I pulled on a big coat and laced up my shoes. I walked down stairs taking time not to wake anyone, each step creaking just a little as weight is put on them. I couldn't handle the quiet settle of the house anymore so as soon as I knew no one would stop me I left. Everyone's mind on thoughts of what happened earlier, smothering us like the snow that surrounds us now. All this tempting me to crack the bottle.

The front door shut quietly behind me and an icy burst of air hit my face. I walked down the steps and the snow fell harder around me. The night sky so dark you could barely make out the stars and moon from above the snow. The porch light on, and Artie's window was lit up and I saw the silhouette of both him and Vanessa in the room. I smiled softly at the couple then turned away and made my way through the snow.

I walked down the paths that I had chased Myka down earlier today. All of this morning we had run through the piles of snow and made snow angels who held hands. I closed my eyes and saw Myka in the pile of snow I threw her in, the snowflakes caught on her eyelashes and her cheeks flushed, her messy hair dripping from the snowballs we had thrown. It seemed like that had been days earlier when we had laughed, and kissed. The Artifact effecting us just made me realize how much more our jobs meant, how much more difficult it would be if I couldn't have Myka by my side.

Out behind the B&B I saw the flash of purple in contrast to the white that coated our world. Bottle Gentian. Something Myka had taught me from our picnics in the back yard. The delicate violet flower petals stood out against the frost, defiantly. I was surprised by the flight in the little flowers, standing out against the cold.

I picked them from the ground smiling as I realized just like these flowers, Myka and I had to fight the frost.

I walked back to the B&B's front door, undeniably tracking snow inside. I found a pen and Myka's notepad on the stand by the coat hanger.

I left the wild flowers on Myka's nightstand and looked down on the slumped defeated figure of Myka as she slept.

"Goodnight Mykes, I'm sorry. Truly sorry."

I woke up and found Myka had come in my room last night. Her hair was brushing the tip of my nose and I sneezed. "Huh." She said lifting her head. "Oh, Morning Mykes." "Morning." She said sleepily rolling over to face me. I noticed that she had brought both the note and the flower into my room, and sat them on my desk. "Myka," I said softly, "About last night-" "I'm sorry" we both said simultaneously. I let out a little laugh. "I'm sorry," she said, " should have trusted you, and Leena, so I'm sorry." She said and she burrowed her head into my chest. "I'm sorry, and I realize now that, I don't care what little things happen between us, I just want to be with you. Oh, and I'm sorry I teased you." She laughed. "that's part of the reason why I love you." LOVE ME. We lay there in silence for a moment before I said. "Myka! It's Christmas!" Myka laughed at me and rolled her eyes. "Fine. Go see what Santa gave you. But you'll have a cup of coffee ready for me if you want me to come down." Myka rolled over and pulled the blanket with her. Her messy hair flopping around behind her, she lifted her head off the pillow and gave me a push off the bed, "Go on." She said and she nudged me away again. I nodded and pulled on my manly yet ever so fluffy robe. I left it open over my checkered fleece pants and worn old t-shirt. I made my way down the stairs to find the gang sitting around the tree. Artie sat on the worn love seat with Vanessa pretty much sitting on his lap, Claudia sat cross legged on the floor a wrapped present in her hands. Leena sat on the on the arm of the couch looking down at Claudia, with a small box of her own in her hands. They saw my face and whatever tension had been left from last night melted away. Claudia smiled broadly at me "Pete- Petey pete pete." She threw a box at me and I caught it one handed. "Open it all ready" Artie growled withholding a smile, obviously faking his grumpiness. "Hold on, I need to pour some coffee." I said hearing the creak and groan of the floor in Myka's room.

I poured the coffee one handedly into a white mug and picked the mug back up, and walked up to the bottom of the stairs, the audience of the living room awaited me with open arms, the crackle of the fire and the glowing smile on everyone's face matched the one I had plastered on my own. Myka walked slowly down the stairs and I handed her the cup still cradling the present in my arm. She wrapped her fingers around the warm cup the steam pooling around her face. She sat down on the couch next to me, the only open seat. She slowly sipped at the coffee as Claudia, Leena and I, dove into the presents, literally like children on Christmas morning. "So, are you ready for my present?" Myka asked me, her eyes sparkling. My smile grew wider across my face, if that could be possible, seeing how it was already from ear to ear. "Yes. Oh yes." I said and I sat on the couch next to her patiently. Myka set down the mug she held in her hand on the coffee table and leaned closer to me, finally giving up she just climbed over the couch cushions to my lap. Slipping her arm around my back she brought her lips to my cheek, with a kiss and then moved her mouth to my ear to whisper.

"I love you," she whispered and she handed the note I wrote her back to me, her thin scribbles lacing the edges. "I love you." I whispered back. And I kissed her. Right there, in front of the rest, no use hiding anything anymore. When I pulled away I saw my family, my family, I thought happily. Staring back at me. Claudia busted a huge grin, "MYKA AND PEETE SITTING IN A TREE K-I-S-S-I-N-G" the rest of the group laughed till their faces were red. "First comes love…" Myka whispered in my ear. Leaving the rest of the song for a promise of tomorrow.