Finding love and lust (a Zachary Levi short story)

All I want for christmas

About 1 year later
I am sitting in our living-room in Texas with a book, wrapped up in a blanket, not that I really need it, but just to feel more cosy. It is december 24 christmas eve and I am all alone.

This is not the way I wanted to spend my first Christmas as a newlywed. I moves with Zac to Texas when he was done filming and we got married a month ago.. but now the honeymoon is over.

Zac has been away for a week doing promotions for his new movie and he has an interview this afternoon and needs to be in for shooting some things on set early on the 26th. Some scenes needing re-shots.

So it would be too much of a hassle to get home. They also wanted him to do a radio interview tomorrow afternoon, and that is why I am all alone on this night before Christmas.

Grabbing my ipad I find an old video of Zac, telling me he loves me and misses me, watching him brings tears to my eyes. I know this was what I signed up for when I decided to be with him, but it doesn't make it easier. I miss him desperately, so much it is a physical pain.

Suddenly the doorbell rings, who can that be on this christmas eve ? I don't really know anybody here in Texas yet, as I haven't lived here that long. Of course Zac has some friends in the area, but I am sure they are with their families tonight.

I open the door, surprised to find JR there, smiling down at me. "Hi Jay, what are you doing here on christmas eve. Zac is in Canada".

"Yeah I know. He asked me to check up on you and give you this". He pulls something from his back, it is a beautifully wrapped present. He hands it to me. "So how are you doing ?"

I take it, wondering what Zac has left for me. "Thank you, I am doing fine. Just missing him, you know. Give my love to your family and have a merry Christmas".

"I will. And you too, keep up the mood, at least he will be home shortly for New Years". He sends me one last smile before walking back to his car.

Hurrying back inside I sit down and unwrap the present, inside is a box and I open it carefully. It is a teddy, a cute brown one, with Zac stitched on the belly, and a small stack of notes, the first saying 'press my paw'.

I look at the paw, it has a small heart and I press it, making Zac's voice come from the bear. "Merry Christmas baby, I miss you so very much and I wish I never had to be apart from you. I love you and I can't wait to be back home".

Oh I can't wait for him to come home either. Truth is that I have a surprise for him, a rather unexpected one that I hope will make him happy.

Looking at the next note, I read out loud. 'My beautiful wife, I hope you are not too lonely. Elseway, hug and smell the teddy".

"Smell the teddy". I chuckle, this is so Zac. I hug the teddy, sniffing it. It smells like Zac, like his usual perfume, making my inside clench up.

Getting a hold of myself I look at the last note. "I know you really wanted me to be home for our first Christmas. I hope the bear helps, but I don't really feel like it is enough, so please look out the back window. Merry Christmas darling. Love Zac".

I get up slowly and walk to the back window. No it can't be for real. It is snowing, big flakes twirling through the dark air. And then the light on the back porch turns on and there in the middle of the snow he is, holding out his arm, a sweet smile on his lips.

I let out a squeal and run for the door, throwing it open, and launching myself out into the snow and into his waiting arms. "Zac, you are here. You came home after all".

"I couldn't stay away, my little one. I missed you too damn much and I knew it means a lot to you". He hugs me, then he holds me out from him. "And you told me you always had dreamed to have a white christmas.. this was the best I could do".

"You did perfectly". I laugh, as he lifts me, twirling me around in the snow and then kisses me.

We kiss and we make snow angels and Zac tries to start a snowball fight, but the fake snow is not really that good for making snowballs.

Zac turns off the snow canon on the roof before he pulls me back inside, picking up his bag from the porch. Closing the door behind us. "How did you pull off getting home ?"

"I told them it wasn't up for discussion. I am doing the radio interview tomorrow over the phone and catching the red eye back tomorrow night". He says softly, folding his long body down on the arm chair, padding his lap.

I pick up a gift from under the tree, handing it to him as I sit down on his lap. "I kind of have a surprise for you too".

"You do ? Cool". He opens the present, taking out the box and opening it. On top is a calendar opened on August with a ring around the 5th. "Uhh I don't get this".

I just point to the box and he removes the paper finding the next thing, the world's tiniest pair of converse. He looks at them. "Very cute, but not really my size".

Then he pulls off the next layer of paper, holding up the T-shirt saying 'This is what an awesome dad looks like'. He stares at me, breathing in little huffs. Pulling away the last paper, looking at the pregnancy test taped to the bottom and the little note next to it. 'Thanks for knocking me up'.

He just sits there, his mouth slightly open and I start getting worried. "Uh Zac, please say something, anything".

"It worked ? It really worked ? Are we going to be parents ?" He says, looking stunned.

"Yes it worked Zac". I giggle. "And we are going to be parents". I say through new tears, happy tears, as he leaves tiny kisses all over my face. Tears bursting from his eyes too.

He has to swallow several times before being able to say something. "Thank you. That is the best present I could ever get. This truly is a merry little Christmas".

I kiss him softly. I had never thought a year ago this was where I would be, pregnant and married to the most wonderful man in the world. I am sure every Christmas from now on will be merry.