Disclaimer: I don't own the song, and I don't own the characters…

Summary: It's Christmas Eve, and Natsume's coming home early for a little surprise for his favorite brunette…


5:15 p.m. The round, plastic clock hanging on the wall to his left read.

A set of crimson eyes drifted back to the unfinished paperwork in front of him. He shrugged and pushed them aside. Right now, he's got more important things to do than reading pages after pages of reports. He raised his arms over his raven head and gave his lean body a stretch, loosening the stiff muscles on his back, and then started his routine of packing his stuff.

"You're going home already, Natsume?" someone asked incredulously from the doorway.

He looked up to see Ruka Nogi, his blond best friend and one of his business partners, walked in. Ruka was content enough with being their company's COO, doing what he does best as the lead veterinarian for their pet care and accessories business. But being known in this company as, Natsume Hyuuga, the workaholic CEO, he knew it was a rare sight for him to be leaving the building premises this early, especially when there's still paperwork to be done.

"I got things to do tonight," he answered, handing Ruka a few sheets of paper. "I already went through the more important documents. The rest can wait until after the holidays."

Ruka shifted through the pages. "Wait, these are for operations. The financials aren't here!" he exclaimed, his cerulean eyes widening and his voice raising a pitch upon mentioning the word "financials". Being in charge of operations, he'd rather Natsume postpone the operational reports, rather than the lot of them suffering for delaying the financial report to the raven-haired, amethyst-eyed devil that was their CFO.

Natsume rolled his eyes while he zipped up his bag. "I already sent her the financials earlier," he explained as he grabbed his jacket and scarf, calming his best friend down before Ruka went into hysterics imagining the wrath of Hotaru Imai, a.k.a. the CFO of Terror.

"Oh! That's good to know," Ruka said, breathing a sigh of relief. "Drive safe, Natsume, and happy holidays."

"Bye, Ruka," Natsume gave him a nod as he headed out. "Lock my office when you leave. And Merry Christmas!" he smirked before closing the door behind him.

Ruka smiled and started chuckling to himself. Natsume seemed to be in a very good mood today. He wondered if it had anything to do with the holidays and a certain brunette he was sure was waiting for Natsume at home.

The snow is falling, the city is white,
Your eyes are shining like diamonds tonight,
And we're all alone,
There's no one home,
You're finally in my arms again.

As soon as he exited the building, Natsume wrapped his scarf tighter around his neck as he walked the lot to where his car was parked out. The wind wasn't blowing, but the weather was getting colder. And speaking of cold, he paused opening his car as something flaky and white drifted down.

He tilted his head towards the sky. Looks like it was going to be a White Christmas this year after all.

Steadily driving home, he noted the light in the kitchen window as he parked his car in the garage. The house was a two-story western style house with an attic. A little too spacey for the two people living there right now, but he's hoping that would change soon enough.

He got out of the car, making sure to take the necessary packages with him and entered the house to the blare of Christmas songs playing from the stereo. Judging by the volume, he's pretty sure that his arrival had gone unnoticed. He shook his head, and hanged his coat and scarf in the front entrance. He made a brief stop by the Christmas tree before stalking towards the kitchen.

Stopping by the kitchen doorway, he crossed his arms on his chest and leaned against the doorframe as he beheld the sight before him with a small smile on his visage.

A slim brunette was in front of the stove, stirring the pot as she hummed and swayed to the Christmas song blasting from the speakers. Even with her back to him, he just knew that her hazel eyes were sparkling. She was someone who finds delight in even the simplest tasks.

Natsume could describe her in one word. Happiness.

For the happiness she finds even in the smallest of things. For the happiness she exudes from her very being. For the happiness she brings to his life.

He pushed off from the doorframe and approached. Being careful to surprise but not startle her. He knew her well enough that an accident can ensue if she overreacts, and in front of a stove and an array of kitchen knives within arms reach doesn't look promising. It'll be either she burns herself or she stabs him with a knife, scenarios he'd rather avoid.

Pressing closer, he waited for her to feel his presence a couple of feet away from her. When she released the wooden spoon she was using to stir the pot with and glanced over her shoulder, that's when he moved in to take her in his arms.

"Oh! You're here!" she gasped in surprise, grabbing onto his arms to maintain her balance. She wasn't expecting him until a bit later. But she quickly got over her shock and turned fully in his arms. "Welcome home!" she greeted him, tiptoeing to give him a peck on the lips and dazzling him with that thousand watt smile of hers.

"I'm home, Mikan," he murmured softly before leaning down to claim a more passionate kiss from her.

The night is silent,
and Christmas is here.
I couldn't ask for more than having you near.
Cuz I love you girl,
I always will,
And now I know the moment is right.

"I wasn't expecting you to come home this early," she said as soon as she got her bearings back from that kiss. She glanced at the simmering pot over her shoulder. "I've only started preparing dinner."

"It's alright," he said, rolling back his shirt sleeves. "Just tell me what can I help you with."

"Okay!" she grinned at him and started to put him to work chopping and peeling some vegetables and setting the dinning table.

Once they sat down to dinner, Natsume stared at the delicious feast in front of him. Good thing he came home early; it looks like she made some extra effort for Christmas dinner. Fried rice, sweet 'n sour fish, glazed ham, buttered vegetables, and fruit salad for dessert. "I have to say, you're cooking's starting to look edible," he teased.

Mikan just shrugged and scooped up some rice for her plate, bluntly ignoring him as he baited her. She knew he was teasing her, since he eats the regular meals she cooks for him without any complaints. But as usual Natsume Hyuuga won't be denied nor ignored.

A flicked green pea came flying at her nose.

"Hey! Don't play with the food," she scolded, picking up the offending food item between her thumb and forefinger, and setting it aside.

"Yes, mother," he replied with a smirk, earning him a cute glare from her.

Already satisfied to get a reaction out of her, the rest of dinner proceeded uneventfully with the two of them sharing with what went on during their day. Mikan talked in her usual animated tone about what went on in the local café she manages, and Natsume spoke about doing the usual boring paperwork and some new inventions Hotaru created for their company's pet accessories selection.

After dinner, he helped her clear the table and wash the dishes. A few dishwashing suds thrown and a lot of laughter later, they retreated to the living room with a bottle of celebratory wine. They worked without the need for words. As Natsume knelt before the fireplace, stroking the embers and adding firewood to get it going, Mikan turned off the lights, turned down the stereo's volume, and brought out the comforter, getting the couch ready.

With only the light of the flickering fire and the slow glow of the Christmas lights twined among tree's branches, the ornaments on the Christmas tree seem to tinkle to life. The slow drizzling of snow outside added to the Christmas ambiance as the night settled in.

I thought I'd give you something shiny and new.
I tried to find something worthy of you.
But I realized, when I looked inside,
There's some things that money can't buy.
I feel the magic, whenever you're near.
I feel it even more this time of the year.

Once everything was set, they cuddled in the couch and turned on the TV to see what's showing that night and to help pass the time until midnight.

As Mikan was preoccupied with a game show she's watching, Natsume stared off into space. It was only a few hours until midnight. The gift he'd gotten her should be fine. Knowing her, she'd be happy with anything he gets for her. But he still hasn't come up with what he was going to say. He was hoping he could just wing it for the most part, that might not cut it though. Then again, this was Mikan he was talking about, so it should turn out alright in the end.

Midnight can upon them and so did the chiming of what sounded like a grandfather clock. Natsume's brow rose. They didn't have a clock with that chime the last time he checked.

Mikan grinned up at him. "I thought it'd be good a sound alarm tone for the occasion," she explained as she turned off her cellphone's alarm. "Merry Christmas, Natsume!"

Crimson eyes softened. "Merry Christmas," he uttered softly, content to spend another Christmas with her.

"Here," Mikan excitedly grabbed one of his gifts from under the tree and handed it to him. "Open it! Open it!"

Natsume smiled, tearing open the package. Her excitement was contagious.

You know I'll always be true to you,
And you know I'm the one you can turn to.
Any time, any place, or anywhere,
you know that I'll always be there.

Cuz I've been waiting to give this gift tonight,
I'm down on my knees, there's no better time.
It's something to last for as long as you live.
Tonight I'm going to give you all my heart can give.

"You forgot to open one more present."

Mikan stood up and bent down to look under the tree. She frowned. "No, that's all of it."

"Yes, you did," Natsume said standing up and walking over to her. Nestled amongst the tree's ornaments, he pulled something out just above Mikan's regular line of sight.

He turned to find Mikan wide-eyed and gaping at him, her hazel eyes glued to the small, red velvet box he had on his hand. Knowing that she was still in shock and needed some time to process what was going on, he took her hand, placed the box on it, and closed her hand around the item. He then led her to sit on the couch and got down on one knee in front of her.

They'd already been living together for five years now. He didn't want to propose to her five years ago since the company he was managing was only starting out. He needed to be sure he can support Mikan before he tied her down to him. But now, the company was doing good and earning a nice profit for him and his business partners. So he figured it was about time for him and Mikan to tie the knot.

It took her another minute for her eyes to refocus. She opened her mouth to say something, but he stopped her. "Just to make it clear, since you can be a slow idiot at times. You're going to marry me."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "That is the most arrogant and unromantic proposal, if I've ever heard of one. It sounds more like an order than a marriage proposal."

He rolled his eyes. Can't the woman see he was trying here? He might not show it, but he was feeling nervous as hell waiting for her reply. "Well, too bad, the only proposal you'll ever get is from me."

She scoffed. "I could get some other guy to propose marriage to me."

Crimson eyes narrowed as his temper shot up. "You could if you want whoever that guy is to dead and cremated," he growled.

They stubbornly glared at each other. Until Mikan finally dissolved into laughter. "Ordering me to marry you and threatening any other guy who proposes to me. That's just so you, Natsume," she said in between fits of giggles. His face was stoic as ever when he proposed, but she could feel the loud thumping of his heart as his chest pressed against her knee.

See her hilarity made his temper cooled and his eyes soften. He leaned in, hugging her from his kneeling position, and nuzzled her neck. "Marry me, Mikan," he whispered in a low, husky voice.

"Yes," she whispered back with a smile. "Of course, I'll marry you, Natsume."

He disentangled himself from her long enough to open the ring box and take out the ring. He sat beside her on the couch as he placed the ring on her finger. She took a moment to admire the ring, liking its simplicity; a solid gold band topped with a round cut light blue diamond.

She turned to him love shining in her hazel eyes. "Merry Christmas, Mr. Hyuuga," she greeted impishly. Only for him to greet her back with a smirk, the love they share reflected on his crimson orbs. "Merry Christmas to you, too, soon-to-be Mrs. Hyuuga."

Cuz I've been waiting to give this gift tonight,
I'm down on my knees, there's no better time.
It's something to last for as long as you live.
Tonight I'm going to give you all my heart can give.


SONG: This Gift by 98 Degrees

A/N: Rushed to finish this one by Christmas Eve since I'm feeling Christmasy. Hahaha. Merry Christmas everyone! :)