"Pink or white?"

"Hmm...pink!" Chibiusa giggled, pointing to the silky pink ribbon Usagi held in her right hand. Usagi smiled setting aside the white ribbon before tying cute little bows around Chibiusa's odangos. Instead of her usually rabbit odangos and pigtails Chibiusa sported two twin buns, bubblegum pink curls framing her face.

"There, now you look absolutely a dorable !" Usagi poked the younger Senshi in the forehead eliciting more giggles.

"Usagi! Usagi!" Chibiusa bounded over to the window in Usagi's bedroom, "It's snowing!" Sure enough, delicate snowflakes fell from the sky, adding to the white wonderland outside.

"Better bundle up then." Usagi handed Chibiusa her pale blue peacoat, a gift from Minako, along with some gloves. Soon enough the two were walking down the street, over to Rei's place.


"Oh, there you are Usagi. Late, of course ." Usagi pouted but didn't comment, knowing Rei was only teasing good-naturedly.

"We had to stop to look at all the pretty store displays, Rei-chan!" Chibiusa said tugging off her gloves and bounding over to Makoto for some delicious hot chocolate. Ami, Minako, and Rei were already seated with their own mugs as well as some sugar cookies and sweets. Usagi shrugged off her coat and sat next to Rei.

"Ah, Rei. You're always so warm."

"Get off of me," Rei grumbled, ignoring Usagi's laughter.

"Have you decided what you'd like for Christmas yet, Chibiusa?" Ami asked.

"Mmm...not yet."

"Well, hurry up!" Minako grinned, "Or all you'll be getting are socks!"

Chibiusa pouted, "But it's so hard! There's too many wonderful things."

"I'm sure you'll decide on something, Chibiusa." Mako smiled settling down at the kotatsu.

"For now, can I have more marshmallows?"

Mako giggled, "Of course you can."

They talked about Christmas presents and winter outfits and the snow as they finished their cocoa. Eventually, they headed out to the Crown Arcade, an impromptu snowball fight at the Shrine first ( I call Mako-chan on my team! ), and were seated at their regular booth. After eating delicious holiday-themed food and chatting and laughing with each other, everyone headed home.


"So, did you have fun today?"

"Mmhmm!" Chibiusa refrained from nodding and Usagi undid her buns, brushing her pink hair smoothly. "But I can't wait for tomorrow!"

Usagi paused, "Tomorrow?"

"Mamo-chan is taking me to the amusement park! They're having a winter festival and there's gonna be pretty lights and we're gonna drink peppermint cocoa and go ice skating." Usagi wondered why Mamoru didn't mention it to her. Then again she did tell him she'd be busy helping Mama with Christmas shopping all of tomorrow and asked him to watch Chibiusa…

"Sounds like you two are going to have fun tomorrow." Usagi began to braid Chibiusa's hair, getting her ready for bed.

"Yep! Back at home, we always go ice skating in the winter time."

Usagi smiled, "We used to go ice skating in the Silver Millenium too." She wondered if her future-self was more graceful on ice then her current-self.

"Really? Mama doesn't skate too much." Well, guess not. "Papa usually takes me and then we have special cocoa, with extra marshmallows and chocolate, afterward. It's out special tradition!"

"You're special tradition with your Papa, huh?"

"Mmmhmm...Usagi are you okay?" Usagi put a smile on her face before scooping Chibiusa into her arms.

"Time for bed!"

"I want warm milk first!" The two girls' laughter rang through the Tsukino house like bells.


"Chibiusa, I'm giving you one more minute to get ready to go. And that coat better be buttoned up!" Chibiusa's only response to Usagi was a squeal as she dashed over to Mamoru's sofa looking for her scarf and gloves.

"How was shopping?" Mamoru stood next to Usagi by the doorway, waiting to say goodbye to Chibiusa.

" Boring . Mama spent forty minutes decided on what type of cutlery she wanted to give to the neighbours," Usagi groaned at the memory. "But, I did get you your gift."

"What did you get me?" Usagi grinned up her boyfriend, poking him in the chest.

"It's a surprise, Mamo-chan. You're going to have to wait." Mamoru narrowed his eyes at her before tugging on her hand and pulling her closer.

"You can't even give me a hint?" A hand tilted her chin up. Their lips only inches away from each others'. Usagi felt her cheeks reddening. She leaned closer and closer…

"I'm ready!" Mamoru and Usagi broke apart just before Chibiusa to bounded up to them.

"What did I say about buttoning up your coat?"

"Aww, do I have to?"

" Chibiusa …"


It was a few days later when the three of them found themselves together again. Hotaru and Chibiusa were in the middle of making a pillow fort in Mamoru's guest bedroom. Usagi was currently admiring her boyfriend's face. She let out a dreamy sigh, oh what a lucky girl she was.

"Mamoru-san, your carpet is very lovely." Oh yeah, Michiru was here too.

"Thanks, Michiru." Mamoru glanced through the open door leading to the guest bedroom. Michiru lay on her back on the ground, hair splayed out, as Chibiusa and Hotaru constructed their fort around her. Well, they insisted it wasn't a fort but rather a castle and every castle needed a princess. Usagi had refused ( " You're a princess too Chibiusa, you do it" "But I'm busy building the castle!" ) so Michiru offered herself.

"Are you sure you guys aren't hungry yet?" Usagi called out from the sofa, setting down her empty mug.

"We're fine!" Hotaru shouted back, busy constructing the left wing of the pillow castle. Usagi stretched her arms over her head before leaning against Mamoru, arm wrapped around his waist.

"Tired?" Mamoru asked with a smile and dropped a kiss to the crown of her head. Usagi recalled earlier that morning when Chibiusa dragged her out of her warm bed to go buy as many pillows and sheets they could carry before heading over to Mamoru's apartment.

"How does she have so much energy in the winter? You're supposed to be cold and sleepy in the winter."

"Well, she's a little girl, not a bear hibernating, Usako."

"She's been wanting to do a new activity every day. Getting up early in the morning and coming back late at night...I've forgotten what my bed looks like Mamo-chan!" She felt Mamoru chuckle beneath her and pouted, snuggling closer and resting her head in the crook of his neck.

"It's too bad Haruka isn't here to see this," Hotaru said adding the final details to the castle.

Michiru snorted, not able to imagine Haruka taking part in the construction of a pillow castle, "Be sure to take a picture for her."

"What time is Mako-chan coming?" Chibiusa called out, adding some more pillows next to Michiru.

"Huh?" Usagi looked up, glancing over to the guest bedroom.

"They're baking cookies." Mamoru reminded her twisting a finger into her golden locks.

"Oh yeah...I don't know Chibiusa. I'll text her." Before Usagi could fish out her phone, Mamoru's intercom buzzed. Mamoru extracted himself from Usagi, who pouted at the loss of warmth.

"Hi, guys! I'm here, could you help me carry the cookie supplies?"

"We'll be right down, Makoto." Usagi got up too, putting on her shoes.

"Michiru, we'll be back soon!"

"Okay." Usagi smiled; Michiru was not the least bit fazed by the ridiculous amount of pillows and blankets constructed around her.

A few minutes later Mamoru and Usagi returned, along with Makoto and several bags of baking and decorating supplies.

"Thank you for letting us use your kitchen, Mamoru."

"No problem, Makoto." Usagi left the two to chat as she headed over to the Super Pillow Castle of Cuteness (dubbed so by Hotaru and Chibiusa).

"Makoto's here. Wash up before you guys start baking." Usagi poked her head into the room. The two girls cheered, standing up and heading for the door. Michiru made no move to get up.

"Michiru, you can get up now."

"I'm good here, Usagi." Michiru let out a yawn before returning to her relaxation.

Soon enough Hotaru, Chibiusa, and Makoto were rolling out sugar cookie dough and cutting them into stars and hearts and bunnies.

"Try one! Try one!" Chibiusa stood in front of Mamoru and Usagi holding out a plate of hearts decorated with pale pink icing and an insane amount of sprinkles. They both picked one up and took a bite.

"Mmm...delicious Chibiusa." Usagi smiled at her bright, smiling face as Chibiusa dashed back to the kitchen with the empty plate. She finished her cookie and stole the last bite from Mamoru's own cookie. Mamoru frowned, brows furrowed at Usagi's victorious grin. Her grin quickly disappeared as Mamoru bent down and kissed off a small smear of icing on the corner of her mouth. The two smiled at each as they teased each other, eyes staring lovingly into the others'.


Long after the cookies were baked and decorated and the kitchen spotless, Mamoru's intercom buzzed once more. This time it was Haruka here to pick up Michiru and Hotaru.

"We made so many cookies! Makoto did most of the baking but Chibiusa and I helped decorate them all." Hotaru excitedly told Haruka the day's events as she pulled on her hat and gloves.

"You have to wake up the Princess still!" Chibiusa exclaimed. Haruka looked over at Usagi with confusion.

"Princess Michiru of the Super Pillow Castle of Cuteness." Usagi pointed over to the guest bedroom where Michiru had fallen asleep in her tower of pillows.

"Oh, of course." Haruka smiled.

"Are you going to wake her with a kiss like in Sleeping Beauty ?" Hotaru asked following Haruka into the room. Haruka stared at Michiru's sleeping face for a moment, she looked so calm and at peace. Then she threw a pillow at her.

"Michiru, wake up!" Haruka grinned at Michiru who woke with a startle. Michiru glared at Haruka's laughing face.

"Oh, must I leave this place of tranquillity and back to the likes of you ?" Michiru lay a hand delicately on her forehead, unable to hide her smile at Hotaru's and Chibiusa's giggling from the living room.

"Sorry, your highness , but reality calls. Time to go." Haruka leaned down and offered Michiru a hand.

"But it's so comfortable here." Michiru's sly smile was matched with a smirk from Haruka.

"Oh is it?"

" Ahem ." Mamoru coughed. Makoto and Usagi tried their best to cover their own giggles.

Haruka and Michiru got up, no shame or embarrassment of course. Makoto also gathered her things as Mamoru promised not to touch the girls' castle and Tupperware filled with sugar cookies were distributed among everyone and goodbyes were said.

"Grab your coat, Chibiusa. We're leaving soon too." Usagi flopped back down onto Mamoru's couch.

"Already?" Chibiusa pouted.

"We have to get up early to help Mina pick out tree decorations, remember?" Chibiusa mumbled a reply before hunting down her scarf.

"Another busy day tomorrow?" Mamoru asked sitting down next to her.

"Maybe I'll leave her to Mina and the girls. Then I could come back here and…" Usagi turned leaning closer to Mamoru.

"And?" Mamoru asked eyes on her pink lips.

"And...sleep." Usagi leaned back against the couch let out a dreamy sigh. Mamoru rolled his eyes at her giving her a soft shove.

"But alas, no sleep for Usagi-chan." She looked over to wear Chibiusa was wrapping her too large scarf around herself, with a fond look.

Mamoru looked over with a similar look on his face, "It's very nice of you to be doing all these things for her."

Usagi shrugged, "It makes her happy. I think she's been missing Crystal Tokyo since it's the holiday season...so I've been doing everything to make her smile" Mamoru looked back to Usagi, and pressed a kiss to her temple.

"Besides, Mamo-chan...this way I'll secure my position as favourite parent." Mamoru froze as Usagi turned to look at him, eyes filled with raw determination.

"...What?"

"I'm ready!" Chibiusa announced. Usagi stood up, slipping into her boots, reveling in Mamoru's shocked state.

"Bye Mamo-chan!"

"Yeah...bye Mamo-chan," Usagi said with a smirk.


Of course, Mamoru Chiba was not one to back down from a challenge. And Usagi had just thrown down a pretty big gauntlet.