Jason's POV

I slipped in the door as silently as I could. Fortunately, I had just had Leo fix the squeaky hinges so I was relatively quiet. I slid my shoes off as soon as I was inside so my steps would be stealthier. The only sound coming from the apartment was in the bedroom: Piper's playlist was softly singing. Perfect; if she was listening to music, she would have even a harder time hearing me.

I crept towards the bedroom, making a pit stop at the Christmas tree to deposit the box I had just purchased. The door was mostly open, and I could see Piper finishing wrapping up a box. I tiptoed into the room until I was right behind her. Miraculously, she still hadn't heard me. Maybe it was the beautiful humming she was doing. But anyway, all that mattered was that I was going to be able to sneak up on her. 

Just as she was getting ready to turn, I wrapped my arms around her from behind and whispered in her ear, "Merry Christmas Eve, Pipes." She jumped at first, but then relaxed against my chest. I kissed her on the cheek and she turned around to hug me.

"I don't think anybody says that, Sparky," she told me with a laugh.

"Well, maybe I do." She giggled again and gently untangled herself from my arms. 

"How long were you standing behind me?" she demanded suddenly with her hands on her hips.

"Uh, not very long, why?"

"Because I didn't want you to see your present!" she replied, holding up the box she had been wrapping.

"Don't worry, I didn't see it," I promised.

"Good." She grabbed the collar of my shirt, bringing me down to her height, and gave me a quick kiss. Then she walked out of the room, leaving me to follow. I rushed over to her sound system, turned up the volume of the Christmas carols, and then ran into the living room with Piper.

She sat down on the couch with a fancy pink cardboard box in her lap. I plopped down next to her.

"What's that?" I asked her.

"Christmas gift from my mother," she responded nonchalantly. "It's chocolate, try some."

I picked some elaborate hunk of chocolate out of the box. I have no idea what was in it, but it tasted incredibly good.

"It's like, ambrosia times five," I said through a mouthful of chocolate. Piper laughed.

"I know right."

We ate a few more pieces of chocolate and then snuggled up together under a blanket. A new song came on from the bedroom, but I wasn't really paying attention to it until Piper started singing.

Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells, all seem to say, throw cares away. Christmas is here, bringing good cheer, to young and old, meek and the bold. Ding dong ding dong, that is the song, with joyful ring, all caroling. One seems to hear, words of good cheer, from everywhere, filling the air. 

I stared at Piper while she sang. The longer and longer I knew her, the more and more she sang, but it still amazed me every time. Her voice was beautiful. She caught me staring and blushed.

"Sorry, I'll stop if you want me t-" she hurriedly muttered but I cut her off.

"No, I love it. Please don't stop." I smiled warmly at her and she grinned back. She settled in again, and restarted her voice. She kept singing well after the songs from the sound system stopped playing. She sang just about every Christmas song imaginable. And I could listen to it forever.

She stopped after a long, long time and said hoarsely, "You know, now I'm not going to be able to talk on Christmas day!"

"Totally worth it," I mumbled.

"Speak for yourself! You're not the one that lost your voice."

"True. We can just drink plenty of hot chocolate." She rolled her eyes at me but still smiled and nodded.

"How about some right now?" She asked.

"Race you to the kitchen!"

"You have a chocolate mustache, Sparky," she laughed, wiping off my upper lip.

"Oops. It's just really good," I replied, also laughing.

Just then the clock chimed for midnight, scaring both of us and nearly making us drop our cups.

"Midnight already?" Piper thought out loud.

"Merry Christmas, Pipes."

"Merry Christmas, Jason. I love you." She leaned in to kiss me. It was the best Christmas ever.