Richelle Mead owns the VA and Bloodlines series.

Omg. Another trailer for TIS released today and wow! Adrian is super passionate (and angry) in it. These trailers are absolute torture, but I love them! Have you seen it? What did you guys think?

Anyway, this one shot is for Lissa who suggested that Sydney freak out over the calories of Christmas dinner. I took that idea and ran with it. Hope you enjoy it Lissa! Review and let me know what you guys think :)

"Hey, Sage," Adrian greeted as I walked into the living room at Clarence's. Jill, Eddie and Angeline filed in behind me, bags of presents in their hands, and began placing the gifts around Clarence's Christmas tree. "You want to come shopping with me? There are still a couple of things I've got to pick up."

I shook my head in disbelief. "Adrian, it's Christmas Eve. Why on earth would you wait until now to do your shopping?"

"Perfection can't be rushed, Sage. And when Adrian Ivashkov gives a gift, it's always perfect," he said completely serious.

I sighed in exasperation. He was always saying egotistical things like that. The worst part was I was about ninety percent certain he believed every word he said.

"It's already six," I commented. "Most of the stores are already closed."

"We'll find something," he insisted. "Palm Springs didn't shut down just because Santa Claus is coming to town." He paused, looking thoughtful. It almost pained me to admit his already handsome features looked even better when he made his thoughtful face. "I'm pretty sure most of the people who live here are on the naughty list anyway."

Surprisingly enough, Clarence, who was sitting on the couch, said, "Oh, just go with the boy. He'll only pester you until you give in."

I let out a startled laugh, my gaze meeting Adrian's. He smirked, amusement in his eyes.

"Even the old man knows me, Sage. I'm persistent. You should know that by now."

"I prefer to call it stubborn," I mumbled, causing Adrian to laugh. I threw my hands up in the air. "Fine. Fine, let's go."

As we walked to the door Adrian squeezed my shoulder. When I turned to look at him he was smiling sincerely. "Thanks, Sydney."

###

As we drove into downtown Palm Springs, Adrian chatted about how excited he was to give Jill her present, even though she already knew what she was getting because of the psychic bond they shared. He told me what he'd gotten for Eddie, Angeline, Clarence, and even Dorothy.

"So," I asked feeling confused. "What else did you have to get? Sounds to me like you've already finished your shopping."

Adrian pulled the car over—and parallel parked like a pro, I was seriously impressed—before cutting the engine. We'd pulled up in front of a restaurant with twinkling white lights strung up in the windows. He smiled sheepishly at me from the driver's seat before hopping out of the car. I watched as he walked around the car and handed the keys to a valet before opening my door and offering his hand to me. I took it and let him help me to my feet, but I still had no idea why we were here.

"I may have told you a slight fib," Adrian said hesitantly, but I could see the mischievous gleam in his eyes. He was enjoying this. "We're not going shopping, we're having dinner. Here." He gestured to the beautiful oak doors of the restaurant. They were decorated in lights and garland for Christmas, but you could still tell they must have cost a fortune. It was one of the most expensive restaurants in Palm Springs and Adrian was taking me there for dinner?

"But we're supposed to be having dinner at Clarence's," I pointed out even though he already knew that.

"Don't worry about that," he said. "Jill's already told them that we'll just grab dinner while we're shopping. This is your present. Or, actually I want to give you your present here. Dinner is more my present."

"But I don't have your present with me," I said, starting to feel panicked. What did he get me? I hadn't really expected anything from him, even though I probably should have. I'd gotten him one of those little Hawaiian Hula girls that sit on the dashboard of cars. He'd commented a few weeks ago about how he'd always wanted one of those, so I'd gone online to track one down. But that was just a small gift. What could he possibly be giving me that he had to do it at a restaurant instead of at Clarence's with the others around?

Adrian smiled and put his hand on the small of my back, leading me into the restaurant. "Don't worry about it, Sage. I've got something else I want you to give me tonight."

My eyes must have bugged out of my head at the meaning his words implied. "What?"

He shut his eyes and shook his head. "Sorry. That came out a lot worse than I meant it. I just meant I want you to trust me tonight, alright?" He pulled open the door and let me walk in first. "Do you trust me?"

I studied him for a moment, his features, the glow in his green eyes. I'd always trusted him.

"Of course," I said quietly, allowing him to lead me further into the restaurant.

###

"You said you trusted me," he said from behind his menu.

"I do," I argued. "But this is different. I can't eat this—"

"Eat what?" He lowered his menu to the table, his green eyes challenging me. "I haven't even made a suggestion yet."

"Yes, but I know you. You'll have me eating deep fried Oreos dipped in chocolate if I let you have a say."

"Sage," he chided. "I don't know what types of establishments you're used to visiting, but this is a classy place. I don't think deep fried Oreos are on the menu. Although, if you'd like one I'm sure I can get someone to..." He trailed off when he noticed the murderous look on my face.

He wanted me to let him order my food for me. That wasn't about to happen so he was being "persistent" about it.

"Look," he said, leaning across the table and wrapping his fingers around mine. Our relationship was still on shaky ground and I probably shouldn't encourage him by letting him hold my hands in public, but I didn't want to pull away. "I came here a few days ago and talked to the chef. I must have looked like a crazy person, trying to calculate the calories in every meal on the menu. I know exactly what to order you, exactly what you'll enjoy, all I'm asking is you trust me."

I felt myself caving at his pleading look. I couldn't believe he'd planned this out. Couldn't believe he'd put that much effort into taking me out to dinner. A date, I corrected myself. This was date. We'd gone out to dinner together one other time, but that had been more of a casual thing. This? There was nothing casual about this. Did I really want to ruin the night he'd worked so hard to plan for me?

It was just one dinner. And it was Christmas Eve, after all. I could work the calories off after Christmas...

"Okay," I said, nodding to myself. "Okay, I trust you."

Adrian smiled. "Yeah? Okay."

When the waiter came over to take our orders Adrian ordered for me and then himself. He even ordered dessert for after dinner. That was his gift, he said. He'd gotten something called a Volcano Fudge Brownie that I wanted nothing to do with but I'd bit my tongue, remembering that I'd promised to trust him.

True to his word, he'd gotten me a low calorie dinner that was as delicious as it was healthy. He, on the other hand, seemed to be trying to make up for my healthy meal by eating a plateful of fat. I had to admit that the fried potato wedges that came with his sirloin steak did look good, though.

We chatted some more over dinner, the conversation flowing as easily as it ever did with him. When the Volcano Fudge Brownie came I was a little disappointed that dinner was almost over.

The brownie had two forks in it and Adrian didn't hesitate to grab one and take a huge mouthful. Staring at the gooey chocolate melting on the plate, I had second thoughts about trusting Adrian to plan my meal. He'd done good with the entree, but even a quarter of this brownie would kill my daily caloric intake.

"Two bites, Sage," Adrian said from his side of the table. "Two bites and I won't bother you anymore."

I picked up my fork and used it to cut through the soft chocolate, but didn't lift it to my mouth. Instead, I tried bringing up a topic I'd been dying to know about since we walked in as a distraction. "You said that you had a gift for me, but it wasn't the dinner. You haven't given me anything, though."

Adrian smiled and took another bite of brownie before reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a small package wrapped in purple wrapping paper with white snowflakes on it. I stared at it trying to think of what it could be. It had to be jewelry, I decided, but what kind? I didn't wear a lot of jewelry and he knew that. I reached for it when he held it out towards me, but he snatched it back at the last second.

"Take a bite first," he said at my incredulous look.

I took a bite of the brownie—and, oh God, was it delicious!—before he gave me my gift. I carefully unwrapped the purple paper, wondering if he had wrapped it himself or if he'd had it done professionally. Once the wrapping paper was off a small blue leather box sat in the palm of my hand. My heart beat a little more rapidly, afraid and excited about the box's contents.

"Open it," Adrian said gently. I looked up to see a small smile softening his features as he looked back at me.

With a deep breath, I opened the box and stared down at the small silver cross that lay inside. I picked it up and gave it a closer look, turning it around in my fingers. It was simple and plain, much like the gold one I was currently wearing, except for a small engraving on the back. It wasn't in any language I spoke, but I immediately knew it was like the hieroglyphs that decorated the silver stakes the damphirs used to kill Strigoi. I smoothed my thumb over the engraving, feeling the power pulse under my touch. Had he spirit charmed this?

"What is this?" I asked, in awe of the simple yet beautiful gift, despite my misgivings about it being charmed.

"It's just got a little power in it," he said, reaching over to touch the necklace. His fingers brushed mine and I felt a spark shoot up my arm. "It's not compulsion or anything, just stored spirit power. I wanted you to... to have a piece of me with you." He laughed and shrugged. "This was a lot less creepy than the lock of my hair I was going to give you."

I laughed too, but I couldn't stop staring at the cross. It was beautiful and it contained a part of Adrian's magic, his spirit, and he was giving it to me. I wasn't sure if I should be creeped out by the idea of wearing vampire magic around my neck, or elated that he'd given it to me in the first place.

"Do you like it?" Adrian whispered. He sounded almost shy asking the question.

I met his gaze and said, "I love it."

It was true. I loved it. Whatever that meant about me, I loved that Adrian had given me a piece of himself. That he'd wanted to give me a part of himself to keep close to my heart. And the cross he'd chosen to charm was beautiful and exactly the kind of thing I'd pick out for myself.

Adrian grinned from ear to ear and walked around the table to help me put the necklace on. His fingers brushed the nape of my neck as he fastened the chain and shivers ran down my spine.

"Thank you," I whispered, taking his hand and giving it a squeeze before he could go back to his seat. "I mean it. I love this."

"I'm glad," he said, leaning down towards me.

I should have pulled back, we were in public, but I didn't. I couldn't. I reached up and guided his lips to mine, closing my eyes and just enjoying the feel of his kiss. When we finally pulled away from each other he took his seat across from me once again.

"One more bite, Sage," he said, smiling. "You promised."

I grinned, fingering the silver cross around my neck. "I did promise," I agreed, picking up the fork and taking another bite.