Snow blanketed the street as more fell from the sky. Fairy lights decorated the city along with other various Christmas decorations, a Christmas tree standing tall and proud in the middle of the street.

Danica walked through these streets, smiling widely as greeted everyone she passed. Christmas has always been her favourite time of year but ever since she saved the world on Christmas day only five years prior, the holiday had always been ten times better.

"Morning, Miss Evans," Dan chirped as she entered a coffee shop on the street. She was a regular customer at the café, entering at nine o'clock every morning and staying until eleven so she could finish her reports.

"Good morning, darling, should I prepare a latte for you?" The lady at the counter questioned as she smiled back at the girl.

"Nah, not today. I'm feeling a bit adventurous," she explained, taking a seat at her regular table. She pulled out her laptop as well as a notebook and pen. "I'll go for an espresso."

"And anything to eat?" Danica sighed, looking up at the woman.

"You know how tempting that question is, Miss Evans."

"As it's Christmas, it will be free," the coffee shop owner mentioned, grinning widely at the girl. "It's the only way I can thank you for what you did for us all years back."

"Oh, stop flattering me, Miss Evans. I didn't do it on my own anyway, I couldn't possibly take all the credit."

"Ah, right," she sighed, nodding understandingly. "What was the boy's name again?"

"Jisung," Dan replied with a soft exhale.

"Oh, I remember...what happened to that fella? I haven't seen him in years," Miss Evans responded, emphasising the word 'years'. Danny sighed, placing her head on her palm staring out of the window as she recalled the last time she saw him.

"Indeed," she hummed quietly, "it has a been years."

Flashback

It wasn't long after they had saved the world when the duo found themselves in a nearby city together.

"I used to live here," Dan hummed as she noticed all of the houses standing up again, as if everything that had happened was just some twisted dream. As if nothing happened at all. That was when she remembered Aarialla's words, 'Everything goes back to normal'.

"I lived in those forests over there," he pointed to the horizon at a bundle of trees. "Well...at least that was where my dad lived. Since everything went back to normal, my underground base doesn't exist anymore."

"That's sad...how about we build a base in my back garden? I mean, it won't be that extravagant but at least you'd have somewhere to stay."

"Nah, it's fine. I coped with all of this, I can cope with my dad again," he uttered, staring at the horizon. "Though, I bet I'll miss the days he was dead."

"Jisung!" Dan scolded playfully, slapping his arm before she finally saw her old house. "Do you at least want to hang out at my place?"

"How about we go on a walk, huh? I haven't seen this place in years, can barely remember it before the alien invasion."

"Yeah, same...but what happens now? You let the Emperor go, what if he causes trouble again?"

"He won't," Jisung answered calmly. "The elder ancestors will deal with him."

"I hope so," Danny huffed as they approached a busy street.

Suddenly, a hand covered her eyes from behind. Danica scoffed as she pulled the hand away, turning around to see Chris grinning at her.

"Chris!" She screamed in delight, pulling him into a tight hug. "I missed you so much!"

"I would say the same but I was kinda dead," he responded with a chuckle as she pushed away, staring intensely at him as she smiled widely.

"Guess what."

"What?"

"I found the cure to Carsania." He chuckled.

"A little too late, Danica."

"I found it out before I placed the gem. It actually even saved my life...but that's a story to tell you later."

"I can't wait."

"Ahem," Changbin coughed, getting Dan's attention. "Hate to break the moment but I'm starving after everything that happened in past years. It feels like all I've eaten in my lifetime is stale bread."

"Any places in mind?" Chris asked as him and Danica pulled away from the hug.

"I know this place not too far from here...Dan, Jisung, want to join us?"

"Yeah, sure," Danny smiled as she turned to Jisung who nodded with a huge smile plastered on his face as he looked up from his phone.

"Before we go, may I talk to Danica for a while?" The hybrid asked.

"Go ahead, we'll head over to the restaurant now. I'll text you guys the name and directions," Changbin replied before walking off with Chris.

"What is it?" Danica asked as she smiled at Jisung.

"I got a text from my aunt."

"What did it say?"

"I've been selected to go to the alien world and help rebuild it." Dan's eyes widened in excitement.

"Oh my gosh, Jisung! I'm so happy for you!"

"There are two problems though," he said, his smile fading.

"What?"

"One, I have to leave today and two, I'm going to be leaving you behind."

"Are you honestly worried about me? Go, live your dreams. I'll be here waiting for you to return."

"Are you sure?"

"I've never been this sure in my whole life." He sighed.

"I'll be back in a year. Wait for me, okay?"

"I will."

"Thanks, Danica, for everything."

"It's nothing now go. I don't want you to miss this opportunity. I'll wait for you. I promise." He smiled, pecking her cheek before sprinting off. That was the last time she saw him.

After finishing her report, Danica looked down at her watch which read eleven forty-one.

"Flip!" Dan cursed under her breath as she packed her laptop and notebook away, hurriedly standing up and heading to the door. "Goodbye, Miss Evans and merry Christmas." The lady smiled.

"Merry Christmas, darling. Stay safe."

"You too." With that, Danny exited the café sprinting across town to get to the park Chris had told her to meet him at.

"I'm here!" she called once she arrived, panting heavily as she placed her hands on her knees. Chris, Changbin and Brooke, Chris' girlfriend, all laughed.

"Did you sprint here?" Changbin asked to which she nodded weakly.

"I was at Miss Evan's coffee shop finishing off some reports."

"Oh my gosh, I love that coffee shop," Brooke chirped. "And Miss Evans is an absolute angel!"

"Anyway, Changbin, where's Tiffany?" Chris asked.

"She's at her parents' house for Christmas," he responded with a shrug.

"What about you?" Chris questioned Dan.

"What do you mean?"

"Where's your significant other?"

"In some alien world," she replied, earning a sigh from the boy.

"Honey, are you sure Jisung is coming back?" Brooke asked.

"Yes," Danica answered sternly. "He promised."

"He promised to come back four years ago, and besides both of you were young. How do you know the feeling is the same?" Chris added.

"I'll never know until I see him again. Have a little faith in me, guys, I promise one day I'll get married." The trio exchanged glances until Brooke decided to speak up.

"So, Chris and I have good news."

"What is it?" Dan and Changbin asked in unison.

"Well," she smiled at Chris before turning back to them. "I'm pregnant," she squealed, surprising both Danica and Changbin.

"What?" Danny was the first to speak.

"Oh, and Chris proposed."

"I noticed the ring," Changbin spoke up. "And trust me when I propose to Tiffany, the ring will be so much more extravagant."

"Oh, come on, Changbin," Chris rolled his eyes. "Are you really going to one-up me again?"

"I don't care if Tiffany gets a better ring than me. I'm happy with this one and wouldn't ask for anything more," Brooke added.

"Aw, Brooke!" Chris squealed.

The rest of their get-together, all the trio talked about their love life. Danica remained quiet, inwardly groaning. Ever since Chris and Changbin found girlfriends, relationships were all they ever discussed. Dan was left out all the time feeling like a rotten potato around the fresh bunch.

She believed Jisung would come back but after being gone for so long, her hopes began to decrease, wondering whether letting him go was the right decision.

It got so much that Danica began to feel like a child who promised to marry some fictional character. It wasn't that she felt that Jisung was fictional, but the fact she felt the marrying part was. She questioned whether he would come back every day. Sighing when dusk comes and there was still no sign of him. She tried to have a little faith in Jisung, but it wasn't as easy anymore.

She was almost twenty-two. All of her friends were getting in relationships, marrying someone and having kids. Meanwhile, she was alone. Not even searching as she cried over a lost love.

"It's getting late," Danica sighed as she stood up, catching the trio's attention. "My mother wanted me home to help wrap present to give to the homeless tomorrow, so I have to go now. Bye." She waved, walking away.

The icy breeze blew in her face, not fazing her at all. Winter was her favourite time of the year only because the weather matched her mood. Cold, dull and gloomy.

Releasing another sigh, she looked at the ground, allowing the tears she had been pushing away to fall. Words couldn't describe how lonely and dumb she felt. She wanted to blame Jisung but couldn't bring herself to do it. Why? Why did she still love him after what he put her through? It wasn't fair.

She bumped into someone, cursing under her breath as she wanted to say sorry looking at the person's face but she could tell she looked like a wreck at that moment.

"Sorry," her voice came out shaky as she continued looking at the ground.

"It's fine but...are you okay?" She sighed, nodding slowly.

"I'm good."

"I don't mean to be nosy or anything but clearly you're not, how about you talk about it to someone? I mean, it doesn't have to be me...but, you know, someone," the stranger suggested but before he could finish, Dan had pulled him into a hug, crying onto his shoulder.

"I shouldn't have let him go!" she sobbed. "I wanted him to be happy but now he's gone! I miss him so much! I'm such an idiot!"

"Break up?" the stranger asked pulling her away, wanting to see her face.

"Not necessarily, we weren't actually-" her eyes widened as she looked at the stranger, recognising him instantly.

"Danica?" Jisung asked, taking a better look at her. "You've grown up so much!" She wanted to pull him into a hug and never let go but at the same time let him know what he put her through, so she shoved him.

"You lied!" she yelled glaring at him while he sighed.

"I know," he admitted quietly. "I did."

"I hate you, Jisung. You left me here! You told me you'd come back then five years later here you are, were you even planning to find me?"

"I was, I just left your house."

"Don't lie to me!"

"I'm not, Dan. Look, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I know I messed up and I can imagine how much you've been through because of me but please, give me a chance."

"I have a boyfriend," she lied, making him look to the ground, avoiding eye contact as his eyes began to water.

"I see...what's his name?"

"Why do you care?"

"I," he sighed. "I'm sorry. I'll go now. I wish the best for the two of you, truly. I hope he treats you better than I did." He began to leave but Dan called out to him.

"I lied," she sighed, looking at the ground as tears filled her eyes. "I don't have a boyfriend, never had. I told you I'd wait and so I did...I mean, there were those blind dates, but Chris, Changbin, Tiff and Brooke where the ones who forced me into them. I'm sorry I acted like that." Jisung smiled slightly, pulling her into a hug.

"I-in that case...c-can we-"

"Yes," she responded before he got the chance to ask. She missed him so much...but he was going to have to make it up to her one way or another.