#peppermintkisses001

[ameliinks]

Peppermint I Love You’s.

A/N: honestly, can’t lie, I’m a little bit rusty in writing this, but I’m excited to get something out.  Also, I just realized this changes from the third person to the first person in the middle, my bad. Hopefully, with the next fic I’ll be back to having their voices down better than in this one. This is part one of a two-parter and I’ll try to get the second part out before the holiday’s! If I don’t though, I hope that those of you who celebrate have a Merry Christmas/Happy Holiday and for those of you who don’t, I hope you had a great December! Let me know what you think!

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The ugly puffer jacket seemed to be the only thing to fit over her bump, the remembrance of her winter jacket from last Christmas’ snowfall tucked away in her closet as she gripped tightly to her boyfriends hand. Link had conned her into this winter market thing with promises of her newest craving; peppermint hot chocolate, though she was starting to think he’d lied and there was no hot chocolate.

“You tricked me, there’s no stand!” Mumbled words fell for the ortho-surgeon to hear, her breath creating cool wisps of air as she spoke, though his quiet laugh caught her off guard and she could hardly concentrate on the childhood memories that the chill in the air brought back because soon her head was turning toward the male in question, a pout raising on her rosy face at the noise that escaped him, but then her eyes caught the booth in front of them and the pout was replaced by a bright grin. Here it was, she knew it, at least that was what she was telling herself, after all she was never wrong. “Aha, I knew we’d find it! Come on, can we get some now?” Without even an answer from the man in question, Amelia was tugging him toward the line, his free hand resting on her hip to keep her steady. All she had really found out with leaving the house was that the newfound snow and her extra weight made her the slightest bit prone to slipping, and slipping scared the shit out of her. It wasn’t like she was scared of walking, but Link’s hold to her hip really did ground her for a moment as they stepped into line. He was good at that, calming her with just a simple touch which was why the kiss to the top of her head as he snaked beside yet behind her allowed a sigh to fall from her lips well she leaned into him. “You know, I don’t know why you asked… You didn’t really give me much of a choice. You’re lucky I love you.”

Link wasn’t about to deny her the experience of her seemingly new favourite drink though it was hardly the healthiest,  after all she was growing their child and what the baby wanted, the baby got. Truth be told, his hands were freezing and wrapping them in a warm drink wasn’t above him either which was why with the thought of the hot cocoa on his mind he hadn’t even realized that he’d said I love you. It wasn’t exactly the most natural three words to fall from his lips until now, but unknown to him the brunette in his grasp was mulling over them like it was the first time as they moved up in the line.

It didn’t take long to get to the front though Amelia was silent the entire time. It wasn’t until the person in front of them was ordering did Link realize what he had said. Sure, the whole slow thing had gone out the window about seven months ago, but he still didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, he knew she had issues with the whole love thing and instantly he panicked because he did too, they both did. “I think I said the wrong thing, not that my feelings are wrong, I just don’t want you to have to feel like you have to say it back. You don’t ever have to say it back, I know the past year has been a lot and just because we’re having a baby together doesn’t mean that —“ Unknown to both of them, they’d automatically moved up to the front of the line and the teenager at the stand gave them a polite smile, her notepad, and pen poised to take their order, but neither was paying attention even if Link did give the girl a smile back. “What can I get for —“ “Shut up!” The words that left Amelia’s mouth caused Link to gasp and the girl taking the order to raise a brow, her eyes narrowing. It wasn’t like Amelia had been paying attention though, not until her brain caught up with her and she realized that the two were at the front of the line. Widened eyes as she glanced at the tired-looking girl with an apologetic smile though she still held up her finger to single a moment's pause, eventually turning to her boyfriend again. Everything was good between them, they were happy, they were having a baby and most nights she slept at his place, using the key under the mat to get in though they never worried about officially moving in together. Everything was picture perfect minus a good hiccup or two though every relationship had their fights. Why wouldn’t she say it too? Why wouldn’t she feel it? “It’s not the wrong thing, this between us? It’s never been the wrong thing, Link. You’re the right thing, you’ve been the right thing the entire time. I love you too and not just for the hot chocolate. I love you because you’re… different, and you keep me grounded. I love you because you’re going to be the best father to our baby. I just do and I should’ve said it sooner.” With that, her arms come to wrap around his neck and though it isn’t the most comfortable thing with her belly in the way, they’re kissing. It’s like the entire world disappears and it’s just them until the grumbles behind the couple are heard and the girl who’s set to take their order clears her throat. Finally, the two pull back from one another, cheeks red with blush and not with cold, in fact, both of their hearts are pretty warm. “So glad you’re ready now, what can I get for you?”

Ten minutes later and the two are seated on a bench, Amelia curled into Links side for some extra warmth, the silence between them is no longer deafening, everything out in the open for once, but it’s this time, Amelia who breaks the peaceful silence, her blues finding his with a twinkle that hadn’t been there before. The battle within herself she’d been feeling since the first time he’d said anything about falling in love with her is gone and is instead replaced by a sense of happiness. Dare she say it, Christmas Cheer? “You know, usually I work on Christmas, but Bailey’s into the whole you’re having a baby, you better get used to staying home for the holidays thing, so I wasn’t allowed to put my name down.” Nervously her fingers play with his from the hand resting on her knee and she rolls her eyes at how silly this whole nervous thing is. It isn’t until Link lightly nudges her does she continue, “anyways, the point is. I got gifts for the kids and Mer and Maggie… and we’re doing the entire thing in the morning, Pyjamas, breakfast, hot cocoa, Santa, movies… normal people things. Do you, uh wanna come? You could come over Christmas Eve, we could have a slumber party.”

The way her eyebrow suggestively raised wasn’t what got him to agree, it was the way she looked at him with hope-filled eyes as if she really wanted him there, and maybe just maybe it tugged on his heartstrings a little bit so, with a nod, he tilted her chin up, a soft kiss pressing to her lips before he pulled back to give her a smile. “I think I can make that work, I wasn’t planning to do anything, anyways. But, you could’ve warned me days ago, that way I could’ve got stuff for the kids.” Her head shakes, a dimpled smile falling as she rests against his shoulder. “We can share presents, I’ll just put your name down on the ones I got. I’m sure I’ll be doing that for the next eighteen years anyway.”

The implication that they’re staying together for many Christmas’ to come fills both their hearts with joy they didn’t know they had, but neither will confirm the thought out loud. Instead, almost at the same time, two cups lift to two mouths, the taste of peppermint I love you’s coating tastebuds as they both think about the future.