"So damn cold." I muttered to myself, walking up the slippery walkway to my house.
I struggled to find my keys in my purse, using colourful words that probably made my mother do a one-eighty in her grave. I tried not to think about him. Or what day it was. Or his absence. Or the promise he broke. I tried to focus on getting into the comfort and safety of my warm home. Though the simple task of key-searching seemed all to complicated while I tried to forget, but failed. Finally, after waht seemed like a year and a half, I found them, and jammed the key into the lock. I didn't even notice the freezing temprature of the metal on my hand, becuase that too was freezing. The door flung open, sucking in flakes of snow as if it was a black hole. With some difficulty, I fought the wind to get the door closed, and locked it behind me as it slammed shut.
A sigh escaped my blue, frigid lips as I turned and glanced over my house. Neat and organized. Decorated and glowing. As welcoming as it looked, it made me feel nothing more but empty as I looked at it. Without another thought, I kicked off my snow covered, slush soaked shoes, and peeled off my wet socks at the door. My coat rid itself from my body as if on it's own and I pulled my hat and gloves off with little effort. I quickly made my way to my room, our room, where I changed into a large pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. Then I rifled through the little clothes he had left here, finding a warm zip-up hoodie, I slipped into it with a satisfied smirk.
When I returned to the rest of the empty house, I walked into the kitchen and made myself a cup of hot chocolate. I hoped the warm feeling of the sweet liquid would replace some of the empty spaces in me. As I placed the mug into the microwave, I noticed the answering maching blinking a red number two at me. With a sigh, I closed the microwave door, pressed a few buttons and turned away from it to the machine. I leaned my elbows against the counter and pressed play, waiting for the auDannyatic voice to cease and the messages from real people to begin to play. There was a long beep and then the first one was heard.
"Hey Trista it's Alex. I wanted to call to wish you and Dougie a very Merry Christmas! Kyleigh sends her love as well, but she's soaking her fat ankles right now." He lowered his voice into a whisper. "You should see her belly, she looks like she's about to explode!" Then there was a loud, "I HEARD THAT!" in the backround. I laughed out loud, and he continued to speak. "We sent you a package with the gifts in it, I hope you get it in time to put under the tree, if not, what's a day later? Thank you so much for the baby clothes and that beautiful painting. Ky cried, she's so emoitional nowadays. Kind of annoying...anyways! I hope all is well, and that you two are more in love than ever. Please use protection, we don't want a mini Dougie running around out of wedlock! HAPPY CHRISMAKWANZAHANNAKUH, BITCH! Peace and Love. Bye."
I shook my head dismissively and rolled my eyes at the dork in which I called my best friend. With a sigh, I lifted myself up onto the counter, seated beside the machine. It beeped again, and the next message began.
"Hey, Baby!" His voice exclaimed, there was clamor in the backround. "It's meee! I just wanted to let you know that I love you. And that I have a surprise for you. I hope you're not too cold in that shite-hole house. Tour's going pretty great, I can't complain. The groupies are amazing as well." He laughed as did I. "You know I'm kidding. You're the only one I'll ever love. But anyways...make sure you keep the doors locked and the windows closed. Have fun with your wonderful Christmas Claymations you love so much. I wish I was there to watch them all with you. I hope we can get home soon, so I can spend Christmas with you. But, I don't know if that's possible at this point. Between the snow and the roads, and even the airports are packed. I'll try in every way, shape and form to get back to you, to meet you under the mistletoe. Well, I have to go, Danny's being a twat again. I love you, more than the sun, the stars and the moon. Hugs and Kisses!"
I looked down at the machine, waiting for it to surprise me with another message, letting me know that he was coming home for me this Christmas. But I knew better than that. Touring wasn't his number one priority, but he wasn't going to leave it for one day. No matter what the occasion.
"I just wanted to let you know that I love you." I muttered to myself, as I hopped off the counter back onto the hardwood floors.
As if on cue, the microwave beeped and I turned to it quickly. Without spilling it, like I had on many occasions before, I pulled out the steaming mug and placed it on the counter. I quickly pulled out a spoon from the drawer at my hip and tore open a new packet of powder chocolate. I poured it in, making a mountain of brown dust at the top of the water, then I stirred it for a minute. When that was done, I threw the spoon into the alluminum sink and walked off into the living room, the warm mug hugged tightly between my freezing hands. When I was comfortably situated on the couch, I tightly held the cup between my knees, so I could reach over to retrieve the remote. My luck, featured on the television was one of my dearly beloved Christmas Claymations. Rudolph's Shinging New Year. I took a sip of my hot chocolate as I watched intently.
--------------------------------------A smirk tugged at his lips as he shed his coat and scarf. He pulled his hat from his head and ran his fingers through his hair, an attempt to settle the unruly locks. There wasn't much use, seeing it never looked that tidy even on its best days. But she didn't care. She saw past his imperfections and loved him for what really mattered. She was his everything and more.
That was the reason why he illegally hitchhiked four hundred miles to get home for Christmas morning. It was the least he could do for her. And its all he wanted...Was to be with the one woman, the only woman he could ever love for the most important day of the year. And there was something he wanted to do. Something he needed to do. One of the reasons why he was so eager to get home.
And now that he was, he couldn't wait for morning to do it. I was shaken awake from my lovely Christmas dream of Dougie. I groaned and tried to roll back over, but a hand caught me and turned me back.
"Fuck off." I muttered, and there was a chuckle.
I knew that chuckle.
My eyes fluttered open slowly, and in the dim light, I could make out the unmistakeable bonestructure.
"Dougie?"
"Hey, Baby." He said back with a grin, placing a hand on the side of my face, running his thumb along my cheekbone.
"I'm dreaming, aren't I?"
I honestly thought I was. There was no way that with all of the travel that goes on over the holidays he would be able to be home. This had to be a taunting dream. My mind was playing tricks on me.
"No, I'm really here." He whispered, leaning down and kissing my cheek softly.
I sat up quickly, pulling the blanket that I had curled up in with me. It laid wrinkled on my lap and I looked up at him in question.
"But how...?"
"Hitchhiked."
"You didn't..."
"I told you I'd try every way, shape and form to get back to you."
Before I could control myself, I lunged from my seat on the couch up into his arms. He caught me in his arms and I wrapped my legs around his waist, holding myself closer to him.
"I missed you so much!" I squealed, kissing him all over. Cheek, Neck, Forehead, Lips, everywhere.
"I missed you too." He said with a chuckle, gripping me tightly.
Finally, after a few moments of a loving embrace, he set me back down on the ground and his expression changed.
"Dougie, Baby, what is it?" I asked, holding my hand to his face and he pulled it off slowly.
"I came home to see you...but I came home for something else too..."
The way he kept trailing off was making me uneasy.
"What?"
The way I questioned him matched the uneasyness in him.
"Trista...."
I waited. Scared out of my mind for what was to come.
He pulled something out of his pocket, and before I could comprehend, there was a diamond ring shining up at me.
"Marry me?"
Without another second, I jumped back up and kissed him hard on the mouth. He took advantage of my answer and kissed back eagerly.
