"Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!" Pinkie Pie exclaims as she finishes the classic carol, much to our friends' delight. Except me. I glance over at her and raise an eyebrow, to which she responds by face-palming. This is followed by a round of laughter and snickering from our friends. I too laugh it off; over my time with these friends I've grown rather used to all the horse jokes.

"Okay, my turn!" Rainbow Dash says as she takes the microphone, selecting a song on the karaoke machine's screen. The machine is linked to the telly, which currently displays the lyrics to a very popular Christmas song. I will admit it was a little different getting used to Christmas instead of Hearthswarming, but there are a lot of similarities nonetheless.

I clap along from where I stand under a certain spot on the ceiling on which the mistletoe hangs. Silently I observe my girlfriend, who is sitting by herself on the end of the sofa, a beautiful smile on her face. She sees me and motions for me to join her. I smile, walking over to oblige her request.

"Hey, love," I say as I sit next to her, putting my free arm around her.

"Hey Sunny," Twilight replies, leaning into me. "Why were you standing alone over there?"

"I was getting some cider." It wasn't the truth; I didn't want her to know why I was really standing there. I run my other hand along her thigh as I playfully peck her ear. "You know, I can get you a glass if you like."

She leans back and sighs contentedly. "No thanks, I'd rather stay here with you."

We watch Rainbow attempt to sing a Christmas song, her voice constantly cracking. This makes us all laugh, even her. Between the bouts of laughter, I begin to stroke Twilight's hair gently, occasionally toying with a stray strand. She responds by looking up at me with her beautiful violet eyes lovingly, touching the tip of my nose with her finger.

Across from us, Rarity smiles. "You two are so cute together."

I wink at her in reply. Her arm is across Fluttershy's shoulders, a reminder that Twilight and I aren't the only couple here.

As soon as Rainbow finishes, she hands the microphone to me. I smile and take it, tapping Twilight's shoulders. I then select a song on the karaoke machine and clear my throat as the opening riff plays. "This one's for my Twilight."

"The snow is snowing and the wind is blowing, but I can weather the storm..." I point to her as I say the next line. "What do I care how much it may storm? I've got my love to keep me warm!"

She smiles at me as everyone shouts a collective "Ooooh!"

It won't be long now, my mind says. Maybe I will get her under the mistletoe tonight.

After wrapping up karaoke, we all vote for a Christmas movie to watch. Once our options are narrowed down to three, the popular vote is for a comedy film about a man who grows up in the North Pole thinking he's one of Santa's elves and eventually sets out on a journey to New York to find his long-lost father upon realising that he is a human. According to Rainbow Dash, it's a tradition of her family to watch this particular film every year.

As promised, it's a hilarious film. We're all laughing and having a grand old time by the time it's over. But more laughter is sure to come, because Pinkie Pie has just removed a Nintendo Switch from her backpack. "Mario Kart, anyone?" she asks enthusiastically.

Everyone choruses their agreement while I decide to break away for a moment to fill my glass of cider. I squeeze Twilight's shoulder gently, whispering in her ear. "Hey babe, I'm going to go get some more cider. Do you want any?"

"No, thanks," she replies.

"Okay," I say, "I'll be back in a minute."

I fill my glass of cider absentmindedly, once again standing near the mistletoe. I gaze out the window at the snowy street outside Rarity's place, watching the snow and wondering if I'll get my wish. I long to kiss, to hold Twilight close under the mistletoe, but she can't seem to take the hint. She can be so adorably innocent sometimes!

I decide to wait here in the less-frequented area by the mistletoe while Pinkie Pie hooks up the Nintendo to the rather large television. Everyone on the couch is laughing and having a great time; myself laughing along with them. Despite Mario Kart being the most swear-inducing game in the history of games, my friends all seem rather calm aside from the laughter. I'm so absorbed in laughing at people getting hit by their own items that I don't notice my girlfriend leave her spot on the couch.

She comes up to me, a smile on her face. "Sunset?" she asks. "What's up?"

"Oh," I reply, returning her smile. "Just watching them play video games."

"Sunny, you're all alone over here. Don't you want to join us?"

"I'm fine here around the mistletoe, Twily," I tell her as I squeeze her hand.

"Why?"

My heart begins pounding in my chest. Calm down, I tell myself. Just make a move.

I reach out and pull her in close, gazing into her violet eyes. "Because I've been waiting for you, dear."

"Me?" she asks as she looks up directly at the mistletoe. Then it dawns on her. "Oh!"

I giggle a bit before leaning in and kissing her directly on the lips. We pull apart after a few moments and lovingly stare at each other before she kisses me. We stay locked this way for a short while as a feeling of happiness surges through me. I want to hold her forever, to stay locked in this kiss for eternity. I want to be her protector, her lover.

"You know," she says with a smirk after we slowly break the kiss, "In ancient culture, kissing under the mistletoe was a promise to marry your mate."

I wink at her playfully. "We'll see about that, Twi."

"I love you, Sunset."

"I love you too, Twilight. You mean everything to me, babe."

Author's Note

Merry Christmas everypony! Have another short fic.