Joy to the world you people like my story! haha thank you for all your reviews! Sorry it's been another week. Actually, XxNoAnGeLxX it says in Psymon's profile that his age is 28, because it is 2 years after Tricky and he was 26 in Tricky. Trust me I know these things, Psymon is one of my favorite characters. Yes parry, it was kind of funky that I had Psymon terrorizing Kaori ruthlessly in chapter 4 and then he let her cover him in snow in chapter 6, but you know how psychotic he is he has mood swings you never know what'll set him off. Anyway enough of my babble, here is the next installment in Seasonal Slopes!

"Argh! This is pointless!" Mac yelled out in pent up frustration. He, with the unwanted help of Viggo had been searching through stores in town for about two hours and Mac still had not found a present good enough for Kaori. Viggo had overheard Mac saying he was going into town to look for a Christmas present for his girlfriend, and being the ladies man he was could not resist to offer his help to Mac. Mac did not overly like or appreciate the Swede's help but could not convince him to leave.

"You could always just get her jewelry." Viggo supplied. Mac turned his frustrated glare on the blond.

"Yeah, that's what every guy gets his girlfriend." Mac prided himself on being an original romantic. Viggo shrugged.

"I suppose a stuffed animal wouldn't be any better?" he asked rhetorically. Mac ignored the statement.

"Hmm, dude you could just by her clothes or something. You know how women love clothes." Mac spun around.

"You are not helping Viggo!" he snapped angrily. Viggo held up his hands in defense.

"Alright dude, sorry." he shook his head. "Didn't realize you were so picky."

Mac exercised his self-control to not give the Swede a well deserving punch. He chose to ignore him instead. They continued down the sidewalk along downtown scanning for anything promising.

"Ah hah!" Viggo shouted a few minutes later in triumph. Mac turned to look at the shop but Viggo had already latched on to his arm and drug him inside.

"What!" Mac said ripping his arm away from the other boy.

"Candy! Look!" Viggo had indeed drug Mac into a candy store and was drooling while peering into the chocolate boxes. Mac swore under his breath.

"I might have to shove you off a cliff on our next race Viggo." he told him seriously.

"No really! Girls love chocolate!"

"I know." Mac forced out from clenched teeth. "Kaori is better than most girls."

Viggo paused.

"You're right." He stopped drooling like a three year old and left the store followed by a less murderous Mac.

"Okay then, all my ideas are exhausted." The blond stated.

"Good." Mac muttered under his breath.

It was fifteen minutes later when Mac finally realized the perfect gift for his perfect girlfriend.

"A digital camera?" Viggo asked doubtfully. They were inside a large electronics store and Mac had found a small reasonably-priced digital camera. "You have that much money?" he added. Mac shrugged a shoulder.

"Not really." he admitted but did not relinquish his hold on the fancy technology. "But I know she loves to take pictures. Besides, she's worth it."

Viggo clapped him on the back.

"Right then! We've got the lady a gift finally!" Mac sent him a look and went to the check out counter with his expensive present.

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Five days later was Christmas Eve. Kaori was running around fixing last minute plans on the Christmas party the next day that she had planned. Mac was lounging on a love seat in Kaori's hotel room while she swept around organizing. At one point Mac grabbed her on her way past and pulled her onto his lap.

"Mac!" Kaori protested for once.

"Sweetie, you need to breathe. Everything's fine. You had all this figured out two days ago." he told her calmly. Kaori exhaled.

"You're right. I just want it to be perfect." Mac kissed her.

"It is." her reassured the woman in his arms.

"Let's go down to the kitchen for a snack." he prodded, gently pushing Kaori off his lap and leading her downstairs.

In the kitchen he let go of her hand and went towards the fridge and fished out the whipped cream. Searching through the surrounding cabinets, he spotted what he was looking for and pulled out the tin of fudge. Setting the items on the table he once again pulled his girlfriend on his lap.

"Mmm, fudge and whipped cream." Mac drawled, knowing it was one of her favorites.

"Oh, Mac. You're so bad!" she chastised but opened the tin herself and picked up one of the square pieces of fudge. Popping the top off the whipped cream she sprayed a little on the fudge. Kaori bit off part of the tasty dessert with a moan of pleasure. Mac whimpered like a puppy who is neglected. Kaori smiled. She held out her half eaten piece to her boyfriend and he took it out of her fingers gently with his mouth. He agreed that is tasted delicious with a satisfied sound.

Mac grabbed another piece of fudge and took the can of whipped cream from Kaori and made another one. Mac held out the pure sugar chocolate feast, with sweet fluff on top. Kaori leaned forward a bit and stuck out her tongue. Mac chuckled and obliged with placing it in her mouth. Kaori closed her lips around his fingers, taking the offering while effectively enticing her boyfriend when she sucked on his fingers.

Mac almost groaned. Kaori smiled knowingly. Mac placed his hands on the sides of her face and pulled her close for a passionate kiss. Kaori opened her lips willingly for Mac's tongue which then explored her sweet mouth.

Kaori was in heaven. Her heart was beating rapidly. He tasted so good and she was on fire from his velvety tongue's ministrations. Sometimes she couldn't believe that he could be so undeniably romantic. Who would think that an 18-year-old boy could be so sweetly passionate?

Mac never wanted to let her go. He was so lucky to have this woman. And she is his. That was the great part. He deepened the kiss and one of his arms slid down to her waist with the other still cupping her cheek.

Finally the need for essential oxygen forced them apart. Kaori's eye glittered and her mouth hung slack. Mac was panting and he forced himself to calm down. He knew Kaori never went farther than this, he had to control himself. She licked her lips.

"Care for another?" she asked enticingly holding up another piece of fudge.

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Early the next morning, 5:49 to be exact, found all the boarders sitting around the large Christmas tree in the corner of the lobby. They were glad they had the whole hotel to themselves, being famous snowboarders had its advantages, which included having a hotel emptied for your use. On any other day of the year none of the tour would even consider getting out of bed at this hour, but since it was Christmas they made an exception.

When they first came down stairs Psymon had jumped in the pile of presents and started pulling all of them towards him.

"Hey!" Elise had shouted at him. "Those aren't all yours!"

Psymon had been crestfallen but relinquished the others presents.

Kaori was playing Santa, that is picking out everyone a present and handing it to them. Though not everyone wanted to wait and were soon opening theirs without waiting for the others.

"Let's open each other's back in my room." Mac told Kaori, she smiled and obliged.

Kaori had received two CDs from Elise, a new sweater from Moby which she figured Zoe had picked out since it was pink and the Brit wouldn't go near such a bright color. She got a gift certificate for a spa bath from Zoe, she blushed when Mac saw what it was and asked if he got one as well, and a stuffed bear from Griff. Not everyone bought the whole tour gifts since there was ten of them.

Mac got a bunch of CDs from Zoe and Moby, though he knew Moby didn't want any part of it since they detested each other with a passion, Elise had given him another beanie and Viggo had bought him a set of headphones. Mac rolled his eyes, for some reason the Swede though they were friends. Oh well, he thought, I needed some new headphones anyway.

There was a loud commotion coming from where Zoe and Moby were sitting and Kaori and Mac snapped out their Christmas-happy-daze to see a red faced Moby trying to hide warming liquid, which Kaori figured was what Zoe had bought him 'for the bedroom'. Stifling a laugh she watched a smiling Zoe give Moby suggestive looks and the Brit attempting to hide his embarrassment while the others howled with laughter.

"Shut up!" Moby growled at Psymon who looked like he had fallen on another set of power lines and was spazaming (you all know what it means right?) on the floor with uncontrollable laughter. Zoe chuckled with amusement. Mac just looked sick.

"I knew she had bought him something along those lines." Kaori whispered to Mac. He shook his head as if to fend away obscene thoughts.

"That's just....wrong."

Kaori laughed and pulled him to his feet.

"Shall we open ours now?" she asked. Mac nodded enthusiastically. They went upstairs by way of elevator and went into Mac's room.

They both sat on the bed fidgeting with their wrapped presents, nervous to see the other's reaction.

"You first." Kaori said and handed her package to Mac. He set hers down and took the offered present. He ripped the wrapping paper and was shocked to find a very expensive-looking leather bound hardback copy of "The Lord of the Rings". It was quite heavy being roughly 1,000 pages in hardback.

Kaori watched closely to see any flicker of disappointment cross his face; finding none she chanced a smile and a chuckle.

"Do you like it?"

Mac turned to look at her.

"Like it? I love it!" he said without hesitation. "I've been wanting to read this forever but I never got around to asking you to borrow your copy. And this, is so nice." he ran his hands across the leather. "It must have cost quite a bit." Kaori shrugged nonchalantly.

"Maybe it did, I'm just glad you like it." Mac set his book down and wrapped his arms around Kaori.

"Thanks." he said sincerely. Kaori smiled and pulled out of his embrace.

"My turn!" She said and grabbed her present, following Mac's example and wasting no time in discarding the pretty wrapping paper.

Kaori gasped when she saw what was on the box she was holding. She turned an astonished face to Mac.

"Is what's in the box, actually on the box?" she asked hesitantly. Mac nodded with a smug grin. Kaori couldn't restrain the excited squeal and quickly opened the box containing her digital camera. Carefully she pulled it out and took off the packaging plastic. Gingerly, Kaori set it on her palm and marveled at its compact size. It was no longer than her hand, and she had small hands.

With all the carefulness of holding a glass vase she turned the camera around and inspected all the buttons and gadgets she could find. Mac watched with considerable anxiety and impatience for her to verbally say what she thought. After she was finished thoroughly examining her sleek camera she set it behind them on the bed and jumped on Mac's lap.

"Oh Mac I love it! How in the world did you afford it?" she said excitedly then curiously.

"Well I'm not some poor bum ya know Kitty. I do get money from boarding." he said in all seriousness. Kaori smiled.

"Of course Mac. But oh! I just can't believe you got me a camera! And a digital one too!" Mac wouldn't be surprised if she spontaneously combusted from happiness. He was almost as happy as she was because she liked it so well.

"I have to charge it right away so I can start taking pictures." Kaori said and hugged her boyfriend. Then she leapt off the bed and ran to the nearest outlet and plugged in the battery charger with the camera attached so she could do as she said. Standing back up slower she walked back over to the bed and fell onto her boyfriend's lap once again.

"That's the best Christmas gift I've ever had." Kaori said and raised her head to give him a kiss. Mac smiled against her lips. Pulling back he said, "Me too."

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I know I said I'd have the Christmas party in this chapter but I'm not sure what I'm going to do for that, and I thought this chapter was long enough. Let me know what you think of the SSX Christmas morning! Please review! Love you guys.

elvenangel