AN: Here's that epilogue I promised! It's quite short, but I think it wraps up this fic quite nicely! The new question and answer fanfic (that is sort of a prequel and sequel) I mentioned in the first authors note in the previous chapter (If you have no idea what I'm talking about go check it out~) will be up soon, but SEPERATELY from this one- and I'm also soon to start a Grimmhime story as well! (: Hope you enjoy, and hope to see you guys in future reviews! Don't forget to leave me some questions! Much love!

~Christmas Eve, Five Years Later~

Orihime lies in bed silently with Ulquiorra, snuggled close to him with her head resting against his bare chest. She is listening to the crackling of the hearth across the room, along with his heartbeat- and worrying quite a lot.

"Do you think they'll all like their gifts?" Orihime questions anxiously, angling her head upward to see his face. His eyes are closed, but he smiles faintly (very faintly at that, as he's half asleep), grunting a little in confirmation. Despite this, she is still troubled, gently tensing and untensing the hand resting on his collarbone, fingers brushing against his skin and not allowing him to fall asleep completely. After a while of this he wakes up- turning a little and glaring at her fully.

"Onna, you may stay awake if you please, but I would enjoy some amount of sleep tonight."

She pouts at his old nickname for her, as it is now used only when he is irritated, glaring straight back.

"I need some encouragement!"

"We've had this conversation four times today, the gifts are fine."

"But I really think we-"

He kisses her, then, silencing her immediately. She practically melts in his arms. When he pulls away she follows gently, and he pecks her lips once to stop her, smiling faintly.

"You need to stop worrying so much, Orihime."

She blushes and nods a little, returning to her original position up against him, snuggling close, now relaxed. He begins to settle in again, pulling the blankets back up, holding her tighter-

Orihime suddenly sits up, facepalming.

"We can't sleep yet! We both almost forgot the cookies!"

Ulquiorra gives a long and frustrated sigh, immediately sitting up, pushing the blankets away and grabbing his tunic shirt.

"Do you want me to come with you?"

He doesn't answer and instead leaves the room, knowing she'll follow behind. Five seconds after he carefully shuts the door, he hears her open it, step out, and do the same.

"Wait for me…!"

After a few moments he feels her grab his hand, and he grins wryly, squeezing it gently, heading for the ballroom. Inside there rests a large Christmas tree, hundreds of gifts underneath, and beside that lies a small table holding a plate of home-made cookies. Orihime immediately goes to check on the gifts (as if that will help her to stop worrying about them), and Ulquiorra heads over to the table, tiredly picking up a cookie. He glances over at Orihime as he picks the cookie up, the now-familiar emotion of peace flowing through him smoothly, mingled with love and care.

Every amount of this peace is shattered when he takes his first bite, however, because a small voice echoes from the door they just entered from.

"Daddy, why are you eating Santa's cookie?"

Ulquiorra, for once, does not have a logical answer.