Thank You, Christmas
Blue and Magenta walked the streets together, hand in hand.
It would be a new year soon, and everything that had put them in danger was now gone from their lives. Christmas day felt surreal. There was so much joy on the streets, people caroling, people buying gifts for each other, and crying and laughing.
Blue and Magenta felt joy for different reasons to celebrate Christmas.
"Is it all over?" Magenta asked, turning to Blue.
Blue nodded and watched as a beautiful smile spread onto her lips, the first genuine smile he'd seen in a while. He couldn't help himself. She was amazing for her resilience and strength and all that had happened since they started being together. He was glad she was finally safe, and it was all finally done.
As the first drops of snow fell over their heads, Blue and Magenta shared their first kiss.
His lips coasted over hers, before claiming them as his. Magenta leaned up and wrapped her hands around him. Blue knew already. He loved Magenta without a shadow of doubt. He couldn't wait to show her all the ways he loved her in the upcoming days, months, years that they now had.
Blue tasted like salt and lemons. Magenta realized it was because they had been munching on lemon candies. And now she was crying.
Magenta apologized as they broke apart, wiping Blue's mouth with her sleeve.
"No, I like the salt of your tears," Blue joked.
"Ew, that's too much," Magenta said.
Blue smiled at Magenta with an equally genuine smile, he could worry less about her now. He realized he had been a bit of an overprotective boyfriend, but he was only doing the minimum, at least according to how he felt.
They walked back the other way, talking as they walked.
"So, it's our birthday soon?" Blue said.
"Ha, that's months away!" Magenta said.
"Right, it's never too early to start planning," Blue said.
"Planning for what," Magenta prompted.
Blue whistled and he kept walking, holding Magenta's hand.
Magenta and Blue had the same birthday. On April fools. They both looked forward to celebrating their birthday in April, but for now, there was still Christmas to experience.
They went back to Magenta's house, where a Christmas party was in full swing.
"Magenta! Get your butt in here," Her mother pulled her up into her room and gifted her with a gorgeous red dress.
"Oh, mom. It's so beautiful," Magenta said.
"As is fitting for my beautiful daughter," Cathy said.
Magenta got into the dress and came down the staircase like a true princess.
Blue looked at Magenta and the world stopped spinning as they gazed at each other. He had changed into a black suit, and he looked so dashing. If time could really stop, they'd dance on and on together. Magenta stopped at the bottom of the staircase and looked up, seeing mistletoe hung above her and Blue who waited there.
"You are beautiful. I'm gobsmacked," Blue said, fishing for the right words.
"Kiss! Kiss!" Everyone cheered when Blue tugged Magenta into his arms.
Magenta did not cry this time, and she was almost shocked at how good Blue felt against her. They felt so natural, his body close to hers, his lips on hers. Her eyes closed, and she leaned into the kiss. Sneakily, Blue slipped his tongue into her mouth. Magenta's eyes flew open.
"Okay! This party is PG-13!" Cathy declared, pulling them apart.
"Why?" Shelby asked, she watched.
"Because I said so," Cathy and Tim said at the same time.
They looked at each other and laughed, gazing at each other in the same way Blue and Magenta had.
"Time to open presents!" Cathy said.
The six of them sat in the living room. Shelby was the first to open her gifts, they went around in a circle.
"Oh! I love it," Shelby cried as she received an Ice Cold Elephants CD album as well as new sketching materials.
Jasper got a cool soccer shirt signed by his favorite player. His mom finally changed her mind and let him rejoin Shelby when she saw him cry at missing his girlfriend and his friends.
Magenta and Blue decided to get more homemade gifts for each other. Not just to be cheaper but they liked homemade things.
Blue kissed Magenta's cheek when he opened his gift. It was a hand-decorated signed book version of the Dirge series.
"Whoa, Mag. Thank you!" He said.
"How did you know this is my favorite series?" Blue asked.
"Because they're my favorite too," Magenta said.
Blue got Magenta lemon-shaped sticky notes along with a new set of stationery including scented pens for the new semester of school.
Magenta loved the gifts, they were all so thoughtful.
"Is it time to play Pictionary yet?" Cathy asked.
"No!" Everyone said, now knowing how bad she was at the board game.
"Ah you have all found out my wife's weakness," Tim said.
"Yep, we can confirm," Shelby nodded.
They ended the night with karaoke and gratitude speeches. The living room had a tree in the corner, bright and merry with bold green color and lemon-shaped bauble decoration with a star at the top.
"Okay everyone has to say 'I'm thankful for...' and mention three things. Blue starts," Cathy said.
"Hm, I'm thankful for the Davies family, I'm thankful for Magenta, I'm thankful for Shelby and Jasper."
"Aww!" That earned applause from everyone.
"You just mentioned everyone here," Shelby said, laughing.
"Yeah, so nobody else can say the same thing now," Blue said.
"I'm thankful for Blue, Christmas, and my gifts," Magenta said.
As Magenta and Blue were about to kiss again, Tim held a hand up.
"Okay, thank you very much. Please kiss my buttercup when I am not here. I can't stand to see this!"
The night ended with more mistletoe kisses, hot chocolate, carols, and a comforting fireplace, though it was one of those 4K digital crackling fires, it still worked.