Part 4
Finally alone, Helena turned to Myka. She took her hands and smiled at her. "Did you really like the book?"
"Helena, I love the book!" Myka said and laughed.
"I was bursting with excitement and pride when I first held it in my hands. I remember thinking how the leather was so soft and cool at first, but then quickly warmed between my fingers, almost as if it was alive. It cracked as I opened it, the pages crisp and filled with my words. The feeling that came over me," Helena's voice broke as she relived the emotional moment. She sighed. "Well, it was a long time ago, but it is still one of the most memorable moments for me as an author."
Myka caressed Helena's cheek and leaned forward to kiss her. "It's the awesomest gift I've ever gotten."
Helena laughed at her answer and pulled her closer. "Come; let's see how they are doing setting up the telescope."
Myka got up and held out her hand to Helena who eagerly wrapped her fingers around Myka's. Myka walked over to the window with Helena in tow. Helena watched and frowned as Pete seemed to struggle a little with the setup.
"Wait here where it's warm, darling. I will be back shortly."
Myka nodded and watched her leave. Helena talked to Pete and pointed at a small button on the side. He pressed it and the telescope extended properly. Smiling and nodding, Helena returned to the living room.
Noticing Helena rub her arms as if she were cold, Myka wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close for a hug. Helena laughed and nuzzled her cheek.
"Thank you, love."
"Warmer?" Myka teased.
"Much," Helena purred.
"Well, perhaps I can talk you into letting me warm you overnight?"
"Myka?" Helena said and her eyebrow inched up.
"I wrote a letter to Santa Claus this year. Did you know that?" Myka said with a teasing smirk.
"Did you now?" Helena drawled. "And what exactly did you ask Father Christmas for, dearest?"
"The beautiful Helena Wells in my bed on Christmas morning," Myka mumbled against Helena's lips.
Helena laughed and wrapped her arms around Myka's neck. "Then my darling, you shall have your gift."
Myka's eyes misted at Helena's words and she pulled her close for a smoldering kiss. She touched Helena's hair, only faintly noticing that she was messing up Helena's elaborate hairdo. As the locks came loose around Myka's fingers, Helena gently pulled away and grinned at her.
"Perhaps it would be best for everyone if we continued this upstairs?"
"You truly are a genius," Myka said and winked. She took Helena's hand and together they hurried out of the room and upstairs.
*^o^*
*^o^*
"Are they gone?" Pete mumbled.
"Yep. Lots of lip sucking and hair touching. Almost thought that Myka would do HG right there, but yeah, they went upstairs," Claudia said with a grin. She pushed at Pete's shoulder. "When is it going to be my turn?"
"It's my gift. Chill," he muttered.
"I am chilling. A lot actually," she said and shivered. "Just find something cool and let me have a peek before I crawl into bed under fifteen blankets."
Pete sighed and focused on the task at hand. "Got it!" He got up and stepped aside. "Take a look."
Claudia squinted and closed her left eye as she peered into the almost two-century-old device. Seeing the clear combination of stars she gasped. "Wow! They're so clear."
"It's a perfect night for this," Pete agreed. "Now that it's stopped snowing."
"I think I see Santa," she said and laughed.
"Really?" Pete muttered and rolled his eyes.
"There's something moving up there."
"Probably a shooting star or a comet or something."
"Maybe, but since it's Christmas I'm going to just go with that it's Santa," she said and got up. "Okies, dude. I'm off to bed."
"Night, Claud," Pete mumbled as he bent down to take a look at what she had seen.
*^o^*
*^o^*
Claudia pet Trailer on the head before continuing upstairs. She grinned when she heard laughter from Myka's room.
"Merry Christmas my lovelies," she whispered and touched her palm to the door. Then another sound came through the door and it made her blush. Removing her hand, Claudia hurried down the hall to the safety of her own room.
*^o^*
*^o^*
Helena watched Myka's face as her lover slept peacefully next to her. The moon cast a gentle light on Myka's fine features. Helena traced Myka's eyebrow and her jaw line before placing a soft kiss on her lips. She grinned when the taste of Myka's lips ignited the fire that had burned only minutes prior.
"Good night, love, and Merry Christmas," she whispered.
Helena closed her eyes and wrapped her arm around Myka, sighing happily as Myka snuggled closer to her.
Outside the snow started to fall again, silent flakes dancing in the cool midwinter night, adding light to darkness. Downstairs the last glowing embers died in the fireplace as a sleeping canine whimpered in his sleep, his paws twitched in an imaginary chase. The dog's eyes opened and he lifted his head at the crackling and popping behind him.
"Hush, friend and trusted guardian," the bearded man said and smiled at the dog. "We are after all old friends."
Trailer whined and thumped his tail as he watched the secret visitor place gifts under the tree. Once done, the visitor glanced around the room, spotting the plate of cookies. He picked up one and his eyes closed as he smelled it.
"Oh Leena, your cookies are truly made with love and perhaps just a little bit of magic."
The dog watched him grab the remaining cookies and slip them into his pocket. Trailer made an unhappy sound and put his head down, looking pathetically sad.
"Don't think that I wouldn't share with you, old friend. This is after all the magical night when animals and humans are closest. How could I forget you, my boy?"
Trailer's head shot up and he caught the cookie that came towards him in the air like an expert, his jaws snapping shut around it.
"Merry Christmas, Trailer, my friend."
The dog barked softly as there were more sparks and crackles in the room. A moment later the room was yet again quiet and Trailer settled in. Sighing once, the dog fell asleep, dreaming about summer and chasing squirrels, and the temptation of chewing on Myka's sneakers.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!