Natural Christmas

By: Kryptonite

*****

*Three Months Three Weeks One Day After*

" Rogue, wake up." A voice called, shaking at her shoulder persisted.

" Go way." She mumbled, turning over. Scott grinned down at her and moved his hands lower, tickling her sides lightly. Rogue shrieked quietly, eyes bursting open, a smile on her lips as she turned to look up at Scott's face. " What do you want at," Rogue turned to look at the clock. Seeing the numbers illuminated red on the clock, she turned around and smacked Scott on the arm.

" What?" He asked, smiling sweetly.

" It's five in tha mornin' is what." She said, pulling the thick comforter over her head.

" Five in Christmas morning." All he got for his enthusiasm was a groan. He walked to the end of the bed and tugged the lonely comforter off in one quick movement. Rogue automatically crunched her body together to try and stay warm and looked around for the blanket.

" Go freeze someone else." Scott gave her the blanket back after realizing she was only wearing a tank top and a pair of thin boxer shorts.

" Sorry, but you gotta get up. Presents can't be opened until everyone's up." Rogue started grumbling and mumbling under her breath. Pulling on her bathrobe she blinked blearily at Scott.

" I swear, I can never tell who likes Christmas more, you or the five year olds." Scott just smiled, grabbed her hand and pulled her down the stairs. " Please don't tell me everyone else is up." Rogue muttered before they reached the door to the rec. room.

" Nope. I knew you didn't really feel like seeing anyone so I figured we could open our presents early." He leaned over and whispered in her ear, " Then you can go back to sleep." Rogue just heaved a sigh and went into the made over play room. She didn't even bother to look at the small, brightly lit tree as she plopped on the couch.

" So who starts? Me or you?" Scott asked eagerly, pulling Rogue up from where she had fallen over on the couch.

*****

" Thanks for the presents Scott." Rogue yawned an hour later, a small box full of stuff in her hands.

" Thanks for mine." He said, all the enthusiasm of a little kid who hasn't realized that it's mom and dad who put the presents under the tree.

" I couldn't really think of anything…" Rogue trailed off, too tired to care.

" It was great Rogue. Go get some sleep." He said, kissing the top of her head as she stood under the mistletoe.

" Night Scott." She mumbled not even realizing what had just happened. Scott stood and watched as she stumbled up the stairs. It took him a few seconds to realize just how natural that kiss had seemed.

Sometimes the most natural thing in the world happens in the childish enthusiasm of Christmas.

*****

A/N: Okay, in case anyone couldn't tell, this short little piece was inspired by, you guessed it, CHRISTMAS. I felt like doing a holiday piece, more time for the budding couple… Well they aren't a couple (technically) yet but they will be… I think.

And if anyone's interested, I worked out the schedule of events (the dates) before and after she tries to drown herself. It goes as follows.

14. Inevitable Break Downs= July 23

5. Inner Dialogue= August 13

6. Dropping Eaves= September 8

1. Released= September 10

3. Faith= September 11

9. Screaming Lessons= September 12-13

7. Know= September 24

4. Normality= October 1

15. Natural Christmas= December 25

10. Accepting Miracles= January 14

2. Always Sorry= April 28

8. Check= June 9

11. Promise= June 10

12. Waking Up= June 11

13. What Goes Up= August 14

16. Hard Bites= August 25

17. Setbacks= August 25

18. Second Thoughts= August 26

19. Way Out= September 1

20. Complicated= September 5

So that's just the schedule. I'm sure someone who really wanted to could have figured it out from this post but I had too since I needed to know when Christmas was. This is the first time I've done a major event/holiday (for good reason) so believe me, it was confusing.

And to my two reviewers (again), Here's a cookie *hands silverCross and Roguechere a cookie* I was going to keep them to myself, freshly baked chocolate chip but you guys deserve at least one :)

Have a good life, catch ya on tha flipside.

A/N2: 1-24-04 I just updated the schedule to add in chapter 16-20. Enjoy!