AN: written for a lovely friend as a late Christmas present, hope it's all that you wanted love!
Disclaimer: nope, not I…
The meaning of Christmas
Ino stumbled into her small apartment, arms full of many the many gifts she had received over the long day, and banged the door shut behind her. Temari glanced momentarily up from the present she was wrapping, shook her head and then returned to delicately taping up the beautiful paper. Ino sighed as she dumped the pile of presents on the couch before carefully hanging up her coat knowing Temari would nag her later if she didn't, and flounced into the kitchen.
"I'm home!" She called to her girlfriend in their bedroom and turned on the stove.
"I noticed." Temari replied as she brought her own presents out to dump them under their small tree. Even though Ino had complained about its size, Temari loved it. It was simple and beautiful with the tiny white lights and little gold star they had placed on it. Kneeling, Temari carefully arranged them so they filled up more of the empty spaces. Long slender arms wrapped around her neck and warm lips pressed against her ear.
"Are those for me?" Ino asked as she looked hungrily over the pile of wrapped boxes.
"Some." Temari replied and then pulled playfully at a piece of Ino's long ponytail that fell over their shoulders. She stood, and dragged Ino who was still hugging her around the neck to the kitchen, sparing a look of disgust to the boxes on the couch.
"Only some?" Ino pouted and then smirked as she released her hold on Temari's neck and stepped lightly back to the stove. "It's nice to be home," she murmured as she stretched her long arms above her head and yawned. "I had such a long day at work, you wouldn't believe it."
"Oh? And did that include getting presents from all your co-workers." Temari grinned as she grabbed silverware and began to set the table for dinner.
"Yeah," Ino laughed, "you caught me, it was all Holiday parties all the time today, I don't think I got anything important done."
Temari snorted. "Do you ever get anything done?"
Her answer was a dish towel wound up and whipped at her butt as she smirked and dodged it to place a kiss on Ino's cheek.
"By the way, I invited Gaara and Kankuro over for Christmas dinner. And Shikamaru as well." Temari grabbed two cans of coke from the fridge and set them in front of the plates she had put on the table. Ino groaned.
"We have the over every Christmas, can't we, I don't know, take a break from them this year?"
Temari paused in her bustle around the kitchen and her brow crinkled. "Not have my brothers and our mutual best friend over for Christmas? What, don't you like people anymore?"
"Don't get my wrong," Ino said quickly, "They're great people, and I love the presents the bring, but they always come over, you know?" She was interrupted as strong arms turned her and the hefted her up onto the counter by the vegetables she had been chopping. Temari rested her elbows lightly on Ino's thighs and her chin in her hands as she peered up at the younger girl.
"Do you know the first thing about Christmas?" she asked.
"Umm, getting presents?" Ino supplied lamely.
"Nope," Temari flicked Ino's nose. "It's about spending time with the people you love, because Christmas is about family." She leaned up and kissed the spot she had flicked. "And I want to spend my Christmas with my brothers, with our friend and with you."
"Aww, you are so full of sap," Ino rolled her eyes but ducked her head for a kiss. "And that's what I love about you the most."