A/N: Oh, how I wish this place really existed. How am I able to create such awesome institutions in my own head? A restaurant in Santa's Workshop? Perfect Christmas idea, if you ask me, haha. I'm still waiting to find that cozy bookstore originating in my head that gives away bagels (with cream cheese!) and hot cocoa for free. :) My ideas may not be that profitable, lol, but they would be stinkin' AWESOME if they existed, no?

I switched the order of some of the scenes up a little bit from my original design, but I figured it was high time Auggie took Annie on a proper date, hehe.

Disclaimer: Not Mine!

Chapter 11

The French Christmas

December 12, 2010

Joyeux Noel

Annie stared, in wonder, up at the building in front of her. Two stories of Christmas bliss.

She glanced at Auggie, who was glancing in her general direction, a proud smirk turning up the corners of his lips. He knew he had done well, and she rolled her eyes. She wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug look off his face, but the man had just introduced her to Christmas. Like it was the first Christmas.

The two-story cottage was decorated with lights, garland, and smells only Christmas should bring with it. It was the best-looking rendition of Santa's Workshop that she'd ever seen. In a Victorian-style, the words Joyeux Noel were scripted on a sign above the door.

Joyful Christmas.

When Auggie had asked her over lunch if he could take her out on a proper date, she couldn't refuse. Now, she was glad she hadn't. The place was magical. How had formerly Humbug Auggie found this place? "This is amazing, Auggie!" she whispered in awe.

Next to her, he chuckled. "Can we go eat, now?"

Reluctantly, she stole her eyes away from the sight. "Okay," she replied, and he reached out for her hand. She went to him willingly, and they stepped out of the cold into the warmth of the restaurant inside.

Auggie led them up to the maître d' like he'd been to the place a hundred times, and, after the young man responded, "Yes?" Auggie announced, "Reservation for Anderson."

The man reached for two menus—Annie noticed one was in Braille—and guided them to a nearby table. Auggie even instinctively reached for Annie's chair and held it out for her. Who said chivalry was dead?

When their waitress arrived, they ordered their drinks—peppermint hot cocoa for Annie and dark chocolate cocoa for Auggie—and the waitress disappeared so they could consult their menus.

Auggie grinned up at her. "So," he said mischievously. "How'd I do?"

She grinned across the table at him. She hated to boost his already-monstrous ego, but he had done good. Really good. "Okay. You did pretty good," she finally admitted.

He grinned in return. "Thank you."

For the majority of the meal, he teased her, loving to hear her grin—but loving her laughter even more. When he was with Annie, he felt like he was a schoolboy again, experiencing his first crush. Alive. Whole. Petrified. Most of all, giddy with happiness. Would the rest of his life be like this?

Not that he was complaining. December 2010 was quickly becoming his favorite month out of his whole life.

"Whatcha thinkin' about?" she asked softly, resting her forearms on the table, leaning in. She had been studying him for a while—he had felt it—but now her gaze softened.

He reached out, feeling for her face. He cupped her jaw tenderly. Leaning in, he whispered, "You," before he met her lips in a tender kiss that sent shivers up his spine.

Annie was the girl that every guy didn't even dare to dream about. Somehow, now she was his. He still couldn't believe it.

The room erupted into applause, the staff (dressed as elves, of course) whistling and clapping, and Annie ducked into the corner between his neck and his shoulder. Demure, too? Somehow, it didn't really fit his image of Annie, but yet, it was oh-so-endearing. He wrapped his arm around her thin shoulders protectively until the applause died down.

Soon, they finished their Christmas-tree-shaped pancakes, and Auggie paid. As they walked out of the restaurant, Annie's arm tucked around his waist, his arm around his shoulder protectively, she reached up and kissed his jaw gently. "Thank you for tonight," she said softly, and he kissed her temple affectionately.

"No problem, babe," he whispered in reply, not even noticing the term of endearment.

Glancing up at him in interest, she asked, "Babe?"

"What?" he asked, looking confused.

She leaned in closer to his side. "You just called me babe," she prodded.

"Did I?" he asked.

She giggled. "Yeah, Auggie, you did."

"Huh," he said, a semi-proud, amused look crossing his face. Then he remembered that she was asking him about it, wanting to know what it meant. "Well," he said, pausing for effect, "I think I should be able to call you any term of endearment I so desire, if you're gonna be my girl."

"Who said I was going to be your girl?" she teased, looking up at him affectionately as they ambled down the street.

"Well, are you my girl?" he countered, stopping and turning her to face him, so her eyes were locked with his.

She angled up onto her tiptoes to press a tender, confident kiss to his lips. "'Course I'm your girl, silly."

He reached out, pulling her in close again, as his lips met hers in a passionate kiss. Her hands came up to his face before they tangled in his hair, bringing him closer. He smiled into the kiss, deepening it. She pulled away first, breathless, resting her forehead against his as she stared into his endless chocolate eyes.

He took a few deep breaths, becoming aware of everything Annie that surrounded him—the feel of her in his arms, her grapefruit perfume, the way she was lighting up his life, her gentle, spunky beauty he didn't need to see to know. "If you're my girl, I think I should be able to call you babe," he whispered.

She pressed a soft, trusting kiss to his lips. "Deal," she said. "Can we go for a walk?" she pled.

He slid his arm around her waist, and she guided them down the road. "Okay," he agreed. A few moments later, he asked, "Tell me what it looks like? Are there lots of Christmas decorations?"

Annie smiled up at him. "Mmm hmm," she hummed. "Do you feel the electricity in the air?" she asked, voice filled with awe.

"I thought that was just left-over from the kiss back there," he joked, and she rolled her eyes, nudging his hip with hers.

"It's Christmas air," she said, her voice full of awe, "and it's magical…"

A/N: Sorry if this isn't edited as well as some of the other chapters… I just had a really great idea for this chapter, and I wanted to get it out to you… and I have a TON of Christmasy things to do over the weekend. To keep on schedule to finish by Christmas time, I'm desperately trying to do a post a day, but we'll see how it goes!

Please review and let me know what you think! I think this is my new favorite chapter, hehe, I think they just get better as we go, lol.

Happy Christmas!