Chapter Twenty-Five: Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas

 

*Ilene nudged her husband. “Don’t they look sweet together?” She asked him.

            “They look well enough.” Kenji responded.

            “Now Ken. Look how happy they are. Please don’t always act this way towards them. They fell in love; it’s not something they could control. Don’t you remember my father when you first met him?” Ilene asked him. She saw her husband physically gulp.

            “I remember well enough. Dear, for you and Serena, I will try harder to get along with him. But that’s all- try.”

            “That’s all I ask dear.” Ilene smiled lovingly at her husband. He smiled back.

“I’m going to go get those cookies for us.” Serena announced as she stood from Hiiro’s lap and stretched.

“I’ll help you.” Hiiro announced. As they walked into the kitchen, Serena turned to face him.

“Hiiro, what were you thinking?” She lashed out quietly. He stood impassively. “I mean, Hiiro, what happens when you leave? Ben’s already to attached as it is. It will be doubly hard when you leave if you leave when he adores you like he does now.”

            “Who said I was leaving?” Hiiro countered, forehead furrowed in thought.

            “Well, you weren’t planning on staying were you? They never do…” her voice dripped off into oblivion. A tear fell, followed by another, then another, and soon a whole string of pearly tears beaded down her cheeks.

            “They? Am I ‘they’ to you? Is that what you think?” He asked her quietly.

            “Well, I just…”

            “Am I ‘they’?” He asked again.

            “No, but-“

            “Then why do you think I’m going to be like them? I’m not one to leave in the middle of a job.”

            “So we’re, I mean Ben and I, we’re a job to you?” She pulled back in disgust.

            “No.”

            “Then what are we to you? Darien and you may not be the same person, but from all the experience I’ve had with men, you’ll end up leaving me the same as all of them did, even when they claimed they were different.”

            “You’re not a job. You’re a life.”

            “A life?”

            “You keep breath in my lungs, beat in my heart, spring in my step. I can’t help it. I need you to live. You’ve become a drug to my system that I need, I have a dependency on you now, and I don’t think I can ever shake it.”

            “But I…”

            “Please, just hear me out. Serena, I need to stay near you. I need to be with you. Now I’ll understand if you don’t want me around, but please, don’t ever think I would leave you. I’m going to be around no matter what, forever, I guarantee it.” Hiiro received no verbal response, only Serena throwing herself into his arms and hugging him ferociously.

            “I should have known. I should have known. You are different. But I was just so afraid to find out in the end that you really weren’t that I just…”

            “It’s fine, its done and over now.”

            “Thank God we got this all cleared up.” She giggled through her tears. He too, smirked as he raised a hand to catch the tears and dry them from existence.

            “Let’s get those cookies.” He told her. He picked up a plate and she followed in suit.

            “It’s about time. We were just about to come in and look for you!” Ilene said, laughing when Hiiro and Serena reappeared.

            “Sorry it took us so long Mom, we got a little side tracked.”

            “Serena! I did not need to hear that!” Sammy called out from the background.

            “Spore.” Serena mussed under her breath. “What I meant was we were speaking over Rei’s party tomorrow. Sorry.” 

            “That’s fine dear.” Her mother told her, still smiling.

            “Shall we eat?” Serena and Hiiro handed around the cookies and then sat to eat their own.

>>>)(<<<

            “It’s Christmas, it’s Christmas, Christmas!” A loud voice awoke Serena early in the morning. Ben was racing up and down the hall, waking everyone up. He knew his mother’s rule: he couldn’t go down stairs until everyone was up and they were ready for him. Of course, this meant he had to wake everyone up. Except his Uncle Duo. Duo was helping Ben run up and down the halls, shouting and encouraging him the whole time.

            Serena’s eyes fluttered open and she mentally groaned. She had known Ben would want to wake her up early, but she had only gotten four hours of sleep and she was tired. But she had to get up. So up she went. Instead of dressing, like she usually did before she left her room, she slipped on her sheer white robe and checked her hair. Quickly brushing her teeth, she then opened her door. She found two grumpy men, growling at a braided one.

            “Wufei, Trowa, leave Duo alone this morning. It is Christmas after all.” She begged them all. Just then Hilde, Catherine, and Sally walked in and drug their respective guy away from each other. Quatre and Dorothy stepped out of their room next, Dorothy practically dragging Quatre down the stairs. Serena knocked on Hiiro’s door. Finding it unlocked, she entered.

            “Hiiro? It’s time to wake up. Hiiro?” She received no answers. But then a light and steady breathing noise caught her ears. She stepped over to Hiiro’s bed and found him deep asleep. He looked so angelic asleep, so peaceful. She hated waking him in such a cruel way as to shake him or hit him. An idea stuck her. She bent over and kissed his forehead. Then his cheek, and finally the corner of his mouth just ever so slightly. A firm hand reached up and pulled her head down closer to his.

            “Nice wake up call.” He whispered dangerously. Shivers ran down Serena’s spine.

            “I tried.” She giggled. He pulled her down and she lay next to him on the bed.

            “Why are you up? It’s not even six yet.” He asked her.

            “It’s Christmas morning. Ben always gets me up this early. He’s not allowed downstairs until I’m ready for him.” She smirked.

            “Are the others up?” He asked her.

            “Yeah. I’m surprised you’re not already up. You must have been tired.”

            “Hnn.”

            Let’s go downstairs, before he walks in looking for us.” She suggested, standing and pulling him up with her.

            “Fine.” The two walked out into the hall, and when they saw no Ben, they carefully raced down the stairs. Quatre and a few of the women were already busy making breakfast for them all, and the presents were all placed neatly under the tree. When Hiiro had his coffee and Serena her hot cocoa, they all settled into their respective places and called Ben down.  The craziness commenced.

            After nearly an hour of screaming, unwrapping, crying, hugging, thanking, and happiness, the occupants of the house slowly dwindled in energy. Ben was asleep on the couch surrounded by his newest toys. Duo, Hilde, Quatre, and Dorothy had all gone out to play in the snow. Wufei and Sally were sparring, and Trowa and Catherine had disappeared. Hiiro and Serena still sat in the same spot, coffee and hot cocoa gone, presents unwrapped, and noise non-existent.

            “This has been a wonderful Christmas.” Serena said blissfully.

            “I agree, the best yet.” Hiiro added.

            “Most definitely. “ They settled back into quiet for the time being.

>>>)(<<<

            “Serena! Glad you could come! Hello again Hiiro, hi Ben! I’m you’re Aunt Rei.” Rei introduced herself to Ben.

            “Hi Auntie Rei! Momma says I have lots of Aunts and Uncles here tonight.” Ben chattered away, letting Rei lead him into the room. Mina dominated the little boy instantly.

            The rest of the gang mingled and made friends with Serena’s old friends. The party was packed, and everywhere Serena could see there were old friends and a few new faces from all over. She was having a blast getting reacquainted with everyone, especially when they asked about Ben or Hiiro.

            Hiiro too, was having a good time. His passive face was the same, but his emotionless eyes were filled with mirth and happiness at the event. Being introduced to Serena’s old friends was rather strange, but with the stories he had heard, it was well worth it. As a slow song came on shortly before midnight, Hiiro asked Serena if she would like to dance.  How could she refuse?

            As they stepped onto the dance floor, they swayed in time to the music. Serena closed her eyes and lay her head upon Hiiro’s broad shoulder, while he lay his head atop hers. Lost in their own happy thoughts, they neglected to watch where they were dancing. As the song ended, they found themselves surrounded by a group of their closest friends.

            “Oh Hiiro!” Duo yelled.

            “Serena, look what you’re standing under!” Lita added slyly. The pair looked up to see the mistletoe directly above their heads.

            “Come on now, let’s see some action!” Cried Mina from the back of the room. Ami and Rei clasped their hand over her mouth before she could do any more damage. Hiiro and Serena looked at each other.

            “We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” He breathed in her ear.

            “You’re wrong. It’s tradition, we have to.” She smirked. His eyes widened.

            “Merry Christmas Serry.”

            “Merry Christmas Hiiro.” She whispered back. Hiiro tilted her head up so his eyes met hers. Drowning in the cascading infinity of her azure blue orbs, he dropped his control and leaned into her for a tender kiss. As his lips met hers, a finality sealed their connection. They would always be together, through the end of time and space itself they would remain joined in body, spirit, and mind.

Emotions blazed through their hearts and minds, each trying to decipher what to call the most prominent of them all. Hiiro couldn’t think straight. His mind was muddled with a jumble of thoughts, all sending the same message. Serena was good. Serena was good. He loved Serena; his Serena, he loved her…

Serena’s mind too, was a mess. All rationalization was lost- and it wasn’t coming back anytime soon. This wasn’t like the other tiny kisses they had shared; this one was different. Now she trusted him completely, fully, and she knew she could give him her whole heart. Letting go of reality, she slipped into a trance where the only entity that had any importance at all was Hiiro.  She loved Hiiro. After all her denial and circumventing, she finally let herself realize the truth: she loved Hiiro Yui. As they broke their mind-shattering kiss, they smiled at each other, breathing heavily. In the background both could hear Duo and Mina and the others egging them on.

“Serry, I…” He began, but she cut him off.

“Hiiro. Promise you’ll stay by me forever?”

“Forever and beyond. I love you Serena.” She looked up; stunned he had come to the same realization as she. Meeting his eyes, she saw the love and knew it was true.

“Hiiro, I, I,” She wanted to tell him. And she was going to. “Hiiro, I love you too.” Hiiro was on cloud nine. She had finally learned to trust him. She loved him. He let it sink in. She loved him; she really, really loved him. He pulled the petite woman into an embrace and held her. He would always hold her. Always.

“Hiiro.” She murmured. “Thank you.”

“For what?” He asked her.

“For teaching me to trust again. Thank you for teaching me to trust and love again. You salvaged my pitiful life from a scrap yard and created a masterpiece of life. Thank you.”

“Serry, you’ve done the same for me. Thank you.” Content to be as they were, they continued to hold each other, knowing that the next day would hold new light and promise. *