Page 31 of The Alien Who Saved Christmas
“Well, not until we make the ornaments.” She assured him, as if he’d said something silly. “Hey, do aliens have glitter?”
They didn’t. They did have paint, though. By the time Xane got back with a brown, thorny bush, Sadie had already cut apart some old papers and coated them in vibrant colors.
Xane shook the sand from his hair and blinked at all the art supplies she’d scavenged. “What in Gloth’s name are you doing?” He choked out in a hushed tone.
“I’m making paper chains for our tree.”
“With ancient maps of theEighth Galaxy.” His voice rose on the last words, like maybe she would get why it mattered if he said it louder.
Nope. She was still clueless.
Sadie glanced down at her red and white craft project. “Are they-- like-- valuable?” She guessed.
Xane closed his eyes. “They were.” He intoned sorrowfully.
“Well, how was I supposed to know that? They were the only paper I could find.”
“Ancient.” He reiterated dryly and dumped the twisted mass of menacing vegetation onto the floor. “I found you thisfeerinbush. Is it sufficiently festive?”
“It’s amazing, Xane. Exactly like Rockefeller Center.” She assured him, even as she side-eyed the creepy bramble. It looked like something out of a wicked witch’s cursed garden of horrors. “Thanks so much.”
He grunted. “Just avoid its mouth.”
“Right.” Sadie winced a bit. “Um… Why don’t we start by painting it green?”
Several hours later, the rabid bush’s glow-up was complete. It certainly wasn’t a Douglas fir, but it didn’t look half bad to Sadie. Paper chains and cut-out snowflakes dangled from the branches. She’d done her best to make alien-gingerbread cookies out of food pills. She’d even found some little laser-dot thingies to add for lights. Whatever they were, Xane had winced a bit when she fastened them in place, but she’d also caught amusement in his blue gaze.
“What do you think?” She asked, standing back to admire her holiday handiwork. The star on the top was a little crooked, but it was the best she could do. The bush kept trying to bite her when she adjusted it.
Xane sat in one of the control room’s chairs. It was intended for way smaller aliens. He barely fit. Also, the golden fabric on the back of it was missing. Sadie had needed it to make the lopsided star.
“Your decorating is not as hellaciously awful as I anticipated.” He allowed, his four arms crossed over his chest.
She sent him a grin, pleased with that glowing praise. “About time you felt some Christmas spirit.”
A small smile curved his mouth, as he took in her happy expression. “Being around you, I feel more than I ever expected, Sadie.”
Her cheeks flushed in pleasure. It had been a long time since she’d had someone to spend Christmas with. It shocked her how natural it felt to celebrate it with Xane.
“Now what?” He asked.
“I don’t know. I mean, everything is happening so fast.” She bit her lower lip. “I feel super drawn to you, but I need time to consider things, before I agree to any kind of serious relationship.”
His brows soared. “I meant what’s next for yourfeerinbush.”
“Oh.” Sadie blinked and looked back at the tree. “Um… well, nothing.” She cleared her throat. “It’s all done. If we were on Earth, now we’d put presents under it.”
“Why?”
“It’s how humans exchange gifts on Christmas. Kids get lots of them. But adults get some, too.” She touched the base of her throat, remembering. “One year, my dad got my mom asilver locket with her initials on it. She loved that. She never took it off.”
“My brother gave me a necklace once.” Xane said quietly. “It is an heirloom of my people. The 1 Medallion.”
“Sounds very mystical and Indiana Jones-y.”
“It’s worn by the most valuable member of our line.”
“Like the leader?”
