A Penny For Your Thoughts

Chapter Twenty-One~ Mistletoe in the Hospital

"Look at you Michelle, hanging in there girl!" the nurse said carefully removing the tube from her arm. She nodded unable to make any sudden movements. Luke on the other hand looked very healthy each time the blood transaction was made. "Luke you better be thanking that girlfriend of yours- that was three quarters of a pint of blood, that should last you about a good week," the doctor said winking at him. Luke smiled and went to help Michelle up. Whenever she got up after a donation though, her head would spin from lack of fluid.

Slowly she got up from her chair but quickly she fell down. "Whoa!" Luke exclaimed catching her in his lean but strong arms. "Careful there Michelle," the doctor said helping her up also. "Is it okay that she's like this after each time?" Luke asked concerned, "I don't like the fact that she looks like she's the one who's dying after each transfer." The doctor pressed his lips, "Well you are getting a big donation Luke. Just keep drinking lots of water and take extra iron pills will you?" Michelle nodded but a bit pale, "May I please go back to your room now?" The doctor nodded giving them permission.

"There you go," he said laying her head down gently on a pillow. "I hate feeling like this," Michelle said laughing at herself. "I'm sorry," Luke said handing her iron pills and a cup of water, "It's my fault that you feel this sick." She shrugged and looked at him, "It's alright I'll get over it. I love you so it's worth it." Luke smiled happily and sighed sitting down next to her on a stool, "How in the world did I manage to keep a girl like you?" She shook her head, "You know I often ask myself that question too." "Oh shush!" Luke said gently flicking her on the shoulder. "So," Michelle said taking Luke hands and lining them up with hers, "Are you coming home for Christmas?" Luke got up off of his stool and grabbed his bag from the dresser and said, "Actually I was just about to ask you if I could." "Oh my goodness!" Michelle quickly jumped up forgetting her dizziness from earlier. She collapsed into his arms again but this time he caught her no problem, "You happy?" he said. "Of course I am!" Michelle said squeezing him tighter. "Yeah well my mom thought it'd be okay if I spent my free Christmas at my girlfriend's house," Luke said nuzzling his nose into her neck, "Of course if that's okay with you." "Anything is more than okay with you," Michelle rolled her eyes, "It's whether my parents are gonna let you spend two nights at my house." "Funny thing is," Luke said looking down at her, "Is that your parents are already okay with me spending the weekend at your house- in fact they are downstairs waiting for us to get in the car." "Then what are we doing here?" Michelle exclaimed, "Let's go!" Luke laughed, "Well you seemed like you were going to faint earlier!" Luke shook his head. "Well looks like God just did a miracle because I'm okay now! Let's go home!" Michelle said taking his hand. They were on their way out when a bunch of 10 year old girls stopped them. "What are you up to?" Luke asked. "Mister you and your girlfriend just stepped under mistletoe- now you have to kiss," she said with her big bright green eyes. Michelle and Luke looked above them seeing the mistletoe hanging above their heads and giggled. "Go on now! Kiss her!" one of the kids said. "Yeah kiss her!" Tommy, the 7 year old boy missing two front teeth said. He was Michelle's favorite, he was a sweet little boy, but unfortunately he was cursed with leukemia. Luke shrugged and took Michelle's face between his two hands and kissed her ever not so gently. She smiled through the kiss and shook her head, "You little rascals!" The little kids laughed and Luke took her hand and said to the children, "Alright well we've got to get going now. So have fun kids and try not to drive the nurses crazy." "We'll try not to," Tommy said with his toothless smile. "Hey Tommy I know what you could ask Santa for," Luke said. "Like what?" Tommy asked. "Ask him for two front teeth," Luke winked. "Ha. Ha," he said with is hands on his hips, "Hope you have a very Merry Christmas too."

When they got out it was half drizzling and foggy. "Would it be too hard to ask for a white Christmas once in a while?" Luke said shaking his head, "Dumb Maryland weather." Michelle looked over at Luke to notice how well he was dressed. Today he was wearing a collard white shirt, with a red sweater vest, beige kakis, a brown top coat with black loafers and a red plaid scarf. To top it off his nose was pink on the top from the cold. "You're adorable," Michelle said kissing his nose. Luke blushed to a color to match his nose and smiled, "Well you're not bad yourself- at all." Then her phone rang and she answered. Her response seemed annoyed when she hung up the phone.

"What was that?" Luke asked looking for Mr. Hartford's car to come around. "Our parents got tired of waiting for us, so my mom and dad plus your mom went to go to a casino in Annapolis over than spending Christmas with us," Michelle said rolling her eyes. "Well I suddenly feel like a second option," Luke scoffed. "Tell me about it," she said agitated. "No use getting mad about it though," Luke said shrugging, "Might as well start getting home then."

The two took a cab back to Luke's house just so he could be at his own home. "Aww! Look at the poor Christmas tree!" Michelle said in sympathy for the poor thing. Luke laughed after running upstairs to put his bag in his room, "I remember fighting over it when we first bought it." "I know! But the thing is shed almost naked! With no prettiness to it at all!" Michelle said sad. "Hey we can decorate it," Luke said, "I have ornaments in the attic."

So the two spent the next few hours cleaning up the pine shedding and hanging up decorations all around the house along with the ornaments on the tree.

"So," Michelle said sipping on her peppermint hot chocolate, "You wanna open presents?" "Sure why not?" Luke shrugged, "It's Christmas anyways. When else will I do it?" Michelle took a box from under the tree and handed it to Luke, "This is for you." Luke smiled as he carefully tore off the wrappings.

He laughed when he opened the first gift from her. "Santa Claus boxers yeah?" "Yeah," Michelle winked. "Any meaning behind this particularly?" Luke asked. "No... I just thought it was a good gag gift," she said. Luke opened the next gift from her and it was a Hollister brand cologne plus a new watch since he'd accidentally dropped and shattered his last watch. "Aww thanks Babe," he kissed her on the cheek. "You're welcome! I'm just glad you liked it," she smiled. "I got something for you too," Luke said taking a messily wrapped gift. "It's not much because they always keep me locked up at the hospital- I thought I'd be creative," he shrugged as she unwrapped, "I also paid the little girls to wrap it for me from five bucks." Michelle laughed and began to tear up all at once when she pulled out his old favorite hoodie out of the wrapping paper bundle. It was her favorite hoodie that she borrowed all the time, it was his favorite hoodie also. It smelled just like him and it had his food stains on it- it was like a piece of him he'd worn it so much. She covered her mouth to keep from laughing and crying like a manioc. "I knew you'd like it- a lot," Luke smiled thoughtfully. "Oh! I love it!" Michelle said. "Wait! There's more!" Luke said sitting Michelle in front of him. "Check the pockets," he said. She did and she found a wired stringed necklace with a roughly engraved heart shaped rock. She smiled big at him. "It took me about two days of trial and error just to make it look like a heart," he laughed. She turned around as he tied it around her neck. "I love you," he whispered as he finished the knot. "Man no gift could compete with this one!" Michelle said, "This is your favorite hoodie and a handmade necklace. It's the best gift ever!" "No I loved yours," Luke said hugging her from behind, "I actually thought my gift wouldn't be quite enough." "No it's everything I could ever ask for!" Michelle said assured him looking up at his green eyes, "...actually..." she said losing her train of words, "You're all I could ask for, for Christmas."

Author's Note:

I don't know man... I thought that last part was freaking cute! Anyways MERRY CHRISTMAS!! EEK! I love this holiday so much : ) But no matter what- remember Christ in Christmas! Give Him some credit for His birthday.

Love, Emily