Page 44 of Trapped with the Ice Queen

Later, as the party began to wind down, Vivienne found herself standing by the window, watching the snow fall in lazy arcs. Alex joined her, slipping an arm around her waist.

“Hey,” Alex said, her voice low and intimate. “You okay?”

Vivienne nodded, leaning into her as she ruffled the top of Scout’s furry head. “Just thinking.”

“About what?”

Vivienne hesitated, then smiled. “How lucky I am.”

Alex kissed the top of her head, holding her close. “Me too, Vivi. Me too.”

The room behind them was still full of life, but in that moment, it felt like the rest of the world had faded away. Together, they stood in the glow of the Christmas lights, watching the snow fall, content in the knowledge that they had built something real—something worth celebrating.

The living room glowed with the warm light from the fireplace, the soft hum of conversation punctuated by bursts of laughter. The guests had settled into a comfortable rhythm, some clustered near the Christmas tree, others on the plush couches Alex had stubbornly insisted on keepingdespite Vivienne’s argument for something more modern. Now, Vivienne had to admit they fit perfectly, their oversized cushions creating a cozy retreat for their friends and family.

Near the hearth, Alex was in her element, telling a story about a particularly wild rescue mission from her early years in the mountains. Her hands moved animatedly as she spoke, her expression lighting up with each punchline. The crowd around her hung on every word, the warmth of her presence drawing people in like the fire she stood beside.

Vivienne stayed back for a moment, savoring the scene. There was a time she might have felt out of place in a setting like this, surrounded by so much unfiltered joy. But now, it felt natural, like slipping into a perfectly tailored dress.

A hand touched her arm lightly. She turned to see her mother, elegant as ever in a cream-colored cashmere sweater, holding two glasses of mulled wine.

“I thought you could use a drink,” her mother said, passing one to her.

“Thanks,” Vivienne said, taking a sip. The spices were rich and comforting,mingling perfectly with the scent of pine and cinnamon that filled the room. “Enjoying yourself?”

Her mother’s smile was soft, her eyes wandering over the room. “I am. You’ve built something beautiful here, Vivienne.” She looked at her daughter with a rare openness, her voice quieter. “I’m proud of you.”

Vivienne blinked, the words landing with a weight she hadn’t expected. “Thank you,” she said, her throat tight. “That means a lot.”

They stood together in comfortable silence for a moment before her mother added, “Alex is wonderful, by the way. I got her to show me her Olympic medals. Very nice! She also has a real way of making people feel at home.”

“She does,” Vivienne agreed, her gaze finding Alex again. “She’s…” She hesitated, searching for the right words. “She’s everything I didn’t know I needed.”

Her mother reached over, squeezing her hand. “Hold onto her. Someone like that doesn’t come around twice.”

Vivienne nodded, her chest swelling with gratitude and something deeper—certainty.

As the evening wore on,Alex rejoined her, pulling her gently toward the tree where the crowd had gathered for the final part of the evening. A small stack of presents sat beneath the twinkling lights, and someone had suggested a gift exchange to cap off the night.

“Okay, everyone,” Alex said, raising her voice to quiet the room. “Before we get into this, I just want to say a quick thank you to all of you for being here tonight. This is our first real Christmas party in this house, and it means the world to us that we get to share it with all of you.”

A round of applause and cheers followed, and Alex glanced at Vivienne, her eyes crinkling with affection. “And I also want to thank Vivienne for putting up with my terrible decorating skills and agreeing to host this chaos in the first place.”

Laughter rippled through the group, and Vivienne rolled her eyes playfully. “You’re welcome,” she said dryly, though her smile betrayed her amusement.

As the gift exchange began, Vivienne found herself sitting cross-legged on the floor beside Alex, their shoulders brushing. The room buzzed with warmth and laughter as people unwrapped everything from hand-knit scarves to novelty mugs, the atmosphere light and joyful.

Finally, Alex leaned over, placing a small, neatly wrapped box in Vivienne’s lap.

“This one’s for you,” she said softly.

Vivienne raised an eyebrow, the weight of Alex’s gaze making her pulse quicken. She carefully untied the ribbon, peeling back the paper to reveal a velvet jewelry box. Her breath hitched as she opened it to find a delicate gold bracelet, its charm shaped like a tiny snowflake.

“It’s beautiful,” Vivienne said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Alex reached out, gently clasping the bracelet around her wrist. “It’s a reminder,” she said, her voice steady. “That even in the coldest, hardest times, there’s beauty to be found. And that no matter where we are, I’ll always be here for you.”

Vivienne swallowed hard, the weight of the moment pressing against her chest. She leaned forward, cupping Alex’s face in her hands. “I love you,” she said, her voice breaking slightly. “More than I everthought I could.”

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