Music, Mood, and Mistletoe
Chapter 3 - I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

Haley watched from the sofa as Nathan refueled the fire. It was still amazing to her how far they had come over the past thirteen years.

They'd started out as completely misunderstood, uninterested sixteen year olds. Hatred had thrown them into a complex and anything but innocent relationship. Nathan had his motives. She had hers. But somewhere along the way, those motives and intentions had disappeared. Respect had emerged between them, followed not much later by care and adoration. Then want, need, and desire had taken over. It was a cycle that so many before them had endured, but they had made it special and unique. Their unexpected relationship had quickly escalated into the type of love that some people long for their entire lives. To them it had seemed nothing short of natural to get married. It didn't matter that they were sixteen or still in high school. They had love and that's all they needed.

"What are you thinking about?" He sat down next to his wife, pulling her into his embrace.

Haley snuggled into his arms. She loved the way his body fit with hers and how simple it was to always find the perfect place in them. Every time it reminded her just how well they fit together and how much she belonged there, with him. "About all the years we've had together." She felt Nathan pull her closer. She couldn't see his face, but it didn't matter. She knew what it looked like. He was smiling, not the cocky, arrogant smirk he had perfected over the years. But the honest, genuine, joyful smile that she had seen on the day they'd married, the day each of their children had been born. She'd cemented in her mind all those times and she was seeing it there now as well. "Do you remember our first Christmas?"

"How could I not? It was horrible."

"It wasn't horrible. It was different and a bit complicated, but not horrible."

"You can make it all pretty in your head now, but it was horrible then. And if it was happening now, it would still be horrible."

"You're such a pessimist."

"I'm realistic, Hales. Just think about it. Our car was broken. I'd messed up my ankle, causing me to miss the game against Cove City, which we lost. Dad had gotten tired of my never-ending tardiness and fired me from the shop. You're grades had gone downhill because you had to pick up more hours at the cafe. Oh, and let's not forget the fact that we had no money to pay the electric bill that month, not to mention presents. It was a disaster." Haley laughed.

"Well if you put it that way..."

"It was the worst Christmas ever."

"Now, that's not true." She replied seriously. "If I recall, we had a pretty great Christmas, even if it was a little cold in the apartment. Brooke got you a job at the restaurant she was working at. You're ankle was back to normal by the time practice started back up in January. Jake and Lucas helped you fix the car. Karen gave me a raise, which meant I worked less shifts and got my grades back up to normal the falling semester. And Peyton's dad gave us the money to pay our bills. We only went one night without electricity It all worked out Nathan. There were so many people there to help us. Besides, you were much more optimistic back then."

"How so?"

"When I started crying about the Electric bill and rambling about all the problems it would cause, you said that all you needed was my love to keep you warm." Nathan groaned. "What?"

"I can't believe I said something that cheesy."

"It wasn't cheesy, doofus. It was romantic and it made me feel better. If you said stuff like that more often, maybe you'd get a little extra lovin'." He laughed. "I know. That was cheesy."

"Just a little." Haley could see the smile on his face once again.

"You know what we should do?" She jumped from the couch with excitement.

"Give me my Christmas present?" He suggested optimistically.

"No. Come with me." Haley reached for her husband's hand and pulled him from the couch.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see." She smiled at him and started down the hall.