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He grins back, pulling me into a warm embrace. "I know we will. Together, we can conquer anything."
Ava comes bounding into the room then. "Mommy, Daddy, look!" she exclaims, holding up a slightly misshapen but lovingly decorated cookie. "I made this for the baby!"
My heart swells at her words. Ava has accepted me with open arms, and I love her as if she were my own flesh and blood.
"That's beautiful, sweetheart," I praise, pulling her into a hug. She giggles, her laughter brightening the room.
As the evening settles in, our home is filled with warmth and love. We gather around the fireplace, the flickering flames casting a soft glow on our faces. Ava falls asleep between us, her small hand clutched in mine, while Dean wraps an arm around me, pulling me closer.
Looking around at my little family, I am struck by a sense of profound gratitude.
I have been blessed with a love so deep, a family so precious, and a life so fulfilling. I am married to a man who loves me for me, a man who is kind, loving, and patient. A man who is my rock, my safe haven, my best friend.
"Thank you, Dean," I whisper, tears welling up in my eyes. He looks at me, his eyes filled with love and understanding.
"For what?" he asks, his thumb gently wiping away my tears.
"For everything. For loving me, for Ava, for our baby, for this life," I reply, my voice choked with emotion.
He pulls me closer, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Lily, I should be the one thanking you. You brought light into my life when all I saw was darkness. You gave me a reason to live, to love again. You gave me a family, a home. You gave me you."
As I fall asleep in his arms, the soft glow of the Christmas lights dancing across our faces, I can't help but feel like the luckiest woman in the world. I have a husband who loves me, a daughter who adores me, and a baby on the way. This Christmas Eve, amidst the hustle and bustle of our home, I realize that this is my happily ever after.
And I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
The End
