The tree filled a corner of the parlor, its fragrant limbs spreading the pine scent throughout the small farmhouse. Mikan watched as Natsume turned the tree one way, then the other, until Aoi pronounced it just right.

"Here, Aunt Mikan." Aoi held out a box of ornaments. "Help Pa trim the tree." She smiled brightly as Mikan took the box from her hands.

Despite earlier gloom, Mikan found herself returning the child's smile. It was Christmas Eve, after all, and she had much to be thankful for.

Following Aoi's precise directions, Mikan arranged the gingham bows and hand-painted pine cones on the tree. Occasionally she would look up and find Natsume watching her. Her heart would catch, and she's find herself hoping he would say something, anything. But he didn't speak.

There was only silence between them – the silence of the two people afraid to take a risk and lose. And so they were losing by default instead.

By the time the tree was trimmed, all traces of Mikan's smile had disappeared. It was impossible to force merriment when she knew she would be leaving Natsume and Aoi in another day or two.

She turned away from the Christmas tree and crossed to the window. Pushing aside the curtain, she stared out at the snowy blanket that covered the earth. The clouds had blown over, revealing a silver moon in a star-studded sky. Silvery crystals glittered on tree limbs and from the eaves of the barn and house. The night itself seemed more blue than black. It was beautiful Christmas Eve.

"It's time you were in bed, young lady." Natsume said to Aoi, drawing Mikan's gaze from the winter wonderland beyond the glass. "Saint Nick won't come until you're fast asleep. Come on. I'll carry you to your room."

"You don't need to carry me. Pa," the girl responded. She turned her chair, her eyed meeting Mikan's. There was clearly a challenge in her gaze. Then she glanced back at her father. "You need to stay here and talk with Aunt Mikan."

Natsume looked across the room, his eyes colliding with Mikan's once again, and she felt her breath catch in her throat.

"You've always said it doesn't do any good to keep things that are bothering me all to myself. Aoi rolled her chair toward her room. "And you always said it never hurts to try. Seems to me you ought to try, Pa. Seems tome you both should try."

Her gaze still held captive by Natsume's own intense stare, Mikan heard the door to Aoi's room close. Her chest felt tighter than before.

"She's pretty smart for bein' only ten." Natsume stepped away from the tree. "We do need to talk, Mikan."

"We do?"

He loomed tall before her. "We do."

The way he was looking at her … Her heart began to pump furiously in her chest.

"I've made more than my fair of mistakes in life, polka, but if you go away without telling you how I feel, that would be the biggest mistake of them all."

His fingers closed around her upper arms.

"The words don't come easy."

He pulled her toward him. She tilted her head back, their eyes still locked.

"Don't go, Mikan. Aoi and I want you to stay. We need you."

His head lowered. His lips claimed hers in a long passionate kiss that left her shaken to the very core.

It would be easy to say yes to this man. It would be so easy to stay with him just because he and his daughter needed her. But she wanted more. She wanted hi love, and he wasn't offering her that.

She pulled free from his embrace, stepping away from him until her back was pressed against the wall. "I … I can't stay, Natsume. You see how it is between us. If I stay, we'll … we would …" She felt the color flare in her cheeks. "I couldn't live like that." She finished in a whisper, knowing even as she spoke that it was a lie. She could live like that. She could be his mistress and share his bed. It would break her heart, but she could do it.

Natsume's eyed widened. The crimson seemed to darken. His right hand lifted, and he gently cupped her chin with his fingers as he drew close to her again. "You don't understand, Mikan. I'm asking you to be my wife."

"Your wife?" the blood drained from her head, and she heard an odd rushing in her ears. Somehow, she found herself back in his embrace.

"I love you, Mikan." He kissed her sorehead, then pressed his cheek against her temple, whispering, "I've never said those words to a woman before. I love you, Mikan. Stay and be my wife. Stay and be Aoi's mother. We need you."

It was quite possibly the worst moment of Natsume's life. Worse than learning Aoi wasn't his child. Worse than seeing Luna's hatred and contempt for him.

Mikan's silence seemed interminable. Confusion in her brown eyes.

Maybe he'd been a fool to say anything. Maybe he should have just let her go back to Ruka Noji or Nogi or whatever his name was. Maybe he'd been wrong to hope. He'd taken a risk, telling her how he felt, and now all he could do was wait for her reply.

"You love me?" she whispered, disbelief rounding her eyes. "But I thought …" She shook her head slowly, as if denying what she'd heard.

And then he saw what he'd longed to see. She was watching him with a look of love. Try as she might to hide it, it was there.

"But you still love Luna," she said, so softly he could barely hear her.

His daughter had been right. They did need to talk. Mikan needed to know the truth about his marriage, about Aoi, about everything. And there were probably things he needed to know about her life. But at this moment, there was only one thing he needed to know.

He cradled her face between his hands. "It's you I love, Mikan Sakura. Tell me now. Is there a chance you could love me?"

That odd rushing sound in her ears intensified.

A chance?

Her voice quivered as she replied, "I've always loved you, Natsume. Always."

When he kissed her this time, it was with an overwhelming tenderness. It was a kiss that reached deep inside her, touching her heart as it had never been touched before.

He lifted his head and stared into her eyes. "Tell me you're never leaving."

Perhaps it was because he had touched her heart that she seemed able to see inside his own. Perhaps that was why she understood how very important her words were. And so she spoke them clearly, the hesitant quiver no longer present in her voice.

"No, Natsume, I'm not ever leaving. I'll be with you forever."

Unnoticed, Aoi stood on weak, wobbly legs, holding onto the door for support. She watched as the couple moved across the room to stand beside the Christmas tree. Their arms were wrapped around each other. Mikan's head leaned against Natsume's chest.

He chuckled softly. "I think you and I are more surprised about this than Aoi's going to be."

"Mmmm." Mikan nodded.

"But it's a nice Christmas present, all the same."

Mikan lifted her head and looked up at him. "The angel didn't come."

"What?"

"The Christmas angel for the tree. Aoi had her heart set on it. I ordered it the day you took me to town, but it didn't come. She'll be so disappointed."

Smiling to herself, Aoi quietly eased back into her wheelchair. Her own surprise could wait until morning. For now she was content to just see how happy her pa and Aunt Mikan were.

She remembered the night she'd closed her eyes and wished for the Christmas angel. She remembered thinking that the pretty celestial spirit would bring good fortune to her father.

And that was just what had happened, too.

Aunt Mikan was wrong, Aoi thought as she closed her bedroom door without a sound. The Christmas angel had arrived, and her pa was holding her in his arms right now.

Ghaaahh!!!... Done... I know someone's gonna be disappointed with this.... really KAYE!!!!!... I'd like to have a love scene in here, but then I changed my mind.... you know ... it's really easy to imagine what that actions would be... but it's hard to formulate it in words... WAAHHH!!! huhu... I love reading some of those perverted things. but dont know if i could really have a tory with it... And to think, Christmas is OVER!!! sooo.... just watch-out for my other story... promise... i'll make it rated-m.... HAHAhhhh.... Classes would really start tooo sooonn... I hate it..... See ya GUYS!!!!.... To those who gave their reviews.... I'd like you to know that I also love your stories.... but I only read those Gaken and Inuyasha...... I'll try to return the fav and review all the way.... YAY!!! thanks a lot!!!!