"Come on, (Y/n)! It's this way! Just across the street! Oh hurry up, we can cross now, stop moping around and hurry before the signal changes."

"Coming coming, geez (U/n), you sure walk as fast as ev- (U/N)!!"

"Whoa, you're running, that's new, what makes someone as lazy as you ru-"

"AH! ah... ah... aa.. It's that dream again," I pant, my hands quivering as I take deep breaths to calm my racing heart. It's dark outside, I must've napped for a long time in the afternoon, I thought, casting the photo of my out of country family a glance, as I try my best to distract myself from that hellish dream.

Shakily, I climb out of bed, practically crawling over to the bathroom of my small box of an apartment located in the center of the bustling city. It was even more hectic now, with everyone once again preparing for the festive time of the year. That time of year when joy is spread across the city, that time of year where everyone gathers together, with friends and family.

Yet, for most of my life, the only 'people' I've been accompanied with besides my family aren't even real, at least I think not. For as long as I can remember, during certain days near the holidays, certain dreams will get repeated, over and over like a broken record, haunting me during the bright and festive time.

"But, who's.. (U/n)..?" That's a question I keep asking. My first memorable Christmas is when I started having these nightmares, and now, as a grown adult living on my own, I still don't have an answer. "Whatever, maybe one day he'll pop up or something," I grumble, quickly washing my face and grabbing the cleanest and warmest clothing I could find. I head out the door, and onto the streets, to get myself the necessary ingredients from the grocery store down the street for a lonely holiday feast.

Click goes the door as it swung open, clank goes the keys as I nestled them into my pocket, and off I go, heading out onto the snowy streets. The freezing winds brush their cold hands against my cheeks, and I instinctively shiver, before nestling further into my warm jacket.

"Mommy mommy! Those lights are really pretty!"

"We have the same lights at home, remember sweetie?"

"Yeah! Like a star!"

A star? I think, looking up at the bright yellow lights tangled onto the lamp posts.

Those star-shaped lights.. They seem oddly familiar..

"(Y/n)! The streets! Look at them! It's so much more vibrant than the stone walls we see everyday! The street lamps! They're so much more colourful than just grey!" (U/n) exclaims, erupting in enthusiasm.

"They are. Wow, it's almost hurting my eyes to look at such a bright yellow, is it neon?" I respond, my hands moving to cover my eyes as I close them and dramatically take a step back.

"(Y/n)! You'd rather look at black and white all day?" He asks, scrunching up his face as he furiously tugs at my arm.

"No, I'd much rather look at you, you're even brighter than the stars."

He responds with a deep blush, before burying his face into my jacket.

"It's Christmas Eve today, isn't it?" I ask, observing the many illuminated yellow stars intertwined with the cold metal poles on the side of the street, as well as the exhilarated sounds of young children with their family as they stroll down the streets paved in silver flakes, leaving crunching sounds as they go.

"Yep! Which means tomorrow is Christmas! I have a present prepared for you," he hums, popping out of my jacket and linking his arms with mine as if nothing had happened.

"Really? How come I didn't see you get it?" I ponder, a soft smile spreading across my face.

"Cause I made sure you wouldn't. That's the point of a surprise, silly," (U/n) giggles, skipping along through the cold December breeze.

I chuckle too, affected by his enthusiasm, and catch up with his quick paces.

And we walked.

"Why do those stars seem so familiar," I growl, crunching through the snow sprinkled sidewalks with a grocery bag in my hand. The darkness of the night was now brightened by the various ornaments hanging all over the lamp posts, shining brightly as I trudge through. However, I could only focus on the star-shaped ones.

"It's such a bright yellow too, why do I keep on looking at it? It's almost hurting my eyes to look at.." I contemplate, my mind churning more and more at the thought. "Ah, whatever, it's too cold out, time for..."

"A drink," I exclaim, with (U/n)'s luscious (uke hair colour) hair swaying gracefully through the icy air as his small head bobs up and down in agreement.

"There's a really good coffee shop down the street. They may be a bit busy because of Christmas, but my friends tell me their hot chocolate is the best. They said it's not as sweet, and the creamy chocolate flavour really stands out. At least that's what they told me. How about we try it out, (U/n)?"

"Sounds good to me, my love. Is there anything else you plan on getting from that shop? I've seen them put a lot of different items out on the menu against the window when walking past it."

"Oh! A sugar cookie! A sugar cookie, please? My friends said their sugar cookies are top-notch, could we get one too?" He asks, his large, (uke eye colour) eyes giving me a look I can't possibly reject.

"Of course we can, I'll get one too, so you can 'take' a couple of bites if I can't finish," I reply, getting an angelic giggle from him as he nods.

"Don't tell me you also know which design you want."

"Aw, you know me so well (Y/n). Of course I have that planned out, that's the most important part! I want the snowflake one!"

"Snowflake sugar cookie and hot chocolate it is then. Let's head over," I reply, holding his hand firmly and taking excited (U/n) over.

He wasn't joking about the line up at all. The small shop was stuffed to the brim with customers, all gathered to heat up with their wide variety of drinks, ranging from espresso to hot chocolate. Even an alcoholic version of the chocolatey drink was hanging up high on their menu.

"I guess we'll be here for a while," I comment with a sigh, hugging (U/n) from behind, and propping my chin on his shoulder, taking in the fresh smells of sweet baked goods.

"I don't mind," he replies, smiling like the sun. "I have you to keep me company after all."

"Can I get a hot chocolate?" I ask the tired worker, taking in the smell of deep and rich chocolate, as well as the creamy scent floating around the overcrowded shop.

"One hot chocolate, anything else sir?"

"A sugar cookie! A sugar cookie, please? I want the snowflake one!"

"Sir?"

"O-oh, my apologies. Two sugar cookies, both the snowflake one," I reply, scrunching up my brows. Why did I say that? I ponder, paying for my drink and cookies before leaving.

The winter breeze blows over my lonesome figure as I watch white chocolatey wisps of my drink dance delightfully in the air. "Why did I even get the cookies? Just because someone I don't even know told me so?"

But maybe he wasn't just someone. Someone wouldn't pop in my dreams repeatedly. Someone wouldn't keep occupying my mind. Someone wouldn't seem so damn lovable, despite not having met them. Maybe... "Just maybe... He's the one that can fill this hole inside of me.."

I stand still, taking a sip of my creamy drink, then look across the street at another lively store. The jewelry store was swarming with customers, most likely because of the half-off deal on all rings. But within the mob of heads, I see something else; a lone boy, with (uke hair colour) hair, holding a cup of hot chocolate and a small shopping bag with the store's flashy logo engraved on it. He seems out of place, as the one still person within the flowing mass of people.

However, within the blink of an eye, he was gone, disappearing like the steaming white columns of my drink. "What the," I grumble. "Who the hell was that? Why does he seem so familiar?"

Lost in my thoughts, I begin to wander the streets. Wandering aimlessly, wandering lifelessly, wandering pointlessly. I can feel my soul leave my body, as I walk through the crowd, letting anyone and everyone bump into me. Until, something brings my soul back. The soft, sweet sounds of a record, playing the piano versions of holiday carols. The sweet melody retrieves my soul from the atmosphere, and forcefully shoves it right back into my body, making me jump from hearing the tune. "Music.. Why do so many things give me this sense of déjà vu today..?" I mutter, holding my head as I contemplate the many thoughts and sounds flying in and out of my brain.

"Mommy, why is he holding his head like that? Does he not like Christmas music?"

"I don't know dear, let's just leave him alone."

"But why wouldn't he like the music mommy? It's Christmas music played with a piano, and it sounds just like a lullaby daddy sings me to sleep."

"We have to go, sweetie. I'm sure he'll work it out, okay?"

"Okay.."

"What a poor fellow, I hope he's not alone for Christmas.."

Lullaby? Piano? Where have I heard that?

"I want to take you somewhere, (Y/n)," (U/n) exclaims, happily munching through his sugar cookie after we had squished our way through the nearly impenetrable wall of fluffy jackets.

"Where to?"

"It's a surprise, you'll know when we get there."

I let out a soft, sarcastic sigh of sadness, my loving eyes glued to his as his soft (uke eye colour) orbs reflected the bright Christmas lights.

"Please can I know? You know I'm a curious kitten."

"Remember that record you bought me for our first date? The one with a mix of soft piano instrumentals that sounds like a lullaby? There's a record store close by that not many people know about because it's hidden in a dark alleyway. It's just over there, next to that other cafe, and I want to take you there. Happy now, (Y/n)?" he explains with a fake pout, looking as if I had done something wrong.

"Sorry, sorry, let's go then, okay? I'm curious to see what surprise you have prepared, my love," I comfort, holding him close to me.

He couldn't hold his pouting form anymore, and a smile soon spread across his face, bright red from the freezing cold.

"Hehe, let's go!" he beams, beginning to drag me towards the street.

"Come on, (Y/n)! It's this way!" he cries joyously, like a child excited for Christmas day.

"Just across the street! Oh hurry up, we can cross now, stop moping around and hurry before the signal changes."

"Coming coming, geez (U/n) you sure walk as fast as ev- (U/N)!!"

"Whoa, you're running, that's new, what makes someone as lazy as you ru-"

"Stop!! There's a truc-!!"

Wee woo wee woo- !!

"We have two young men who have been severely injured by a drunk driver at the intersection west of main street. Prepare for surgery the moment we get there. They may not make it."

"... ... Time and date of death, December-twenty fourth, nine-forty two pm."

"Huff.. Huu.. Record store.. Record store.."

With my drink in one hand, and groceries, along with the cookie in the other, I began to bolt down the street, being cautious of crossing the road this time around. The memories were coming back, and I was sure now. I had died. Brutally hit by a truck along with (U/n). I never got to hear what he had to say. The wind rushed through my hair, blowing it hard as I ran towards that alley. I ran like my life depended on it. My life did depend on it. My lonely, pitiful life, that hopefully wasn't going to be so lonely or pitiful anymore.

"Here it is!" I gasp with a pant, the uneven thumping in my chest like the footsteps of everyone walking out on the streets. Thump, thump, thump goes my heart, thumping louder the closer I get to the lonely young man, standing in front of the record store, hot chocolate in one hand, and a shopping bag from the jewelry store in the other.

"A-are you.. (U/n)?"

(Uke hair colour) locks sway under the faint light of the shop as I come face to face with a small round face, with little droplets of water converging as my eyes meet his.

"(Y/n), you found your way here," he whispers in a soft, choked muffle.

"I.. I got your snowflake cookie, and an extra, so you can take a few bites if I can't finish," I reply quietly, slowly walking towards him.

My heart was out of control by now. Thump, thump, thump, it beat, over and over again as I watch him stumble towards me with his arms wide open.

And I did the same, embracing him in my thumping chest, and wrapping my arms around him like a scarf. We stood still, sending long lost sensations of warmth to one another.

"What did you want to show me?" I ask after a long, comfortable silence, placing down everything in my hands and wiping away the warm tears that had formed in the corners of (U/n)'s eyes.

"Here, (Y/n). For you, from me. Merry Christmas," he says with a shy grin, placing down the items in his hands and taking out a small blue box, two silver rings nestled comfortably into it.

"I couldn't do this in our previous life, but now, I have the chance to fulfill this wish. So please, will you?"

"You didn't need to ask," I whisper, taking out the ring and sliding it onto his finger, before he did the same for mine.

"Finally, I've found you, (U/n). My missing piece."