Just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas ! Hope you had / are still having some wonderful holidays xx

This Christmassy one-shot is set after Hands of Time (but not related to my main storyline). I was going to post it sooner but had some trouble uploading to the Doc Manager...

Deck the Halls

"Not again." Nya groaned, as Zane planted a quick and rather metallic cold peck on her cheek. It was not even lunch time and the female Ninja had already been kissed at least once by almost every member of the team on this Christmas Eve morning. Except for one that is.

"My apologies, Nya." The Nindroid replied. "I am just following the rules."

"I know." She smiled at him, knowing all too well that this was not his fault.

During the night, someone – and the Master of Water had a small hunch who that could have been – had hung small mistletoes all over the Temple of Airjitzu, and in particular over the raven-haired girl's favourite places. Strangely enough, she had not seen her boyfriend all morning, which was kinda worrying, considering he normally would never miss out on an opportunity to kiss her, very much to her brother's dismay.

So, where was Jay?

Although she was still slightly mad at him about this prank (which she assumed this was), Nya decided to find the blue-clad Ninja. Carefully avoiding the kitchen where the black Ninja was cooking, well, something, she started looking at the most likely place. She cracked open the door to the new game room on the first floor, only to find her brother and Lloyd engaged in a fierce battle playing 'Fist to Face VII'.

"Hi guys. Has anyone seen Jay?" She enquired.

"Sorry, sis. We've been hiding in here since breakfast. Could someone please take down those things?" Kai complained. Nya supressed a giggle, remembering Kai's face when he had bumped into Misako in the wrong place and at the wrong time – meaning with four of his teammates around to witness (and record) it.

"Or maybe we should invite Skylor?" Lloyd teased him.

"No way, I don't want my girlfriend to accidentally get kissed by my brothers – or it could even be my sister, she seems to be very popular today." The red Ninja pulled a disgusted face.

"Why, are you worried that she'll find out I'm a better kisser than you?" The Green Ninja smirked.

"You are not." Kai retorted.

"Yes, I am."

"Are not. I bet you have never kissed anyone."

"Not true."

"Well, you'll have the chance to find out how good you are. Looks like you've missed one..." Nya grinned, pointing at the green spring hanging just above the two bickering Ninja.

"Sis, I'll give you an amazingly wonderful Christmas present if you could please ignore that one."

"I hope I will anyway, but okay. I am quite fed up with all that kissing myself..."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "Since when?" He asked, remembering all those times that he'd caught Nya and Jay making out at random places. "Weren't you the one looking for her boyfriend just a minute ago?"

Nya blushed. "That's something completely different." She insisted. "Uhm, gotta go now." The Water Ninja turned on the spot and fled from the room.

"When you find him, please remember to lock the door this time." She heard Lloyd call after her.

Nya dashed along the corridor and didn't stop until she had reached the door to the blue Ninja's room. This was a rather unlikely place for the Master of Lightning to spend his free time, but now that she was already here, she might as well give it a shot.

"Jay?" She knocked on the door. "Are you in here?"

"Ju-just a minute." To her big surprise, she received an answer from the other side. Waiting (im)patiently outside the door, Nya could her someone rummaging inside the room, it sounded like he was trying to put something away. As if she wasn't used to the mess in his room...

Finally, she heard steps approaching the door. This sound was only briefly interrupted by a *thud* followed by a wince, but then continued until the door finally opened.

Jay grinned at her, sheepishly rubbing his left elbow. "Good morning, beautiful." He moved his face closer to hers in order to greet her with a kiss.

But Nya vigorously shook her head. "First of all, it's almost noon. And secondly, I've already been kissed 14 times today. This must be the only mistletoe-free room in the whole temple, which means I finally get a break now."

Jay smirked. "So, you've found my little surprise?"

"It was hard not to." Nya retorted. "What was that about? And why are you hiding in your room on your – our day off?"

"You see, I've spent all morning on your Christmas present, and I'd thought I'd create a little distraction. I got up really early to put up the decorations, then went to collect your present, and I've only just returned a couple of minutes ago. And it seems to have worked, from the sounds of it you've been very busy this morning. And I was sure you'd be annoyed with me long enough that you would not go looking for me until after I'm back."

"You know me too well..." Nya sighed.

"Is that such a bad thing?" Jay cocked an eyebrow. "But now that we have a moment alone – which probably won't happen again until after the holidays – I might as well give you your gift now. Can you please close your eyes for a moment?"

Nya did as she was asked to. She heard Jay walk back to his desk, open and close the drawer, and return to her. Something cold was gently placed around her neck, before she could feel Jay's lips briefly brush her cheek. "I love you, Nya. And I'm going to kiss you now, with or without a mistletoe." He whispered.

Her eyes still pressed together, the female Ninja instantly reacted by wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him into a deep kiss. Not only was she trained to function blindly when necessary, but also had she memorised all her boyfriend's features well enough not to be in any way affected by the lack of eyesight.

"I love you too. But please don't do that again. And you might want to avoid my brother..." Nya placed a hand on her chest to feel the small oddly shaped object that was hanging on a chain around her neck.

"Alright." Jay lovingly smiled at her. "What happened to Kai - or who happened? And, uhm, why don't we go somewhere more private?" He suggested, referring to the fact that they were still standing in the doorframe.

"Even better, I have it on my phone. I'll show you, but first I want to have a look at my present." She followed the blue Ninja inside his room, closing and, as requested, locking the door behind her.

Nya looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror wardrobe door. A simple golden necklace with a beautiful pendant shaped like a dragon with ruby eyes was around her neck.

"Wow." She gasped. "It's beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you." From behind, Jay wrapped his arms around her. "And before you tell me off again for spending too much money on you, your parents didn't charge me anything for their labour."

"My parents have made this?"

"Yes, Did you know that they are really amazing goldsmiths? And they were very happy to have to opportunity of creating something other than helmets and armours for snakes. I only had to do the design, with some help from Zane and P.I.X.A.L., and provide the materials."

"Only?" Nya was impressed. "You never cease to amaze me."

"Thanks." Jay blushed. "I am glad you like it."

"Like it? I love it." She beamed at him. "And I love you."

Just as the couple were about to kiss again, a loud *bang* on the closed door interrupted them.

"Break it up, lovebirds." Cole's voice boomed. "Lunch is served. And you will love it. It's salmon & mincemeat en croûte, another marvellous Brookstone creation especially for Christmas."

"Sounds... uhm, delicious." Jay replied. "We'll be downstairs in a minute."

He turned to his girlfriend. "Which way to the dining room do you want to take? The one with or without the mistletoes?"

"The one with each and every single one of them." Nya replied with a smile.