AN: Another dumb chapter,

sorry but my inspiration will be back soon again, I think... I hope ^_^

J – Jingle Bells

"Merry Christmas!" The family sat all together in the living room, celebrating Christmas Eve. Well, the whole family except for Naoki. "He's such a horrible man, how can he be absent on Christmas Eve?" Mrs. Irie complained, sipping her wine with a grumpy face. "Aw come on, we all know that the hospital always needs someone to work, and Irie-kun was nice enough to offer his help, because most of the doctors took a day off for Christmas Eve.." Kotoko said.

She tried to defend Naoki, but deep down inside she found it horrible too. This wasn't even the first time he missed Christmas Eve. "Well then, we'll just open the presents, he can open his when he's back home." Mrs. Irie snorted and handed Kotomi a present. "Mi-chan! This is for you" While Kotomi opened her present, Kotoko quickly glanced at the present she had for Naoki. She had made him a scarf, which had cost her a lot of work. It was also her first handmade scarf ever.

Kotoko had tried to make him scarves before, but they would look like anything but a scarf, so in the end she still had to buy something else such as a book, a tie or a sweater. But now she finally made a good one. She smiled. "KYA! Mommy look what grandma got me!" Kotomi squealed, showing the pushie. "Not only from me, this is from both me and grandpa to you!" Mrs. Irie said, and Kotomi hugged them.

A few minutes later everyone had their presents, and Kotomi was playing with her new toys. Kotoko was trying on the new dress Mrs. Irie had bought her. "You'll be irresistible in this!" Was what she said. Kotoko smiled at herself in the mirror. The dress was amazing. "Thank you!" She hugged Mrs. Irie and showed the others.

"I must admit it looks good on you," Yuuki said. Kotoko giggled and thanked him. "It makes you look less than a pig," Yuuki added teasingly. "Yuuki!" Kotoko stole a piece of his chocolate that her father had given him, and ate it. "A pig loves to eat!" Kotoko said, and Yuuki protested angrily while everyone laughed.

"You know? I think I'm gonna visit Irie-kun! I'll give him his present there," Kotoko said, suddenly calm again, and she wiped the chocolate from her mouth. "Are you sure?" Mrs. Irie asked. "I don't know if that's a good idea Kotoko-chan, it's cold outside. It's snowing, and it's slippery too," Her father said with a worried look. "Don't worry! I'll be fine," Kotoko said. "I guess I'll go in this dress, he'll be amazed," Kotoko giggled. "Then be sure to put on a warm coat and scarf!" They told her, and she nodded. "Yosh!" Filled with energy, she left for her mission to surprise her husband at work.

"Oof.. maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all..." Kotoko mumbled. The snowstorm was heavier than she had expected, and it sure was a rough journey. "Maybe I should take the other route." Even though the route she had in mind was a bit different from the one she used to take with Naoki, she was convinced that it would be shorter and safer.

What she didn't know was that she was completely wrong. She huffed and panted as she made her way through the snow, her feet sinking deep into the cold snow, and her hands freezing to death, even though she was wearing gloves. Despite her cold hands, she clutched the present tightly against her.

"I'm home!" The family looked up in surprise when they heard Naoki's voice. "Huh?" Mrs. Irie ran to the hall to make sure she wasn't hallucinating. "Onii-chan? What are you doing here?" She asked. "I live here," He answered dryly. "No I mean, weren't you supposed to be at work?" The others came to look too, and Naoki looked at them with a frown. "Ehm, well I was, but they let me go. A colleague filled in for me, so I could be with my family," He explained as he took off his coat and wiped off the snow. "But.. isn't Kotoko-chan with you?" Mrs. Irie asked with a worried look. "Kotoko?" Naoki asked.

"Yeah, she said she'd go visit you! So she left," Kotoko's father said. "Are you serious? And all of you just let her go? Don't you know how serious this snowstorm is? I thought I'd never reach home!" Naoki barked, immediately putting his coat back on. "Ohh, if Onii-chan had trouble with the snow, I don't want to know how Kotoko will manage," Yuuki said. "But I don't understand why you didn't meet her! I'd think you two would run into each other!" Mr. Irie said. "Never mind that, I'm leaving." And the door closed again. The family sighed, and Kotomi looked worried. "It's alright," Mrs. Irie said, and she forced a smile. She hoped Kotoko was alright!

"Irie-kun…" Kotoko moaned. She was lying flat on her stomach in the snow, and she couldn't feel anything because of the cold. She felt paralyzed. She slowly sat up straight and tried to think what happened. "I must have passed out..." She slowly stood up, her legs shaking. "Damn snowstorm," She kept mumbling to herself.

"IDIOT!" Kotoko's eyes shot open and she felt how she was pulled up. She looked and saw Naoki, still holding her arm. "Irie-kun!" A huge smile appeared on her face and she hugged him. "What the hell are you doing! Are you insane? I looked everywhere for you!" Naoki yelled, pushing her a little back from him so he could look at her face. She didn't look very healthy. Her face was pale and cold as ice. No wonder.

"I wanted to give this to you…" Kotoko said, a little dazed from the cold. She bent down to pick up the present, wiped the snow off and handed it to him. "Please… open it," She mumbled. "Geez.. don't you know what could have happened if I hadn't found you?" Naoki said, still with a loud voice. "Just open it…" Kotoko mumbled. Naoki sighed, it couldn't be helped then. He opened the present and held up the handmade scarf. "You made this?" He asked, and Kotoko nodded in response. "Thanks, it's wonderful.." He said, and he finally smiled at her. Kotoko smiled back at him, and then she fainted. "Kotoko!" He caught her just in time and lifted her. "You're unbelievable," He said as he walked back home with her in his arms. But he had a smile on his face when he said it. He was so relieved.

The whole family immediately rushed to the hall when they heard the door. "Onii-chan! Is Kotoko-chan alright?" Naoki who had the unconscious Kotoko still in his arms nodded. "She'll be fine," He said, and he took her upstairs. He placed her on the bed and went back down to take off his coat and shoes.

"Sorry for letting you worry, this is partly my fault I guess. Sorry for being absent on Christmas Eve too," He said to the others. His voice didn't sound like he really cared a lot, but he at least apologized, and the others smiled. "That's okay!"

Naoki went back upstairs again and sat down on the bed. Kotoko had still her eyes closed, and her face started to get its normal color back. Naoki slowly took her hand in his and kissed it. Her hand was still very cold. He started rubbing it with both hands, trying to warm her up. Then he bent down and softly kissed her lips. When he pulled back he was surprised to see her eyes were open. "Hi," She said, and he backed away in surprise and shock. Kotoko giggled and sat up straight.

"I'm sorry I worried you," She said, looking a little sad. "Don't worry about it. How are you feeling?" Naoki asked. "Great. Now you're with me..." She smiled at him and Naoki's eyes softened. Since he didn't know anything to say at the moment, he just leaned in and kissed her again. Kotoko's eyes closed and she leaned back, Naoki slowly moving along with her and ending up on top of her. He had her wrapped in his arms in a tight embrace, warming her cold body up. "I love you," Kotoko whispered. "Love you too," Naoki whispered back, and they kissed some more.

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh

They both froze and slowly turned their heads. Their daughter was standing at their bed with a mini radio in her hands, that was playing the song 'Jingle Bells'. After a few seconds of staring Naoki awkwardly got off his wife and looked at his daughter.

"I love this song," Kotomi said innocently. "I see.." Kotoko and Naoki glanced at each other and chuckled. "Well that's great Kotomi," Naoki said, and he lifted her, the awkward moment fading away. "Daddy sing it for me?" Kotomi asked, and Naoki's eye twitched. "Ehm well…" "Yeah Irie-kun! Sing it for us!" Kotoko joined in. "Why you little..." Naoki sent Kotoko a playful glare, and Kotoko giggled. "Fine then…" He slowly started singing,

Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way

He paused and looked at his daughter to see if she heard enough, but her innocent eyes were asking for more. "Continue, continue Onii-chan!" Naoki jolted and turned to see a horrible view. The whole family stood at the door, listening in, and Mrs. Irie had even the video camera aimed at him.

Kotoko burst out in a laughing fit, grabbing her stomach because it hurt from laughing so much. Naoki glared at her and then slowly approached the others. "What's the matter? Go on, Onii-chan!" They all backed away as he moved closer until he was just at the door opening. He put Kotomi down and gave her a little push so she was out of the room. "Would you please excuse us?" He asked with a twitching eye. And the door closed, locking the others outside.

"Ah well, we did record that part," He heard his mother say, and the footsteps faded. Kotoko was still laughing hard, rolling around on the bed and kicking her legs. "Th-that was so funny haha, I would love to haha see the recordings!" Naoki gave her a look that made her stop laughing immediately and she swallowed.

"It was funny, right?" She asked, her voice innocent. "So, embarrassing me is funny huh? I'll give you something to laugh about." And he approached her, making her scream. Yes, no one would get away with laughing at Irie Naoki that easily.

End of this Chapter