Prompt: Eve
Other characters: Brief mentions of the whole gang.
Other pairings: None.
Notes: Since Christmas is here, I had to write something ^_^

Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice or any of its characters.

Christmas Eve at the Hyuuga and Sakura residence was always quiet.

It was Chritmas day that was rowdy, when almost the entirety of their group of friends would come visit and hold a grand party every year. The couple had moved out of their apartment years ago, when they'd finally gathered enough of a fortune to buy their own home together, and it was always the perfect place for everyone to gather, sometimes after almost a whole year apart. Half the men would purposely monopolize Mikan's time just to irk Natsume, while the women would gather round in the kitchen and watch in awe as Anna cooked their entire meal in just hours. Everyone had formed an alliance long ago to prevent Mikan from touching any sort of utensil, which meant they could enjoy a food-poisoning-free holiday season once more. Even the High School Principal and Shiki would connect over a video chat, unable to leave work at this crucial time but still dying to see their niece and surrogate niece, respectively. It was merry and light and everything one would expect from a festive day like Christmas.

But Christmas Eve was for Natsume and Mikan alone.

They accepted no visitors. They answered no phone calls. Natsume had made it clear years ago that anyone who bothered them on their day would be fried like a Christmas turkey, while Mikan had blushed and fumbled and stuttered before asking everyone to give her some time alone with her fiancé. It warmed everyone's hearts to see them so in love, no matter how discreet Natsume was about it, so they didn't have the heart to refuse.

The couple had their own traditions on Eve, just like anyone else; Mikan liked to play music through the house all day, while dancing around her living room as she decorated it; Natsume lugged branches all the way from the woods himself and would light the fireplace by the time the sun had set, with his girlfriend watching with rapt attention to ensure he wouldn't use his Alice; their tree, they would have delivered a week before, and Mikan liked to put cute animal figurines on the top rather than a star or an angel, as was customary; Natsume did all the cooking, and after they had finished their meal and the house was peacefully silent, the two would just lie in each other's arms in front of the fire place until sleep claimed them.

And as strange as it seemed to anyone else, the two never, ever exchanged Christmas presents.

They hadn't done so since they were twelve, and they never would as long as Mikan was so deeply in love with Natsume – which would be always, she was sure. There were no presents under their tree, except for when their friends arrived and placed packages under the pine needles to exchange later in the day. But between Natsume and Mikan, there were no gifts to give.

It bothered Natsume quite a lot, for he knew how fond she was of receiving gifts. Even tonight, with the two tucked up against one another in front of a fireplace so warm, he wondered if things were okay like this.

Mikan suddenly shifted in his lap, her arms tightening around his waist and her cheek slipping farther down his chest. A hazy smile widened over her lips, though she didn't open her eyes as she hummed in contentment. "Mmmm..."

He entangled his fingers into her hair, pulling her head back until she looked at him. She did so in confusion, cocking her head to the side and quietly asking what was wrong.

"You're sure you don't want a present?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Mikan giggled. "Not even a little bit," she assured him, her voice jingling like bells like it always did. "Jeez, Natsume, you ask me every year."

"Because every year you say no," he grunted, "and I don't believe a word of it."

"It's true, though," she murmured, reaching up her hand to brush his cheek with her fingertips. She did so gently, her movements so soft that he barely felt the contact between their skin, and her eyes were just as tender. "I meant everything I said on that tower, Natsume."

And instantly the two were transported back to that night at the Academy, when he'd found her after months of searching and the two had finally declared their love for one another. More clearly than anything, Mikan relived that crippling happiness she'd felt at seeing him there, at getting to finally touch him for the first time in months and see his face and know in that instant that she would never love another man more than she did Natsume. A smile flickering over her lips, she repeated her declaration from that night, ten years later.

"I was so happy, Natsume," she whispered, stroking his cheek with her thumb. "So happy that it was like receiving my Christmas presents for the rest of my life. And I meant it."

Natsume groaned, a sound that resonated at the back of his throat, filled with longing and desire for her. He was still growling as he swooped down and took her lips with his own, his fingers trailing up her neck until they had entangled in her hair again, and he pulled her into the kiss hungrily. They both shut their eyes at the same time, just kissing by the fireplace until Natsume started peppering kisses up and down her neck.

Mikan clutched his shirt more tightly, her fingers trembling. "N-Natsume!" she protested, but even so, angled her head to the side so his lips could reach the crook of her neck.

"Hn," he grunted, and it was the only acknowledgment she received before his hand found her chest and he squeezed.

"Eep!" Mikan squealed, so surprised that she pushed him away. He raised his eyebrows at the red blush burning her cheeks, wondering just when his girlfriend would finally get used to his advances. "Warn me before you do that, Natsume!" Mikan pouted. "You always take me by surprise —"

"Fine, then," he interrupted, already leaning forward. His eyes bore into hers so intensely that she leaned back, until her back hit the floor and he hovered over her with unhidden lust in his gaze. "I'm going to kiss you now..."

Kiss her he did, and his jaw was hard as it moved against hers. She cupped his face and tried to push back with just as much force, arching her waist into him, and he used her reaction to his advantage. One hand drifted under the skirt of her dress while the other slid under to her back, but Mikan didn't even realize until she heard the unmistakable zip of her zipper being pulled down.

"Natsume!" she protested again, but said nothing when he pulled the straps of her dress down her shoulders. "Honestly," she grumbled as he started kissing her neck again, "you're always so insatiable every Christmas."

"Then you should stop being so surprised," he mumbled against her skin, "and next time, lay down something so we don't have to do this on the floor."

She rolled her eyes and murmured something under her breath, but didn't protest when he finally yanked her dress down to her waist. She just thanked her lucky stars she had remembered to put on some nice underwear that morning, her usual polka-dotted panties stuffed in the back of her drawer.

It was a tradition in the Hyuuga and Sakura residence that Mikan never accepted any gifts and all Natsume ever wanted was a kiss from his lover, and it had been that way since they were twelve. But over the many, many years they had been together, they had created a new tradition: Christmas Eve always ended with a little something extra for both of them.

A/N: Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! (And happy holidays to anyone who doesn't celebrate Christmas~)