After instructions from Tsubaki, the nervous messy pit in my gut felt more like a nervous organized pit in my gut. I made Maka and I both dinner plates from the buffet and ambled over to where she and a few other girls were chatting. She smiled at me as I handed her the plate. The girls giggled flirtatiously at me and Maka gave a death glare in their general direction as they left.

"Thanks Soul," she take a bite of pasta salad. "Did Tsubaki like her gift?" I nodded. "Kidd got me a book. How predictable..." She rolled her eyes and pointed to the novel on the table.

"Do you know who has me?" I asked swallowing some mashed potatoes.

"Lizz I think. I haven't seen her in awhile though." She was quiet for awhile. "So what were you and Tsubaki taking about?"

"Just some Black Star thing, you know, presents or whatever." I answered without hesitation taking a bite of her peppermint brownie.

"Oh," there was a hint of disappointment in her voice.

I tried to change the topic. "Your brownies are very good. They beat all other brownies."

Her green eyes sparkled a bit. "Tha-"

She was cut short by Kid spazzing out loudly about how the large Christmas tree in the center of the room was pushed 4cm to the left. Lizz was by his side trying to calm him down by telling him symmetrical objects as Patty tried to adjust the tree back to perfection. Black Star cackled in the corner and Tsubaki face palmed. Maka and I stared blankly as Kid finally calmed down holding onto Lizz's hands.

"I think a distraction is needed," Lizz declared then made direct eye contact with me. "Soul would you be so kind and play the piano?"

"No." I snapped back. What kind of Secret Santa present is this?!

"Awe c'mon Soul!" Maka tugged on my sweater. Everyone was looking at me.

"Maka, no one will like it," I shot her a look of desperation.

"Don't be so silly!" She began pushing me to the grand piano in the far corner. The rest of the guests encouraged me in a cacophony. "Just one song!" She pulled out the piano bench.

I sighed, "I'm not playing a Christmas song." My audience agreed saying more or less 'whatever you play is fine' as a collective group.

I sighed again, feeling the keys with my fingers. Pressed a few to get a sense of the tuning. I inhaled, lifted my hands, and closed my eyes. My hands dropped into a cord and danced among the keys hitting rifts. The tempo slowed and quickened in odd patterned as I swayed along the ivory playing scales. The obscure cord combinations made some guests face's sour but I couldn't care. (LISTEN TO "INTERMISSION" BY PANIC AT THE DISCO) The rifts and cords quickened as I could feeling myself loosing control. A black force hummed like bees in my ears. I continued the play the same pattern faster, my eyes opening wide. I couldn't hear anything but the black static. I lost my hands, they played on their own. Suddenly I was floating in blackness.

I could here a raspy voice laughing madly. "Miss me Soul?" It said.

White light. A rushing through my body.

"That's plenty, Soul." Maka's voice, her hand on my shoulder. I was breathing heavy, my hands poised above the keys.

My audience was silent.

Of course Patty pipped up first. "WOW, that was crazy!" She began clapping wildly. Everyone cautiously joined in but the pride that normally followed applause wasn't there.

I stood up quickly, gave a habitual short bow, and speed walked out of the room without making eye contract with anyone. I could hear Maka calling after me but I just couldn't deal with her right now. I grabbed my bag that was on a chair by the door and headed straight for the bathroom upstairs using the staircase in the kitchen.

Going crazy wasn't part of my mistletoe plan.

"Well shit," I said to myself in the mirror. I splashed water on my face and kept my hands tight on my face. The buzzing in my ears continued. The laughter echoing in my brain

"Did you think I would just go away? Silly Soul, you can't run from your own body..." I could barely hear him. Laugh laugh laugh.

I rubbed fiercely at my face, allowing for my exhale to make noise, "UuhrghUuhrgha." I pulled down my face skin making the insides under my eyes show. Absolute hate. I grunted and dug through my bag looking for my first-aid junk. I opened the Zip-Lock baggy and slipped my hand in trying not to fling BandAids everywhere. I took some Advil and half a pill of Meclizine in hopes the room would stop spinning. After drinking another glass of water, I decided I wouldn't be a drama king and hide up here the whole party.

No surprise Maka was waiting for me outside the door.

"Everything okay?" She stood up from sitting across the hall.

I nodded.

"Was just the song or some kind of madness..?" She picked apart these problems like scabs. I shrugged and tried to make my way around her. "No," she grabbed my shoulder. "You won't just shrug at me. I'm just trying to help! Hey, stop that! Look at me when I'm talking to you please?" Her hand gently lifted my face so our eyes meet. "Are you okay?" She asked again more sincere.

"It's just- I guess it's just the Black Blood." I fought to hold in those stupid hormonal teenage urges. Stupid green eyes... Stupid caring... Caring is so not cool.

Her hands softened and ran from my chin to along my jaw. I caught myself leaning into her touch. Maybe this is actually okay. I go through Tsubaki's advice.

Alone. Check.

Quiet. Check.

Physical contact. Check.

Eye contact. Check.

Confidence. Pretending.

"Hey so I bought you sort of a present," I said backing away and unzipping my bag.

"Oh?" She said confused.

I pulled out the headband and quickly placed it on my head. The look on her face was priceless. I adjusted the mistletoe on the string and looked at her expectantly.

"Is this some kind of joke?" She glared, arms crossed.

I shook my head and put my nervous hands in my hoodie kangaroo pocket, "no ma'am."

She laughed but looked more confused. "No way."

"Rules are rules Maka..." I stated.

"But..." She glanced at the headband.

"But what?"

"Your cheating!"

"I don't care," I stepped closer to see her reaction, she just kept looking confused. Another step and I reached up to cup her face in my hands. I leaned in and touched our noses together. Her breathing hitched and she closed her eyes. I inhaled her pepperminty scent not wanting to go to fast for her. I waited for some sign of permission leaning my forehead against hers and rubbing her cheek with my thumb. She opened her emerald eyes, "don't over think this, bookworm." I try to give a reassuring grin.

She put a cautious hand on my chest, "whe-"

I interrupted her and gently placed my lips on hers.

I swear to Lord Death, time must've stopped. The world floated away. The only thing that mattered was Maka. Her lips were soft and tasted like peppermint and chocolate. She shifted closer to me putting her hands around my neck. I moved my mouth slowly with hers and she threaded her fingers in my hair. Trying to control myself, I moved back before it got to intense. Those stupid hormonal teenage urges of mine weren't completely satisfied. My hands found hers and wove our fingers together, our foreheads pressed together.

"So," I tapped my nose on hers, "Maka Alburn, will you be my Christmas present?" I gave her my sweetest smile. She stared at me wide-eyed like a deer in the headlights. Maka let go of my hands, knitted her eyebrows, and out of nowhere, slammed a book down on my head, knocking me to the ground.

I groaned in pain, "OWWW! What the fuck dude!"

"What kind of prank is this?" She snapped.

"No prank," I whined holding my head.

"Then what the hell are you doing?" She put her hands on her hips. "Where did this come from?"

"Where did what come from?"

"Damn Soul! Why did you kiss me?

"Cuz I wanted to!" I said standing up. "Idiot," I added quietly not making eye contact.

"That doesn't make any sense..."

Sigh. "Maka, stop trying to figure it out. Guys suck at expressing their feelings, especially for a cool guy like me." She looked confused. "Feelings? Like I have some feelings for you? I'm trying to figure them out." I jammed my hands back into the kangaroo pocket of my sweatshirt, embarrassed.

"Oh," she blushed madly.

"Sorry, it was a mean trick." I reached up, took the headband off and smoothing out my hair. She stares blankly at the floor, the tips of her ears had turned red with blush. "Maka? I said I'm sorry, just forget it even happened." I said defeated. "C'mon, let's go back to the party, I don't want to draw more attention to ourselves...okay myself in particular."

Rejection sucked real bad.

I turned to go downstairs but Maka just stood like frozen child at a bus stop in the winter with her hand covering her mouth. She mumbled something.

"Huh?!" I took a step closer.

She looked up at me with soft green eyes. "I made an extra pan."

"Of brownies?" She nodded. "For me?" She nodded again. I grinned as a small spark of hope lit in my chest.

"I was going to save them until Christmas Morning, but now that you know about them you'll eat them!"

"I won't, I promise. Should I save my actual gift then too? Or now cuz I brought it?"

She nodded her head, "it's not another kiss is it?"

"It could be?" I smirked and stepped as close as I was before I kissed her, trying to reestablish the connection.

"Soul?" Her eyes were nervous. I took her left hand carefully, my other hand still holding that blasted headband. "I think I ha- I might have some of the same... feelings and I- maybe w-we can figure them out together?"

"Should I put this back on," I gestured to the mistletoe headband.

There was a pause before she nodded.

Once I placed it on my head, I could tell Maka was thinking again; all the things that could go wrong if our partnership went sour if we became more than friends. She stood frozen in front of me again, looking doubtful and lost.

"If you don't want to do this Maka, it's really okay. We can just pretend this never happened."

Then, then I saw it. That cheeky grin that made my heart beat like a kick drum. She snaked her hands around my neck and looked me dead in the eye. "But Soul? Rules are rules."

Before I had a chance to say anything, Maka smashed her lips awkwardly onto mine. I wrapped my arms around her waist and softened our kiss. Our lips moved in a shy tandem with each other as I tried to keep my legs from melting. Her finger weaved their way into my hair and Death, it felt good. I ran my hands down her sides and sped up our pace. We walked clumsily backwards until I pressed her against the wall. I was surprised when it was her tongue who slides across my mouth asking for permission and I let out an embarrassing moan when she plodded her tongue with mine. I know we've both been holding this in for far too long by the force of our kisses. When I lightly bit her lower lip, she sighed and pulled my hair. I pulled apart, breathing heavily. I grinned and blushed madly and leaned in for more but her hand slapped over my mouth.

"Don't you think we should be getting back to the party?" She whispered.

"No," I muffled against her hand and squeezed the soft flesh of her sides. She squealed and glared at me.

"Yes! Maybe you could play another song on the piano?"

"No."

"Please..." Damn she was too cute.

"No," I leaned in and whispered in her ear as sexual as possible. "I like it right here."

Maka squirmed and giggled, "C'mon Soul, let's go back and play piano."

"Only if you sing," I just wanted to keep kissing her, this wasn't fair but if I could embarrass Maka I would take that chance. And if there's one thing Maka can't do, it's sing.

She thought for a moment, moving her hand back around my neck. "Will you play songs I know?" I gave her a sad nod. "Then it's a deal?"

I gave her a gentle, sweet kiss before releasing her from my hold against the wall. I turned to walk down the stairs when yet again she mumbled something.

"Huh?"

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

"Oh yeah," I reached over and took her hand in mine, interweaving our fingers.

"No," she pointed to my head which still was adorned with the mistletoe. "Something else?"

I paused and crossed my eyes to look at the little holly, then they shifted to look at our interlocked hands, and then back to Maka. "No, I'm not forgetting anything."

"The headband..." She growled.

"What if I need another excuse to kiss you!?"

"Seriously? Take it off." She reached for it.

"Nooooo..." I backed away and held it in place.

She glared. "Fine then, you can deal with Black Star's harassment."

Our reentry seemed to be unnoticed. The party guests had found new entertainment playing some weird game with blindfolds and sparkling ornaments.

Maka squeezed my hands and looked at me with a smile "You wanna play?" She said slightly pulling us in the direction of the crowd of loud people.

"No way." I answered, then I pulled her close to me. She blushed as I whispered in her ear, "I wanna make out with you more."

She blushed as I kissed her cheek. "Uh, You want to get some more food?" She knows me so well.

"Sure but then you have to sing, no backing out." The food wasn't to badly picked over.

Right about then Black Star spotted us and yell something like, "OH DEATH GUYS! IT'S HAPPENING!"

I deadpan spun around and with the most emotionless face, the mistletoe swayed above my eyes, flipped him off with both hands then transformed one into a blade and ran it across my throat. His face drained of color.

I grabbed Maka's hand again, throwing the cookie she had in it back on the plate. "Can we go home now?" I asked with my most innocent face.

"Aww but I thought you said you could deal with Black Star's harassment?" I shrugged. "Besides Soul, I thought we were going to sing Christmas songs?"

I looked at the piano and sighed. "But what if the Black Blood? That was so uncool."

She squeezed my hand and leaned closer to me, "I'll be right there next to you the whole time." She smiled and I couldn't help but smirk back at her.

"Urgh that sound corny." I rolled my eyes but was soon smashed in the cranium with a book. "Okay, sorry sorry," I whined. "Let's get this over with already." I felt eyes on us as we walked to the piano hand in hand. We sat down and I quickly began playing part of some prelude from Bach. "Do you know 'Carol of the Bells'," I leaned over to Maka.

"No," she gave a worried look.

"Don't worry, you don't have to sing this one, I just like playing it." So I did, the holly on my head dance with the motions of my playing. This time I got lost in the music but in a completely different way. In a good way, it felt good and I felt good. Before I knew it, the song ending and everyone clapped. I smiled.

"Any requests?" Maka chimed out to our new audience. Everyone started shouting. "Did I hear 'Jingle Bell Rock'? Alright! Hit it Soul!" She gave a sassy point to me and I gave her a jazzy intro with a grin. "*Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock! Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun! Now the jingle hop has begun!*" She sung a key off but the best she could. Others soon joined in, I'm guessing to try and drown out her noise.

I continued right into 'Deck the Halls' and Maka caught on without even missing a beat, "*Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la, la la la la. Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la, la la la la. Don we now our gay apparel, Fa la la, la la la, la la la. Troll the ancient Yule tide carol, Fa la la la la, la la la la*," she softened her voice a bit and it almost sounded good. It was hard to say with Patty's and Black Star's obnoxious excuses for voices.

Next was 'Rudolph', a personal favorite, but Maka and Black Star had to ruin it but changing it to 'Soul the Red-Eyed Weapon'. Oh the creativity.

As an intermission of sorts I played some Trans-Sebrian-Orchistra Beethoven remixes after a 'Feliz Navidad' and 'It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas'. Right about then I was done with all the cheer. I wanted to go home and kiss Maka more, a lot more. But she just sat there smiling at me like nothing even happened. Oh wait, she definitely scooted closer to me. Some of our carolers went to get more to drink but I was surprised by how many high school kids actually wanted to sing along.

"One more okay?" I leaned to whisper to Maka, but she was closer than I though and ended up with my face right in hers. I blushed embarrassed and she nodded.

"Play," then she whispered a song title that made me blush even more and made my hand sweat.

But I played the interluded and soon the tempo slowed, my heart beat did the opposite. I did not let MY voice start singing, definitely not. But damn, I was. "*I don't want a lot for 's just one thing I need. I don't care about the presents, underneath the Christmas tree*". I couldn't believe it but it truly was my rough voice singing out the lyrics in front of everyone. The look on Maka's face was a mixture between surprise and pleasure, but of course I couldn't look at her for too long, my eyes seeking refuge in the piano keys. "*...Make my wish come true, all I want for Christmas... is you.*"

I stopped playing on the last two words and looked Maka dead in the eyes. Red is an understatement to describe our faces.

"OH MY DEATH YOU GUYS! FUCKING KISS ALREADY YOU DUMBASSES!" Subtle as always Black Star. My eyes darted in his direction but my view was blocked by that stupid mistletoe that I forgot was on my head. "C'MON! YOU EVEN UNDER THAT DUMB MISTLETOE, RULES ARE RULES! KISS HER!"

So I did, in front of all our peers and it was nothing short of amazing.

And I did when we got home.

And I did that night when we were sharing a bed.

And I did the next morning when she opened her present.

And I did everyday since and every time it just gets better.

Happy Holidays:)

A/N: Hey Internet, well I hope you liked my holiday Fanfic. Funny story is I wrote this in July... Review if you liked it, tell me your favorite part:) okay be safe. Have a good holiday!