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Snowflakes drifted past the frosted windowpane. The house was quiet, unusually so. Sayo was curled on the couch, a cup of tea going cold in her hands. She tried to focus on the book in her lap, but her gaze kept flicking to the calendar on her wall. She’d read the same sentence three times now and still didn't know what it said.
Lisa had left for a week-long joint holiday with her family and the Minatos. As the two families have always been close and Lisa and Yukina practically grew up together, Sayo didn’t want to intrude. After all, it was just one week she’d be apart from her girlfriend.
But how it felt like the longest week ever.
Sayo had waved Lisa off with a smile but in reality, she knew Lisa wouldn’t be home until late Christmas Eve. That would leave Sayo spending most of the holiday alone. After a torturous week of endless distractions, she finally had just one day left before Lisa returned. Less than 24 hours, yet each sluggish minute chipped at her initial resolve a little more.
"Cause I've got five more nights of sleeping on my own,
Four more days until you're coming home…"
The song on the radio drew Sayo’s attention. She couldn’t resist a wistful smile at the irony of her situation. Her thoughts again drifting back to the most gorgeous woman in her life.
She missed Lisa’s warmth. How the playful lilt of her voice filled their quiet house. Missed the playful smile that lit up even the gloomiest, winter days.
“Three more wishes, I can barely breathe”
“If I can make it to Christmas Eve…”
She traced her finger along the rim of her mug. “Then it’s one more sleep,” she murmured. “Just one more.”
🎄🎄🎄
Christmas Eve arrived and passed in a blur of preparations. Sayo distracted herself the best she could by decorating the house, setting up the tree, and wrapping the last of the presents. Being naturally organised, she would normally have done all this a week ago but Lisa’s absence made it difficult to get into the festive mood.
Nonetheless, she wanted to give her girlfriend a proper Christmas welcome. She even baked some Christmas cookies and while they came out a bit lopsided and nowhere near as good as Lisa’s, Sayo hoped her partner would appreciate the effort.
By the time evening came, the house glowed with Christmas lights. Sayo stood by the window, hugging her arms to herself as she willed Lisa to come home quicker.
"We’ve got a lot of catching up to do”
“I just can’t take this missing you…”
The lull of music amplified this ache in her heart. Just then, the sound of a car door slamming jolted her from her thoughts. She looked down just in time to see Lisa climbing out of a taxi, lugging her suitcase behind her. Sayo barely had time to scramble to the hallway before the front door burst open.
“Sayo!”
Bags clattered to the floor as Lisa threw herself into Sayo’s arms. The force of the hug nearly knocked the guitarist over, but Sayo didn’t care. She hugged Lisa back tight, burying her face in her shoulder.
“You’re back,” she whispered.
“Of course I’m back~ I couldn’t let you spend Christmas all alone,” Lisa grinned, leaning up to press a long awaited kiss to Sayo’s lips. “I missed you so much.”
“Your lips are freezing,” Sayo laughed, feeling herself melt just a little more. “Come into the living room, you must be exhausted from travelling.”
🎄🎄🎄
The rest of the night was filled with warmth and enough kisses to make Sayo blush as they caught up on stories by the tree. Despite Sayo’s nervousness, Lisa loved the cookies. She gushed about them non-stop, admiring the red and green icing even if Sayo claimed they weren’t her best work.
Having Lisa back was a dream, better than any Christmas gift possibly awaiting under the tree. Yet, what Sayo secretly looked forward to most was finally holding Lisa through the night. The bed felt far too cold in the past week and even Lisa’s scent had begun to fade from the pillows. But as the clock struck midnight, Lisa grabbed Sayo’s hand and pulled her to her feet.
“Come on, we’re not done yet!”
“Wait, it’s late—”
Before Sayo could protest further, Lisa led her out onto the balcony. Sayo shivered from the sudden chill but Lisa wrapped her shawl around them both, pulling Sayo close enough to let the steamed breaths mingle. Snow was falling again. It covered the world outside in a soft, magical sheet that shimmered under the city lights.
“It’s beautiful,” Sayo whispered.
She had never been one for the cold. In fact, she paid little attention to snow up until she met Lisa. Her bandmate’s joy towards the festive season was as bewildering as it was irresistible. Now, Sayo couldn’t help but love it too.
“This,” Lisa squeezed Sayo’s hand, “is the best part of Christmas. Being here with you.”
Sayo’s eyes fluttered close as Lisa leaned in. Their lips met, trembling slightly from the cold but quickly warming up as they melded together. A giggle rose as their noses rubbed, cold and pink, but enough to send a flutter through their hearts.
Sayo thought Lisa never looked prettier. Flushed, with little snowflakes on her lashes. Lisa smiled.
“One more sleep until it’s Christmas. Was it worth the wait?”
Sayo’s cheeks warmed. “Every second.”
They stood there, holding each other as the snow continued to fall. The sound of Christmas carols drifted from inside the house, wrapping around them like a promise of many more Christmases together.