Disclaimer: I do not claim any rights to Code Lyoko.

Hot Chocolate and Simulated Fires

Brrr...

Aelita shivered as she was enveloped in the warmth of the rec room. She felt blessed for indoor heating, especially at six in the morning. The sound of a crackling fire greeted her as she tossed her jacket haphazardly on the coat rack.

"Hey, Aelita." Jeremie was waiting for her on the best couch in the room, it was a constant cause of wrestling matches among the students. Anyone who stayed at Kadic for the holidays was sleeping in today, though, so they could sit wherever they wanted to.

"I got your text message," said Aelita, sliding into the seat next to him. The fire turned out to be simulated on the television—students would never be allowed to light a real one unattended—but it added to the cozy, intimate setting nicely.

"Did I wake you?" asked Jeremie, surprising her with a wool blanket. She gratefully spread it out over both of them, rubbing her hands over her numb legs to warm them up.

"You know I can't stay in bed today," she answered. The little kid inside her wouldn't allow otherwise. "I was just done getting ready when you asked me to meet you."

Jeremie blushed as he handed her a cup of hot chocolate, with four little marshmallows just the way she liked it. "I just wanted to be the first to wish you a merry Christmas," he offered shyly.

Aelita grinned and snuggled up against him, too full of chocolate and comfy to care when he stiffened and turned red. "Merry Christmas, Jeremie," she replied. "I just don't understand why you're here. Don't you regret not going home for break?"

Jeremie nervously looped and arm around her shoulders. To be honest, he couldn't regret much of anything at the moment. "My parents understand, I've got a lot of work to do."

"No more than last year," countered Aelita. If he was talking about school work, that is. "I'd be fine at Yumi's again."

"Maybe next year I'll go," said Jeremie. Aelita sighed and sat up.

"It's been six months, Jeremie," she responded flatly.

Jeremie looked down, he'd been caught. "That doesn't matter."

"I'm keeping you from your family—"

"I told you, they understand."

Aelita bit her lip and picked at the blanket. "I don't want you feeling bad for me."

"I can't leave you alone here," replied Jeremie, covering her fidgeting hand in his. "Besides, I want to be here."

Aelita didn't believe him, but she didn't want to fight with him, either. Jeremie staying wouldn't change the fact that her father died this summer and Xana escaped from the supercomputer. She'd never really intended to stay with Yumi, either. Seeing a father and daughter enjoying the festivities would be too painful. So maybe spending break with Jeremie would be better than sulking alone. Cuddling with a few Christmas stories...an afternoon snowball fight outside...perhaps a few "accidents" with some mistletoe...Actually, the idea was sounding better by the second, in spite of her guilt.

She leaned back against his chest, rearranging the blanket around them and taking another sip of hot chocolate. "Thank you," she murmured. The hot liquid and indoor heating were handy remedies for the cold, but Jeremie practically radiated warmth. He always had.

She looked up just in time to see him flash that smile. The one that was always reserved only for her. It was something about the way his lips curved and his blue eyes brightened just a shade that told her no matter what happened, he would always be waiting with open arms when she returned. Aelita couldn't help grinning back at him.

Jeremie's heart flip-flopped as Aelita beamed. "We can do whatever you want to," he promised automatically. Anything to keep that smile on her face.

Aelita pulled herself closer to him. "I just want to stay here for now."

Jeremie blushed and nodded, his cheek rubbing against her hair as he did so. "So...um...do you want your gift later, then?"

Aelita froze. "Gift?"

"Yeah, it's...um...Christmas," reminded Jeremie. Who deserved a gift more than Aelita?

Aelita buried her face into his shirt, feeling very small. It wasn't that she'd forgotten, she simply has no idea what to get him. She couldn't make him anything useful. She had no money; anything her father had of value was not in the Hermitage. Last year had been her first Christmas, when everyone assumed she was an artificial intelligence, and she was easily forgiven for not being prepared. She should have been able to give something this year, though. Jeremie was only the most important person in the world to her. Aelita had been secretly hoping he'd be so wrapped up in Lyoko he'd forget. Then maybe she wouldn't feel so bad now.

Jeremie handed her a neatly folded piece of paper. She opened it slowly, not sure what to expect. Then her jaw dropped. "What...what is this?" she asked, gaping at him.

"It's the deed to the Hermitage," answered Jeremie gently. "Now it's legally yours."

"How did you..."Aelita faltered, looking in awe at the document.

"Your father had some accounts overseas," explained Jeremie. "A lot of his records were stored on the supercomputer, where no one could ever find them. Not even the government. I've been trying to find all of those accounts for the last six months. So far I've only managed to get the deed. It's legit, the day you turn eighteen you can claim your house."

"Jeremie, I..." Aelita's mind seemed to shut down, only one thing registered. She owned something in this world. She had always considered the Hermitage as hers and never thought anyone would dare deny it. And now no one could.

"There's some money, too," continued Jeremie. "Not a lot, and I haven't gotten access to the funds yet, but I'm working on it," he added hurriedly. "And some more documents, birth certificates and stuff. You'll always be Aelita Stones, but...I think you'd still like them for the...the family history and everything."

Aelita tried to process this, but could only realize she possessed something. Now matter how many mistakes her father may have made, she could call something her own. Slowly, the rest of what Jeremie said trickled into her amazed mind.

"I...I can't...Jeremie," Aelita spoke in a hushed whisper. "I can't thank you enough."

That being said, she delicately set the deed on the table, then flung her arms abruptly around his neck, sending them both crashing into the couch armrest behind Jeremie. He waited a moment before cautiously wrapping his arms around her and returning the hug firmly.

"N-No problem," he stammered shakily, very grateful that it was too early for anyone to be in here. Aelita pushed herself up, adjusting his lopsided glasses for him.

"You didn't have to do all this," she told him quietly. "You've got school and Xana to balance."

Jeremie blushed. Aelita's hand had moved away from his glasses and had taken to combing through his hair, making it difficult to concentrate on a reply. "Really, Aelita, i-it's nothing," he assured her.

"I don't have anything to give you," admitted Aelita, dropping her gaze to the fabric of the sofa cushion.

"I don't want anything from you," said Jeremie honestly. Her being her was present enough, but he'd die of embarrassment before he told her anything that corny.

Aelita smirked. That was exactly the kind of thing he'd say. Jeremie started sitting up only to be promptly knocked back down by Aelita's lips pressed forcefully against his. Soft...warm...mmm... Jeremie tried to collect his thoughts and failed miserably. An eternity later, and still somehow too soon, Aelita broke the kiss and gulped in air. She grinned at the dazed look on his face.

"Something wrong, Jeremie?" she inquired innocently. He shook his head mutely, as if speech was beyond him.

Aelita giggled as she redid the blanket and basked in Jeremie's warmth, while he attempted to wrap his mind around what just happened. She sipped her hot chocolate and watched the fire, content to spend all of Christmas right here.

Jeremie hesitantly curled his arms around her middle, and was pleased to find her shifting to get closer. If this was going to be Aelita's reaction, he'd gladly track down the birth certificate of her fourth cousin twice removed. He silently enjoyed the embrace for a few long moments before finally finding something to say.

"You know, Princess, you've always had a family," he murmured. "We've always been there for you, and we always will be."

Aelita turned over in his arms to see him giving her the smile. She slipped an arm around his neck and touched their foreheads together. "I know," she replied, grinning as he shyly looked away. Jeremie froze when Aelita's lips connected with his, much more softly than before.

After a few seconds she pulled back. "Merry Christmas, Jeremie," she wished him tenderly.

Jeremie blushed, this was turning out to be a much better holiday than he had hoped for. "Merry Christmas, Aelita."

A/N: It's been, what, a year or so since I posted something? I didn't plan on taking a break at all, life just sort of knocked me on my ass, and I couldn't find it in me. Over the last couple weeks, though, I've been working on a couple oneshots and have realized I can't just stop writing, especially for my still-favorite couple. Just hope I haven't gotten so rusty I've lost my touch.