***Willow Pond***
Jonathan and Jennifer were sitting downstairs, having a cocktail. He had started them a fire, and she had made them dinner. They had about an hour till it was ready.
Jonathan was kissing her neck and trying to get her to tell him a secret.
"Come on, just one hint? Please…."
"No, you are just going to have to wait".
"Jennifer…don't make me wait too long. I have been so good. I will make it worth your while".
"Jonathan. Christmas is 5 days away. You can open your presents then".
She turned and kissed him.
"Let's make a deal. Don't you want to know what you are getting from me? I will give you a hint, if you give me a hint".
"Darling, you know I love surprises. I am content to wait".
"And you know that I cannot help myself. And I cannot wait. So, you are just going to have to give me a hint".
"One hint, and that will tide you over till Christmas?"
"One hint. That's all I am asking for". He was kissing her neck and shoulder and lightly running his hands over her back.
"Ok fine. One hint about one present, but that's all".
"Ok. What is it?"
"It's black".
"That's all I get?"
"That's your hint".
"Jennifer-"
"Nope. That's it".
She smiled as she took a sip of her cocktail.
"Jennifer, you didn't exactly give me the right type of hint".
"I'm sorry. You didn't clarify".
"Ok, so let me have a do-over".
She turned around and faced him fully.
"Jennifer-"
She put a finger to his lips. "Shh".
She leaned forward and kissed him, slipping her tongue in and out of his mouth, and lightly nibbling on his lips, which she knew would drive him insane.
She broke the kiss, and looked at him.
"You can keep asking me for hints…or you can have some more of this".
She kissed him again and squeezed him tight.
"You drive a hard bargain, Mrs. H."
She smiled at him.
"Dinner is almost ready".
"It can wait".
"It might burn".
"We'll order a pizza".
"We had pizza 2 days ago. This is healthier".
"What is it?"
"Loaded Baked Potato soup, you love it".
"I love it even more leftover".
"You will need energy".
"Just seeing you gives me all the energy I need".
She leaned forward and kissed him.
"You win".
"I always do".
***The next morning***
Jonathan and Jennifer had basically gone to bed as soon as they were done eating dinner. After all this time, they still couldn't keep their hands off each other.
Usually they fell asleep sometime around 10 or 11. Last night, it was after 2 when they finally fell asleep. Needless to say, Jonathan didn't make it to the office by 8 this morning.
He called and said he would be in later, and he and Jennifer slept till almost 10.
He woke her up by kissing her shoulder and caressing her hair.
"4".
"4?"
"Yes. 4. 4 and then 7".
She thought for a minute.
"I don't understand".
"4 is how many days till Christmas".
"Ahh, I see. And what is 7?"
"7 is the number of hours till you give me my next hint".
"Oh no, Jonathan Charles. We had a deal. No more hints. You got your hint last night, buster".
"That was yesterday's hint. We are talking about today's hint".
He pulled her on top of him.
"Darling, there is no today's hint. There was only yesterday's hint".
He kissed her.
"I bet I can change your mind…"
"You are certainly welcome to give it a shot…"
***Later that evening***
Jonathan had finally gone into the office around 12, and Jennifer had taken a long bubble bath and then wrapped Jonathan's presents. She had gotten him a few little things, like a new wallet and some new pajamas and a new robe, and she had also gotten him some big things, like a new watch and a new set of golf clubs. She had decided to have him do a scavenger hunt on Christmas day for the golf clubs, since they would be rather obvious wrapped by the tree.
After she wrapped the presents, she decided to add more lights and ornaments to the tree. She took all the ornaments off the tree, and then basically wrapped the entire thing in lights. Every branch had lights wrapped around it. This tree was some kind of bright.
She put the ornaments back on, and added a few, and then turned the lights off and turned the tree on. It was so bright it lit up the whole room.
Her absolute favorite holiday was Christmas. She loved seeing Jonathan get excited about his presents and she loved all the lights and decorations. Of course, Jonathan made every day feel like a holiday. He was always trying to please her, take care of her, make her happy. Even if they were in an argument, she still knew that he loved her unconditionally.
She placed his presents under the tree, and then went to start dinner.
She was making one of his favorites-cheesy chicken lasagna with sautéed veggies.
She had just put it in the oven when he walked in.
"Darling, I brought dinner!"
She came out of the kitchen.
"What? I just put dinner in the oven".
"Oh. Sorry. I thought I would surprise you, since I know you love surprises".
"Trying to butter me up, I see. What did you bring?"
"Espana. The Jennifer meal-2 soft chicken tacos, 1 chicken quesadilla, a side of sour cream, guacamole salad and chips and queso".
"And I assume you got your favorite as well?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Ok, so you have a choice. You can eat that, or you can eat the cheesy chicken lasagna that I made and just put in the oven".
"Babe…how about we put the lasagna in the freezer and have it tomorrow night?"
"It's a deal".
She kissed him and they headed to the kitchen.
She took the lasagna out and let it cool and then put it in the freezer.
Jonathan made some of his famous margaritas, and then they sat down to eat.
After a very lovely dinner, Jennifer cleaned up the kitchen and Jonathan was putting her presents under the tree.
She came out and saw what he had done.
"I love the tree, babe."
"Thanks, I added more lights to it".
"There's just one thing missing".
"What's that?"
"This". He pulled out the mistletoe.
"Aww…" He pulled her in for a long kiss.
"You don't need mistletoe to kiss me, sailor".
"No, but I'll take any excuse I can get".
She kissed him again, and they settled on the couch. He started them a fire, and they settled on the couch.
"Darling, you love Christmas so much. What is your favorite thing to do at Christmas?"
"Oh, I don't know. As a kid, I loved baking cookies and Christmas treats. As I got older it was about going to home to my father's house and spending the holiday with him and Walter. Then I met you, and Max."
"What was your favorite thing we did?"
"I loved the poker game that we used to play on Christmas Eve every year, just the three of us. Max was always so uninhibited. I love seeing you opening your presents on Christmas morning, and I love how you always seem to get me the most special gifts. I just love spending the holiday with you, darling".
She turned to him.
"What's your favorite thing about Christmas?"
"Well, I am quite fond of you and me and mistletoe. I am also fond of relaxing by a fire with you, and all that comes along with Christmas. As a kid, we never really got to celebrate Christmas at the Orphanage, so my absolute favorite thing is how you and I always take Christmas gifts to the kids at the Orphanage and give them what I never got".
"I love that too".
She kissed him nice and slow.
"What day are we doing that, this year?"
"Well, I figured tomorrow, I will leave the office at lunch. We can go shopping. Sister Margaret is going to call me in the morning and tell me what each kid needs and has asked for. After we get it all purchased, we can wrap it all and then the next day, start driving up. I booked us a room for two nights at a new hotel, overlooking the bay".
"I like that plan. Why don't I go with you, to the office tomorrow, and Sister Margaret can tell me all that stuff so that you can handle the other business stuff?"
"I like the way you think".
"Thanks, I like the way I think too".
"But, you will have to get another office".
"Why?"
"Because, if you are in my office, all I am going to want to do is this.."
He leaned down and crushed her lips with his, and took her all in, kissing her so passionately her head spun.
"I see your point".
"Darling, are we going to be able to fit all of the presents in the car to take them?"
"I reserved a car just for this. I rented a Yukon. We can pick it up tomorrow."
"Perfect. You think of everything".
"So, my next hint. Let's get to it".
"Jonathan, I told you, there was only yesterday's hint."
"Jennifer, we settled that this morning, remember?"
"Ok, I suppose I can give you another hint."
"Thank you".
She turned and looked at him.
"Do you want it to be on the same present or on a different one?"
"Up to you".
"Ok. Your second hint is…pockets".
"Pockets?"
"Yes. Pockets".
"Black, pockets. What am I supposed to do with that?"
"I don't know…."
She had this twinkle in her eyes and a smirk on her face.
"I love it when you are mysterious". He kissed her.
She rested her head on his shoulder and gave him a chest rub.
"Darling, what do you say to having a New Year's party, here?"
"I'm ok with it, but we have already been invited to 2…so who would we invite?"
"Oh. Well, maybe next year".
He got her a brandy, and got himself one too, and came back to the couch.
This time she sat all the way behind him and rubbed his back for him a long time.
"Is this one of my presents?"
She playfully swatted him.
"Think of it as an extra hint of what's to come".
She took his shirt off him, and smoothed out his t-shirt.
She rubbed his shoulders and got all the kinks out, and loved on him a little bit.
He kept repeating 'black' and 'pockets'. She loved that he wasn't going to figure it out.
She got him totally relaxed, and pretty soon she slipped out from behind him, and leaned him back against the couch.
She covered him with a blanket as he nodded off. She grabbed a pillow, and put her head in his lap, and covered herself with a blanket, and fell asleep too.
Sometime in the wee hours, he woke up and picked her up and carried her upstairs.
***The next morning***
Jonathan and Jennifer went to Hart Industries together, and Jennifer took the call from Sister Margaret, and made lists. She and Jonathan were going to be buying presents for 80 children between the ages of 3 and 17.
She made a list of where they were going to shop, and what they could get at each store.
She got out $300 and gave it to Kelly.
"Can you pretty please go buy wrapping paper and ribbon and tape and boxes and bags and bows and drop it off at our house? Get as much as you can, and when you walk in, just put it over by the coffee table wherever."
"Yes ma'am".
"Thank you". She and Kelly winked at each other.
Jennifer and Jonathan headed out and started at department stores first. They bought clothes, stuffed animals, electronics, toys, games, books, art supplies, movies, bed sets and literally everything that was on the kid's lists.
They managed to fit it all into the Yukon, with very little room to spare. Jonathan also purchased some things for the orphanage itself, like a video game system they could all use and a new basketball hoop and basketballs, as well as new couches for the common area. He was having those delivered after Christmas.
Jennifer and Jonathan got home late, after having picked up dinner, and unloaded the car.
After they ate, they started sorting the presents, and making the tags.
Jennifer and Jonathan wrapped over 400 presents. They were basically up all night, but he built them a fire and they turned on Christmas music and got comfortable and just got it done.
Around 4 a.m., they finally finished the final one. She bagged up each child's presents as best she could, and he took the seats out of the Yukon, and loaded it with the packages.
They finally laid down around 5.
They slept till 10, and then got up and started packing.
They headed to San Francisco around 12, and got there around dinner time.
***Mission Street Orphanage***
Jonathan and Jennifer pulled up to the orphanage, and took their garment bags in, and headed towards Sister Margaret's office.
She allowed them to change clothes into their outfits, and they emerged, dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Sister Margaret and Sister Michelle got all of the children into the gym, while Jonathan and Jennifer started unloading all of the presents. It took them almost 30 minutes to get everything set up.
For the next 3 hours, Jonathan and Jennifer played Santa, and listened to all the kids tell them what they wanted.
Before they left, they told them about the new basketball goal and basketballs, and the new couches that were coming next week.
All of the presents were lined up underneath the tree for them to open on Christmas morning.
All the kids gave them tons of hugs and kisses and Sister Margaret hugged them both as well.
"We'll be in touch. Have a Merry Christmas, Sister".
"You too. Peace be with you".
They climbed in the car and headed to the hotel.
***Omni Hotel***
After getting their room key, they took their luggage to their room and got settled.
Jennifer pulled out a small gift bag for Jonathan.
"Darling, how about an early Christmas present?"
"You know me so well".
She disappeared into the bathroom while he opened it.
When she emerged, he had put it on. Santa Claus boxers.
"You have a great sense of humor, darling".
She cleared her throat, and took her robe off, to reveal her own Mrs. Claus lingerie.
She went to him and wrapped her arms around him.
"Merry Christmas, darling".
He picked her up and kissed her, and then laid her down on the bed.
He climbed on top of her, and started kissing her neck.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, and started scratching his back and running her fingers through his hair.
He slipped the straps of her babydoll off her shoulders as he left a trail of kisses and squeezed her boobs as he set them free, just before he suckled on her nipples.
She reached down and squeezed his butt, and then pushed his boxers off him, as he lifted her babydoll over her head.
She reached down and guided him to where she wanted him and wrapped her legs around his waist. They rocked together and then he took her over the edge at the same time he went over himself. They collapsed back on to the bed.
He wrapped an arm around her, and they snuggled together and fell asleep.
***The next morning***
Jonathan and Jennifer woke up and leisurely drove home. She had her calendar out while they drove.
"Darling, when are you going back to the office?"
"Not until the 28th, darling".
"So that means that you are all mine for the next 5 days".
She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"Want to go somewhere?"
"We could. We would have to have Christmas at home first, though."
They made it home around mid-afternoon, and stopped at the Bistro and picked up lunch, plus some extras for dinner.
Jennifer had ordered a salad with grilled chicken, and Jonathan had ordered stuffed trout and a baked potato.
They decided to spread it all out on the coffee table, and eat on the floor in front of the fireplace.
He made them both cocktails, and as they ate, they fed each other bites.
He took their plates to the kitchen and then yelled for her to close her eyes.
She closed her eyes and he put a plate with a piece of Devil's food cake in front of her.
"Ok, open". He settled back against the couch, and she sat in front of him.
She opened her eyes, and turned and kissed him.
"Darling, you are so sweet. This might not end well, though".
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, it's not going to bode well for my waistline. I won't be able to fit into that special outfit I had last night".
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek.
"That's ok. I like it better off of you than on".
She blushed and chuckled at him.
They ate about ½ the devil's food, and then headed to bed early. 2 late nights in a row was too much for Jennifer.
As they climbed into bed, and she snuggled up to him, they started chatting about their plans for the next few days.
"Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Is there anything special you want to do?"
He looked at her and spoke softly.
"Spend it with you".
"How sweet. How do you want to spend it?"
"Whatever you want to do, darling, is fine with me".
She leaned up and kissed him, and then fell asleep.
***Christmas Eve***
Jonathan and Jennifer slept in, and then she made him his favorite breakfast-coconut French toast with coconut syrup, bacon, and sliced fruit. She sat at the table with him and then cleaned up the kitchen.
She could tell Jonathan was missing Max today, as was she. Even after several months, the house was just too quiet without him.
She found him in the den, playing on the piano. She went to him, and saw that he had built them a fire. She wrapped up in a blanket, and scooted next to him on the bench. She linked her arm through his, and rested her head on his shoulder.
She listened to the melody and realized that he was playing 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'.
She looked up at him.
"It was always his favorite".
"Mine too". She gave his arm a reassuring squeeze.
They sat for a long time, playing together and individually.
In the afternoon, they stretched out on the couch to watch Christmas movies, and napped a little.
He loved nothing more than holding her and feeling her body pressed up against him.
"Darling…I have an idea".
"What's that?"
"Well, you know, I worked really hard this week, and built you a few fires with my bare hands, and all because I know how much you love fires. So, do you think that maybe you could give me another hint?"
She chuckled.
"Darling…you have been very good. And you have worked very hard. But we only have a few hours left till Christmas day, so don't you want to wait?"
"No, I don't".
She laughed and kissed him.
"You are so cute when you have presents waiting".
"Darling…what if we open our presents early? We can do that, you know."
"Oh, we can?"
"Yes. Because we own the house, and we can do whatever we want".
She giggled.
He started kissing her neck, and playing with her hair.
Pretty soon, they were disposing of their clothes and lying on the couch skin to skin, under a blanket.
He buried her into the crevice of the couch, and held her close. He covered her body in a trail of kisses, squeezing her in all the right places.
He thrust into her and she held on to him tight, as his lips crushed against her and he took her breath away.
They reached the cliff at the same time, and she tightened around him, bringing him over the edge with her. They laid on the couch, panting and relishing in how much they loved each other.
As she nodded off with her head on his shoulder, he whispered in her ear, "Merry Christmas, darling".
He softly kissed the side of her head, and then closed his eyes and joined her in sleep.
***Christmas Day***
Jonathan and Jennifer slept all night on the couch, never waking up to go to their bedroom.
Jonathan woke up around 4, and felt Jennifer snuggle closer to him.
He laid there with her and tried to go back to sleep, but he couldn't.
She finally woke up around 6, after feeling him kiss her.
"Merry Christmas, Darling".
She smiled and looked up at him.
"Merry Christmas, darling".
She kissed him tenderly, and then sat up.
She went and made them coffee, and brought him a cup.
He was so excited he could hardly stand it.
"Darling, I need to ask you something".