When Adrian asked about Christmas all of the sudden, Cassidy looked up to him with awe.

"Christmas, huh...?" she blurted out and thought for a moment before she shook her head.

"I'm not sure, Adrian. Then again, you don't have to bother yourself. I don't really need anything."

"Well, I know several things that you might want, but I'm not certain if you still want them..." he said with a smile tugging at his lips.

"Come on, isn't there anything in particular that you want?"

Adrian had been wanting to ask this to Cassidy for a while. While he's more than willing to give her even the stars and the moon, what he wants is to give her what she truly desires.

"It's okay. Just get me anything you like. Anything is fine with me."

She told him that, but of course, he wasn't satisfied. He insisted on getting an answer from her. Yet knowing how stubborn she could be, he soon found the need to resign.

"Really, Adrian. Anything will be fine with me," she giggled when he eventually sighed in defeat.

They stayed silent after that, staring out into the bustling city as well as its myriad of street lights. Then, without any prior notice, he placed his hand on top of her head before he used his other one to hold hers and intertwine their fingers together. She looks at him curiously while he beams down at her ecstatically.

"So, what are you going to give me?" Adrian inquired, earning a pout from Cassidy.

"What do you mean what am I going to give you? I already made you a cake. Is there something else you want?"

"I'm not talking about my birthday. You already gave me the best presents ever - another chance and your forgiveness. I couldn't ask for anything better than those."

She blushed at how he said that with the softest, gentlest look she'd seen on anyone. He then laughed a little when she started acting all embarrassed. Still pouting, she just shot him a sharp gaze in return.

"I'm talking about Christmas, Cassidy"

"Oh."

She was a bit taken aback. Once again, she thought about it for a moment before she looked at him in grave disappointment.

"I don't know yet. I hadn't thought about it until now...." she trailed off and cast down her gaze.

"I thought we wouldn't be spending Christmas together, you know. I thought I wasn't going to get back together with you. But in the end, I went and did. I'm glad we're together again, though."

Adrian was glad he was together with Cassidy, too.

She makes his life complete for she fills a huge part of his heart. He never wants to let her go or lose her again. He wishes he can stay this way with her forever. If she is to leave once more, she's certainly going to knock down the remaining balance he has left. But he'll do his hardest so that it'll not happen again.

He'll work harder to make her stay. He'll love her as if his life depends on it.

"Hey, Adrian..?" Cassidy chimed in again, breaking the silence.

"It's getting pretty late. If I don't go home soon, Asher might go ballistic. He'll go marching to the orphanage only to find me not there. I also left Aira on her own for too long. She might stay up late because I'm still not there."

Adrian only smiles despite how distraught she seems, not moving or saying anything. He stares at her while she waits for a response from him.

"We'll be able to come into terms one of these days. Your family and mine - we'll all meet in the middle and start anew."

Not giving Cassidy a moment to respond to that, Adrian suddenly bent down and picked her up from her feet. He started carrying her bridal style, making her squeal in surprise. She hastily wrapped her hands around his neck and embraced him tightly to keep herself from falling.

"A-Adrian, say something first before you-"

"So, Cassidy, you think I can court you again?"

"Say, what?!"

Right then, her eyes bulged wide while her mouth hung open.

Adrian smirked playfully while Cassidy only looked at him incredulously. He then began to walk down the bridge with her in his arms. Only when they reached the path they took earlier did she finally say something.

"You'll court me again? Are you serious? We're married for almost a decade now," Cassidy tried to talk him out of it, not getting where he was coming from.

"The promise I made to you before still stands. I promised that I'd do this the right way, didn't I...?" Adrian brought up all of the sudden, much to her surprise.

"We may be married, but we haven't really been acting like a normal couple. I don't mind starting all over with you. Besides, we haven't made a baby yet. Let's think of lots of things to look forward to."

Her whole face went red at that moment, which caused him some laughter. Feeling embarrassed, she starts making a fuss and pouting at him while he only continues laughing. As soon as they got to her motorcycle, he sat her on top of it and put his hands on her sides while he waited for her answer.

"I want to be with you forever, Cassidy. That's why I'll do everything to make you stay this time..." he said as he cupped her cheek and inched his face closer to hers.

"Don't you want to be with me forever too?"

"I-I never said that I don't want to," she said and hesitated, still blushing madly.

Adrian loves seeing Cassidy so flustered.

That's part of the reason why he's teasing her, but something isn't right. He was playing around when he said he would court her again, but at the same time, he was also being serious - perhaps, serious enough to see that through no matter what.

"I... I-I..." she stammered out and looked down, feeling like melting from his intent stare.

"I do want to stay with you forever."

Instead of saying anything else, he held both sides of her face before he pulled her into a passionate kiss.

His everything got caught in trance by her soft touch and sweet scent. He hadn't expected the kiss to be so tender nor that her lips would be this warm despite the cold. And he couldn't help but let out a little hum of contentment as she moved against his mouth and deepened the kiss.

Cassidy tasted like summer, warm and sweet and full of passion. Contrarily, she decided that Adrian tasted like winter, icy and fresh and with just the hint of spice.

Despite that glaring difference, they still share something in common - and that'll be the nostalgic taste that gives them the feeling of being home.