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The snowfall had started gently, just a soft whisper outside the window.
Jonathan watched it with a warm mug in hand while Steve wrestled with a giant Christmas bow.
Oreo, the tiny tuxedo kitten, sat proudly on top of the bow like the king of holiday sabotage.
—Oreo, please —Steve begged—. Just five minutes without destruction.
Oreo meowed, flopped dramatically, and rolled over the ribbon.
Jonathan laughed.
—He’s asserting dominance.
Steve leaned down to pick him up… and the kitten shot off like a tiny rocket, disappearing behind the decorations.
They searched the living room.
The couch.
The tree.
The boxes.
Then they heard it: silence.
Dangerous, suspicious silence.
And the back door slightly ajar.
—Oh no —Jonathan breathed.
—Yep —Steve said grimly.
They threw on their coats and rushed into the snow.
The wind bit at their faces as they searched the porches and bushes.
Snow fell thick, erasing tracks as soon as they formed.
—He’s so small, Steve —Jonathan said, worry tightening his voice.
—We’ll find him. I swear.
They called softly, then louder.
—Oreo!
—Baby, come out!
A faint meow answered.
Both froze.
—That way!
They followed the sound to a stack of Christmas boxes left outside a neighbor’s house.
Snow covered everything but one small corner where a soft mewl came again.
Jonathan lifted the edge of one box—
Steve tried the same—
Their heads collided with a loud THUNK.
—Ow!
—Ow!
But when they lifted the lid, there he was.
Oreo, curled in tissue paper like a smug holiday ornament.
He meowed proudly.
—You’re unbelievable —Steve whispered.
They leaned in at the same time to grab him… slow this time… careful… and yet still too close.
Their faces ended nose to nose, breath mingling in the cold air.
Jonathan froze, cheeks flushing pink.
Steve felt his heart stutter.
—Hi… —Jonathan whispered.
—Hi.
Oreo stretched a paw and gently tapped both of their foreheads, as if officiating the moment.
Jonathan laughed softly.
—I think he planned this.
—Yeah. A rescue kiss.
Jonathan blinked, shy and flustered… but smiling.
They finally picked up Oreo, who purred loudly against their chests, thoroughly pleased with himself.
Walking back home, Steve murmured:
—We could… maybe… share hot chocolate later?
Jonathan’s blush warmed his whole face.
—I’d like that.
Oreo meowed again: mission accomplished.
And under the falling snow, a kitten delivered a perfect holiday miracle.