CHRISTMAS!

Eden sat on the floor of her room, laughing. She didn't understand why, neither did she want to. She was laughing and that was it.

Her paint splattered walls felt like a welcoming familiarity after such a long time away from it. It was like taking a breath of fresh air, but inside a room. With paint all over the place.

"So anyway, my mum was like, 'So how's the first day of winter break?'" Eden told Luca, who was sitting across from her, in a voice that was very unlike her mother's, "and I was like, 'I don't know, I haven't really been able to enjoy it much.' But anyway, how was your first day en la casa de Byrne?"

Almost midnight and she was still hyper and talkative. No big deal.

Luca sat on Eden's bed, leaning half off of it to look at Eden while she had a laughing fit. He had an amused expression on his face. He knew that it was a lost cause to get her attention, so he glanced about the room a bit. He loved it at Eden's house and was very glad he wasn't with his parents. But, the pain he was feeling was a nagging reminder that the full moon was tomorrow and he would have to sneak out. Lovely.

"I love it here," Luca replied honestly, "I guess the company I'm with adds to the appeal." He teased with a wink.

Eden cocked her head to the side. "You feeling all right?" she asked with concern. "And I'm hoping your parents actually know you're here. Otherwise the only present you'll get tomorrow is another Howler from your mum."

Realization dawned on her. She crawled over to Luca. "Oh my God it's that time of the month again, isn't it? Tell me you brought enough Wolfsbane!"

She smiled. "I'm glad you like it here." She laughed and smacked him playfully. "I work hard to be so amazing. Enjoy it while it lasts."

Luca shrugged at Eden's question. He didn't feel horrible. It was more of a matter of being uncomfortable. "Oh, they know. Mum wasn't happy about it, but she's warming up to you, I think." Luca didn't really understand his mother's feelings. But, she was acting a bit nicer to Eden.

"Yeah, tomorrow." Luca admitted, "I didn't want to worry you though." Luca nodded, and pulled the potion out of his trunk, "Yep, here it is."

Eden grinned widely. "Good. What's not to like about me, you know? Maybe we should try to get to know each other a little better," she said, referencing to Luca's mum.

She groaned. "But tomorrow's Christmas! You can't possibly be ditching us on Christmas!" She didn't really care if she made Luca feel guilty. It was Christmas. You just can't ditch the people you're staying with then. Especially not your girlfriend.

"Too late for that one. As long as you have enough, we should be fine." She sighed and lay back.

Luca cringed at the idea, "Eden, you're wonderful, but mum has issues. Remember when I first told her we were dating? And she screamed? A lot? Yeah. The silence and polite things she is saying to you is a step up, but I don't want to push it." Luca said, flashing Eden a boyish grin.

"I know Apple. I wish I didn't have to go. But, I'll be with you most of the day. And I'll be there when you wake up the next." Luca promised, wrapping his arms around her. "You can go back and kick that wolf's ass that bit me. But, I can't change the past."

Luca looked at the bottle and nodded. "Yeah, I have enough for tomorrow." He said confidently.

Eden rubbed her temples. "Don't remind me. Howlers and screaming and death threats and Aurors and everything. That was not a good day." She smiled back at Luca. "I guess. But still. I should be able to get to know your mum, especially since we've been dating for two years. Oh no, pushing it was the last thing on my mind," she said, rolling her eyes.

She looked up at him sadly. "At least open gifts with me. It's a tradition." She placed her head on his shoulder. "I wish I could. But where would I be without my big bad wolf?" she asked with a grin before kissing his cheek.

"Good. And promise me you'll go somewhere that's safe. Please?" Eden practically begged.

Luca couldn't stop the small laugh that escaped. His mother's anger was oddly amusing and seeing Eden get flustered was awfully cute. "She'll grow to love you. I mean, she let me come over for Christmas nonetheless. That's got to be something special."

"I promise I'll open gifts with you. I wouldn't miss it for the world." Luca said honestly, smiling when she leaned into him. "You'd be lost, and so would I." Luca said with a laugh.

Luca nodded, "I'm sure I'll stick around close enough to be safe but far enough so you will be too." Luca stated.

Eden glared at Luca. "Shut up. Maybe. And Christmas is a very special holiday, after all, isn't it? Well, I think it is. You spend all day with your family, or my family, whatever, and give and get gifts and it's just a good day in general.

"Good. I'd have to kill you if you didn't." She smiled sweetly. "I think we would be lost. Have I ever told you that I love you?" Eden asked, satisfied with how easily the words came.

"That's all I want, for you to be okay." She looked at the clock on the wall, which said it was now midnight: Christmas. "Happy Christmas, Luke." Eden quickly brushed her lips against his and smiled. This was probably going to be the best Christmas ever.

Luca smirked at Eden, "No, I don't think I will shut up." Luca replied with a laugh. "Yes, I love Christmas. And, I think I love it even more that I'm spending it with you." Luca said, shamelessly flirting with his girlfriend.

"No, but I love you too." He said, grinning wildly. He had been waiting for a long time to say those words and was glad that Eden was the first to say them. As much as Luca was confident, he was a shy when it came to Eden.

"I will be," He promised, looking at the clock as she did. Luca smiled and pulled her closer. He held her lips on his for a fraction shorter before it turned into snogging. "Happy Christmas Apple."

Eden rolled her eyes. "You really suck. Like, really, really, really suck." She laughed at Luca. "You're really cheesy, man. But I'll give you that one, maybe," she said, stroking his long hair. She liked it like that. It was fun to mess with.

The girl grinned back at her boyfriend and kissed him deeply. She didn't know how long she'd loved- no, been in love with Luca. She'd loved him since they got to be friends, fell in love with him right before they started dating? She really wasn't sure.

Eden looked at him innocently. "You're absolutely sure that you'll be all right?" She was about to ramble before Luca held her close. He kissed her and she loved it and wanted more for some reason. They pulled away from each other and Eden went slightly limp. "Best Christmas ever."

Luca grinned at her, "No, I really don't." Luca said with a laugh. "But being cheesy is good!" Luca cried, "Being cheesy is much more attractive than being a hard ass with no emotion." Luca smiled softly when Eden ran her hand through his hair. He loved it when she did that.

"Apple, stop worrying about me. I've been doing this since second year. I'll be fine. You don't need to worry." He promised her, holding Apple close to him, kissing her sweetly. "I would have to agree."

Eden raised her eyebrows. "Yes, you really do." She smirked at Luca as he exclaimed being cheesy was good. "Not in excess, but you'll learn eventually," she said quietly. "Okay, fine. You got me there. Happy? I'd rather you be a fluffy cheeseball than a fluffy ass- you know what, that sounded kind of wrong." As she ran her hand through his hair, she could see him smile. Damn cheeseball making me all melt-y inside.

"I will worry about you. I have since my first year. Listen to me. I love you. We're in this mess together." She kissed him back gently, slowly. Eden melted in his arms. "We should go see what's downstairs," she said after a while. She grinned evilly at Luca. "Maybe we can get into some presents early."

"I'm not excessively cheesy!" Luca cried, before hiding his head in his hands. "I need a boyfriend handbook. Something to teach me how to be a perfect boyfriend." Luca stated, looking up at Eden. "Well, I'm glad you like me for who I am. It makes me feel less insecure." Luca said with a laugh, though he knew that neither of them had anything to be insecure about. The two of them were best friends first and then boyfriend and girlfriend. It was just who they were.

Luca pulled Eden closer to him. "You're too good for me Apple. I swear it. You're absolutely wonderful and I love you more than you can imagine." He whispered into her hair.

Pulling her up with him, he grinned. "Alright, then let's go. I'm sure you're mum might kill us if we're alone in here too long." He said with a suggestive wink.

Eden smirked. "Yes, you are. I could order wine with your cheese. No joke." She patted Luca's shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll find one eventually," she said with a wink. "Why would you possibly feel insecure? Except for your furry little problem, of course," Eden teased. She loved messing with people, especially Luca. It was just fun.

She smiled softly as he whispered to her. "You and I both know I'm too good for you. I'm just too nice to keep from moving up." She didn't mean it, of course. It was just the way her and Luca's relationship went.

She was pulled up soon after. "Ow... You could warn a girl next time, you know." Eden rolled her eyes at Luca. "Oh please. My parents are probably already asleep. It's Danny we have to worry about." She shoved him playfully. "You're sick," she teased. Holding onto her boyfriend's hand, she tip-toed carefully through the hall, blindly reaching for the wall to detect where exactly she was going.

Luca smiled, "Wine huh? We going to break the rules and have a wild party with wine and cheese?" Luca wondered, ruffling Eden's hair. "If only, if only." He replied, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "My furry problem? Is that what we're going to call it now? God, it almost makes it sound adorable." Luca said, barking out a laugh.

"How caring of you." Luca said with a laugh.

Luca rolled his eyes back and smiled at Eden. "Oi, no pushing." Luca smirked at Eden playfully, "Maybe. But you wouldn't have me any other way." Luca replied, holding her hand tightly in his. "Great, we might get caught by Danny. This will be fun." He muttered sarcastically, following Eden.

Eden grinned. "But of course, Luca. What's fun about life without breaking a few rules?" she asked with a wink. She grimaced as Luca ruffled her hair. She hated when he did that, well, when anyone did that. But she'd let it slide. "Oh so you want to drink until you're sick? Nope, not happening. I don't approve. Alcohol's bad for you." She smiled. "Well, you're adorable, so I guess it should fit."

Eden laughed quietly. "I'm just one of the most thoughtful people in the world, is all.

"I'll push whoever I want to push, thanks." Eden sighed for a moment. "I wouldn't." She squeezed his hand. "Might being the key word. Oh get over it. Danny can't get us in that much trouble. He doesn't really give a shit." She led Luca to the Christmas tree and let go of his hand. Eden knelt and picked up one of the many gifts. She shook it and heard something like liquid. "More perfume. That's great. Thanks Mum, thanks a lot," she muttered. Picking up another one, she smiled. It was from Luca. "Hey, what's this?"

Luca grinned at Eden, "See, only you can say that and look incredibly innocent." Luca stated with conviction, wrapping his arm around her waist and stealing another kiss. "There's the girl I love. The stickler for the rules who has a tendency to break them. So ironic and I adore it." Luca murmured sweetly, winking at Eden shamelessly. "Oh, you're making me blush." He mocked.

"Whatever you say dear. My god, we sound domestic."

"Rawr, feisty thing aren't you? You know, they always say the quiet ones are the ones that surprise you-- I'm not going to finish that statement in fear of losing my life." Luca grinned sheepishly at her. "See, this is why I like Danny. He just doesn't care. Which is perfect." Luca decided, nodding. Luca watched as Eden began ruffling through her gifts. When she picked up his, Luca shook his head. "Not telling you love. You'll have to find out tomorrow."

"Nah, I'm sure other people can do that too... Maybe. I am not a stickler!" Eden protested. Her lips were captured in a kiss. "I happen to break quite a few rules every day for your information. You should really know that by now, we've only been best friends for four years, maybe longer, I don't know." Eden smirked at Luca before patting his cheek. "Good boy, Luca.

"You maybe, I'm not saying anything domestic at all," she teased.

She rolled her eyes. "You realize "Rawr" means "I love you" in dinosaur, right?" she asked with a quirked eyebrow, amused. "Are you calling me quiet, Luca?" She crawled close to him. "And here I am, wondering what you could possibly mean by that and what that could imply." She looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. "But it is tomorrow... It's past midnight on Christmas Eve, which means it's Christmas, so I should get to open my present."