In Germany, Christmas Eve had finally arrived. Melinda was staying in the guest room downstairs while Kurt and his parents stayed in their rooms upstairs.
His parents absolutely adored Melinda but knew what went through a young man's head.
Mrs. Wagner and Melinda prepared lunch while Kurt slept and Mr. Wagner went to cut down a Christmas Tree.
"Mrs. Wagner, this food smells amazing! I didn't know there were so many traditions in Germany for Christmas."
"You took German in school, yes?"
"For a few years when I was young. I was one of the few students who loved that class the best. One time, my teacher brought in this cinnamon that's made during Christmas."
"Reisbri! We're making that too."
"Really?!"
Melinda laughed and thought about all the delicious food they were making.
"Your German is nearly perfect. I'm very impressed."
"Thank you very much!"
A sudden poof behind her made her think something was wrong with the oven. Two arms wrapped around her waist and a head rested on her shoulder.
"Good morning, Kurt."
"Morning, my Melinda."
Mrs. Wagner smiled as her son's tail swished sleepily back and forth.
"Ready to greet the morning, Kurt?"
"Sorry, Mother. Melinda made me stay up-"
"I did not!" she said elbowing him in the stomach.
He chuckled and rubbed his stomach.
"Just remember. After dinner you have to go outside."
"Why?"
"Mother! Can't we watch you decorate the tree this time?"
Melinda remembered how parents would decorate Christmas trees while the kids were kept in another room. They would put decorations and treats in for the kids.
"No, Kurt."
He groaned started to fumble through the kitchen.
"Kurt, we're making lunch!"
"Okay! I'm sorry!"
Melinda laughed as he plopped down in the living room.
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Melinda, Kurt, and Mrs. Wagner spent the day cooking while Mr. Wagner made sure the Christmas lights were untangled and every ornament was found.
His parents were especially pleased with Melinda's powers after she was able to cook the Christstollen, which were long loaves of bread bursting with nuts, raisins, citron and dried fruit, in her hands in only a few minutes.
She blushed and tried to hide. Kurt pulled her back and looked to his parents.
"You two always decorate the tree before the big dinner. Why don't you do that and we'll go outside?"
"No funny buisness, Kurt."
"Father!"
Melinda and Kurt went outside, where the sun was just setting over the horizon.
"Thank you for letting me come with you, Kurt."
She zipped up her coat more and held Kurt's hand. He stared into her eyes and smiled.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
They went for a walk in the woods but only made it a few trees away from the house. Kurt pressed Melinda against a tree and kissed her.
"Melinda," he whispered kissing her neck.
"Kurt, we shouldn't-"
"Why are you speaking English?"
She moaned at his hot breath.
"Well here, our secret language isn't German."
She wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Its English."
He laughed and gently bit her neck.
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Mr. and Mrs. Wagner finished decorating the tree and went outside.
"Its so nice having Kurt back home."
"His girlfriend is absolutely adorable."
"I always told you he would win the ladies over one day!"
Mrs. Wagner glared at her husband but quickly started looking for the two teens.
"Kurt! Stop!"
Melinda was running from Kurt, who was throwing snowballs at her.
"The tree is ready!"
The couple ran passed the parents and went inside.
"Wow! Mom, Dad, this is incredible!"
The tree was filled with apples, candy, nuts, cookies, cars, angels, tinsel, family treasures, and candles.
Mr. and Mrs. Wagner hugged Kurt.
"We love you, son."
"I love you guys too."
"Now let's get started on that feast!"
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The family turned in for the night around ten. Presents were nestled underneath the tree for the morning and the food for the dinner tomorrow cooled down in the icebox and refrigerator.
Melinda laid in her bed with a full stomach. It was a tradition in Germany to eat well on Christmas Eve or you would be haunted by demons in the night.
Kurt teleported into the room, wearing his usual pajamas of a white t-shirt and brown pants. He jumped into her bed and hugged her.
"Kurt, your parents didn't want you in here."
In a scary voice, he whispered in her ear.
"I am not Kurt. I am a demon that will haunt you because you did not eat enough Rote Grutze."
She laughed and played with his ears.
"Well, Mister Scary Demon. What kind of things do you plan to do to me?"
He went underneath the covers and admired her red nightgown.
"You're beautiful."
She blushed and kissed his nose.
"Don't try anything. The last thing I want is for one of your parents to walk in and think I'm some American hussy."
"I wouldn't dream of it."
Despite his words, his tail slinked around her left leg and rubbed her thigh.
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Kurt stayed in Melinda's room for a few hours but didn't try anything worse than touching her thighs. She woke up before Kurt and took the moment in. Kurt was fast asleep, his head resting on her shoulder, his hands on her back, and his tail coiled around her waist.
Her fingers touched his soft, blue fur on his face.
What if Melanie didn't lose control of her powers so many years ago? What if she had kept her old life as Morgan?
Kurt slowly opened his eyes and saw Melinda with one of the saddest expressions he ever saw.
"Melinda? What's the matter?"
"I...was thinking about...what if I hadn't been absorbed into Melanie? What if I never met you? It-It made me-"
He stopped her by kissing her.
"Don't think that way."
"But, Kurt-"
He looked into her eyes.
"I don't want that. I want us to be here and now. No ifs. No buts. Just us."
Kurt buried his face into her neck.
"I love you, and I don't want to think of how it would be without you."
Melinda smiled and caressed his hand.
"I love you too, Kurt."
After a few minutes, Melinda crawled out of Kurt's hold.
"Merry Christmas," she said holding out a medium size box.
Kurt chuckled. It had a large green bow and covered in little reindeer wrapping paper.
"D-Don't laugh. I thought you might like them."
In the box was a green shirt with a single pocket on the chest that buttoned down and a new digital camera. The label on the shirt was from of one of the coolest stores in Bayville and the camera was supossedly 'out-of-stock' in every state after a week of its release.
"Melinda! This must have cost you an arm and a leg!"
"I thought you might like the shirt, because green looks really nice on you, and the camera because then you wouldn't have to pay Pietro to take pictures of us anymore."
Kurt's tail went around Melinda's waist as he hugged her.
"I love you, Kurt."
"I love you, my Melinda."
He let her go and went over to his dresser.
"I had to save up my allowance for this. I understand if you don't like it."
Kurt handed her a small box, the size of his hand, wrapped with plain red paper and a silver bow.
"I feel bad we didn't wait to show your parents."
"I don't want you to wait. Besides, Mom will have the camera and make us take a million pictures."
Melinda laughed and opened the box.
Inside was a present pendant, silver with gold ribbon tied in a neat little bow on top.
"Kurt...this is beautiful."
"Its also a locket," he said taking it in his hands.
It split down the middle of the box.
"I-I wanted to get something you would like but it was hard to find something that was nice and-"
Melinda kissed Kurt.
"I love it. Its beautiful!"
"T-The chain that came with it broke when I showed it to Evan. I'm sorry."
"There are some that I have. Its fine."
She kissed him again.
"I love it. I absolutely completely totally love it."
He smiled sheepishly.
"I-I had to ask Amara to help me find something. Anyone else would have-"
"Blabbed."
"Yeah."
Melinda hugged him.
"I told you I love you, right?"
"About five times since we woke up."
