Archive of Our Own ^beta

Jupiter sighed. This wasn’t how she had imagined to spend Christmas Eve. Being Queen of the Earth had sounded nice at first, but she had underestimated the amount of responsibility and bureaucracy that came with her title. So there she was: Leaving a nondescript office building in the middle of Berlin, dodging pedestrians and trying to keep her last remaining bit of Christmas spirit alive.

Part of her job was checking in regularly with her representatives across all continents. Her secret government stayed in the shadows, using fancy buildings like the one she had just left, with polished glass fronts and generic, meaningless logos on the doors that the locals (her people) didn’t even notice when they walked past them. The meeting had went on for hours and right now Jupiter was just enjoying the feeling of walking down a city street like an ordinary human citizen. It was almost like she was back in her old life, on her way to some fancy bathroom that needed a good scrubbing.

Almost. Of course that life was nothing but a memory, and Jupiter wasn‘t on her way to a client‘s apartment, but to her host for the night. Tomorrow morning her driver would fly her back to Chicago in one of their invisible shuttles, so she could spend Christmas with her family. While she was looking forward to meeting her loved ones, she wasn‘t too keen on all of the noise and the family drama. Caine wouldn’t even be there; he was on a diplomatic mission with Stinger in some faraway corner of the galaxy and wouldn’t return before January. Lost in thought, Jupiter almost walked past her host’s apartment building. With another loud sigh Jupiter opened the front door and walked through the empty, lifeless hallway towards the elevator.

Arriving at the top floor, Jupiter noticed a slight change in the atmosphere. Christmas music was playing somewhere and there was a hint of cinnamon in the air. Intrigued, she knocked on her host‘s apartment door, which swung open barely a second later. Jupiter‘s host Pixie beamed at her and gave her a tight hug. The two women had known each other for barely a day, but Pixie was naturally enthusiastic and didn‘t waste time when it came to starting new friendships. Her blue butterfly wings were fluttering excitedly while she led Jupiter into her living room, which was lit by what looked like hundreds of candles. A Christmas tree had materialized in the corner of the room and „Let it Snow“ was playing on the stereo. Jupiter got a little teary-eyed, taking it all in. Earlier today she hadn‘t even realized how breathtaking the view from the penthouse window was, but framed by Pixie‘s Christmas decorations she finally could appreciate the Berlin skyline with the Fernsehturm towering over the city.

„You seemed kind of stressed and down this morning“, Pixie said. „I felt your Christmas spirit might use some cheering up.“

Still holding back happy tears, Jupiter hugged her new friend a second time. „Thank you. This really means a lot to me. Like, you didn‘t even know me before today.“ Jupiter took a step back. „What‘s that amazing smell?“

Pixie gave her a mischievous smile. „I made gingerbread. My job brings me to all corners of the galaxy and I just love to really dive into different cultures and cuisines. So I bought a German cookbook in an old bookstore today and gave it a try.“ Pixie took Jupiter‘s hand and led her towards the kitchen. „They’re a little burned, but I actually planned for you to build a gingerbread house with them, so it‘s no big deal.“

„Why just me?“ Jupiter was almost taken aback. „Won‘t you join me?“ She had liked the idea of spending some more time with Pixie after all the effort her host had went through for her.

„I won‘t.“ Another cheeky smile. „But someone else might.“

As they entered the kitchen, Jupiter‘s heart made a little jump.

„Surprise, baby.“ Caine was sitting at the kitchen table, with the same smile on his face as Pixie. He was wearing a Christmas sweater, with a picture of a pug wearing a Santa hat. On the table was a little mountain of gingerbread and an open bottle of beer.

Jupiter couldn‘t believe her eyes. „Caine? What are you doing here?“ She crossed the kitchen, let herself sink into his arms and kissed him.

„Pixie contacted me earlier today. She said you seemed kind of depressed, so I took the next hyperspace shuttle back to Earth.“ Guessing Jupiter‘s next thought, he added: „Stinger said he could handle it from here. So our holidays are starting early.“ Jupiter just smiled, feeling there was nothing else to say, simply enjoying being close to her boyfriend.

There was a little cough from the doorway. Pixie gave them a wink. „When you two lovebirds are done with saying hello, you can help yourself to some gingerbread. I‘ll be in the living room.“ With another smile she turned around and disappeared, her iridescent wings trailing behind her. Jupiter felt a burst of gratitude to this amazing woman, who had literally moved her boyfriend across the galaxy to cheer her up.

„I really don‘t want to complain“, Caine chuckled with a look at the gingerbread, „but these look a little burned.“

„She actually suggested we build a little house out of them“, Jupiter said.

„A house?“ Caine looked taken aback. „What did you say about playing with food before?“

„It‘s an exception.“ Jupiter laughed and gave a little shrug. „And it‘s Christmas.“

Rummaging through Pixie‘s kitchen cupboards (feeling they were now officially close enough for this not to be considered rude), Jupiter produced a bowl, powdered sugar and two wooden pastry brushes. She showed Caine how to mix icing by simply adding water to the sugar and how to use it for holding the pieces of gingerbread together. They decided to re-create her mother‘s home, but soon realized their talent was a little lacking. Both of them made up for this with their enthusiasm, and while the finished house didn‘t look great, they had a blast creating it. Deciding that it didn‘t really matter at this point, they started decorating the house with lots of Smarties and gummy bears that Pixie had prepared for this purpose.

„Right now it basically looks like a circus tent“, Jupiter concluded, again holding back tears, but this time from laughing too much.

„We‘re not supposed to … eat this, are we?“, Caine asked, his eyebrows raised. Jupiter burst out laughing, not noticing the tears of joy that were finally flowing down her face.

***

Around dinnertime Pixie appeared in the kitchen again, admiring the colorful disaster that their gingerbread house had turned into. From a cupboard she produced two tiny gingerbread men that looked like miniature versions of Jupiter and Caine, which were met with even more laughter. After they had added them to their house as a finishing touch, Pixie took a giant bowl of potato salad out of her fridge and started frying bratwurst in a pan. Jupiter and Caine set the table, putting their gingerbread house in the center. All three enjoyed their meal very much; Jupiter was used to rustic food from her Russian mother and Caine wolfed down three servings of sausages. On the stereo a German band called „Jupiter Jones“ was playing; Pixie had waited all day to show Jupiter their CD. Full, happy and her heart overflowing, Jupiter could barely believe how fast this day had completely turned around.

„In Germany presents are traditionally exchanged on Christmas Eve“, Pixie explained after they had cleared the table. „Unfortunately I didn‘t have time to get you two anything and I wasn‘t sure what you‘d like …“

Jupiter couldn‘t believe what she was hearing. „Pixie! This whole day has been the best Christmas present ever.“ Pixie blushed, her blue butterfly wings turning a slightly more purple shade. „If anyone should apologize for not having a present it‘s me“, Jupiter added, as an idea crossed her mind. „I‘ll throw a New Year‘s Eve party for you! I‘ll need some time to plan it, but I‘ll send you an invitation when I‘m back home.“ After another hug from Pixie, Jupiter got up and went to get her bag. „Caine, I actually have your present here with me. So I‘m going to honor the German traditions and give it to you tonight.“

Caine smiled at her as she handed him a little package. Half a second later he had ripped open the bright green wrapping paper and held a book in his hands. „‚The Wizard of the Emerald City‘ by Alexander Volkov“, he read.

„My mom used to read this to me in Russian. It‘s about a brave little girl, in a magical world full of danger and intrigue, and her … dog.“ She blushed, realizing what she just had said, but Caine just laughed and showed his gratitude by giving her a hug.

„I‘m going to read it to you, too, if you like“, he whispered in her ear while handing her a little gift box in return. After pulling open the velvet bow, Jupiter found a delicate golden necklace inside. A small yellow gemstone shimmered in the light of the candles. „It‘s a yellow sapphire … from the mines of Jupiter“, he said with a wink.

„It‘s beautiful“, Jupiter said, putting the necklace on and drawing Caine in for another kiss.

***

Being way too excited to just go to bed and sleep, Jupiter suggested that the three of them should go on an air-ride together. So they went on the balcony of the penthouse, put on their flying equipment and cloaking devices and took off into the night. Jupiter skated on the air using her flying boots, Caine glided next to her with his black wings and Pixie was fluttering like a butterfly in circles around them.

Half an hour later they were sitting on top of the Fernsehturm’s metallic sphere, 700 feet above the ground, snowflakes starting to fall around them. Jupiter grabbed both Pixie‘s and Caine‘s hands. „Pixie, I know I‘m repeating myself, but: Thank you. This night has meant the world to me.“ Turning to Caine, she added: „And there‘s another thing I just can‘t say often enough. I love you, Caine.“ Their lips met for another, long kiss.

Pixie smiled, looking the other way to give her two lovebirds some privacy. The city sprawled beneath her, tiny buildings slowly being covered by a fresh layer of snow. They almost looked like gingerbread houses.