.:11 1/2 years on Christmas Eve:.

A 12-year-old James walked into his mother's bedroom while she was taking a nap.

"Mom?" He asked quietly, waking his mother from her nap.

"Hmm? Oh, hello, sweetie," Lizzie said with a smile as she sat up. "What do you need?"

"Some advice, Mom," James said as he sat beside his mother.

"About what?" Lizzie asked kindly.

"How did Dad tell you that he loved you?" James asked.

"Well we were sitting by the fire, a glass of wine in our hands, and we were sitting there watching the fire for a while when he turned to me and said that he loved me and I said that I loved him too, but you and your crush will use grape juice," Lizzie said.

"Can you help me make your homemade soup?" James asked.

"If you tell me your lady friend's name," Lizzie said as she leaned her ear toward James.

"Izzy," James breathed into her ear.

"Let's go start cooking," Lizzie said with a smile as she stood up and James stood up as well.

"Ok, Mom!^^" James said as he followed his mother toward the kitchen.

.:a few hours of cooking later:.

Lizzie was helping James set up a little romantic dinner in the living room on the coffee table. James brought in two fancy but comfortable pillows for him and Izzy to sit on. Lizzie placed two hot bowls of soup and set them down on each end of the table.

"Now Izzy will be in here in a few minutes. I'll be hiding in the shadows if you need me," Lizzie said.

"Thanks, Mom," James said as light steps echoed toward them.

"Good luck," Lizzie said as she slipped into the shadows and Izzy walked into the room.

"James? Your mom told me you had to tell me something," Izzy said nervously.

"I do, but it can wait until after dinner," James said as he helped her sit down.

"What'd you make?" Izzy asked as James sat down on the opposite side of the table from her.

"My mom taught me how to make her soup," James said with a smile.

"Wow," Izzy said with a slight giggle as she tastes the soup. "It's better than your mom's."

"Really?" James asked.

"Yeah! I mean it!" Izzy said with a grin as James's crimson eyes grew brighter at the compliment of what his mother taught him in such short time.

Izzy giggled a little bit and began to eat the soup. The two glanced at each other as they ate their dinner, trying to figure out how to tell the other that thy like each other.

"Izzy?" James sighed quietly.

"Yeah, James?" Izzy asked softly.

"I-I like you...a lot..." James said, looking down slightly.

"Really? Cause i like you a lot too," Izzy said, cheeks turning pink.

"Yes really Izzy," James said, his eyes brightening to an even deeper bloody crimson red.

"Yay!" Izzy giggled excitedly.

James was slightly nervous so Izzy smiled at him to convey that she really does like him as they both finish their soup. James flashed over to Izzy and helped her up.

"I guess it is time to go to bed," Izzy said quietly. "You need any help cleaning up?"

"No. I'll take care of it later," James said as they began walking to Izzy's room.

"You sure?" Izzy asked.

"Yeah. I'm sure. You get some rest. We'll need it tomorrow with all of the stuff we'll be getting," James said with a grin as they stopped at her door.

"I guess you are right," Izzy said with a smile.

They both looked up as mistletoe started growing above them.

"Mom!" James nearly shouted in embarrasment.

"It's ok, James," Izzy said as they looked into each other's eyes.

They leaned closer to each other until their lips were centimeters apart. They stared into eaach other's eyes until James leaned in and their lips meet in a soft, sweet kiss. They both cloesd their eyes at the tenderness ofthe moment before they broke apart.

"That was...amazing, James!" Izzy squealed softly.

"Thanks, Iz," James said with a smile as he opened her door for her. "Goodnight."

"Night," Izzy breathed before she walked into her room and James shut the door after her.