The asphalt blurs under the wheels of Jim's Audi. Thanks to the new road, the car moves smoothly even when my brother drives past the Welcome sign.

Kitten is pressed to my side in the back seat. Her hand is in mine, and I rub the back of it while my gaze roams the familiar streets of my hometown. I can't wait to see what they look like in the evening with the Christmas lights on.

I haven't felt this excited about Christmas in a while, but it's different this year.

"Do your parents have a big tree?" Ava asks Jim.

He chuckles. "It's huge. Right, Brian?"

"That's right," I say. "We'll decorate it today."

Ava claps her hands, and Jim squeezes her knee. I catch his smile in the mirror. 

Leah leans her head on my shoulder. I press my lips to her forehead, and the corners of her mouth lift.

I promised her the best Christmas she's ever had, and I'll make sure that's what she gets. The more she told me about her childhood, the more I realized how different it was from mine. Kitten didn't get to spend holidays the way a kid normally would. Her mother had to work, and Leah was often alone. She didn't receive lots of gifts and didn't have grandparents who'd spoil her and make sure she had fun during her winter break.

"Look, Brian," Jim says when we're near our parents' house.

We both chuckle at the sight of Santa on a bike in the middle of the lawn. Pops took decorating seriously.

Jim parks, and we get out of the vehicle. I grab our bags from the trunk and take Kitten's hand as we stroll to the front door with Jim and Ava behind us.

The door opens wide as soon as my boots hit the porch. "Welcome!" Mom beams. She pulls Kitten and then Ava into a hug. Giggles fill the air, and Jim chuckles as we make our way in. 

Pops greets the girls first, too, but then he spots my brother and me and hugs us. "How was the drive, little fuckers?"

"Awesome," Jim says. "I still haven't got used to how smooth the road is."

"Don't forget to mention that to Bill. He'll be happy to know people notice his efforts."

"Impossible not to." My brother smiles. "Cool Santa, by the way."

"I decided to be original this year. Another one's at the garage."

Jim and I go to see it with Dad while Mom takes the girls to the kitchen. When we're back, they're in the living room, decorating the tree. 

I walk up to Kitten and hug her from behind. She giggles when I bite her neck. "Behave, Brian."

"Or what?"

"Or sex won't happen tonight, little fucker," Jim says next to me, shoving a cookie Mom baked into his mouth. The fucker's audacity has no limits. I didn't miss the squeeze he gave Ava's butt earlier.

Kitten laughs. She hands me some tinsel and kisses my cheek. Maybe I could take her to my room after lunch and have my way with her.

"We're going to see the town after lunch," Jim says, ruining my plans. I would sulk, but Kitten and Ava grin at Jim's words. If going out to have hot chocolate and shit makes Leah happy, I'll gladly do it. 

"Mom and I will visit some friends in the afternoon," Pops says. "But we could watch a movie together when we're back in the evening."

No evening sex with Kitten, either. I do sulk this time, and Leah rolls her eyes at me as if she knows what I'm thinking.

"Let's put away our clothes." I grab Kitten's hand and drag her upstairs. She's still clutching a shiny bubble when my bedroom door closes behind us.

I attack her neck with my lips and walk her to the bed.

"You're insatiable." Leah laughs, pressing her palm to my chest. "We can't just leave everyone downstairs. We haven't finished decorating yet."

"The tree isn't gonna move, Kitten," I say. "One little kiss. Please."

Her arms wrap around my neck, and her lips meet mine. She kisses me slowly, circling my tongue with hers, and my grip on her tightens.

"Better?" Leah whispers, looking into my eyes.

"Should be enough for me to last until the next time I can be alone with you," I say, squeezing Kitten's waist.

***

After lunch, Jim and I take our girls downtown. 

My brother and Ava are ahead of us as we stroll down the tree-lined sidewalk. The strings of lights wrap around the bare tree branches. I can't wait to see the street in the evening when it's dark.

I shift my gaze to Kitten. Bundled up and with her nose pink from the cold, she looks cute and even younger than she is.

"What?" She nudges my bicep with her shoulder. 

I grin and peck her cheek. "You're cute."

"And cold." Leah rubs her arms. 

I stop walking. "Jim!"

He turns and raises his brows. 

"Let's get some hot chocolate for the girls."

"The new market's around the corner, little fucker," Jim says. "Dad said it was cool."

Of course, my brother found out useful shit while I was groping Kitten in my room. 

When we round the corner and approach the town square, a Christmas market comes into view. It's the first year Bill has organized it. 

Wooden booths sit on one side of the square, and a huge tree takes up its center. Several stalls sell Christmas-themed stuff — everything from clothes to Christmas tree ornaments.  The scent of waffles and freshly roasted coffee permeates the air, and my mouth waters.

"They have mulled wine." Jim nods toward a booth. "I'll get some for all of us."

In a couple of minutes, we have cups in our hands. Kitten hums, taking a sip. "So tasty."

"Careful, babe. Drink wisely."

Leah giggles. I pinch her butt, and she lets out a snort. 

"Did you see the fortune-telling booth?" Ava asks.

If Kitten had kitten's ears, they would perk up. Why do girls love that shit?

I look at Jim. He takes his girl's hand and leads her to the booth that has Fortune Telling drawn in chalk on the sandwich board. They'd better tell nice stuff only. I'm still hoping to have fun with Kitten in my bed tonight, and her overthinking wouldn't help.

A guy wearing Santa's hat greets Jim, smiling. He must've recognized my brother. A glass bowl full of colorful balls sits on the green tablecloth. The guy explains that each ball has a message inside. Jim pays and chooses one for him. 

"This is fun," my brother says, opening it. He pulls out a small piece of paper and unfolds it. His eyes scan whatever's written on the white stripe, and his brows shoot up to his hairline.

"What does it say?"

Ava wraps her hands around Jim's bicep and tries to read, but Jim angles the prediction away from her.

"I'd tell you." She pouts.

Jim laughs and kisses her.

"We're here," I tell him, waving my hand.

He shrugs. "Sorry. It said I'm gonna have amazing sex tonight."

"Bullshit." I snort. 

Ava reaches for Jim's paper.  When it's in her hands, she shakes with laughter. "It's true."

"Fuck, dude, that's cause you're famous," I say, rolling my eyes. "The guy must've put the ball there for you, hoping you'd stop by his booth."

"Jealous green doesn't look good on you, little fucker." Jim grins.

Ava laughs. "I was kidding. It says, 'You're going to learn a secret about your past.' "

"Not creepy at all," Kitten says. 

I tug at the ends of her scarf. "It's all good. I've always known Jim was adopted."

"Yours is gonna say you're not gonna get laid in a year, little fucker." Jim glares at me.

"Your room's next to Mom and Dad's," I say. "So, good luck tonight."

Jim wraps his arms around Ava. "There's always the garage. And the attic."

I cover my ears with my palms. "I don't wanna know."

The girls laugh. 

"My turn." Ava hands Jim her cup and rubs her hands together. She buys her ball and opens it once she's back by Jim's side. 

"You're going to be famous," she reads. "Well, duh."

Jim kisses her cheek. "Maybe those balls know something. Your turn, guys."

Kitten shoots me a hesitant look. I don't believe those things can really predict the future, but unease prickles at me, regardless.

"Let's do it," I say and walk up to the booth. I can't chicken out after Jim got his. He wouldn't let me live it down.

The ball I choose is bright red. Maybe I should've picked up a different color because my paper says, 'Beware of jealousy.'

"Whoa." Kitten gasps.

I think about Chad while Leah chooses her prediction. His envy became evident after the exams I aced. Bast and I studied our asses off, so my intelligence had little to do with my results this time. If I hadn't spent hours hunched over my textbooks memorizing shit, I wouldn't have got a good grade. Lots of concepts were new; trying to guess the answers would've been pointless.

"Everything will change," Leah mutters, clutching the small rectangle.

"For the better," I tell her, draping an arm across her shoulders. "I'll make sure of that."

She gives me a tender smile, and I press my lips to her cheek.

The cheerful mood is back. We finish our wine and have some hot chocolate with waffles. 

Once it gets dark, the downtown area comes alive thanks to the lights adorning the square.

Jim takes pictures of us in front of the tree. Much to the girls' glee, it starts snowing. The snowflakes falling from the dark sky catapult me to my childhood. Jim must be thinking the same because he has a nostalgic look on his face when I glance at him.

"Can we buy something for our home?" Kitten asks me.

"You don't have to ask," I tell her. "What do you want?"

She takes my hand and drags me to the booth selling scented candles. Jim and Ava get some, too. We amble around the market for another hour and head home when it gets too cold outside.

***

When my parents are home, we sit in front of the TV in the living room. Home Alone plays on the screen. Nobody objected when Mom chose the movie — Leah likes it, and so does Jim's girl.

Jim hugs Ava under the blanket, and I do the same with Kitten on the other end of the couch. It's one giant snuggle fest I'd never have imagined. 

Mom's on Dad's lap in the armchair, laughing at the movie and eating popcorn.

"Jeez, that's fucking insane," Jim says, popping a piece of cheese into his mouth. "I've never thought about it, but how the hell can you forget your kid?"

Mom looks at Pops and then at Jim.
"Parenting isn't easy, Jimmy," she says.

"I guess," my brother answers, chewing. "But the situation isn't realistic."

"Well." Pops clears his throat.

"I guess we should tell him, Axel," Mom whispers.

"Fuck. You're adopted for real, Jim," I say. 

A cushion flies in my direction but hits Kitten instead.

"Ouch," she squeaks.

I narrow my eyes at my brother. "Dude!"

"Boys." Pops' voice booms. "Nobody's adopted. You, fuckers, are the O'Briens through and through. But it's true that we forgot Jimmy once."

"The fuck?" Jim swivels his head to look at Dad and presses pause on the remote.

Mom bites her lip as her eyes land on Jim. "You were four, and we were going to visit your grandparents. Long story short, we drove away and realized we forgot you on the lawn."

Regret clouds Pops' expression. "When we came back for you, you were crying on the porch, clutching your toy car. It took me barely five minutes to return, but they were the longest five minutes of our lives."

"My poor boy." Ava strokes a hand down Jim's back. The fucker pretends to be more upset than he probably is. Maybe I would've done the same to make Kitten kiss and caress me.

"We're sorry, baby." Mom glances at my brother, not quite meeting his eyes. "We weren't even going to tell you,  but we were young and stressed out, and it was a long time ago."

"Oh my God, the secret from your past," Leah gasps, her eyes wide.

Jim stares at her, and so does Ava.

The idea of going back to the market and changing our balls has never seemed more tempting to me.

Hello!

It's weird to write Christmas when it's hot outside, but I'm excited about the holidays Brian and Leah will spend together.  It's one more Christmas chapter before the trip.

Hope you're enjoying the story!
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