The snow was still falling when I woke up, thick flakes swirling in the wind, blanketing the world outside in an endless sheet of white. The gray morning light filtered through my window, casting a muted glow over my room. Everything outside looked untouched and serene, like the world had been reset overnight. The only sounds were the low hum of the heater and the occasional creak of the house settling against the cold.

I pushed back the blankets and stretched, feeling the warmth of my bed contrast sharply with the chill in the air. Pulling on my thickest sweater, I made my way downstairs, drawn by the faint scent of cocoa drifting from the kitchen.

Lily and Sam were already at the front window, their faces pressed against the glass, eyes wide with wonder. Lily's breath fogged up the pane as she pointed outside. "It's so much deeper today! Look, it's almost to the top of the bushes!" Her voice was filled with childlike excitement, and it made me smile.

Sam, standing with his arms crossed, nodded in agreement. "It's like a blizzard out there. No one's going anywhere today."

Mrs. Blake appeared from the kitchen, balancing a tray of steaming mugs in her hands. "Good thing we don't have plans then," she said, her voice warm with amusement. She set the tray down on the coffee table and handed each of us a cup. The rich scent of cocoa filled the air, and the little marshmallows bobbing on the surface melted slightly from the heat.

"Merry Christmas," she added softly, though there were no decorations to mark the holiday, no tree, no garland, nothing but the warmth of us being together.

Lily and Sam grabbed their mugs eagerly, blowing on the hot liquid before taking careful sips. I took mine more slowly, wrapping my fingers around the ceramic for warmth, letting the heat seep into my skin.

"Thanks, Mrs. Blake," I said, my voice quiet but filled with gratitude.

The house was still, save for the gentle clinking of spoons against mugs and the occasional gust of wind rattling against the windows. The snow seemed to absorb the usual sounds of the neighborhood—no cars, no barking dogs, no distant voices. Just peace.

The sound of footsteps on the hardwood floor made me glance up. Mr. Blake emerged from his office, his presence rare in these quiet morning moments. He rubbed a hand over his graying beard, letting out a low sigh before settling into his usual chair by the fireplace.

"Merry Christmas," he said in his usual gruff way, but there was something softer in his voice today.

Mrs. Blake smiled at him before turning her attention back to us. "Alright, everyone," she said, clapping her hands together. "Who's ready for presents?"

Lily let out a little squeal, nearly spilling her cocoa in her excitement. Sam rolled his eyes at her reaction but couldn't completely hide his own anticipation.

I followed them into the living room, where Mrs. Blake had set a small stack of wrapped gifts on the coffee table. The absence of a tree didn't make the moment feel any less special. The gifts weren't extravagant, but that wasn't the point. This wasn't about some grand celebration—it was about being together.

Lily tore into her first present with the kind of enthusiasm only kids could muster, gasping when she uncovered a set of markers and a thick sketchpad. She flipped through the blank pages eagerly. "It's perfect!" she beamed. "Now I can draw whenever I want!"

Sam opened his gift with far less drama, carefully peeling back the wrapping paper. When he saw the title of the book inside, his lips curled into a grin. "Space exploration," he read aloud, flipping through the pages, his excitement subtle but unmistakable. "This is awesome."

Mrs. Blake turned to me, holding out a small, neatly wrapped package. I hesitated before taking it, my fingers brushing against the smooth wrapping paper. A lump formed in my throat as I carefully pulled back the tape and unfolded the paper.

Inside was a journal.

A beautiful, leather-bound journal with an intricate design embossed on the front. The cover was soft beneath my fingertips, the pages thick and crisp.

"It's for your writing," Mrs. Blake said gently. "I know how much you like to jot down your thoughts."

I swallowed past the lump in my throat, my fingers tightening around the journal as warmth spread through my chest. "Thank you," I whispered. "It's perfect."

Mrs. Blake just smiled, like she understood exactly what this meant to me.

After the gifts were unwrapped, the rest of the day passed in an easy rhythm. The snow continued to pile up outside, creating an endless sea of white, but inside, it was warm, comfortable.

Lily sprawled on the floor, filling page after page of her sketchbook with colorful drawings, her tongue sticking out in concentration. Every now and then, she would hold up a picture and ask for opinions, though she mostly wanted praise.

Sam sat with his nose buried in his book, occasionally reading out loud some obscure fact about planets or galaxies. "Did you know there's a planet made entirely of diamond?" he asked at one point, looking up from the page. "It's called 55 Cancri e."

"That's crazy," I said, genuinely fascinated. "How do they even know that?"

"Science," he said with a smirk, as if that explained everything.

Even Mr. Blake got drawn into the moment, helping Sam with a puzzle that had been sitting unfinished on the side table for weeks. He wasn't much of a talker, but I caught him chuckling quietly at Lily's dramatic commentary over her own artwork.

As evening fell, we played a few board games, taking turns groaning at bad rolls or celebrating small victories. The house felt warmer than ever, not because of the heater, but because of the togetherness that filled every quiet moment.

I stole a glance at Mrs. Blake as she laughed at one of Sam's exaggerated reactions to losing a round. She caught my gaze and gave me a knowing smile, the kind that said, You belong here.

And in that moment, I let myself believe it.

The snow kept falling outside, covering the world in a fresh, untouched layer of white. But inside, within these walls, I felt something even more rare—a sense of home.

The evening had settled into a quiet rhythm, the kind that wrapped the house in a peaceful stillness. Outside, the snowfall had slowed, the streetlights casting a golden glow over the fresh blanket of white. Inside, the warmth of the heater hummed softly, mixing with the distant sound of Lily and Sam playing upstairs.

I had just finished helping Mrs. Blake put away the last of the dishes when she turned to me, wiping her hands on a dish towel. Her expression was soft, but there was something serious in her eyes that immediately caught my attention.

"Emily," she said gently, her voice calm yet deliberate, "could you come with me for a moment? Mr. Blake and I have something we want to share with you."

A small knot of nervous curiosity formed in my stomach as I followed her into the living room. Mr. Blake was already seated on the couch, a simple white envelope resting on the coffee table in front of him. No ribbons, no festive decorations—just an unassuming envelope that somehow carried a weight I could already feel pressing against my chest.

"We've been thinking about this for some time," Mrs. Blake began, lowering herself onto the couch beside her husband. Her voice was steady, but I could hear the emotion behind it. "And we felt tonight was the right time to talk to you about it."

I swallowed, my hands instinctively curling into fists in my lap. I glanced between them, my heart beginning to race.

"What is it?" I asked quietly.

Mr. Blake reached forward, sliding the envelope across the table toward me. His eyes, usually so reserved, held a rare warmth. "Open it, sweetheart," he said in a voice that was softer than I'd ever heard before.

With trembling fingers, I picked up the envelope, my breath shallow as I peeled it open. Inside was a neatly folded piece of paper, the official-looking document crisp beneath my fingertips. As my eyes scanned the words, I started to cry.

**To Whom It May Concern,

Charlotte Reynolds
Adoption Case Coordinator
Family & Child Services of Minnesota**

My heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst. My hands shook as I held the paper, reading the words over and over, trying to make sure I wasn't imagining them.

Mrs. Blake's voice was thick with emotion as she spoke. "We're officially approved to adopt you, Emily." She reached for my hand, squeezing it gently. "You're already part of our family in every way that matters, but now, we can make it official. If that's what you want."

I lifted my head, my vision blurred by tears. "You... you want me to stay? Forever?"

"Forever," Mr. Blake said firmly, his voice steady but full of meaning.

A choked sob escaped my throat before I could stop it. I had dreamed of this—hoped for it—but never dared to believe it could actually happen. That someone would choose me, would want me.

"We love you, Emily," Mrs. Blake continued, her voice thick with feeling. "You're our family, and we can't imagine life without you."

A warmth spread through me, stronger than anything I'd ever felt before. The kind of warmth that no fireplace, no blanket, no cup of hot cocoa could ever match. It was the warmth of belonging.

I couldn't speak. I could barely breathe. I could only nod as the tears spilled down my cheeks, my entire body trembling with the overwhelming mix of emotions—relief, joy, disbelief.

Mrs. Blake didn't wait for words. She pulled me into a tight hug, holding me like she never wanted to let go. And I let myself sink into it. Into the safety of her arms, the steady beat of her heart against mine. Mr. Blake rested a firm but gentle hand on my back, a silent reassurance that I was home.

A shuffle of footsteps made us pull apart. Lily and Sam had wandered into the room, drawn by the uncharacteristic silence.

Lily, always the curious one, climbed onto the couch beside me. "What's going on?" she asked, her bright eyes darting between me and her parents.

I wiped at my damp cheeks, still breathless, still shaken. I looked at Mrs. Blake, unsure if I should be the one to say it.

Mrs. Blake gave me an encouraging nod.

I turned to Lily, my lips still trembling. "They... they're adopting me."

Lily's face lit up instantly, her eyes going wide with excitement. "For real?" she gasped, grabbing my hand. "Like really, really real?"

I let out a small, watery laugh. "Yeah. Really, really real."

Lily let out a piercing squeal before launching herself at me, wrapping her arms around me so tightly I almost fell backward. "You're my sister forever now!" she cried, squeezing me harder.

Sam, ever the more reserved one, stayed quiet for a moment, hands tucked in his hoodie pockets. But when I glanced at him, I saw the way his mouth twitched at the corners. The way his eyes, usually indifferent, were just a little softer.

"That's cool," he said finally, giving me a small nod. "Guess that means you're stuck with us."

A choked laugh bubbled out of me. "Guess so."

Lily bounced on the couch, still clutching my arm like she was afraid I'd disappear. "Can we celebrate? Can we have cake or something? We need to do something!"

Mrs. Blake laughed, brushing a hand over Lily's unruly hair. "I think we can manage a little celebration," she said. "Maybe some brownies? I believe we have all the ingredients."

Lily gasped dramatically. "Brownies are perfect."

As Mrs. Blake led Lily toward the kitchen, already talking about measuring cups and chocolate chips, I felt the couch shift beside me. Mr. Blake remained seated, watching me in that quiet, unreadable way of his.

He wasn't one for big words. But as I met his gaze, I saw everything he didn't say.

You're safe now.

You're wanted.

You're home.

I cleared my throat, hugging the adoption papers to my chest. "Thank you," I whispered.

His lips twitched into a small smile. "No need to thank us, kid. You were already ours."

And I believed it.

The snow continued falling outside, coating the world in a fresh, untouched blanket of white. But inside, in the warmth of this house—with the smell of brownies soon to fill the air—I knew the truth.

It wasn't just another snowfall.

It was a new beginning.