Alexa grumbles, standing over the stove with a grimace on her face. "I'm gonna get it right this time," she says stubbornly, barely responding when Mickie James eases behind her and wraps an arm around her.

"Of course you are," she says fondly, pressing a loud, affectionate kiss to her cheek as they both watch the oven intently.

"They're sugar cookies, it shouldn't be this hard!" she exclaims, throwing her hands up in the air.

"Well, darlin', if it goes south, I'll make it up to you," Mickie promises, brushing her hair out of the way and nuzzling in tighter, Alexa sighing as she shifts to allow Mickie more room.

"How so?"

"Ya know that chocolate cream pie that you love so much?"

"Yeah," Alexa murmurs.

"Consider it yours."

"But you hate making it," Alexa murmurs. "It takes so long and it's so tedious."

Mickie shrugs. "It is," she says. "That's true. But I'll still do it for you."

Alexa chuckles, a bright smile on her face. "You're so good to me." She runs her fingers through Mickie's hair, enjoying this rarely quiet moment between the two of them.

"Eh, you deserve it." Mickie tickles her, laughing as Alexa squirms and squeals out in protest, swatting at Mickie.

"Don't do that!"

"Do what?" she asks, fingers trailing against her bare skin. "This?"

Alexa gasps and writhes around in Mickie's grasp, the only thing keeping her from bumping into the oven and possibly ruining her cookies being Mickie's steady grip on her waist. "You're so mean!" she cries.

"A little, I guess," Mickie admits with a laugh. "But you love me anyway." Only then does she relax, letting her wayward fingers slow to a stop on Alexa's hips, slowly turning her around to face Mickie.

"I do," Alexa mumbles, lacing her fingers around Mickie's neck and leaning up to kiss her. "Even when you're risking me ruining my cookies all over again, I do."

Mickie chuckles, kissing her back. "Life would be pretty boring without me, huh?"

Alexa sighs, searching her eyes. "Very," she admits, once more kissing Mickie, letting this one linger. They remain like that until the oven goes off a minute later, the cookies now done. Alexa freezes in her arms and she sighs. "I'm scared to look," she admits tiredly.

"I could look," Mickie says. "Either way they have to come out soon, or they will be burnt."

"Right," Alexa sighs, slowly disentangling herself from Mickie's warm touch, and grabs a potholder. She all but closes her eyes as she takes the cookies out and pushes them onto the stove.

Mickie comes up to her side and silence reigns for a few moments until Mickie speaks up. "Do you want help decorating them?"

Alexa then opens her eyes quickly and looks down to find twenty sugar cookies, perfectly formed, clean and perfect for what's to come. "Yes," she says, still dazed that it even turned out half as good. "But can I still have that chocolate cream pie?"

Mickie shakes her head, kissing Alexa once more. "I spoil you," she says.

"Absolutely you do," Alexa says with a grin, leaning in to kiss her once more. "Happy Holidays to us, and all the properly formed sugar cookies," she chuckles.

Mickie laughs as well. "Happy Holidays to all."