20. Epilogue

Epilogue

Shimmersnap

“I feel like I should know this, but what do you think is the earliest time frame that Santa would grant a Christmas wish?” I asked, staring up at the ceiling while lying on the couch.

Walter put down his Kindle and looked over at me, amused. “Is this a philosophical question, or is there some Christmas wish you need granted right now?”

I shot him a look. “How could you even ask that?” I was practically 5,000 years pregnant, the size of a house, and, well...completely miserable. Okay, maybe that wasn’t fair. I wasn’t miserable . How could I be? I loved being pregnant, loved the feeling of our baby dancing around in my belly. But functioning throughout the day? That was a whole different story. Not to mention the impatience I felt at knowing the most perfect child in existence would be here any day! It made the minutes crawl by slower than molasses at the North Pole!

“I just want the baby to be here already,” I sighed.

Walter chuckled and tugged me down beside him. “The baby will be here in the next few days, I promise. And we’ve already got the house decorated exactly how you wanted, so our little girl is going to arrive to a full-blown Christmas Wonderland.”

He gestured around the house, which we’d decorated on September first—much to his dismay. He’d tried to resist for all of ten minutes, but then my pregnancy hormones kicked in, and tears welled up in my eyes. The thought of not having the house decorated in time for our baby’s arrival had sent me spiraling.

“What if I don’t have the energy after the baby comes?” I’d cried. “Then the house won’t be decorated!”

Never mind the fact that I could blink and make holiday decorations appear. Logic had no place in the mind of a pregnant elf.

So Walter had hauled all the decorations out of storage, and we’d bought even more. Thanks to all the estate sales I’d frequented throughout the year, our house was now a Christmas Wonderland that could rival the North Pole.

“The house really does look great,” I said, glancing around. Twinkling lights, glittering garlands, and a tree in every room—it was magical. What were the odds that I could convince him to keep it like this year round?

“It does,” Walter agreed. “And our little girl is going to love it.”

“What if she hates Christmas?” I asked, suddenly struck by the thought. “What if she hates sparkle?”

Walter smirked. “Well, we can work with that. Black’s a beautiful color.”

I stared at him, eyes wide. “You would decorate in black?”

He shrugged. “If our daughter hates Christmas and sparkle, we’ll make it work. I’m flexible. She is going to be her own person—er, elf. With her own personality.”

“I know! I can’t wait!” I laughed, leaning my head on his shoulder. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

“Only because you are,” he said softly, kissing my temple.

We sat there for a while, letting the holiday glow of our home surround us. Despite my impatience, I knew the wait would be worth it. Soon, our baby girl would be here, and our little family would be complete, wrapped in the magic of Christmas forever.

“But what if I’m not good at being a parent?”

Walter laughed and kissed my cheek. “Shimmersnap, I’ve never known you to worry.”

“I know, it’s a new thing. I don’t like it.” I worried that I’d be too much for my child and they’d be embarrassed of me. I worried that I’d not be enough and they would hate me. I worried mostly that it would all go by so fast and I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it.

“You’re going to be a great dad.”

“You are too. What’s that phrase the cops use on those human shows? Good cop, bad cop?”

Walter chuckled. “Yeah, that’ll be our parenting style. I’ll handle all the fun, and you’ll do all the discipline.”

I gave him a mock glare. “We’ll see what style works for us. But I can assure you, discipline will not be my forte.”

“I know it, sweetheart.” Walter kissed my cheek, and I calmed as I always did when he was near me.

A knock sounded at the door. I groaned, shifting on the couch. “I can’t possibly get up. Who could that be?”

Walter shrugged. “I’ll check.” He walked off, leaving me to attempt sitting up. Moments later, he returned with Dr. Goldwillow in tow.

“Do I have an appointment today that I forgot about?” I asked.

The doctor shook his head, a warm smile on his face. “It’s time, Shimmersnap.”

“What? How can it be time? I’m not ready! I’m not having contractions!”

Dr. Goldwillow smirked. “Did you not pay attention in your elf studies?”

“I don’t remember,” I muttered, leaning back.

“Besides, Santa’s delivering on that Christmas miracle you requested just moments ago.”

“That was hypothetical! Is it safe? Is the baby ready?”

The doctor snorted. “You’re two days past your due date. She’s more than ready.”

Walter rushed to my side. “Are you ready, love?”

I nodded, feeling a rush of excitement. “Let’s go meet our baby girl.”

Thanks to the magic of elves, we blinked to the North Pole’s hospital in no time. I was instantly in a bed, dressed and ready for delivery. Walter, carrying my sparkly blue duffel bag, set it aside and sat by me. I marveled at the bedazzled hospital gown and robe I had picked out for this moment.

“She’s going to be here soon, isn’t she?” I asked, breathless.

The doctor nodded. “Within minutes, Shimmersnap.”

“What? How can that be possible?”

A nurse, an alpha named Judy, gently placed a hand on my arm. “Lean back, relax. Let’s get your feet up. Just breathe. You’ll know when it’s time to push.”

It all happened so quickly. One moment I was breathing through it, the next, my body told me it was time. I hadn’t been prepared for the intensity of the pain, sweat breaking out across my skin. Walter held my hand, wiping a warm cloth across my face, his calm presence helping me through it.

Then, just as suddenly, the pain stopped, and a musical cry filled the room.

“Is that her?” I gasped, trying to push myself up.

The doctor lifted her up. “Here she is.”

My eyes widened as I took in her tiny form, her skin covered in a slight shimmer. The first thing I noticed was her pointed ears, a sure sign of her elf heritage. But the rest of her? All Walter. Grumpy little face and all, scrunched in a fierce cry that let the world know she was here and not happy about it.

“She’s beautiful,” I whispered.

The nurses cleaned her up and placed her in my arms, her warmth instantly calming me. “Walter, she’s so beautiful.”

He leaned in, gazing at our daughter with awe. “She really is.”

I looked down at her, a name coming to me in a rush of love and joy. “Our little Holly.”

“Holly,” Walter echoed, smiling softly. “I like that.”

I kissed her tiny forehead. “Welcome to the family, Holly.”