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Christmas didn't mean a whole lot to Kory, but she had grown to love the holiday more and more each year. The first two years she was on Earth, she spent it alone. The third Christmas, she spent with Donna in Chicago and the fourth, she finally spent with Dick and the kids. Her and Dick hadn't been dating yet, but he'd made sure to make it a Christmas she'd never forget. It was the first one they spent as a family, and it was incredible.
And then last Christmas, Dick and Kory told everyone she was pregnant. Gave each kid a shirt that announced their new roles: Gar and Rachel got a big brother and big sister shirt, Conner and Tim got a greatest uncle ever shirt. It had been utter chaos after the realization had sunk in and then they were crushed in a giant group hug.
Kory didn't know how Christmas could get better each year, but here they were this year and she already knew it was going to be the sweetest yet.
Mar'i was five months old now and the love and light of everyone's life. Dick was enamored with their little girl and Mar'i clearly had him wrapped around her little finger already.
Kory was nestled in a fuzzy blanket on the couch, a cup of hot chocolate on her hand, watching Dick and Mar'i in the kitchen with a soft smile on her face. Dick had Mar'i in his arms, her chubby little baby hands gripping at his red thermal while he talked to her happily, running a soft finger down her nose while he spoke. Every time she watched them, she felt close to tears. Never, even in her wildest dreams, had she thought this kind of life was possible for her. A partner she loved and choose herself? A beautiful baby girl who they both loved more than anything? An extended family of people who she also loved more than she could have ever imagine possible? When she sat down and thought about it, she got a little overwhelmed.
Dick must have sensed it because he looked up from talking to Mar'i to make eye contact with her, a loving smile on his face. He whispered quietly to Mar'i then made his way over to her.
"Hi, mommy," he whispered, lifting Mar'i from his arms to settle her in Kory's. Mar'i babbled happily, reaching for Kory and nuzzling into her neck happily. Kory kissed her forehead and looked up at Dick with tears in her eyes. "I know," he whispered softly, leaning his forehead against hers. He brushed a soft kiss against her lips, Mar'i squished between them.
"I love you," she breathed, kissing him again.
"I love you too," he whispered back, a smile on his lips. He pulled back, cupping her face and brushing a thumb against her cheek. She turned to kiss the palm of his hand, Mar'i reaching up to grab at his hand. He let her hold his finger while he leaned in to kiss Kory again.
"Alright, lovebirds, stop that! It's gingerbread house time!" Gar exclaimed, strolling into the kitchen in a santa hat. Dick placed one more lingering kiss on her lips then leaned down to plant a series of messy chaotic kisses across Mar'i's face making her giggle happily.
"Daddy has to go and win this competition for us," he cooed at her, tickling her tummy before making his way to the kitchen. Gar handed Dick an apron and made his way over to Kory and Mar'i.
"For our esteemed judges," he said, handing Kory a santa hat and placing a set of reindeer antlers around Mar'i's crooked space buns. Dick had done her hair today and was still learning how to get them centered. Mar'i made a face at Gar as he got the headband situated, but he distracted her by making faces at her to laugh. Once he had them on, he leaned back to inspect his handiwork.
"Dick did her hair today didn't he?" He asked, booping Mar'i on her nose.
Kory laughed, adjusting her santa hat atop her own curls. "He did. Getting better at it, but still a work in progress."
"Hey!" Dick yelled from the kitchen, standing in front of his un-decorated gingerbread house. Gar laughed and walked back to the kitchen where Rachel and Conner and Tim had joined them.
"Ok, rules!" Gar announced, clapping his hands. "Kory and Mar'i will be picking the winner. No powers and NO teamwork. I'm looking at you Conner and Dick."
"What did I do now?" Dick asked with a sigh, tying his apron behind his back.
"No asking Rachel or Kory for help," Gar said with a smile.
"I still don't think it's fair to have you and Tim compete," Rachel grumbled, slipping her apron over her head. "You guys are good at things like this, the rest of us are on an even playing field."
"Too bad," Tim said, rolling up his sleeves. Rachel rolled her eyes but tied her hair up in a quick bun.
"Alright, you have 30 minutes to make your prettiest creations. And remember who your audience is!" Gar nodded to Kory and Mar'i snuggled on the couch. "The two people with the biggest sweet tooth on the face of the planet." Kory smiled prettily at them, blowing Dick a kiss for good luck. Dick winked at her making everyone groan.
"Time starts...now!"
Kory started a timer on her phone and turned the christmas music up on the speakers. They worked in relative silence for the first few minutes but about 5 minutes in, the cursing started.
"Damnit!" Rachel whispered to herself, tongue sticking out as she concentrated on trying to get her roof the way she wanted. Kory was watching her struggle, trying to hide her smile behind her mug of hot chocolate. Dick was the next to break, all his candy sliding off his walls for the fourth time in as many minutes. He hung his head with a deep sigh. Tim was laughing at both of them while Conner was eating every other piece of candy.
"Koryyyyyy," Dick sighed, looking back up at her with his puppy dog eyes.
"Nope, can't help you, Grayson. You're going to have to win this one for us all on your own! Do it for her!" Kory set her empty mug down and picked Mar'i up, lion king style. Mar'i giggled, making grabby hands at him. Dick let loose another deep sigh but rolled his shoulders and refocused. There was a large furrow between his brows and his eyes were narrowed as he attempted to get his candy to stick again. Kory laughed, bringing Mar'i back into her warm embrace and tucked inside the blankets.
"Ten more minutes!" She let them know, tucking the edges of the blanket in around her and Mar'i. She stood up off the couch and approached the kitchen, walking behind each contestant.
"Hmmmm," she hummed thoughtfully as she inspected Dick's gingerbread house. It was a sad attempt, but he looked really cute as he was struggling. He looked up at her, wiggled his eyebrows and swooped in for a kiss before returning to his project.
She walked behind Rachel's next. It was better than Dick's but not by much unfortunately. Some of Rachel's hair fell loose from her bun so Kory tucked it behind her ears. Rachel turned to look at her, a dramatic pout on her face.
"Next time, Mar'i and I will be the judges. This is miserable." Kory laughed, watching Rachel lean over to give Mar'i a kiss on the top of her head.
"Deal," Kory agreed, walking to stand between Gar and Tim. "You two should do this professionally." Their gingerbread houses were not only further along than everyone else's but they were actually good. Gar and Tim bumped elbows in congrats but stayed focus. She walked over to Conner, bouncing Mar'i in her arms. Conner's was...abstract to say the least. He smiled at her and handed Kory a handful of candy.
"Hey! No bribing the judges!" Tim said loudly, watching Kory munch on the candy happily. Her favorite parts of the holidays were the endless amounts of desserts and the presents. She simply shrugged at Tim and made her way around to the other side of the island, settling herself and Mar'i down on one of the stools.
"Thirty seconds!" She announced, adjusting Mar'i's reindeer ears. Mar'i banged happily on the counter, trying to wiggle out of her arms and approach the series of gingerbread houses. "...five, four, three, two, one! DONE!"
Everyone stepped back from their creations with varying degrees of satisfaction. Conner broke a piece of his gingerbread house off and ate it with a shrug. "Mine is clearly not winning," he explained. Dick walked around and came up behind her, sliding his arms around her middle and nuzzling her neck. She sighed happily, turning to give him a sweet kiss.
"Yours won't be winning either, my love," she said teasingly against his lips. Dick pulled back in mock shock before plucking Mar'i out of her arms.
"Your mommy is rude today," he said to Mar'i, who pat his cheeks playfully. He blew a raspberry at her making her squeal. Kory laughed, taking Mar'i back, but leaned her head against his shoulder. "Let's let her choose," she said, setting Mar'i on top of the island. Mar'i slapped her hands excitedly against the island and then crawled forward, eager to get her hands on the creations.
Tim, Gar, and Rachel leaned forward, cooing at Mar'i to try and get her attention.
"Come on, sweet baby sister, you love mine the most don't you?"
"I'm your favorite, remember? I turn into all your favorite animals and make you laugh the most!"
"I keep your daddy from doing dumb shi-stuff out in the field!" Tim told Mar'i in a sweet voice. Kory looked at him unamused, tapping her nails on the island loudly. Dick was also looking at him with a scowl. "What?! It's true!" Tim tried to defend himself. While they were busy talking, Mar'i crawled forward, looking at Rachel's gingerbread house closely. Gar ran a finger down the sole of Mar'i's footie pjs making her shriek and turn her attention to him.
"Hey, that's cheating!" Rachel yelled, elbowing Gar. Gar laughed and wiggled his eyebrows at Mar'i, pointing to his gingerbread house. Mar'i paused, looking at his with her head cocked before crawling away and heading straight towards Conner's. Conner was munching on a piece of gingerbread, watching Mar'i look at the house silently. He broke off another piece of the wall and she squealed happily, reaching out to pound one of her little fists on the already broken house. Conner, Kory, and Dick laughed watching Mar'i making even more of a mess of Conner's house.
"Well, I guess we have our winner," Kory said with a giggle. Conner broke off another piece of the house and handed it to Mar'i who immediately stuck it in her mouth.
"I don't this so, mini Kory," Dick said, striding over and taking it out of her mouth. Mar'i pouted and reached for another piece, looking Dick directly in the eye as she went to put it in her mouth. Kory tried really hard to hide her laugh but was unsuccessful. Dick looked over at Kory, both eyebrows raised. "Oh, you think that's funny? That attitude is all you, Princess." His statement only made her laugh harder because it was true.
Rachel took off her apron and turned around to break into the cookie jar. "We're doing a different competition next year! This one was rigged."
"Rigged!? How?" Gar asked incredulously, sneakily grabbing candy off Rachel's gingerbread house while her back was turned.
The bickering continued around them, but Dick walked back over and leaned his chin on her shoulder, watching the chaos happily. Kory leaned back into him, wrapping her arms around his. They watched Conner bend forward to continue destroying his house with a giggling babbling Mar'i, while Tim and Gar bickered with Rachel about plans for next Christmas.
This Christmas was the best yet.