Chapter Ten: Sweet Christmas:

On Christmas, Noiz awoke to someone shaking her on the arm. She drew open her eyes to see Mosh sitting over her on the bed. His wife blinked through the sleep.

“What is it, sweetie?” she whispered. He planted a small kiss on her forehead.

“Merry Christmas,” he said in a low voice. Noiz blinked at him as the words matched up with what he was saying.

“Oh,” she mumbled, “Merry Christmas, honey.” Mosh looked at her with slight worry.

“Are you feeling okay, baby?” he asked. “You’re usually overjoyed around Christmas.” Noiz shook her head.

“Yeah,” the kitty said nodding, “I’m just really tired.” Mosh gently pushed away some from her eye.

“It’s okay,” he said. “I’ll give to a few minutes if you need it.”

“No, no,” his wife said. “I’ll be fine.” She climbed out of bed and walked to the bathroom. Mosh understood why she felt down due to the past couple of months. He hoped that his gifts would cheer her up. The mouse wandered to the living room.

Noiz stood in the shower with her hands over her three-month belly. Days before Christmas, she reluctantly decided to keep the baby. It would be normal for a new mother to accept her child with love. However, something didn’t sit well with the headmistress. Babies took up so much responsibility and energy to them up right. Naturally, Noiz would have to give up some of her free-spirited nature to become a mother. Luckily, she had a supportive husband by her side through this and he already decided to support her no matter what decision she made.

“If you want us to be parents, then we’ll be parents,” he told her yesterday. Noiz splashed water on her face to snap herself out of her slump. What am I doing?, the kitty thought. It’s Christmas and I’m usually over the moon. I shouldn’t be depressed today. She took in a breath and tightened her fists on her stomach. I can do this! The kitty turned off the shower, got dressed in clean pajamas and headed down to the living room.

Moments later, Noiz found her husband waiting for her on the couch. Their tree had quite the number of gifts under it. As a bonus, Mosh held a small clump of mistletoe over his head. The kitty looked at him with a little smile on her face.

“Oh,” she said sounding like a little more like herself around this time of year. “What do we have here?” Mosh perked up when her tone.

“Are you feeling better?” he asked. Noiz stuck up a V sign as she grinned.

“I decided to not let today get me down,” she announced. “What is the game plan today?”

“Well, open gifts, go visit the staff at their homes, go to the barbeque, come home, and stay in,” Mosh listed off from memory. Noiz licked her lips at him.

“What will do on the staying in part?” she asked with a hint of naughtiness in her voice. Her husband blushed at her question.

“What do you want to do?” he asked. His wife walked over and planted a little kiss on his lips.

“Give me all of you tonight,” she whispered as she slowly parted from him. Mosh’s cheeks turned beet red at her words.

“Y-Yes!” he yelped. Noiz stood back with a small smirk on her face.

“Chill, boy,” she said, “We have to open our presents first.” The mouse nodded with bright red cheeks.

“Yes!” he cried. Noiz made a b-line for the Christmas tree. She spotted a bright pink box right next to an equally pink bag.

“Oooo!” she said with her eyes lit up bright. “Who is this from?” Mosh pulled out the video camera that he had sitting on the floor at his feet and turned it on.

“Look at the tag,” he said, “It came in the mail yesterday morning.” Noiz looked at the tag on the box. Her hands trembled as she gasped.

“Mom sent me this?” she asked.

“Yeah,” the mouse replied. Noiz choked back a small sob as she opened the box.

“Oh!” she cried, “Victoria’s Secret! I never thought that she would mail it out here all the way to Japan!”

“Yes,” Mosh said. Noiz looked through all the perfume, shower gel, and lotion.

“Wow,” she mouthed to herself. The kitty reached over for the bag and opened up to find bras, panties, a gown, robe, and pajamas from Victoria’s Secret. “I have to call her on Skype after this!” she exclaimed.

“Go through your other gifts there,” he said. Noiz pulled herself together and nodded.

“Alright,” she said. She divided up the gifts for him and her. Most of the presents for here were either Japanese things or baby supplies. Noiz couldn’t help but smile as she shook her head.

“Again with the baby stuff?” she asked jokingly. “If this keeps up, we’ll have enough to open a small daycare.” Mosh chuckled.

“Well, that’s how much they all care about you,” he pointed. Noiz thought about it with a nod.

“This is true,” she said. Suddenly, she remembered something. “Oh,” the kitty said, “You still haven’t opened my gift to you.” Mosh looked around through the sea of the wrapping paper.

“Oh, where is it?” he asked.

“It’s a small chocolate box,” his wife asked. The mouse picked up a small long brown box in question.

“This one?” he asked.

“Open it,” Noiz replied.

“Okay,” her husband said as he took off the light purple bow. When he opened the lid, his jaw just dropped.

“How did…” he began to ask as he pulled out a silver dragon and fox chain. Noiz giggled as she put up a finger.

“It’s a thanks from me for staying with me through this pregnancy so far,” she replied. “Your D&D pals were a great help.” The mouse rushed forward and hugged her.

“Whoa!” the kitty gasped.

“Thanks, baby!” he said aloud. “I love it!” He shoved a velvet black box into her hands. “You have to open this now.”

“Okay, okay,” his wife said. She opened the box and looked inside. A silver chain bracelet had three charms, one kitty in aquamarines, one mouse in emeralds, and one pearl baby. Noiz looked up at him rather puzzled.

“What is this?” she asked. Mosh gave her an innocent little smile.

“It’s a family bracelet,” he said. “The kitty is you and the mouse is me.” Noiz raised an eyebrow at him.

“And the baby?” she asked. Mosh put his hand to her abdomen. Noiz looked down with big shock in her eyes.

“You mean?” she asked. He pressed his forehead against hers.

“Yes,” he replied, “I’m with you all the way.” Noiz felt her heart do little flips in her chest.

“Mosh-kun…” she murmured. The mouse planted a small kiss on her lips. Noiz threw her arms around his shoulders as she kissed him back. Suddenly, becoming a first-time mom didn’t seem so bad anymore.

I can get through this with Mosh-kun at my side, Noiz thought with a smile in their kiss.