Hello to everyone and a wonderful second advent =) (no clue if you translate this like this)! So here's the first story to a prompt Asdfudge has sent me, thanks for that. The key word is "mistletoe", so...be prepared =). Leave reviews if you want to!

Chapter 1:

It's tradition

At Kudo mansion:

"This is so exciting!" Yukiko Kudo clapped her hands together like a little girl at the sight of the beautiful decorated living room, the christmas tree and...

"Shin-chan! Look at you!"

The young man rolled his eyes at her, not really happy with the clothes she made him wear. Nevertheless he had to admit he wasn't all that unattractive in his velvet suit matched with a red tie and a white shirt. He just wished it wasn't so hot in here!

"Merry Christmas, mother", he said smiling and hugged her shortly. "Has anyone arrived yet?"

A mischievous sparkle appeared in the woman's eyes at this question.

"Ran will come very soon, don't you worry..." She winked at him and he couldn't keep himself from blushing.

"You are a mean woman, you know..." he whispered while making his way to the table where plates of different kind of food were already waiting for the guests.

"Looks good...did you cook all that?"

Yukiko shot him a glare.

"Of course I did. Don't act so surprised..."

"Just saying..." he mumbled before approachung the nearby window.

He wished she would finally arrive. Maybe it seemed strange- or in case of his mother amusing- to others, but since the whole Conan Edogawa story, it was getting hard for him to be apart from her longer than for a few hours or not to speak of the whole day.

He had the constant need to be close to her which made it difficult for him to accept their relationship was different now, that he had spent more time with her than she would ever know, that he was used to another level of intimacy right now, but it would take time to regain Ran's trust. Impatiently he rubbed his hand over his clothes, feeling his palms get sweaty, but without realizing his mother's worried glance as she observed his actions.

She always had known him as a calm personality, someone who was focused and secure...but lately this seemed to change. Taking a mental note, she slowly went over to him, gently putting her hands on his shoulders.

"It's gonna be alright, you know? I promise..." Yukiko kissed his temple, earning a quick nod from her son.

Frowning she looked around, counting silently, then left the room to call her friend Eri Kisaki. Just like yesterday and the day before:

"Eri?"

"Yes, Yukiko?"

"I know I'm calling you much lately..., but I'm worried for my son."

"Still? I already told you he's just having a phase...some teenagers are getting easily depressed in his age, especially when they are extremly smart..."

Sighing the other woman shook her head, knowing Eri couldn't see it, but it didn't matter.

"That's not it, Eri. Actually, if we talk about being a little annoyed with everything...Shinichi was like this since the day he was born. So this is normal for him."

She heard her friens chuckle at this, but then she got back to the subject:

"Then why is he upset?"

"He is missing Ran, he doesn't want to be without her anymore..."

There was a short break before Eri answered.

"What?!"

"Don't you act like this, we talked about Shinichi liking Ran..."

"That's not the point. He was gone for such a long time and left my daughter alone and worrying for months! Yes, yes...I know he didn't meant to, calm down Yukiko...But I can simply not understand why he's acting like this of all sudden! No way!"

"Shin-chan maybe isn't someone who shows his emotions, but that doesn't mean he is not feeling the way he does!"

Eri took a deep breath to calm herself down, knowing it was useless to fight with her friend.

"Then...what shall we do? Shinchi sees her on a regular basis...it will happen sooner or later anyway..."

"It can't wait anymore. They waited their whole life! And see what happened..."

"They are teenagers, Yukiko!"

"They are in love, Eri!"

"..."

"Oh please, you must have noticed!"

"...maybe...I don't know...what's your plan?"

The actress smiled to herself while whispering her masterpiece of a plan into the cellphone.

"I have arranged this little christmas party to get them together right here...at some place they are both familiar with. We will talk, laugh, exchange gifts and at some point they both will find themselves under a mistletoe which by chance are to find everywhere in the room! We will leave all quietly...okay, maybe I take a foto...or two fotos...and then I will leave all quietly to let our two lovebirds alone."

She waited excited for the other woman's reaction.

"Are yo completely crazy!?"

Okay, this wasn't the reaction she had hoped for.

"Well no, I'm fine, that's my husband you're describing."

"You really think they will kiss? What if Ran doesn't want to...or Shinichi sees through your plan. He's an actual detective after all..."

"He will be to occupied with other things...and I'm not stupid. The mistletoes are hidden perfectly..."

"Where?"

"On the lamp, the window, the cupboard...the fridge, the pudding..."

"Okay..." Maybe Eri needed new friends.

"I wish you luck." It would make them both happier, Ran and Shinichi, so...she could accept this.

"Thanks Eri. I hope it works out."

Later that day:

"Welcome Ran-chan!"

Shinichi immediately jumped up from the couch as he heard her voice at the door. Several guests had arrived, most of them friends of his father, his aunt and uncle and a cousin of his mother. He had greeted them all friendly, but even they had noticed how distracted the usually attentive boy was today.

Trying to act calm he walked over to Ran who was wearing a beautiful red dress and a shining necklace. Wow, he thought, feeling his mouth get dry while his face lit up atomatically at her smile.

"Hello Shinichi, nice suit. How do you like my dress?"

Did she even have any idea what she was doing to him?!

"You look...great. Really."

"Well... thanks! I'm flattered."

She blushed a bit while handing Yusaku her jacket.

"Isn't it cold outside?" he asked surprised by her choice of clothing.

"Yes, but my father drove me her with his car. So..no problem."

"Is he still out there? He can come in if he wants...ouch!"

Yukiko had stepped on her husband's foot with such force he nearly fell over.

"What was that for?!"

"You are ruining everything!", she whispered, showing a confused Ran her widest grin while pushing him out of the way.

"Why don't you two talk a bit and I call you when we start to...well partying!"

Ran nodded amused then headed over to Shinichi who somehow had managed to look a bit lost in his own house.

"Hey." "Hi."

Why did it always feel so akward when they were together outside the classroom? It hadn't been like this before...

"Want some cookies?" he asked motioning at the plate on the table.

"Thanks, I take one later."

"Good."

Ran felt the tension between them growing again and therfore looked around if there was anything to distract them.

She never felt insecure with him, but...even though it had been more than a month from his return, she still had problems handling him. To communicate openly with this new, old Shinichi who was still her friend like always, but acted so differently.

Once again searching his eyes, she saw him rubbing his arm nervously making her wonder if she made him uncomfortable.

"Shinichi...?"

"Sorry...would you mind if I take off the jacket? It's too hot in here..."

"Of course", she said not caring at all watching him stand up and nearly stumbling over a chair in progress.

"Whoops, excuse me for a second alright? I will be right back!"

And suddenly she was sitting there alone again.

"Children, I made something special to drink and if you..wait where did he go?"

Yukiko who was carrying two glasses in her hands looked surprised as she found the girl her son was so desperately in love with without said boy's company.

"He's changing his clothes...he said it's too hot."

The woman nodded and let herself fall down next to her. "How are you Ran-chan?"

"I'm good Mrs. Kudo, thank you very much. How about you?"

"Fine dear. Now...have you and Shinichi...you know...?"

The girl raised an eyebrow at her, but then answered carefully.

"I'm not sure what you mean. We're friends, he apologized and everything...but...he is changed. Maybe he doesn't like me anymore..."

Yukiko's eyes widened at this hoping Ran didn't really believe this.

"Why did you come to this conclusion?"

Ran looked at her shoes unsure if it was right to share these thoughts.

"He doesn't seem completely happy around me anymore. He is always so tensed and quiet...I never thought I would miss this times when he just wouldn't shut up! I don't think he has a girlfriend...it's just so strange."

The woman eyed her sadly knowing it had been good for them to come here today. This needed to be sorted out quickly.

"Well Ran, I can assure you that you're wrong. Shinichi still likes you. He might even like you way more than you think..."

Ran's cheeks reddened slightly at this, her eyes fixed on the ground once again. "I-I like him too...but...why isn't he happy?"

Yukiko put the drinks down to lay a hand on the girl's arm.

"He's scared Ran, he's scared you don't want him anymore as more than a friend after he left you for so long. Shin-chan is very ashamed of himself for making you sad, although the whole drama wasn't his fault. He thinks you don't trust him like before and he doesn't want to ruin something by making the first step..."

The girl looked at her, shock and empathy mixing on her face. "Really?"

"Really." She wanted to say more, but the sound of someone running down the stairs announced Shinichi's arrival.

"Well... good luck, dear", she said hastily before standing up and joining her cousin arranging the dessert. And the pudding. The pudding was very important.

"I'm back...sorry it took me a while."

"It's okay."

She smiled warmly at him seeing his face relax a bit as his eyes met her her brown ones.

"Come here for a moment"

She knew he was going to worry at her words, but soon he would feel better. If his mother was really right...

He was sitting right beside her now, still keeping some distance between them.

Someone had turned the music on, an old christmas song playing in the background.

"Shinichi..." she started bravely reaching out for his hand to enlace her fingers with his.

The boy seemed a bit startled, but felt incredible happy at this moment. This was what he had missed so much...not to be able to hold her hand. Conan had been allowed to so every single day...taking great comfort in the gesture which soon had become a ritual for the two of them. What would he give for being so close to her as this little kid had been? He didn't want to let her go...never again.

"I talked to you mom, Shinichi.."

Oh damn. Why?

"And...I just wanted to make sure that you know you're completely forgiven, okay? I'm not mad at you."

Shinichi had to gulp at this, unable to answer or even pronounce a single word.

"Nevertheless", she continued, "there still not everything sorted out between us...please tell me what you think? What's wrong with us Shinichi?"

"There's nothing wrong with you, you're perfect..."Shinichi mumbled barely audible for the girl who gave him a questioning look.

"What?"

"...I..." Now or never. "See Ran, I know what you mean. And I'm sorry that I'm not quite myself recently and made you worry again. I just really missed you..."

"I missed you too Shinichi"

"...and I feel there's always a certain distance between us. Like something is missing and I can't figure out how you feel...even as a detective, I can't figure out what to do..."

She softly squeezed his hand at this, hoping to make him reveal a bit more.

"Tell me what you want Shinichi."

"This I want", he answered quietly, stroking his thumb over the back of her hand in an affectionate gesture. "But I don't deserve you."

Ran felt like drowning in this deep blue eyes, who showed her true emotions she never had seen in this intensity.

Of course Shinichi had been right about some of the things he said. Once she had known everything about him and now she sometimes felt a little left out. But not now. Not now.

"You dork. You...are amazing, okay? And no one else would ever..." wait what was she going to say?

"Everyone look! It's snowing!"

They both looked up, startled from the sudden exclamation while the visitors including Yusaku and Yukiko hurried to the window.

"Oh that's great! White christmas!" Shinichi's aunt said happily.

"W-wanna go watching the snowflakes?" he asked her and gently helped her up as she had agreed with him.

"Wait let's go to the other window", Ran suddenly suggested pulling him with her.

The snowflakes danced around in the cold winter air, little diamonds with unknown destination, but beautiful in their simple existence. Ran and Shinichi were still holding hands.

"Wait..what's that?" Ran pointed up at something green above the window, hiding pretty well how nervous she still was. "What's that Shinichi?"

"It's a mistletoe."

"Oh...why did they put them here?" she asked acting like she had no clue.

Immediately her friend turned into the living dictionary he had been since she could think of.

"Well...let's see: Mistletoes have a long tradition, they are supposed to have special life-giving powers,

were used for peace ceremonials or even more. In England it was common to arrange a ball for the young ladies to find them a partner by ...kissing..."

He suddenly stopped his little speech realizing what he had just said. Ran looked him deeply in the eyes, enjoying his love to explain something to her, but he could swear there was another emotion present on her face as well.

"Tell me more about it Shinichi"

She pulled him a little closer, making his heart beat even faster.

"They s-say that if you kiss someone under a mistletoe it means luck, health...or a promise of lov-..."

And before he could even think about Ran had closed the remaining distance between them, pressing her lips on his to shut him up in a way she had never chosen before.

A soothing warmth filled his body while he responded by gently kissing back. It was exciting, but sweet...somehow it felt to them like they had done it a million times before and just had forgotten how amazing it was. Eventually they slowly backed away.

"I...wow" Ran smiled to him while he pulled her in a tight hug, wanting to show her how much he agreed. For him it was a dream come true.

This was the best tradition ever!

At dinner:

"I still can't believe I didn't catch it!"

Yukiko Kudo was really annoyed. How could she have missed their first kiss?

"Mother...please." Shinichi just shook his head in disbelief while Ran's cheeks reddened slightly.

"Okay,okay...but the next I won't miss! Everyone eat the pudding!"

Seconds later Yusaku suddenly starte coughing. "Ehhh...there's something green in my pudding! Uh...that tastes horrible!"

Ran and Shinichi exchanged a quick glance, before they both looked at Yukiko.

"This is not what you think!"

"Yukiko you tried poisoning your husband?" his uncle asked mocking, making everyone laugh.

"No..."

She put the pudding away, getting a new one.

"I'm just expressing my love for him this way!"

Yusaku shook his head, quickly grabbed a glass of water.

"I really need to explain to her on how this tradition works!"

Turning to Ran once more, Shinichi playfully leaned over to her, planting another kiss on her lips which made everyone stare at them.

"Oh..." Yusaku said, sounding surprised, but pleased. "Well...thanks son, that's excactly how it works."

The Ending

Well, that was fun to write and I hope also fun to read =). Make love not war.