âI donât see why my life would depend on it.â He replied with a chuckle, moving his fingers to intertwine with hers as she covered his with her own, getting icing all over her hands as well. âBut I guess thatâs a good thing, because youâre totally right. Why do muggles do this every year?â He laughed as the walls fell back in on themselves, not sure where he had gone wrong. It all seemed simple enough, but he wasnât entirely surprised that even so he had managed to mess it up. âThatâs an excellent question.â He hummed contentedly as she rested her head on his shoulder, a warmth spreading throughout him at her presence against his back. There had always been something comforting about being with her, even all those years ago at Hogwarts. He had never realised just how much he missed her until she was back in his arms again - at least, until the last time theyâd separated. Now, he knew he never wanted that to happen again, and he flexed his fingers around hers happily.
His smile faded somewhat as she brought up Connor, suddenly feeling very nervous about whatever it was she was about to say. âSounds par for the course.â He chuckled as she finished, something about how she explained Connorâs reaction reminding him strikingly to the way he had acted. âMerlin, he really is my son.â He muttered, the words still foreign on his tongue. He furrowed his brows momentarily, shaking his head clear as she continued. âThe four of us?â He asked as she removed her hands, taking a step back to admire their handiwork with a fleeting smile. âI donât know, Emma.â He ran his hand across his forehead, unknowingly spreading icing across his head. âIâŚ.I guess, yeah.â She had a point, after all. He wanted them to be a family as much as she did. And even more importantly, she wanted this. There was nothing he wouldnât give her. âAre you sure, though? I mean, he hated me before, Iâm sure this didnât help.â
She laughed and turned around in his arms. âBecause itâs tradition. Stop being so grumpy,â she teased, nodding to Juliette. âYour daughter loves it. Youâre just upset your graham cracker architecture skills are lacking.â Emma nodded and reached up to wipe the icing from his forehead, smilingly a little. âHe really is your son. He acts like you a lot. Unfortunately, he was blessed with the worst of both our personalities at times,â she teased, lightly, dropping her hand. âHe said he was done fighting with me. If heâs done being mad and done arguing, than heâs going to have to eventually accept you in his life because youâre apart of mine now. Iâll talk to him. But donât just do it because of me. If you really donât want to do this or donât feel ready, itâs fine.â Emma leaned up to kiss his cheek, pulling back and squeezing his hand reassuringly. âI promise.â
Juliette waved her over to her gingerbread castle, as she put it, and Emma smiled, stepping behind her to wrap her arms around the little girl. âI love it. Itâs beautiful and fit for a princess just like you.â As she said that, Graysonâs house fell, causing Juliette to burst into a fit of giggles. Emma laughed and looked up at him, raising her hands in mock defense. She smiled at tapped Julietteâs nose, helping her from her seat. âGo get cleaned up for dinner. Iâll help Daddy fix his house.â Once Juliette was up and out of the kitchen, Emma walked over to Grayson and wrapped her arms around his waist. âYou, coach, need to keep your day job.â Emma waved her wand and vanished the mess, shrugging a shoulder with a smirk. âI cheated.â She moved to step in front of him, keeping her arms around him, her expression softening as she looked up at him. âIâm glad you and I are here, though.â Emma moved them to slide around his neck, âI honestly didnât think we ever would be.â