Chapter 1
It started as a joke— like most of their best ideas.
The group chat had gone wild after Simone announced that Christmas gifts this year had to fit inside stockings. Blue argued that stockings were too limiting, Lucas immediately tried to bend the rules, and Mika? Mika decided to make it weird.
“Bet I could fit inside a stocking,” she’d said, grinning at Jules over breakfast one morning. Jules, used to Mika’s chaos, had simply rolled her eyes.
“Sure, Mika. Let me know how that works out for you.”
But Mika wasn’t one to back down from a challenge, even one she’d created herself.
—
On Christmas Eve, Jules was sitting on the couch in Dr. Grey’s mother’s old house, watching Lucas and Simone debate the ethics of their latest board game strategy. The house was warm, filled with the smell of cinnamon and pine, and Jules felt… content.
It was their first Christmas together as a couple, though they hadn’t made a big deal about it. Jules liked that Mika wasn’t the overly romantic type; it made the little moments feel more genuine.
“Hey, Jules!” Blue called from the kitchen. “Can you grab Yasuda? She’s in the garage doing… something.”
Jules groaned but got up, wrapping herself in a blanket as she trudged toward the garage.
“Mika? Blue said—”
She stopped short, staring at the scene before her.
In the middle of the garage stood a massive stocking, easily six feet tall, stitched together with mismatched fabric scraps in Christmas colors. There were huge silver tinsel letters spelling her name in front. And inside it, with her arms crossed and a smug grin on her face, was Mika.
“Told you I could fit,” Mika said, her voice muffled slightly by the fabric.
Jules blinked. “Mika… did you make that?”
Mika wiggled her shoulders, the stocking swaying slightly. “Yep. Took me all week. I wanted to surprise you.”
Jules pressed her fingers to her temples. “This is… incredibly ill-advised.”
“Maybe, but you’re impressed, right?”
“I’m not even mad,” Jules said, laughing despite herself. “I’m just impressed. You’re such a dork.”
“Aw, you love it,” Mika said, wriggling her way out of the stocking. She stood in front of Jules, grinning. “Merry Christmas?”
Jules shook her head, still laughing. “You’re ridiculous.”
“But you love me,” Mika teased, leaning in to kiss her.
Jules softened, wrapping her arms around Mika’s waist. “I do,” she said quietly.
Mika beamed. “Good, because I have another gift for you. This one actually fits in a normal stocking.” She reached into the pocket of her hoodie and pulled out a small box, handing it to Jules.
Jules opened it slowly, her breath catching when she saw the key inside.
“It’s to my place,” Mika said, suddenly looking shy. “I mean, you already stay over most of the time, but… I thought maybe you’d like to have your own key? No pressure, though. If it’s too soon, I can—”
Jules cut her off with a kiss.
“It’s perfect,” she said when they broke apart. “You’re perfect.”
Mika grinned. “Guess that means I win Christmas.”
“Don’t push it,” Jules said, but her smile betrayed her.
As they walked back inside, hand in hand, Jules couldn’t help but think that this- Mika’s chaos, her thoughtfulness, her love- was the best gift she’d ever received.