AN: This is going to be my first (gasp) multi-chapter story, so finding time to write might be difficult. I get random urges to write which are usually spaced out pretty far, but I'll try my best to stay motivated. This fic is based off of Lady and the Tramp, a super-duper Disney movie. If you've never seen it, shame on you! Go watch it. Now. Seriously. Before you read this. And, as a side note, I've rated this T for possible language. I swear a lot ;A;

Soooo yesh, um…I dedicate this to all my KH-head friends 'D There's lots, but I'll try to remember them all so they feel special X3 Din, JessRE, Lime-chan, AquaNova, Ayme (who is also my super awesome beta! Yay for grammar!), Ryuchan (hoshit, if only I could write like her ;A;) and DAMN I feel like I'm forgetting someone...I know I am -- Well, whoever I'm forgetting, I'll give you a supah shout-out in the next chapter and go on and on about how sorry I am that I missed you ;A; I do that face too much . Reviews and faves are luffed, but not required. And, little self-pimpage here, I've got two other short stories. GO READ THEM. X3

Without further ado, OMAT:ALS -bows-

Boston: a city of history, business, tourism, and trade. A city of confusing roads, old buildings residing next to new, drivers who think pedestrians have no rights and that using a turn signal is a sign of weakness, and pigeons. A city of lovers. A city of fighters. A city of people who don't care where the hell you're from just so long as you've got money to buy a "Yankees Suck" t-shirt from their vending carts. A city that ignores the letter "r" as part of the English language. A city of winners. A city of losers. A city that is loved by both Americans and travelers alike for its timeless feel – history intertwined with the modern age as seamlessly as pantyhose.

It is also the city in which, one white and chilly Christmas Eve, our story begins.

The year, 1988. The month, December. The date, the 24th - Christmas Eve. It was about six o'clock in the evening when two bundled figures set out through the gently falling snow from an apartment building on the Charles River. The sun had set about an hour or so ago, and the only light the two figures had to guide their steps was provided by the street lamps every hundred feet. Already accumulated on the ground was about three inches of snow, packed down in places by footsteps of people walking from work to the T to get home to their loved ones. Yes, some unfortunate souls had to work on Christmas Eve. How would the world continue to turn if a few people didn't give up the morning and afternoon to assure last-minute details were worked out for one thing or another?

One of the figures, smaller than the other and slimmer - a female if you looked close enough- huddled against the larger and sturdier bulk of her companion. An arm was placed around her shoulders to provide a bit of extra warmth as they walked on, the only sound the crunching of the slightly wet snow under their boots. No words were said between the two as they continued their little walk, but there was an air of excitement around both of them. Something big was going to happen, it said. Something that would change the lives of the two drastically.

The larger figure – a man – took the woman by the hand after a few minutes of walking with his arm around her shoulders and led her across the street. As they walked a set of stoplights changed from red to green, allowing traffic to continue even though there was none. Everyone was at home, getting ready for or already having a Christmas party. Those who didn't celebrate the holiday were enjoying the day off as well, staying inside to avoid the slippery streets. As the couple crossed the road they turned their feet in the direction of a slightly shabby yet warm-looking building that sported a small Christmas tree on the stairs leading up to a large wooden door. The man and woman ascended the stairs, knocked on the door, and waited...and waited...and waited a bit more.

"Do you think she heard us, Jim Dear?" the woman asked, looking up at her taller companion.

A chuckle was the response, low and deep, from the man who stood by her side. "Now, now, Darling, just give her time. I'm sure she's quite busy with all of the children and needs a few moments to get them all in order before answering the door." Despite his own words the man called Jim Dear rocked back and forth on his feet, staring through the small window in the door that gave a slightly distorted view into the huge house. Finally an old woman appeared at the end of the hallway, surrounded by three children about twelve or thirteen years of age. Jim Dear pulled Darling back from the door as it was opened by one of the children, just in time for the other two to run out and hug the two chilled adults around the middle.

"Sora, Kairi, get yourselves back in here before you catch your death," the old woman trilled, keeping her hand on the shoulder of the other boy to make sure he didn't run out into the snow in just his pajamas like the other two children had. "So good to see you, Jim. I was worried the weather would have kept you."

"Kept us? Today of all days? Nonsense!" the man said with a hearty and excited laugh. "Nothing could keep us inside today, Aeris!"

"Very well, very well. Come in then," Aeris said with a warm smile, tugging the three children back inside. "Riku, be a love and keep these two out of my hair for me for a few minutes while I help Jim and his wife?" The boy who had opened the door nodded and motioned for his companions to follow him. As he led them into a room off of the hallway Aeris turned back to the couple with a warm smile. "I'm so glad you decided to go through with the adoption. We've been trying to get the little charmer a good home, and our prayers were answered when you two walked into my office. I'm afraid he's fallen asleep already, but at least he won't be any trouble for the rest of the night."

"I doubt he'll be any trouble at all," the woman Jim Dear had called Darling said with a soft smile. "I've brought a little blanket for him so he won't be too cold on the walk home. It's not far, but I can't help but worry he'll freeze his little toes off. It's so bitter this year." As she spoke she shivered, remembering the nippy air outside. Jim Dear gave their still joined hands a squeeze as Aeris gave a warm chuckle and nodded as she motioned for the pair to follow her up a flight of stairs.

"You're going to be a wonderful mother, Darling," she said as the trio reached the landing at the top of the stairs that led down a long hallway with doors down both sides. Some were opened, some were closed, but all had a stocking hanging by a small nail right in the middle at about eye-level. The three adults walked quietly past the doors to not disturb the playing or sleeping orphans until they reached the last door on the left. Darling reached out and took the stocking off of the door, letting one slim finger trace the fancy 'D' that was the first letter of their new son's name.

"Remember, he's asleep the little dear," the orphanage owner whispered as she quietly opened the door. "Demyx still needs his nice long rests at night but is getting better about his naps during the day. Never wants to miss anything…just like any two year-old." Another warm chuckle was given as the light from the hallway spilled into the small room that was filled with toys of various shapes, textures, and colors. There was a crib pushed up against the far wall in which a small boy lay, sound asleep. The new parents walked over to the side of the crib and peeked in, first smiling down at the sleeping child then at each other. Reaching into her coat with one hand and pulling her other free of Jim Dear's, Darling pulled the blue blanket she had knit for Demyx out from the deep pocket she had kept it in and carefully wrapped it around the small form before her. He was already dressed in warm clothing, ready for his literally short but figuratively long journey home. Darling carefully lifted Demyx up into her arms, smiling at Jim Dear as the boy cuddled against her shoulder, yawned softly but remaining asleep. "What a little angel," she whispered as she tucked the blanket around Demyx's slumbering form, the image of a little guitar just visible in the dim light. "And he's all ours, Jim Dear."

"Merry Christmas," Jim Dear said with a smile of his own, leaning down to press a kiss to his wife's forehead. "And Merry Christmas to you, too, Demyx," he said, whispering as he carefully passed a hand over the slightly spiked-from-sleep dirty blond hair of his son.

Aeris watched from the doorway as the little family was brought together for the first time and smiled happily. Merry Christmas, indeed. What better gift could be given at this time of the year to a child like Demyx than a loving family to have a chance at a good life with? Well, if one were to ask the little 'angel' himself, he'd probably say something along the lines of candy, but Aeris knew that there was nothing more precious than the gift of love.

Nothing.