As I opened my eyes and looked around, I remembered what day it was. It was Christmas morning, but it didn't feel like it since we weren't doing gifts, and none of us were super religious.

"Stop moving," River groaned as my head pressed into his chest. I hadn't realized I was squirming, but apparently, I was.

"It's time to get up. It's Christmas. You know Nadia will come in here any minute yelling at us to get up anyway."

River cursed but still got out from under the covers and brushed his teeth. I followed, and when our breath was no longer disgusting, we went downstairs. Nadia and Jess were already down there as expected, and Nelson and Victor were nowhere to be seen.

After wishing us a merry Christmas, Nadia went upstairs and came back down with a sleepy Nelson and Victor.

"What time is it?" Nelson yawned.

"It's only 8:00. Now, stop complaining," Nadia snapped back.

"I don't understand why we had to get up. It's not like we're opening presents."

"It's still Christmas morning."

"I'm going back to bed," River said, walking up the stairs as Nelson and Victor followed.

"I'll get River to come back down," I said, going up the stairs. As I walked into our room, I found River passed out on the bed. How the hell did he get back in bed so fast?

"River?" I asked.

"Hm?" He groaned.

"Come back down."

"No. Let's just spend the whole day in here."

"That sounds amazing, but I think Nadia wants us to spend the day with her."

"She has Jess."

"True," I said, lying down next to River.

"Come here," He said, pulling me on top of him.

"River, we really should go back downstairs."

"Come on. We can take a bath and relax all day. Or do other things."

"What kind of other things?" I asked even though I already knew the answer. River smirked as he rubbed my thighs.

"Let's just stay up here until Nadia comes to get us at least."

"Okay. I can agree to that."

"Good, because I want to give you something."

"What?" I asked.

"I have a present."

"We said that we weren't giving presents!"

"I broke the rules."

"River, I didn't get you anything," I whined.

"I didn't expect you to get me anything," River said as he got up and walked to his suitcase. When he got back, he was holding something behind his back. I moved, trying to see what it was, but River was determined to keep it under wraps.

"What is it?" I asked, still trying to see what it was.

"Close your eyes," He said. I did as he said, wanting to get my present as soon as possible. It wasn't because I was needy and demanded gifts. It's because I needed to know that River didn't get me anything expensive. I was not too fond of costly gifts. They seemed shallow, and I had never told River that, so fully expecting something expensive to be placed in my hands, I closed my eyes.

"Okay, open your eyes now," River said.

"But nothing is in my hands?"

"That's because I'm holding it," He said before I opened my eyes.

It took me a minute to take in the sight in front of me. It was River, but he was holding a large piece of something fuzzy. As I looked longer, I realized that it was a blanket, but it had words written in bold letters on it.

Alani,

This blanket is for you to love and to hold.

It's filled with my touches, brand new and old.

So when you feel like you need a hug,

Squeeze this blanket, and you'll be wrapped up in my love.

-River.

Tears formed in my eyes as I read the fabric River was holding. By the time I got to the end, my face was soaked.

"You don't like it?" River asked.

"No! River it's-"

"I can try and return it," He said, scratching his head. "I mean, I probably can't return it since it has our names, but-"

"River! No!" I said, grabbing the blanket and wrapping it around myself. "I love it."

"You do?"

"Of course."

"I wanted to get you something for when I'm not around."

"It's perfect," I said, gazing at him. "Did you write this?"

"Yes, it took me almost a week to come up with those four lines. Hug and love don't really rhyme, but I still-"

He didn't have a chance to finish his sentence before I pulled him to me and kissed him passionately. Clothes started flying everywhere as we tried to get them off each other as fast as possible. Amid everything, the blanket had landed on the floor.

"Wait!" I said.

"What?" He said, freezing.

"You can't just toss the blanket on the floor! It could get dusty!" I said, picking it up and placing it on the chair. When I came back to bed, River pulled me on top of him, and we resumed where we left off.

This time wasn't as fast and hectic as our sex usually was. It was slower and more sensual. River kissed every part of my body, and I think I did the same. The whole thing was a bit hazy since I was high on lust and love, but I knew it was softer and slower than usual.

After we both finished and each caught our breath, we lay there, snuggled up together. I thought of all the fun I had had in these last few months and how much my life had changed. I wasn't that secluded little girl who only made time for homework anymore. I was proud of myself.

As if he read my mind, River said, "I'm proud of you."

"For what?" I asked.

"For everything that's happened," He said as I smiled.

"Are you ready for round two?"

"What about Nadia?" He teased.

"I love Nadia so much, but right now, in the nicest possible way, I don't give a fuck," I said, rolling on top of him.

"You really like the present?"

"I love it," I said, knowing that wasn't the only thing I loved.