First Christmas

Lena was sitting in bed staring out of her window looking off in the distance at the trees. She was sipping her warm tea in a blue paisley teacup. She had been so busy with Stef this past week that she had not had time to herself. She sat there thinking about all the ups and downs they had. Mike made things unusually difficult for her when it came to Brandon. Sighing Lena got up and headed to her closet. Inside were multicolored and designed wrapping paper rolls. She had been collected them for the past few weeks. She had a few gifts for Brandon stored away. But the most important person was the hardest to shop for.

Lena had spent Christmas before with a girlfriend. She had always put tons of thought into what she got the other person. This year she wanted to make sure she went above and beyond considering that Stef was the person she was going to spend the rest of her life with.

When she met Stef, she felt familiar. She felt like a memory. It was almost as if they had existed before together. That familiar feeling was a sign to Lena that they indeed were soul mates. They were meant to be. She would fight for this woman.

Pulling out her supplies, Lena wrapped the toys she got for Brandon and a few sweaters she had found adorable as well.

Lena got up and hid them back in their respectable places and went and threw on her clothes. She knew that she could never get something for Stef that would show her how much she loved her. The only way she could ever convey that was by touching her and showing her affection.

Lena walked into the jewelry store and was promptly helped by a balled older man. He asked what she was looking for. Lena gave him a wordy explanation and the man guided her to the glass box. There Lena caught with her eyes the perfect gift. The polite man boxed it up and checked her out. He offered Lena a warranty just in case. Lena thanked the man, but declined the option.

Lena got home and wrapped it in the red Christmas tree paper and hid it away from plain view. The next few weeks she collected a few miscellaneous items. She had a few pictures framed of them together and another with Brandon.

Christmas

Lena knew Christmas for her and Stef would be later in the day after Stef had taken B to both of his grandparents and dads, where he would stay the night.

"Hey love, sorry it's late! I wish I could have come sooner!"

"No don't be crazy you were busy with Brandon. He comes first! Besides It gave me time to prepare!"

Over in the corner was a Christmas tree. That Stef helped Lena pick out a few weeks earlier. Stef even chopped it down. Lena thought the sight was hysterical. They strapped it to Lena's car and set it up in the living room. They decorated it with fancy glitter ornaments, Santa's, Rudolf's, snowflakes, and elf's. Below the tree sat presents, some for Brandon and others for Stef, except that one small box Lena had hidden away.

Handing her girlfriend a glass of white wine, "Well are you ready for presents?"

Stef knew that Christmas was magical for Lena. She had worked hard on getting her things that she knew her love would adore.

"Who isn't I can barely contain my excitement," Stef said sarcastically with a laugh earning an eye roll from Lena.

Lena dimmed the lights to her apartment. A few candles were lit that gave off a warming Christmas scent. Lena also threw on some Christmas music.

Stef grabbed her presents for Lena she had from the counter in the kitchen and placed them by the tree. She was nervous. She knew she was. She just wanted everything to be perfect with Lena.

Lena followed behind noticing Stef sitting on the carpet she kissed her forehead and sat next to her.

"So how do you want to do this? Do you want to take turns or let the other person go all at once?"

"Let's take turns?"

Stef and Lena opened several presents. Stef loved the pictures she had framed. Lena got a cute pair of boots that were real leather. Then they both had their last present. Stef's was in a big box. Lena started to rip off the silver snowflake paper and into the box to find another box. Lena looked up at her love who was giggling across from her. Several boxes later Lena came across a small box. Gently pulling off the paper she could feel her hands shaking.

Inside were diamond studded earrings set in gold. Lena's mouth dropped. They had to be at least one carat a piece. She felt tears pool in her eyes as she starred at the box.

Thank god Lena had the music on, Judy Garland's version of Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas was filling the silence that blanketed them like a cloud.

Stef put down her glass of wine and stood up. She bent down and pulled the studs out and began to talk as she in slow motions began to put them in Lena's ears.

"When I was little I would lay in bed thinking about the person I would fall in love with. An Image never came to my mind. But I knew that person I would love with my whole heart and I would show them every day. I promised myself that I would make that person feel perfect and loved."

Lena now standing in front of Stef while Stef continued to speak, "I want to make you feel those things forever Lena. You are meant to be with me forever to have Christmas and other holidays together."

Lena was holding back the tears. Stef pulled her in for a kiss and then wrapped her in a hug. Lena was comforted by the smell of lavender and vanilla as she snuggled her face into her love. Pulling back she looked at Stef and said those simple three little words that carried so much meaning, "I love you!"

Stef smiled and she knew that she picked the right thing for Lena. Lena bent down and pulled open a gift bag and handed it to Stef. "This is for you."

Stef was confused at first. She thought that she went last. Grabbing the box she pulled off the paper and noticed a ring box. Her eyes quickly darted up to see Lena's. She opened the box to see a dainty open heart charm on a gold chain.

"I got you a heart, despite that it is cliché because I wanted you to carry it with you when you work to know that you always have a heart to come home to. I will always love you."

The two stood their kissing and they both laughed at their corniness as Lena put the small necklace on Stef. The two finished their evening watching The Christmas Story. Lena's family had made it a tradition to watch it every year. The two were cuddled up on the couch kissing each other softly here and there whispering sweet nothings during the commercials. Lena stood up and decided to make a hot chocolate with a candy cane in it. Sipping it slowly on the edge of the couch she looked up to find Stef staring at her intensely.

Breaking the silence Stef said finally, "You are so beautiful."

Lena smiled at the woman across from her. This was the first Christmas away from her family and the first with her own. She was in love with Stef and this was the best first Christmas.