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going to be alright seeing her there?”
    “I have to be. How was it there when you took her in?”
    “It was nice. Warm. I have heard about cold facilities who could give a crap about patients, but they … they seem perfect.” I assure him and it must have helped, because I see his forehead relax for the first time all morning.
    Setting his coffee down on the breakfast bar, he walks off into the hall. Returning a few moments later with a wrapped gift.
    Placing it down in front of me I ask, “What’s this? I thought we agreed no gifts?”
    “Like I would ever not get you a gift for our first holiday together.” He slides it closer to me. And I feel like a shmuck, because I really didn’t get him a gift.
    “But, I didn’t get you anything.”
    “You didn’t have to. If you’d rather wait until after today, then it won’t be a Christmas gift…” He starts to pull it away, and I take it. Damn curiosity getting the best of me, as usual.
    I tear into the bag and tissue paper.
    “No. Freaking. Way!” I screech.
    “I didn’t know they made pink camera lenses!” It’s a long distance lens for my camera.
    Smiling at my excitement he informs me, “They don’t.”
    “What do you mean they don’t? Where did you get this one then?” I am clearly confused.
    He comes around the side of the counter and takes the lens from me and starts to explain, “Well, they don’t typically make these in colors. So, I contacted the company if anything like this was possible and they were mostly concerned with the components and if the paint would harm it.”
    “So…?” I urge him on.
    He hands me my bright pink lens and kisses my cheek, “I went to a professional who could pull it all apart, paint the casing and put it all back together again.”
    “That sounds like an awful amount of trouble,” If I felt bad before for not getting him something, I really feel like shit now.
    Seeing my look, he spins my stool and steps between my legs. “Hey, I thought you’d be ecstatic about this.”
    “I am. I just feel awful for not getting you something, after you put so much into this for me.”
    “I have you, that’s all that I need. You’re here for me now, the time I need you the most. You didn’t run off, because something scary happens.” He brings my face to his and lightly kisses me on the lips. A sweet kiss. “Now how about we get in the shower and get ready for the day?”
    I nod, I hold up my beautiful pink gift and tell him thank you, “Can we have one more cup of coffee first?” I ask with a wink.
    “How mean of a fiancé do you think I would be to deprive you of your coffee ?” He asks with his panty dropping smile.
     

     
    We are in the waiting area of the treatment facility that I was just in two days ago, dropping Caroline off. We get here before Jack and Gwen and they have free coffee so I get a cup for Ben and we sit and wait for them to arrive.
    Ben is looking around and observing the faculty, judging how well they are here and if he can trust them with his sister. He is on guard.
    I take his hand, “They are really great here Ben, don’t worry.”
    Before he can reply he stands up when he sees his father and new stepmom walk in the door. He hugs them both and they hug me. Man, I will never get over how great it is to have a warm family, and I’m not even officially in it yet.
    “Merry Christmas you two,” Gwen tells us and we return the greeting.
    We are walked back into what looks like to be a cafeteria, but it has soft chairs and loveseats, with tables and coffee tables. There are already some families here to see their teen and young women for the holiday. The girls here aren’t forced to wear matching outfits, which makes me smile, because I know Caroline and her fashionista self.
    We sit around a large coffee table surrounded with a couple of chairs and a sofa, a moment later Caroline comes gliding in. Ben rushes her and scoops her up into a big hug. My heart clenches.
    She winces a