Dutch winters were cold. Christmas sometimes had snow, but it was mostly a cold day with a grey sky and a chill that you couldn't escape.

House windows teased their Christmas tree's lights and doors had festive wreaths on their peepholes. The Netherlands' Scandanavian architecture was beautiful when decked in Christmas colours. It made December a month longed for by children and families who got together for the holidays.

But before Christmas, Fenne had something else to prepare for. November was just as important as the winter holiday. After stopping at the cafe for a hot latte with caramel, Fenne headed through the city while wrapped in a jumper and with a coat over the top.

She had just missed the rainfall and it left the streets and concrete wet. A dampness hung in the air and car tires rang with the sound of water on their rubber.

Fenne liked winter for its cold nights. The ability to sleep soundly while warm in bed was unlike any other feeling, and the cold made it so that you could sleep soundly with someone beside you.

But when Fenne wasn't in bed, and the sky teemed with the possibility of rain, Fenne hated winter. Her jumper was warm and her coat even warmer, but if the rain started, she would have to go home on the train in wet jeans and greasy hair. There was no hood on her coat, which Fenne noted was a poor financial decision on her part when she bought it. What good was a raincoat without a hood?

Turning a corner, Fenne saw Joost already waiting for her. His attention was down on his phone with his other hand in his hoodie's pocket. He was dressed like every other city walker and she would have missed him with his grey raincoat and black hood over his head. But at the sight of blonde strands peaking out the front of his hood, Joost's appearance made Fenne pick up her pace.

'Happy birthday!' she cheered once she was near and Joost turned away from his phone with raised eyebrows. At Fenne's arrival, he shoved the device into his pocket and beamed with a toothy grin.

Fenne stood on her toes to hug his shoulders while Joost bent to bury his face in her coat. He lifted her off her feet for a moment, but put her down before she could squeal like she always did. He was used to the weather being poor on his birthday, but there was nothing he wanted to do more than to see his girlfriend despite the sporadic rainfall.

'I hope that's for you and not me,' Joost said after pulling away and looking at the paper cup in her hand.

'No, it's for you!'

Joost adored the way Fenne held the drink out with a grin. She bought him too many coffees for him to keep up with. He tried to make it even by buying her treats, but Fenne avoided accepting as much as she could. Her 'I'm not hungry's and 'they're too expensive for what they're worth's were infuriating, but some days, Joost would hand her something and walk away silently. If he pretended to not hear her complaints, Fenne would eventually give up and eat whatever she was given.

'Thank you, Fenne, but you need to stop buying me these.'

'Well, Monster Energy isn't that much better. At least this will keep you warm,' Fenne accepted the kiss Joost gave with butterflies in her stomach. The way he leaned down to peck her lips was addicting to watch and with his tuffs of hair peaking out from his hood, Joost's bundled appearance made Fenne wanted to stand as close to her boyfriend as she could.

'And this is for you, too,' she held out the small gift bag that she had behind her back. Joost looked between her and the gift in disbelief and hesitancy.

'What are you doing? I said not to get me anything,' he took the handle and tried to peak inside.

'You're 22, liefje. You deserve something. It's your first present from me, so you can't say no.'

While taking a sip of his coffee, Joost shook his head hopelessly. He couldn't argue and Fenne knew what she was doing by calling him the nickname normally reserved for herself. Joost put his first present down on a ledge next to him and opened the gift bag. Fenne watched with fiddling fingers, eager to see his reaction.

Joost resisted looking up as he pulled out a box. He could see Fenne's fidgeting in his peripheral and wanted to clasp her hands in his to stop her. But as he opened the box, he cried out in glee followed by a hearty laugh.

'No fucking way!'

A silver zippo lighter with a cursive 'F' carved into the base sat on a satin cushion. Joost's eyes disappeared and crinkles formed in their corners. He stepped away, overcome by his happiness and surprise, but rushed forward to cup the back of Fenne's head and planted the biggest kiss on her forehead.

'You like it?' Fenne said, hopefully.

'Oh my- schatje, I'm over the fucking moon. This is just-' Joost pulled his hand away to take the zippo out and light a flame '-so nice. Thank you, liefje. Thank you, my sweet, sweet liefje.'

Fenne was overwhelmed with kisses all over her face. She was in Joost's chest one minute and being smothered with his lips the next. She giggled as she tried to meet some of his kisses and admired his overworked cheeks. His grin was wide and his laugh was contagious. It was Fenne's favourite look on Joost and his hyena-like hiccups were her favourite sound. She would do anything to experience them and today, Fenne was spoilt.

'You couldn't have gotten anything better. I'll never let anyone else use it,' Joost put the lid back on and slipped it back into the gift bag. He kept his joyful grin as he grabbed his coffee from the ledge with the same hand.

'It's for you to use every day. I'm sure Stuntje will use it at some point-'

'No, this one's special. He can use one of the crappy ones.'

Joost took Fenne's hand and they headed down the street. The restaurant where everyone was meeting them was out of the city. Fenne had wanted to give Joost his present before they got on the train, so she met with him beforehand. Hanna headed off to Apson's and the two were driving there, so Fenne's journey into Amsterdam was on her lonesome.

At the train station, Joost drank his coffee and Fenne stayed close to his side. The biting cold lingered in the overground station but her hand was warm inside her boyfriend's. They stepped on the train and stood together amongst other commuters. Forced to unwravel their fingers to grab the pole for balance, Fenne and Joost mumbled to each other while leaning close.

They stepped onto the platform for their stop and headed out of the station. As they walked, Fenne decided to pull out her phone and get a picture for a birthday post for Joost.

She hadn't posted on Instagram since gaining all those followers from the Pukkelpop video. Her fear of how people would react to seeing her active on Instagram stopped her, but she had been dating Joost for six months now. And after Joost made his definitive statement on his own account, Fenne had come to terms with the fact that what other people thought didn't matter.

Bringing her phone up, Fenne went to snap a photo of Joost and prompted him to smile. Before he could realise, her thumb tapped the screen and Joost was captured mid-movement. Fenne brought her phone up to her face and snickered at the distant look in Joost's eyes and his hoodie's collar up over his chin.

'I'm not having that. No way,' Joost reached out to snatch the phone, but Fenne moved it out of reach.

'But you look so cute!'

'It's my birthday, god damn it. Delete it!'

Fenne was in fits of laughter as Joost leaned over her in the street. The shorter girl shot in all directions while protecting her phone and her new favourite picture. It got to the point where Joost put his birthday gift and hot coffee on the ground. This was when Fenne knew she was in trouble and went to cross the street.

Her wrist was caught before she could step off the curb. Joost realed her back and locked his arms around Fenne, his jaw set in concentration.

'Give me it, Fenne!'

'No, please! I'm not going to post it!'

It was lucky that the street was deserted. If anyone were to walk by, they would think that the smaller girl was being robbed by a blonde-haired hooligan.

Joost got a hold of Fenne's waist and rooted his feet to the floor as he stretched to her extended arm. Fenne cried about how it was unfair and twisted around in his grip, bending over to conceal the photo against her chest. She felt herself giving up as Joost's hand slipped under her elbow and gasped when her phone was yanked from her grip.

'Joost! Please!' Fenne whipped around as he retreated and emerced himself in her phone. He unlocked it with ease and dodged Fenne's attempt to swipe it out of his grip.

'Christ, do I really look like that?' Joost groaned with the picture staring back at him. His thumb hovered over the trashcan that sat in the corner, but as he looked up, Joost caught sight of his girlfriend's sulking.

Fenne huffed in defeat and stood with her arms crossed. Her shoulders sagged and the laughter that had erupted from her chest moments before, was gone completely. She bent down to pick up Joost's coffee and gift and straightened up while avoiding his gaze. Like a kicked puppy, Fenne kept her head down knowing Joost was watching.

Joost knew she was exaggerating when Fenne's large eyes flickered up through her lashes. He couldn't resist, so with a scoff, Joost held the phone out with the photo on the screen.

'You're lucky you're so pretty,' he grumbled with a roll of his eyes. Fenne's face lit up and she took her phone back hastily.

'I promise I won't post it. I just want it to exist, that's all.'

With a chuckle, Joost took his coffee and gift and wrapped one arm around Fenne's shoulders. Fenne made sure to set the adorable photo as her new lockscreen before she put her phone away, yet to lose her satisfied grin.

Their playful brawl was left in the street once they arrived at the restaraunt. The outdoor dining had been packed away for the rain but the inside was well-lit and inviting. Joost could already see the large group sat in the corner and held the door open as Fenne skipped through.

Exposed brick and dark wooden tables made for a cosy experience. The few tables that were sat for dinner were engaged in intimate conversations, while the table filled with rowdy men and a single woman elevated the atmosphere. Fenne was the first to make their arrival known and Hanna leapt up from her seat in relief.

'Thank god you're here. They've been talking about football ever since we got here,' Hanna said, taking hold of Fenne's arm for comfort. Fenne snickered and Joost was greeted loudly by the table.

'It's the birthday boy!' Stuntje got up from his seat and dapped up his friend.

After a series of greetings, Joost took a seat opposite Fenne, who sat beside Hanna. Apson was opposite Stuntje, and Fenne recognised Enzo at the end opposite Teun. Pints of beer sat in front of everyone besides Hanna, who opted for a pink cocktail. It wasn't long until a Heineken was bought for the birthday boy and another pink drink sat in front of Fenne for a special mid-week celebration.

'I'm meeting Apson's parents at Christmas,' Hanna said to her friend. Fenne's eyebrows rose at the wide grin on Hanna's face.

'And you're excited about that?'

'Of course! I'm the perfect girlfriend to bring home.'

Fenne couldn't believe the confidence that Hanna had. If she hadn't known her for years, Fenne would fear for Apson. But when Hanna turned to the man next to her, the bravado melted away with the flash of a grin. Fenne could see Apson's hand holding Hanna's under the table. Any of Apson's attention turned Hanna Kloppefield into a docile, sweet, understanding version of herself that Fenne rarely saw.

'Is he going to your graduation?' Fenne asked.

'Yeah. Mum and Dad haven't met him yet, though. I plan to keep it that way until then.'

'Isn't that a bit risky?'

'Don't make me laugh. They'll spend the whole time arguing. There's no point on making Appie suffer any more time with them than he has to.'

Hanna's parents divorced when she was seventeen. It was part of the reason why she was so eager to move out with Fenne after highschool. Living between her parents' houses was hell, and luckily, she was eighteen not long after their separation. It made holidays and special occasions difficult, hence why Hanna was meeting Apson's parents at Christmas and not the other way around.

'Hey, I took this picture just before we got here and you have to see it.'

Fenne pulled her phone out and lit the screen up under the table. Her lockscreen was replaced with the off-guard picture of Joost with his eyes looking elsewhere. Hanna laughed and made the mistake of looking to the subject, who sat across from them with an unimpressed look. Fenne pocketed her phone while biting her tongue and sent him the sweetest smile she could muster.