“There.” 

John nodded with satisfaction as he placed down the last utensil at the table. He stood back and took a look, eyeing the symmetry of the two place settings and gave another nod. He wanted tonight to be as special as possible, to the extent that he had even purchased holiday themed plates and fancy glasses just to mark the occasion.

“Everything has to be perfect.”

He checked the time on the stove as he headed back into the kitchen to continue preparations. He and Emma had been dating for three years at this point and that included three Christmases prior to this one. He still remembered the day they had met at a friend’s holiday bash and her adorable green and red outfit that she had worn for the occasion. He loved her utterly but there was one extremely odd thing about their relationship: every year, she insisted on being alone for Christmas. It didn’t bother him that first time as they had just met, but as the years went by and she continued the behavior, it started to get on his nerves.

“Why can’t I come over for Christmas?” he had said last year as they drove home from Thanksgiving Dinner at her parents. Emma had noticeably stiffened.

“Oh uh,” she had answered and he knew she was fishing for an explanation. “My parents…they don’t stay in town for Christmas. It’s tradition.”

He hadn’t really pressed the subject and future conversation with her parents confirmed what she had said, even if her mom and dad also seemed slightly nervous when answering. Every single time she brought up the subject, she would either dodge the question or change the subject, which only made him more curious. He didn’t mind that the two of them still lived in separate apartments…he knew that Emma valued her independence…but this was an enigma about her that he just couldn’t crack. John’s parents had died years ago and his only sibling was halfway across the world, so it was the day after this year’s Thanksgiving that he broached the subject.

“Come by for Christmas,” he had said on the phone. There was a noticeable pause on the other end.

“John…we’ve talked about this….” she started to say. But this time John was ready to put his foot down.

“I know we’ve talked about it, Emma, but I just don’t understand. We’ve been together for over three years now…heck, this is our fourth Christmas…and I’ve never seen you for even one. I know your parents aren’t in town and you know that I never do anything…come on, spend Christmas with me.”

There was another long pause. 

“John, I know…I just…I’m not sure this is such a good idea….”

John had grown irritated.

“What’s the problem? Look, Emma, you know I love you, but if this relationship is going to go anywhere, we can’t have these secrets okay? And this is a big one for me.”

There was another pause followed by what sounded like it might have been a sniffle and John instantly felt a pang of regret for his tone.

“Okay. Christmas Eve…I’ll come. But…just….”

She never finished that sentence and had just hung up the phone. John felt awful and immediately texted her to apologize. She responded less than a minute later saying it was okay and that they were good and that she would see him on Christmas Eve.

“I hope this isn’t a deal breaker,” he said as he stirred a bubbling pot. He hadn’t meant to offend her, but it was true that if they were going to continue this relationship…if he was going to ask her to move to the next step with him…then this issue needed to be resolved. As he thought about it, his mind drifted to the small box that he had hidden away in his dresser drawer.

“I really hope it isn’t all for nothing.”

The buzzer for his apartment rang and his heart jumped at the same time. Turning the heat down to simmer, he straightened his hair and pulled off his apron. Striding across the floor, he hit the buzzer and opened his door. Seconds later, he watched the head of his girlfriend bounce up the stairs.

“Hi Emma,” he said, beaming his largest smile. Emma looked at him and smiled as well, though he could tell that it wasn’t as natural as it usually is.

“Hi John,” she said, stepping up to him. He leaned in and planted a kiss on her lips.

“Um…thanks for inviting me,” she said, but the words seemed rehearsed. John wanted to ask her what was wrong but decided not to bring up memories of their tense conversation this early in the evening. He led her inside and she hung up her coat. John couldn’t help but eye her in the same adorable green and red outfit that he remembered from years ago, punctuated with an adorable green skirt which showed off her long legs.

“You look wonderful,” John said with a smile. “Just like a little elf.”

Emma cracked a weak smile and John realized that something was severely wrong. Emma just didn’t seem like herself: even on the days when she had been tired or sick or sad, she had never been this cold. She seemed to be living in her own head and it was beginning to worry John to death. 

“I’ll get you a drink,” he said, turning to the kitchen. He popped the cork on the bottle of wine he had bought for the occasion and poured two glasses. As he stepped back into the living room, he saw that Emma had taken a seat on the sofa, staring out the window at the sunset. John approached her.

“Here you go,” he said, offering her a glass. She took it and nodded.

“Thank you,” she said again. He could sense the tension in her voice as he sat down next to her.

“Emma, are you alright?” he finally asked, placing a hand on her knee. She stood up immediately, taking a few steps away. John felt hurt.

“Hey, I’m sorry, okay…” he said. His girlfriend turned around, her eyes just a bit wider with worry than a moment before. 

“I’m sorry about my tone the other day…I really am,” he said. Emma looked down into the wine glass and nodded before taking a sip. 

“But hey look…you’re here,” he said, smiling widely again. “And I’m so happy you’re here. You have no idea what this means to me.”

“You don’t understand.”

John blinked as the words came out of Emma’s mouth. They were so cold…yet, also fearful. Something was definitely wrong.

“I…okay…what don’t I understand?” he asked patiently. Emma’s hand was shaking now, the liquid in her glass vibrating as her eyes continued to dart toward the window. The last golden rays of the sun shone over the top of the buildings. 

“Emma,” he said, standing up and approaching her, but as he came close she drew back. John frowned…never in the three years they’d spent together had he felt as hurt as he did now. And what was worse: he knew that he was at least partially responsible.

“Emma, it’s okay, it’s me,” he said in a soothing voice. She shook her head back and forth.

“You don’t understand…oh god, I don’t know if I should have come.” She was visibly shaking now and John was shaking as well partly out of frustration and partly out of worry for her. He took another step closer and again she stepped away.

“Emma…please….” he said, holding out his hand. She stared at his hand for just a moment before turning her gaze to his face. They locked eyes and he could see her reading him just how she had the first time they had met…had he really become like a stranger to her after all this time? 

“Okay.”

John blinked. Emma was nodding her head but tears were beginning to squeeze their way out of the sides of her eyes. She held out the wine glass and John took it into hand as she stepped back once again. She turned and watched as the sun flashed its last light before looking back into her boyfriend’s eyes.

“Just remember,” she said softly, “I love you, John.”

John was about to respond but found himself silent as a pale, golden glow began to fill the room. He watched in awe as Emma began to glow a soft, yellow aura, almost as if her skin were emitting a soft sunlight. He stood completely speechless as she sighed loudly and, slowly, he watched as Emma’s body began to compact and recede. Right before his very eyes, he watched as his girlfriend began to shrink…dwindling smaller and smaller with every passing second. His jaw dropped open as he watched her shrink down past four feet tall…three feet…two…even one. Then, as quickly as it had begun, the glow receded from her skin and he stared down at a tiny little woman dressed in Emma’s clothes. This woman couldn’t have been much taller than six inches, and he watched in shock as she turned her tiny face upward and stared at him.

“Well…there…now you know my secret,” she said in a tiny little voice. John was still staring in shock: she looked exactly like Emma, except that her ears had extended slightly and become much more pointed. And dressed in the same clothing as before, she much more resembled one of those tiny little elf dolls from the store than an actual real woman. But still, there she was: small and tiny and shrunk on his floor.

“Is it…okay?” she said again in a tiny little whimper. While John stood in shock, Emma’s tiny heart was pounding a million miles a minute. She had never told him her secret…why she always stayed inside during Christmas…what her family’s legacy was…but now that was all in the open. As he stared down at her, she began to realize how much larger he truly was: big enough to snatch her up in either of his hands, or even step on her and crush her if he wanted. She began to shake: each second he stared in silence was another second for her darkest fears to play in her mind. She imagined being captured and kept in a cage…nothing but a tiny little toy if she didn’t receive the antidote to her condition by sundown tomorrow. Or worse…sold in an auction to the highest bidder to some rich man or woman who was excited by the prospect of owning a tiny little woman. But no…John would never do that…they had dated for three years. She knew him…at least she thought she did. She hoped she did.

“I shouldn’t have come here,” she thought, visibly shaking as the Giant contemplated her. Oh god…he was going to end her right here and now. Or worse…turn her into a pet. No longer his girlfriend…just a toy for his amusement. Her mother had been right: why did she take the risk? No…no no no no ….

Suddenly, the gigantic man burst out laughing. The sound was both surprising and jarring as the tiny woman looked up. Of all the possible outcomes she had considered…this had not been one of them.

“What…” she said in her tiny, squeaky little voice, “What’s so funny?”

“I’m sorry I just…oh god, this is your secret?” he said, tears streaming down his face as his tension drained from his body. Emma was still highly confused.

“I…uh…yea?” she squeaked. 

“I’m sorry…no, totally…this is totally wild for sure. I mean, look at you! You’re probably barely even six inches tall!”

Emma shook a little as he reminded her of her height.

“I’m sorry,” he said, still chuckling as he wiped a tear from his ear. “It’s just…I expected something a whole lot worse!” 

Emma blinked. “Really?”

“Yes, really!” John said. He was awash with relief now, despite the strangeness of the situation. He had been so worried that she was going to break up with him that he could pretty much swallow anything else. Emma shuffled her tiny feet, feeling the wooden floor beneath her soles.

“So…it’s okay? We’re…okay?”

Emma’s eyes went wide as John knelt down, planting his knee near the tiny little woman. The floor shook with his weight and Emma couldn’t help but let out a tiny little squeak. John smiled down at his tiny, six-inch girlfriend before extending his hand, placing it down beside her with his palm facing up.

“Of course we’re okay.”

Emma looked up at him, tears of joy streaming down her face this time as her own anxiety bled away. Gently, she stepped into his palm and took a seat. She felt him move and a moment later he was lifting her up into the air, holding his tiny little treasure up before his gigantic face. She peered into his beautiful eyes and couldn’t help but smile…this time, for real. John returned the gesture as his grin filled his face.

“Come on hun,” he said, “Let’s get our evening started.”

—--------------------------------

Around thirty minutes later

“That’s incredible,” John said as he and Emma finished up their meal. “So you’re an actual factual real-life elf.” 

“Half-elf,” giggled the tiny woman. Both she and John had eaten their dinner and were breaking further into the wine he had bought: John with his glass and Emma with a thimble he had managed to find for her. “It’s my mother’s side. Our heritage comes out once a year and we take our natural form from sundown on Christmas Eve to sundown on Christmas.”

“I see, I see,” John said, nodding. Most of the initial weirdness of the evening had subsided and now he found himself staring at her with the same infatuation as always when she wore cute outfits like the one she currently had on. Heck, at her small size…maybe she was even cuter.

“So…wait…then you mom….” he said, trailing off at the end.

“Yes,” Emma responded. “My parents don’t actually go anywhere for Christmas. They stay home and my dad takes care of my mom at her small size. It’s a tradition in our house.”

“I see,” John said.

“And that’s not the worst of it…imagine how I felt when it first kicked in! There I was in high school at a friend’s party. I left to use the bathroom and POOF! Suddenly I’m six inches tall and trapped in my bra!”

“That must have been scary,” John said, trying to imagine her covering her tiny naked body with a huge piece of underwear.

“No kidding! I should have listened to my mom…she warned me every year that the same was bound to happen eventually. Anyway, luckily my best friend found me and took me home and no one else was the wiser. Ever since then, I always wear our traditional elfen garments on Christmas Eve because it’s the only thing that changes size with us.”

She giggled, feeling tipsy from the alcohol as she suddenly tipped over the thimble and splashed the very same outfit with the dark red liquid.

“Dang it!” she shouted, standing up. She frowned as the dark red liquid seeped in. She grabbed the edge of a napkin and began rubbing the stain but it was to no avail. She grunted and stomped her foot, pouting as she looked down at her outfit.

“Dang it…do you know how hard it is to clean this material?!” she said, visibly upset. John frowned as well as he looked down at his tiny girlfriend, his mind racing for possible solutions as he watched her desperately try and clean it. Suddenly, his eyes brightened.

“Would you like a different outfit for tonight?”

Emma’s pointy ears perked up and she craned her head to look up at him.

“What do you mean?” 

“Stay here,” John said. He stood up from the table and walked over to the hallway closet. Peeking inside, he rummaged around a moment before producing a small box. He spied the small doll inside wearing a long, red, Christmas gown and smiled. This gift was supposed to be for his niece, but his sister was out of town with her family for weeks so he had plenty of time to rebuy it for her. Returning to the table, he placed the box down so that Emma could see the contents inside.

“How about this?”

Emma blinked as she looked at the gorgeous gown. She bit her lip, feeling emotions welling up in her as she let out a giggle and nodded. John smiled as he opened the box up, pulling the doll out and dislodging it from the plastic straps. He carefully undid the velcro in the back and slid the dress off of the tiny doll’s body before turning to Emma who now stood before him, completely naked, with a huge anticipatory expression on her face.

“Oh uh…” he said, swallowing for a moment. He had seen her naked countless times, but there was something about her being nude and hand sized that made it feel different…more exotic. She grinned as she put her hand on her hips.

“Well? You gonna’ help me get dressed, big guy?” she said in her tiny little voice. John felt his heart leap a moment before grinning himself. Slowly, he pulled the dress down over her tiny, naked frame and watched as she thread her little arms through the holes. She smoothed out the dress and twirled around once before looking back up at John.

“What do you think?” she asked.

“Belle of the ball,” John responded. Emma smiled widely.

“I love you, John. This is so thoughtful.”

John smiled and offered his hand again. “I love you too, Emma. How about that movie now?”

Emma squeaked with delight as she got back onto his hand and the pair walked over to the sofa. John sat before lowering his doll-sized girlfriend in between his thighs. She leaned up against him, and he tried hard not to stare at her too much as he reached for the remote. They agreed upon a Christmas movie and he turned it on. As they watched, he slowly brought down his hand and gently stroked her hair and shoulders, eliciting purrs of contentment from the tiny woman as she snuggled deeper and deeper between his legs.

“You’re so warm,” she said at one point. John could feel her tiny pulse, already faster than usual as a result of her size, quickening even more as he gently massaged her. The farther they go into the film, the less he was focusing on the screen and the more he was paying attention to the signals and feedback that the tiny woman was giving. Biting his lip and taking a deep breath, he lowered his finger farther and gently rubbed her chest.

“Ooo…” cooed the tiny woman, leaning back against his thigh as he felt her firm breast beneath the fabric. He touched her again, gently massaging her chest as she continued to coo gently.

“Mmm…hold on,” she said after a few minutes. Reaching behind her back, she undid the velcro straps and peeled the top of her dress downward, exposing her tiny breasts to the cool air of the room. She looked up at him again with pleading eyes.

“Now,” she said softly. John took the cue and gently massaged her tiny mounds as Emma cooed with delight. He brushed her gently as he could, his fingers feeling like a light, warm hand rippling over her skin and she couldn’t help but close her eyes and get lost in the sensation. Seeing her slip slightly down as she relaxed, John couldn’t help but place his pinky finger on her tiny leg.

“Ooo,” she moaned softly as he gently brushed the inside of her thigh. Every tiny squeak and coo only served to drive him onward as he continued his path up and down her tiny leg until he finally ventured a touch to her tiny crotch. He felt the moisture of her excitement, and gently began to massage her miniature sex.

“Oooo gosh,” she moaned, leaning back against him as she spread her legs. He reached up under the hem of her tiny dress, gently massaging her most intimate area as he watched the pleasure build up in her. She gripped his pant leg, feeling the fibers between her fingers as she pressed her hips forward against his massive finger. John did not let up, continuing to massage her as he felt her getting closer and closer to the edge.

“Come on little doll,” he ventured to say as the mood struck him. “Come for me.” 

The words drove her over the edge and she squeaked loudly as she bucked her hips against his finger, squeaking over and over again as waves of pleasure ran over her body. She came again and again until, finally, she laid back, panting and exhausted, her tiny chest rising and falling as she struggled to catch her breath. John let her lie, removing his finger and touching the tip to his tongue. It tasted just like her…just smaller.

“Oh…my god….” she half-moaned half-wheezed as she continued to recover. She popped one eye open and stared up at John’s face high above.

“Holy shit,” she said again. John burst out laughing.

“That good, huh?” he said. She laughed as well.

“Does that stroke your ego? The fact that you can do that to me?” she said, sticking out her little tongue. John just winked back and she couldn’t help but giggle. She rose to her feet, running to the point between his thighs and throwing her tiny arms over him the best she could. John smiled and reached down as he gently stroked her exposed back, eliciting more happy sighs from his tiny girlfriend. Suddenly he inhaled as he felt her little hands pressing up against his pants, slowly moving in a circular direction.

“How can I repay you for such a good time?” Emma said, a mischievous grin spreading across her little face. John felt his pulse pounding but also realized the scale of what she was suggesting.

“I…yes, but Emma…are you sure? I mean, you’re so….”

Emma shot him a scowl. He bit his lip and she laughed.

“Just help me get it open. Then get ready, big guy.”

John obeyed, gripping the zipper on his pants and opening the flap. He shifted and freed himself and Emma’s went wide as she stared up at his massive member. 

“Oh god…it’s bigger than I am,” she said. She had interacted with it several times before, but never at this scale, and for just a moment she began to wonder if maybe her ambition was greater than her ability. John looked concerned.

“It’s okay, we can do something else if you wan-”

He suddenly sucked in a breath as she reached up and ran her tongue along his sensitive head. Emma giggled and winked.

“Just relax,” she said. She wrapped her arms around his massive shaft and pressed her face into his soft skin. She inhaled deeply, taking in his scent as she rubbed her tiny body up and down his length. 

“Mmm,” John mumbled as she worked on him. She smiled as she heard his response and stepped back for a moment. John watched as she slowly removed her beautiful dress, folding it up and tossing it up and over his leg. He murmured happily again as she turned back to him and pressed her chest against him.

“You like that big guy?” she said as she rubbed her breasts against his skin.

“Uh huh,” John said, watching his tiny, naked girlfriend pleasure him with her entire body. His eyes traced over her tiny, sexy curves as she stroked him again and again, and he felt himself getting harder and harder by the second. Emma suddenly leapt up, adeptly landing on the top of his dick. Straddling him with her tiny legs, she leaned forward and gently rubbed herself against him again.

“Ride ‘em, elf girl,” he moaned. She giggled as she gyrated her hips against him, her tiny butt bouncing up and down as she continued to pleasure him. He gave her bottom a tiny flick and she squeaked and glared at him.

“Oh yea?” she said after a moment before drawing her tongue along his head. He moaned deeply and she giggled as she continued licking and rubbing him. She felt his pulse quickening, feeling the rumbling of blood between her legs as she licked and stroked him as quickly as possible.

“Come on big guy…show me what you got!” she squeaked as she felt him coming to a head. Suddenly she squeaked as she felt his hand closing around her. John pulled her off and grunted loudly as he held her in front of his massive head. By the time she realized what was happening, the first shot of hot white cum had already shot out, coating her tiny legs with sticky warmth. Several more ropes of semen shot out one after the other, quickly coating the tiny, squeaking woman in John’s seed. She gasped, tasting and smelling his essence as her body felt his warmth all over her tiny body. John grunted one last time before sighing and she watched as his dick slowly receded. She looked down at her body completely covered in his cum and couldn’t help but feel her cheeks burning. John looked down at his girlfriend and felt suddenly sheepish.

“Uh…sorry,” he said. Emma stared up at him and burst out laughing.

“Holy shit,” she said in between tiny giggles. “Like…wow. Just wow.”

John smiled down. Despite mild embarrassment, he also couldn’t help but find it hot as heck that his shrunken girlfriend was completely coated in his essence.

“Wow is right,” he said with a laugh. As he came down from his high and he watched Emma gently brush his semen off her face and chest, he realized that it couldn’t be the most comfortable position to be in.

“How about we get you cleaned off?” he asked. Emma smiled.

“Yes please.”

A few minutes later, John watched as his six-inch girlfriend slipped happily into the warm water that he drew for her in his bathroom sink. She giggled with delight as she dove beneath the surface, rubbing her body and hair as she washed away the remnants of their intimacy. As he watched her burst through the surface again, pulling back her long hair and staring back up at him, he realized that he loved her more now than ever: small size, pointed ears and everything. He suddenly felt his palms growing sweaty as his mind moved back to his other plan. 

“Are you okay?” she asked, noticing the look of contemplation on his face.

“Oh!” John said, catching himself. “Yes, I’m fine.” He reached over and held up a small washcloth.

“Can I help you dry off?” he asked.

She squeaked a happy reply and he slowly helped dry the water from her body before again helping her into her Christmas dress. He lowered his hand and she again hopped into his palm. 

“I’m starting to get used to this,” she said with a laugh. 

“Yea, me too,” John added with a smile. There was a part of him that sort of wished it didn’t have to end tomorrow at sundown, but he knew that he had this to look forward to in future years to come. That was…assuming his next plans went as he hoped. He carried her into his room and she raised an eyebrow as he placed her down onto his dresser.

“What are we doing in here?” she asked as she looked up at her gigantic boyfriend. John felt a droplet of sweat form on his forehead and Emma’s face grew more concerned.

“Are you alright?” she asked. John took a deep breath.

“Emma, I just wanted to say thank you for coming tonight.”

Emma raised an eyebrow. “Um okay?” she said. Something wasn’t right: he seemed way more nervous than usual and it was beginning to make her a little nervous.

“It’s just,” John continued, “You know I was always confused why we couldn’t spend Christmas together. I know that it maybe didn’t seem like a problem to you, but it’s important to me.”

“I never thought it was unimportant,” Emma said, crossing her arms. “I was just…well, you see that I don’t exactly have a normal situation going here. I was just scared…nay…terrified to bring it up to you.”

“I know I know, that’s not what I’m saying,” John said, feeling even more nervous. “I’m just…I’m really glad you came and that you shared this part of your life with me.”

Emma smiled. “Me too…it’s a huge relief. I knew we would have to talk about this eventually, but I just kept pushing it back. I’ll admit…I was scared.”

“Me too,” John said. “And I’m still scared….”

Emma raised an eyebrow. “Scared of what?”

John reached out and opened the drawer. He gripped the tiny box inside and closed the drawer before locking his eyes on his tiny girlfriend.

“Scared of what you’ll say.”

Emma’s eyes went wide with shock as she watched John slide down to one knee, bringing himself eye level with her. He held out his hand and placed the small box on the counter. With a single motion, he opened it, revealing the shining ring inside. Emma gasped in shock.

“Will you do me the honor of-”

“YES!” Emma squeaked, interrupting his rehearsed question. She held out her hand.

“Sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt, but YES!” 

John grinned widely, practically shaking with excitement as he watched tears of joy welling up in Emma’s eyes. 

“Oh wait…one thing,” Emma said. “Just one small detail.”

John raised an eyebrow. “Yes?” he asked. Emma took a deep breath.

“Part of my condition is that, after sundown tomorrow, I can only return to human form if I receive a kiss from someone who truly loves me. My parents have been able to provide this for years but…” 

She looked into John’s eyes.

“If we’re going to join our lives together, I want you to promise me to help keep my secret safe and to never, ever leave me trapped at tiny size.”

John smirked. “Not even for a little bit?” Emma shot him a serious look and he cleared his throat.

“Of course sweetie…I would never, ever do anything to hurt you.”

Emma smiled. “Then again, Yes. A thousand times yes.”

She leaned forward and puckered her lips. John leaned in and planted a huge kiss against her tiny body. Emma giggled.

“And maaaaybe sometimes…I can stay small just a bit longer. As long as you’re with me,” she added with a tiny smirk. John smiled back and extended his hand.

“Come on Emma…how about some dessert?”

Emma climbed into her fiance’s hand and settled in.

“Best Christmas ever.”