December 23

We've got two weeks off for Christmas and New Year's. Aunt Jeanie and I just got to the ski resort. We're somplace called Åre, Sweden. Mine and Auntie's room is BEAUTIFUL! It's night time now, and this whole place is lit up bright. Hikaru says we're going out to town with Kaoru. It'll give Auntie and Miss Hitachiin a chance to get to know one another. I hope we go by the lake. After, we've got reservations at a nearby restaurant. I should probably get ready now. This has got to be by far the greatest holiday ever!
~A.J.

I rolled out of bed and dug through my suitcase. Auntie and I had gone shopping specially for this trip. I tucked my hair into an inverted ponytail and threw on a dark blue sweater-dress with a silver belt that draped over my hips. I slipped into a pair of grey leggings and tugged my boots on, staring at myself in the mirror. "I should change," I murmured self-consciously, twisting and turning so I could see myself at every angle. "Yes? No? Yes...or no? No," I sighed, looking through my bag for something else. "Yes, very much yes. If you don't wear it, I jus might," Auntie called from the doorway to the sitting room. The suite had a living room and a bedroom with two full-sized beds, plus a bathroom with a long counter and vanity mirrors. My favorite part was the balcony. This side of the hotel overlooked a large lake and the bustling town below. If I listened carefully, I'd be sure to hear Christmas carols and vibrant music. "A.J., are you ready?" Hikaru called from the hallway. I walked through the room and smiled at him. He was wearing a dark blue v-neck shirt and a grey coat with jeans and a black pair of snow boots. "Well now I just HAVE to change," I murmured sarcastically. "Huh? Why? You look beautiful," Hikaru replied, looking me over a few times. "We match," I giggled. "All the more reason to stay just as you are," he grinned, offering his hand to me. I twined my fingers in his and let him drag me downstairs where Kaoru was waiting for us. "Ugh, you're getting to this part of the relationship? Next thing you know, you'll be wearing shirts with each other's faces on them," Kaoru groaned, but the smile on his face was undeniable. I swatted him playfully and looped my free arm through his. "So, accordin' to ya' mom, y'all come here every year. Where to, boys?" I asked, looking up at Hikaru excitedly. He looked over my head at Kaoru and grinned mischievously. "What? Where are we going?" They continued to stare at each other with that wicked look as they maneuvered me through the halls. "Tell me!" I whined. "Can't you just enjoy a surprise?" Kaoru sighed. I shook my head vigorously, hoping he would tell me. "A little birdie told me that you've been wanting to go on the lake since we got here. There's a party boat that takes tourists and resort guests around the lake every night. It leaves in about ten minutes," Hikaru leaned down and whispered in my ear when Kaoru wasn't looking, then bit my ear lobe. I yelped and turned to glare at him, Kaoru raising an eyebrow at us. Hikaru just kept shaking his head at his twin.

There were lights strung up along the pier, lighting our way out to the boat. A small group of people were already gathered and boarding. Christmas carols were blaring from on the boat. "Ready?" Hikaru grinned, pulling me along behind him while Kaoru kept one hand on my shoulder, guiding me down the short pier. "Welcome, welcome, welcome!" A loud voice cheered over the speaker. "We hope you all are enjoying your holiday, and we are very glad you have decided to spend it with us." Static crackled and then the same message repeated in different languages. The boat sailed away from the pier a few moments later, the dark water rippling around us. I stood against the rail, staring down into the waves as the music started up again. Hikaru came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. "Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful. And since we've no place to go: let it snow, let it snow, let it snow," I sang along softly, laying my head back on his shoulder. "So beautiful," he murmured, nuzzling his nose against my neck. I snorted loudly and moved away from him. "That tickles!" I squeaked. He only chuckled and held me tighter. "Get a room, you two," Kaoru complained playfully. I can never really recall what the tour guide said, or how long we were on that boat, but I knew I'd always remember the way the night reflected off of the lake and how I felt in Hikaru's arms.

*Christmas Eve*

We sat around sipping hot cocoa and watching Christmas shows, snuggled in over-sized holiday sweaters. The clock on the wall chimed at the stroke of twelve, and I eagerly handed Hikaru's mother one of the small boxes in my hand. "Midnight. It's officially Christmas! Miss Hitachiin, open it," I pleaded, squirming eagerly. "But dear, I didn't get you anything," she replied, looking absolutely mortified. "Yuzuha, just open it. I promise you, that doesn't matter to A.J.," Auntie laughed, tucking her knees to her chest as she watched us all open our presents. We were in Miss Hitachiin's suite, all settled in the sitting room. Hikaru, Kaoru, and I were sprawled out on the floor, Miss Hitachiin and Auntie perched on the edge of the couch.

"Adrienne, this is beautiful. Thank you so much," she smiled politely, setting aside the diamond earrings I had spent nearly a thousand bucks on. I knew she was only being nice; the earrings would probably stay in the bottom of a jewelry box until she decided to give them away or throw them out. Hikaru and Kaoru handed her a large box; when she opened it, she squealed happily. It was a sleek, black dress with a slit up the side and a white fur shawl. "Oh, you boys know exactly how to spoil your old mother, don't you?" she giggled, setting the box aside. Auntie and I traded boxes-- I gave her a gold necklace, another eight hundred gone from my bank account, and she gave me a camera. Then she handed the boys an envelope each; they were $200 gift cards to some game store. Miss Hitachiin gave them new phones. It was time for us "children" to exchange presents. Kaoru handed me a box and smiled. "Jeanie helped me pick it out," he admitted. I tore at the bright red wrapping paper to reveal several different patterns and bright colors of paper. It was a scrapbooking kit. I crawled over the blankets between us and hugged him tight. "Thanks Kaoru," I murmured. He chuckled and hugged me back. "Anything for my sister-in-law," he whispered low enough for only me to hear. I felt my face heat up and I slapped him on the back of the head. "Don't call me that," I mumbled, pulling away from him and plopping down on the floor again. I handed him and Hikaru each a box, Hikaru's blue and Kaoru's orange. They opened them with matching looks of surprise and awe. "I made it myself," I spoke softly, playing with the ends of my sleeves nervously. They were knitted beanies. Kaoru's was orange with white stripes, and Hikaru's was blue with black stripes. "It's hard to shop for guys. I looked and looked, but I couldn't find anything. So I decided to make gifts instead. It took me a few weeks, but...Merry Christmas," I smiled, watching them anxiously. "This is great!" Kaoru chuckled, pulling the beanie on his head. "How do I look?" I giggled and twisted the cap off of my new camera, turning it on and focusing the lens. Hikaru quickly threw his on and leaned in close to his brother. I took the picture and then showed them. "Beautiful," I grinned. "Now it's time to open your present," Hikaru said, taking my camera and handing me a little purple box. I opened it and my mouth hung open in shock. I almost fainted. Sitting in the box, cradled in a pillow of silk, was a silver ring with three diamonds in it, the center one shaped like a heart. The flash flickered on the camera and I looked at him like a deer caught in headlights. "Hikaru, this is--"

"It's a promise ring. Adrienne, I promise to love you everyday. I promise to cherish you. I know we've only been together six months, but I feel like...like, you just may be my soulmate," he said with so much sincerity that I started to cry. "Don't cry. We can't get any good pictures of you if you look all ugly and snot-nosed," Kaoru teased. I made a noise that was somewhere between a sob and a laugh and stood, gathering my presents. "I think I'm going to go to bed. Merry Christmas guys," I smiled, walking out the door and down the hall to my room. I set the gifts on one side of my bed and lay down on the other, slipping the ring on my left hand. I stared at the small band in amazement, turning my hand this way and that; it even shimmered in the dark. Not long after, Auntie came in and settled into her bed. "Goodnight petite belle. Joyeux Noël," she yawned. "Merry Christmas to you too. Love you," I whispered. I could hear her snoring a few minutes later. I just laid there, hand stretched out in front of me, grinning like a fool.

Hikaru P.O.V.

"Was that really necessary? Couldn't you have been more...private?" Mom sighed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "I love her, Mom. What better time to show her how much I love her than the holidays?" I replied. "You're still a child, Hikaru. Don't you think this is getting a bit serious?" I stared at her in disbelief, anger coursing through me. "Of course it's serious! That's the reason you date someone, right? To build a connection and a bond?" I was almost yelling, but I wouldn't get through to her. She rolled her eyes and regarded my words dismissively. The holidays were over; it was back to the snobby woman I knew, the one who looked down her nose at everyone. "Sweetheart, come on. It's only high school," she scoffed. I stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind me. I paced the hallway anxiously before calling A.J. It rang three times before she answered. "Yea?" she mumbled groggily. "Get dressed and meet me downstairs. I love you," I said before hanging up. I took the elevator down and stood in the lobby, my anger slowly giving way to exhaustion. I hadn't fought with my mom in a long time, but A.J. was worth it. Oh God, she was worth it. A few minutes later the elevator doors opened and she stepped out, wearing a black coat over her red Christmas sweater, her shorts and slippers traded for a pair of jeans and her boots. I immediately ran to her and pulled her close, cupping her cheek in one hand and kissing her passionately. It wasn't like in the movies. There were no fireworks, no fanfare and chorus from the angels. It was a wild, blazing fire that consumed me. Yet at the same time, it was a softly burning ember that warmed me from the inside out, making me feel comfortable. It made me feel...like I was home. I never knew someone could mean so much to me. She was everything. "Wh-what was that for?" she stammered when I pulled away, her cheeks tinted red. "Just because," I murmured, taking her hand and guiding her outside.

There was the front door, and then on the west end of the lobby was a set of double doors that led to a large, closed in patio. We stood there, away from the tables, gazing out the window into the snowy night. Everything was covered in white and seemed to glow under the light of the moon. "I love you, Adrienne. So much that it drives me crazy. I don't think you understand how in love with you I am. Yes, we're in high school, but I want to spend the rest of my life with you," I blurted. She smiled a little and shook her head. "Silly, silly boy. So busy planning the future. Can't we just enjoy now?" she mumbled. "You don't feel the same?" I whined, feeling a bit rejected. "I do, Hikaru. I do," she assured me. My smile brightened; I liked the way those words sounded coming from her. "I love you so much, and I've never loved anyone this much, but I don't want you so worried about the future that we miss out on what we have now," she sighed, placing her warm hand against my cheek. "We've got a long ways to go, but one day I'm going to turn that promise ring into a wedding band, I swear," I vowed. She wrapped her arms around me and rested her head on my chest. I could feel my heartbeat accelerate as her fingers on the back of my neck began to play with my hair. "I'll hold you to it," she whispered. "You guys are so sweet that I think I might get diabetes just from listening to you," my brother called. A.J. followed my gaze across the floor until our eyes landed on Kaoru, sitting at the table nearest the door. "What are you doing out here?" I asked, just a little annoyed at being interrupted. "Checking on you. What Mom said wasn't exactly nice. But it doesn't matter because she's wrong," he said, smiling softly. "What did your mom say?" A.J. asked, looking up at me with wide and curious eyes. "Oh look, you're under a mistletoe," Kaoru quickly changed the subject, pointing to one of the many mistletoes hung up across the ceiling, this one we just so happened to be standing beneath. I grinned and leaned down, kissing her again. "Merry Christmas ma cherie," I whispered. She smirked and gave me another quick peck on the lips. "Merry Christmas mon amor," she sighed happily.

Sorry it took so long, writer's block is a biiiiiitch! DX ...but, here you go. Next chapter should be up by Friday. Enjoy! ^_^