The entire story is from the perspective of the narrator, or third person.

—I definitely won't be Mary!— Malina announced, quickly adjusting the angel wings on her back.

—Barb is suitable, she's holier than me.

—No, I don't have time for that. Mat, you be Mary!— Barb threw, turning towards her best friend.

Mat looked at her with a raised eyebrow, not stopping to put on his brown cape.

—And how would that look? I don't know if Joseph would accept competition,— he laughed quietly.

—Then Kathy should be!— Malina suggested, pointing at her sister, who as always kept a bit to the side, adjusting her golden halo.

— What? No! — Kate blushed.  —I can't be the center of attention...

Jack, who was helping Aliza put on her angel's cape, looked at the whole situation with amusement, but also a little worry.
— Maybe there's no point in making a drama out of such a trifle? — he said in a gentle tone. — Just pick someone, and the rest will be angels. And devils — he added, raising his pitchfork with a theatrical flair.

— Easy for you to say, you don't have to be the center of attention — Baska muttered, crossing her arms.

Aliza, who had been calmly observing their argument until now, suddenly coughed so loudly that everyone looked at her. When she caught her breath, she raised her hand to silence them.
— You know what? I've had enough. I'm sick, so I decide who suffers with me. — Her eyes landed on Baska. — Baska, congratulations. You're Mary.

— What?! — Baśka was outraged, but Aliza shrugged her shoulders with a face that said: "I'm not going to explain it".

— Suffering can be sanctifying, or something like that — Aliza added with a hint of a smile, leaning on Jacek's arm, who immediately embraced her gently, ready to help at any moment.

— It's already settled — Jack said in a calm but firm voice, seeing that Baśka was about to start another protest. — Baśka is Mary, Maciek is Joseph, and the rest are angels.

— And I'm a little devil! — he added with amusement, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Malina looked around the whole group. Kaśka was clearly pleased that she had avoided the role of Mary, Aliza seemed a little tired but brave, and Baśka was giving Jacek a look that clearly said what she thought about all this. Maciek looked the most amused about this whole situation.

— Okay, that's it disputes,— Malina said, taking the Christmas carol star in her hand. —We're supposed to be singing Christmas carols, not debating. Ready?

Evening was falling outside, and the air was bitterly cold. The snow was quietly crunching under their boots as the group headed toward the first house.

2 hours later..

The snow had stopped falling, and light ice was beginning to form underfoot as the group headed to the next house. Malina, carrying the star, joked quietly with Kaśka about how Maciek and Basia were fitting into their roles perfectly. Barb pretended to ignore the teasing, but couldn't hide a slight smile.

Jack walked a few steps behind them, keeping an eye on Aliza the whole time. Although she claimed she felt fine, her paleness and slightly trembling hands made him uneasy.

—One more house and we can take a break,— he said, trying to sound as calm as possible.

Aliza nodded, but suddenly her steps became unsteady. Malina looked back as Aliza silently sank to the ground.

—Aliza!— Kate shouted, rushing towards her, and Barb and Mat stopped dead in their tracks.

—What happened?!— Malina cried, lowering the star.

Everyone was saying something at once, but Jack didn't panic. He knelt down by Aliza, gently lifting her head. She was breathing, though weakly, and her face was almost transparent.

—Take it easy. She's just exhausted,— he said, trying to calm everyone around her. —I have to take her somewhere warm.

—But where?— Malina asked with a trembling voice.

Jack looked around, then his gaze stopped at the warmly lit house at the end of the street. He knew that was where his mother, Rozalina, lived. Even though they hadn't seen each other for a long time, he was sure that she would accept them without hesitation.

—Follow me,— he said, taking Aliza into his arms as easily as if she weighed as much as a feather.
The snow creaked softly under their feet as Jack carried Aliza in his arms. Malina, Kaśka, and Baśka followed him in silence, disoriented and worried. Before them appeared the small, illuminated house of Rozalina – the only person who could welcome them here. Jack entered the terrace and knocked on the door, although his heart was pounding. Rozalina opened it almost immediately. Surprise shone in her eyes, and then something that looked like relief.

—Jack?— she asked, frowning as if she couldn't believe her eyes.

—Mom,— he answered quietly but confidently.

Rozalina stared at him for a moment, mouth open, as if she didn't know if it was a dream or reality. So much love reflected in her eyes that everyone could see it.

– My God – Rozalina whispered, her voice trembling. – Jack, what are you doing here?

– Aliza is sick – he replied calmly, not taking his eyes off her. – She needs help.

Rozalina looked at the girl in his arms, then at the group of young people standing behind him. Her mind struggled to comprehend the scene. But she couldn't.

– Who... who is she? – she asked, swallowing hard.

Jack looked at her and slowly spoke the words that mattered most to him.

– She's my girlfriend, Mom.

Rozalina froze, as if she had suddenly stepped out of herself and stood beside her body. A quiet gasp escaped her lips, as though the weight of the revelation was too much. She leaned against the doorframe, staring at him in disbelief no one would have expected from her.

– Your... girlfriend? – she repeated softly, as if unable to grasp the meaning of the words.

Jack said nothing more, stepping cautiously into the house, unconsciously drawing Rozalina in behind him. His concern for her was boundless, as if nothing else in the world mattered. The rest of the group followed Jack inside. Rozalina eventually shut the door behind them, still dazed. For a moment, she stood in silence, her gaze fixed on Aliza as though trying to make sense of what was happening to her son.

– Jack... – she began, but the words wouldn't come.

He gently laid Aliza down on the couch near the warm fireplace, with a care Rozalina had never seen before. He placed a hand on her forehead and then sat beside her, prepared to stay by her side. Rozalina approached slowly, still in a fog. There was love in her eyes, but also a bewildered astonishment she had never felt before.

– Jack... why didn't you tell me? – she asked, her voice trembling with emotion.

Jack met her gaze, his eyes flickering with emotions he had never voiced.

– I didn't know how to tell you – he said softly, but with deep respect. – You've always meant everything to me, Mom. I didn't want anything to change that.

Rozalina remained silent, still staring at her son as if seeing him for the first time. The last image she had of him was the boy she cradled in her arms when he was little. Now he was a grown man, ready to protect his girl with the same devotion he once reserved for her.

– Jack... – Rozalina couldn't find the words. She closed her eyes, trying to process the revelation.

Behind Jack, Malina, Kaśka, and Baśka stood frozen. Their eyes mirrored a mixture of emotions too complex to define. Baśka felt a tightness in her chest, Kaśka was pale as a ghost, and Malina felt as though the world had just flipped upside down.

– Jack... who is this woman? – Kaśka whispered, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Malina couldn't form a sentence, and Baśka felt her perception of Jack shatter.

– That's my mom – Jack said, his gaze unwavering as he looked at Rozalina. – Rozalina.

Kaśka and Baśka stared at him as if he were speaking in a language they didn't understand. Their faces bore expressions of total confusion, unable to fathom how their brother, whom they thought they knew so well, had another mother.

Rozalina finally regained her composure. She sat down next to Aliza, gently taking the girl's hand in hers. She looked at her son with an unshakable love and then turned her gaze to his sisters.

– Nice to meet you, darlings. I'm Rozalina. Call me 'Aunt Rozia.'

Jack allowed a small smile to grace his lips, as if it were the only way to release the tension in his chest. For a moment, silence filled the room, but it carried a weight greater than all the words they could have said.

The carolers stayed at Rozalina's for an hour, gathered by the fire, eating gingerbread and sipping hot cocoa. Kaśka sat cross-legged on the carpet, playing with Rozalina's dog, Gary. Jack remained on the couch with Aliza resting on his lap, ensuring she was wrapped warmly in a blanket and sleeping peacefully.

Snow was falling more densely as they returned home, scattering to their corners with a mixture of fatigue and quiet satisfaction from the evening. The air carried the scent of gingerbread and the Christmas tree, while loud laughter from the ongoing Christmas Eve party echoed from the living room.

Jack was gently holding Aliza, who leaned against his shoulder. She already looked better, though her cheeks were pale, and her movements unsteady. He was her anchor, guiding her with care, as if she were a porcelain figurine that could shatter at any moment.

– Come on, you'll rest upstairs – he said softly, almost in a whisper.

Malina watched them with concern but also slight amusement as Jack discreetly adjusted Aliza's steps, trying to ensure her utmost comfort. For a moment, their gazes met, and Jack offered a quiet smile. His confidence was almost soothing.

Aliza disappeared upstairs with him, and a short while later, the house fell silent—broken only by the distant creak of a bed and muffled, indeterminate sounds coming from Jack's room.

– Are we...? – Malina began, giving Kate a meaningful look.

Kate simply raised her hand in a calming gesture, not lifting her eyes from her tea.
– Let's not think about it. At all.

Barb, sitting on the side, smiled to herself, trying to focus on the movie Math had just put on. The title Home Alone flashed across the screen, and familiar Christmas melodies filled the room.

Time flowed slowly, filling the living room with warmth and laughter as iconic scenes from Home Alone sparked bursts of joy. Each of them seemed to forget the chaos that had unfolded earlier in the day.

Finally, Math rose from the couch and grabbed his jacket, carelessly thrown over an armchair.
– I'm going out for a smoke – he said shortly, slipping on his boots.

Barb looked at him thoughtfully. There was something about the way he moved that caught her attention—perhaps the casual way he shrugged on his jacket, or maybe just the fact that he seemed different that evening.

– I'll go with you – she said suddenly, before she could reconsider.

Malina raised an eyebrow, glancing at her suspiciously but said nothing.

Outside, tranquility reigned. Snow blanketed the garden in a soft layer, and the glow of lights cast a warm halo over the landscape. Barb followed Math, who leaned against the terrace railing and lit a cigarette.

Smoke rose slowly, mingling with the crisp winter air. Barb stood beside him, tucking her hands into her coat pockets, trying not to focus on the sudden warmth she felt.

– It's been a crazy day – she began, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.

Math nodded, his gaze fixed on the snow-covered garden.
– Like someone wrote a script and forgot it was supposed to be a quiet Christmas.

Barb laughed softly but quickly fell silent, staring at the trees at the edge of the garden. Something in the distance caught her eye. Above them, hanging from a branch, was mistletoe. Frost-covered and surrounded by snow, it seemed to glow in the light of the decorations.

– Mistletoe – she said quietly, almost to herself.

Math looked up, noticing the sprig, then turned to her with a slight smile.
– Well, would you look at that. Coincidence?

She didn't reply. Her heart beat faster, and the warmth on her cheeks had nothing to do with the cold. She knew what mistletoe meant, what it signified when two people found themselves beneath it together.

Math stubbed out his cigarette, his movements calm and deliberate. He took a step closer to her, standing so near that she could feel his warmth, even through their winter coats.

– Barb... – he began softly, his voice as gentle as the snow falling around them.

She didn't let him finish. Without thinking, she closed her eyes and felt his lips touch hers gently. The kiss was warm, unhurried, full of emotions neither of them had voiced before.

When they pulled apart, Barb looked at him with a smile, her eyes shining in the light of the decorations.
– Merry Christmas, Math – she said softly, as if the moment was just for them.

Math returned the smile, his gaze warm and sincere.
– Merry Christmas, Barb.

For a moment, neither of them moved, as if the world outside had ceased to exist. Then, in silence, they returned to the house.

Downstairs, the laughter and chatter of the Christmas Eve party still echoed. In the living room, Malina and Kate were still engrossed in Home Alone, completely unaware of what had happened in the garden.

Barb sat back down on the couch as if nothing had happened, while Math asked casually, – Did I miss anything?

Malina waved a hand dismissively, not taking her eyes off the screen.

Only the two of them knew what had transpired under the mistletoe, and neither intended to share it. Outside, the snow continued to fall, and the evening seemed to grow even more magical, perfect for a truly special Christmas.

2326 WORDS!!!!My dears, I wish you warm and family-filled holidays. Spend time together, enjoy the gifts and time spent together. Remember that you only have one family💜Merry Christmas (I'll also send you New Year's Eve wishes)