Dear diary,

She held her pen over the paper, thinking of what to write down. What was there to write in a diary when your life was great?

I am married now.

But why write that in a diary? Tis not like she would ever forget it.

With a sigh, she closed the diary and laid down the pen. The small book had helped her through many parts of her life – when she was alone in the house of her mother.

But now, with a husband by her side, she did not need anything to fill up the emptiness, for there was no emptiness anymore.

She was happy.

What more could she want?

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"Are you ready, darling?" Mary shouted from down the stairs. She heard rumbling up the stairs, and she knew her husband was hurrying to get ready in time. He had been working a lot lately, so that they could pay for the needs of their family.

His and Ada's first play had been a big success, but their second had been welcomed with as much good comments. Twas not a bad play, but it was also not as successful as they had expected. It was hard on Eli – and on Ada. But also on Mary, for now her husband was out of the house so many hours a day, she sometimes had to fall asleep to an empty bed.

But her days were filled. She knew her husband loved her, and he worked so much so that he could please her to the fullest. Only he did not realize that she would be more pleased if she saw her husband during the day.

"I am coming!" he shouted, and a few seconds later, she saw him running down the stairs.

"Be careful," she warned him. "I do not want you to fall!"

"I will not," he promised as he reached the bottom of the stairs, then gave her a quick kiss. "Now let us go. We are already late."

With a smile, she followed Eli through the front door and into the carriage. He loved her family almost as much as she loved them – and as much as he loved his own family.

The carriage drove slowly through the streets, for the snow made it dangerous to go any faster. The streets were filled with layers of snow, making all of London covered in white. Twas a great view, but the baby did not like the snow. Phoebe was frightened of the white, unknown mass, no matter how much Mary loved it.

Finally, the carriage stopped in front of the Brompton house, and the three Byrons stepped out. They quickly exited the cold and were invited inside.

Mary had been married two years now, making this estate only her parental house – a building with many memories. She often visited her mother – especially now that she had a house without the presence of her husband – yet the building did not feel like her home anymore. Great memories, and a good youth were kept inside, but her home was with Eli and Phoebe.

After they had greeted everyone – including the many children – they gathered around the Christmas tree. With the snowy landscape outside and the heat from the fireplace inside, she was happy to be with the warmth of her family.

Lady Anne stood up from the playing children and watched her own children love their spouses and each other.

Andrew took his wife, Victoria, in his arms and kissed her neck. She smiled at the gesture, while her eyes followed her son, running around Lionel, Thomas' fourth child. Their other child, Alice, was decorating the Christmas tree with Francis, Elizabeth's oldest child, and Gwendolyn and Hazel, the twin of Thomas.

Elizabeth wrapped her arm around her husband's, William. They both looked down at Lewis, their fourth child. Evan and Henry were chasing each other by their feet, and they could not help but smile at it.

Thomas picked up Florence, his youngest daughter, and came to stand with his wife, Madilyn. She was watching Marion silently approaching the Christmas tree, ready to frighten the other children. When Thomas saw it too, he chuckled, then planted a kiss on his wife's lips.

Mary watched Phoebe take a few careful steps with the help of her father. When Eli looked up to see his wife watching him, he smiled and walked toward her. He stood behind her and laid his hands on her belly – a belly that was too big for just one baby.

The Bromptons were a family with many ups and downs, many troubles and many tears. A banished brother and untrue rumours were things they were reminded of every day.

But when push came to shove, they did not bother about that. All they bothered about was the love they gave and received. They were one close family – an amazing bunch of people of whom lord Francis Brompton could proudly look down on.