What About Now

Chapter 30 - A Visit... Not From Santa

Thomas' P.O.V.
"Dylan, you awake?" I asked, as the film credits started rolling on the screen. We'd been watching Christmas with the Kranks, and I don't think I've ever laughed so much in my life. But during the film, the laughter started to die down, and I assumed that some of us had gone to sleep. Looking around, my assumptions were proved right. Kaya was fast asleep, with her head resting on Dylan's shoulder. Bella was curled up beside me, and Taylor was asleep in the armchair, with her face nestled into the back of the chair, and her legs draping over one of the arms.

"Yeah, I'm still awake," Dylan yawned from the opposite sofa, opening his eyes and blinking, "But I don't think anyone else is!"

"Taylor? Kaya? Bella?" I asked, shaking Bella slightly, who had her head resting on my shoulder. There was no reply.

"Nope, they're all asleep!" Dylan laughed quietly, looking down at the sleeping Kaya who was lying very close to him. I watched with a smirk, as Dylan draped his arm over her shoulders and pulled her closer to him.

"What's up with you two then?" I grinned, making Dylan jump and go red again.

"Oh shut up!" Dylan poked his tongue out at me, and looked over at Bella, "Same with you. Things are getting pretty cosy between you two!"

"Well duh, she is my girlfriend!" I laughed, "Right, I'm going to bed," I groaned, heaving myself off of the sofa.

"Wh-what?" I heard Bella mumble as she shifted about in her sleep. Was she awake?

"Bella? You awake?" I asked, shaking her knee. From the dim light from the lamp, I saw her eyes flutter open.

"Yeah," She mumbled, sitting up a little and yawning, "What time is it?"

"About twelve, I think?" I replied, checking my watch, "Yep. Midnight."

"Midnight?" Bella gasped, rubbing her eyes, "Well I'm off to bed then!" She said, before standing up and slowly walking towards the stairs.

"Goodnight! I'll see you in the morning!" She said over her shoulder as she headed for our room.

"Night, hun! I'll be up in a minute!" I called after her, receiving a nod in reply. Smiling, I turned back to Dylan, "Right, you wake Kaya up, and I'm gonna take Taylor up to bed." Dylan raised his eyebrows at me, and a smirk started to form on his mouth.

"You know what I meant!" I groaned, throwing a cushion at him.

"Hey!" He laughed, pushing the cushion to the floor, "And why don't you just wake her up?"

"She's had a tough night," I explained, turning to look at her sleeping figure. She looked so peaceful as she slept.

"Hm, she spent a long time putting all those presents under the tree!" Dylan looked over the sofa and at the Christmas tree, which was now laden with presents. Its sparkling Christmas lights twinkled in the dim light, and it truly did look like something out of a Christmas film, or off of a Christmas card.

"Yeah, her and Kaya did a great job!" I sighed. It must have been because I mentioned her name, because Kaya instantly woke up.

"Whoa, what time is it?" She asked, looking around her, "It's so dark!"

"Yeah, it's like midnight," Dylan said, smiling down at her. Her face instantly went red, and she sat up quickly so she wasn't lying on Dylan's shoulder anymore.

"Oh Dylan, I'm so sorry!" She said hurriedly, "You should have said something! Or woken me up! Or-"

"Hey it's fine!" He grinned, "It was actually quite comfortable!"

"Okay, you two lovebirds going upstairs anytime soon?" I asked with raised eyebrows.

"Yes yes okay!" Dylan huffed, getting off the sofa and helping Kaya up, who was still blushing, "See you in the morning!"

"Night!" I called. Once they were upstairs, and everything was quiet, I turned off the TV and scooped up Taylor. She woke up briefly for a moment, mumbled a bit of nonsense, and wrapped her arms around my neck as I carried her up the stairs, bridal style. Her face was buried in my t-shirt as I made my way to her room. Placing her gently down on her bed, I placed the covers over her and smiled at her peaceful state. Her gentle eyes, her perfect smile. Careful not to make a sound, I bent down and kissed her on the forehead.

"Night, love," I whispered, "Sweet dreams."

Later in the night...

Taylor's P.O.V.
I woke to the sound of my phone ringing. Confused, I rubbed my eyes and looked over at the digital alarm clock. 2:00am? Seriously? Who calls at this bloody hour? Groaning, I reached out my arm from the depths of my warm blankets and grabbed my phone, not even bothering to check the caller ID.

"Hello?" I croaked.

"Hey babe!"

"Ben!" I jumped up in bed, suddenly awake. It had been ages since I'd last spoken to Ben, and I had missed him so much. Sure, I was still annoyed at him for taking a job over spending Christmas with me, but it was still great to hear his voice again.

"Yes, babe, it's me," He said softly, and I could just imagine the smile on his face, "How have you been?"

"What, me? I've been good!" I still couldn't believe that he'd actually taken the time to speak to me, "I've missed you so much though!"

"Oh, I've missed you so much Tay!" Ben sighed, "How's the cottage?"

"It's amazing! It snowed all yesterday! I just wish you were here though!" I told Ben about this place when Kaya had first arrived. I'd asked him if he could come down at all, but he said that it was impossible with the amount of work he had to do in Paris. Figures.

"Oh, I wish I were there!" Ben said down the phone, "Did you get your Christmas present?"

"No, should I have?" I asked, really confused. He hadn't given it to me and he hadn't mentioned about posting it.

"I had it posted next day delivery," He said, "It should have arrived by now."

"Wait a second, and I'll go check." I said, hopping out of bed and tip-toeing down stairs, careful not to wake anybody up. It was cold downstairs. The harsh winter winds outside whistled down the chimney, and snow billowed at the windows. I checked the entire living room and kitchen for a parcel or something, but there was nothing there.

"No, there's nothing," I sighed, looking around frantically.

"Would they have put it by the front door?" Ben asked.

"What, in this storm?" I laughed, "I'll go see. In my pyjamas. In the freezing bloody snow."

"Oh, I'm sure you look gorgeous!" Ben laughed, making me grin. I jogged to the front door, and opened it. My hair whipped across my face in the wind, but I wasn't worried about that. My mouth fell open, and my eyes widened.

"See? I told you, you look gorgeous!"