presents

I'm trying to repost all of my better works to both here and Ao3, so slowly but surely. This was originally posted December 22, 2013 on my tumblr, so ye, we're going old. And it was left on a sorta cliffhanger at the end of the fourth chapter, so I might just whip up a new chapter or two for everyone to feel...concluded.

I dunno, I've been in the fanfic business for almost nine years now, and it still feels strange sharing. And resharing. Follow your dreams, follow your commandershipping. Okay.

(original notes: none)

"Tabby. Tab. Tabs. Tabithaaa."

"What?"

Tabitha looked down from the step-ladder, where Shelly was grinning at him, holding a box. Typical Shelly. They had agreed not to give each other Christmas presents since their finances weren't the best this year, but here she was, trying to act all superior with the (admittedly poorly) gift-wrapped box. She was almost as cocky as Maxie.

Almost.

He hung another row of blue lights along the wilting tree. Blue, because Shelly liked blue and crushed all the red ones. He could feel Shelly tug on his belt. "Merry Christmas, Tabs~" she chirped, pressing the box against his back.

"Shelly, what about our agreement?" Tabitha asked, raising an eyebrow. "You know, the one where we don't try to one-up each other like we usually do?"

"Uhhh, I have no idea nor do I care what this agreement is. Just shut up and open the box."

"But Christmas isn't for another three days..."

"Don't care. Open the box."

"I'm hanging lights-"

"Open...the box..."

Her tone was enthusiastic yet antsy, so Tabitha knew better to ignore her and stepped off the step-ladder, gingerly taking the box off of Shelly's hands. Shaking it once or twice to make sure it wasn't a prank like past presents, Tabitha spun a finger around the bow while Shelly laughed at him. "What, you afraid it's a bomb or something?"

"Yeah. You seem to like bombs a lot."

"No, Archie likes bombs a lot," Shelly corrected, rolling her eyes. "Just open the box. It won't kill you, I promise."

She sounded sincere. Tabitha allowed himself a small smile as he unwrapped the bits of tape and gift wrap. Inside the box was...nothing.

It was a cardboard box, plain as day, and Shelly was still grinning. "I couldn't afford a present this year, so I got you this box. Merry Christmas, Tabitha."

Just like Spongebob, Shelly's favorite sea-themed cartoon. It was much better than any bomb or prank she gave him in the past. Tabitha's smile grew wider as he walked over to his girlfriend and kissed her on the forehead. He'd probably get punched later for this lack of manly machoness, but he didn't care. The holidays didn't happen all the time.

"Merry Christmas, Shelly."