Disclaimer: I don't own the Host.

A/N: Here comes those Christmas Oneshots I promised. Review if you have any requests, ends on the New Years Day. This is the longest thing I've ever written.

P.S: Sorry it's late

Title: A kiss under the mistletoe

Pairings: Jared/Mel.

Mel's P.O.V:

My parents had decided to host a Christmas party on Christmas Eve, out of all the days in December they had to pick the 24th, Christmas Eve, the night Santa came to visit. I spent the whole day decorating every corner of the house. It helped that we already had our Christmas tree up and some minor decorations in the house but there was still a lot more to do. There were boxes stacked upon boxes of all kinds of fabulous decorations, baubles, tinsel, snow globes, statues, you name it and I got it. I smothered the walls with fairy lights and tinsel, the windows were covered in stickers, there were mini Christmas trees in every single room, and tables draped in festive tablecloths that were soon to be covered with platters and platters of all types of food and drink. There was even a crystalline punch bowl with a matching ladle.

I had been in charge of writing and posting all the invitations to people I'd never even heard of, though I was allowed to invite some of my friends, but after all that careful writing my hand had been so sore and stained with ink, thank God it was the holidays. You'd swear I was the one who wanted and organised this party... but no, I was just the slave dutiful to my parents. Hey, but at least I knew I was never going to become a wedding or party planner or a caterer. A few jobs were knocked off the endless possibilities.

My dad tried to persuade my mum, Jamie and I to put on our Christmas jumpers with no avail, although Jamie agreed – as long as he could stay up for the whole party – my mum and I stuck with our party dresses, hers being a red Santa type one and mine being a 'little' black dress down to my knees.

Then I got the job to open the door and welcome people while Jamie took their coats, more fun...

"Next time," I whispered to Jamie. "We talk them out of a party or we leave, got it?"

"I am in total agreement, this is not fun." He answered back just as quietly. "But you did most of the work." Since I wasn't looking at his face I couldn't tell if he was mocking me and having a laugh or just pointing out a simple truth, but before I had the chance to determine which one the doorbell rang out, sending my parents into a panicked frenzy.

"C'mon," I said to Jamie, rolling my eyes.

"I bet it's Aunt Maggie and Sharon," Jamie groaned. "They're always the first to arrive."

"Usually," I agreed. "As long as Sharon has Doc with her there will be no problem, no cat fights, no over dramatics." My voice got lower as we approached the door. I liked Sharon, but when she had a bit too much to drink there was no telling what she'd do.

When we had reached the door, Jamie readied himself to catch those heavy coats that Aunt Maggie and Sharon would surely thrust upon him. I could see it now, Jamie stumbling around trying not to lose his balance and Doc would go to help him but Sharon would catch his hand and drag him away before he could get anywhere near Jamie and the coats.

And it happened to play out exactly like that.

"Melanie, Jamie," Aunt Maggie gave us a stiff nod of the head before stalking off. Sharon followed her mother, but not before giving me a quick hug, then she grabbed Doc's hand despite his muffled protests, leaving Jamie walking like a tight rope walker.

"Come here," I said trying to make my giggles go unheard by him. I grabbed one of the coats and was unpleasantly surprised by the heaviness of it – how did they wear them every time they went out. Then we lugged the coats into the closet. This occurred every single time someone entered the door except the coats were, thankfully, much lighter. We had to stay at our positions until the last person arrived, which of course was always, and always will be, Uncle Jeb.

"Jeb!" I squealed angrily. "Why were you so late? You do realise we had to stay here until you arrived!"

"Calm Mel, I'm not the last ones here..." he mumbled with his grin. "Now give your uncle a hug."

"I don't know Jamie... should we?" I asked, winking at Jamie.

"You're right Mel... I'm not so sure." He answered playing along.

"Well then... I guess I just won't give ye your presents... such a shame really, I spent a lot of time thinking about what to get you." Jeb said with a small smile, smart bastard, knowing exactly how to play us...

"Well I suppose one hug wouldn't hurt." And with that Jamie and I rushed into his arms.

"Well I'd better hop along before the people outside come in." And with that he shuffled away.

"Who else could there possibly be?" I asked, more so to myself than Jamie.

"I don't know." He answered, and then the doorbell and knocker sounded at the same time. I opened the door to let the last and final family in and to my surprise it was none other than the Howes.

"Merry Christmas," Jared Howe said in passing, handing Jamie his coat. I blushed, I had a small crush on him ever since our parents had introduced us, though he'd never showed any signs of liking me so...

"Here let me take that," I said, holding my hand out for Mrs. Howe's coat.

"Why thank-you dear," she smiled kindly down at me. Jared had obviously inherited her smile, since it was all white and dreamy just like his. I mean beamy! Beamy!

After stowing those away in the closet too, Jamie and I made our way to the festivities, then split up as I went to find my best friend Wanda and Jamie headed for the food table.

"Wanda!" I greeted, giving my fairy-like friend a hug. I looked to her companion. "I see you brought Ian." Don't get me wrong, I liked Ian, he was a great guy but he'd hurt Wanda accidently once and I didn't want that to happen again.

"Hey Melanie!" I heard a voice behind me. It was none other than Mr. Kyle O' Shea, holding a drink of punch in his hand.

"I see you brought Kyle." I said disdainfully, Kyle and I did not get on – at all. He was such a player and a flirt that it was unreal, and he frequently tried to pick me up, which of course never worked.

"I knew you'd be happy to see me." Kyle said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. I shrugged him off.

"Don't you dare touch me." I growled at him.

"Still playing hard to get? I thought we were past that!" Kyle laughed, thinking it was all a joke. He had the brain of a six year old, seriously.

"I'm going out to get some fresh air," I told Wanda and Ian. "Do not follow me unless you want a kick where it hurts." I told Kyle, meaning every word. I quickly walked away, indeed heading to the garden – which my parents had also insisted I decorated... so I'd put up various pieces of mistletoe and fairy lights.

I walked out into the crisp, fresh air, absorbing it.

"Hey there beautiful," a voice came from behind me.

"I thought I told you not to follow me," I growled, whipping around to face Kyle.

"I 'm a rebel, honey, I don't do what people tell me." He answered, and I felt as if it would be a dream come true if I could just strangle the life out of him.

"Leave me alone, Kyle." I sighed resignedly. I'd had just about enough of him popping up everywhere. But of course he didn't to any such thing, instead he moved closer.

"Admit it, you like me."

"I don't Kyle, don't be so big-headed." I really wanted to rip his head off.

"Come on, there is nobody here, no-one will know except for me. It can be our secret." I shook my head in exasperation.

"I don't like you Kyle, get that into your thick head." I turned around, ready to go back inside when Kyle grabbed me and swung me around to face him... and the bastard kissed me.

I was all ready to knee him, but someone reacted and came to my rescue before I saved myself. Jared.

He pulled Kyle off me and punched him in the face. Then he dragged him up and pushed him inside the door angrily.

"Are you okay Mel?" He asked breathing heavily.

"Yes, thanks." I was going to add in the bit of where I wasn't a damsel in distress and how I could save myself but decided to let it go this one time.

"Did he hurt you?"

"No, but the next time I see him I'm going to hurt him." I growled, oh boy, I couldn't wait until that day came round.

"It isn't completely his fault, he's drunk."

"I noticed, he kind of got into my personal space you know." I joked... well I think it was a joke.

"Come on let's take a walk."

"I don't walk with strangers." I said teasing.

"Not even if the walk is in your own garden with a person who saved your dignity?" Jared said with a teasing glint in his eye.

"Well I suppose one walk couldn't hurt..."

"That's what they all say," Jared answered solemnly.

"Not helping you case." I reminded him.

. . .

After that little, ahem long, walk, I knew quite a bit about Jared as he did about me. Who knew 20 questions could be so fun? Suddenly as I was about to ask him another question, he leaned in and kissed me. I was in heaven, and I didn't push him away, instead I pulled him closer. The kiss lasted about five minutes altogether, when he pulled away, I gave him a questioning look.

"Why did you kiss me?"

"Mistletoe," he pointed up and indeed there was mistletoe... the mistletoe I had hung up there.

"Oh..." I was a bit disappointed, Jared had only kissed me because of some silly tradition.

"But even if there hadn't been mistletoe, I think I would have kissed you anyway." He continued.

"Well, I think that since we are still standing under the mistletoe that it would be a crime not to obey the tradition... again." I told him arrogantly.

"I think so too Ms. Stryder." He answered leaning in again.

Good old mistletoe.

A/N: If you have any requests don't hestitate to ask.