Once William settled back into his carriage, holding the wooden box with the dress inside, he felt a sense of accomplishment. As the carriage began its journey back to the manor, the bustling streets of London slowly faded into the distance. He couldn’t help but wonder how Yuu would react when she saw the dress, and he looked forward to seeing the tree standing proudly in the grand living room, ready to add to the Christmas spirit at the Moriarty estate.

When William returned with the Christmas tree, he stepped into the living room, where Yuu was adding the final touches to the festive decorations. “Yuu, you’ve truly outdone yourself,” he remarked, his gaze sweeping over the beautifully transformed space.

The room was adorned with colourful garlands, red ribbons, and Christmas ornaments, while lush greenery framed the fireplace, crowned by a wreath with a vibrant green bow at its center. Extra candles glowed softly, enhancing the magical ambiance, and festive touches of holly and ivy brought the scene to life. She had even draped garlands around the old painting frames, infusing the room with an extra layer of Christmas spirit.

“Oh, you’re back! Right on time! I just finished decorating the room, and now I can start on the tree!” Yuu clapped her hands excitedly.

William set the tree down near the fireplace. “It’s perfect,” Yuu said, her eyes sparkling with joy.

“Well, I’d better rejoin Sebastian and Victor,” he said, his tone brief, before leaving the room.

"Alright," Yuu replied, already envisioning how to decorate the Christmas tree. Wasting no time, she draped red garlands, hung handmade ornaments, and carefully placed candles on its branches. With determined care, she tiptoed to set the shining star at the very top. Stepping back a few paces, she admired her work, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. "There, you look beautiful, our Christmas tree," she murmured softly to herself.

After finishing the decorations in the living room, Yuu made her way back to her room. As she passed through the grand staircase, her heart warmed at the sight. The staircase was draped in lush red garlands, with red ribbons adorning the front. She murmured to herself, “Now, the manor feels truly alive with the festive spirit.”

As she stepped inside her room, Yuu found a wooden box on her bed with a small note on top. She gently picked up the note and recognized William’s elegant handwriting. The faint scent of ink lingered on the paper as she read its contents: “Wear this tonight.” Yuu’s cheeks flushed as she placed the note back on the bed and opened the box. Inside lay a beautiful red dress. She held it up, her voice soft as she whispered, “this is beautiful!”

The dress was simple yet elegant, perfectly suited for the occasion, adorned with delicate lace. The top featured a more open neckline, trimmed with soft white fur. To complete her look, Yuu selected a few of her favourite necklaces. Standing before the mirror, she mused, “to finish the look - where’s my lipstick? Oh, and a bit of blush... Let’s not forget the mascara.”

After carefully applying her makeup, Yuu took one last look in the mirror, tilting her head slightly. A soft giggle escaped her lips. “I don’t look too bad after all,” she said with a smile.

When it was finally time to gather for the evening, Yuu descended the stairs and entered the living room, where everyone was already assembled. William greeted her with a warm smile. “It fits you perfectly.”

“You didn’t have to, you know,” she said, her voice full of warmth.

“I know,” he replied with a subtle grin, “but a lady deserves to look her best.”

A grand table was set in the living room, adorned with an elegant spread of the finest wines, including mulled wine and punch, accompanied by an array of delectable dishes. The feast featured roasted turkey stuffed with rich chestnut filling, a selection of delicate pastries, and an assortment of tempting snacks. Flickering candles and lush green garlands decorated the table, casting a warm glow that enhanced the festive ambiance.

They all gathered around the table: William at the center, with Albert to his left and Louis to his right. Next to Albert sat Yuu and Victor, while Sebastian sat beside Louis, and Fred next to him.

Yuu stood, holding a glass in her hand. “I’d like to make a toast to all of you, gentlemen. You've truly outdone yourselves. Once again, you've shown that you’re resourceful and capable of handling any challenge.” A proud smile curved her lips. “To each and every one of you - cheers!”

They all raised their glasses in a toast, the rich red wine glinting in the soft light, and took a sip, savouring the warmth of the drink. With the clink of glasses, they settled into a comfortable rhythm, enjoying the delicious food that filled the table. Lively conversation flowed effortlessly, each person sharing stories and jokes, while laughter echoed around the room.

Later that evening, William found himself standing beside the fireplace, lost in thought. He reflected on how the manor had come alive since the twins entered their lives and mused about what the future might hold.

With light footsteps, Yuu approached him, while the others remained at the table, listening to Victor's stories about the future. Yuu paused beside William, her fingers fidgeting nervously as she stood next to him. “Would you... indulge me in one more whim?” she asked, her voice soft, yet carrying a hint of playfulness.

“What is it, my lady?” William asked, his tone gentle.

“Would you care to take a picture with me?” Yuu asked, her voice a bit uncertain. “I know... this might not be your thing, and I understand if you don’t want to... but the thing is, I don’t know how much longer we’ll be in this era, and you were the first one to extend your hand and help us. It means a lot to us... to me. And... as long as I can make memories with you and everyone else, I want to remember. Always. It’s important to me, William.” Her gaze was intense but filled with sincerity as she looked at him.

“I see,” William replied softly, a hint of sadness in his eyes, though his face remained as unreadable as ever. After a brief pause, he added, “alright, I’ll indulge you this evening.”

“Thank you!” Yuu’s smile widened. She hurried over to the table where her brother was sitting and handed him her phone. “Take a picture of me and William next to the Christmas tree!”

“Sure, sis!” Victor replied with a grin as he took the phone from her hands.

William and Yuu stood beside the Christmas tree. The subtle scent of his cologne lingered in the air, and Yuu couldn’t help but tilt her head slightly to take in his features, softly illuminated by the tree’s warm glow. His expression was gentle, almost serene, and Yuu felt a comforting warmth bubble up inside her.

William turned to her, meeting her gaze. “Is everything alright?” he asked, his voice calm and steady.

Yuu nodded slightly. “Yes, William,” she replied, her tone soft. After a brief pause, she added coyly, “ah, one more thing - place your hand like this, just the way I have mine.” She demonstrated the gesture, her eyes glinting with anticipation as she awaited his reaction.

“Like this?” William asked, adjusting his hand.

“Yes, perfect!” Yuu exclaimed. “We’re ready, Victor!”

Victor snapped the photo, and Yuu immediately stepped closer to him. “Show me!” She eagerly took the phone from his hands, her eyes lighting up as she looked at the picture. “It’s perfect!”

William glanced at the photo, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he noticed the heart shape their hands had formed while posing. “Consider it a Christmas gift,” he said, clearly amused. “I don’t often indulge in... such matters.”

“Then you’re quite generous this year, my lord... the dress, the photo, what’s next?” Yuu teased William lightly.

Albert, ever ready to disrupt the moment, chimed in with a grin, “should I bring a mistletoe? You two seem quite cozy together.”

Yuu giggled, nudging his shoulder playfully. “You wouldn’t dare.”

The others quickly joined in on the teasing, their laughter filling the room. Sebastian leaned closer with a mischievous grin and said, “show us the photo, too!” As he looked at it, he turned to William with a teasing smirk. “Look at that - our Lord of Crime, looking all cozy by the Christmas tree!” he joked, prompting more giggles from the group.

For the first time in a long while, the entire group allowed themselves to embrace the Christmas spirit. For that evening, they set aside thoughts of their upcoming missions and simply savoured the simplicity of the moment.

William watched their playful banter, but his attention was quickly drawn to Yuu as her eyes lit up. She walked straight to the window, where heavy snowflakes were beginning to fall.

“It’s snowing! Let’s go outside!” she exclaimed. Without waiting for a response, she grabbed her coat and ran out the door to the garden.

She tried to catch the snowflakes, her childlike innocence shining brightly as she smiled and played in the falling snow. The rest of the group followed her outside, and the snow began to pile up around them.

“Let’s have a snowball fight!” Yuu exclaimed, hurling a snowball at her brother. However, it missed and hit Louis instead, causing him to laugh and join the playful battle, along with the others.

“Okay, my turn next!” Louis grinned, quickly making a snowball and tossing it at Yuu. She giggled as it hit her.

“You can’t have all the fun! William, let us join in too!” Albert called out, already throwing snowballs at Yuu and Louis before launching one at William.

“You sure are enjoying this. Very well,” William replied, joining the fight. He threw his snowball first at Albert, then at Louis.

Victor made his first snowball and aimed it at his sister, but it landed on Fred instead, who then joined in as well.

Snowballs flew in every direction as they all tried to outmanoeuvre each other, ducking behind trees and bushes. Their dark jackets quickly became covered in white as the playful encounter continued. Laughter echoed through the garden; their breath visible in the cold air. Breathless but happy, their cheeks flushed from the chill, their eyes sparkled with joy.

Meanwhile, while everyone was caught up in the snowball fight, Sebastian quietly slipped away to take care of something. Fred, noticing his absence, decided to check on him.

As the snowball fight came to an end, Sebastian and Fred stepped outside, each holding something in their arms. “The evening is not over yet. I have something special prepared for us,” Sebastian declared. With Fred's help, he began placing fireworks in the snow and lighting them. The others turned their attention to the sky as the bright, colourful display exploded above them, filling the night with awe and excitement.

Yuu stepped closer to her brother, taking his hand, her gaze fixed on the fireworks. “This is one of the best Christmases. I'm so glad I’m here with you.”

"So am I,” Victor replied, squeezing her hand softly, his voice gentle as they both watched the sky light up.

William, Albert, and Louis stood behind the twins, watching the vibrant display. Albert spoke up, his voice thoughtful. “This year has truly been extraordinary, and I believe there are many more adventures to come.”

William glanced at Victor, then at Yuu, his gaze lingering on her as both twins were mesmerized by the fireworks. Their eyes lit up with each burst, and William thought quietly, his face calm with admiration, “thank you, Yuu, for reminding us of what’s truly important - making memories together.” He then turned to his brother and smiled. “Indeed, dear brother,” he chuckled softly. “With those two, I have no doubt.”