**Author notes, story notes and everything else, on profile. Thank you :)**
She let out the sigh she'd been holding, her plane had landed at LGA, she didn't want to be here so close to Christmas, she had a family back home and she was afraid she'd get stuck in the city longer than she needed to be. She was standing outside the airport trying to find a cab to take her to her hotel, she just wanted to check in, take a warm bath, call her family back home and sleep until she had to get ready for her business meeting tomorrow.
A cabbie finally stopped and helped her with her suitcase, she got in and told the cab driver where to go and then leaned back as she watched the storefronts go by. She watched as the light snow fell upon the city covering it in a thin blanket of white. She couldn't help but smile, she thought about her son who would be head over heels in love with the sight of snow.
She looked at her phone and let out another sigh, she considered calling straight away, and she just wanted to hear their voices again. She asked the cabbie how long he thought it would take until they reached her hotel, he looked at her through the rear view mirror; "hopefully fifteen minutes, but in this weather," he waved his hand around, "you never know."
Marissa sighed as she leaned her head once more against the window, she looked at her phone once more before decided what she was going to do, opening her phone she made quick work of going through her contacts finding the one that always made her smile; and without fail, there was a faint smile on her lips as she brought the phone to her ear after seeingher phone dial the number for 'home.'
She didn't have to wait long before she heard the other line picking up and soon enough; "Kyle James Kelly stop that right now!" She smiled inwardly wondering what her son could be up to now. "Hello?"
Marissa smiled, "hey baby, what's he up to this time?" She asked with a quiet laugh.
She could hear the smile in the other woman's voice as she replied, "hey babe, and oh you know, nothing much... KYLE! What did I tell you! The dog doesn't want your candy cane! Stop trying to force it on him!"
As she heard this Marissa couldn't help but burst out laughing, "are you serious? He's trying to feed Jack a candy cane?"
She heard Alex sigh on the other end, "yea... if it's not that it's something else, I swear this kid has too much energy, and apparently will power, hold on."
Marissa heard a small thud figuring the other girl had thrown the phone onto the couch or something, she heard squealing and laughter and a sudden bark, she smiled to herself as she waited for her girlfriend to pick the phone up once more.
She didn't have to wait much longer, "sorry, he was holding Jack's mouth wide open trying to shove it in his mouth... sometime I'm really not sure if he reached four mentally..."
"ALEX!" Marissa chided the girl lightly, "that's your son you're talking about!"
"I'm sorry, you know I love him with all my heart, but I really don't think he's all there sometimes." Marissa laughed lightly once again, "anywho, I saved Jack from him and now he's up in his room or somewhere coming up with his next evil plan."
"Glad to hear everyone's staying alive while I'm gone."
"You know we barely survive without you, you should have seen Grit right after you left."
"What did our boy do to my cat?" Marissa asked slightly horrified.
"Nothing, the cat's smarter than the dog... the moment you left he hid... actually took me three hours to find him."
"Where'd he hide?" Marissa asked both girls knew all his regular hiding spots so it was hard to believe it was that hard.
"Turns out the tree's become his new favourite spot... that's right the tree!"
"He hid underneath?"
"Oh no... the damn thing climbed it... he was about halfway up hiding in the branches."
"What?" Marissa laughed once more trying to picture the gray cat hiding in the midst of the green tree.
"Yea... took me half an hour to get him out, took him five minutes to climb back after... so I left him there."
Marissa shook her head she hated the fact that she wasn't home and hearing Alex talk about what was going on only made her more home sick. She tried to let it get to her, "so, apart from saving the house from Mr. Tornado, how are you?"
She could hear Alex's smiled once again, "I'm good, just miss you... I mean, I know it's only been like, less than a day but..." she heard Alex sigh on the other end.
"I know... I miss you too hun."
"I love you, you know that right?"
"What did you do?" Marissa asked playfully.
"What? Can't a girl tell her girlfriend she loves her these days?" Alex scoffed.
"Sure she can... but when that girlfriend has a history of causing chaos and trying to dull it down with her love, the other girl can't help but be cautious." Marissa smiled as she almost confused herself.
"HEY! That was once, and I apologized! I never meant for Kyle's foot to go in the wall."
Marissa laughed, "I know you didn't, and you know I love you too."
"How could you not!" Alex replied cheekily, "how's New York?" She quickly asked before Marissa could reply and trying to change the subject.
"Nice try Kelly," she laughed, "it's... it's different you know?"
"How different? Is it beginning to look a lot like Christmas?"
"Everywhere you go. It's crazy, it's taking forever to get to the hotel so I can see all the stores, and it's gorgeous. There's an old school five to ten store we're stopped in front of, it's shimmering like crazy."
"Sounds beautiful..."
"It is... you should see the roads, everything's covered in lights, candy canes, decorations... it's all so magical... you know? It's like everything is bathed in burning bright silver lights.
"So then... it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas? With toy's in every store and all." Alex replied with a big smile.
"Yea... and as gorgeous as it all is, all I want is to be home with you and Kyle... or at least have you both here with me."
"I know babe, but it's only for a few days right? You'll be home soon enough."
Marissa sighed, "I know, I know... I just hate being away." Marissa smiled sadly, "and Kyle would love the snow."
She heard Alex laugh lightly, "I'm not fond of you being away either, and he would, maybe we should go somewhere with snow then, when you get back? Before school starts again."
"That sounds great, we'll talk more about it later yea?"
"Definitely," Alex replied.
"I'm sorry but I got to go, I'm finally at the hotel, I'm going to go soak in a bath and I'm sure you've got to go find the tornado." Right on time Marissa heard something crash on the other line. And Alex sighed.
"That's my cue to let you go, I love you be careful and call later?"
"I love you too hun, tell him I say hi and Santa can see his every move... maybe that'll help." She heard Alex laugh, "and I definitely will call before crashing."
"Sweet! I got to go! KYLE..." she heard the blonde yell before the phone line went dead. She shook her head amused by her girlfriend's action and quickly turned back to see how much she owed. She saw the cab driver looking back at her with a funny look.
"What?" she asked slightly amused, the man thankfully didn't make her feel nervous.
"Girlfriend?" He asked with a smile still plastered on his face.
"Yea... why?" she asked him curiously.
"A pretty girl like you? You just made my day," he commented as he threw her a playful wink.
Marissa laughed at the man's antics, she'd gotten used to the comments from the men, but there were some, like this one that simply made her laugh knowing the man meant no harm. "You just lost your tip."
She heard him laugh as she handed him the money. The two got out of the car and the man helped her with her bags, he gave her a slight nod as he moved towards his door; "hopefully your home will still be in one piece by the time you get back miss. Happy Holidays." He finished off with a big smile.
Marissa smiled back, "I hope so and thank you, you too, to you and your family." She watched as the man gave her one more nod as he ducked to get in his car. She shivered lightly and smiled to herself as she made her way into the hotel quickly checking in.
She was excited, her meeting had finished earlier than she had planned for, she had gotten some shopping done and managed to catch an earlier flight to come back home. She decided she wanted to surprise Alex by coming home early and so there she was in a cab heading home, she couldn't wait. She looked around as the buildings went by the sight before her was so different from the one she was presented back in New York.
The cab driver pulled up in front of the house her and Alex shared, she smiled as she got out, it wasn't anything like the city, but there was nothing prettier than seeing the holly covering her own front door. She walked up to it after grabbing her luggage and paying the cabbie. She grabbed her keys and unlocked the door, she slipped inside and dropped her luggage, the quietness freaked her out until she heard the rapidly approaching stampede of paws on the floor. She braced herself when she saw the one year old golden retriever run into her.
A light, "ouf," came out of her as she tried to stand straight once again. "Hi you, where's everyone?" She smiled as he wagged his tail happily; she patted his head one last time before she started walking around the house to find her girlfriend and son.
She walked in the living room and leaned against the wall smiling as she watched the scene before her. There was her blonde lover sitting on their couch feet tucked underneath her holding a book in her left while a cup of what she could only presume was hot cocoa was occupying her right hand. She could hear the faint sound of Christmas music playing on their stereo accompanied by the even quieter hum she could hear coming from the blonde that made her smile even more.
"You know the whole, reading Dickens and humming along with the Christmas music kind of ruins your bad-ass rep," she joked softly not wanting to scare the girl.
But alas, that was a lost cause; Alex jumped slightly barely spilling her hot cocoa, "Jesus! Marissa you scared the crap out of me." Marissa giggled lightly as she looked the blonde over as she tried to recover. She watched as all of a sudden a light bulb seemed to go off, the girl quickly threw her book aside and placed her mug on the coffee table as she jumped up almost tripping over her pant leg as she made her way to the brunette.
Alex wrapped her arms tightly around the taller girl's waist, and quickly she could feel Marissa's arms wrap around her neck, she inhaled deeply and smiled when she felt Marissa smile against her neck, "you're home," she whispered happily.
"I'm home," Marissa replied just as quietly, "I missed you so much."
Alex pulled back slightly so she could look the girl in the eyes, "I missed you too, we both did."
Marissa smiled as she looked into her girlfriends eyes as she felt Alex's hold tighten slightly and she felt them start to move along slowly, "you're doing it again?"
"Doing what?" Alex asked innocently.
"Getting me to dance with you," Marissa replied a crooked grin plastering her face.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Alex replied playfully as she spun her girl around.
The pair came together once more and kept moving together slowly whilst deeply looking into each other's eyes. Alex smiled as she quietly spoke, "not that I mind, but how come you're home so early?"
"Meeting finished early, I managed to change my plane ticket and I had time to get some shopping done before I had to leave, I wanted to be home as soon as possible. I couldn't stand being away from the two of yous, especially round this time."
"I'm glad you got home earlier, I was going insane."
Marissa laughed lightly, "that's the only reason you wanted me home? Couldn't handle Mr. Tornado on your own?"
"Hell no! You know how crazy he gets! Especially when you're gone," Alex finished off, "but I missed you for other stuff too." She added with a quirked eyebrow and a perverted grin.
Marissa slapped the girls arm lightly, "happy to know I'm useful."
"You know you are; oh that reminds me, while you were shopping, buy anything for me?" Alex replied even more perversely as she brought one of her hands upwards so she could lightly trail her fingers down Marissa's chest, smiling as she felt the girl shudder involuntarily.
"May...be," the brunette stuttered out as she lightly slapped the girl's hand away, "but if you keep acting this way you won't see it till next year."
Alex laughed lightly as she brought her hand back down to Marissa's waist, "alright, alright, so then, what did you get?"
The taller girl smiled; "um let's see, I stumbled into this old school toy store and I found the Hopalong Cassidy boots and gun..." upon seeing the look on her girlfriends face she quickly corrected herself, "I mean pistol, sorry, you know when I went to pay the guy there was like, 'this must be for your father right?' and I had to tell him no, because my crazy ass girlfriend let our son watch her collection and now it's like living with a four year old in the 50's."
"Shut up! Are you SERIOUS? You found it? Oh my God! Babe do you know how long I looked for that? Couldn't find it ANYWHERE! And hey! Don't be so quick with this whole; 'it's my girlfriends fault' because you and I BOTH know you enjoy watching it just as much as I do." Alex grinned happily, "that's right; I know you stand behind us when we watch it!"
Marissa blushed, "I did and I do not!" The girl replied as she hid her face in the blonde's neck.
Alex laughed, "no need to deny it, I know how awesome he is, it's okay." She laughed even more as she felt Marissa swat at her back playfully. "Did you get anything else that's this awesome?"
Marissa nodded as she nuzzled Alex's neck some more quietly speaking, "yea, um, I got that Spider-Man figure Ben wanted, so Seth will be happy, and I got those dolls Summer wanted for the girls."
Alex laughed some more as she heard that last statement, "really? Babe the Spider-Man thing, awesome, but I swear Summer is insane, their twins aren't even born and she's already going crazy."
Marissa pulled away slightly as she laughed along with the girl, "trust me I know, but she called me while I was shopping and begged me to get them for her, she didn't even know what they were she just said, 'buy me two dolls that talk and walk pronto Coop... PRONTO!'" Marissa finished as she made her best imitation of her best friend. Which quickly led both girls into a fit of laughter.
"Oh man... I don't know how Seth handles her."
"I know," Marissa answered with a smile.
There was a silence that settled upon them once again as the pair continued to look lovingly into each other's eyes, they stayed like that for a little while before Alex quietly broke the silence, "I can't believe I haven't kissed you yet..."
Marissa smiled, "I can't believe it either."
The two shared one more smile as they leaned towards each other slowly, just as their lips were about to meet another stampede broke through the atmosphere and a loud; "MUM YOU'RE HOME!" Followed by a little blonde boy who threw himself at his mother's legs.
Marissa felt Alex bury her head in shoulder and lightly heard her mumble; "I can't wait till he goes back to school."
Marissa laughed as she heard the blonde before lightly pulling away so she could lean down to pick up their son. She kissed his cheek as he hugged her tight, "yea I'm home kiddo."
"Mum," the little boy called out.
"Yea?" Marissa replied as she walked into the room.
"What's the city like?"
"The city?" She asked as she moved to sit down next to the boy who was lying on the bed.
He nodded his head vigorously, "yea, the one you were in, Mama said it was big and never sleeped. How don't they sleep? Must be tired the people over there..."
Marissa smiled, "yea there are lot's of people who are tired there, but they sleep, just like you and me there's just a whole bunch of stuff to do all day and night."
"Wreally?" He asked filled with awe.
Marissa laughed lightly, "yea really."
"So what did you do at night?"
"I went to bed."
The boy made a funny face, "that's boring," he exclaimed as if the notion was the most ridiculous thing in the world.
Marissa was about to reply when she heard a loud laugh come from the other room she rolled her eyes as she heard Alex speak loudly, "I know right kid? You and I'd be running the place!"
Marissa looked at her son, "don't answer her." She watched as he quickly shut his mouth with a smile holding in his comeback, she turned back around to face the doorway, "and YOU are not getting any tonight!" She turned back around to face Kyle who just gave her a funny look.
"What's Mama not getting?"
Marissa stumbled on her words having momentarily forgotten he was there, "uhh... she's... um... not getting... any... pie?" She finished off almost questioningly but thankfully he never caught on.
"Can I get pie?"
"Maybe tomorrow," she answered with a smile as she tucked him in before placing a kiss on his forehead. She stood up and made a move for the door when his voice broke through.
"Mum?"
"Yes?"
"What was it really like?"
She smiled, "it was beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere I went you know? Like in the movies and Holiday specials, there's was snow and snowmen, and kids playing around. There was this big tree in the hotel I was staying in, it was huge and all decorated, there was in the park too, that one was even bigger! This big central tree the kind that didn't mind the snow you know?"
Marissa watched as he gave her this big toothy grin as he spoke with a sad undertone, "I wish it was like that here... I wish I could see that..."
Before Marissa could answer she felt that feeling she always got when Alex was near, the one of butterflies deep in her gut, she felt the arms she knew too well slip around her waist as Alex's chin rested on her shoulder. Unconsciously, the brunette leaned back in the embrace as her arms slipped over Alex's.
"We may not have snow, but we'll make Christmas special alright kid?"
"How?"
"Easy, you've got your aunt Summer and uncle Seth with cousin Ben, I think even your uncle Ryan's coming down, you'll have grandma Cooper and the Cohens... and most importantly, you've got your mum and me. Plus, who knows what this year's Chrismukkah miracle will be."
Marissa tightened her hold on Alex's arms; "yea, Christmas is magic remember?"
Kyle nodded as he all of a sudden realized how right they both were, "yea, I know." He looked down as he started picking at the thread on the sheet, "I'd just want to see snow though, it'd be so cool!" He finished off brightening as he thought of all the fun things he could do if it snowed.
"Dream about it kid, you never know what can happen," Alex replied as she saw how sad her son seemed.
He nodded once more, before they said goodnight, Marissa hit the light switch as she moved to head into the hall pulling the door along with her leaving it only slightly opened. She grabbed onto Alex's hand as the pair made their way to the bedroom.
Once they closed the door Marissa turned around and looked at the blonde who was now sitting n their bed. Upon seeing the look on her girlfriends face Alex quickly asked, "what's wrong?"
Marissa ran a hand through her hair, "you... you can't tell him that..."
"Tell him what?" The shorter girl asked.
"That you never know what can happen, you're going to get his hopes up and he's going to wake up Christmas morning expecting to see a white Christmas and he's going to be crushed when it's not there."
Alex looked at the girl who stood before her now pacing the ground, as she studied the girl something became clear to her and she stood up and slowly made her way over so she could take hold of the girl's hands. "You were Kyle," it was a simple statement, but it left Marissa utterly confused.
"What?"
"You were him weren't you? You had that same talk with your mum, or your dad and they told you to hope and Christmas day came and went and you never got your white Christmas..."
Marissa scoffed and looked away as she spoke, "you're crazy."
She tried to get out of Alex's grasp but Alex just pulled her more towards her, "no I'm not... and you suck at lying, you were him..." she stated once more.
"So you said," Marissa replied not liking reliving this memory.
"How old?"
Marissa looked over and all she saw in the eyes of the woman she loved as pure love, there was no mockery nothing, simple love and curiosity, "I was about his age... four or five... my dad told me the same thing... you have no idea how crushed I was when that happened. It's silly, but at that age..." Marissa trailed off.
Alex gave the girl a sad smile as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and pulling her close to her in a tight hug, "I'm sorry babe, and it's not silly, I completely understand how devastating it can be."
"It's okay, it's just, I don't want him to have high expectations... I mean, we live in Newport, it barely ever rains... how could it snow you know?"
Alex nodded as she only tightened her hold around the girl she loved; "I love you," she spoke softly.
Marissa smiled as she leaned back, "I love you too."
The two shared a quick kiss before Marissa added, "let's get to bed I'm exhausted from all the flying."
Alex nodded and kissed her again before she pulled back and made a move to get changed.
Marissa stretched as she woke up, she felt more relaxed than she had in the last few days, and she knew that had to do with the fact that she had been back in her gorgeous blondes arms once more. She smiled at the thought, the smile however quickly turning into a frown as she realized she was alone in the bed.
She looked over to the clock and realized it was past nine o'clock; she let out a yawn as she sat up in bed scratching her head. As her feet hit the ground she finally realized what it was that had woke her up, there was a distinct smell in the house: it was beginning to smell a lot like Christmas.
She smiled as she got up grabbing her robe along the way, as she walked down the hall she could definitely hear the faint sound coming from the first floor. She made her way down the stairs quietly paying no mind to the stereo as she walked towards the kitchen, leaning against the opening in the wall as she realized the two most important people in her life were sitting at the table.
She couldn't help but smile brightly as she watched on; Alex was sitting there holding two pieces of what Marissa could only imagine to be a ginger bread house considering the strong smell that was emanating in the house; and as Alex held the two pieces together, Kyle was holding a bag, that seemed much too big for his small hands, of what could only be icing.
She watched on happily as Alex told Kyle where to put the icing, the kid clearly not paying attention as he sat there trying to secretly at the icing directly out of the bag, quickly resulting in Alex snatching the bag from him and dropping the 'walls' to squirt some icing on his face trying to teach him a lesson.
Which clearly only resulted in an all out semi war between the two. Marissa shook her head as she looked at Kyle's slow mo reaction as he glared at his mother who couldn't help but laugh. He quickly hopped off his chair and jumped towards his mother waving his now icing covered hand.
Alex jumped up as well running around the island laughing trying to get away from the little boy. The boy eventually out-smarting his mother as he stopped running hiding waiting for Alex to run in front of him, the moment she passed him he jumped up grabbing onto her waist causing the blonde woman to squeal as she lost her footing falling on the ground with a thump.
The little boy laughing as he began tickling her until his little hands could grab back the tube of icing. Alex laughing continuously eventually stopping short when the four year old not only got hold of the icing, but also squirted some on her nose, giggling uncontrollably.
Alex's eyes narrowed at him as he squealed and jumped off of her stomach ditching the bag and trying to make a run for it out of the kitchen quickly resulting in running into Marissa's legs. He looked up at her with a pleading look as she simply put up her hands letting him know she was in no way part of this.
He quickly looked back seeing Alex approaching him with menacing fingers out-stretched and a look that meant she was out to get him, he squealed once more as he pushed past Marissa making a run for the stairs.
The two women couldn't help but burst out laughing as they heard the rapid thumping of his little feet running up the stairs.
"You got a little something there babe," Marissa pointed out in between laughter.
Alex quirked a brow, "oh really?"
Marissa's eyes widened as she knew the look Alex had meant she was in for it, "Alex..." She let out warningly, afraid of what the blonde had up her sleeve.
Alex raised her hand as if she was about to place her hand on Marissa's cheek, but at the last second Marissa realized that Alex's hand was covered in white, she looked up to Alex's blue eyes seeing the fire in them.
She quickly turned around before Alex could make her move and ran out of the room and up the stairs a steady stream of, "Alex don't, don't you dare, if you know what's good for you, you will put that hand of yours away."
Which only fed Alex even more as she mischievously replied, "but you like this hand of mine, you like it a lot..."
Marissa spun on her heels staring at Alex seeing the smirk firmly held in place. She was frozen in place; she couldn't help but get lost in the eyes that had captured her heart so long ago. She watched as Alex's smirk grew wider as she brought her icing covered hand up to her mouth and quickly cleaned off one of her fingers.
The blonde then leaned in close to Marissa's ears as she softly whispered, "it's good... but not nearly as good as you."
Marissa's mouth dropped as Alex pulled away, smirk still in place, she was about to reply when she felt more than saw Alex's sticky hand on her cheek along with her other one as the blonde brought her in for a kiss.
As the two pulled apart, Alex smiled at the girl as she said softly, "it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas."
Marissa smiled, all of a sudden her mouth dropping a little as the stereo finally came more into focus, she listened and watched Alex's love filled eyes as the song came through;
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas;
Soon the bells will start,
And the thing that will make them ring,
Is the carol that you sing,
Right within your heart.