Sure enough, her form began to rapidly shrink and her fur receded as she went through the same process she had just experienced but in reverse.
It seemed particularly cruel to force a first-time shifter to have to experience a relatively painful process twice in rapid succession, but it was what our bodies had evolved to do.
But I wanted to be human when she was, so I told my inner bear it was time to switch out.
He was reluctant, a bit aggravated that his time had been so short, but I assured him that he would be taking Addy on our first hunt and so many other important milestones in the coming months, that he acquiesced without so much as a grumble.
Naturally, I completed my transformation into my human form before my daughter did, so I was there to hold her face when she finally returned to herself.
A lot of emotions had to be hitting her all at once, and the sheer assault on her senses from a first shift could be overwhelming, but I didn't expect her to break into racking sobs the moment her body was able to.
"Addy, I'm here. We're all here," I soothed, pulling her to me. The rest of our crew followed, swallowing her in a four-way hug. "You did it! You shifted."
"I ruined everything!" she cried, and the raw emotion in her voice just about made my chest crack right down the center.
Once again, it was Jeannie's voice that broke through the chaos.
"Darling, you didn't ruin anything. Do you really think after how your father and I got together and then our magical proposal that we could have a normal wedding?
You've helped make this the most special day we could have ever asked for! "
"Y-y-you're j-just saying that!"
"Miss Adelaide LeBeau," Jeannie said sternly. "Have I ever lied to you?"
"No…"
I lifted my daughter's face so she could gaze into my eyes once again. "Jeannie is right. You didn't ruin a single thing. You made this day so much more memorable than we ever could have asked for. I promise."
"B-b-but your wedding?"
"What about it?" Jeannie asked before looking to the officiant. "Any reason why we can't continue?"
Of course, it helped that the officiant was Cuz Amédé, who had seen many first shifts in his time.
"Ain't no reason that I can see."
"See?" Jeannie said. "It's all fine."
"It is?"
"Of course it is. Now, why don't we all get up?"
We did, rising as one, and Jeannie kissed Addy's cheek. I kissed her other cheek, making one of the cutest little smooch-sandwiches possible.
Jeannie used the hem of her dress to gently wipe at Addy's tears, and I swore I was so deeply in love that I could fly. But with my daughter taken care of, my soon-to-be wife turned back to whoever was manning the speakers.
"I believe you were about to play my entrance?"
There was a ripple of laughter before the notes of the traditional wedding march filtered through the air.
Together, the five of us strode right up to the altar, a family united.
Adelaide, Evangeline, Max, Jeannie, and Remington Wolfe-LeBeau.
There was a cheer from our guests as people settled and everyone returned to their places.
Was everything pristine and perfect? No.
Not at all. But what in life was? As Cuz went through the usual questions, and we said our vows, I stared at the beautiful family I'd ended up with.
Once, I had been lost and in denial, pretending I was all right because I thought that was the promise I made.
But now I understood what true happiness was, and at the center of that happiness, was the beautiful, kind woman standing in front of me.
"Do you, Remington, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health? Do you promise to protect her, to keep her den warm and your cubs healthy?"
I had been through that sickness part before, so I was one hundred percent aware of what I was promising when I spoke. "I do."
"And do you, Jeannie, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health? Do you promise to shield him from humans, to keep his secret, and rear the cubs you have together?"
"I do."
"Then I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!"
And oh, did I kiss my bride. I pulled her to me, crashing my lips to hers.
I dipped her, wanting her to feel like the queen she was being swept off her feet, but once I righted her, I picked her up and spun her around.
The crowd let out a raucous cheer, and this time, there were no cries of "Ew" or gagging noises from any of our trio.
Even they knew that this was truly a happily ever after.
For all of us.
Thank you for spending some of your valuable time on Have A Bear-y Little Christmas
Jeannie and Remmington's story came to us like most quiet miracles do—gently, a little messy, and right when we needed the reminder that love can still find you in the coldest seasons.
Thank you for spending time with their little family, for believing in second chances, and for letting a grumpy bear shifter and a hopeful mom warm your heart for a while.