I opened the door and smiled at Alex's comforting figure. He was slightly shorter than me with black curls that stood out against his light brown skin. He froze, his lips quivering. "Hey."

"Alexander, thank God, you're here," I allowed him inside. Strawberry suddenly went up to him and purred loudly, stuffing her face in Alex's ankles. Again with the ankles...

"Strawberry," Alex scooped her up, smiling softly. "Charity...it's nearly midnight on Christmas Eve, what's the emergency? You don't look like you're in danger—"

"You don't believe me?" I asked, frowning.

"We're exes."

But we shouldn't be. "I-I broke a bauble and then Death was in my bedroom! He said he was going to claim my soul but I-I made a counterdeal, Alexander! I just have to go to some store to find the Greek Fates and they'll spin me a new trinket made out of thread! I just need you to help me, Alex—"

"Alexander." Alex's voice was cold, but he didn't intend for it to sound harsh. "Charity, this sounds insane. Death isn't a person, Death is just death."

"I'm not fucking insane!" I yelled, flushed.

"I never said you were!" Alex argued, setting down Strawberry. He headed for the door, sighing. "I knew I shouldn't have come here, you're still the same Charity Mikaelson from last year. Nothing has changed, Char."

"Please! Don't leave!" I cried out, rushing after him. Tears dripped down my cheeks as I sobbed. "Alex, you're the only person I could have called!" I persisted, my hands on his shoulders. "Please, help me, I'm in serious shit."

"I hate it when you swear," he murmured. Alex sighed and turned back to me. He wiped the tears off my face and grunted. "I'll stay, but only for the rest of the night and the rest of tomorrow. No funny business, okay, Charity?"

I nodded as I headed back to the sofa. I let myself sink as Strawberry jumped onto my lap. Everything is going to be fine, my mind convinced me. Alexander is here and Death isn't going to snatch your soul.

"Merry Christmas," Alex said softly, sitting beside me on the sofa.

"Huh?"

He pointed at the clock. "It's 1:03 AM, Christmas Eve is officially over and it's now Christmas. Merry Christmas, Charity."