Authors note: Another time skip as we now enter Winter Vacation and Sasha and Anne's first Christmas together. Marcy is off visiting with family so she will be absent here, but, turns out she and Bart have hit it off.

CH.15: Underneath the mistletoe

Anne couldn't believe that it was finally Winter Break. She and Sasha have been through a lot to get to this point and it was also a turning point in their relationship given that when it came to Thanksgiving the two of them couldn't spend time together because she and her family were out of town. Anne wanted to make it up to Sasha and when her mother was going out of town she volunteered that Sasha stay with her and her family.

"Anne you know you really didn't need to-." Anne reaches out comforting her girlfriend as they were in her room the night before Christmas.

"Sash, I know how you feel about your extended family, and...for you to go there during Christmas...it didn't feel right. Your mother gave you an option that if there was somewhere else for you to be during winter break that she would allow it, and, so happens my parents were on board with this."

Anne smiled some noting the blush on Sasha's features. It wasn't the first time that Sasha had spent time at her house as she had done so a bit before, but, the amount of time she had been here already was unheard of for the couple. Anne had heard stories from Sasha about how her extended family was quite closed to the LGBTQ Plus community. It meant that going there she'd have to listen to their remarks, views, everything toxic that was aimed at who she was...and who she was with.

Anne was currently wearing her pajamas that had some frogs on them, kind of her way of respecting her time spent in Amphibia. It was a two piece consisting of a shirt and sweats and for Sasha she wore a white shirt over purple shorts. There was a sleeping bag that was laid out on the floor for Sasha to sleep in while Anne had the bed.

"Tomorrow is Christmas...hard to believe we are closer to a new year and even closer to graduation." Sasha goes to lie on her back and Anne leans her back against her bed.

"I know, to think that our time in high school is coming to a close and from there on out we are going to be-."

"Sash, would you like to join me...up on my bed?" Anne interrupted her finding the right time to do so and not looking down to see her reaction. She felt a bit flustered and part of her worried she might decline and it might kind of make things awkward.

"Y-You want me...up there...with you?" Anne knew that they had done some things like making out and such since being together, but, the door was usually open with the two of them in her room and while she and Sasha were of the same gender they were given the same reproachful but parental handling if Sasha were a guy, not that she if she were a he would even be allowed to spend the night in her room. Anne was relieved that Sasha wasn't a guy, far less pressure there.

"I mean you don't have to if you don't want to, just, thought to put it out there. I mean I can't exactly be down there with you in the sleeping bag...very little space and...hoo boy, please just smother me with my pillow if this in any way makes you-."

"Boochuy, relax, I will join you," Anne looks over watching as Sasha climbs up onto her bed and she can feel the brush of her hip along hers and she feels an immediate rush of butterflies fluttering about the confines of her chest.

"Great, I mean, this is great...this is so great," Anne didn't want to make this awkward and why should it be? They were girlfriends so something like this should be natural and yet somehow it was a first and kind of like a monumental deal.

"Anne quit making this awkward, this is totally fine and if I am real here...if I were a guy, and your parents walked in on us...there'd be even more reason to panic-."

"So what you are saying is...my parents can walk in on us and we should just go back to the way things were?" Anne can't help her mind as it goes there and she feels like she might hyperventilate knowing her parents can walk in on them.

Sasha for her part swings her legs over her and straddles her as she sits there looking down at her with such intensity in her blue eyes she was certain that she'd melt. "Anne, relax, let us enjoy this moment we have together because tomorrow is Christmas and if we are both acting awkward and a question comes up about what we re doing...do you really want to tell them about this?"

Anne shuts her eyes tight and shakes her head not trusting herself to speak. When she opens them though she finds Sasha inches from her now as she lays on top of her and her wrists are held down.

"Sasha...what are you doing?" Anne can feel the friction down below at the added weight of Sasha atop her and her mind was reeling, her head spinning. It felt like her heart would just and abandon her chest and make a mad run for the window and leap out. Panic was setting in and she wasn't even sure what to do here. True they had made out before but they weren't exactly this exposed clothing wise here and now.

"Boonchuy, I am going to kiss you, so...relax already." Sasha did just that. Anne felt her lips upon hers and she let out a whimper that soon grew into a flurry of mewls of sorts. Arching her back some she makes out with her attempts to wrap her legs around her waist feeling quite...content, the panic before quickly leaving her.

The two of them were getting into it...and...Anne was feeling like it was a bit much. She breaks the kiss and Sasha reads her loud and clear as she releases her wrists and goes to lie down next to her.

"Sorry...just...it was a bit much," she feels like she wants to hide away, no, she knows she needs to hide because she had just stopped probably the most amazing makeout session of her life.

Sasha is lying on her side facing her and she strokes her cheek causing Anne to face her and they lay there just staring at one another.

"There is nothing to apologize for Anne, and, if anyone is to apologize it is me...I guess I got a bit carried away and it is only because of just how amazing you are and how in love I am with you. I want to cherish these moments we have together and to hold you close and kiss these lips of yours till I am numb all over."

Anne kisses her lips and wraps her arms around her as their foreheads touch. "I love you too Sash and there is no need to rush things...even with next year being our last in school...together. No matter how far away we are...long as we stay in contact and meet up much as we can...there is no reason to fear the future but to embrace it full on."

"You are sweet Anne, and, I could just fall asleep like this...right now…with you..." Sasha lets out a yawn. Anne smiles as she thinks she is being funny but then notices how her eyes close and her breathing slows down.

"Oh, right, literal sleep...no I get it, I could too...totally...here it comes..." Anne tries to shut her eyes but sleep doesn't come as easily for her. Still she doesn't mind watching her girlfriend sleep before her and finally she shuts her eyes allowing sleep to naturally come.

The following morning it is finally Christmas, presents are exchanged and it is a cheery sort of feeling. Anne can't believe the presents she got not to mention how her parents had even included Sasha as they got her something as well. When her parents went off to the store to get things for the Christmas dinner it was just the two of them again.

Anne clears her throat and she looks to Sasha who is looking at her perplexed. "I realize we said we weren't going to get each other a present, but, I couldn't help myself."

"Anne please tell me you didn't get me a Christmas present...cause if you did-." Anne reaches under the tree and presents to her a small gift.

"Sorry, sorry...I just happened to see it and thought of you. Please don't be mad, and, since it is Christmas, please be jolly if you can. Look I get that this is our first Christmas together and all that but c'mon, you have to admit this is kind of romantic right?"

Anne watched Sasha for a reaction but it was kind of hard to tell as Sasha was trying to process the gift let alone if she should take it. When she finally does however she allows just a sliver of warmth and sincerity to show on her features.

"Thank you Anne, and, I suppose I shouldn't be too upset...seeing how I got you one as well." Anne felt her jaw drop and sure enough Sasha reaches over pulling out a similar gift, or rather in size that is.

"And here you were judging me, oh well, so how shall we do this?" Anne watches Sasha as the two of them sit there across from one another, the warmth of the Christmas tree lights showing on her soft features and giving her a beautiful glow.

"How about we exchange them at the same time and open at the same time?" It was simple but she could work with that.

"Alright on the count of three...one, two, three." Anne takes Sasha's gift while Sasha takes hers. The two of them begin to open their gifts at the same time. Anne tries to hold back a tear as she finds a necklace of a frog.

"It wasn't easy to find but I know your attachment to Amphibia and to your second family, in fact, if you look closely underneath the frog is the word 'Amphibia' turns out you can get most things spelled out in jewelry and they won't give you too much hassle over it."

"I love it, thank you Sash. And well I got this for you..." Anne watches as Sasha had her present open and it was a necklace as well and it was a heart.

"I had to save up like a whole lot to get it but you mean the world to me Sasha, and, after all we have been through you have such a big heart and I don't want you to ever forget that. Wherever life takes you remember that it is that heart that pulls others to you and that you are a natural born leader, charismatic and brave, and, loving. You make me feel special and even with my quirks you don't judge me and I appreciate that so, so much."

"Leave it to you Boonchuy to get me tearing up on Christmas Day." Anne laughs some but realizes she is crying too. The two lean over kissing and honestly this has to be one of her favorite Christmas memories ever. Hard to believe a new year was fast approaching and such moments might be small and inbetween but she will cherish this long as she can.

Authors note: This chapter took me a bit to get back to and on that note I am almost finished with this story. It is my hope to get these out throughout Pride Month, June, so yeah I hope in terms of quality and stuff I haven't lacked but it has been difficult of late for me to get out fanfics compared to in the past and again apologies on the long wait to see this through but I promise you I haven't forgotten about this story and there is an ending.