~Chapter Seven~
Mistletoe
They saw a couple across the street, bundled up in warm, furry clothes and laughing at each other. Their cheeks were pink from the cold, only adding to their merry appearance.
Jellylorum's face grew grim as she watched them dance around in the cold.
"Jelly?" Asparagus piped up. "What's wrong?"
"It's just..." He could see a visible lump in her throat that she swallowed harshly. "That girl over there...she's my human's daughter."
The tom's eyes softened with concern.
"She couldn't care less about her mother," she continued, "or else she would come over more often than just once a year. Even though she lives right across the street, she acts as if she barely knows the woman. And it's just..." Her voice drifted away as the warm tears started to fall across her face. Asparagus nuzzled her gently, and she rested her head on top of his good shoulder as she continued to weep for the old lady's sake.
"Oh, Jelly," Asparagus whispered, desperately wanting her to smile again. He glanced across the street one more time, and found the couple on the stoop of the young lady's house. They both glanced up and stared at the mistletoe she had hung over her doorway. With another cloudy giggle, they leaned in for a kiss under the porch light.
"That's one holiday tradition I never did understand," he said, subconsciously rubbing Jellylorum's back. "Why does a tiny little plant need to tell people when to kiss? It just sounds a little silly, doesn't it?"
Jellylorum sniffed, and raised her head, desperately attempting to wipe the remainder of her tears.
"Well, when you put it that way-" She was cut off when she found her lips captured by his. The kiss was brief and cold, but she found her cheeks positively on fire when he pulled away, almost shocked to find his face tinted pink as well. For the next hour, they would not look each other in the eyes, even when they went back in the house to lay by the fire once more. But their tails stayed intertwined till morning.
The End
(A/N: Whee! I really hope you enjoyed! Jellicle Week is always fun! Reviews make me feel all fuzzy. Bai!)