Ellie’s POV

We just finished eating lunch at my parent’s house and now we were on our way to C.J’s house. I put back on my big coat, and tried to prepare myself to break the news again. C.J’s family was significantly smaller than mine, his parents, his aunt and uncle, his grandparents and himself were the only ones to celebrate. C.J didn’t have any cousins on his mom or his dad’s side, so he said that his childhood was a little lonely but he did have Wilbur. Wilbur took the place of C.J’s brother in a lot of ways, and from all the stories I’ve heard the two were absolute trouble makers.

When we arrived at the Delaney Estate I had calmed down a little, and helped bring in some of the stuff. We didn’t even have to knock on the door before an unfamiliar man with a slightly familiar face appeared. He took the stuff from me without even saying hello, and I was then greeted by C.J’s dad, Augustine. Before I could stop him he gave me a big hug, and I knew that he noticed my baby bump. He pulled back suddenly, and looked at me with questioning eyes. I just nodded, and he smiled while pulling me back into the hug. He didn’t say anything to anyone else and I was grateful for that, and if anyone did have an issue I knew that I would have his support.

Soon after C.J had finished bringing everything in from the car I was introduced to his family. The man from earlier was his uncle who I realized shared a lot of features with Gwyneth. His aunt was a beta woman, who was a little on the bigger side with big salt and pepper curls. His grandma was still very tall, and so was his grandpa. All of them greeted me with open arms. Gwyneth was wearing an off the shoulder, red, floor length dress, and I thought that she looked gorgeous like usual. The thing that surprised me was that she was wearing a pair of santa earrings. I guess I knew where C.J got his Christmas spirit from. Also did I not get the memo? Everyone was wearing red, and I was wearing white, oh well at least my earrings are red.

We sat around and talked for a little bit before C.J's grandpa Mr.Delaney, got impatient and demanded that we open presents. I wasn’t really expecting to get presents considering they didn’t really know me, but I was surprised to see a lot of presents that had my name on them under the tree.

C.J’s grandparents opened their presents first, and they looked as if they were young again with how much joy they got from opening the gifts. I wonder if C.J and I will look as cute as them when we get to their age. Next his uncle and his aunt opened all of their presents. Then it was his mom and dad’s turn. I spent a long time thinking of what to get them. It’s a lot harder to buy rich people gifts than you think because they can just buy anything they want, so I chose to make something from the heart. Before my grandma passed away from lung cancer, we would spend almost everyday crocheting. She taught me everything I knew, and I was the only one she ever taught. None of her children knew, and none of my siblings knew either. It was our special little thing. So I decided to make Gwyneth a long, grey cardigan, and August a vest in the same color. It took me a long time, because I wanted to make them perfect.

I handed them their presents, and they took them with bright smiles. Gwyneth opened hers first, and let out a little gasp.

“Ellie, have you been reading my mind? I was just complaining to Augustine earlier that I can’t seem to find a cardigan that I like in this style. Where did you find this?” I don’t think my smile could have been bigger at that moment.

“Well actually I made it myself” Everyone looked shocked, and she put it on while everyone appreciated my handiwork. Even Mrs. Delaney, and Augustine approved which boosted my confidence through the roof. ‘

Augustine opened his and gave me a smile that matched his wife, “Oh Ellie, you don’t know how happy you have made Gwyneth. She always wants to match me, but me, not so much. Now we can match without it being too obvious. I am so happy that my son has someone as talented as you”

I blushed hard, but my blush only intensified when the rest of C.J’s family asked if I could make them something as well. I brought my hands up to my cheek to try and cool them down. It was now our turn to open presents. His grandparents had gotten him tickets to go on a cruise, and I got one as well. It looked like I would have to clear my schedule. I thanked them profusely. Next his aunt and uncle got me a bunch of clothes, and C.J got a bunch of books about business stuff. They looked pretty boring to me, but C.J seemed excited. Next his parents had bought C.J a new desk, and something else that he wouldn’t show me but he ran up to them and gave them a big hug. It was my turn, and I gasped when I opened the box to see a pair of diamond dangle earrings. I gave them both a kiss on the cheek, before putting it away with the rest of our stuff.

“Alright is that all of the presents?” His uncle asked as we started to clean up the mess of wrapping paper and boxes.

“Actually Ellie and I have one more” Everyone turned to look at us as C.J pulled off my coat.

“Oh my god! Is that a baby!? I’m gonna be a grandma! Augustine, we’re going to be grandparents” Gwyneth was freaking out, and when she noticed that her husband didn’t look the least bit surprised she narrowed her eyes, “You knew, didn’t you?”

She then turned to C.J who looked at his dad out of concern for his safety, “ I swear I didn’t tell him mom”

“I only just found out earlier today on accident. When I hugged Ellie, I noticed the bump and he confirmed my suspicion.” She still didn’t take her attention of of him, so he gulped and blurted out,” Look at Ellie’s hand”

She turned to look, and when she noticed she grabbed my hand and gasped. She moved my hand this way and that, trying to look at every single detail, and then looked at hers as if she was comparing them in her head. She stopped and gave me a big hug while the rest of the family congratulated us. I walked over to his grandparents so they could both take turns feeling the baby. We shared what we knew about the pregnancy, and his family all looked incredibly proud and happy which I knew made C.J overjoyed.

“We must go maternity shopping Ellie” I agreed with Gwyneth, and the two of us planned that.

“I guess this just gives me more time to work on my line for you Ellie. This better not have been a ploy to get out of modeling my line Ellie” Augustine narrowed his eyes at me, but I just laughed and assured him that I would love to model for him. He then mentioned a maternity line so that he could try something new.

I went into the kitchen to help prepare dinner, and the conversation never lulled. I was so happy that our families were so happy and accepting. I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders.

⯀

It was the next day, and we had slept through our alarms so we were rushing around. We are supposed to meet at Wilbur’s house in an hour, and we are nowhere near ready to go. It takes about 20 minutes to get there so we need to hurry. I wore a similar outfit to yesterday, but instead of a dress I’m wearing a red skirt, and I white top. C.J was wearing a white shirt as well that he paired with a Santa hat. I wore the matching elf hat.

We got to his house with five minutes to spare, and everyone was already here. I decided to just give everyone hugs. At this point I was over hiding it, and didn’t care about the surprise as much. I could see Wilbur watching us from the front window, and anyone could tell that he was a dog shifter. I swear I even saw his butt wiggle a little. When he saw us approaching the door he disappeared from the window, and opened the door.

“Presents!” He took the gifts from us and ran into the house. We just laughed and walked in to greet everyone else.

“Thanks Will, Love you too” C.J rolled his eyes at his best friend. I walked over to Walker who was pouting in an elf costume, and it had the ears and everything.

“Hey pouty boy, you don’t want to be my twin or something?” He perked up at the sight of my hat but still looked annoyed at the whole situation.

“I lost a bet to Cassidy, and now I have to wear this stupid outfit. Merry Christmas Ellie” He grumbled, but picked me up to give me a big hug. I heard C.J growl from where he was standing and he rushed over to Walker and grabbed me from him. He has been super protective of me even more as the pregnancy progresses. I looked up at Walker who stared down at me, and then at C.J’s hands that rested on my stomach. Well I guess the cats out of the bag, and I don’t have to wear this stupid coat anymore. I took it off, and went to go put it on the coat rack. Wilbur walked into the hall right as I was doing so , and he took one look at my stomach before passing out.

“Um Walker, I think I killed your brother!” Walker walked into the hall looking confused before he noticed his brother on the floor. He didn’t say anything before leaving and coming back with a cup of ice water which he then dumped on his brother’s face. Wilbur shot up, and sputtered.

“You. baby. C.J” This was why I would never let Drew and Wilbur meet.

“Yes Wilbur, me and C.J are having a baby. I’m 20 weeks pregnant” Cassidy walked in right as I said that, took one look at her drenched husband on the floor, and my stomach before shrugging and walking into the living room.

“Hey you’re wearing your ring?” Walker then glanced at my hand, and I could tell that he was a little hurt that he didn’t know about my pregnancy or engagement which I could understand.

“Walker you have no clue how hard it was to keep this secret from you. I kept almost telling you, but C.J and I agreed not to tell anyone until Christmas.” He nodded in understanding before giving me a little squeeze telling me he forgave me.

We exchanged presents, and everyone seemed a little more chipper at the news of a baby. One time I asked Cassidy if her and Wilbur were ever going to have children, or if they didn’t want any. She promptly told me that she didn’t really like children, and that being mated to Wilbur was like having a child and she couldn’t even imagine having to take care of another Wilbur. I could see where she was coming from, but it did make me curious on how the two of them got together. I knew that Cassidy was also a fog shifter, but instead of a retriever she was a golden lab. It’s actually a lot more common to have same species mates. It’s pretty rare to have successful interspecies mates, but that’s just because shifters are generally a lot more compatible with shifters that are the same species as them. Just like Alpha and Omega pairings were more common because they dynamic worked better in most cases. Secondary gender was a big complicated mess, but I’ll try to simplify it.

Alphas could be male or female, although male Alphas are more common. Beta’s were pretty equally split between male and female, and Omegas were more commonly female. Alpha males could impregnate Alpha females, Beta females, and any omega. Alpha females could impregnate Omega males, and females but no one else. Beta males could only impregnate beta females. Beta females couldn’t impregnate anyone, and neither could any type of omega. Omegas could only be impregnated by Alphas. Due to this adoption was pretty normal, and so was surrogacy for couples who wished to do so.

Now I was getting distracted, but C.J snapped me back into reality because we are starting a game of Monopoly. I always won this game, and I wasn’t about to lose today. This is turning out to be one of the best Christmases I have ever had, and I’m so grateful for all the new people that have become a part of my family.