- The Gift

I wasn't sure when we moved from the living room, but I woke up back in my bed. It was still Christmas, though it was much later in the morning. My hand came up and gently touched my lips as I smiled. The conversation in the living room was still fresh in my mind, as well as the words we shared and what we did at that moment. There was a mur next to me and looking down I seen Xlilith snuggled against my chest. I reached up and started to stroke her hair. She started to purr and nuzzled into my bare chest. Her eyes slowly open as her hands gently rubbed my skin under the covers.

“If this is a dream I don't want to wake up.”

“Good morning to you too.” I said as I nuzzled the top of her head. “And Merry Christmas.”

“Cries-mass?” She asked, looking at me confused.

I chuckled. “Christmas is a human holiday. One that I enjoy celebrating every year.”

She rested her head against me again. “Perhaps its something that I should look into and find out more about this... Kiest-mass.”

“Perhaps I can help you with that. At least when we get up.”

She nuzzled up to the crook of my neck. “Maybe a little later, I'm still tired.”

“Okay... Kitten.”

“Mew?”

I chuckled as I wrapped my arms around her and she did the same with me.

We stayed in bed for another hour or so, till our bodies told us that we needed to move or else there would be a mess to clean up. Having given Xlilith my house coat, I put on my matching pj top and quickly grabbed my coat and shoes as she went into my bathroom. I hurried and went out to my truck and grabbed my work bag out of the back and brought it up to my apartment. I had my coat and shoes off and was pulling out one of the packages I had gotten one of the two wrapped gifts out of the bag as she walked out into the living room. I couldn't help but to stop what I was doing and admire her as she came out.

“What?” She grinned, though her ears spayed out in embarrassment as her tail swept the floor behind her.

“Nothing,” I said almost in a trance as I continued to watch her. “Just looking at an angelic kitten's first Christmas.” If it wasn't for her fur, I think she would have been as red as the Christmas lights around us. I motioned for her to sit next to me on the couch. When she sat down, she wiggled closer to me so our hips were touching and I handed her the smaller of the two gifts to her.

“What is this?” She asked as she started to examine the box like a little kid.

“That is your first Christmas present.” I said as I draped my arm around her shoulders. “You open it and find out what is inside.” I had to help her get the unwrapping started, but I let her mostly do it herself. She was delicate with the wrapping paper, more than I'd expect someone would be with natural claws on the end of their fingers. Though the tape that kept the box shut was a different story. It had taken her longer to unwrap the decorative paper than it did to open the cardboard box with the football size gift. She reached inside and pulled out the fuzzy contents. I watched her eyes sparkle as she looked into the blue glass eyes. She felt the plastic whiskers on its face as well as the two triangle ears on the top of its head.

“Wh... What is it?” She asked, lightly stroking the furry object.

“Its called a stuffed animal.” I said as I adjusted the pink ribbon around its neck. “Though in this case, a Kitten. I happened to of seen it when I was at the other settlement purely by chance and thought of you.”

She gave it a squeeze as she nuzzled it with her cheek. “Its so cute. Sesillu.”

“You're welcome Kitten.” I said as rubbed her shoulder. “I also got a little more for you.” I felt

“Mew?”

I pulled out another box and handed it to her. Unlike the stuffed animal, this box only had a ribbon and clear tape to keep it closed. “Now this one I had gotten for you just before I left and had it come to my work when I was gone.” She made quick work of the box and pulled out the specialty coat I had ordered for her.

“Aah mi nau...” She held it up looking it over.

“Want to try it on?”

“Yes, please.” We both got up as I took the coat from her and unzipped the zipper. When I looked up I stood in shock as Xlilith dropped the house coat off her shoulders, even from the back she was beautiful in my eyes. I shook enough of the initial stupor and held out the coat open for her which she slipped into. She stepped away and turn towards me. “How do I look?” She asked as she held the coat closed.

“I can't say.” I said. “If I did, you'd think that there was something wrong with me for sounding like a broken record.” Her ears spaded out as her tail wrapped around her leg. I just smiled and place my hands on her shoulders. “I can't help it, you are just... amazing in my book.” She looked into my eyes and smiled, then a look of realization crossed her face and she looked away. I frowned. “What is it Kitten?”

“You've done so much to me in this last month. More than anyone in my life. Medi and Pari gave me life, a home, a sudiar who became my only friend. But, I felt like just another sudiar around them. I was just there to use. Yet, you help give me a home. Help get me a job. You saved my life. You gave me all these nice things. I have nothing to give you in return.”

I cupped her cheek with my hand and gently turned her head so she was looking at me again. “Christmas isn't about the gifts. Its about being with family, friends, and those that you love. Its about helping those in need, like I helped you, and you tried to help those before. Christmas is about the giving, not the getting. And my gifts to you is my way of giving and showing my love to you.”

“Calvin...” Was all she would say as she pulled me down for a kiss.

The day continued after that.

After I got some cloths for Xlilith, I called Asquen and his wife... sorry mate, Wyvera, to let them know that Xlilith was up and about. They were glad for the news and Xlilith gave her thanks over the com line, which they said that they were more than happy to help. I called Maggie next to let her know what was going on, which she was quite relived to find Xlilith was with me. I let Xlilith talk with Maggie a bit while I excused myself to the kitchen.

I'll admit, I was not a cook like Clark or Maggie, but my mother at least taught me so I knew my way around a kitchen. And while I had originally planned on giving Xlilith a traditional Christmas dinner with turkey, having to go to the settlement meant that the turkey was still frozen solid. Instead I chose to do a variation on something that I liked fixing for myself, it was quick, simple, I knew I had everything and it didn't matter if the stuff was frozen. I was placing the tinfoil wrapped bake dish in the oven when Xlilith came around the corner.

“Dinner will be ready in about 40 minutes or so.”

Xlilith nodded and smiled. “Maggie said that after I'm ready to come back that I can have my job back and that Vin'corda will no longer cause me problems.”

“Oh?” I ask raising a brow.

She nodded again. “Seems someone put... 'The fear of spoon' in him and that the diner had to be repaired anyway?”

I was probably turned beat red at the thought of the aftermath. I grinned sheepishly and scratched the back of my head. “Ahhhh... Hmmm...”

She walked up to me and gave me a kiss. “Sesillu yema.”

When it was ready, I set out the plates and food so we could eat. It was a fish and rice dish, smothered in lemon pepper sauce with a mix of peppers and onions, as well as a few other veggies in the mix. I watched Xlilith as we ate. She had to hold herself back and enjoy the flavor, otherwise I think she would of finished everything I had fixed by herself in only a few minutes. When we were done, she helped me do the dishes, scrubbing the really dirty ones and put the others in the dishwasher. We playfully bumped into each other as we did it, breaking into fits of giggles as we did.

With the dishwasher going and what little leftovers we had left taken care of, we settled in the living room. She snuggled against me as I held her close. We watched a simulated yule log as Christmas music played in the background. We only moved from our spots when the need arrived and then return to the other's side. I don't know when but it started to get late the last time I got up that night. I would have been more than happy to of fallen asleep like that.

I came out of the bathroom to find that Xlilith was missing. “Kitten?” I called out to her.

“In the bedroom.” I heard her say. Momentarily confused I went to my bedroom, and found her standing at the edge of my bed back in my housecoat. She turn to face me and I noticed that she had put one of the ribbon bows on the housecoat. “I-I thought about what we talked about earlier. Everything you have done, what you have given me, I...” her voice faltered a little as I walked up to her. “I have nothing to offer you. Nothing to give to repay what you've done. Except for one thing. Me.”

“Not to sound ungrateful,” I said as I stroked her cheek, which she nuzzled into my hand. “This isn't about you feeling that you owe me your life because of what I've done for you?”

She shook her head. “Nulya, N-no.” She locked her eyes with mine and took my hand in hers. “This is not because of feeling of owing you. Its because of my feelings for you I feel connected to you and don't want anyone but you. Calvin Quis Price'ir, I ask you, as is tradition of my people, will you take me as your mate?”

“I'm afraid I don't know your people traditions,” I said as I brought her hands up and gave them a gentle kiss. “But, I will take you as my mate. But there is one condition.”

“Mew?”

“I feel the same connection for you as you feel to me Kitten, and I don't want to be with anyone else. As per traditions of my people,” I went down on one knee and looked up at her, still holding her hands. “I will be your mate, if you will be my wife. Xlilith, will you marry me?” There was a moment of confusion on her face, I figured it was the difference of cultures and language meaning. But realization soon dawned on her face and she smiled at me.

“Mehi!... Yes!”