christmas (baby please come home)

the snow's comin' down

Nini frowned a little as she looked out the window of her apartment, the white snowflakes falling to the ground. behind her, her fiancé huffs as he sets down a stack of perfectly wrapped gifts on the coffee table.

"ah, okay. all the gifts are wrapped and ready to go to our parents and families. whatcha looking at?" he muses as she continues to stare out the window.

"the snow." she mumbled.

Ricky chuckles and wraps his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder, "yeah, we live in New York babe, it snows here."

her head falls back against him as she whines slightly, "no, i know. it's just that with the snow, i'm gonna be worried about us traveling separately."

he sighs and turns her around in his arms. Nini lays her head against the soft material of his sweater, tightening her own arms around his torso. his hand rubs the back of her neck gently, "i know, i'm sorry. i wish we could be together but with your Lola being sick, you have to go see her and i promised my dad that i'd visit him, Jenn, and Allie in Denver."

"i know, they miss you. especially your sister. i just hate that we have to spend our first Christmas as an engaged couple away from each other."

Ricky and Nini had gotten engaged shortly before Thanksgiving so they were still in their honeymoon phase. with the holidays coming up, they were both heading in different directions. Nini was going home to Salt Lake to see her moms and her Lola who was battling a sickness. Ricky on the other hand, was headed to Denver to visit his dad. Lynne was spending the holidays with Todd in Mexico so he'd see her after the new year. Mike and Jenn had gotten married not long after he graduated high school and soon came their daughter Allie. she was Ricky's favorite person in the world besides his fiancé, he just adored the little strawberry blonde headed girl. at only 8 years old, she had the curly haired boy wrapped around her finger, as well as Nini too.

he placed a kiss to her hair and hugged her tightly, "i'm sorry we won't be together for Christmas. it sucks."

they pull away and Nini walks over to inspect the gifts, "it's okay i guess, just promise me you'll facetime me every day?"

he simply nods as she glances down at the wrapping on the boxes. she smiles as she reads all the name tags on them, "make sure Allie knows the gift is from both of us. tell her i'm really sorry i can't be there."

"i will. i still think you should just bring your family to Denver but i know that's impossible with your Lola." Ricky pouts as he pours himself a mug of hot chocolate.

Nini brushes her hair behind her ear, "i know, i wish i could."

"it'll be a boring holiday without you." Ricky says as he passes by her with his mug.

Nini groans a little, "that's for sure." she says under her breath before heading to their room to finish packing her suitcase.

***

the airport is packed, which makes sense due to it only being a week until Christmas.

Nini and Ricky are both bundled up in their winter gear, their suitcases and respective presents pulled up besides them as they look for their gates on the large board.

"there's mine. i guess this is goodbye for now. i'll see you back here for New Years i guess." the curly haired boy says as he turns towards her.

there's slight tears forming in the brunette girls eyes as she looks up at her fiancé, "i don't want you to go." she whispers.

he cups her cheeks gently, "i'm sorry. i promise to text and call every day and update you on everything. we will be back together in no time."

she nods slightly and he leans down to capture her lips in his. they stand there for a minute as people bustle around JFK Airport, kissing sweetly as they prepare to say goodbye for the week. their noses nudge each other as they pull apart, Ricky wiping away a stray tear from Nini's cheek.

"i love you." he whispers.

"i love you too." she whispers back, "Merry Christmas baby." she says as their hands connect as Ricky pulls back and prepares to walk away.

he smiles charmingly at her, "Merry Christmas baby."

it's only seconds later that they're walking in separate directions, preparing to spend their favorite holiday away from each other.