Just One Christmas Wish

Christmas Day

Lawrence stood in the ankle-deep snow, no longer able to feel his feet. Yet, he could not stop feeling the pain in his chest.
Nöel was gone.
He'd been riding with Nutcracker most of the day but nothing could take his mind off of Nöel. Lawrence sighed, his breath leaving him in a great cloud of condensation.
"Lawrence," Spinning around, he saw a figure hazed out by the snow. But he knew that voice.
"Nöel?" He whispered. Squinting, Lawrence saw a head of honey ginger hair.
"Lawrence!" Her voice rang clear like a silver bell on the night.
"Nöel!" Then he was running and she was too, so that they collided in a desperation of happiness, confusion and relief. Without letting her go, Lawrence turned to Nöel, incredulous.
"What are you doing here?"
"I was given a Christmas wish." Was all she said. Lawrence didn't quite know what that was supposed to mean but he found he didn't care right now and knew that Nöel would explain it to him later.
"Does this mean that you can stay?" He asked, hoping. Nöel grinned.
"It means I can stay. We can travel and--"
"Can you marry me?" The words were out of his mouth before he knew he'd said them. Nöel looked uncertain.
"Is that what you want?"
"If you'll have me." Nöel smiled a smile that set Lawrence's heart on fire.
"Then yes." Lawrence blinked in disbelief.
"Really?" Nöel laughed at his astonishment.
"Does that surprise you, Mr Blackwood?" Lawrence smiled at his angelic fiancée as she radiated beauty and excitement and promises in his arms.
"Everything you say and do surprises me, Mrs Blackwood."
Both of them smiling, they kissed, hot breath steaming in the winter air, their lips and mouths tasting of frost and fire and tainted with a future of adventure. As they broke off for want of breath, Nöel whispered,
"Merry Christmas, Lawrence."
And the snow tumbled down from the heavens like stardust.