A/N: I pieced this together from previous notes and scenes extending this story and changed it to fit around Christmas. I decided to make this one-shot into a three-shot with the final chapter a confrontation with former friends and family. Don't worry, I haven't abandoned SARR, the next chapter is just giving me some difficulty cuz Shimako won't let me do what has to be done in order to keep with the time line. Alot of canon events occur, besides the ones already altered.

Anywho, as for this story, this chapter is my Christmas special I normally do. Originally, I was going to do a Once Upon a Time one-shot for Christmas that I thought up, but I am so disgusted with that show that I even put my longer story for it on hold until I could calm down. This is a really short chapter, but I thought I should delve more into Eriko and Yumi's relationship further down the line before the confrontation to show that they are a solid couple.

I've always imagined Yumi as a late bloomer... Anyway, enjoy. I'll have the SARR chapter out soon hopefully, I'll give the characters a talking to...

Chapter 2

The wind blew in my face as I walked briskly towards my favorite bar, leaving hints of moisture as it threatens foul weather this close to the Holiday season. I went approached the building and quickly opened the door, sliding in just as the heavens decided to unleash a torrent of rain and ice.

I sighed in relief as I slid into my usual booth, finding my glass of red wine waiting for me when I got comfortable. Picking up the stem of the glass, I moaned when the liquid flowed down my throat, instantly soothing the aches and pains of the day, not with alcohol but with familiarity and love.

"Another rough day?" A sultry, smoky voice questioned from across the table and I opened my eyes to see a pair of brown ones staring at me from over the rim of a glass of scotch.

"No," I answered, smiling at the other woman, "Just long. I had to get up before my girlfriend this morning and leave to get to work. I spent all day thinking about her and that seemed to make the day even longer because I couldn't wait to get home."

The brunette across from me hummed. "You had to get up and leave your girlfriend this morning? I can only imagine how difficult that was."

I sighed, "It was. She was so gloriously naked in bed this morning with her breasts just peeking out of the covers that I couldn't help myself having my way with her before I had to go, leaving her in a sweaty but satisfied heap."

"Satisfied?" The other woman murmured, "Mhm, I'm not so sure, how do you know? I mean, you left before you could really find out."

"I know," I said, leaning in, "Because of the way she screamed my name as she came all over my hand, practically soaking the sheets beneath her." With that, I finally got what I was after; a faint crimson blush spread across the brunette's cheeks and down her neck onto her chest.

"That's not nice Eriko," Yumi murmured, taking another sip from her drink, "This is where I work."

"Yes," I chuckled, "And upstairs is where we live and I bed you pretty much every night, making you scream my name." I leaned over the table and kissed her lightly on the lips.

"Mhm," Yumi moaned as I lightly bit her bottom lip as I pulled back, "And I was very satisfied by the way, this morning."

"I know," I grinned smugly before taking a long drink of my wine. "Ahh, I'm so happy to be officially on vacation. I don't have to go to work again until after New Years. I get to spend nearly two weeks with my delightfully sexy girlfriend."

"Hmm, well since tonight is Christmas Eve, I go on vacation too and get to spend nearly two weeks with my absolutely charming, sexy girlfriend as well," Yumi replied, coyly stroking the rim of her glass.

"Imagine that," I chuckled out, finishing my wine before standing up, "I'm beat baby, I'm gonna head upstairs and take a shower, and maybe get ahead of some paper work for next year while I wait for you."

"Okay Sugar, I made you some dinner while I was in the kitchen down here today. It's in the fridge, just heat it up when you're hungry."

"Thanks baby," I murmured, pecking her lightly on the lips before I headed towards the back of the bar. About a month after we started dating, Yumi had the opportunity to expand into the space next to the bar, so she took it. She added an American style grill to go with the American style bar, but she's had to hire more employees and cooks to handle the new workload. It was still mainly the regulars that trooped in, but around lunchtime and dinner, an influx of working stiffs and business people visited to grab some food and a drink before the commute home. Yumi practically tripled her business and makes enough to pay her employees so she can spend more time away with me. Many of the waitresses and other bar tenders have become quite good friends, better than those I had in my high school and college days.

I exited the back door and hurried quickly up the stairs there and unlocked the door to our apartment. Once inside, I flicked my shoes off next to the door and padded back towards the bedroom, peeling off my suit coat as I walked. I pulled on some lounge clothes briefly while I heated up what Yumi made me for dinner, a new chicken dish she was trying out, which was delicious. When I finished my dinner, I slipped out of my clothes again, putting everything away as I made my way into the bathroom for a nice, long bubble bath to ease away the aches of the day.

Easing myself into the steamy water, which held a wonderful combination of bubble bath and bath oil, I moaned in sheer delight at the hot water hitting my skin. As I soaked in the tub, my mind drifted again, thinking of spending Christmas day with my girlfriend and my family. This line of thought led my mind to think about my family's reaction to me dating Yumi. I had learned early on to introduce whomever I was dating to my family so they wouldn't find out through any other source than myself. Fortunately, Yumi, unlike my previous lovers, had known about my father and brothers' over protective streak. However, their reaction to her surprised me.

My father, mother and brothers completely adopted her into the family, especially after I had told them that her own family basically disowned her when quit college to start working. My father was happy to have another 'daughter' to dote on, while my mother was excited to have one who was more adventurous in the fashion world than I was. Yumi's clothes outside of her work attire were sinfully sexy, and she loved to shop almost as much as my mother. My brothers adored her as well and even went as far as to threaten me that I shouldn't do anything to hurt 'their precious Yumi-chan' to make her want to break up with me. If they weren't already married, I would be concerned that one of them would try to steal her from me. It also didn't help that Yumi gave them half off drinks whenever they came to the bar, so my father and brothers quickly became patrons of the establishment.

I soaked in the tub for a good half hour before my skin started to prune so much that I resembled a raisin, so I regretfully exited the tub and wrapped a towel around my frame. I moved towards the dresser where I had hidden Yumi's Christmas present and pulled it out to look at it. Flipping open the ring box, I looked at the diamond encrusted, silver eternity ring inside. Yumi and I had been dating for close to 10 months, and living together for two of those months. I knew as soon as she asked me to move in with her that I was going to marry her, that I was going to ask her to marry me. With her estranged relationship with her own family, I ask my own father for permission to marry Yumi, which he was all too happy to grant. I spent another month browsing various jewelry stores to find the perfect one capable of crafting an engagement ring for my beloved enigma. I lifted the ring out of the case and read the inscription My Love, My Enigma, Forever.

I reached into my closet and slipped into a little black dress that my mother talked me into buying when I told her I was going to propose. I did look pretty damn sexy in it truthfully. I traipsed barefoot into the living room with the ring box and started to set everything up for a holiday surprised for my beloved.

A few hours later, approaching midnight, I heard footsteps on the stairs outside so I moved towards the door, anticipating my lover. My wait was rewarded as the brunette opened the door, a tired smile present on her face. She stopped short when she saw me though, her mouth dropping open in surprise. "What's all this?" She asked, her eyes dragging up and down my form.

I smirked and pulled her into the living room where I had flameless candles, wine and chocolate covered strawberries set out before our newly decorated Christmas tree, lit with soft white lights. "Wow," Yumi murmured, moving forward to take in the sight. "This is beautiful," she said softly as she turned to me, "But what is it all for?"

"This is part of your Christmas present my love," I murmured in her ear as I guided her to sit down in front of the tree, "And I have a question I must ask you now before I lose my nerve."

"Oh really," Yumi replied, her chestnut eyes searching me, "What's that?"

I lowered myself next to her, kneeling really, and removed the ring box from where I had hidden it and flipped it open. Yumi gasped, her hand raising to cover her mouth as tears started to pool in her eyes. "These months with you," I started, not taking my eyes from hers, "Have possibly been the best months of my life, and I would be honored if you would consent to be my wife. Yumi, will you marry me?"

Yumi nodded once, twice, three times, she just couldn't seem to stop. She picked the ring up out of the box and looked at the inscription. "You just can't get over that enigma thing," she chuckled, tears streaming down her face.

I took the ring out of her hands and slid it onto her ring finger on her left hand. "It's true," I whispered, "You're it, my enigma, the ultimate puzzle that I can't crack, and I don't think I ever really want to."

She laughed and brought both of her hands to cup my face, kissing me soundly. She moved her body the remaining few inches separating us until she was straddling my lap, never breaking the kiss. "Are you sure Eriko?" She asked when we separated.

I nodded, "I want it all Yumi. All of the good, the bad and everything in between, I want it all with you."

Yumi lifted her hands and fisted her fingers in my hair, pulling my head until our lips met again in a passionate, bruising kiss. She sucked my tongue into her mouth with such a ferocity that left me breathless and wanting, a quivering mess of sexual urges. We made love there in front of the tree, giving and taking, consuming and feeling.

Several hours later in the approaching dawn of Christmas morning, we were still lying in front of the tree underneath a soft blanket I had set out earlier. My new fiancée was curled into my side, leaning her head on my shoulder and one leg tossed over mine, allowing for every inch of her body to press against mine. She idly traced patterns on my chest and stomach with her left hand, occasionally removing it from under the blanket to look at the ring on her finger.

"This is probably the best Christmas yet," Yumi told me sleepily, lightly kissing my collarbone.

I hummed in agreement, slipping into a light doze. "Merry Christmas Yumi," I murmured into her hair as I turned to hold her close.

"Merry Christmas Sugar."

Review please, just nice stuff since it's Christmas and all and my brain is already fried on other stories