Christina stood waiting in the foyer to her apartment complex. Hers since less than a month. Her luxury living and her prison.

Outside the car chauffeured by someone on Vogue's payroll stood parked on the other side of the street.

Damn, I was so smart I fooled myself, she had time to think, before her worries about whatever plans Ulf's guardian had in mind took command.

'We'll celebrate Christmas at my place,' Ulf had promised.

She wasn't clear how he thought he could manage that. Her bodyguard, the very same who had followed her like an obedient dog the last months, had taken position by the doors, but he was unlikely to prevent her from leaving on her own. The main problem was the security attached to that car.

Looking at her smart-phone Christina saw how morning marched towards noon, and soon Sato-sensei would be here to pick her up. Christina didn't really understand how she thought she'd manage to bypass security, but then Ulf guardian could be really scary when she put her mind to it.

To hide her nervousness Christina walked to a mirror by the elevators and examined herself. Dolled up for certain, but not too gaudy. She hoped she hadn't overdone it. Just enough to show respect for a home you entered for the first time, was what she had in mind. A good plan in theory, but a plan based on the life experiences of the Princess of Scandinavia and the Billion Dollar Empress. How did normal people dress up?

Just get here, and we'll see if I can get away from this place.

She twirled and gave her appearance another look. Probably too gaudy after all, but Christina refused to give in to her fears and return to her flat just to change clothes yet another time.

Come on, she thought and shot a glance through the windows. Seeing nothing she dared leave the building. If she cooled down outside maybe the worst of her nervousness would abate.

Three steps, only three steps she managed to walk outside before her bodyguard filed up behind her, and another four until a rear door opened, and another personnel security specialist left the car. That translated to an expensive bodyguard.

Are you for real? But they were. She believed her old bodyguard might sympathise with her. He'd probably just insist on tagging along to Ulf's home, and wait for her there. Vogue's goons were different though.

Then, finally, a car Christina recognised arrived and came to a stop on her side of the street. After a few moments both Ulf and Sato-sensei left it. Ulf went to the rear and opened the trunk, and Sato-sensei walked towards Christina with a smile on her face.

“Ready?”

Christina nodded but looked at the gorilla crossing the street to intercept Ulf's guardian.

“Urufu, get her luggage, will you?”

“Yes mother dear,” he answered.

Did you fight on the way here? Christina had heard about the reason for him to be that polite. Experienced it as well that day when she was attacked in her home.

“Mrs, she'll ride with us wherever she's going,” the gorilla announced.

Sato-sensei gave him a scathing glare. “I think not. She's my guest, and she'll go with me.”

“I'm afraid I cannot allow that,” he said and pumped up his chest in what probably was supposed to be a threatening pose.

“That's none of my concern. Leave now!”

“I cannot do that, Mrs?”

“That would be 'I cannot do that, Lieutenant Colonel' for you. Dismissed!”

Christina realised she was throwing glances at them both and moving her head as if she was watching a tennis match. When she accepted she was at a total loss as for what to do Ulf came up behind Sato-sensei and grabbed her luggage.

“Tag along,” he said. “Mother dear will handle this.”

From the corner of her eye Christina saw that Ulf's guardian sported an earpiece, and then they passed her and walked towards the car Ulf had arrived in. The gorilla intercepted them both and made a grab for Christina before Ulf stepped in between them.

“Fuck off kid!”

That was the only thing the suited man had a chance to say before he sagged and was led back to the street by Ulf like a drunk.

I've heard rumours. I didn't think they were true. There was something with the way Ulf held one arm of the would be assaulter.

“Ageruman-san, would you want help with that?” That voice came from her bodyguard before he lifted her luggage and dropped it in the trunk. “May I assume your destination is his home?” he asked and pointed at Ulf who was busy throwing the gorilla into the street.

Mutely Christina nodded.

“If you excuse me I'll get a transport there, please don't leave without contacting me.”

Christina nodded again. “No, no I won't do that.”

Behind her she heard Sato-sensei calling for what had to be some kind of uniformed support. The overblown lies about an unprovoked assault by possible yakuza members made Christina cringe, but by now it was absolutely clear that the Vogue security detail would be impounded very soon.

She shook her head and walked the last steps to the car. Grinning wildly she opened a rear door and took her place in the back seat. It seemed like she would be able to celebrate Christmas after all.

“Stop playing with him!” Sato-sensei's voice shouted from outside the car. It had to be a reference to whatever manhandling Ulf was guilty of.

“I'll get you for this you fuck!” That also came from the outside.

Then Christina saw how two police cars arrived and came to a stop, and the shouting ceased.

Note to self, don't make Sato-sensei angry, Christina thought, but then she grinned and hugged herself. Christmas with Ulf. Yes!

***

Long before they came back to their flat Ulf regretted the way he had treated the man from that black car. Maybe it was unavoidable, but that still didn't make it right.

While Amaya parked the car Ulf ran up the stairs and hurried inside. There was a little something he needed to do that involved a computer and their television set. More exactly, it involved connecting his laptop to the media-box and making certain all signals went through the way he wanted.

Ulf got his confirmation before Christina arrived together with Amaya, and he hastily closed the lid and hid his laptop behind the TV.

They barely made it inside the door before Amaya threw a hand to her mouth in the worst attempt at acting Ulf had seen for a very long time.

“My my, I forgot the cake! No worries, I'll just leave and get it. Should take about half an hour.”

What are you up to now?

“Ageruman-san that should be enough time for you to take a bath. Thirty minutes.”

What the hell?

And Amaya was suddenly on the outside of the door.

Left inside was Christina who stood facing the door with her arms hanging by her side. Despite watching her back Ulf knew she was grinning wildly, and blushing while doing so.

Take a bath. Sheesh! Thank you Amaya!

Half an hour, it turned out, was more than enough for the kind of bath Amaya had in mind for them when she left to fetch a cake Ulf was certain had never been forgotten in the first place.

Two flustered teenagers, with the experience of most of a full life, each tried preparing food pretending that nothing had happened. In that sense the doctor Principal Nakagawa had brought with him, down at the beach resort during August, was right. All that experience couldn't prevent Ulf from behaving like a teen, and from what he saw of Christina, neither could she.

But you're cuter this way, he thought, and was rewarded with yet another deep red blush.

He sliced up some green vegetables for their mostly Japanese Christmas dinner when he heard keys inserted in the door, and Amaya returned with an overly loud greeting.

You never wait in the doorway like that when you come home. Amaya, you're sweet. Thank you, I really mean it.

Then his guardian must have heard the sound from the kitchen and entered the flat. Ulf could hear her dropping off her shoes in the hallway.

Beside him Christina flared red once again, and busied herself with something that would give her another few seconds before she had to face Amaya.

Christina, in what alternate universe do you believe Amaya would expect us not to have shared a bed until now?

Ulf shook his head and smiled down at the food he prepared. Then he felt his own face heat up and realised he was just as prone to blushing as Christina right now.

Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!

Embarrassed for the very reason that he could still become so embarrassed he left the kitchen and rushed into the small living room. There he busied himself with laptop, cables and the TV.

After a minor eternity he had finished his work and checked the time. Almost three pm.

I hope you like my Christmas gift for you Christina. It's the only thing special for Sweden I could think of.

“Christina, could you come in here? Dishes can wait,” he called.

Amaya stared at the laptop hooked up to her TV. “Why?” she asked. Shouldn't the two of you get ready for your Christmas date instead?”

“Trust me, Ulf said. Just trust me.”

“Can't it wait?” Christina shouted from the kitchen.

“Sorry, no. It's three pm.”

“Eh?” She came out into the living room with hands still wet from preparing food and washing some dishes.

The TV screen flared into life and lit up the room with a very old Disney cartoon.

“Trust me, Amaya, trust me,” Ulf said again. I hope you like it Christina.

Christina sagged in the door opening. “Ulf?” Then she dropped to her knees. “Ulf, no way!”

“I'm sorry I could only get last year's show, but I guess you missed it anyway.”

“Ulf, how could you...”

“How could I not? Merry Christmas Christina!”

She was crying silently when she crawled on her knees across the floor, and she was sobbing loudly enough for Amaya to hear when she grabbed Ulf and pulled him into her arms.

For once I want you to be a little kid again and just enjoy Christmas. I love you, I love you so very much. Merry Christmas.

He cradled her tall body in his arms and met Amaya's perplexed look. “Swedish tradition,” he whispered and nodded at the TV.

“But why?” Amaya mouthed and stared at Christina who lay in his lap smiling and sobbing at the same time.

“When we grew up this was Christmas. Stupid tradition, I know, but the entire nation used to drop everything at three pm sharp and watch this show.”

Amaya smiled and nodded. “And you wanted to bring some of that back to her?”

Ulf hugged Christina closer to him. “She deserves it.” Then he burrowed his face in her hair and revelled in the luxury of slowly drying hair full with the smell of the girl he loved.

“You're a good man,” he heard Amaya say. “I knew that from the beginning. An arrogant and cocky bastard, but a good one.”

He wasn't clear why she heaped this kind of praise over him right now, but he felt grateful for it, and with Christina in his arms some of the feeling of wonder from Christmases past returned to him.

He sat there watching snippets of old animated films flicker on the screen, saw them but didn't really register them. For him that one hour long show had long since become the backdrop for Christmas, and now he just enjoyed silently sharing those memories with Christina.

Somewhere far back in his mind he wondered how the rest of the gang enjoyed their Christmas.