Times We Cherish 3: Christmas Edition
Six months. That's how long it had been since I last saw Twilight and now she was already an hour late getting here. The snow falling around me was wonderful, but I was starting to get cold and somewhat disheartened. I'd left the book back in my loft so I couldn't ask her if she were still coming. Not to mention I wouldn't know if she'd sent a message to me telling me she couldn't make it after all. It had been nine months since the two of us officially became a couple, but it didn't feel that way. I knew the relationship would be a difficult one since she lives in Equestria and I live here, but I didn't realize just how difficult it could really get. We stayed in touch with the book, but not nearly as much as either of us liked. Twilight had so much going on there and had to focus on her duties. I understood that much, but I guess I didn't realize just how busy she'd get and how lonely it would make me feel.
Feeling dejected, I was about to walk away when I heard the familiar whir of the portal and through it appeared Twilight. My heart jumped and fluttered in my chest as I saw her there. All previous upset from before faded from my mind and I found myself walking to her and pulling her into a tight embrace. I wanted to cry and could feel the tears stinging my eyes as I hugged her. When I felt her arms wrap around me and return my hug, a few tears finally did escape. The frustration from before was now just a glimmer in comparison to the feeling of being wrapped in her embrace.
Twilight gave a sniffle. “I have missed you so much, Sunset.”
I pulled back slightly and looked her in the eyes. A few tears were falling from her eyes as well. “I've missed you too. When you were late I thought you might have had to cancel…”
She shook her head. “No. Not this time. I've canceled on you one too many times. I had to get away from everything and come see you. It's been far too long and I am so sorry for that.”
“No. No apologizing. You've done this each time you've visited and each time I told you that I knew your visits would be sparse. I can't expect you to just drop everything you have going on in Equestria just because I want to see you,” I said, wiping a tear from her face.
Twilight nodded, a smile forming on her face. “I know. I just don't want to hurt you…”
“You haven't. Now come on. I need help finishing up the decorations for my Christmas tree. I feel like you might be able to give it that special something it needs,” I said, giving her a smile.
The walk back to my loft was quick and the warmth hitting us as we walked in was nice and gave the feeling of being cozy. I had set up my tree off to the side in a corner where it could be seen from a window, and I had even strung lights through out my loft which only served to enhance the cozy feeling from the heat that hit us. Christmas was always something I looked forward to, even when I was evil and had no friends. I could walk around the city, see all the beautiful lights, wonderful decorations, and it would just make me feel happy.
“Oh wow…” Twilight said, looking at all the lights hung on the walls and across the ceiling. “There are so many lights!”
I nodded and gave a smile. “The lights are one of the things I look forward to the most during Christmas. They're just so dazzling and wonderful.”
Twilight seemed to be entranced by the lights, which I couldn't begrudge her. It's what I did the first time I saw the Christmas tree downtown. I couldn't help but just sit there and stare at it, but seeing it in Twilight was a whole different experience. The awe she held in her gaze as she looked at the lights was something that made me feel even more happy that she was here.
After a couple more minutes of Twilight wandering through the loft, I managed to pull her attention back to myself and the tree. When we walked up to the tree, she cocked an eyebrow. “I don't understand. It's already decorated, and quite beautifully. What could you possibly need my help with?”
“I thought you might wonder that,” I said. I leaned down, grabbed a gift from under the tree, and handed it to Twilight. “I need your help with this.”
“A present?”
“Yes! Now open it!” I said excitedly.
Twilight smiled and tore off the wrapping paper, then opened the box. I watched as her smile faltered slightly and tears well up in her eyes. “Oh Sunset…” she said, pulling the heart-shaped ornament containing a picture of us from the box.
I could feel my own tears trying to well up, but I forced them back, walked closer to her, and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I was hoping you could help me add this final touch to the tree. I know it's nothing special-”
I was cut off when Twilight flung her arms around me, pulling me into a secure hug. “It is the most special thing I've ever been given. I don't know what to say.”
I swallowed hard, still fighting back my own tears. I wanted this moment to be special so I had to keep it together. “You don't have to say anything. I wanted us to have a special thing that we do at Christmas and I felt that hanging this ornament together was something that was simple. I'm glad you like it.”
Twilight pulled away, her smile having returned to it's peak, and walked over to the tree. “Where do we hang it?”
I followed her over and looked at the tree. “How about right here? Front and center where I can always see it through the Holiday.”
Twilight nodded, took my hand, and together we hung the ornament on the tree. After we finished, we both took a couple of steps back and looked at it.
“Perfect,” Twilight said.
“Yes you are…” I said, mostly without thinking.
“What? And why are you suddenly smiling like that? It's a little scary.”
“Well, I kind of set this up perfectly. I might have even over planned…”
“Over planned what?” Twilight asked.
I couldn't hide the sheepish smile as I pointed to the ceiling, and she looked up. Above us was strategically placed mistletoe and I knew Twilight knew what that was.
“Wow… All this just to get a kiss from me. All you had to do was ask, you know,” she said.
I gave a giggle. “Yeah, but this was more fun. Besides, this way you can't say no.”
With only another moment passing, our lips finally came together in a kiss. I could feel my heart flutter in my chest as our lips touched. It had been so long since I last kissed her that I forgot what kind of hold she actually had over me. It was in that moment I knew it for certain. Despite all the time we spend separated, I love her. Nothing could change that.
“I love you, Twilight…” I said softly as our lips parted. Tears that I'd been holding back finally fell. “I missed you so much… Please don't leave again.”
I kept my gaze firmly toward the ground as we stood there together under the mistletoe. I just couldn't bring myself to look at her in that moment. Probably because what I just said was pretty selfish of me. The time that passed between my saying that and when she placed her hand on my chin and made me meet her gaze felt like forever.
“I love you too, Sunset. You make me so happy when I get to see you. I was going to wait until Christmas morning to tell you, but I don't think I should now,” Twilight said, brushing a tear away from my cheek.
“Tell me what?” I asked.
“My weekends are now your weekends. I will be here for you much more often than I was throughout this year. I owe that to you for being so patient with me.”
I immediately pulled her back into a kiss. Once it ended, I smiled at her. “That's probably the best Christmas gift I'll get this year. Are you sure you can do that?”
“Hey, everyone deserves days off from work. Even princesses!”
I gave her a smile and began to lead her to the kitchen. “Come on. Let's go make some hot cocoa, then we can curl up on the couch together and watch a movie. There's this one Christmas movie I saw with a lamp shaped like a leg that I've been wanting to watch.”
Author's Note
Well, a little over a year later I have made an addition to the Times We Cherish mini series I wanted to do. I hope you enjoyed it!
