A Preath Christmas

Christen grumbled and rolled over in bed as she tried to shield herself from the sunlight that was pouring in through the window. She reached over to the other side of the bed hoping to snuggle into a warm body for five more minutes, but was met with an empty space. She stubbornly opened her eyes and stretched out her limbs letting out an animal like sound. Christen threw the sheets off the bed and went off to find out why her girlfriend wasn't in bed trying to wake her up. It was the same routine every morning, Christen would whine about wanting to sleep in for a few more minutes until Tobin would pepper her face with kisses, tickle her until she got annoyed, or shower her with affection in one way or another. Tobin and Christen had flown back to Los Angeles together after the last game of the victory tour in New Orleans. Both girls had some commitments they had to attend to in the area, but after they had finished their separate business they had flown to Portland to spend some time at Tobin's apartment before they went to spend Christmas with their families. It was the morning of Christmas Eve and Christen would be damned if she didn't get her daily splurge of attention on the last day she was spending with her girlfriend before she flew back to California on tomorrow.

She walked out of the bedroom with one thing in her mind, to drag her girlfriend back to bed after hitting her upside the head a couple of times. She was nearing the living room when she faintly heard Tobin's tone deaf voice singing along to the classic Christmas song "Winter Wonderland". Christen's expression softened as she felt her heart swell at how the dork singing along to cliché holiday music was all hers.

Christen expression changed altogether, however, when she took in the sight in front of her. Tobin's apartment was ravished with Christmas decor and Christen knew that Tobin must have done it all this morning considering Christen had been lying in bed watching dog videos for the past 24 hours. Another way she could tell the decorations were all Tobin? The fact that Tobin has never decorated anything for any holiday without the help of her mother. Tinsel was haphazardly thrown around the room while the lights were being held to the walls by blue painter's tape. The tree was a mess with ornaments clumped together in some places leaving large empty spots in others. Christen face palmed herself and thought about how much time she was going to have to waste fixing all of the decorations. Christen was too busy worrying and didn't notice Tobin enter the room.

"Chris!" Tobin yelled with a smile on her face. She was wearing her black and gold "World Champions" shirt and some running shorts under her "Kiss the Cook" apron that was covered in flour. Tobin leaned in to give Christen a kiss, but Christen stuck her hand out in front of her, effectively stopping the midfielder.

"Tobs, what is going on?" Christen questioned.

"What do you mean?" It's Christmas!" Tobin replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Christen rolled her eyes, "I mean why are you out of bed before 10 o'clock and," Christen made a disgusted face, "why does it smell like something's burning?"

Tobin's famous smile dropped and her eyes widened. "Crap," she mumbled, speeding to the kitchen. Christen followed her, curious to see what Tobin had up her sleeve this time. She leaned up against the doorway and watched as Tobin pulled out a tray of blackened cookies placing them next to the other batches on the counter.

Tobin took off her oven mitt and picked up a slightly charred gingerbread man with her fingers to examine it. She quickly retracted her hand and dropped the cookie back onto the tray when she felt a wave of heat coupled with some mild pain shoot up her fingers.

Christen covered her mouth with her hand so Tobin wouldn't hear her giggling at her girlfriend's pain, but it didn't work.

Tobin looked up with red cheeks and her hand on the back of her neck, "I think they're a little well done," she admitted.