"That's the best one yet," Devana declared once she was able to talk again.
Lance got up from where he was sitting on the floor and went over to a window, "Man, back on Earth everyone in my family is getting ready for Christmas now. My mom makes the best pumpkin pie."
"Christmas," Devana said softly, "No Arusian has ever heard of it. I've always spent Christmas at home...always."
Sven took her hand, "It's different here but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate it together...all six of us. We can get a tree, decorate it, and put it in the rec room," Sven was really getting excited about this idea, "We'll get each other presents, fill stockings, have Christmas dinner."
"Hey, don't forget the mistletoe," Lance jumped in.
Devana went over to her closet and started pulling out boxes, "My mother sent all this to me...wreaths, tree decorations, stockings for each of us, Christmas candies..."
The guys started helping her empty out the boxes, everything she mentioned was there and alot more.
"Who wants to decorate?" Keith grinned.
An hour later Princess Allura, Nanny, and Koran found the six of them in the rec room.
"What are you all doing?" Nanny demanded.
"Decorating for Christmas," Pidge responded.
"Christmas?" Allura asked, puzzled.
"It's an Earth holiday," Devana answered her question and started to explain more but she was cut off by a surprise kiss.
"Sven!!!" the three Arusians exclaimed in shock.
Sven ignored them. Devana, your lips are so sweet... he thought, glad of an excuse to finally kiss her.
"Sven?" Devana looked into his eyes after the kiss. I love you...
"I found the mistletoe," he smiled, "I wanted to be sure it worked right."
Devana looked up above their heads and, sure enough, Sven was holding a sprig of mistletoe in his hand.
"Such improper behavior," Nanny mumbled.
"Actually Nanny," Lance spoke up, "it's an old Christmas tradition. You hang a sprig of mistletoe in a room and if someone stands under it you can kiss them...or they can kiss you if you're standing under it."
"And I think I will kiss her again," Sven grinned, one arm slipping around her back.
"What? No turns for the rest of us?" Lance pipped up.
Not if I can help it. Sven barely kept himself from saying it out loud.
Keith smiled in Sven and Devana's general direction. Wish I thought of that...though I'm not sure I'd of had the nerve to use it on Allura.
Allura spoke up as Sven started to go in for a second kiss, "Don't we have a training session scheduled? You can continue the decorating later."
"Her Highness has spoken," Devana broke away from Sven, "Dibs on the Blue Lion!"
"My Lion?" Sven grinned and broke into a run after Devana, the two of them leading the group of seven to the Control Room and the Lions.
Later that night...
Devana glanced over at Sven as they decorated the tree. He kissed me...her heart fluttered...he actually kissed me.
"This is great," Hunk said, "Let's do this every year."
"I second that," Pidge hid a pixy within the tree.
"I have an idea," Devana smiled. "Let's sing carols."
"How about 'Oh Holy Night'?" Keith suggested. Devana, being the only woman present, was chosen to start them off. They sang carol after carol for hours. During "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" Sven moved behind Devana and wrapped his arms around her. They stayed that way the rest of the time and when everyone finally decided to get some sleep he walked her back to her room.
"Sven, I..." Devana found herself silenced by a kiss.
"Please don't say anything," he whispered. "Ever since the first time I saw you you've been haunting my dreams. I don't know if or when I've ever felt this strongly about a woman before. All these months I've wanted to tell you but I've been so afraid you would reject me...I still am afraid. I think of you constantly. I need to know if it's the same for you."
Again when she tried to speak he silenced her.
"Don't answer me now," he kissed her forehead, "Think about it tonight, ok?
"Ok," she smiled, knowing what her answer would be.
"I will see you in the morning then," he placed one last kiss on her lips, "You are so beautiful."
She watched him head down the hall towards the room he shared with Lance and Keith and walk though the doorway before entering her own room. Once in her room she notice her computer terminal flashing, indicating an important message. Sitting down in front of it she entered her password and her expression turned from one of joy to one of dismay as she read the message.
"No, this isn't happening!" she looked over the message again, "Oh God...no. Why?"
That night Devana cried herself to sleep.
The next morning Devana didn't go to breakfast and that bothered Sven.
"Has anyone seen Devana?" Koran asked. "She's not sick is she?"
"She seemed fine last night," Hunk said between mouthfuls of pancakes.
"I'll see how she is," Sven got up from his seat.
Sven knocked on her door a short while later and as soon as she let him in he knew something had changed...drastically.
"Sven," she said, feeling like she would choke on her own words, "I can't be with you."
She saw the hurt in his eyes. Oh Sven.....
"But Devana," he struggled to hold back his tears, "I...I love you."
Devana broke down and cried.
He pulled her into his arms, trying to quiet her tears. "Why Devana? Why can't we be together?"
"Galaxy Garrison has recalled me," she sobbed, "for behavior unbecoming an officer of the Alliance."
"What?!" Sven was shocked. "That's not possible, you're an examplary officer."
"Why would someone do this?" she sobbed.
"I don't know," he held her close, "I know this though...you are not going anywhere. We are going to fight this and we are going to win."
She buried her head in his chest, "I can't let you get involved."
"Too late," he smiled, his voice getting husky, "I still want to be with you you know."
She looked up at him only to have him capture her lips in a passionate kiss that went on and on.
After a while, Sven was certain he heard some snickering coming from...the doorway?
He looked up and saw Keith, Lance, Pidge, Hunk, and Princess Allura standing around the open door.
"Well well..." Lance grinned, "Looks like Sven got his Christmas present early."
"Some guys have all the luck," Keith added.
"How long have you been standing there?" Sven demanded.
"Long enough to see the two of you running out of air," Hunk supplied.