Just a little extra chapter for all of you still following this story. God jul, merry Christmas and happy holidays to all of you.
(this one used to be in the LR fic, but it didn't really fit in, so I'm posting it as a drabble thingy instead.)
"This is not funny," Lightning hissed. "Stop laughing."
"I thought you said you were going to decorate the Christmas tree, not become the Christmas tree," Hope said, trying to stifle his laugh but failing miserably.
"Ha-ha," Lightning said sarcastically, pulling at the glitter garlands covering her body. "Still not funny."
Lightning had taken on the task of decorating the Christmas tree this year, and she'd definitely underestimated the pine tree's height. Too proud to ask for help, she'd simply fetched a chair and worked her way up. It had all gone surprisingly well – until she'd tried to wind a long glitter garland around the top of the tree. She'd stood on her tiptoes on the chair, lost her balance and fallen right into the tree. She'd managed to catch the tree before it fell over, but it had left her completely entangled in the glitter garland and covered in pine needles. Then, of course, Hope had strolled into the living room.
"You're only making it worse," Hope said, still laughing. "Let me help." He began to unwind the garland, and Lightning was soon freed from the glitter.
"Thanks," Lightning muttered, feeling a bit embarrassed. She reached out for the garland, intending to continue the tree decorating, but Hope held it out of her reach.
"Wait a second." Hope grabbed a pair of scissors from the coffee table, cut off a half meter of the garland and tied the ends together. He then placed the glitter circlet on Lightning's head.
"A halo for my angel," he said with a grin. Lightning blushed at his cheesiness, just like he knew she would. Hope's grin widened, and he pulled out his cellphone from his jeans pocket. "Your cuteness is killing me. I have to get a picture of this."
Lightning quickly stood up on her tiptoes again and gave Hope a kiss. Hope, slightly taken by surprise, answered it moments later. While Hope was distracted, Lightning seized the opportunity and snatched the phone out of his hand.
"Hey, that's cheating," Hope said, trying to fake a frown. He reached for the phone, but Lightning dodged him and threw it on the couch, also known as the monstrous-piece-of-furniture-which-devours-everything-it-touches couch.
Hope groaned, frowning for real this time. "Great. Now I'll never find it."
"I know," Lightning said with a smug smile. She started to brush off the pine needles still clinging to her body, making half of them fall on the floor and the other half land on Hope.
"Stop it," Hope said disapprovingly, mimicking her movement to brush the needles off his clothes.
Lightning smirked. She combed through her hair with her fingers a couple of times to generate a small pile of needles in her hand, and then flung them all at Hope.
"Really, Light?" Hope said, glaring at her skeptically. "We're throwing pine needles now?"
"See them as Christmas presents." Lightning smiled innocently with a mischievous glimmer in her eyes. "Merry Christmas."
Hope's frown disappeared almost immediately. He chuckled, shaking his head. "You're too cute for your own good." He bent down and kissed her again, wrapping his arms around her waist while Lightning wound hers around his neck. "I love you," Hope whispered against her lips. "Even when you throw things at me."
"I love you, too," Lightning sighed. Then, she started giggling. "I've got pine needles in my bra."
"I think I can help you with that," Hope said with a sly grin. He bent his knees a little, and Lightning let out a yelp as she was thrown over his shoulder.
"But what about the Christmas tree?" Lightning said, her giggle turning into a full laughter.
"It can wait. I think our Christmas will be merry anyway."
"Oh, really?"
"Really." Hope began to walk towards the bedroom with a still laughing Lightning dangling upside-down on his back. "I think this will be the best Christmas ever."