"CC," Drew said, and he was glad it was so dark that she couldn't see his face. "I'll try. I don't know how successful I'll be, if I'm honest, because I've never tried to be in a relationship before."

"A relationship?"

"Well, yeah. Isn't that what we're talking about?" Drew lay back down, pulling Chiara with him, an arm around her shoulders. "We're talking about being friends who like each other, spend time together, care about each other, and take each other into consideration, right? Who also shag?"

He felt her nod, felt her hair tickle his chin and shoulder.

"That sounds like a relationship to me," he said.

"I suppose so."

They were both quiet.

"So then are we talking about being exclusive?" she asked, her forefinger tracing a random pattern on his chest.

Drew swallowed. "Reckon so, yeah. Is that going to be a problem for you? Are you thinking about Ned?"

Chiara was silent. "No," she finally said. "But I was thinking about you. Girls throw themselves at you all the time. Why would you say no to them? Why would you want to?"

"I just would, that's all." He hoped he didn't sound as uncomfortable as he felt.

"You didn't the other night," she reminded him. "The night of the party in London."

Drew squirmed. "That was different. I wasn't in a relationship then."

"That's just semantics, Andrew. What's changed since then?"

"The semantics, whatever they are, have changed," Andrew said, sounding obstinate. "I'm the first to admit I don't know exactly what that word means, but whatever it is, it's enough for me. I mean to say that the fact we say we're in a relationship is enough for me."

He tightened his arm around Chiara's soft body, pulling her even closer to his. "I mean it. You make me want to be a better person, you make me want to try harder, you do." He turned to face her, though he couldn't see her. "I'm not saying I want to pick out china patterns," he said, repeating what had become a refrain for them. "Just that I want to give monogamy and relationship status a try, okay?"

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah." Her voice was gentle, and he could tell she was smiling in the dark. "Okay."

🌟💫🌟💫🌟💫🌟💫🌟

Drew woke up around six in the morning when Chiara crawled back into bed wearing one of his shirts.

"Sorry I woke you up," she whispered. "I had to wee. And I was going to go home, but it's still chucking down snow. I don't think I can."

"Shh, s'okay," he murmured, only half awake. He realized he, too, had to wee, so he stumbled to the bathroom, eyes barely open, freezing cold, and ran back to bed as fast as he could.

He jumped back into the bed, grateful for Chiara's warmth, snuggling into her and pulling her close, her back to his front, tucking his legs behind hers.

"Oooh, you're so warm," he chuckled into her ear. "And you smell absolutely smashing. How can you smell so good when you've been doing nothing but sleeping in my bed all night, hmm?" And he lifted his head to kiss her neck, making her smile.

He slid his hand up her body under her shirt to squeeze her breast, pushing a moan out from deep inside her, causing her to arch her body into his hand as she tautened against him.

She could feel him hardening against her bottom, and moved up and down against him, making him let his breath out in a slow, steady whoosh against her ear.

"Do you have any more condoms, sir?" she asked with a laugh like music.

"I do," he responded, reaching behind him and pulling one out.

And so he slid slowly, hotly, stiffly into her, pressing into her slick folds as she held still, legs flexed, waiting to be filled by him for the second time in six hours.

Drew reached around to press on her, to rub her hard, swollen clit, to make her cry out into the pillow, which she used to muffle her noises just in case anyone was stirring. He could feel her release coat his fingers in a hot, slick gush as she relaxed as if a nerve had been severed, as he continued pumping inside her.

She reached behind her to press his head against her.

"Now you, now you," she encouraged.

And so he did, shooting into her depth, her heat, her softness, feeing like he never wanted to come away from her, calling her name, feeling closer to her than he'd ever felt to anyone in his life.

And falling back asleep after, the drowsy bliss as the sun came up, holding her and murmuring gentle words as he stroked her, the feelings of peace, of wholeness, of completion, were like nothing he'd ever known.

He wondered, as he dropped off, "Is this love? Is this what love feels like? Am I in love?" It wasn't skyrockets and fireworks and lightning bolts...it was a ship that was no longer lost...coming to shore...to anchor...alone no longer...adrift no more...

Drew fell asleep with a smile on his face.

☀️🌤☀️🌤☀️🌤☀️🌤☀️🌤☀️

Chiara put her pajamas back on, as they were the only clothes she had, and because she was the first one downstairs, she just got everything out and began to make breakfast for everyone. Her efficient hands made quick work of slicing sausages, frying eggs, and cutting fruit.

The snow was piled more than half way up the French doors, so there was no question of her going back to her house for a while yet. William Wallace, who had heard her activity, came padding in from where he slept in front of the fireplace, nosing about for his breakfast, which Chiara gave him, along with a scratch behind his ears.

She was just filling the kettle when Ellie and Ned came downstairs, awakened and lured by the good smells emanating from the kitchen.

"Good morning," she called. "Breakfast's on the table, please call out if you don't see something you want, okay? Toast will be up momentarily, same with the tea."

Ellie came to help her. "Go sit and eat, love, I'll take over," she said, gesturing toward the table.

"No, I'm fine, I've been nibbling as I go, I'm already full, honestly," Chiara assured her. "And I've already fed William Wallace, so don't let him fool you into giving him a second breakfast," she admonished, giving the dog a stern look as he skulked under the table.

Ned, smiling guiltily, fed the dog a bit of egg anyway.

"Oh, William Wallace, you great, huge, moocher, away with you," Ellie said with a laugh as she sat down. "In fact, find Noah, find Drew!" she commanded, her voice becoming strong. "William Wallace, find Noah, find Drew!" repeated. She pointed toward the kitchen stairs.

The dog seemed to sigh, but came out from under the table and trotted up the stairs with purpose. He looked over at Ellie as he rounded the landing, seeming to ask if he really had to.

Ellie merely pointed in response.

"Can he really do that?" Chiara asked, impressed.

"It's one of the things he was taught," Ellie responded, shrugging her shoulders. "We had a trainer out to the house for two months when he was a pup, and he was pretty amazing. And, appalling table manners aside, William Wallace is a very clever dog. I think he remembers this one, so we'll see."

"But can he open the doors and all?" Ned asked, taking a bite of sausage.

"He can't turn knobs, but this house has the kind that pull down, and he can manage those pretty well," Ellie answered with a nod. "So let's give him a minute and see."

Sure enough, within a few minutes they heard the water running upstairs, and William Wallace came trotting back down the stairs, his energy level noticeably higher than when he went. He came straight to Ellie, looking for a treat for a job well-done.

"Here you go, you good lad, you," she praised, slipping him a bite of sausage from her plate. 'Clever boy, aren't you?"

William Wallace seemed to smile as he waved his tail and ate his sausage, as if agreeing that he was indeed a clever boy.

Soon the thudding of footsteps could be heard as the Pennington brothers came racing down the kitchen stairs. They entered, laughing together.

"Good morning, everyone," they called.

"God I'm starving," Drew announced. "Everything smells incredible. Thanks, mum."

"No, son, it wasn't me, it was Chiara," Ellie informed him, gesturing toward the stove, where Chiara was cooking more eggs.

"Oh." He glanced over as he bent to kiss his mother. Noah, too kissed his mother, after which he sat and began serving himself.

Drew, however, walked to where Chiara stood. "Well, thanks and good morning to you, too, then, CC, darling," he said, and he leaned in and kissed her soundly on the mouth. "Everything looks delicious."

"You're very welcome," Chiara answered as the group at the table stared at the couple standing next to the stove. "Could you please take that plate of fruit when you go to the table? I'm going to finish these eggs, then I'll join you."

"Course." Drew picked up the plate of melon, berries and grapes and headed to the table.

He set the plate down, sat, and began filling his plate immediately. "Mmm, god, I'm so hungry," he said again, to no one in particular.

"What?" he asked, looking around at his mother, brother, and Ned.

"Nothing," Ellie said, being the first to recover. "Glad you're in such a good mood this morning, that's all."

"Yes, brother, you're in a brilliant mood," Noah echoed. "Sleep well, did you?" He grinned, spearing a chunk of melon and putting the whole thing in his mouth.

Ned just picked up his tea and took a long sip, smiling and looking at everyone over the rim of his cup.

Chiara came and sat, bringing the eggs with her, smiling all around the table.

"What? What's everyone smiling about?" she asked.

"Nothing," Noah said. "Did you sleep well also?"

"I slept great," she answered.

First Ned, then Noah, then finally Ellie, all began to laugh.

"Oh, get your minds out of the gutter, you three, and stop teasing my girl," Drew chided, leaning in to kiss Chiara on the cheek. "You're making her blush."

Chiara just shook her head as Ellie poured her a cup of tea.

"So, what's the plan for today?" Ellie asked, trying to look stern.

"Nothing, as far as I know," Drew answered. "I mean, we're all set for Christmas, so just wrapping and eating."

"Well, I have a lot of baking I'd like to do in your beautiful kitchen," Ellie said, "And I could use some help for that, okay?"

"And I need some help clearing a path so I can get home to my clothes," Chiara said, nodding toward the snow covered yard and rose garden.

"There you go, boys," Ellie declared. "Those of you who want to stay indoors, you're with me. Those of you who want to get out and stretch a bit, report to Chiara, okay?"

"Yes ma'am," the three young men chorused.

"And we'll all meet back here in a few hours for more food, then?" Drew asked hopefully.

"You're going to need more food?" Chiara asked in disbelief. "You just ate enough food for two or three people."

"I'm a growing boy, I need it," he declared, patting his tummy.

Ned opted to stay in and help Ellie with her baking, while Drew and Noah chose to put on their boots and help Chiara with clearing the path.

Twenty minutes after breakfast was cleared away, the brothers were saluting Chiara, shovels in hand.

"God, what a glorious morning," Drew declared, looking around.

And indeed, the sky was dark blue, the snow was blinding white, and icicles hung, sparkling, off the trees and eaves of the house.

"It looks like a winter wonderland," Noah agreed. He shouldered his shovel and walked to the side of the steps to begin shoveling there.

"And are you happy?" Drew asked Chiara, putting his arms around her and pulling her close.

She nodded. "Way happier than I thought I'd be just a couple of months after my dad died," she admitted in a soft voice. "So thank you for that."

"Me too," Drew told her, kissing the tip of her nose. "I'm happy too, CC."