A smile pulled across her cherry red lips and her skin warmed, even more under his palm. Aziel to way too much lost looking at her, to notice her hand on his face.

He felt sparks on his skin where their skin met. Her touch sent goosebumps along his body.

"How? I thought you were-" Aziel started to voice out his thoughts but came to an abrupt stop near the harsh reality.

"Death?" she asked, even though she knew the answer herself.

Aziel nodded slowly, way too much scared that if he made one wrong move, she would disappear. He didn't want to be left alone once again.

"Well, I am not completely the same. You might have noticed, for example, my eyes. They aren't grey are they?" she replied pointing towards her face.

Aziel one hand was settled on her waist, holding her close and others on her face. His eyes drew towards her eyes and unlike the steely grey orbs he was expecting, there were bright orange eyes.

They were warm like he expected them to be but the color shocked him to the core. His mouth flew open and eyes opened a bit more. "What? How?"

A giggle followed after his reaction, capturing his attention once again. A smile pulled across his face and once again he was enchanted by how melodious it sounded to his ears.

He almost pouted a bit when she pulled away from him a bit. She pulled her fluffy Santa hat away. Once again he felt flabbergasted at what he witnessed.

Under the wild curls of her hair, small elf ears peeked out. His mind went to what the blond boy had said and suddenly it seemed all too unreal.

He carefully pointed at her ears and in a small whisper, he asked. "Those are fake right? Just like that blond guy's ears."

She furrowed her eyebrows, a bit confused but with sudden realization she once again snickered, ending it with a small pout. "Seems like Robin gave you a clue. No, they are not fake, Aziel. I am an elf."

Elf? The small human-like beings, the fairytale Santa's helpers? Aziel thought at the word.

"Elf?" he asked a bit shocked, wanting to confirm her words once again. In response, all she did was giggle and nod her head fervently.

"But how? Were you always an elf?" Aziel asked, feeling flabbergasted.

At his question, her eyes dimmed a bit. She took his hand and lead him towards the living area.

A big Christmas tree was stocked up with lights and decorations. A warm hearth was lit, casting a warm shine around the area.

She led him to a small leather couch near the fireplace and made him sit down. Her expression was a bit scared and nervous. Her fingers were fiddling and her feet were constantly moving. Not liking that he pulled her down and encased her in one of his hugs.

She sighed and snuggled more in his chest. Letting out a satisfied sigh, he leaned his head on top of her head. He felt complete after a long time.

"Tell me." he quietly whispered, rubbing her arms in comfort.

"Do you remember the day I died?" she started, She paused for a second and pulled back to see his expression, looking for confirmation. Aziel felt his insides crumble at the question, how could he forget that ill-fated day.

Finding her answer, she once again settled against his chest. "That day I wasn't me who was supposed to die. It was you and by pushing you away, I sacrificed myself for you." She whispered in a low voice.

Pain bloomed through Aziel's chest and he felt like a burden. She died because of him. It was him who was supposed to die that day, not her. Earlier he knew she had died saving him but the very thought that her life exchanged for his was a painful thought.

"You shouldn't have-" he started to say but she pulled back and shushed him with a glare.

"I loved you and when you love someone, you don't care about your life but theirs. I never regretted that decision and I want you to accept that," she replied, narrowing her eyes at the end. Aziel could do anything except nod in return.

She once again continued and explained the situation to her." There are two types of sacrifices. One is the fated one, where death for someone is woven in their life and the other is unfated one. The person willingly gives up their life for someone else, even though their time of death was still far away. Since my sacrifice was not a fated one, I was given a second chance at life."

Aziel could sense there was more to this and voiced his query. "But?"

She wasn't surprised by his question, Aziel's curiosity and questions she was something she was habitual to.

"I had to work as an elf for some years and then if I wanted, I could choose for a second life."

"So you are kind of resurrected?" Aziel asked as warm hope bloomed in his heart.

She sighed in response. "No, but I will be reincarnated in someone else's body," she replied, "I will be given someone else's body. It will be like a person but with memories and habits of two people. My features will be that of that body and the only thing left of my original self will be my conscious mind, living through that body."

"So you are still working as an elf?" he asked, looking at her face, gauging for any reaction.

Her eyebrows furrowed and lips pouted. "This is my last year and after this new year, I will be given a new body."

Finishing her reply she looked at his face. Her orange eyes swept through this messy brown hair and warm brown hazel eyes. Before her gaze could notice anything further, his lips slanted over hers.

The shock was just momentary and after that, they gave into the kiss with equal fervor. She felt Aziel smile against her lips, bringing out a smile of her own too.

They pulled away breathless and lips swollen. Their eyes were joyous and yearning at the same time.

"Wait a second, are you allowed to tell me this and what about your parents? Do they know?" he asked when a sudden thought plagued his mind.

She cleared her throat as her eyes once again became sad at the mention of her parents. "I am not allowed to meet my close blood relations until I the reincarnation. You know after they moved away, they adopted a small boy?"

Aziel shook his head no in response. He knew the Schultz had moved away a state away after Uriella's death. After losing their only daughter, they were so broken that they needed a new start. Away from her memories.

The clock struck 12 signaling Christmas which seemed Merry. Both of their attention moved towards it and a smile pulled across their face.

"Merry Christmas!" Both of them greeted each other in a synchronised voice. Once again their lips connected and the night was spent away in ways alike.

Aziel groaned as the phone ringing woke him up the next morning. He quickly looked down towards his side, she was curled in his arms and he didn't want to wake her up.

"Elijah, I am fine. I will be back soon" he quietly whispered into the phone.

He quickly tried to settle back in but his efforts to keep her asleep went futile as she moaned and stretched, coming back to this world from the deep dreams.

"Merry Christmas and Good Morning," he whispered in a low voice.

Returning his smile, she traced his jaw with her finger. "Merry Christmas and Good Morning to you too."

They basked in each other's warmth and presence, observing each other.

"So you are leaving soon?" she asked, her eyes focused on a tiny mole on his neck.

"Going to return quickly, yes. But leaving never! Remember you are stuck with me for the rest of your life." Aziel joked, earning a snicker from her.

"Since I am your Santa, tell me. Did you like your final gift?" Ella asked, even though she knew the answer.

"Yes! I loved it!" he groaned in response, burying his head in her curls. It was still for a moment after that and then.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too."

Finally, the hearts came in sync too and sang a rhythm similar to their love. Souls intertwined, they lived close for the rest of their mortal life.