A/N: Yes, a fluffy, cute mini-series (as I've taken to calling them) of Christmas ficletsthat kind of fit together and take place somewhere in the six month gap in the middle of Glass Emeralds but works just as well on their own. There will be five (hopefully), one for each of the five main reapers (that's Ron, Will, Eric, Alan and Grell, no Undertaker, sorry) and they will mostly be ridiculously cute and pointless. So, please enjoy and review guys.

Half a Job

Ronald isn't very organised and his wrapping paper isn't being agreeable. Luckily, William's there to keep him on track and working hard. Or possibly he'll just be another distraction.

It was snowing outside. Thick and fast, almost a white out, with heavy grey clouds swirling overhead. Ronald watched the snow quietly, torn between he liking for staying warm and dry and going out to play. It was childish, yes, but he liked the snow. Then again, he also liked sitting, wrapped up snugly in a blanket with some hot cocoa by his fire. Especially given who was sitting across from him.

William chuckled softly and Ronald sighed. "What now?"

"Nothing," William said, glancing away. "Just how about you put down the mug focus on wrapping, ok?"

Ronald frowned and put down his mug and glanced at the present he'd been wrapping. It was a mess. He sighed and tore off the shiny red paper, scrunched it up into a ball chucked it into the bin. The past few years at Christmas he'd got Alan and Eric to help him with wrapping. He just couldn't be bothered with the hassle.

To start with his wrapping paper didn't agree with him and Grell's present was a very awkward shape. No matter what he did Ronald couldn't get the paper to look like an adult had wrapped it. Not that anyone really saw him as an adult anyway, but that wasn't the point. He wasn't a child.

The second issue- and possibly the most annoying one- was that sticky tape's favourite thing to stick to was not wrapping paper. No, it was itself. And his scissors. And the carpet and him and his hair and anything else but what it was supposed to be sticking to.

Ronald growled and glared at the paper and William chuckled again earning him a glare too. He didn't look bothered though.

"I give up," Ronald said, dropping the roll of paper. "I give up. I'll put a bow on it and Grell won't care."

"There's no point doing half a job, Ronald," William said gently.

"But it's Christmas," he moaned.

"Even at Christmas," he replied.

Ronald pouted and folded his arms but William just watched him quietly. After a few minutes, he couldn't take it any longer. He got up and picked up a packet of Christmas cards and a gold pen. Sitting back down again, he noticed everything William had wrapped was absolutely perfect. Of course. He glared at the messy red present again before turning to the list of people he had to give cards too. He'd start with the obvious ones; Eric, Alan, Grell and William. And then there was Michelle and her division, even if he hadn't worked with them for long, they were a nice bunch and he made a point of making sure no one got left out. Then all the girls- and a few men- he'd been out with, all the girls in admin and the secretarial offices... the list went on and on.

"Are you coming to the office party on Christmas eve?" he said, absently picking up a sparkly red pen and doodling and candy cane on Grell's card. "Some of us are dressing up."

William raised an eyebrow sceptically. "What on earth makes you think I'd even consider either of those proposals? I would have thought you'd know me better than that by now."

"Well, I wouldn't want to assume and make you feel like I didn't want you around."

"I have no interest in your silly parties, Ronald, or dressing up."

"Fine, fine." There was a moment of silence before he realised he'd covered Grell's card in Christmas doodles. He frowned then shrugged and slipped it into the envelope. Grell wouldn't mind, he'd probably think it was extra love and care. "I don't know what to go as though."

"And you're asking me because?" William said.

"Grell's going as the Cheshire cat," Ronald said, tapping the pen thoughtfully. "Eric says I should go as a puppy."

"Somehow I'm not surprised."

"I'm not doing it. I'm trying to get rid of that nickname. Hey, on the subject, Michelle was talking about going as the Queen. You and her would make the best Queens." William frowned and glanced over. "To paraphrase, the Queen of Hearts is uncontrollable fury, blind and aimless, like raw power- and she likes lopping people's heads off- while the Red Queen's passion is calm and cold, strict and formal but not unkind."

"I'm going to start taking your books away," William muttered.

"But I like Alice."

"Aren't you doing cards?"

"I've given up," Ronald muttered. "This is the part of Christmas I hate. You know, I haven't even got you anything. I don't know what to get you. I feel dead bad about it."

William frowned, then slowly crawled over and took the cards from him. Ronald glanced at him warily as William traced his fingers over his jaw, gently turned him to face his boss, his thumb slowly brushing his lips. His lips parted slightly, eyes sliding shut a little and a soft blush coming to his cheeks. No matter what, William always knew how to relax him.

"Now then," William murmured, leaning closer to their lips were only a hair apart. "You should know I don't mind what you get me. It's the thought that counts and I really don't mind what you get me. I don't really even need a present."

"But I have to get you something," Ronald insisted, reaching up and tangling his fingers in his hair. "It wouldn't be fair if you get me something I didn't get you something in return."

He frowned thoughtfully, then reached over to the wrapping paper and ribbons, then picked up a small sticky backed premade bow. Before he could say a word, William peeled off the backing and stuck it to the side of Ronald's glasses. Ronald glanced up at the bow then up at William.

"There," William said, fingers brushing his cheek gently. "Now, I've got the perfect gift. I'd always wanted a puppy for Christmas."

Ronald's cheeks burned and he was sure he was bright red. "You're actually kind of sweet when you want to be, aren't you?"

"Shh, Ronald," he whispered, gently undoing a few buttons on Ronald's shirt. "You know, the best part about presents?" Ronald shook his head slightly, completely losing the power of speech. "Unwrapping them."

Ronald blushed heavily but grinned up at William. He pulled him down and William kissed him gently. He giggled slightly and leant up to kiss William's nose. He adored William, more than anyone he'd ever been with. He was everything Ronald had ever wanted. He'd never wanted to spend Christmas with anyone before. He smirked as an idea popped into his head and tugged slightly on William's hair, just enough to draw a groan.

"You don't have to wait for Christmas for that."

William smirked and for moment Ronald thought he might actually be agreeing but he moved back slightly and returned to wrapping presents. "That's not how it works, Ronald. It's the anticipation that makes it all the better when you finally receive your gift. And stop doodling over the cards. Get back to work."

He sighed and put down the cards, glaring over at the mess of shiny red paper. It was almost as much trouble as the person he was giving it to.