A/N: Third year running, (and they say third time's the charm) I will be doing another yuletide story. Once again, all the usual rules apply (you might remember them, but I'll reiterate) – there'll be a chapter a day and every chapter is set on their respective day... or thereabouts anyway.

This is my first ever story based on a chick-flick (take that how you will) and will hopefully be more upbeat than last year's special. This is AU so you know the routine by now - forget what the movie told you and just enjoy the ride. As well as being more upbeat, this story really is being written by-the-seat-of-my-pants, so this year chapters are going to be shorter and more prone to fluff/filler and probably NOT up to my usual standards, but I hope you can forgive me. This really is just a bit of fun for me and the readers (you) rather than a serious, well-plotted story.

So now I present to you the 2013 Christmas Special: A Christmas Heart!

Merry Christmas,

Cat.

x

P.S. The cover artwork was wonderfully done by PsychEmpress. (Find her either on Tumblr or .) You can find the original artwork on her Tumblr page; the link is on my profile page. She's also done at least three other pictures for this story alone, so I would definitely recommend checking out the link.

ooOoo

"I need some peace and quiet... or whatever it is people go away for."

Amanda, The Holiday

x

Sunday 1st December 2012: Away

"That's it, I am done! We are through!"

Machida Itsuki rather abruptly found himself standing on the front porch of the DuBois mansion with the door firmly slammed in his face. Having not been expecting just such an eviction, he understandably took a few seconds to adapt to the change in situation. When he did recover, he was not above knocking up a storm on the door.

"Louise? Louise! Aw, come on, babe; I didn't mean any of it!"

A white half-cat peered out of a window on the first floor. "You didn't mean it?" she screeched. "How stupid do you think I am? Scram, Machida! And take your stuff with you!" She hauled forward the bag the black cat had failed to retrieve in his sudden expulsion, emptying it out and hurling the contents at Machida. "You – rotten – no-good – lazy – lying..." She accented every accusation with another tossed item. The bag now empty, she growled and threw the satchel at Machida after the rest of his possessions. "Get out of my sight!"

The black half-cat was scrambling after his items, ducking to avoid the hurled bag. "Louise! Aw, give me a second chance!"

Louise's answer came in the form of a flung shoe that hit him squarely in the face. "Leave! Now! Or I'll set my uncle on you!"

Machida paled, if such a thing were possible beneath the fur, and staggered back, his arms full with the bundled selection of his thrown possessions. He began to make a hasty back-track along the extensive garden path. "You'll forgive me, babe. You always do!"

"Not this time," she muttered. Content that Machida was making a speedy retreat, she slammed the window shut and stormed downstairs.

Her uncle was occupying his usual armchair, newspaper open before him as if his niece hadn't just made enough noise to raise the dead. "Good riddance," he grunted, and turned another page of the paper. "I always said he was bad news."

"I know, Uncle." The white feline collapsed into a sofa, easing free a blanket and curling it around her. She snuffled and brought it far enough around her so only her eyes and ears were out of its soft embrace and the image served to make her look more of a kitten than a fully-grown cat. "I should've listened to you."

"Yeah, you should've." Sensing after a few seconds that perhaps he wasn't being as sympathetic as perhaps he could be, the larger cat lowered the newspaper enough to regard his only niece. After another muted second, he sighed and folded the paper aside. "I'll go put the kettle on."

"But you hate tea," Louise sniffled.

"Loathe the stuff," he agreed. He patted her as he went past. "But you look like you need it."

"Thanks, Uncle."

The large white cat scoffed and waved it aside. "Don't mention it. What blend do you want?"

"Do we have any of Baron's blend?"

"Nope. You finished it the day before last."

"Oh." Louise deflated further into the blanket, dragging it entirely over her head and through the material came the muffled reply of, "Just make it a chamomile tea then." She curled into a ball under the blanket, biting back the tears of frustration even as they pricked her eyes. "Stupid," she whispered furiously. "Stupid, stupid, stupid..."

A minute or so later the edge of the blanket was peeled back to reveal the round face of her uncle. "If you've quite finished beating yourself up about Machida..." he commented dryly. He brought a delicate cup and saucer that appeared ridiculously undersized in his hand. "Look, I come bearing gifts."

Louise sniffled once more but reappeared from the bundle of blanket. She hiccupped and accepted the proffered tea. "Thanks, Uncle. You're the best."

"I know, I know." Her uncle leant against the nearest armchair to again watch his niece while she eased herself back up. "You're not to blame for what happened," he started suddenly. His voice sounded a little gruffer than usual, as if verbalising sympathy wasn't something he did often. "That jerk of an ex-boyfriend was the one who's responsible for this mess. Not you, Louise. You did nothing wrong."

"But... three months?" Louise snapped her head up to the older cat, her sky blue eyes wide with earnest. "He's been cheating on me for three months and I haven't realised? How blind have I been? You've been saying all along that he's a rotten egg, but did I listen? No, I just made excuses for him, every time he missed a date or broke a promise and... and he wasn't even ever that nice to me!" she snapped. "Worlds beyond, I feel stupid..."

"Stop beating yourself up," her uncle ordered. "That won't achieve anything. No, what you really need is a holiday..."

Louise laughed humourlessly. "Oh, really? And where do you suggest, Uncle? The Cat Kingdom is so... so predictable! Beautiful sunshine three hundred and sixty five days a year, wonderful warmth, and a perfect climate all year round! I'm sick of it, I tell you!" She dumped her teacup onto the carefully carved coffee table that had survived at least three generations of DuBois family and now was forced to suffer the indignation of the youngest DuBois. "I want to get out of the Cat Kingdom for once! I want to have grey skies and gloomy weather and be cold. I want to wrap up warm for once, with scarves and gloves and those shapeless woollen hats that people in the Human World wear. I'm sick of this weather, I tell you. Sick!"

ooOoo

"I'm sick of this weather, Toto. You hear me? Sick!"

The tall human paused in his careful transfer of chicken and mushroom soup from pan into bowl and glanced over his shoulder at the huddled form occupying the slumped sofa. "Yes, I hear you. You've been telling the world that since yesterday." Soup successfully emptied into bowl he turned on the spot and pushed the steaming bowl into her hands. "Eat that. It'll make you feel better."

Haru smiled weakly despite her earlier outburst. "Sorry, Toto. You've had to listen to me mope for the past day. I don't know why you're still here."

He dropped a spoon into the soup and ruffled her hair as he went past. "Well, you are my little sister."

She stuck her tongue out at him. "Only by ten minutes."

"Regardless, you are still my little sister and it's my job to look after you. Even when you're a pain in the butt."

Haru laughed, choking on the soup as she did. "You make it sound like this cold is my fault!" she spluttered out once she had sufficiently regained her breath.

"Obviously your immune system just isn't putting up enough of a fight," Toto replied, shaking his head with mock disappointment. "I mean, look at me? I'm not sick. I'm happy as Larry! Actually, come to that, who is this Larry we're meant to be as happy as?"

Haru glared at her twin brother. "I ought to cough on you here and now for that."

"No, not the cough! Not the cough, dear sister!" Toto raised a hand as if to his wounded heart, stumbling across the lounge with the pretence of dire sickness. "No, I can feel the disease creeping in on me! The pain! The pain! Goodbye, cruel world!" He howled the last word, tottering a few half steps before collapsing dramatically onto the wearing carpet. He twitched and then lay still.

Haru reluctantly clapped. "Congratulations. Your acting has possibly worsened since last time."

Toto peeked an eye open. "That's why I write and let others do the drama. Hey, at least I'm spontaneous." He rolled onto his front and pushed himself back to his feet, moving to take a seat at the other end of the lounge's only sofa. Once a bright yellow, the colour had faded to a shade more befitting of mould and the sofa itself had slumped with the wear of years. Haru shifted her feet to give her brother room. "Did you hear?" he asked. He kicked back his feet and rested them on the aged coffee table scattered with newspapers and tissue boxes. "The Dogberry Theatre is doing Star-Crossed this Christmas!"

Haru lifted her gaze from the soup she was currently savouring. "They're doing one of your plays?"

"Oh, why must you sound so surprised, little sister? Your scepticism wounds me!"

The young woman prodded him with her foot. "Hey, I'm sick. I can't conjure up the enthusiasm required to maintain your ego today."

"Fair enough. I'm sure I can find it within me to forgive you."

"Good." She ate a little more of her soup before she ventured with the question, "Star-Crossed is the Romeo and Juliet rip-off, isn't it?"

"Inspired! Romeo and Juliet inspired!"

"Hey, it's two lovers divided by a feud. It's basically Romeo and Juliet set between the Cat Kingdom and the Human World."

"What is there not to love about my story? Setting the feud between two families, one Felissian and the other Human is a genius idea! All the critics say so. Everyone finds it terribly romantic."

Haru raised both eyebrows. "So you are a secret romantic."

"Hey, it's never been proven."

"I'm your twin sister. I know you."

"Well... you're one too!"

Haru rolled her eyes. "I know I am. And I admit it. What's wrong with being a romantic?"

"Mum always read us stories of fairytales and true love when we were younger... You know that. I just..."

"You just decided that you didn't believe in it," Haru finished. She sighed and, soup finished, leant back into the sofa. "You're in such denial."

"Am not."

"Toto, do you actually watch any of the stuff you write?"

"So I write happy endings, so what?"

"Fluffy happy endings," Haru clarified. "Sugary sweet happy endings."

"People like that kind of thing."

Haru snorted. "You're too strong-willed to just write what people like. If you write, it's because you want to write it and pretty much for no other reason." She sighed again and dragged the collection of many blankets over her, snuggling into their warmth. "Thanks for coming to check on me, Toto," she murmured. "I feel much better."

Toto smiled warmly and tucked the blankets over her shoulder. "No problem."

Sleep was creeping over Haru and there was little to do to stop it. She managed to ask, "You need to go for a shift at the pub now, don't you?" before she dropped off entirely.

"Afraid so. You'll be okay, won't you?"

"Hiromi's coming over," Haru murmured, but the words came out along the lines of, "Romi's c'min ov'r," in the lull of her sleep.

"Good, good." He patted his sister fondly once more before rising to his feet and collecting his black coat off the side and stepping back into thick boots. He had just wound his favourite striped scarf around his neck when the doorbell emitted it's ear-piercing ring.

"That'll be 'Romi," Haru murmured. "Get that, will you?"

Toto unlocked the front door and opened it to greet a familiar brunette. "Afternoon, Hiromi."

The young woman grinned, a light blush gracing her cheeks despite the freezing conditions outside. "Hi, Toto! Mind if I come in? I think I'm about to turn into a popsicle!"

Toto laughed and moved aside to let her in. "You've come to take care of the invalid, I take it?"

The blast of cold air appeared to have woken Haru up, for there was the unmistakable cry of, "I can hear you!" from the sofa.

Toto laughed again and shared a conspiring grin with Hiromi. "Darn, and I thought I had calmed her down for your shift. Ah well, looks like she's awake enough to be trouble."

"Still can hear you!"

"I love you too!" He pulled his hat from the side and, with a well-practiced flourish, dropped it onto his head. "Good luck, Hiromi."

The young woman blushed and murmured, "Thanks."

He tipped his head and headed out to the street, where the weather was doing its very best to be the epitome of grey and drizzling. Hiromi sighed and watched him leave.

"Hey, shut the door already! Are you trying to kill me?"

The lighter brunette was snapped out of her thoughts and suddenly she couldn't get the door closed fast enough. "S-Sorry, Haru. I guess I just..."

"Yeah, I know." Haru propped herself enough to look over the sofa and to her best friend. Her face softened and the sharp tone had completely melted away. The open door and following gust of coldness had well and truly woken Haru from whatever tempting sleep she had almost sunk into. "How are you doing, Hiromi?"

The other girl groaned and sat at the edge of the coffee table. Quite accustomed to such misuse, the table barely squeaked. "He's never going to see me, is he?"

"You never know. Maybe–"

"He isn't, is he?" Hiromi pressed.

Haru sighed. "No," she agreed. "I don't think so."

"Do you think he knows?"

"About your feelings? Probably not. For all he writes, he's oblivious to the truth slapping him in the face."

"At least that's a small mercy," Hiromi muttered. She looked up and suddenly the depression was gone. "Hey, I came here to check on you, not dump my angst. How are you doing?"

"Well, I can hardly breathe, I'm constantly shivering and I need a good book."

"Ah, okay. Do you need something to eat?"

"Toto's already done me some soup."

"I could do you a hot chocolate?" her friend offered.

Haru grinned. "You are amazing."

"I know. So is that a yes?"

"It most certainly is."

"I was thinking, I have the evening off, so maybe if you want to watch a movie or something, then I'm game."

"You don't want to stay," Haru insisted. "I'm ill. You'll catch it."

Hiromi waved it airily away. "Pfft, I'm your friend. Whether you're sick or not, you're unhappy so it is my solemn duty to rectify that. Now, do you want marshmallows and cream with that hot chocolate?"

"I owe you one, Hiromi."

"I'm going to remember that and remind you when I'm next sick," she promised. She dropped the steaming mug before her best friend, picking up the empty bowl and spoon to wash as she went. "I even picked up a new film to cheer you up, so we are definitely having a movie night tonight!"

Haru was just about to reiterate her thanks when a loud bang rattled the house. Hiromi appeared running back from the kitchen and Haru staggered to her feet.

"What was that?"

"I don't know." Haru made her way towards the front door, padding forward with blankets tightly pulled around her. There, on the fraying doormat that had long lost its 'welcome' message, was a small, smoking envelope. She leant gingerly down to pick it up.

"Careful!"

Haru rolled her eyes and picked it off the floor. "What do you think is going to happen, Hiromi? It's an envelope."

"It came with a loud bang. What's there not to be wary about?"

Reassured it wasn't about to burst into flames or start screeching or any other adverse effects, Haru turned it over in her hands to examine the front. Beautiful, flowing calligraphy spelled out her address, but it was the strange, diamond-shaped post stamp that caught her attention. Even as she smoothed out the edges, her thumb brushed the edge of it and she felt the crackle of magic.

"It's from the Cat Kingdom," she whispered.

"The Cat Kingdom? What are you doing getting letters from the Cat Kingdom? You ain't rescued their prince or anything, have you?"

Haru laughed and now turned it over. "Not a chance."

"Well, whoever sent it obviously had enough money to send it with that post stamp," Hiromi remarked. She folded the corner upwards so she could get another look at the strange post stamp. "Why didn't they just send it to the post office? You can get ordinary mail from the Cat Kingdom."

"I don't know. But..." Haru started to tear the envelope open. Now she felt the quality of the paper; it was inescapable to realise that whoever sent this had more than enough money to spare. "I wonder..."

"What? What do you wonder?"

"Do you remember there was an exchange that I did back in school?"

"Oh. Yeah." Hiromi made a face. "I was stuck here. It was the most boring fortnight I've ever had to suffer through."

"Don't be such a dog in the manger." Haru elbowed her friend playfully. "Well, I kept in contact with my exchange and we usually send a letter to the other every other month or so. True, she usually sends it in the ordinary post, so I don't know why she sent it like this now..."

"Wait, I remember your exchange... White cat, very blue eyes... Extremely rich?"

Haru recalled the mansion she had lived in for those two wonderful weeks. "Yeah, very. Her father was an earl or something..."

"Oh, fancy. So... what does she want?"

"Hang on, I'm getting there." Haru opened up the paper to reveal another example of the flowing calligraphy presented on the envelope. She fell into abrupt silence while Hiromi impatiently waited on the sidelines. As Haru's eyes got larger, she had to re-read the letter several times to reassure herself this was real.

"She... she wants to come here..." she said. "She says that she needs a break from the Cat Kingdom and that she... wonders whether we could do a... a house swap..."

"Fantastic!" Hiromi cried. "Say yes! Oh, come on, Haru; you've gotta say yes!"

"Are you mad? Look at me, Hiromi? I'm sick. I'm unwell. I look like something the cat dragged in..."

"So you need a holiday! And here we go; an opportunity so golden it sparkles drops right into your lap! Are you going to just throw it away? Oh, come on, Haru. You've got to go. I'll look after the bookshop while you're gone–"

"Hiromi! You have work at the shop–"

"Not all the time. And I bet Toto will fill in the shifts that I miss. It's not like he does much anyway..."

"Don't let him hear you say that. He takes his writing very seriously. And he is making a living off it," Haru reminded her friend.

"So you agree? You'll go?"

"I never–"

"Haru!"

"I can't just up and leave–"

"Toto's always saying you should be more spontaneous–"

"So I should be more like him? Thanks, but no thanks. I love him and all, but the Yoshioka family needs to have at least one sane and stable member and – hey... What's that?" Haru's attention suddenly diverted onto something small and diamond-shaped on the thin hallway carpet. She scooped it into her palm, revealing another post stamp identical to the one on the envelope.

"Huh, it must have fallen out," Hiromi remarked. "Guess this exchange of yours wants a quick reply." She nudged her friend. "Hey, do something spontaneous for once in your life. It might just surprise you."

"Yeah, yeah..." Haru surrendered. "Alright, I'll reply. I'll accept. But," she hastily added before Hiromi could get too far into her celebrations, "I'm going to tell her I'm sick. That way it'll be fair on her."

"And she might refuse, you mean?" Hiromi added flatly.

Haru didn't answer. She only located a pen and paper and started scrawling her answer into a letter. Her writing was by no stretch of the imagination untidy, but compared to the other calligraphy it looked remarkably childlike, and Haru often prided herself on her pretty handwriting. Then again, she was bunged up with cold and stuffed with chicken soup and hot chocolate. She was hardly at her best.

On finding a blank envelope she detailed her old exchange's address and peeled off the backing of the post stamp. As far as she could remember, the diamond post stamp was relatively simple. Peel the backing off and you had ten seconds before the magic kicked in. By that time you should have the stamp on the envelope and when the ten seconds are up the stamp, letter and all, would transport itself to the assigned address.

Haru dropped the envelope and stepped back. In fact, both girls gave it a considerably wide berth. Several seconds passed.

"Maybe it's a du–"

The bang blasted both young woman several shocked steps back. Haru wafted away the streams of smoke before it could set off the fire alarm. "Kingdoms above, there has got to be a way to silence that magic! Next door must think we're housing a shooting party!" She coughed and retreated to the sofa, comfortably reassured that there was no chance of her exchange agreeing now.

"Well, I think we should start on the film. What kind of popcorn do you want? Never mind; we only have sweet anyway." She snuggled into the blankets, smiling to herself as she reclaimed her hot chocolate from the table. When Hiromi didn't instantly follow, she glanced back. "Hey, you coming?"

"I'm waiting for your exchange's reply."

Haru scoffed. "She's going to decline. We both know it."

"You might, but I'm keeping an open mind."

"Suit yourself."

She had just got truly comfortable when another blasting bang exploded in the hallway. She didn't turn around, already hearing Hiromi rip open the envelope and spill its contents. "What does the letter say?"

There was silence from Hiromi. Then, "She... accepts."

"What?"

"And she says she's already packed. She's going to be here by tomorrow."