody had seen some of the ornaments my parents had put up the last time we were there, but he had no idea the extent to which my fathers decorated. “You know this isn’t going to be your usual turkey Christmas dinner, right?”

“Yep.” He headed out the door, me with our other baby behind him. “And I’m glad for that. I would rather this holiday be completely different than what I’m used to. I told you, I’m calling it Jul from now on to differentiate it from the past.”

My heart ached for my mate. It had been a year since he’d talked to his parents. Texting them to let them know he was moving and that we’d adopted two boys—they got that story, the same as all other humans—had been met with silence. Iremained thankful my family had easily accepted him into our fold, even if it still hurt him that his own flesh and blood refused to do the same.

Once we had our babies, precious Samm and sweet Finn, buckled in and their carriers snapped into the truck, we loaded up the rest of the items we needed to bring then set off.

Brody gasped as I parked along the curb in front of my parents’ house. “Look at all the candles in the windows.”

I smiled, knowing there would be more all over the house. They had gone from wax candles when I was young to plastic ones that didn’t light the curtains on fire and wouldn’t break if one of the grandchildren grabbed hold of them. “Wait until you see it all. It truly is an experience.” Something I hadn’t realized until I spent a Christmas away from the home where I grew up and saw how others celebrated.

My pops waved at us from the doorway with baby Sylvie in his arms while Clara and Doug came out to help us bring in our stuff.

With a nudge, Clara sidled up beside me. “I hope you’re prepared to take home leftovers. Dad made enough for at least ten adults. He doesn’t understand that our kids can’t eat that kind of food yet.”

I patted her shoulder before handing her the bag of fried doughnuts I’d bought from the local Danish bakery instead of trying to find time to make them. “I’m more worried about the tree. How big is it this year?”

“Surprisingly small.” She waited behind the truck while I unclicked Maxx’s carrier from the base. “I told Pops to make sure there was still room for the playpens, so the tree is maybe my height instead of to the ceiling.”

Still, I wasn’t sure how we were all going to fit in the room with the tree right in the middle. With kids now, the holiday would be a new experience for more than just my mate.

“You ready for this?” I asked Brody across the back seat as he lifted Finn’s carrier.

With a brief smile, he nodded. “It has to be better than last Christmas when I was stuck with a grumpy Danish man in a cabin.”

I rolled my eyes, trying not to laugh while I heard my sister chuckling from the sidewalk. “That’s funny, because you said that same Danish man was sexy last night. I’m pretty sure you were dreaming about him, too.”

Brody wrinkled his nose as his eyes twinkled. “Someone can be grumpy and sexy at the same time. And by the end of the week, I did let him fuck me.”

“It’s a good thing the kids are still young,” my sister called from the sidewalk. “Otherwise, I would be smacking you both. Now, hurry up and get inside.”

Pops had cleared the walkway of snow and ice before we’d arrived, so we didn’t have to worry about slipping with the babies. Once we stepped into the foyer and closed the door, we took off our coats and boots. My dad quickly hung everything up for us and ushered us all inside.

The tree was smaller than in previous years, still encompassing a lot of the space in the living room. I didn’t know how we were all going to move around it when the time came. Before we had families, my sister and I would be in the kitchen with our fathers to help with dinner, or up in our bedrooms if they didn’t need us. We didn’t need to be in the living room. With five extra bodies, it seemed impossible. Yet, I didn’t doubt my fathers would make it happen.

As I put my arms through the straps for the snuggle carrier, which would eventually hold Maxx, Brody came over and rubbed my back, Finn resting against his chest. “The tree looks so magical with all the candles on it. I’m so used to Christmas trees being tucked in a corner with an abundance of mismatchedornaments and gaudy multicolored lights. Even the scents and sounds. It’s all so different from the Christmases I dreaded.”

“I’m glad you like it.” I gave him a quick kiss, and Finn, too, before reaching down to get Maxx out of his car seat.

Eventually, we made it to the dining room, where three small playpens had been set up along the wall. One for each of the babies to rest inside while we ate. So long as none of them became fussy. All three were teething, so there were plenty of frozen rings, nubbly toys, and changes of clothes to account for all the drool. With Sylvie only a few months older, we had a preview of what to expect with our two. But with double the irritability, raising our twins wasn’t any easier.

“Finally asleep.” Brody laid Maxx in the playpen after feeding him, so he could sleep along with his brother and cousin while the rest of us ate dinner. “I’m so hungry. I had some of the doughnuts and candied almonds, and the roast duck smells so good.”

I pulled out his chair for him. “Sit. Eat. Let me know if there is anything you need.” I couldn’t feed our babies the way my mate could, but I did help with bottle feedings and changed plenty of diapers. I tried to support Brody as much as possible, even since returning to work. And I remained thankful for the help from my parents.

He grabbed my arm and looked up at me with a smile, glassiness in his eyes. “I love that you’re my mate.”

“I love you, too.” I sat beside him, and we ate duck, pork roast, boiled potatoes, and cabbage. When it was time for the traditional rice pudding with cherry sauce for dessert, I was sure my dad purposely gave the one with the almond hidden inside to Brody. Especially since Doug had gotten it two years ago when it was his first Christmas with our family. I didn’t mind my mate getting an extra present. He deserved it. In my opinion, he deserved everything with how he had so willingly accepted thatI was a shifter, and he was my mate. Plus, all the changes to his body, including the ability to have babies. He handled it all way better than I would have in his position.

After our meal and cleanup, the babies were up again, and diapers were changed. With the entire family in the living room, we danced around the tree, singing “Nu är det jul igen.”Now it’s Christmas again.The smile on Brody’s face as he danced along with us made my heart swell. He’d helped me to heal after the loss of my first mate and proved that I could find love again. With him by my side, I was no longer lonely and felt the magic of the holidays once again.