Author: Cyclone
Rating: T
Summary: "I think we look pretty cute, actually." ShWeir
Disclaimer: I've said it before and I'll say it again – if they were mine they would have christened the puddle jumpers already. That is all.
Notes: Christmas fluff! I wrote Christmas fluff!I was challenged by csiangel to write a story using, "Yes, I'd say we still look damn hot." I couldn't work in that exact phrase, but it did inspire me to write so I hope she's not too disappointed. So Jac, this is for you. And I couldn't have an AN without mentioning the wonderful job my beta Shane does.
XxX
"Well then," Elizabeth said, staring at her reflection in the mirror. "I guess this is it."
The man beside her grinned, and damn him if he didn't look all the more edible for it. "It's not that bad."
She sighed and angled the hat to a more comfortable position. She really needed to stop associating him with things she could do with her mouth. She was depleting her stock of batteries at an alarming rate. "No, I guess not."
"C'mon, Elizabeth," he wheedled, nudging her shoulder. "This'll be a cake walk."
"Tell me how I let you talk me into this?"
He grinned at her again – she really wished he would stop doing that – and re-adjusted his own hat. "I used the good ol' 'it'll be good for morale' speech and you fell for it."
Actually, what she'd fallen for had been his sparkling eyes and pouting lips, and the way he'd invaded her personal space so that it didn't even seem like an invasion, but more like an acceptance of an invitation she had no memory of giving to come on in and put his feet up. Bastard. No man should be able to pout like that. Before she knew it she'd agreed to wear a Santa hat every day for the last twelve days before Christmas. "You don't have to sound so smug. You look just as ridiculous as I do."
John studied them both. "I think we look pretty cute, actually."
Elizabeth raised her brow. "Cute?"
"Well, I look cute," he amended. "You're cute every day of the week. Especially when you do that brow thing. But today you've surpassed cute. Today you're . . ."
"I'm what?" she asked, trying to ignore the warmth that was flooding her body just because he was standing in her space again and calling her cute.
"I probably shouldn't say."
Okay, did he have any idea what he did to her insides when he used that tone? Because if he did she was going to have to shoot him. "John."
"It'll only get me in trouble."
Like she wasn't already in enough trouble when it came to this man. The least he could do was jump on in and join her. "Spill it, or you can walk out there by yourself."
"Hot."
"Pardon me?" Her brow rose even higher, because surely he hadn't just said what she thought he'd said.
"Hot," he reiterated. Apparently he had said it. And meant it, if the look in his eyes was anything to go by. "You look really hot in that hat."
So he'd decided to jump in after all. Feet first. And now they were both stuck. "I'm wearing a Santa hat that's two sizes too big for my head, and you think I look hot?"
"Hell yeah," he smirked. "And if I had some mistletoe I'd show you exactly how hot."
Elizabeth met his eyes in the mirror and made a decision. She did an about face and marched across the floor, stopping only to grab her earpiece, and exited the room without so much as a word.
She was halfway down the corridor when he caught up with her. "Uh, Elizabeth?"
She smiled in satisfaction at the expression on his face. He looked like his favourite toy had just been taken away.
"Where are you going?"
"To commandeer some mistletoe," she replied, letting her eyes promise him all sorts of further Christmas joy.
John's face broke into a huge smile. "Sweet."
End