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The stars were shining across the skies. It was quiet and nice, perfect for the outdoors. The quiet sounds of the fire pit were crackling and sparking. Claudine was staring at the stars, twinkling across the dark skies.
“Saijou-san, are you ok?” asked Maya, touching Claudine’s shoulder.
“Oh, I’m fine Maya. Just admiring the stars right now.” said Claudine, getting startled from the sudden touch.
“May I sit with you?” asked Maya.
“You may.” said Claudine, not keeping her eyes off the sky.
Maya sat next to Claudine, leaning her head on Claudine’s shoulder, Claudine looked over at her and smiled and then back at the stars.
“It’s going to snow tomorrow.” said Maya, not moving her head off Claudine’s shoulder.
“I’ll prepare my coat when I head out tomorrow,” said Claudine.
“Hey, I got an idea!” said Maya, standing her head up off of Claudine’s shoulder.
“Let’s make a cake together when you come back!” said Maya, her eyes beaming with excitement.
“Eh? What are you five? Though, it wouldn’t hurt to bake a cake actually, christmas season is almost here…” said Claudine, thinking about the decision.
“Please, I would love to bake with you, my love!” said Maya, leaning in and giving Claudine puppy eyes.
“Alright alright! We can do it! Geez, you don’t have to be so cute to beg.” said Claudine, blushing and looking away from Maya’s face.
Maya squealed in excitement and hugged Claudine, kissing her nonstop, Claudine trying to get out of Maya’s grasp as she was getting embarrassed at the fact someone might see them doing this together.
The next day, Maya woke up to see her side of the bed empty, she looked over at the coat hanger to see that one of the coats was gone. She knew Claudine went out for the day, after all she did had work she needed to attend to. Maya decided to gather the ingredients for the cake today, and after she was done with that she’ll decorate the kitchen to a more festive mood.
Maya went to grab her purse and coat. Heading out to the train station, the snow slowly falling, as she waited she pulled out her phone and checked on what the other girls were doing for the winter season. Karuko and Futaba went back to their hometown to visit their family. Nana and Junna were at home together, relaxing and watching tv. Mahiru, Karen, and Hikari were out shopping together at a mall. Maya smiled at her friends' photos. She won’t lie she misses everyone when it was just the nine of them together, but she was with Claudine, and that’s all she could ask for really. A message notification appeared on Maya’s phone, it was from Claudine, she opened the message. “I’m going to be back home a little late if that’s ok, apologies” the message read out.
Maya texted her back saying she understands, and to be safe. Claudine responded with a heart emoji.
Maya warmed up when she saw the message and put her phone away, the train arrived and Maya got on. After the ride, she went to a nearby store to pick up her ingredients, and decorations. Her hands full with bags, she headed back to the train station, when suddenly something caught her eye. A jewelry store displaying rings, necklaces, and bracelets. She might look around the place and could get a gift for Claudine. She walked inside, the store owner smiling as she entered .
“Hello! Welcome to the shop, please look around as much as you like!” said the store owner, displaying more rings next to their counter.
“Thank you.” said Maya, as she looked at the rings.
“Is there anything I can help?” asked the store owner.
“I was thinking of getting a gift for my partner.” said Maya, smiling at the store owner.
“Ah! I see, well necklaces and rings are mostly common during these holidays!” said the store owner, showing Maya the display of necklaces.
Maya saw one that caught her eye. A beautiful red heart necklace, with a sparkling glow to it, Maya fell in love with how it looked. She thought of how Claudine would love it.
“This one, I would like this one.” said Maya, pointing at the necklace.
After the purchase, the owner put the necklace in a red box with a yellow bow on it.
“Thank you for your purchase, please have a warm day!” said the store owner, waving goodbye to Maya.
Maya walked out of the shop as she smiled at her gift. Her phone vibrated, putting the gift back in her bag, she pulled out her phone and saw she received a text message from Karen. She opened the text message to see a photo of Hikari, Mahiru and Karen posing in front of the Tokyo tower. Hikari and Karen kissing Mahiru’s cheek on both sides, Mahiru flushed red from the embarrassment. Maya giggled at the photo and sent a message to Karen telling them they all look lovely and hope they have a beautiful christmas. Maya put her phone away and walked back towards the train station.
Maya unlocked her front door and set the bags on the kitchen counter. She put out Christmas decorations around the kitchen and set the ingredients on the counter. Waiting for Claudine to enter the door. Maya turned on the TV and put a movie in the background. She heard a knock on the door, she smiled and quickly ran towards the door, Maya opened the door to see Claudine, bags in her hands, and smiling at Maya.
“You answer that quickly.” giggled Claudine, entering the apartment, bags in her arms.
“I’m always excited to see you Claudine!” pouted Maya.
Claudine giggled, she stopped in her place as she looked at the kitchen, her eyes lighting up from the decorations.
“Oh my god, Maya…it’s beautiful!” said Claudine, putting her bags down.
Maya went up behind Claudine and wrapped her arms around her. Maya kissed behind Claudine’s neck.
“I made it just for us, honey.” said Maya.
Claudine smiling and holding on to her arms. Tears are almost forming in her eyes. Claudine took a deep breath and looked at Maya.
“Are you ready to bake?” asked Claudine, kissing Maya on the cheek.
Maya blushed and nodded at Claudine. As the both put on their aprons, Claudine opened the cookbook and turned to the recipe for a strawberry shortcake.
“Alright, let’s see here. We need to mix eggs and sugar together. Go preheat the oven for me please.” said Claudine, cracking two eggs in the bowl.
“Got it!” said Maya, determination in her eyes.
As Maya and Claudine were preparing the cake batter, Maya accidentally poured too much flour into the bowl, causing a bit of a mess. Claudine was a bit furious but her and Maya soon laughed it off as they continued baking. Once they pour the batter in the pan Maya puts it in the oven and sets the timer to thirty-five minutes. Claudine started preparing the frosting and Maya cutted the strawberries.
“Hey Maya,” said Claudine.
“Yes Claudine?” responded Maya, setting the cut strawberries to the side.
Claudine poked a bit of frosting on Maya’s nose, she giggled and Maya pouted a bit. Maya then swiped her finger to get a bit of frosting on it. She placed it on Claudine’s lips.
“Huh? Why there-” said Claudine, but Maya kissed her on the lips and licked some of the frosting of her lips.
“Mmm, tasty, you did good Ma Claudine~” said Maya, giggling.
“T-that’s not fair!!” yelled out Claudine, shouting french insults to Maya.
The oven dinged. The two lovers looked over at the oven. Maya, sparkles in her eyes, opened the oven.
“Woah woah, wait Maya you forgot to get some kitchen gloves!” said Claudine, grabbing the gloves out of the drawer.
Claudine put the gloves on and pulled out the pan, Maya couldn’t hold in her excitement, she was like a little kid seeing her mother bake for the first time. Claudine gently tapped the cake out of the pan, it popped out with ease. The sponge cake was a beautiful golden brown color. It felt like it was glowing.
“It’s beautiful, we made this together Claudine!!” said Maya, twirling and tapping her feet in excitement.
“You such a kid.” giggled Claudine, as she cut the cake in half.
“Help me decorate it and then we can enjoy it, ok?” asked Claudine, handing Maya a piping bag full of frosting.
Maya nodded her head and the two started decorating it. After all the piping and placing the strawberries. It was complete. The cake was covered in white frosting, strawberries on top of it and in the middle too.
“Well Maya, are you ready to dig in?” asked Claudine, getting two plates and a knife.
“Yes! I can’t wait to try it!” said Maya.
Claudine giggled at the brown-hair girl, placing a plate in front of Maya, Claudine cut a slice for her and Maya.
“There you go Maya.” said Claudine, placing a fork on Maya’s plate.
“Wait, can we feed the cake to each other?” asked Maya, giving Claudine puppy eyes.
“Alright, fine,” said Claudine, her face blushing.
Maya stuck a piece of cake onto her fork, Claudine opened her mouth, Maya fed it to Claudine, and Claudine did the same to Maya. The two smiled, pulling the fork out of their mouths.
“This is delicious!” said Maya, biting on another piece.
“I’ll admit, I thought we were gonna screw this up somehow, but I’m glad we didn’t.” said Claudine.
Maya looked at the clock, almost about to hit midnight, she put her plate down and looked at Claudine.
“Hey, Claudine,” said Maya, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Hm? Yes?” responded Claudine.
“I got this for you.” said Maya, pulling out a small box with a golden bow on it.
Claudine covered her mouth, placing her plate down, she gently grabbed the box.
“For me? Oh, Maya…” said Claudine, placing her hand on her chest.
“I want to say, thank you for baking with me. This was my first time baking for Christmas, I am glad it was with you, Ma Claduine.” said Maya, kissing her hand.
Claudine was at a loss for words, she opened her mouth to say something, but quickly shut it. She cleared her throat and went to her room to grab something, Maya raised her eyebrow in confusion. Claudine walked out with a wrapped present, the gift wasn’t too big or too small.
“H-here.. This is for you.” said Claudine, blushing and putting the gift out in front of Maya.
Maya was surprised by the gift, not only did she get to bake with her girlfriend, she also got a gift from her. Maya’s chest was pounding. She loved her so much. Baking with her and Claudine’s feelings into the cake, they shared their love, it showed.
“Claudine, thank you.” said Maya, gently grabbing the gift out of Claudine’s hand.
Maya pulled Claudine into her arms, Claudine jumped from the sudden pull. The two looked at each other’s eyes.
“I love you so much.” said Claudine, caressing Maya’s cheek, pulling her in for a kiss.
Maya felt the warmness from Claudine’s body, wrapping her arms around the brunette, she hugged her as they kept kissing. Claudine pulled away from the kiss.
“Come on, open your present, I want to see your reaction.” giggled Claudine, bringing Maya to the couch.
“Alright.” said Maya, sitting down and opening her present.
In the box it was a red dress, with a black bow on it, Maya smiled and hugged the dress.
“I love it Claudine!” said Maya.
“Do you want to put it on?” asked Claudine.
Maya went to put on the dress in their room and came back out, twirling the dress in front of Claudine.
“What do you think?” asked Maya, smiling at Claudine.
“You look beautiful darling,” said Claudine.
Maya’s face turned red, sitting back down on the couch.
“Now open yours!” said Maya.
Claudine opened her gift, there it was, a beautiful red heart necklace, Claudine smiled at it and looked at Maya.
“It's gorgeous! Help me put it on.” said Claudine, pulling her hair up.
Maya put the necklace around Claudine’s neck. Claudine put her hair down and picked up the heart and looked at it.
“It’s kinda funny we both got red for each other don’t you think?” giggled Claudine.
Maya giggled, and pulled Claudine in again into her arms, kissing her forehead a lot. Claudine hugged Maya as she smiled.
“That just shows how much we love each other Ma Claudine,” said Maya.
The tree sparkled in Christmas lights as the snow gently fell down out the window, the tv on with the audio quiet. Claudine slowly closed her eyes as she slept on Maya’s chest. Maya kissed Claudine’s forehead and pulled out her phone, she took a picture of the two of them and sent the pic in the group chat. She sent a text saying “look who fell asleep.” with a heart emoji next to it. Karen sent a picture of a heart followed by everyone else in the group chat doing the same.
“Merry Christmas, Claudine, I love you…” said Maya, kissing her on the cheek as she put her phone away.