The first snow of the season blanketed Rosemary Village in white.
It was quiet, peaceful, and bitterly cold.
Raizel sat by the window, watching the snowflakes drift down.
He realized something profound: this was his and Ultear's first Christmas together.
They had met earlier this year, and thinking about it, Raizel felt a pang of sympathy for Ur.
He had brought her daughter back from the brink of death, yet fate—and the threat of invasion—had kept them apart for their first holiday as a reunited family.
'Don't worry about Ur,' he told himself. 'Gray and Lyon are probably driving her crazy at Mount Hakobe. She won't be lonely.'
And he wasn't worried about the old man, either.
Makarov viewed the guild as his children. Even without Raizel and Laxus, the guild hall would be rowdy and full of warmth.
"Raizel! Are we going?" Ultear's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Yeah, let's go."
Raizel left Laxus behind at the house to keep watch.
He couldn't let Laxus lead the shopping trip; the man was notoriously directionally challenged.
If Laxus got lost in the snow, he'd probably turn into a bolt of lightning and zap around randomly until he fried a tree.
He took Ultear, Erza, Kagura, and Simon to the nearest town.
They had been purchasing supplies from this market for the past three months, so the route was familiar.
For Erza, Kagura, and Simon, this was a huge adventure.
Rosemary Village didn't have shops like this.
Their eyes widened at the colorful storefronts and the smell of roasted chestnuts.
...
Raizel's first stop was a clothing store.
"Pick whatever you like," Raizel told them.
In this small frontier town, the selection wasn't vast—mostly sturdy wool and cotton—but to the orphans, it was a treasure trove.
Ultear had noticed weeks ago that Erza didn't have any proper winter clothes.
As the weather grew colder, Erza had been shivering in her thin dress until Ultear gave her one of her own coats.
They were close in size, but Erza deserved something of her own.
"This red scarf looks good on you," Ultear said, wrapping a thick knitted scarf around Erza's neck.
Erza touched the soft wool, her eyes shining.
"It's... warm."
After clothes came the important part: Sweets.
Erza was already showing signs of becoming the legendary sweet-tooth she would be in the future.
Her eyes practically sparkled as she stared at the bakery window.
Unlike Ultear, who had a refined preference for dark chocolate, Erza wanted everything—cakes, soufflés, tarts.
She wasn't picky; if it had sugar, she wanted it.
Raizel bought a large strawberry cake and a bag of assorted pastries.
For himself, he grabbed a bag of gingerbread men.
"We need a tree," Raizel announced.
The four of them carried the bags of food and clothes, while Raizel hoisted a freshly cut pine tree onto his shoulder.
He also bought ribbons, string lights, and a gold star. Even in hiding, the sense of ceremony couldn't be missing.
Back at the village house, Raizel got to work outside.
He gathered dry wood and built a large bonfire pit near the entrance.
He tied the wood into a pyramid shape, securing it with stones.
Inside, chaos ensued.
"Laxus! Higher! Put the ribbon higher!" Erza commanded, pointing at the doorframe.
Laxus sighed, but he lifted the ribbon without complaint.
The children were too short to reach the windows and ceiling beams, so the lightning mage had been demoted to a glorified ladder.
Surprisingly, Erza and Kagura found the grumpy blonde quite amiable when he wasn't trying to act tough.
While they decorated, Raizel retreated to the kitchen.
He started the stove to simmer the rice.
The kitchen was warm, filled with the scent of spices.
"Kagura... wants to help," a small voice piped up.
Raizel turned.
Kagura stood in the doorway, peeking in.
Her hands gripped the frame tightly.
The others hadn't let her help with the high decorations because she was too small, and she felt a bit useless.
Raizel smiled warmly. "Sure. How about you help me wash the vegetables, Kagura?"
Children from poor families mature early.
Kagura nodded seriously, rolled up her sleeves, and got to work scrubbing carrots and potatoes in the basin.
She was thorough and quiet.
"Thanks, Kagura," Raizel said. "Now, can you help me knead this fish?"
He pointed to a large bowl of fish fillets.
He had chosen a boneless variety specifically for the kids.
He watched as Kagura's tiny hands worked the marinade of ginger, cooking wine, and cumin into the meat.
She looked so focused, like it was a mission of utmost importance.
Raizel prepared the main course: Beggar's Chicken.
He marinated two whole chickens with herbs, wrapped them in lotus leaves and foil, then encased them in clay mud.
"I'll be right back," Raizel said.
He went outside and buried the mud-wrapped chickens in the base of the bonfire pit. With a snap of his fingers, he lit the fire.
The dry wood caught instantly, casting a warm, crimson glow against the snowy night.
Back in the kitchen, Raizel pan-fried the fish until golden, then placed it in a large serving tray over alcohol burners to keep it warm.
He stir-fried two meat dishes and two vegetable sides.
"It smells amazing!" Ultear poked her head in.
"Go wash your hands," Raizel ordered. "Dinner is ready."
The table was small, so they had to squeeze.
Raizel and Laxus sat at the ends, boxing everyone in. Ultear and Erza sat on one side, Kagura and Simon on the other.
The food was simple but hearty.
The grilled fish sizzled on its burner, filling the room with a spicy, savory aroma.
The roasted chickens, cracked open from their clay shells, were juicy and tender.
"Thank you for the food!" everyone chorused.
"Thank you for your hard work!" Ultear and Erza added, looking at Raizel and Kagura.
Kagura blushed, lowering her head to hide a small, proud smile.
"You all worked hard too, with the decorations," Raizel said, looking around the room.
"It feels like a real home."
The atmosphere was warm, filled with laughter and the clinking of utensils.
For orphans like Erza, Simon, and Kagura, this was the first real feast they had ever experienced.
After dinner, they moved outside to the bonfire.
The snow had stopped, and the stars were out.
"Let's all make a wish together," Raizel suggested enthusiastically.
He clasped his hands and closed his eyes.
The others followed suit, the firelight dancing on their faces.
After a moment of silence, they opened their eyes.
"What did you wish for, Erza?" Ultear asked nudging her friend.
Erza smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescents.
It was a radiant, unguarded smile that lit up her face.
"I hope... I hope we can all spend Christmas together in the future. Just like this."
"Sounds good," Ultear nodded, returning the smile.
Seizing the moment, Ultear leaned in. "How about coming with us when we leave? Not just you, Erza, but Kagura and Simon too."
"Where to?" Erza asked. She was reluctant to leave Rosemary Village, but the idea of parting with Ultear hurt more.
"Fairy Tail," Ultear said, pointing to the black guild mark on her hand. "Our guild. It's our home."
"Home?" Erza whispered the word.
It felt foreign to her.
She had a village, but she had never had a home.
"Erza, lift your head," Raizel spoke up gently. "If you don't mind, try thinking of Fairy Tail as your home. We're a family of misfits. I was an orphan too, but Grandpa Makarov treats me like his own blood."
"I agree with that," Laxus grunted, leaning against a post.
He chuckled dryly. "As the old man's actual grandson, I don't get treated half as well as Raizel does."
"Great, I'll be sure to tell Grandpa you said that when we get back," Raizel smirked mischievously.
"Bastard! How old are you, still tattling?!" Laxus barked, a vein popping in his forehead. "He'll lecture me for hours!"
"I'm still a child," Raizel retorted with an infuriatingly innocent expression.
Erza watched them bicker, a warmth spreading in her chest.
This chaotic, loud, warm energy... it felt right.
"Okay," Erza said firmly. "I want to go."
"Kagura wants to go too!" the little girl piped up, raising her hand.
"Me too," Simon nodded.
"Then it's settled," Raizel grinned. "Welcome to the family."