"Oooo, mommy, can we watch this movie?" Aiden asked, excitedly showing his mother a disc of an old Christmas movie that Esmeralda had lying around in a box.

The two had been unpacking and setting up the apartment Esmeralda had just bought, with Aiden mostly finding toys to play with and getting distracted. It took the better half of the day, but they now had at least most of their things unpacked, with the tv having just been set up and they decided to take a bit of a break and watch a holiday movie or two before decorating for the holidays. Esmeralda had decided to let Aiden choose the movie, leading back to the moment at hand.

Smiling softly, Esmeralda nodded in response to the question. "Of course we can, honey. It's actually been a while since I've seen that one. Now, why don't you go put it in and get it started while I make some hot chocolate and popcorn to go along with it?" she suggested, ruffling her son's hair in an affectionate manner. Grinning, Aiden nodded in response and went to do as suggested while Esmeralda headed to the kitchen to make the goodies she mentioned.

A few moments later, Esmeralda returned with a large bowl filled with popcorn and a mug of hot chocolate. She quickly set the two items down before going to retrieve her own mug from the kitchen and returning to the living room, sitting down on the couch to watch the movie Aiden had just started up. Grinning with his own mug of hot chocolate in hand, Aiden happily snuggled up to his mother as she sat down.

The movie was one of those old Rankin/Bass movies that had come in a box set Esmeralda had bought a while ago to make up for the one that was left behind when her parents kicked her out for getting pregnant at eighteen.

Sure, the movies brought up some bittersweet memories of holidays she had spent with her parents and occasionally her siblings, sitting around and drinking hot chocolate around the fireplace while the movies played, but she wasn't going to let that stop her from enjoying them with her son and making new memories with him. Still, even if it had been six years since she had been kicked out, the memories still hurt her a bit to think about.

Esmeralda hadn't even noticed she was crying until Aiden's voice piped up. "Mommy, are you okay? This isn't even a sad part... why are you crying?" he asked, reaching up to wipe her tears.

A surprised look overtook Esmeralda's features at what Aiden said, and she wiped her face to discover the tears he had mentioned. "Oh, um, I'm not sure... I guess I was just thinking of something sad..." she responded, wiping the rest of her tears away.

"Oh... well do you want a hug to cheer you up?" Aiden asked, setting down his mug and reaching his arms out for his mother. Esmeralda nodded in response, drawing him in for a tight, warm hug. The two stayed like that for a few moments before Esmeralda pulled away, smiling softly at her son.

"Thanks, honey..." she spoke, gently rustling Aiden's hair.

"No problem, mommy! If you ever start thinking of sad things, just tell me and I'll be happy to hug you to make those sad thoughts go away!" Aiden responded, grinning brightly.

Esmeralda laughed softly, nodding in response to what her son had said. "I will. And if you need a hug, tell me and I'll be happy to give one to you as well, alright?" she responded with a soft smile.

Aiden cheerfully nodded in response. "I will! Now, let's keep watching the movie! I wanna know if Santa goes back to the North Pole!" he spoke with a bright grin.

Esmeralda let out another soft laugh and nodded in understanding in response to what he had said. With that, the two curled up together on the couch, continuing to watch the movie. As the movie continued, Aiden's eyes practically sparkled with excitement and happiness, especially as the movie neared its end. The popcorn was nearly halfway finished by this point. Esmeralda smiled down at her son in a loving manner, holding him close as the credits rolled.

"Hey, Aiden. What do you say I get a fire going in the fireplace and we can watch another movie?" Esmeralda suggested, that smile still on her face. Aiden grinned in response, his eyes sparkling.

"That sounds great! You can pick the next movie, okay mommy?"

"Alright, I've got the perfect one in mind, in that case." Esmeralda responded with a soft laugh, getting a fire going before rummaging through the various holiday movies she had stored, eventually finding the one she had in mi00nd. This one was about someone attempting to 'steal' Christmas by taking all of the various toys and holiday items a town had acquired for the season.

As the movie started, Aiden happily leaned against his mother, obviously just happy to be spending his time with her. Though he also seemed to be quite invested in what was happening in the movie. Esmeralda remained cuddled close to her son, also obviously happy to be spending time with Aiden. She just hoped this moment would be a memory he cherished well into his adult years.

The two would remain cuddled up through the remainder of the short film, just enjoying the popcorn, hot chocolate, and each other's company. Though, as the film ended, Aiden yawned a bit, his eyelids beginning to droop slightly. Esmeralda could help but let out a soft laugh at her son's state.

"Getting sleepy, Aiden? Maybe it's time we got you ready for bed." Esmeralda suggested with a slight smile.

"I'm not that sleepy... can't we watch one more Christmas movie?" Aiden asked, a pleading look in his eyes, his bottom lip quivering slightly.

Esmeralda let out another soft laugh. "Alright, fine. One more, but after that, you do need to get to bed, alright? You don't have school, but I don't need you staying up all night and then being tired in the morning. You do have an appointment with the eye doctor at nine am tomorrow, after all, so we'll have to leave at around eight forty five. So, go pick the last movie, but then it's bedtime, okay?" she responded, playfully rustling her son's hair.

Aiden grinned and nodded in response, quickly going and rummaging through the few movies that the two had, before settling on the last one they would watch for the night. He was quick to put the movie into the player and start it up, getting settled back on the couch and curling up against his mother yet again. Esmeralda smiled down at her son before turning her attention to the film, this one being centered around an outcasted reindeer.

As the film went on, Aiden had slowly but surely began to fall asleep. A soft and peaceful smile graced his face as he did so. By the time the film was over, he was fully asleep, snoring softly and occasionally murmuring something that couldn't quite be made out. Esmeralda smiled softly down at her son upon noticing his state once the film was over and gently lifted him up, heading over to his room to tuck him in.

Once there, she gently set him on the bed and covered him with his blankets so he would be plenty warm during the forecasted cold night. She also made sure to set a heater beside his bed and make sure it was running on a low setting, turning on a nightlight for him as well.

Once she was finished putting him to bed, Esmeralda placed a gentle kiss on the top of Aiden's head, murmuring "Goodnight, honey. I love you." before quietly exiting the room.

Though, this wouldn't last long as Aiden soon exited the room and leaned sleepily against Esmeralda, sleepily muttering "Mommy? Can you read me a bedtime story?"

Esmeralda let out a soft sigh, a slight smile plastered on her face. "Alright, but only a short one, okay? I need to get to bed soon, too, alright?" she responded, receiving a sleepy nod from Aiden.

"Can you read one of the bedtime stories you wrote?" Aiden asked, looking up at his mother, with sleepy yet pleading eyes.

"Of course, honey. Just pick out the story you want me to read and I'll read it to you." Esmeralda responded, that patient smile still on her face. Sure, she was quite tired herself at the moment, but her son needed her, so she wasn't just going to leave him to get himself to bed.

So, the two went back into Aiden's room with Aiden quickly choosing one of the books Esmeralda had written and gotten a copy of to give to him and handing it to Esmeralda. Afterwards, he would settle back down under his covers, waiting for his mother to begin reading. Esmeralda settled down in bed next to him, opening the book and beginning to read.

It was a rather short, yet sweet story about a lonely princess who meets and befriends a dragon, protecting it from those who want to harm it. As Esmeralda read the book, she made it exciting, yet soothing, putting on various voices for the characters and just all around having fun with reading to Aiden.

As the story came to a close, Aiden was leaned up against his mother, already seeming to be half asleep. Once the story was over, Esmeralda placed an affectionate kiss on the top of her son's head. "Alright, Aiden, you and I both need to get to bed. I'll see you in the morning, alright?"

"Okay, mommy... I love you." Aiden murmured, snuggling into his blankets and slowly beginning to drift off to sleep yet again.

Esmeralda smiled in response to what her son had said. "I love you too, honey."