"Don't be a dick."
---
Owen had managed to pull a few strings (with the help of Elle) and Elle was living with him, only half an hour from the Mitchell's house. Claire was staying with them while she recovered from the Jurassic World incident.
Elle was enrolled in a school only down the road from her, the same one that Zach went to. She hadn't attended yet as it was the Christmas holidays but she was anxious to begin in the new year. She was also generally just anxious with the number of nightmares she had been having since the incident. These versions showed her being eaten by the dinosaur instead of jumping but mostly she watched the one's she loved die right in front of her. She usually woke up in a sweat, tears streaming down her face as she gasped for air.
Christmas was fast approaching and Elle had decorated her and Owen's house despite the fact she knew they were going to the Mitchell's for Christmas. It made her feel slightly better. The holiday spirit was something that always lifted her spirit. Maybe it was the colder weather that added to the Christmas feel but Elle was feeling okay when she wasn't having a nightmare.
Elle had taken Gray Christmas shopping with her in an attempt to get presents for Zach and his parents as she already knew exactly what she was getting Gray. After all, he was still obsessed with dinosaurs even after the whole incident. She had gotten them presents and fed Gray as that was their deal.
Sleeping peacefully for the first time in a while, Elle woke up refreshed on Christmas morning. Her mind must have known the 'most wonderful time of the year' was there and given her a small break from the horrors she had experienced only a week prior. Unsurprisingly, Elle awoke early Christmas morning and quickly got ready, dressing in the Christmas jumper and leggings she had purchased. She did her makeup and tied her hair up before making breakfast for her and Owen (and Claire who she knew had spent the night). It was eight in the morning when she was finished and she decided to wake the pair.
After everything, they drove the half an hour to the Mitchell's, Elle in the back, flicking through her Christmas playlist before landing on one she was happy to listen to. She was beyond excited, singing along at the top of her lungs. Owen would have told her to quieten down but it was the happiest he had seen her since the incident and she needed as much happiness as possible. She was still young and he didn't hate the songs she was playing and Claire was bobbing her head to the beat of the music, a small smile on her face.
He wasn't one to believe in Christmas miracles but he couldn't deny that it had gotten Elle in better spirits. But he wasn't stupid. He knew she was having nightmares and that she cried herself to sleep because her dad died. He knew she wasn't really coping well but at that moment the light in her eyes told him that she was at least distracted.
They arrived at the house and Elle basically threw herself out of the car, grabbing the bags of presents in the boot of the car, including the ones she had bought for Owen to give to the family. She looked smaller with the bags almost swallowing her whole and Owen laughed at the sight.
"Give me a bag," Owen spoke up, holding out his hand.
"Take the one with the dog on it, it's your presents to them," she told.
"Got it," he informed.
Elle let go of the bag and followed Claire to the door with the other two bags in her hands. Claire quickly grabbed a bag and knocked on the door.
Karen greeted them, ushering them into the living room where the rest of the family sat.
There was a chorus of greetings before Gray jumped up and hugged Elle and dragged her to the seat in between him and Zach.
Elle and Zach hadn't exactly established much about their relationship apart from the fact that they wanted to continue talking and they did. They messaged each other every day, mainly flirting and discussing everything and anything. They had never broached the topic of what they were or where they were going with whatever they were. Both wanted the discussion but neither was brave enough to bring it up as it had only been a short time.
However, it didn't surprise Elle when he pulled her closer to him, wrapping his arms around her as her head dropped onto his chest.
"Hi," he greeted.
"Hey."
Karen then came in, offering everyone hot cocoa.
---
The gift exchange went well. Everyone like their presents, or at least pretended to quite well. Of course, when Elle began giving out the presents she bought there were protests as she was told 'she didn't have to'. Elle only rolled her eyes and told them that she knew but she did.
Everyone dispersed in the house to put everything away before they would watch Christmas movies together. Elle was lounging in Zach's room, watching him walk back and forth, finding different places for his different gifts. She flicked through a comic she found on his dresser.
"Done," Zach announced.
Elle placed the magazine back on his dresser, standing and walking over to him. She leant up and pecked his lips before going to leave his room. He pulled her back into the doorway.
"Mistletoe," he told, glancing up.
"Did you put that there?" Elle questioned, raising an eyebrow.
Zach only shrugged, a small smirk on his face.
"You could just ask me to kiss you. You don't have to do shit like that," Elle replied, rolling her eyes but leaning upwards.
She connected their lips, resting her hands on his shoulders as his slipped to her waist, pulling her even closer. His tongue slid along her bottom lip. She pulled away.
"Time to go join the others before they get the wrong idea," she spoke up, sending him a bright smile.
"Tease," he muttered.
"Don't be a dick."