It had been a treacherous drive for Craig to pick up his sister Amy. The roads were hazardously slicked with snow and ice. When combined with the diminished visibility and the rush of holiday traffic, it made for a terrible Christmas Eve commute. He had barely made the short drive to Amy's apartment safely and was very concerned about their welfare for the long drive that awaited them.
Craig and Amy were sophomores at separate colleges in upstate Pennsylvania. Her apartment was on the way back to their parents' house several hours away, and he agreed to pick up his sister for the ride home.
The icy snow made little tinkling noises as it fell from the cold winter sky in the background to the crunching of his feet on the ice encrusted concrete. He carefully tramped his way along the walkway to his sister's apartment. Each frozen square sparkled with tiny reflections from the light cast from the lamp posts. He could feel his anxiety growing stronger with each step closer to the door. A long car ride alone with Amy was the last thing he wanted to do, let alone in dangerous winter weather on Christmas Eve.
He knocked on the door, waiting as he could hear her footsteps coming closer and the door unlatch. An additional wave of dread swept through him as the door swung open. Amy nervously stood at the entrance as the light from her warm apartment cast across them.
"Merry Christmas, Craig." She nervously greeted him.
People never believed they were brother and sister because they looked nothing alike. In fact, they weren't even the same ethnicity. Craig was a tall, lean Caucasian man with short sandy blonde hair. Amy on the other hand was a very slim, petite Asian girl with long black hair. Craig's parents adopted Amy when they were both a year old. Amy was five months younger than her adoptive brother. Her adoption seemed to be the root cause of their troubled relationship.
"Thanks, are you ready to go?" He mumbled.
"I am, but we can't go. The turnpike is closed because of accidents and ice. We're stuck here."
"Are you serious? What are we supposed to do?" He angrily replied.
"We're going to have to stay here and wait out the storm."
Craig looked down at his snow covered shoes as his face flushed with irritation. Spending the night at his sister's tiny apartment was an even less palatable choice than driving home on the dangerous roads.
"Just come in and calm down....Please?" The "Please" that followed Amy's request was uttered especially softly and hopefully.
"OK, but I'm going to call Mom." Craig said, fighting back his disappointment and anger.
"She knows. I already called her."
"I should talk to her too." He said as he pulled out his cell phone and dialed his parent's number.
"Mom, it's Craig. I'm at Amy's right now. I don't think we'll be there tonight."
"I know. Amy called a few minutes earlier. She told me about the road closure and the weather. It's bad out there. Just stay put, be smart, and be safe." Their mother replied.
"I was hoping to spend Christmas with you and Dad."
"It's ok if you don't get home until tomorrow. I just want you and Amy safe."
"Yea, I know. Our safety is important." Craig mumbled.
"You sound annoyed, is that all?"
"Yes!" Craig huffed.
"Are you sure it's because you don't want to be with your sister?"
"I just want to get home and..."
"Craig, it's time you and Amy stopped this childish squabbling. You're adults now and it's time to end your childish rivalries, disputes, or whatever you want to call it. It's time to bury whatever acrimony you two have and see each other for what you are -- two smart and loving people who are bonded together as family. There is no good reason for you two not to get along at this point in your lives. Be nice to your sister, and I'll see you tomorrow when the roads are safe." Their mother lectured.
"OK Mom. We'll see you when we can. Love you and Merry Christmas." Craig replied.
"Love you too, and think about what I said."
"So, what's the plan?" Craig asked as he ended the call and turned to Amy.
"Well, looks like you'll be sleeping here, but you're not going to like the sleeping arrangements."
"Dare I ask what the arrangements are?" Craig said as he looked around the small apartment.
"Well, it's a small efficiency apartment. So I only have the kitchenette, a bathroom, and the main room with the fold out bed. It's perfect for a college student. Not so good for overnight visitors."
"So, we're sharing a bed tonight?"
"I'm sorry, but it's more comfortable than the floor. Can we make the best of this, please?" She meekly replied.
Craig just put his hands in his pockets and forced a grin as he looked down at his shoes. He knew there was no fighting the situation.
"OK. But I don't have anything proper to sleep in. Are you cool if I just wear my boxers and a shirt?"
"Look, we grew up together. We lived in the same house for 19 years. We should be able to handle this."
Together they unfolded the trundle bed to convert the sofa for sleeping. After the bed was ready, Amy slipped off to the bathroom to change into a set of flannel pajamas while Craig just stripped down to his boxers and a t shirt. Apprehensively, the pair slipped under the sheets and blankets. The bed was surprisingly roomy and comfortable, but neither could drift off to sleep.
"Mom gave you her spiel? That this is the opportunity for us to finally get along?" Amy asked.
"Yea, she did." Craig sighed.
"She gave me the speech before you arrived. I never understood your animosity towards me all this time. We could have had some great times growing up, combining our friends and hanging out around the house and the pool." Amy lamented.
"I know. We were just so different growing up."
"Sure, but it was nothing irresolvable. I wanted you to love me like a sister. I didn't want to be some person who you lived under the same roof with and hated."
"I...I'm sorry. I just felt like you were Mom and Dad's, especially Dad's, favorite. You were the star of the basketball and track teams. You were the honor student. You had a ton of guys swooning for you, including some of my friends. I was the one barely passing and slacked along. I was the 'other' kid. You were what they wanted me to be. I guess I felt like I couldn't live up to the standard you set. Subconsciously I guess I felt like they adopted you because I was inadequate."
"But we were both a year old when I was adopted. You know that isn't why they adopted me. They thought it would be great to have a son and a daughter the same age. Mom and Dad loved you, and so did I. I don't know why you couldn't love me back. There were times you made me feel like I wasn't a real part of the family because I was adopted."
"I know. I regret it. I guess when I started going down that path I was too stubborn to change my way." He could feel a bit of shame overcome him for the way he had treated his sister for so long.
"You don't have to live with regret. We can put it in the past."
"I'm sorry; I wish I could go back and change things. Mom's right, it is time to put an end to this. There's no reason we can't get along."
"Don't do it because of Mom. Do it because you want to."
"I do." He said.
"I think we made some progress. I think we can sleep on this." Amy smiled.
"Ok, but first, one thing." Craig said as he rolled over and put an arm around Amy. "Merry Christmas, sis." As he gave her a warm hug.
"Thanks. Merry Christmas, Craig." Amy replied, hugging him warmly.
***
Craig awoke, confused where he was as he looked around the unfamiliar room in the dim morning light. It took him a moment to get his bearings and remember he was in the fold-out bed in Amy's apartment. The blankets and the body heat from his sister made him uncomfortably warm, and he pulled the covers back to cool off. In turning down the blanket, he exposed Amy. To his surprise he saw her pajama top had come unbuttoned. She was sprawled on her back, her top wide open exposing her small breasts and pink nipples.
Many mornings, he woke up with an erection. Embarrassingly, this was another one of those mornings. He felt a bit ashamed, laying there with an erection, feeling horny, and staring at his sister's breasts on Christmas morning. He thought about how they opened up and finally connected with each other. As he continued to stare, the shame faded and his desires grew stronger. He battled the temptation to reach out and touch his sister's perky little nipples. His battle was unsuccessful.
Gently, he teased her little nipple with the tip of his index finger. Watching it grow harder as he gently flicked it.
Amy began to stir awake and rolled over, incognizant that Craig was lying next to her with his growing lust. She awoke with a surprised shudder, forgetting that her brother was in bed with her, breaking her normal routine of sleeping alone.
"Uh, good morning. Merry Christmas." Amy greeted.
Then, she realized her breasts were fully exposed
"Oh my God!" She exclaimed. Her face turning pink with embarrassment as she quickly closed her pajama top. Her face turned to red when she realized Craig's erection was pressed against her thigh. .