A/N: Merry (extremely belated) Christmas! This chapter is all about the love that is Christmas, so I wanted to get you all in the Christmas spirit. Thanks to all reviewers, you know who you are, I love you all.

I don't want a lot for Christmas
There's just one thing I need
I don't care about presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas
Is you

-Mariah Carey. Song: All I want for Christmas is you

Blue Roses.

Chapter nine: All I want for Christmas is you...

"Skye! Skye! Get up! Get up! IT'S CHRISTMAS!"

Skye opened her eyes groggily and looked over at her bedside clock.

"It's also 5 a.m. Go back to bed, Cedric."

"BUT IT'S CHRISTMAS!"

"I don't care if it's the rebirth of Merlin. Go back to bed."

"But everyone else is up!"

Cedric began jumping on Skye's bed.

"Stop it! You're acting like you're 7!"

"BECAUSE IT'S CHRISTMAS!"

Suddenly, an odd chain ofactions occurred. Skye sat up quickly, which caused Cedric to jump to the side. His leg fell off the side of the bed, and he fell forward. In order to catch himself, he threw his arms forward, and his hands landed on either side of Skye's shoulders, so their noses were almost touching.

Cedric's eyes scanned Skye's face, awaiting a reaction. She stared at him blankly; she felt torn between him and Brayden. She began to breathe deeper as his lips neared hers, and he closed his eyes.

"Cedric, is she? Oh, sorry...I'll...umm...come back later..." Brayden had opened the door, but closed it quickly when he saw Skye and Cedric's position. His words sounded disappointed at the sight.

When Brayden closed the door, Cedric stood up.

"Sorry about that, I...uh..."

"Right," Skye said. "I'll be downstairs in a second, I have to get dressed."

Cedric left, and Skye began changing from her pajamas into normal clothing. She felt confused at the situation, but then, felt ecstatic. Brayden had sounded upset at seeing her and Cedric so close. Upset! He cared! Skye pumped her arm at the thought, feeling triumphant. All I want for Christmas is Brayden... Skye threw a large grin on her face and headed out her bedroom door. Her chosen outfit was a green t-shirt that read 'Don't get your tinsel in a tangle' and a pair of dark wash jeans. Her deep purple hair was up in a ponytail. She walked down the stairs to see the Diggory family sitting around the large Christmas tree, everyone having presents in their hands.

"We didn't want to start opening them until you got down," Brayden said, as she took a seat between him and Kami.

Skye looked under the tree and, to her surprise, she could see a few presents with her name on them! She picked up one that was from Cedric, and began tearing it open. It was a fancy new camera, coming with extra film and an empty photo album.

"Hey, Cedric!" she called. He turned to her, a stupid expression on his face, and Skye took a picture of him. "Very nice."

Cedric squealed loudly when he opened his present from her; a Cleansweep broom!

"It's used," Skye said. "I got it for cheap."

Cedric stood up, walked over to Skye and wrapped his arms around her, completely ecstatic. "This is why I love Christmas!"

Skye also got a self-applying makeup kit from Kami, which contained self-reapplying mascara, self-blending coverup and self-matching eyeshadow. "Because every girl needs to feel beautiful!" she said, making Skye grin at her. Skye received a large bag of goodies from Honeyduke's and Zonko's Joke Shop from Brayden, and a box of chocolate frogs with the note "I'm sorry" from Travis. When all the presents were opened, Amos stood up.

"You still have something from myself and Maya, Skye," he said.

"You didn't have to!" Skye said, standing up and following Amos out the back door.

She had never been in the Diggory's back yard yet. It was quite large, with a pond near the back door and a barn with a paddock attachment in the far corner, the paddock taking up most of the yard. There was also a forest that surrounded the area.

"In here," Amos said, pointing to the barn. Skye looked back at Cedric, who was watching from the back door, a curious look on his face.

Skye entered the barn, and the smell of horses washed over her.

"Over here..." Amos said, ushering her over to a far corner. There, standing in a large end stall, was a big dark brown horse, with a white stripe on his face. He had to be part draft horse, because his head and neck were so massive. Amos pointed to him.

"He's yours."

Skye gasped, staring between the horse and Amos.

"No, no this is too much..."

"He used to be Kami's," he explained. "But now that she moved out, she thought it would be best for you to have him. Plus, you're part of our family now. We're letting you stay the Summer."

"I...I don't know what to say! Thank you, thank you, thank you so much!" Skye hugged Amos, who patted her on the back.

"Welcome to the family!" he said. "Now, back to the horse. His name is Cerian. Do you want to take him for a ride?"

Skye nodded so violently it hurt her head. Skye stepped into Cerian's stall, who nuzzled her hair affectionately. Amos handed her a brush and she began to brush his silky coat.

"Have you ridden before?" Amos asked, as Skye went through all the everyday tasks of grooming a horse with ease.

"I used to have one of my own before," Skye said, as she began picking Cerian's hooves. "But my dad had to sell it when...when my mom died."

Amos took this as a cue to stop asking questions, and went off to get a saddle and bridle for Skye. She began slowly stroking Cerian's face, and he bent his head down, letting her pet his ears.

"Your life's so easy, isn't it?" she asked the horse. "All you have to do is eat, sleep, and go outside to get exercise sometimes. Your only problem is getting your manhood cut off." Skye giggled at the thought. "I guess that is a big problem..."

Amos returned with the tack and Skye threw a large, western-style saddle on Cerian and put on his blue bridle. She led him out of his stall, and to her surprise, saw Cedric and Brayden both beside horses. Cedric was holding on to a smaller, fatter chestnut horse and Brayden was holding on to a paint horse, who was brown and white.

"We all have one," Brayden said in reply to her astonished face. "Family tradition."

The three of them left the stable to go on a ride through the woods, where Brayden would often throw sly smiles at Skye, causing her to blush. When the three decided to return home for a late lunch, Brayden sent Cedric off, telling him he'll "catch up with him", leaving Brayden and Skye alone.

"What happened this morning between you and Cedric?" Brayden asked defensively.

"It was an accident. Really. I just...don't think I like Cedric in that way, but at the same time I do, but at the same time I like someone else..." Skye shut her mouth quickly when she realized she had said this.

"Who?"

"It's not important," Skye said, looking at the ground.

"Of course it is!"

"It's not..."

"C'mon!" Brayden said. "It's Christmas! And plus, it can't be that bad."

"It's you," she whispered.

"Skye," Brayden said softly.

"Yeah?"

"I kinda like you too."

- - -

A/N: Short but very sweet! THE PLOT THICKENS! Reviews are loved.