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Astoria was just about to pull the gingerbread cookies from the oven when she heard Emmett come lumbering down the stairs.
“Hey, Tori!” he called out, coming into the kitchen with a frown on his face.
Setting the cookies on the counter to cool, she turned to face Emmett with a frown. “What’s wrong?” she asked when she saw him holding his arms awkwardly. “Are you okay?”
She hurried towards him, looking at his arms. They were covered in little scratches and bites. “Emmett?” She peered up at her vampire lover, worry on her face. Wounds usually healed quickly on him, so she was surprised to see him hurt.
“Well, I was trying to get the rest of the Christmas decorations down from the attic and I was attacked by a whole swarm of creatures. They got some good bites and scratches in before they flew off.” Emmett looked down. “I’m not used to things leaving marks on me.”
“What did they look like?” Astoria asked. “Did they look like little fairy creatures?”
“Yeah, creepy little things.”
“Definitely doxies,” Astoria murmured, shaking her head. “I’ll have to have someone come take care of them. They’re nasty, little pests.”
“Am I gonna live?” Emmett asked her dramatically.
“Go sit down,” she said, shooing him away. “I’ll bring over something to put on those bites. But yeah, I guess we know that some magical creatures can harm you.”
“Can I have some peppermint hot chocolate too?” Emmett gave her a pleading face. “That will definitely make me feel better.”
“You’re ridiculous,” Astoria teased. She pressed a kiss to his lips before sending him off.
Emmett went and sat down on the sofa in their living room. He watched as she bustled around the kitchen, making quick work of whipping up two steaming cups of hot chocolate.
Astoria hummed under her breath as she worked. Truthfully, she loved peppermint hot chocolate, and even though Emmett didn’t require food or drink like she did, he did like to have some human beverages at times.
Taking two candy canes, she set one in each of the mugs. The candy canes were the perfect touch to add some of that peppermint flavour to the drinks. Grabbing the two mugs, she carried them over and placed them on the table.
“Don’t touch,” she said, giving him a look. “I’ll be right back with a potion to heal your arms.”
“Can’t you just use your wand?” Emmett asked her curiously.
“The Murtlap Essence is probably the safer choice. You know I don’t like casting spells on you because I’m not sure how your vampiricism is going to react.”
“True,” Emmett nodded. He did know that she hated using magic on or around him. She was always so careful, his witch. “Thanks, love.”
“Don’t touch that hot chocolate,” she warned him once more before dashing to her bathroom so she could grab the Murtlap Essenece from the medicine cabinet. Holding the potion in hand, she made her way back to Emmett.
When she saw some him, she frowned. He sat there, an innocent expression on his face as he sucked on a candy cane. “Really?” she asked, shaking her head.
“What?” He asked, grinning. “You said not to touch the hot chocolate.” He gestured to the mugs. “I didn’t. I only touched the candy cane.”
“You’re ridiculous,” she chided, sitting down next to him. She should have known that he’d find a way around her warning.
“But you love me,” Emmett teased with a knowing look.
Astoria looked at him, smiling. “Yeah, I do.” She brushed a kiss to his cheek. “Okay, let’s get these scratches taken care of.”
“I’m a little embarrassed that they got the best of me,” Emmett admitted.
“Don’t be,” Astoria soothed him. “Doxies are quite territorial and vicisious.” Using the dropper, she carefully administered the Murtlap Essence onto both of his arms. “There, that should help.”
Putting the stopper back, she smiled up at Emmett. “I suppose we’ll have to wait to finish decotaring the rest of the house until my father can come over and take care of these doxies.” She picked up her hot chocolate and took a sip, sighing at the peppermint taste. It was just right.
“Sounds good,” Emmett said. He looked around the room. “We got most of the stuff up, at least. Just the tree left, really. And a few decorations for outside.”
“Yeah,” she murmured, setting down the mug. She took the candy cane into her mouth and sucked on the sweet treat. “Yummm,” she hummed, closing her eyes in peppermint bliss.
“You know…” Emmett trailed off, putting an arm around her shoulder as he pulled her close against his side.He pressed a kiss to the side of her head. “Look up, beautiful.”
Astoria looked at him in confusion before she cast her gaze upwards. Hanging above them on the sofa was sprig of mistletoe. She looked at Emmett and grinned. “Emmett! When did you sneak that up there?”
“Kiss first,” he murmured, puckering up his lips.
Unable to resist him, Astoria leant forward and kissed him tenderly. After a moment, they broke apart.
“But really? Mistletoe right here above the sofa? Why there?”
Emmett grinned, looking quite pleased with himself. “Oh, it’s all over the house,” he said with a shrug. “I’ll be surprising you with mistletoe kisses everywhere, so prepare yourself.”
“But why here? We always sit here.” She asked him again.
“Exactly,” Emmett said, giving her a teasing look. “We always sit here, so I’m always going to be cashing in on a mistletoe kiss.”
“You’re ridiculous,” she teased, shaking her head at him.
Emmett pulled her onto his lap so that she was straddling him. “You wouldn’t have me any other way, though, would you, Tori?”
She smiled at him, her cheeks turning a light pink. “No, Emmett, I love you just the way you are.”
“Love you too, sweetness.” He closed the distance between them again, enjoying the sweet taste of peppermint on her lips.