Annika left out a giggle that she was controlling since long, seeing Malika hitting Arnav on his back. Everyone were roaming around to find a place where they could spit the food made by him.

"I told you I can't cook", he said grumpily.

"Don't even dare you bring that thing in food category", Malika said wiping her mouth with a tissue, glaring at him. He scowled looking away crossing his arms.

She smiled hearing a chuckle in her ear from behind. She just leaned back to her comfortable embrace as he wrapped his arms more firmly around her waist.

It was past dinner time, everyone were sitting talking about the next day and the activities they're going to try. Arnav brought his thai curry and corn rice as he didn't wanted to spoil anyone's dinner, as he said.

Shivaay refused to taste the dishes knowing his best friend's culinary skills and didn't even let Annika have it, who was on her lap, saying she'll upset her stomach.

As enthusiastically everyone dig in to have the dish, with same enthusiasm everyone were searching places to spit the tasteless, saltless and slightly burnt curry.

"It was a punishment more like to me", Malika said cleansing her palate with water.

"Now think 10 times before asking Arnav to cook", Shivaay said chuckling to get a stone bite thrown towards it.

"Hey! I have Annika in my arms. Careful", he said dodging it, caressing her hair from behind.

They have lit up a bonfire and everyone were sitting around it. Annika was in Shivaay's lap, using him as her chair which he was gladly being, her legs were covered with a comforter.

"Bhaiya! What's the plan for tomorrow?", Rudra asked warming his palms in front of bonfire.

"We'll be going for snorkelling tomorrow", he said, unconsciously making circles on her thigh.

"Hey Anu! Tomorrow is 24th December right! It's Christmas eve", Gauri exclaimed.

"Oh shoot! Yes! How can I forget it. What preparations can we do this time? Christmas tree, the dinner", Annika said thinking over it.

"Wow! It's going to be my first typical Christmas", Rudra said making Annika smile softly.

"Baby, why are you worried. We'll prepare for it and Christmas is on 25th. I promise your tree and other things will be prepared by tomorrow", Shivaay said seeing her worried.

"Really?", she asked looking in his eyes.

"Really', he said softly, kissing over her forehead. She closed eyes, nodding.

"Aww! You guys are so cute yaar!", Malika gushed over them making other agree. Annika just smiled burying her face to his chest making others laugh. She can never be good in any sort of compliments!

|••|

Shivaay kept his phone away after checking his mails and messages to see Annika biting her nails, sitting beside him.

"Baby..", he scooted closer to her wrapping arm around her body. She hummed carelessly.

"What happened love?", he asked making her look at him. He raised his eyebrow.

"About tomorrow and christmas", she pouts. He kept his head on the headrest holding her hand.

"What you do on Christmas? I have never celebrated it", he asked. She sat down excitedly.

"So before when I used to stay with my parents, on christmas eve, I used to decorate christmas tree with dad. You know, I always enjoy decorating them. It just gives me a unique and different happiness. Being baker's family, we used to stay busy preparing orders for customers. Then, I would fix my stockings near the christmas tree with my gift wish inside it. Dad always used to fulfil it by surprising me on Christmas morning, saying Santa has left that for me. We used to bake plum cake, dad used to avoid rum in it for me *chuckles*. Mom used to buy beautiful red dresses for me saying I am her angel. In evening, we used to pray at church and at night, we used to have a good heavy feast with friends and family", she said with a smile remembering her childhood.

Shivaay smiled seeing her smile but he could see sadness in her eyes. There's a craving for her parent's love, desperation to feel that warmth again. He wrapped arm around her shoulder and caressed it.

"How you celebrate now?", he asked kissing her temple. She smiled softly. Shivaay is the only person who provides her the same comfort and warmth.

"I didn't left my family traditions. On Christmas eve, I decorate Christmas tree, Gauri and Bhavya helps me. I still keeps stockings and gifts myself something. Dad sends me some gifts every year hiding from mom", she sighed but then continued, "next morning, I prepare rum plum cake, me and girls go for shopping and at night, we prepare dinner, typical Christmas feast", she said and smiled and him. He leaned and pecks her forehead.

"Then we'll celebrate in the same way, this year", he said.

"But how? I mean we're here", she said shrugging.

"Tomorrow we'll buy a Christmas tree and decorate it at night then I will ask from the resorts staff to arrange ingredients for plum cake, I will help you I have never made one. Oh! And we'll be stockings too and gifts for everyone and then we'll go to church and at night, good dinner with everyone. Sounds nice right?", he asked with a wide smile.

She got teary hearing his plan. She always keep a smile on her face but there are many things which hurts her, she miss many things. Gauri and Bhavya always tries to give her homely feelings, they succeeds in it too but what he was doing, no one has done. His efforts to make her Christmas specially welled up her heart.

"Annika..", he cupped her face. She shook her head and hugged him tightly burying her face in his chest. He rubbed her back, caressing her hair.

"Thank you", she muttered against his chest.

"Why pumpkin? It's my responsibility and happiness to make you happy and take care of yours. You're precious for me, love. And it's our first Christmas together, it has to be special", he said making her smile and look at him. He kissed over her forehead.

"Now let's sleep so that we wake up early. First snorkelling, then Christmas preparations. Hmm?", he asked. She nodded kissing his cheek.

He cuddled her close to his chest and she immediately slept as heat radiated from him. He kept caressing his hair.

"I promise pumpkin, this Christmas will be most beautiful and special for you", he said to himself, kissing over her hair.

|••|

Next morning, everyone were excited for snorkelling. Everyone were ready in their swimsuits to experience a new activity.

All got inside the boat taking them to the middle of sea. Shivaay was helping everyone in wearing masks and harness.

"You've done snorkelling before?", Annika asked as he helped her to tie the belt.

"I love underwater activities so have done few times", he said fixing her mask.

"Wow!", she exclaimed making him chuckle.

"Okay, everyone! Jump one by one and take it slow while going down. There's no harmful fishes or sea animal so don't panic if something come in front of you. Don't try to tease them", the instructor told everyone.

Everyone jumped inside the sea one by one. Shivaay held Annika's hand inside, clasping their palms navigating her inside.

Fishes, corals, and cute sea animals made her eyes go in glee. They entered in a school of fishes making them move around the couple. The bubbles forming from her mask indicated him how happy she was.

Everyone were enjoying the beautiful water world enjoying to the fullest. The tickling of fishes, bubbles forming. Om took his underwater camera fixed in his mask, inside and clicked lots of pictures.

Shivaay swim them to the area which was less deep and brought them to the surface. She removed her mask seeing him removing it.

"What happened?", she asked breathing out.

"What if I tell you I have wish", he asked breathing out. She felt his arms wrapping around her, underwater.

"What is it?", she asked looking in his eyes. They're reflecting the colour of sea. Blue and deep.

"Share a kiss with you, underwater", he said looking deep in her eyes. She felt current rushing inside her spine seeing his gaze on her.

"I think you should fulfil your wish", she said wrapping arms around his neck. He smirk-smiled and both dipped back inside the water. Holding their breath, they joined their lips and breathe inside each other mouth. His one arm was wrapped around her waist while she was having an arm around his neck, holding his nape and from another she clicked a picture of theirs.

Breaking the kiss, they came back up at the surface and breath out smiling. He pulled her closer and joined their lips again, dipping her a bit. It was a passionate kiss, different from his other kisses. She moaned feeling the intensity in the kiss.

"You drives me damn crazy", he muttered breaking the kiss, breathing unevenly. She breathed out holding his nape and looked in his eyes. He looked in her eyes softly and hugged her.

"I can't wait to tell you, love", he said to himself in mind pecking her wet hair.

Everyone came back from snorkelling. Everyone were happy and content after the water fun. Shivaay smiled seeing Annika happily talking about her experience with Rudra and girls.

"Okay guys, freshen up, dry up yourself and then let's come for lunch", Shivaay said. Everyone nodded and went to freshen up.

Annika was going inside the bathroom when he stopped her making her turn to him.

"After taking shower, come to the hallway with me, I want to show you something", he said tucking a stray of her damp hair behind her ear.

"Okay", she said softly with a smile. He nodded and she went to clean up herself.

|••|

"Shivaay where are you taking me. Atleast let me see", she said as he made her walk ahead closing her eyes, leading towards something.

"Just a minute, love", he said in her ear and pecked it. She blushed humming.

After sometime, they came to a halt. She turned towards him and moved her hands to hold him. He gave his hand and removed another hand from her eyes.

"What is it?", she asked looking in his eyes. He pecked her nose.

"See yourself", he said pointing behind her. She turned around and a gasp left her mouth. A large Christmas tree, decorative items, stockings, fake snow and candy sticks were kept there.

She turned behind to see him smiling at her with his hands inside his pockets. She turned back again and went to the tree touching it, she looked at everything with glee on her face.

"Wow!", both heard a voice coming from behind and saw everyone standing there.  They came ahead looking at the tree and other stuffs.

"Really wow! Already Christmas vibes!", Gauri exclaimed.

"I am so excited, it's going to be my first typical and proper Christmas", Rudra said happily.

Annika turned back at Shivaay and rushed to him, hugging him tightly. He chuckled moving a step back and wrapped arms around her waist.

"Thank you so much Shivaay! This is all just the way I like and I wanted", she said as her face was against his neck. He caresses her hair, pecking her cheek.

"I am glad baby, you liked it right?", he asked as they parted.

"Liked it? It's beyond the way I wanted. So beautiful, I loved it!", she said earning his widest smile. He nodded pecking her forehead.

"Aww! You guys are so adorable yaar! Have some mercy on single us", Malika whined gushing over them. Annika chuckled keeping head on his chest.

"So after lunch, we'll start decorating the tree! Let's fix it in the centre of all three bungalows. Close to everyone", Annika suggested. Others agreed nodding.

"Anything you want, pumpkin", Shivaay mumbled against her hair, kissing there and took her in a side hug. She smiled closing eyes and hummed.

After around 1 hour later, it was early evening, all were helping Annika to decorate Christmas tree. Annika was telling Shivaay the way to decorate it properly. Arnav and Rudra were packing the gifts keeping under the tree while Om was helping girls in decorations and arranging lights.

"Shivaay, I need to fix them above the tree and it will be done", she said forwarding a bell and star and looked at him. He nodded taking it but then a smirk formed on his face.

"Okay then!", he said and lift her up on his shoulders making her squeal and hold his shoulder, another hand clutching his hair.

"What are you doing?", she asked looking down at his face.

"Helping you to fix them", he winked making her giggle. He held her thigh while she fixed the last bell and the star above the tree. Malika switched on the lights making the entire tree brighten up with fairy lights all over it.

Annika smiled happily seeing the tree glowing with the fake snow all over it. The mild smell of the tree was making it more beautiful. She clapped giggling and looked down at his face. He was grinning and pulled her down taking in a bridal way.

"How's it?", he asked.

"Beautiful", she mumbled looking at the tree with twinkling eyes and then looked at him. The twinkle in her eyes warmed up his heart. He nuzzled their nose together making her chuckle, scrunching her nose.

They were lost in their moment when they heard some throat clearing making them realise that other were also standing there. All were looking at them with teasing smile. Annika shied away hiding her face away from others to hide her pink cheeks. Shivaay just shrugged and pecked her hair.

"Le-let's put up our stockings. You can write your wishes and keep inside them", Annika said to not get more teasing. He put her back on her feet.

Everyone agreed and went to take their stockings. Annika took two matching stockings. It was of red colours with white strips on it's hem. Candy stick and bells were made in middle of it with thread. A and S were written with sliver at the corner of the respective stockings.

She smiled and forward the S one towards Shivaay. He took it and looked at her, she was writing her wish on paper chit with adorable small pout forming on her lips.

He chuckled and wrote his wish on the chit. He really wanted this wish of his to fulfill soon. Praying for the same to god, he slipped it inside the stocking and looked at her who was already looking at him.

"What?", he asked her as she was looking at him, keeping a palm under her cheek and her eyes were looking dreamy.

"Nothing", she said shaking her head and got conscious with a pink hue forming on her cheeks.

"Come let's put them behind the tree", he said holding her palm in his hand and took her towards the tree. Everyone were fixing their stockings there.

Everyone fixed their stockings and smiled looking at the tree area.

"Everything look so beautiful", Malika said.

"Just magical", Bhavya added. Others hummed looking at the tree.

|••|

Annika looked at the sea as the waves touched the shore. She was just making patterns on the sand with a sad smile on her face. The sun was setting behind the sea, giving way to moon to shine in the sky.

"Annika", she heard a voice from behind. The voice that comforts her most these days, which provides the warmth no one has made her feel till date.

She turned around and smiled at him and patted sand beside her. He came near her and sat down beside her.

"It's getting cold, pumpkin. Let's get inside, you'll fall sick", he said wrapping arm around her shoulder. She snuggled into it and kept her head on his shoulder.

"I am feeling good here", she told and kept her face against his neck. He pecked under her hairline rubbing her shoulder, generating warmth inside her.

"What happened?", he asked after sometime. She chuckled realising how well he know her by the time.

"Nothing just, just like that", she replied. She is not much expressive about her inner feelings. She is habitual of keeping everything inside her.

"Baby! You know that I know you're lying and you also know that I won't leave until you tell what's bothering you", he said bundling her close to his chest. She smiled closing her eyes.

"I am missing mum and dad", she whispered with a sad smile. He kept her close to his chest, caressing her hair.

"Dad doesn't call me else mum will know, he can't even send gifts this time as I am not at home. I will miss his gifts, this year", she said looking at the waves.

"He'll miss you too, love. He will be missing his little daughter too, but you know he'll feel bad if he'll see you like this. You should smile love, he would like that smile on your face. It's so contagious that anyone can smile seeing it. The way your canines raises as you smile wholeheartedly can warm anyone's heart. I am lucky to get to see it", he said caressing near her lips.

She finally smiled and hugged him closer humming.

"Thank you for always making me feel good, comfortable and cared Shivaay, it means a lot", she said.

"I will always do it pumpkin, forever. And I have a promise to you", he said against her hair.

"What is it?", she asked looking up at him.

"I promise to make this Christmas, our first Christmas memorable and beautiful for you. You'll always remember it", he said looking directly in her eyes. She smiled looking back in his eyes.

"I am waiting for it, then", she said and pecked his cheek. He smiled closing eyes. She kept her head on his chest while he kept his head above her head. His arms were wrapped around her body and her arms kept above them, playing with his fingers.

Both were looking at the shore as the orange hue of sun set aside and the shine of moon raised up, slowly, making the sky turn black. The stars were forming twinkling, brightening the entire sky. They loved the silence around them, with just sound of waves.

"I have fallen for you, my love", he said in his mind feeling happy and he couldn't wait to confess it to her.

|••|

Hey guys! Thanks for your votes and comments on the previous chapter. Keep reading, voting and commenting your views. They means a lot to me♥️

Shivaay has finally fallen in love with Annika, let's see how he confess it😉

Hope you liked the chapter. Do tell me how was the chapter😁

Precap: Shivaay makes Annika's Christmas, special!

Love,
K♥️