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“Ok, let's get this show on a road!" Seth yelled as he ran up the stairs to grab boxes of ornaments to decorate the tree Kendra was putting up. Grandpa and Grandma Sorensen followed behind him, but took smaller steps compared to his sprint-like movements.
The snow was falling furiously, and it had Kendra feeling bad for the rest of their friends and family who were still to come. The roads were probably so icy, and the snow would be so hard to see through, and- nope she had to think on the bright side!
Seth, Grandma, and Grandpa dropped off the first boxes bursting with ornaments and went back again to get the rest. Kendra noticed a crooked branch on the tree, and had to stand on the tips of her toes to reach it. As she adjusted it, she suddenly felt two cold hands grab her waist and start to tickle her.
Letting out some giggles of joy, she turned around to find... Bracken! "Oh..Br..acke..n", He stopped tickling her so she could talk instead of laugh. Kendra immediately flung herself into his arms, wrapping her own around his neck.
"What do you think you're doing here Mr?" She asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes. Bracken had a matching glint in his eyes as he responded. "What, do I need an excuse to see my wonderful lady early for our Christmas celebration?" Kendra giggled again, and started to lean up towards to his lips, and Bracken started to lean down to hers. Right before their lips connected, Seth bounded down the stairs once more.
Her little brother quickly covered his eyes, dropped the box, and started screaming like an eagle. "AGHHHHHHH!!!" PDA! PDA! PDA! I'VE BEEN BLINDED!!"
Faces flushing, Bracken aruptedly let go of Kendra and she quickly returned her arms to her side. Seth ran upstairs, still screaming his head off. Once she was sure he was gone, she turned to face Bracken. Although he was red as a tomato, he also looked disappointed that they hadn't completed their kiss. Feeling a bit daring after her brothers annoying antics, Kendra ran up quickly and put her mouth right up to his ear.
Brackens breathing hitched as Kendra whispered in his ear, "Don't worry, we'll finish that kiss later.." Kendra proceeded to bolt upstairs, leaving a surprised Bracken gaping at the main floor.
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Throughout the day, the rest of their friends and family arrived. With all the extra hands, Fablehaven was decorated quickly. The presents were under the tree, the stockings were hung up and everyone was getting ready for bed.
Since there was barely enough rooms for everyone, people were sharing them. For example, Warren and Vanessa were sharing Dales room with him, and Grandma and Grandpa Larsen had moved a king size cot into Grandma and Grandpa Sorensens room.
Coincidentally, Bracken was sharing the attic with Kendra and Seth. Seth, realizing he was sharing a room with his sister and her boyfriend, pushed his bed into the farthest corner and attached sheets from the ceiling to his bed. Before he went to bed, he cornered Bracken in the bathroom.
"Listen here buddy boy... I DON'T care that you're hundreds of years older than me, I will protect my sister. So, for my Christmas gift this year, you can promise me that you won't make me become an uncle." Seth grabbed Bracken by the collar of his pajama shirt, "Ok? No FUNNY business with my sister…” When Seth saw Bracken had an alarmed expression, he stalked off to his bed, a smug look on his face.
Bracken gulped, then went and lied down on his cot, far away from Kendra's bed. Although Kendra felt a bit disappointed, she had heard Seths threat and understood Brackens actions. She also wasn't planning on doing any.. funny business... as Seth would put it.
Throughout the night, Bracken kept his promise to Seth pretty well... until about 2 am. He awoke to Kendra silently crying and shaking in her sleep, muttering phrases like, "Please, don't hurt him!" and "Don't leave me like this!"
After just a few seconds, Bracken couldn't take it any longer, hearing his girlfriend so sad and scared. He crept over to her bed and crawled in. Kendra almost immediately calmed down and stopped crying at his touch. She cuddled up to Bracken, and he began to rub random circles on her back, kissing her neck and cheeks softly with no real pattern.
He eventually fell asleep too, but awoke to Kendra nudging him gently. "Hey," she whispered, "you better go before my brother wakes up and sees you." Bracken nodded, kissing her forehead before creeping back to his bed, and not a moment too soon. Seth stepped out of his sheeted off area almost immediately, and looked at the two lovers, seperated by their different beds (*wink,wink*)
"Well," he said, "my work here is done. Oh, and by the way guys... IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!!" He proceeded to race down the stairs, chanting, "IT'S CHRISTMAS, IT'S CHRISTMAS! EVERYONE GET UP!!!" Everyone then proceeded to listen to him and got up... in those next 2 hours.
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After enjoying a warm, delicious breakfast of eggs, bacon, and fresh fruit, it was time for the group to open their Secret Santa gifts.
Seth got a magical sword from Bracken, Warren got a $200 gift card to Olive Garden, Kendra got an entire hard cover version of her favourite series from Grandma Sorensen, and by the end of it, everyone was overjoyed with the presents they gave and received!
Watching everyone open their gifts by the tree, Kendra felt like she was forgetting something. Just then, she had a quick flashback of the day before:
* Kendra running up to Bracken...putting her mouth right up to his ear....Brackens breathing hitched...Kendra whispering..."Don't worry, we'll finish that kiss later."...bolting up the stairs....*
Kendra smirked at the memory, then had a sudden idea. Remembering that there was a certain special plant hung up in the door way, (*cough*mistletoe*cough*) she excused herself from the table saying, "Sorry, bathroom break!"
Then, once out of the room and out of sight, she reached into her pocket and took hold of the special coin Bracken had gotten her for her birthday. Holding onto it, she transmitted a special message for him, "Meet me in the kitchen right now..." Then, she snuck a quick look at where Bracken was to watch his reaction.
Bracken immediately blushed a soft pink once receiving the message, then excused himself from the room. Kendra dashed over to the kitchen, did a little hairflip, licked her lips, positioned herself underneath the mistletoe, then straightened herself out right before Bracken walked in.
"What's wrong? Are you ok? Did something happen?" he asked as he approached her. "There's no reason to worry, I'm fine!" Kendra responded with a light laugh.
"Then what's going on?" Bracken asked.
"This.." Kendra said, before smashing her lips into his.
Taken by surprise, Bracken waited until Kendra had wrapped her hands around his neck before he cupped her cheek, deepning the kiss. While most of their kisses had been sweet and innocent, this one was the opposite. It was rough and pure, reminding Kendra of sweet candy and late night parties. Brackens lips were hot as he pressed them against Kendras soft, slightly cold ones, savoring their kiss.
Eventually, Kendra remembered that air was a vital thing for survival, so she (sadly) had to break away from the kiss. Gasping for air, Bracken grabbed her waist and pulled her against him, so that her face was facing away from him.
"Best. Christmas. Gift. Ever," he said, wrapping his arms around her waist, turning it into hug.
"Agreed." Kendra said, leaning towards his body, searching for his heat after feeling a sudden chill from being away from his warm lips.
“Best. Christmas. Ever.”