The waiting room was cozy, decked out in subtle holiday decorations—a small Christmas tree in the corner, some tinsel and holly strung along the walls, and a snowflake garland above the receptionist's desk. Mars looked down at Zaine, who was happily munching on a candy cane that the nurse had handed him earlier, little bits of red and white smeared around his lips. It had been a few days since the whole debacle with Alexis, and thankfully, Mars felt like she could finally breathe again. The holiday season had taken over her mind, and right now, all she wanted to do was make sure Zaine's first Christmas with her was perfect.

Mars glanced over at Billie, who was swiping through potential house listings on her phone, occasionally pointing something out to Mars. Zaine, who'd already developed an almost comical attachment to Billie, leaned closer, trying to catch a glimpse of the screen.

"Mommy, lemme see the new house!" Zaine whined, wiggling his way under Billie's arm and pressing his little nose against the screen.

Billie laughed, wrapping an arm around him so he could get a better look. "Patience, little man," she teased. "You'll see it soon enough."

They'd been talking about moving for a while now. The current place was nice, but with Billie's pregnancy and Zaine needing his own space, a bigger house seemed like the right move. Plus, Billie was already six weeks along, and Mars couldn't help but think of all the new memories they'd create in a space that could truly accommodate their growing family.

Just then, Dr. Rivers walked into the waiting room, a bright smile on her face. "Hello again, parents," she greeted, her gaze shifting to Zaine with a gentle warmth. "And who is this little guy? Is he the big brother?"

Mars's heart swelled with pride as Zaine looked up, his face lighting up at the title. "Yeah! I'm the big brother," he chirped proudly, puffing out his small chest. "Mommy's having a baby!"

Dr. Rivers chuckled, bending down to Zaine's level. "Well, that's a very important job, you know. Big brothers have to be super helpful."

Zaine nodded enthusiastically, then looked up at Billie as if to check if he was doing a good job so far. She smiled down at him, giving him an affectionate little squeeze.

"You're already doing great, buddy," she reassured him, ruffling his curly hair. Mars felt her chest tighten a bit at the sight; the bond between Billie and Zaine was one of the most beautiful things she'd ever seen. This whole family thing was still new to her, but moments like this made it all feel so worth it.

"Alright, Billie, if you're ready, we can start the check-up," Dr. Rivers said, standing up and gesturing toward the exam room.

Billie nodded, handing her phone to Mars with a quick grin. "Hold onto this, would you? Don't go buying any houses without me," she joked, though Mars could tell there was a bit of nervous energy behind her smile. She squeezed Billie's hand in reassurance.

"Wouldn't dream of it," Mars said, leaning in to give Billie a quick peck on the forehead before she followed Dr. Rivers into the room.

Mars watched them disappear, then looked down at Zaine, who was tugging on her hand with curiosity.

"Where's Mommy going?" he asked, his little face scrunched up in concern.

"She's just going to see the doctor to make sure the baby is healthy," Mars explained, crouching down to his level.

"Can I go too?" he asked, eyes wide.

Mars chuckled softly, brushing a hand through his curls. "Not this time, bud. But we'll wait here for her, okay?"

Zaine nodded, though he still looked a bit apprehensive. Mars scooped him up, letting him settle on her lap as she distracted him with talk about Christmas.

"So, big man," she started, a playful grin spreading across her face. "Have you thought about what you want for Christmas?"

Zaine's face immediately lit up. "A puppy!" he shouted, making a few of the nearby patients glance over with amused smiles.

Mars laughed. "A puppy, huh? You think you can handle a puppy?"

"Yeah! For me and the baby." Zaine's enthusiasm was contagious, and Mars found herself fully immersed in a discussion about what kind of puppy would be best as a pet. Moments like this made her forget all the stress she'd been dealing with.

After a while, the door to the exam room opened, and Billie emerged with Dr. Rivers, looking relieved but tired. Mars immediately stood, Zaine jumping down from her lap to race over to Billie.

"Mommy! Mommy! Did you see the baby?" he asked, craning his neck to look up at her.

Billie smiled, crouching down to his level. "Not yet, buddy. The baby's still really tiny, so it'll be a little while before we can see anything. But guess what?" She leaned in, lowering her voice as if sharing a big secret. "The doctor said the baby is growing super strong, just like you."

Zaine grinned, clearly satisfied with that answer, and immediately took Billie's hand, tugging her toward the door. "C'mon, let's go look at more houses!"

Mars chuckled, slipping her arm around Billie's waist as they walked toward the exit. Billie leaned into her, visibly relaxing in Mars's embrace. Once they got outside, Billie let out a deep breath, as if shedding the last remnants of tension from the check-up.

"How are you feeling?" Mars asked softly as they reached the car.

Billie shrugged, offering a small smile. "Honestly? I'm still a bit nervous, but hearing that everything's okay really helps. And having you here..." She paused, looking down at Zaine, who was now preoccupied with trying to climb into the backseat on his own. "Having both of you here just... makes it all feel real. In a good way."

Mars's gaze softened as she helped Zaine buckle into his car seat. "We're in this together, Bils. Every step of the way."

She could see the gratitude in Billie's eyes as she climbed into the passenger seat, reaching over to take Mars's hand. They shared a quiet moment, just the two of them, before Zaine's impatient voice from the backseat snapped them out of it.

"Can we go see the house now?"

Mars and Billie exchanged amused glances, and with a chuckle, Mars started the engine, navigating through LA's busy streets as they made their way to the next listing.

The drive was filled with laughter, Billie occasionally turning in her seat to point out Christmas decorations to Zaine, who gasped and pointed each time he spotted a particularly impressive display. By the time they pulled up to the house, everyone was buzzing with excitement. The property was on a quiet street, with a wide front yard that Mars could already imagine Zaine running around in, a twinkle of holiday lights framing the front porch.

As they stepped out of the car, Billie's eyes went wide, taking in the sight of the sprawling house. "This is... huge," she whispered, almost in disbelief.

Zaine, however, had no hesitation. He raced up the front steps, pressing his face against the glass of the front door. "Is this our house?"

Mars laughed, following behind him and lifting him up so he could get a better look. "Maybe, bud. Let's go inside and take a look, yeah?"

They spent the next hour wandering through the house, Zaine's squeals echoing as he ran from room to room, claiming each space with an enthusiastic "This is my room!" Mars couldn't help but smile, watching him explore. He deserved this—a home, stability, a family.

Billie, too, seemed enchanted by the place. She lingered in the kitchen, running her hands over the countertops and eyeing the spacious cabinets. Mars wrapped her arms around her from behind, resting her chin on Billie's shoulder.

"Looks like you like it," she murmured, watching as Billie smiled and leaned back against her.

"I do," Billie admitted, her eyes bright. "It feels... right, you know? Like a place we could really make ours."

Mars pressed a gentle kiss to Billie's temple, feeling a warmth spread through her. "Then let's do it. Let's make it ours."

By the time they returned to the living room, Zaine had already settled on the floor, carefully arranging a set of holiday-themed figurines he'd found in one of the rooms. His excitement was infectious, and Mars and Billie soon joined him, crafting a make-believe Christmas scene with a toy Santa, reindeer, and a miniature snowman.

As they sat there on the living room floor, laughter and love filling the space, Mars felt an overwhelming sense of peace. The ghosts of the past, the tension of recent events—all of it seemed to melt away. This was what mattered: Billie, Zaine, and the family they were building together.

They left the house as the sun began to set, the sky painted in hues of orange and pink. Zaine, now sleepy from all the excitement, snuggled against Billie in the backseat, his little hand clutching hers as he drifted off. Mars glanced at them in the rearview mirror, her heart swelling at the sight.

When they finally returned home, Mars carried Zaine to his room, tucking him into bed and brushing a tender kiss across his forehead. Billie stood in the doorway, watching with a soft smile, her hands wrapped around a mug of tea. Mars joined her, slipping an arm around her shoulders as they both stood there, gazing at the sleeping boy.

They spent the rest of the evening curled up on the couch, Billie's head resting on Mars's chest as they talked quietly about the future. It felt surreal—talking about things like nurseries, Christmas traditions, and Zaine's excitement about becoming a big brother.

As the night grew darker, Mars felt a deep sense of gratitude settle within her. Life had thrown them so many challenges, but here they were, stronger than ever, with a bright future ahead.