Snowfall blanketed the ground and gave sleeves to the bare trees surrounding our property. Every inch of our town was coated in a glistening white sparkle. The sun cast down on the pastures behind our house, making the snow shine like glitter.

This Christmas Eve was like the ideal picture, perfect. Overnight, we received a foot of snow. Our doctor Marti discharged us earlier this morning. From the living room, I could smell the coffee steaming from the pot it was emptying into. Bo was walking around the kitchen as I sat with the baby on the couch.

Chase was eating another gingerbread man while he sipped on milk. After the bad batch of blueberry muffins, Bo made me a few years ago, I didn't have a lot of faith in her cookies. I worried they were going to be primarily made of baking soda. That was not the case, however. As soon as one hit my tongue, I melted. My son was across from me, chowing down on them like they were the only good that has happened to food.

My curly-haired wife came around the corner with mugs in her hand. She handed me my favorite cup before crossing her legs over one another on the seat beside me. I pressed a kiss to her forehead as Collins move around in the bouncer in front of me.

"Everyone should be here around three," she mumbled as she sipped from her second cup of coffee since this morning. "I am going to take a shower after I finish this."

I nodded. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," she leaned her head on my arm. "Everything is perfect."

"Promise?"

Her head tilted back to look up at me. "I promise."

My neck strained as I leaned down to connect our lips. Nothing has ever prepared me for moments like this when everything felt more than perfect. As her soft lips touched mine, I melted into a pile of nothing. She picked up every piece of me, holding me, teaching me how to carry myself after her gentle touch.

"I love you," I leaned tilted my head to lay on the top of hers.

"I love you," she murmured. "We got lucky."

"Yeah," I chuckled as Collins stared up at us.

"How did we get here?"

"Pure fucking luck," I joked.

She shrugged. "I am not sure about that."

"Then what is your take on the situation?"

"I think we finally stopped worrying about what other people thought of us," she sighed with a hint of laughter of on her lips. "And I think we realized that we are better together than we are apart, despite how much we believe we aren't good enough for one another."

"A fucking wordsmith."

She giggled. "If you keep cursing in front of the baby, her first word is going to a bad one. Let's keep it a minimum."

"I have only said it twice."

"What if we make a swear jar?"

The laughter belting past my lips made Collins jolt. "Bo, my whole life's savings would go into that jar."

She gently smacked my chest. "You scared the baby."

I looked down at Collins whose eyes were closed. "Sorry, love. Your mom is just trying to con me out of my money."

"Sweetheart," Bo cooed. "We both know who is trying to con who."

"I made more money in one fight than you have in your whole career."

She shoved my shoulder. "You are such an ass."

"If you make more money then why do you dress so badly?" Chase piped up from his seat.

Now it was Bo's turn to laugh as she felt into a fit on the seat beside me. I stared at Chase with my lips parted as I stared at him with amusement. Personally, I feel attacked. I thought the clothes I wore were great. Perfect even.

"I have nice clothes."

He snorted. "Yeah, the ones momma picked out for you."

"What is wrong with what I am wearing?" I motion to the joggers on my legs along with the black t-shirt around my waist. "I thought I looked great."

"If you are shopping from a fourteen-year-old teenager who says his pull-out game is strong catalog."

"Ha Ha," I mocked. "Very fun."

My hand pushed Bo, making her fall onto the cushions at the force. It made her laugh even harder as she reached her hand out, high-fiving Chase. I sat my cup on the coffee table before I snatched her up. She let out a shriek as my fingers dug into her waist.

"Chase, help me!"

"Nope," he moved away.

"I thought you said you had my back."

"If I helped, I would make an embarrassment out of dad."

My fingers stopped tickling Bo to look up at Chase. He grinned wickedly at me from where he stood. I straightened out my back as I stared at him with challenge in my eyes. He shrugged, thinking I wasn't going to take him up on that.

"Okay, tough-guy," I chuckle. "We will go to the gym Monday, and we will find out."

"I heard momma hip-tossed you. I am not scared of a man who can get beat by a girl the size of his leg."

He laughed as I pushed him back onto the couch. "Listen, I am taking all of your presents away."

"The hell if you are," Bo snapped. "I bought them."

"Still think a swear jar is a good idea?" I teased her.

She pointed an accusing finger at me. "You are a little shit."

I scruffed the top of her head. "Says you, bookworm."

"I am going to take a shower," she rolled her eyes. "Will she be okay down here with you?"

"What am I going to do, lose her?"

She shrugged. "You never know. You would find out how to do that."

My head moved back and forth from the attack at the hands of my family. They were being ruthless, for no reason. That is okay. I will get them back. I looked down at the baby, telling her I guess it was just us. Her mom was a hater and her brother thought he was a jokester. In the end, I was going to kick both of their asses.

"I am going to get the cookies ready," Chase stood from the couch. "I know momma will want help."

"You are a kiss ass," I teased him.

"That is why she actually loves me."

I grinned at his clap-back. "I can't wait to kick your little ass."

He kissed his flexed bicep. "Your arms are smaller than mine."

"Your mom has bigger biceps than that."

His head moved back and forth as he smiled. "And she kicks your ass, doesn't she?"

"Get out of here," I pointed toward the kitchen. "I am done with you for the rest of the day. You are lucky she bought your presents."

He shrugged. "How does it feel to not have any power?"

I looked up at the ceiling. "Lord, help me because this family is really testing me today."

Chase's laughter floated through the living room. Goosebumps raised on my skin as Collins shuffled around in her seat. I watched her small eyes flutter open as they tried to adjust to the light. A disgusted look crossed her face as she fussed.

I furrowed my eyebrows as I stare at her. "What are you giving me dirty looks for? We are supposed to be on a team, Miss Collins."

Chase called out from the kitchen. "Real cognizes real. That's why she can't see you."

"Funny," I call back as I stare at her. "Then why is a baby's first-word dad then?"

"Touche," he snickers. "Touche."

I gently grabbed Collins's fist as she waved it in front of herself. "Daddy for the win, yeah?"

"Always celebrate the small victories," he says. "Because those are the only ones you are going to get."

I stood from the couch. "That is it. I am done with your shit."

His fits of laughter filled the kitchen as I chased him around the counter. My hands finally got a hold of him, but the clearing of a throat stopped me in my tracks. My eyes lifted from him to see Bo standing before me.

"Let go of my kid, Kinnick Carson."

I licked my lips. "Make me, momma."