Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the plot ideas in them.

Greatest Gift of All

Sakura stood anxiously in front of the large door as she twisted her hair nervously around her fingers. She could do this, Sakura assured herself as she waited with baited breath for the door to open. She was dressed to kill and she was in love and if that wasn't a confidence booster then what else was. This was Syaoran, the man of her dreams who she hadn't seen in a couple months. Nothing was going to ruin this and she'd be damned if she'd let anything get in her way. She'd battled some of the most powerful magical forces in the world. Compared to this that this is a piece of cake. Right? Right. A minute or so later the door opened and the Li's elderly housekeeper stood in the doorway and with her arrival came a new set of nerves that her pep talk wasn't getting rid of quick enough.

)

"Miss Sakura. We weren't expecting you." The housekeeper said in surprise though she hid it well. "Master Li didn't mention you were coming." She added with a frown in the house's direction. She was going to give that boy a talking to she thought with a shake of her head, Clan leader or not.

"He didn't know, it's a surprise. I hope I didn't come at a bad time because I can come back later." Sakura said with a ring of hope. More time to prepare for this. But of course that would also give her more time to chicken out, Sakura admitted to herself.

"Oh please come in. Master Li has been trying to get a hold of you all day but he couldn't get through. I guess we know why." The housekeeper said with an out of character smile. Syaoran had always been special to her and though she'd never said it she thought he'd made a wise choice in prospecting wife.

"Well if you're sure." Sakura said holding tight to her packages. Smiling tightly Sakura followed her into the house. Staring around her Sakura tried to remember a time when she'd ever been this nervous. This is not worse then the Final Judgment or Eriol's pranks, Sakura said to herself. Yes it is the little voice inside her head said. In the Final Judgment and fights with Eriol you were only risking your life, now you're risking your heart.

"If you like I'll take you to the study so that you can speak to Master without having to worry about his sisters barging in on you." The housekeeper said thinking that Sakura's worried look had to do with her over energetic mistresses.

)

"Thanks that seems like a good idea." Sakura said with a twinge of relief. At least if it blew up in her face it would be in private. Following the housekeeper into the study Sakura took a seat and smiling her thanks watched her leave then flopped more into the seat. Looking around the room Sakura twisted her purse strap into a twisted mess before letting it go when she realized what she was doing. Get a hold of yourself, girl, Sakura ordered herself as she set her purse a safe distance from her hands. Hearing footsteps Sakura sat up straight and latched her eyes on the study room doors like a drowning man stares at land. Finally the footsteps stopped in front of the door and she watched the handle twist.

"Who would be so rude as to visit on Christmas Day?" Li Syaoran said as he allowed his housekeeper to push him in front of the study. He was worried about Sakura and the last thing he wanted to do was talk with someone he likely didn't know about family matters or who knows what. He wanted to talk to Sakura, damn it!

"Master Li, please." The house keeper said as she leaned over to straighten his robes like she'd done many times before when he was young.

"Why won't you tell me who it is?" Syaoran said thoroughly confused and more then a little aggravated. He'd never seen such a twinkle in his housekeeper's eyes and it was slightly unnerving. Who could be in the study?

"Trust me you'll be happy to see this person." She said confidently as she stood back to make sure he was presentable.

)

"The only person I want to see is Sakura and she's in Japan so I very much doubt that I want to see this person. By the way has Sakura called back yet?" Syaoran said getting back to his reason for being moody and worried. He'd tried to get a hold of her several times but she was either out or unavailable. Why hadn't she called him yet.

"Just go in and mind your manners." The housekeeper said with a rare smile.

" I will." Syaoran said pasting on a dignified face as he reached for the handle and opened the door to the study. Opening it wide Syaoran stepped through then turned to see his visitor watching him from a couch. Blinking several times Syaoran felt his lips curve into a huge smile that was mirrored in hers. "Sakura!"

"Syaoran!" Sakura said jumping off the chair and dodging a table threw herself into his waiting arms. Holding each other close Syaoran happily laid his face on her head and breathed her in. She was in his arms, finally. It seemed like forever.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming here?" Syaoran asked lovingly stroking her back.

"I wasn't sure if I could make it so I didn't tell you in case I couldn't get here in time." Sakura said snuggling as close as possible, her worries slipping away in the joy of being held tightly in his arms.

"When did you get here?" Syaoran asked as he drew her back so that he could look at her shining face.

"I came here straight from the airport. I'm so glad I could make it." Sakura said throwing herself back into his arms. Holding him close Sakura absorbed the feeling of his strong arms around her. No matter the situation as long as I have him I don't need anything else, Sakura thought happily.

"I'm even gladder. I've been trying to get a hold of you but you were always out. I guess I see why. Does Toya know you're here?" Syaoran asked with a slight chuckle. If he did know then he probably wasn't too happy about it.

"He knows and he even insisted on driving me to the airport. He tried to talk me out of it the entire way." Sakura admitted with a laugh.

"Well it's nice to know that some things never change." Syaoran said with a wink. Drawing her back once again Syaoran smiled down at her. 'I have to say you're the best present I could have received today."

"I brought you my present." Sakura said in a rush to prevent her from chickening out.

"And I have yours here too. If you'll hold on a minute I'll go get it and be right back." Syaoran said sounding a bit nervous himself.

"Okay." Sakura said with a sunny smile that was a bit too tight.

"I'll be right back." Syaoran said placing a kiss on her lips before quickly leaving the room to get her Christmas gift.

"So you made it, Sakura." Melin said popping her head in once Syaoran had reached the stairs and was out of sight.

"Just barely, Melin. Merry Christmas." Sakura said hugging her friend happily. Melin hadn't been able to come the last time Syaoran had visited and she'd really missed her. Especially the way she orders Toya around, Sakura thought with a grin. Ever since they'd become friends Melin had become very overprotective of her and was constantly ranting on her brother for calling her monster and for his treatment of Syaoran. Sometimes she almost wondered if her brother wasn't slightly afraid of Melin.

"I'm so glad you made it. Syaoran was going out of his mind when he couldn't get a hold of you. He was starting to drive us all insane with his worrying." Melin said drily as she rolled her eyes at her cousin's actions.

"Well I'm glad Tomoyo managed to find someone flying here on Christmas Day. We must have called every airport within a three hour radius." Sakura said shaking her head at the painfully memory. If she started to have nightmares about phone books she wouldn't be at all surprised.

"I hear him coming. Good luck, Sakura!" Melin said giving her a wink before disappearing behind the door. Smiling Sakura heard her friend quickly exit the hallway. Seconds later Syaoran came through the door at an almost dead run.

"Run over to that door over there and lock it." Syaoran said already shutting the door he'd come in to lock it. Doing as he said Sakura ran over and locked the other door. While she did that Syaoran ran over to the windows and pulled all the curtains down to cover the windows.

"Syaoran what are you doing?" Sakura said in surprise.

As though answering his question the sound of four very loud young women came into ear shot. "He came this way. How much you want to bet that the guest is Sakura." One of them said as she quickly looked into the dining room which was beside the study.

)

"They're probably in the Study." Another suggested when her sister signaled that the room was empty.

"Why don't we go see what Mulan's making in the kitchen?" Melin's voice suggested as she joined Syaoran's sisters.

"We can do that later, Melin. Let's check the study." Another sister said as she tried to turn the handle on the door. "It's locked!"

"Syaoran? Are you in there?" One of the sister asked sweetly.

Shaking his head Syaoran motioned for Sakura not to say a word. To be safe Syaoran quickly grasped Sakura's hand and drew her away from the door.

"What do they want, Syaoran?" Sakura whispered as she allowed Syaoran to pull her to the opposite side of the room.

"One of them saw me with your present and must have alerted the rest of them. They all want to see me give it to you." Syaoran said with annoyance.

"Why would they all want to see you give me my present. Did they help you pick it out?" Sakura said with a puzzled look.

"No they're just being nosy." Syaoran said with a frown. "Well I had better do this before they find a spell that opens locked doors. I wouldn't put it past them."

"Oh Syaoran, they're not that bad." Sakura said with a shake of her head.

"Trust me on this." Syaoran said with a small groan. "Sakura I..I.. I have something for you and I..I.. Have to ahhhhhh..."

"Syaoran, what is it?" Sakura said in surprise. He looked as nervous as she was about giving her gift to him.

"Sakura..I..I ..I have something to ask you." Syaoran said taking a small black box out of the pocket of his robes.

"What is it, Syaoran?" Sakura asked gently.

"Sakura...Would you..would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" Syaoran said as he got down in front of her on one knee. Staring at him Sakura literally felt the world spin around her. Gapping at him Sakura fell to her knees.

"Sakura?" Syaoran asked nervously holding her up by her shoulders.

"Yes."

"What did you say?"

"I said yes, Syaoran. There is nothing I'd rather be then your wife." Sakura said throwing herself at him sending them both backwards. Holding each other tight they lay on the floor both hugging each other as tightly as humanly possible. Holding her close Syaoran happily kissed her until they were both breathless and the sounds of his sisters had faded away.

"I love you, Syaoran." Sakura said when they finally came up for air.

"And I love you, Sakura." Syaoran answered with a wide grin and red face. "So what did you get me for Christmas." Syaoran added as he slipped the brilliant emerald onto her ring finger.

)

"Nothing as great as yours." Sakura said with a grin. Now she knew that her gift had been the right choice. Planting a kiss on his cheek Sakura got up and took the green box out of her bag. Walking back Sakura sat down beside him and handed it to him.

"Well what could this be?" Syaoran asked with a grin as he took his present. Holding it up to the light Syaoran shook it then grinning began to unwrap it. Once the paper was off Syaoran opened the box and stared at the present lying inside. "Sakura?"

"I know it's not as good as having all the cards but it will give you some control over them." Sakura said nervously as she twirled another lock of hair.

"It's a card." Syaoran said carefully lifting it from the box. "You create this?"

"Yes. I didn't want another guardian but I wanted to try making one so I made it for you. It can call upon the power of all the cards and can change its form to look like anything. It also has all of Eriol's magical knowledge and it's as smart Yue." Sakura said with a uncertain smile.

"You made me a guardian?" Syaoran said in surprise.

"Yes. She doesn't run on magic though so you don't have to worry about her draining your power. She's also in tune with you so if you need her she'll know and you won't have to call her. She'll just know." Sakura said hopefully.

"If she doesn't run on magic then what does she run on?" Syaoran said as he turned the card around in his hand.

"Just look at its name and you'll find out." Sakura said shyly.

Turning it over Syaoran held the card up to the light. "The Eternal Love Card." Syaoran said with a lump in his throat. "It runs on love."

)

"Yes. It's tuned into everyone that I love. I'm giving her to you because I love you above all else." Sakura said softly with her head down. Feeling him stare at her Sakura forced herself to look up. "Do you like it."

"I'll treasure it for the rest of my life." Syaoran said as he smiled at her. "As much as I'll treasure you."

"I love you." Sakura said with a blinding smile.

"Ditto." Syaoran said as he pulled her close, the card still in his hand. Knowing now wasn't the time the card slipped from his hand to rest inside his pocket. There would be time to meet her new master later when he wasn't so busy kissing her mistress.

Merry Christmas The card thought. It's certainly going to be a Happy New Year.