A Day Of Celebration In Dicathen

Merry Christmas Art~

December 24th, 23:52:29
7 and a half minutes away from Christmas day.

Right now I'm sitting in the back yard of the Elenoir royal family castle. This year Tess' parents wanted me and Tess to spend the holiday with them, since we were with my family last year. Sylvie on the other hand decided to stay with my family, wanting to give me and a certain someone some time for ourselves.

When I first reincarnated in this world, I did not think the people of this world would celebrate Christmas too. Maybe Santa doesn't just travel across Earth, but across universes too.. That's scary..

But despite my hatred for Christmas in my previous life, since it felt like a slap in the face that I didn't have a family, I have grown to enjoy the holiday in this life. The time I get to spend with family and friends is unforgettable, each year leaving me craving the next.

I listen to the soft sounds of insect and small animals around me, the splashing of the nearby stream adding to the atmosphere. In this peaceful state, I almost didn't notice the quiet footsteps approaching me. But these footsteps aren't normal; instead of crushing the grass beneath them, they sound much more gentle, delicate, as if asking the blades of grass to part as to not cause damage. It's.. Soothing..

I stay quiet as the footsteps approach me, a familiar warmth surrounding me as I feel soft arms wrap around my waist. The person bends down and places her head on my shoulder.

"Hey," I greet Tess in a soft voice.

"Hey," she returns the greeting before releasing her grip and sitting down next to me.

"What are you doing here? It's getting quite late," I tell her, wrapping my arm around her and pulling her closer to me.

"I came looking for you. What are you doing here?" she responds, shifting closer.

"I'm waiting for Christmas day, remember? We used to do it every year as kids, though you would always fall asleep before it actually got to midnight. I remember having to carry you to your room every time," I chuckle a bit, reminiscing our childhood.

"Hey! It's not my fault I'd always fall asleep, it was so boring waiting.." Tess tried to protest.

"Oh, Are you calling my company boring?" I mock, veining hurt.

"Maayyyybe~" Tess teases, looking at me with a slight smirk. I stare at her for a bit, examining her facial features. Her soft, plump lips, looking irresistibly kissable; her emerald green eyes, which I've grown to love. After a few moments I realise I've been staring for too long and look away, my cheeks tinged slightly red.

"*cough* Well you're going to have to learn how to deal with this 'boring company' since you'll be spending much more time with me. You are my girlfriend now afterall," I slightly change the subject, trying to hide my embarrassment.

"I know, I know. It'll be a drag, but I'm sure I can manage," Tess says, also looking away, slightly embarrassed from Arthur's staring. "How much time is left before Christmas?"

I check my watch, looking at the time. "It's currently 23:58, 2 more minutes," I tell her, looking back at the stream in front of us. I look over at Tess to see her twiddling with a box. "What's that?"

She suddenly jolts up in suprise, trying to hide the box. "N-N-Nothing.." she responds quickly, jittering slightly.

"Come oooonn~ What is iiiiitt~?" I tease trying to reach for the box.

"I-I told you it's nothing!" she responds, her face bright red. I stretch further, reaching for the box and causing her to push it away further. I keep reaching for the box, eventually making us both to fall over with me towering over Tess as she attempts to keep the box out of my reach.

"Come ooooonn~"

"Noooooo~"

As we keep fighting my watch beeps, signaling midnight. "Wow, well done Tess, you actually made it," I said mockingly, stopping my attempts at grabbing the box. I lean down, my hands planted on either side of her below me as I give her a soft kiss on the lips. Once her initial suprise wore off, she kisses back, just as gently. After a minute or so, we split.

"Merry Christmas Tess, I love you," I give her a loving smile, looking down into her captivating eyes yet again.

She looks back at me, giving me a smile that could make my die happy right then and there. "Merry Christmas Art~" she leans forward, kissing me again. "Here, now you can have it," she hands me the box that she had been protecting moments earlier.

"What is it?" I ask, curious.

"Open it and find out,"

I open the box, and inside is a wrist-band with the writing "AxT" knitted on it. "Is this for me?"

"No, it's for another 'love of my life' who's name starts with the letter 'A'," Tess says, deadpan. "Of course it's for you, you dummy!"

I chuckle a bit. "Thank you," I lean down giving her one last, passionate kiss. Suddenly her eyes shoot open, her face bright red as she breaks the kiss, staring at me horrified.

"G-G-G-Get off!!" she shouts as she realises the situation that she's in and how it looks. I chuckle out loud before rolling off of her and onto my back, taking her hand in mine as we stay on the ground together. She looks away from me, trying to hide her ever-growing blush.

I put the wrist band on and feel it fits perfectly. "Did you make it?" I ask Tess, flexing my wrist.

"Y-Ya.. I thought you'd like it.." she mumbles before looking back at me skeptically. "You have a gift for me too, don't you?"

"Of course I do," I tell her before taking a little box of my own out of my dimensional ring. "Here you go," I hand her the box.

She opens the box and pulls out a pendant. This pendant consists of 2 leaves in the shape of a heart with a strap attached to each leaf. "I-It's beautiful.." she says, awestruck.

"And that's not just it," I tell her, taking the pendant and seperating the leaves. "It can split in two, one for me and one for you. And when brought together, they form a heart again," I sit up and demonstrate this while explaining, showing how the pendants seperate.

"A-Art.. I love it.. Thank you!" Tess sits up as well and immediately tackles me to the ground again. I chuckle at this as she wraps her arms around my waist.

"Hey, weren't you just embarrassed when we were in this same situation a few moments ago?" I joke.

"Well this time I'm on top-.. W-W-WAIT I-I MEAN-!" she starts to freak out until I put my finger to her lips, laughing a bit.

"Don't worry, I'm just teasing you. Come on, let me put the pendant on you," I tell her, sitting up. I take the one half of the pendant with the silver chain and put it around her neck. After, she does the same for me with the other pendant.

"T-Thank you *yawn* again Art.. I *yawn* love it.."

"Tired?" I ask Tess, slowly getting up from underneath her and picking her up bridal style.

"Mhmm.." she simply responds, struggling to keep her eyes open.

I just smile and shake my head as I head back to the castle, carrying Tess. "You never could stay up late, huh,"

I carry her all the way to her room, not even turning on the lights as I enter, and place her on the bed, pulling the blanket over her.

"Goodnight Tess, see you in the morni-," I get cut off by her grabbing my shirt as I try to leave.

"Noooooooo, don't gooooooo~" she mumbles tiredly. "Please sleep heerrreee~"

I give her a small smile before relenting, getting in the bed with her. Spooning her, I wrap my arms around her waist. "Goodnight Tess, sleep well," I place a kiss on her cheek.

"You too.." she mumbles before we both slowly drift to sleep together.