Mistletoe Kisses

Sixteen year old Amelia Carter smiled as she caught sight of her parents. The female sprinted into her mom’s arms.

“Amy, I’m so happy to see you,” Ellen Carter, the mother of said sixteen year old commented, as she hugged her only daughter close.

“Mom,” Amy groaned as she pulled away. “I was only gone for two weeks. Besides, you get me for three weeks, before I have to head back to Gotham for school,” she reminded her mother with a pointed finger and head tilt.

“Amy, we’re your parents, let us worry,” Roger said as he moved forward to hug his little girl.

Amelia accepted the hug and smiled as her parents led her from the train station to their car. Roger placed her suitcase in the trunk, before he started the drive back to Carter Estate.

“Are you excited for tonight?” Mrs. Carter asked as she turned to look at Amy over her shoulder.

Brown eyes moved from the familiar sights to the blue eyes that belonged to her mother. “Yeah, it’s not quite Christmas without a Queen Christmas Gala,” the teen commented as the car pulled into the private driveway of Carter Estate.

“With both of your brothers out, you’ll be able to surprise everyone. We didn’t tell anyone you were coming home,” Ellen said as the car pulled to a stop.

“That will be a nice surprise,” Amy remarked with a soft smile. “Ho have the Trio of Terror been?” she asked as she climbed out of the car and tried to get her suitcase.

“I’ve got it, sweetheart,” Roger told his daughter as he lifted the luggage from the trunk.

Brown eyes met brown eyes, Amy could see the honesty in her father’s eyes. With a nod, the teenager followed her mother into the large manor.

“You need to stop calling Luke, Tommy, and Oliver that moniker,” her mother chastised as she rolled her eyes.

“I will when they stop causing trouble,” she replied. A fraudulent smile on her face as she bounced upstairs to take a quick nap before the night’s festivities.

Amy smiled as she spun around the crowded ballroom; the arms that protectively held her kept her from falling. She couldn’t make out her partner’s features, but she was lost in his green eyes, that held a hint of blue in them. So This Is Love played in the background, as Amy and her mystery partner beautifully danced across the floor. Other couples moved away to allow room for the move couple.

As Amy got lost in the dance, her partner leaned down. Just as she was about to lean in, and place her lips against his a voice called her name. And a hand touched her shoulder.

Wide brown eyes snapped open, Amy looked around to see her mother on the edge of her bed. She took note of her mother dressed in a beautiful cobalt blue dress. It brought out the blue in her mother’s eyes, that often got lost in the green.

“Amy it’s time for you to start getting ready, sweetheart,” Ellen said as she ran her fingers through her daughter’s dark waves.

Sleepily, the teenager nodded and wiped a hand across her eyes. “Thanks for letting me know, Mom,” she sighed as she stretched her arms and torso.

“We’ll leave in two hours, so be ready before then please,” Ellen told her daughter as she stood from the bed.

“Okay,” she called as she threw her legs over the edge of the bed. She climbed out from her warm blankets and made her way to the en-suite bathroom, for a quick shower. Her dark waves braided and hidden in a shower cap.

After her shower, Amy sat in front of her vanity to begin her post shower skin routine. Once finished, applying oils and lotions for her skin to absorb; she made way to her closet to find the dress her mother had purchased earlier in the autumn months.

A smile crossed Amelia’s lips as she caught sight of the dress. It was a beautiful dark cherry color, made up of lace and rhinestones. She wondered if she had a matching hair piece to go with the gown, but it wouldn’t be right to wear for the nights event. Amy pulled the dress on, she assessed her appearance in the mirror and grinned. She moved to the dresser in the closet and rummaged through one of the drawers for a pair of nude tights.

Triumphantly, she pulled them from the drawer and made her way to her bedside table for a safety pin. She slipped her legs into the fine net material, the pin secured near the waist of her tights. With her legs encased in for warmth, Amy maneuvered back to the closet in search of shoes for the night. She grabbed two pairs and studied them with intense scrutiny. The black flats wouldn’t work and neither would the nude heels. A pair of dark red velvet mahogany flats with glittery jewels caught her eye, Amy grabbed the shoes. With a satisfied nod, she slipped her feet into the shoes.

“Now, all I have to do is my hair and makeup,” she sighed aloud and made her way back to the vanity.

Quickly, Amy only applied a little bit of concealer to her face. Once done, she moved on to her lashes and lips. Two coats of mascara and a red lipstick used as a stain later, Amy was done. With her makeup. The look reminded her of a picture, she had seen of her Nana back in 1944, the only difference was that Nana Peggy had worn a bolder red lipstick.

She took her hair down from the braids. Gently, long fingers combed through the dark waves. Amy pondered on how to style her hair. She opened one of the vanity drawers and spotted a hair clip similar to the jewels on her shoes. Amy lifted the clip and placed it against her hair to try and find a good place to clip it in. After a few moments, she brushed some hair on her left side back and clipped it away with the delicate piece.

A smiled crossed her lips as she made her way to the mirror. The person who stood in the mirror looked beautiful in a simple and yet elegant manor. Reminiscent of her beloved Nana, who was in Gotham for only a few more days before she came to Starling to spend Christmas with Amy and her siblings.

As she climbed down the grand staircase, she spotted her parents at the bottom, in their coats ready to leave. “Really?!?! It hasn’t even two hours,” the teenager pointed out as she threw her hands up in exasperation.

Roger chuckled and shook his head.

“Amy, you were always the child, who was ready before your brothers. We knew you would be ready before the two hours.”

“Come on, Amy, put your coat on,” Ellen told her daughter. She held the mentioned coat, open for Amy to put on.

Amy accepted the warm coat, her arms slid into the sleeves of the black pea coat. She pulled her hair out of the back of the thick coat. Quickly, nimble fingers buttoned herself in. Once done, Amy accepted the offered arm that belonged to her father. Her mother on her father’s other arm.

The trio walked outside and climbed into the waiting vehicle. The drive to Queen Mansion wasn’t too long, Amy easily spotted a few familiar cars in the large parking area. Two belonged to her brothers, another to Tommy Merlyn.

“Well, at least your brothers are both here. Hopefully dressed,” Ellen muttered from her seat.

Amy snorted at the comment, but kept her eyes trained on the large house. She wondered who all would be in attendance for tonight’s lavish gala. The car pulled to a stop not far from her oldest brother’s Audi.

Safely tucked between her parents, they made their way inside the large house. The brunette female smiled as she caught sight of her godparents.

“Amelia,” Moira happily smiled as she pulled Amy into her arms for a hug.

“Moira,” Amy mumbled into the Queen Matriarch’s blonde hair. The familiar vintage floral scent of Moira’s perfume brought back many memories of the teenager’s childhood in Queen Mansion with her brothers.

“Let me look at you,” Moira said as she took a step back to examine her goddaughter.

A soft pink color bloomed on Amelia’s cheeks, as she turned to greet Robert Queen with a hug. Her parents behind her, conversing with one another. Amy rolled her eyes at the two conversations. Her father and godfather discussed their respective businesses; while her mother and godmother spoke of Amelia’s growth.

“… it’s no wonder you and Roger sent her to Gotham Prep. She looks an awful lot like Peggy and you, Ellen,” Moira remarked as she met Amy’s wide brown eyes.

“Um, Moira, do you know where Henry and Luke are?” Amy asked in hope of escaping the two conversations.

“They’re with Oliver, getting ready,” the blonde answered with a warm smile. A twinkle in her blue eyes as she thought of the surprise Oliver would get.

“Go on up, Melia,” Robert encouraged with a fond smile. “And send the boys down.”

Amy nodded as she daintily skipped up the stairs. Happiness filled her chest from the escape of her parents and godparents. She dreaded the thought of spending the entire night with various business men, politicians, Starling officials, and their significant others.

The large door loomed over Amelia as she approached. Hesitantly, she rose her hand but brought it back to her side.

Eyes slammed shut.

Inhale.

Hold for four.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Exhale.

She raised her delicate fist and knocked on the heavy wood. Her breath caught in her throat, while she waited.

The door opened to reveal Oliver Queen, with his dress shirt open down the front. Amy looked away before her brothers caught her enjoying the view of Oliver’s abs. Angry brothers and Christmas parties did not mix.

Oliver’s blue-green eyes widened as he saw Amy. He hadn’t seen her since July, just before she left for Gotham Prep. The sixteen year old female in front of him looked different, this Amelia exuded more confidence. There was a glow about her brought a smile to his face.

“Amy,” he softly breathed in as he took her in.

“Ollie,” she sent him a warm smile. “Are you Luke and Henry with you?”

Ollie gaped at her, but opened the door wider for her. She flashed him a bright smile, as she passed the twenty year old billionaire heir. The same man who had been apart of her life and owned her heart, yet remained oblivious to that fact. She left Starling to avoid seeing Oliver, but even Gotham enjoyed reporting about Starling’s billionaire playboy.

“Amy!” Henry happily called out as he spotted his little sister. He pulled her into his arms for a tight hug. Her feet left the ground as he spun them around, her skirt billowed out slightly.

Her laughter echoed in the room, as she safely landed back on her feet. “Hello, Henry,” she warmly greeted her brother, who was seven years older than her.

“You look amazing, Gotham seems to agree with you,” Henry remarked as he studied his sister with a scrutinizing eye.

“I don’t know, she looks the same to me,” Lucas Carter jabbed as he entered his sister’s vision.

Amy rolled her eyes and ignored him, not willing to take the bait. “Nice to see you, too Luke. Nana says she expects you to look presentable when she arrives next week. Something about not urinating on any police officers, with Oliver,” she said with a slight sneer in her voice. She sent a frown to Oliver over her shoulder, as she knew her brother was the instigator in that particular incident.

Oliver moved forward and wrapped an arm around Amy’s delicate frame. “That got to Gotham, huh?”

With a shake of her head, she rolled her eyes as she ducked under Ollie’s arm. “Of course it did. Nana was not amused with either of you. She also mentioned something about your mugshots looking deplorable; And to not expect any sort of gift from her, due to your naughty behavior,” Amy chastised the Queen heir, brown eyes slide to Luke with a silent glare in warning of the seriousness of the situation. Her voice had taken a slight English accent from deplorable on, a habit from whenever she spent a while with Peggy.

“You know you genuinely looked like Peggy there for a moment, it’s frightening how much you look like her,” Tommy Merlyn observed from Oliver’s desk chair.

At Tommy’s words, Amy rolled her eyes, as she usually did whenever the Merlyn heir spoke. “Hello Tommy, you do know, Mom and Dad wanted to see all four of you at some point tonight.”

At those words, the three males who were dressed straightened up. Shoulders tensed with anxiety and stress. Henry, led Luke and Tommy out of the room as the oldest, he knew better than to keep his parents waiting. It only meant more trouble for him in the long run. Henry was twenty-three and did not need trouble with his parents.

Soon, it was only Amelia and Oliver left. His shirt was buttoned but his jacket was on his bed. The black bow tie hung around his neck. She knew he often struggled with his tie, especially bow ties for formal events.

“Am I going to have to fix your tie?” Amy asked as she looked at the blonde male with a raised eyebrow.

Oliver sighed as he looked up at Amy through his eyelashes. Some of his hair fell in front of his eyes. “Please,” he asked as he stepped forward to stand only a few steps away from small female.

Amelia closed the distance between them, she gently pushed Oliver’s shoulders, until he stood straight. With a sigh she met Oliver’s gaze. “This isn’t going to work. You’re a foot taller than me,” she whined aloud.

Oliver smirked as she led Amy into the bathroom. “Do you trust me?” he asked as he looked over his shoulder.

“When you aren’t getting me into trouble, sure,” she answered as she looked at him with a fond smile.

Oliver wore a wicked grin, before he reached out and lifted Amelia off her feet. A squawk escaped her lips as the floor was taken out from under her. “Ollie,” she whined as she felt her feet catch edge of the bathtub.

“Amy,” he said as his eyes met hers. “I’m not going to let you fall. I promise,” he swore as his hands tightened on her waist.

Amy nodded, “Just keep me balanced,” she pleaded as she reached out to start tying Oliver’s tie.

With quick fingers, Amy twisted, knotted, tied, and smoothed the black bow tie. Whenever she began to sway, Oliver was quick to re-balance her on the edge of the tub.

“And done,” the teenager female happily commented. “Now, please let me down, before I slip and die.”

Oliver chuckled and shook his head; gently, he lifted his best friend’s sister off the tub and placed her back on the ground with a small twirl. Amy’s laughter rang in the room, as she spun under his arm.

“Ollie,” she sighed as they made their way back to his room. “Where’s Laurel? Usually she’s here to help you.” Amy wondered as she unbuttoned her coat and sat at the foot of the bed. She watched as Oliver put on his suit jacket.

Oliver sighed as he met Amy’s gaze. “She’s got a family event, she couldn’t get out of. So, Amelia Margaret Danielle Carter-Sousa, may I escort you downstairs to the ballroom?” He asked with a mock bow.

Amy giggled at his actions, but nodded. “Yes, you may,” she answered as she hopped off the bed.

Oliver gently removed her coat and placed it on a hanger to place in his closet. He offered his arm and together they climbed down the stairs and entered the ballroom. As they crossed the threshold the pair were bombarded with giggles and chortles.

The pair shared a confused glance with one another. Curious as to what everyone found funny. Their answer soon came from their devious friend.

“Ooh, look who’s under the mistletoe,” Tommy happily crowed from just a few feet to the right of the entrance.

Two pairs of eyes, one green-blue, the other brown, widened as they took in the words Tommy uttered. Amelia looked up, her hair fell over her shoulders, to see the green leaves and white berries. Her brows furrowed and her lips pursed as she glared at the offending foliage.

“Well, we can’t break tradition,” Oliver commented as he looked down at Amy.

Her eyes met his, “You’re right.”

Oliver leaned down and closed the distance. Amy’s breathe caught in her throat as she rose up onto the tips of her toes. She didn’t want Oliver to be uncomfortable.

“Merry Christmas Amy,” the billionaire socialite whispered before he placed his lips against Amy’s.

The kiss was sweet and simple, after a few seconds they pulled apart. Her eyes bright and her lips a little fuller as she licked her lips.

“Merry Christmas, Oliver,” she quietly said as her cheeks flushed a bright cherry color.

-fin

Merry Christmas everyone, since tomorrow is Christmas I figure I would post tomorrow's piece a day early. I hope you all have a Happy Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, whatever you celebrate enjoy spending times with your loved ones.