'Twas Christmas Day.

String had been awake since dawn, but not wanting to disturb Cait he instead just laid with her in his arms, enjoying the feeling of having her so close and thinking that he couldn't remember the last time he had felt this happy at Christmas. But then he had a feeling that Christmas might just be a little different from now on. Cait stirred in his arms.

"Hello you." said Cait sleepily, opening her eyes and looking up at String. "What time is it?"

"Nearly 8am" replied String

"Merry Christmas String" said Cait squeezing String tightly in her arms and reaching up to meet his lips.

"Are you hungry?" asked Cait

"A bit" replied String.

"I'm starving, how about I make us some breakfast and we eat it in bed."

"How about you stay here, and I'll make us some breakfast" replied String

"OK, it's a deal." smiled Cait although she was reluctant to let String get up as that meant letting go of him, when she felt like she could stay like she was forever.

Eventually String managed to drag himself out of bed, pulling a jumper over his head and stepping into his jeans. Cait pulled the blankets around her to keep warm. It wasn't long before Cait could smell fresh coffee and scrambled eggs. A short while later, String appeared at the top of the stairs balancing a tray in one hand and carrying 2 Christmas stockings in the other. He stopped at the top of the stairs just to look at Cait wearing nothing but the covers from the bed as though he still couldn't quite believe that she was there.

"What are those?" asked Cait, pointing at the stockings.

"I was hoping you could tell me." replied String handing Cait the tray and getting back on the bed beside her.

"I've never seen them before." said Cait "look they have tags on."

"I know, one for you and one for me. They were hanging either side of the fireplace."

"Really? Dom must've put them there." said Cait

"When? Dom is in Italy and they definitely weren't there last night"

"True. We always have stockings at home, like we did when we were kids but it can't have been Mom who left them here." said Cait with a puzzled look. I told you I heard Santa on the roof last night!

"I would've known if someone had been in the cabin last night Cait?"

"Not Santa you wouldn't he's magic you know…..and besides you did kinda have you mind on other things last night" giggled Cait snuggling back against String. "but hey come on let's eat and then see what's inside them, it's exciting."

String watched Cait as she tucked into her scrambled eggs.

"What are you looking at Stringfellow Hawke?" said Cait with a mouthful.

"You, just you." smiled String, leaning over and kissing her on the cheek.

It didn't take Cait long to eat her breakfast.

"Right said Cait" placing her empty plate on the tray. "let's see what Santa has brought us."

String could almost feel Cait's excitement as she picked up the red and gold stocking with her name on.

"Come on, you need to look in yours too you know." said Cait handing String his stocking.

Neither could believe what they found. Cait had some of her favourite perfume, some very expensive chocolates, a pair of beautiful earrings and some Christmas socks which she loved. String had some aftershave, some more flies for his fishing, a pair of leather gloves which would be perfect for flying and a pair of Christmas socks that he wasn't too sure about. They both had a few nuts, an orange, a sugar mouse and a candy cane. Cait reached down into the bottom of her stocking for one last thing. It was a small snow globe and it brought tears to her eyes.

"Hey, what's up?" said String putting his arm around Cait and pulling her closer to him.

"Oh nothing, it's just that when I was a little girl, I always had a snow globe in my Christmas stocking, I've always loved them."

"Are you missing your family Cait?"

"No, of course not…..well maybe just a bit, but no regrets I promise. It's just that what's in this snow globe is just so perfect. Look." said Cait handing the globe to String.

String shook it and saw what Cait meant. Inside was a winter scene of a log cabin with a couple holding hands and a dog.

"Is that meant to be us?" asked Cait softly

"I really hope so Cait."

Cait wiped the tear that had crept down her face with her hand. It was a happy tear, as she couldn't remember a time when she felt as happy and content as she did right at that moment.

"Hey, I really want to give you your present from me." said Cait smiling "I left it under the tree last night."

"Haven't I already had my present from you then?" replied String with a wink.

Cait swung a pillow at him, which String grabbed and used it to pull Cait to him. He held her tight and kissed her.

"Can't we just stay in bed all day?" asked String as he started to remove the bed covers from around Cait. An hour later and they were still in bed.

"I'm going to have to go and put the lunch on or we'll starve." said Cait tracing patterns with her finger on String's bare chest.

"You just want to know if there are any more presents downstairs don't you?" laughed String.

"Well, it IS Christmas ya know." replied Cait cheerfully.

Eventually and reluctantly they got up and dressed and went downstairs. Cait put the lunch on and String saw to the fire. Cait went to fetch String's present from under the tree and found that next to it was a small parcel with her name on.

"I forgot to give you that at the airport yesterday." said String handing Cait the parcel.

Cait carefully undid the wrapping paper and opened the box. Inside was a beautiful necklace with a diamond tear drop shaped pendant. When Cait didn't say anything, String was worried.

"Do you not like it?" said String

Cait turned to face him, her eyes full of tears.

"String, it's beautiful, it's the most beautiful thing anyone has every bought me. I love it. Can you put it on for me?"

Cait turned and lifted her hair so that String could fasten the necklace.

"Now open yours" said Cait as he handed String his parcel.

Inside was a first edition book of cello music.

"Cait, this must've cost you a fortune." said String

"I've been saving to buy you it for ages, I knew you would like it."

"Cait I love it." said String gathering Cait in his arms and kissing her.

"Say, I forgot, I have one more gift for you, it's in my bag upstairs." said Cait heading for the stairs to the sleeping loft. "I won't be a minute."

"Cait, what are you doing up there?" shouted String when Cait didn't immediately reappear.

"Coming!" shouted Cait in reply "turn around and close your eyes."

"What?"

"Turn around and close your eyes and don't open them until I tell ya."

"OK" said String turning away from the stairs.

Cait got half way down the stairs before she told String he could open his eyes and turn around. When he did, there was Cait wearing the Elf costume complete with red stockings and hat. In the first instance String could do nothing but stand there with his mouth open, but in the next he was closing the gap between them. Cait dodged him and ran away laughing, but he soon caught her. Taking her over to the couch, it wasn't long before the Elf costume was in a heap on the floor and Cait was left wearing nothing but her new necklace.

"I love my book Cait, but can I just say that I really enjoyed unwrapping my other present" smirked String.

"I'm just pleased I forgot to take the costume back to the shop" laughed Cait.

"Me too!" exclaimed String wrapping Cait as tightly in his arms as he could get her. "I think I might grow to love Christmas if I can spend them like this"

"What? Naked, on the couch in front of the fire you mean?" chuckled Cait.

"Naked on the couch in front of the fire with you…but then I hope I haven't got to wait until next Christmas to do this again" smiled String kissing Cait passionately.

"I love my necklace String." said Cait holding the pendant in her fingers.

"I think it should've been a ring" replied String without even pausing.

"What?" said Cait looking up at String.

"How do you feel about giving Dom what he wants for Christmas next year?

"What Dom wants…oh wait…..grand kids!" exclaimed Cait

"Yeah, so what do you say?"

"Are you sure? I mean it's what I want more than anything in the world, but I've known that for ages. But are you sure you're not just letting all this Christmas magic go to your head?" replied Cait

"It's what I want more than anything too Cait, I love you and I'm not ever letting you go, so what do you say?"

"Yes." Was all that Cait could manage to say before String placed his lips on hers and kissed her as though his life depended on it. When they eventually separated String looked down at Cait in his arms, her eyes shining as she looked back at him and said….

"Merry Christmas Cait."

The End.