"Come on, Damon, dress up! We''re gonna bete," his mom called out from the other room, her tone half-serious and half-frantic.


    Damon rolled his eyes, his voice calm but slightly amused. "I''m done, Mom."


    He had finished getting ready a while ago and was now just waiting for her.


    He leaned against the wall, scrolling through his phone as the minutes ticked by.


    But as soon as he decided to make a quick trip to the bathroom, she suddenly appeared, ready and rushing him as if he had been the one holding them up the entire time.


    "Seriously?" Damon muttered under his breath, shaking his head with a small smirk. This wasn''t new, it was just how things always were with her.


    She looked at Damon, her face lighting up. "You''re wearing it? That looks great on you."


    Damon smiled, ncing down at himself. He was wearing a festive sweater with a goofy reindeer on it, paired with some simple chinos.


    And yes, you guessed it, it was Christmas.


    Initially, Damon had nned to spend the day quietly at home with his mom, just the two of them.


    But ns had shifted when Victor extended an invitation to everyone for a holiday gathering.


    Damon looked over at his mother. She was practically glowing, the excitement in her eyes unmistakable.


    She loved being around people, and the thought of celebrating with a group clearly made her happy.


    For Damon, seeing her like this made the change in ns worth it. He adjusted the sweater, still not entirely sure about the reindeer, but her smile made it easier to wear.


    "Let''s get going, Mom," he said, holding the door open for her. Sheughed softly and stepped out, her festive spirit contagious.


    For once, Damon wasn''t thinking about fights or training. Today, it was just about family, friends, and a little bit of holiday cheer.


    And to be fair, Damon understood her excitement.


    Since fleeing Irnd, they had never really celebrated Christmas with family.


    Back then, it wasn''t much of a festive day for them, it was just another day to get through, marked more by survival than joy.


    Even back in Irnd, the holiday had always felt heavy, a reminder of what they didn''t have rather than a day to celebrate.


    But now, things were different. Here, they had friends. No, family.


    Victor, Macey, Svena, and the rest of their circle had be more than just people in their lives.


    And Damon wouldn''t lie.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    As much as he tried to y it cool, he was excited too.


    This cool sweater Damon was wearing? It was something Svena had picked out for him.


    He didn''t think much of it when she handed it to him a week ago, insisting he wear it for Christmas.


    Now, as he looked down at the goofy reindeer design, he couldn''t help but smile.


    Today wasn''t just about showing up and celebrating, Damon had gifts too.


    Carefully wrapped and tucked into a bag he carried, they were small but thoughtful, each one meant for someone important to him.


    Finally, they left the apartment, stepping out into the chilly air.


    The city was alive with Christmas energy, people moving about, wrapped in scarves and coats, while festive lights glimmered everywhere.


    They walked down the street, their breath visible in the cold, before hailing a cab to take them to Victor''s.


    Damon held the door open for his mom as she climbed in, her face lit with excitement.


    As the cab started moving, Damon leaned back in his seat, ncing out at the city. This Christmas was already shaping up to be one of the best he could remember.


    The cab was fast, getting them to their destination in no time.


    Damon thanked the driver with a polite nod and a warm, "Merry Christmas."


    As they stepped out, they found themselves in front of the Steele mansion. At least, Damon assumed that''s what it was called.


    Either way, the ce was massive and impressive, exuding a kind of grandeur that still caught him off guard no matter how many times he visited.


    The gates opened automatically, and they were let in without any hassle.


    Walking up the long driveway, Damon carried the bag of gifts while his mom took in the festive decorations adorning the mansion.


    Reaching the door, they knocked, and it wasn''t long before it opened.


    Standing there was Svena.


    She looked stunning in a red dress, her elegance undeniable.


    For a moment, Damon was caught off guard, her beauty almost angelic in the soft glow of the holiday lights.


    Svena''s gaze lingered on Damon for a brief second before she turned her attention to his mother, greeting her warmly.


    Aoife smiled, she had always been fond of Svena, ever since their first meeting, even more now that she was dating her son. "I''ll leave you two alone," she said, giving Damon a knowing look. "Don''t take too long."


    With that, she stepped inside, leaving Damon standing there with Svena.


    He nced at her, clearing his throat awkwardly before giving her a small smile.


    "Ready for Christmas?" he asked, trying to y it cool, even as he adjusted the reindeer sweater that Svena had insisted he wear.


    Svena chuckled softly, shaking her head before stepping closer and wrapping her arms around Damon.


    Without hesitation, she leaned in for his lips, and they met in a tender kiss.


    Damon''s hands instinctively wrapped around her waist, holding her close.


    "You look beautiful," he murmured through the kiss, his voice low and warm.


    Svena smiled as she broke the kiss, her eyes shining. "Thank you. And you look handsome," she said, her fingers brushing against the festive sweater he was wearing.


    Damon grinned, ncing down at the sweater. "Oh, by the way, I got you this." He shifted the small bag among the others he was holding and handed it to her.


    Svena took the bag, curiosity lighting up her face.


    Damon stepped back slightly, giving her space. "Go on, open it," he urged with a yful smile.


    She did, pulling at the wrapping carefully until she revealed what was inside, a sweater.


    It was identical to the one Damon was wearing,plete with the same goofy reindeer design.


    "I thought maybe we could match," Damon said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "You know, festive and all."


    Svena chuckled, holding up the sweater. She loved it. The gesture, the thought behind it, it was perfect.


    She looked at Damon, her eyes soft with affection. "It''s adorable. Thank you," she said, stepping closer to hug him again, the sweater held tightly in her hands.