Home for Cherubmas

Sariel hums softly as she flits throughout her house, putting up multiple decorations as her tail practically wagged behind her. 

After asking Dove for advice, Sariel had managed to grab as many Cherubmas themed decorations as she could get.

Wreaths, garlands, a small fake tree that she had set upon the table in the living room, and another she had set upon the counter in the kitchen, both of them white with holy holly on them.

“Do you think these are enough decorations?” Sariel asked, glancing at her Lilgrim as he hovered beside her, looking at all of the decorations she had put up, gently nuzzling her cheek and making a soft wooo~ sound.

Sariel sighed heavily then reached up and pet Malakai, her Lilgrim’s head. “Murmur I hope so… this is so sudden! I hope I didn’t miss anything.” She says, wringing her hooves as she looks around, making her way into the kitchen and checking the food.

“Still warm, thank goodness. We can just heat it up if it gets too cold but, Demons, I want this to be perfect! Or at least… good enough to welcome him home…” She says, gently petting the Lilgrim’s head again.

“I’m so nervous Malakai. Do you think he’ll like the present I managed to get for him?” Sariel asked, looking at the Lilgrim with worry on her face.

The Lilgrim gently bumped his head against hers and made another soft wooo~ sound, nuzzling his head under her chin.

Sariel giggled softly and nuzzled her lilgrim’s head, reaching out and petting him again. “Thanks Malakai, you’re the best.” She says, glancing at the clock hanging on the wall.

“Ahh, he’s going to be here any second! I’m so nervous!” She exclaimed, waving her arms and placing her hands on her cheeks, soft barks catching her attention, as a baby Impup clumsily bound its way towards her.

“Hello my sweet boy, are you here to keep me company until our guest arrives?” She asked, picking the baby Impup up and holding him, gently petting his head.

Maximus, the baby Impup barked then gently licked Sariel’s face, his little tail wagging happily, as her pilgrim gently nudged her neck with his head and nuzzling her.

“Aww, you two are the best.” She said, hearing the doorbell ring as well as a few loud knocks on her door. 

“Ahh, he’s here! How do I look? Do I look cute?” Sariel asked, spinning around in her cute, pastel colored sweater, with milk mochi prints on it.

The baby Impup and the Lilgrim looked at each other then at Sariel and nodded, making sounds of encouragement at her.

Sariel sighed and took a deep breath, nodding firmly as she placed her hand on her chest, making her way over to the door and peeking through the eyehole, opening the door.

A seafoam green and white succubun with black scales and clawed hooves, red grand greed horns, and large red dots on his ears; wearing a dark brown coat with fur around the neck, stood in the doorway, his red eyes gazing into Sariel’s light blue ones, a large smile spreading across his face as he looked her over.

“I expected you to wear something cute but not this cute. Especially not a sweater. A dress maybe, but not a sweater.” The succubun commented, chuckling.

Sariel’s breathing hitched for a second, as she looked the greed bun over, sniffling softly as she threw herself at him, hugging him tight and burying her head into his neck.

“Welcome home Cassardis, I missed you. I missed you so, so much.” Sariel says, burying her head further into his neck, tears of joy running down her cheeks.

Cassardis’s eyes widened for a moment, not expecting this to be Sariel’s reaction. “Hey now, I wasn’t gone that long, was I?” He asks, gently brushing the tears from Sariel’s eyes.

Sariel sniffled and shook her head, “I guess not, but it feels like you were.” She replied, gently taking his hoof and pulling him into the house and closing the door behind her.

Stepping into the house, Cassardis looked around, taking in the multiple decorations hung up in every corner of the room, eyes falling on the lit fireplace and the multiple colored stockings hanging from it.

Cassardis whistled, “Well, well, it looks to me like you went all out for my return.”  He says, shimmying out of his coat and putting it on the coat rack. 

“I did! D-do you like it? I got some advice from the local Cherubuns so I could decorate correctly. Well, one of them but they didn’t really mind.” Sariel says, looking around the house, her tail swaying behind her.

Cassardis chuckled, walking over and taking Sariel’s hooves. “You did amazing, kitten. It looks nice. Everything in its place.” He says, leaning in and kissing her softly.

“How long did it take for you to get everything set up, anyway?” Cassardis asks.

“Mmm, about an hour for the whole house, I think.” Sariel replied, gently squeezing Cassardis’s hoof and leading him towards the kitchen.

Before they could even reach the threshold, Sariel’s baby Impup and Lilgrim blocked their path, looking between the pair before staring at Cassardis curiously. 

“Oh? Who are these little guys?” Cassardis asked, reaching his hoof out towards them.

“The baby Impup is named Maximus and the Lilgrim is named Malakai! I got them a few days after arriving. 

They’re really sweet. I have a few more but maybe you’ll meet them later.” Sariel says, watching the two Imps sniff Cassardis’s hoof.

“Really? Were you truly that lonely without me here?” Cassardis asked, chuckling softly, reaching out and petting the two Imps, watching them run off.

Sariel huffs at him and puffs up her cheeks, looking away. “No! Maybe I just wanted some friends to keep me company.” She replied.

Cassardis laughed softly, moving to stand in front of Sariel, reaching out and rubbing her cheek with his hoof, planting a kiss on her forehead.

“I missed you too, kitten. Sorry it took me so long to return. If I ever have to go out of town for a long period of time again, I’ll let you know and bring you with me.” Cassardis says, leading her into the kitchen.

“Where did you go anyway?” Sariel asked, grabbing a plate and scooping some food onto it then grabbing a cup and filling it with some homemade juice, handing both to Cassardis.

“I had to get a few things settled after getting here. That’s all.” Cassardis replied, taking a bite of the food.

“Wow, this is delicious. It’s been a while since I’ve had your homemade cooking. It tastes better than I remember.” Cassardis complimented.

Sariel blushed and smiled softly, rubbing her arm. “T-thank you. It has been a while hasn’t it? I think the last time I tried was when we were small. I don’t think I was that great at cooking but, I tried because you liked food.” She says, sighing softly as she reminisced, taking a bite of her own food.

Cassardis laughed, “I’m surprised you remember that far back! I barely remember anything from our childhood myself.” He says, taking a sip of his juice.

The rest of the afternoon, Cassardis and Sariel spent time catching up and reminiscing over their lunch.

 When they were finished, the pair cleaned up and put the leftovers in the fridge before moving towards the living room.

“I have a gift for you!” Sariel says, quickly making her way over to the supply closet and taking out a gift wrapped box, handing it to him. 

“It’s not much but I hope you like it.” She says, standing in front of him.

Cassardis takes the box and opens it, revealing a black notebook with golden filigree on the back and cover, along with a matching pencil case filled with a box of pencils.

A soft smile spread across Cassardis’s face as he ran his hand over the cover.  

“You didn’t have to get me a present, Sariel. Especially since I have you already.” He said, taking her hoof and pulling her onto the couch with him, wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her close and kissing her cheek then her ear.

Sariel blushed deeply, snuggling close to him and kissing him softly, nuzzling him and rubbing her nose against his. 

“I know but, I remembered that you liked writing poetry and you never had enough notebooks so, I figured you would like it. Sorry it’s not anything fancier.” She says, relaxing against Cassardis. 

“Nonsense, I don’t need anything fancy. I appreciate what you got me. It looks nice, especially with the golden filigree on the cover.” Cassardis says, gently petting Sariel’s ears and rubbing her horns.

The rest of night was spent with the pair snuggled up to each other, enjoying each other’s company as they talked about random things, eventually popping in a movie that Sariel rented and watching it together as the two Imps laid in front of the couch.