The sound of Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas" played softly in the background, the mournful melody echoing through your small apartment. You sat curled up on the couch, a blanket wrapped around you and a mug of peppermint hot cocoa clutched tightly in your hands. The twinkling lights of the Christmas tree cast a soft glow across the room, but they did little to lift your mood.
It had been weeks since you'd last seen Nicholas. His career had taken him out of town—far out of town—for the last few months, and while you'd tried to stay upbeat about it, the holiday season without him felt emptier than you'd expected.
You sighed, glancing at the framed photo on the coffee table: the two of you at last year's Christmas market, his arm slung casually around your shoulders, both of you laughing at something you couldn't even remember now. It had been one of your happiest moments together. This year, though, the absence of his warmth, his smile, his laugh—it left a hollow ache in your chest.
The song's lyrics tugged at your heartstrings as you hummed along: "I'll have a blue Christmas without you..."
You were so lost in your thoughts that you almost didn't hear the soft knock at the door. Frowning, you set your mug down and shuffled toward the door, your blanket still wrapped around your shoulders.
When you opened it, your breath caught in your throat.
There he was—Nicholas, standing in the hallway, his cheeks pink from the cold and snowflakes clinging to his dark hair. He was dressed in a thick coat and scarf, carrying a small suitcase in one hand and a gift bag in the other.
"Merry Christmas," he said softly, his voice warm but tentative, like he wasn't sure how you'd react.
You blinked, your mind struggling to catch up. "Nicholas? What are you doing here? I thought you were filming..."
"I was," he said, stepping inside and setting his things down. "But I couldn't stop thinking about you. Spending Christmas apart just didn't feel right."
Tears welled up in your eyes as you stared at him, the weight of your loneliness melting away in an instant. "You came all this way... for me?"
"For us," he said, his eyes searching yours. "I know how hard this has been. I've missed you every single day. I couldn't stand the thought of you spending Christmas alone, so I wrapped up filming early and hopped on the first flight I could."
You let out a soft laugh, wiping at your eyes. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"
He grinned, his dimples making your heart flutter. "I've been told. But I'm your kind of ridiculous, right?"
You didn't bother responding with words. Instead, you closed the distance between you, throwing your arms around his neck and pulling him into a tight hug. He wrapped his arms around you, holding you close as if he never wanted to let go.
"I missed you so much," you whispered, your face buried in the crook of his neck.
"I missed you more," he murmured, pressing a kiss to your temple.
After a long moment, you pulled back, your hands resting on his chest. "So... what's the plan now?"
Nicholas smiled, pulling the gift bag from behind him. "Well, I figured we could make new Christmas memories together. I brought some of your favorite chocolates, a cheesy holiday movie I found at the airport, and..." He reached into the bag and pulled out a small wrapped package. "Something special."
You took the package, your curiosity piqued. "What is it?"
"Open it and find out," he said, his eyes twinkling.
You carefully unwrapped the gift, revealing a delicate gold locket. Your heart swelled as you opened it to find a tiny photo of the two of you inside, taken during one of your happiest days together.
"Nicholas," you breathed, your fingers tracing the locket.
"I wanted you to have something to remind you that I'm always with you, even when I'm not here," he said softly. "But this Christmas, I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere."
You smiled through your tears, your heart feeling lighter than it had in weeks. "It's perfect. You're perfect."
He laughed, pulling you back into his arms. "I don't know about perfect, but I do know that there's no place I'd rather be than here with you."
As Elvis's voice crooned in the background, Nicholas leaned down, his lips meeting yours in a kiss that felt like coming home. The loneliness you'd felt melted away completely, replaced by the warmth and love you'd been missing.
The two of you spent the rest of the night curled up on the couch, sharing stories, sipping hot cocoa, and laughing like no time had passed. The snow continued to fall outside, but inside, your world felt complete again.
It may have started as a blue Christmas, but with Nicholas by your side, it turned into one you'd cherish forever.
