MORNING OF CHRISTMAS EVE 2007

"Merry Christmas Lex!" Janine called as she hefted her suitcase. "You sure you don't want to just come home with me for the holidays? Mom would be thrilled."

"Nah, I'm fine here," I said. "Going somewhere would mean I'd have to put on pants." I lifted the hem of my t-shirt to reveal my panty clad hips. "Thanks though."

"Ok, hon. I'm off then. Come on over if you change your mind," she said, waving as she pulled the door shut.

I rolled myself off the couch and stood, stretching tall with a little squeal of appreciation as my muscles elongated. I gathered my cereal bowl and my box of Sugar Frosted CoCo Bombs, and went to the kitchen. I heard the front door squeak and smiled. Janine was forever forgetting stuff.

"Did you forget your gifts?" I called, amused. The dorm was quiet around me. "Janine?"

I stepped out the kitchen door and looked at the living room. The door was still closed and bolted, but I was sure—

Bolted?!

The hairs on the back of my neck prickled. I hadn't bolted the door when Janine left. Once again finding myself in a horror movie situation, I picked up the nearest available weapon (in this case, a grilling fork) and started down the hallway. I heard a creak behind me, but when I jumped and turned to look there was nothing there.

Huffing out an anxious breath, I turned to continue down the hall, screaming in absolute terror as a hand reached out from one of the darkened doorways and grabbed my wrist. Before I could react, I was jerked into the dark and pinned, back to front, against the intruder.

It was then that a familiar scent reached my nose and I doubled the intensity of my struggles.

"Aargh! You are such a bastard!" I shouted, kicking and flailing.

Warren's chuckle rumbled in his chest and sent vibrations along my spine. "Well that's real Christmassy language," he said, holding me tight and resting his chin on my shoulder. I could hear the amusement in his sarcasm and it made me livid.

"Is this funny? I don't think so. You nearly gave me a heart attack, Peace. I thought you might have been some sort of psycho."

He let go of my arms and slid his hands lower to rest on my hips. "And you were going to…what? Fork me to death?" he asked as I turned in his arms. He smiled and quirked a brow. "That sounds dirty."

I laughed, God help me. I just couldn't help it. Unable to resist, I rose to my toes and placed a quick kiss on his lips. "You're so weird," I said, smiling up at him.

"No, what's weird is that Layla isn't here, bouncing off the walls and spreading Christmas cheer. I still can't believe she went to New York. It's so…quiet around here," he said.

"She'll be back in a week, Warren. Relax," I soothed. "Peter paid her way to the city for Christmas so they could spend some time together and so she could meet his family."

I kissed him again and went back up the hall, depositing the grilling fork back in its drawer.

"What time are we supposed to be at your parents'?" Warren called from the living room.

"Around six or so," I replied. "I told your dad we'd be by before then. I have to get these cookies made. Wanna help?"

"Know what I'd rather do?" he asked as he came into the kitchen.

"I'm sure I can guess," I said with a grin. "Sorry though. I have Christmas cooking to do."

He stepped up behind me, so close I could feel the denim of his jeans on the backs of my legs. His hands cupped my hips and he gently pulled me back against him.

I reached across the counter when the phone rang, purposefully pressing against him and smiling at the grunt I heard in response.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's Will."

"Oh, hey Will. What's up?"

"Nothing much. Mom was wondering what time to be at Aunt Genie's. They've got to take care of something in Madrid, but she said they shouldn't be real late."

"Tell her that Warren and I are getting there around six, but not to be in any big rush." I held the phone away from my ear as Will shouted the message to his mother.

"Here," Will said. "My dad wants to talk to you."

"O-okay," I said, shrugging my shoulders to dislodge Warren's lips from the back my neck. His mouth was distracting.

"Hey, kiddo."

"Hey Uncle Steve."

"Listen, your Aunt Jo and I were trying to think of what to get Warren. Any suggestions?"

"A muzzle," I muttered, smiling as I batted at Warren's hand, which was slowly finding its way beneath the band of elastic at my hip.

"I didn't catch that, kid. What?"

"Nothing," I said quickly. "Warren said he didn't want anyone to get him anything this year. It is some sort of weird hang up, but hey, what can you do? Ow!" I squeaked as Warren nipped my shoulder with his teeth.

"What happened?"

"What? Oh, nothing. I burned my finger on cookie sheet," I said, mouthing 'you better watch it' to Warren. I pointed my finger and arched a brow before turning back to my cookie dough. He slapped me soundly on the butt before pulling out a chair and plunking down in it.

"Anyway, I know that's what he said, but he's going to be family soon, so I—Josie and I, but mostly Josie, since she's the woman—thought that he might want something this year anyway."

I smiled, glancing at Warren. I had been absolutely furious when I found out the extent of Uncle Steve's involvement in my love life, and there had been several weeks where I didn't talk to him. When I calmed down and informed everyone that Warren and I were back together, my dad and Uncle Steve sat the two of us down and tried to talk to us about the danger I would be in.

That is, until my mom and Aunt Josie found out.

They tore the men a new one, letting them know real fast that I had enough sense to stay out of the line of fire and pointing out the number of heroes I had looking out for me (including Peter and his friends).

By the time Warren and I announced our engagement at Thanksgiving, the whole ordeal was practically forgotten and Warren was swept away by the men while my mom, Aunt Jo, Layla, and I cried like sissies.

"You there?"

I shook my head, bringing myself back to the present. "Yeah. Actually, Uncle Steve, I don't know what he'd want. Just get something and surprise him, I guess."

"Ok, I'll let your aunt know," he said. "See you tonight, kiddo."

"Alright. Bye Uncle Steve."

"What was that look for?" Warren asked when I hung up.

"What look?"

"The look like the guy on Scrubs gets. You zoned out for a minute there."

"Oh, I was just thinking," I said, coming over and sitting on Warren's lap.

"About?" he prodded.

"About how much I love you," I said with mock-innocence.

"You, my dear, are a filthy little liar," he said as he grinned and kissed me. "But you taste nice, so I'll forgive you this time."

"Good, because I have Christmas cookies to make for your dad."

"The cookies can wait," Warren said, holding onto me and standing.

"I have a batch in the oven," I protested.

He walked to the oven and flipped the knob, turning the temperature way down.

"They'll be fine," he said. He left the kitchen and I shifted, wrapping my legs around his waist. I grunted and laughed as I was bounced against the wall.

"Are you sure you don't want me just to walk?" I asked, kissing him. "You seem to be having a hard time of it."

"Must be all the cookie dough you ate," he quipped, smiling broadly, as I playfully slapped his shoulder.

"I love you, jackass," I said, gazing into the bottomless depths of his black eyes.

"I love you too, squib," he replied, dumping me unceremoniously on the bed.

My cookies burned, but so did we.

But, you know, in a good way.