Just like most holidays, Dana lacked good memories because they had always led to fights between Happy and her mother. The celebrations with Maddox had always been very private, she couldn't remember much about them. She however noticed how much Juice missed his friends as he told her about Gemma's Christmas dinners and the drunken nights that followed.

"Last year we made a competition of stealing Christmas lights from gardens," he smirked. "Santa's sleighs counted as ten points, reindeer five points and snowmen three points. Everything else was one point," he explained, pricking his fork into a piece of meat and lowering it in the fondue pot. 

Dana rushed into laughing. "Wish I had been there. Who won?"

"I wouldn't know. All I can remember, is Sack returnin' everything the next day. It kept him busy 'til midnight."

"Poor boy," Dana chuckled. For a moment that nagging voice was back, whispering she couldn't give him what the club had given him, and that he gave up too much for her. Quickly she took a sip of wine and refilled their glasses. 

Dana stood up to get the – unfortunately failed – chocolate pie they had baked this afternoon. Despite the fact it had collapsed, it served well as a dessert. Thereafter, it was time to unwrap the presents. Dana removed a small package from underneath the Christmas tree. They had decided to give each other just a little something; and in her case "little" had been quite literally. She sat down on Juice's knee, handed him the packed box and wrapped her other arm around his shoulder. 

Never before she had given him a present, which made it feel like a big deal. Before he removed the tape, he looked up to her. She pressed his lips against his forehead, right above his eyebrow. 

"I hope you don't think it's stupid," she muttered. 

"Even if you would wrap an old newspaper I would still frame it," he answered with a grin. 

She chuckled. "I'm not that cheap."

Although I bought it with your money, she realized, deciding to keep the thought to herself. When they were married, they would share everything anyway. 

Juice squeezed her side and moved his arm around her so he could unwrap the present. With precision, not wanting to rip the paper, he removed the gift wrap. Dana didn't dare to look at his face, afraid to see disappointment. It wasn't like he lacked any rings. He lifted the top from the box and looked into it. 

Her eyes shot to his face nevertheless as she bit her lip nervously. 

"I thought... because you gave me a ring..." She lifted the hand with her engagement ring – as if he wouldn't know about what ring she was talking. "I wanted to give you one too."

"And of course you knew I have a thing for that hot chick from The Hunger Games." His lips formed a mischievous smirk. "That explains the arrow."

She slapped his chest with the back of her hand and stuck out her tongue. "Asshole."

"No, I get it. It was Cupid who aimed for our hearts, and voilà, we ended up here together. I never took you for such a sugary person, Dane."

Dana wrinkled her nose. "I didn't even thought about that."

"No reason to back out, baby. I think it's kinda cute." He wriggled his eyebrows. 

Dana moved her hand upwards along his neck and caressed his short, soft hair. "An arrow seems to symbolize protection. And... as husband and wife we're supposed to protect each other. I don't know, it felt fitting." Softly, she scraped with her finger nails across his scalp. "And sure, I'm not as hot as Katniss Everdeen, but archery is also a bit my thing."

"It is? I'm happy you explain that."

She kicked her heel against his tibia. "Asshole. And get that stupid grin off your face."

"I know you love that grin. My Christmas present for you."

He was right. She loved that smile more than anything in the world, and the sight of it called up lustful feelings she didn't want to allow now. They didn't need to end up naked at every romantic moment.

Still she couldn't keep herself from bringing her face closer to his and kissing him. His lips tasted like the wine he just drank, and as his tongue slipped along hers, there were tinglings all over her body. She leaned in to him, tasted him, enjoyed his touches just as much as she had done the very first time. His fingers caressed her neck and disappeared underneath her shirt. She sucked his lower lip as his fingers slipped inside her bra and grasped her breast. 

Only when she was messing with his belt a few moments later, still kissing, she remembered she had intended to not end up naked this time. She lowered her hand and broke away from the kiss. 

"You didn't even try to put it on."

He gave her a guilty look. "Sorry. The flesh is so weak." His hand slipped away from her skin and Dana regretted her words immediately, even though she kept a straight face. If he found out, he would convince her within a second to continue what they had started. 

With one arm round her waist he bent over to pick up the box that had fallen during their little make out session, and he took the silver ring out of it. He pulled off the trinket that was around his left ring finger and shoved the new one around it. The arrow curled around his finger, the bottom point and the feather were almost touching each other. 

Dana looked up to his face and forgot about the ring the minute she saw his warm smile. 

"It's really cool." He caressed her cheek with his thumb. "And the thought behind it is just beautiful." His brown eyes rested in hers and for a moment they looked at each other in silence. 

"I love you," he said. "I love you so fucking much."

Dana swallowed as she saw a watery glance in his eyes. She wrapped her arms around him and leaned with her head against his shoulder. "I love you too, Juice. So much."

Her voice sounded fragile and she blinked away the tears, before they were both crying here instead of laughing. 

"I got something for you too," Juice whispered when they had both regained control of their emotions. 

Dana sat up straight again. There was a strange tone in his voice and she lifted her eyebrows questioning. 

"On second thought, I think I'll like it more than you. I eh, I didn't expect you to buy such a... serious present." His cheeks flushed. 

Dana squeezed his cheek. "I can count the times I have seen you blush on one hand. That's already worth it."

"I'm not blushing. I just feel like an idiot."

She briefly kissed his lips. "Yea, you're blushin'. Now I'm curious. I was afraid you wouldn't like my present either." She slid off his lap. 

"Yours was sweet. Mine however..."

"Is kinky?"

There was a suspicious silence. Dana turned toward him. 

"No, it ain't kinky," he said quickly. "It's... sexy. And appropriate for the occasion."

Dana bent over to pick up the present underneath the tree and immediately felt its softness. She tore away the paper, revealing three satin, dark pink pieces of clothes. A push-up bra, a skirt with white fur and lace at the bottom and a Santa hat covered with rhinestones. She held the garments in front of her and laughed. "Oh, you're such a sweet thing," she said, shaking her head. "Bet it will look good on you."

Juice shrugged innocently. "If it's turnin' you on I will wear it," he smirked. 

"Deal." Laughing, she pulled the hat over his head. Then she kissed him. "Goof. Thanks, I guess?"

His arms slipped around her and rested on her lower back. His warm lips touched her ear. "Want me to put it on right now?"

His sultry voice made her shiver. Whether he was wearing a dress or a diaper; she would always want him. "You can't wait, huh?"

"Nope." Lifting her up, he swayed her over his shoulder, heading upstairs. The bra and Christmas skirt were swinging back and forth in her hand. 

And a picture of their Christmas gifts. (: