It was a misty morning across the suburban district where the Chaotix resided, and the air was filled with a bitter wintry haze. The day was December 23rd, significant because it was just two days from Christmas Day. Most of the typical households had lights ups on their windows and roofs, and the ones which didn't at least had the interiors decorated for the festive season.

In the Chaotix office, however, the rooms were still void of any seasonal charm. It wasn't because they were scrooges, mind. They had other things to concern themselves with, like the surge of cases that always came up at this time of year due to thieves taking advantage of Christmas shopping, and paying the bills for the increased use of heating due to the cold weather. Charmy, being the excitable child that he was, was now becoming agitated by how close the day he could open his presents was drawing. He wanted the office to look nice for Santa, too.

"Guys!" he whined as he fluttered about the kitchen. "When are we gonna get some decorations for Santa! He won't like it if there isn't a tree and a stocking when he arrives!"

"We are going to town later Charmy, please calm down in the meantime."

Charmy was content with the answer and flew to his room upstairs, although he wasn't any more relaxed. Espio, putting away the cereal box that Charmy had left out on the table after eating breakfast, sighed audibly and thought about the situation. Last Christmas was the first the Chaotix had as a team. Him and Vector had still been naïve and frivolous with their funds. As such, when the Holiday season came, they were unprepared and left with a disaster. Not wanting to be burned again, they'd agree to cut down on the luxuries and save some funds for the second time. This year, they were going to make sure that Charmy had a decent Christmas, if not exuberant.

The plans were already in motion. Hidden away in Espio's room was a wardrobe with a small stack of presents, all from the various friends they'd met between the year on their various adventures. All of them were for Charmy, the adults were expected to get presents only for the ones they cared for the most. But even with that secured, it wouldn't be complete without the reptiles making their own contribution. Those were thoughts that would have to be acted on another day. Today was the time to make things a little nicer around the living space. Espio broke away from the cupboard handle he had been gripping for five minutes and made his way up the stairs.

As there was no window on the landing connecting all the upstairs rooms, the stairs were mostly in the dark. He had to tread cautiously so as not to trip. As he neared the top, he paused to listen to the commotion. He could hear Charmy in his little bedroom, laughing as he amused himself with some cheap toy soldiers. He could tell they were toy soldiers because of the way Charmy was sounding out explosions. From behind another closed door, he could only hear snoring. That was where he wanted to go. He switched on the small light that gave a sliver of illumination, and walked towards the door with various notes stuck on with tac. As silently as possible, he pushed down the handle and peered in.

Sprawled out on the bed was his boss, Vector. He was still snoring away, so he presumably hadn't heard Espio come in. Where his left hand was were papers pinned to the mattress. Where his right hand was, a pencil lay close by. He must have fallen asleep calculating the payment for the rent and bills the past month. Espio was suddenly caught off guard by a gust of icy wind, and then realised; Vector was asleep with no heating on and no duvet to cover himself.

Now feeling all the more guilty for needing to wake Vector up, Espio approached the slumbering Croc. Instead of simply shaking and shouting as planned, he pulled his own body close and gave a careful cuddle. Vector wasn't a bad man by any means, from Espio's perspective. He had his vices which annoyed him a lot, sure. He could be gluttonous and greedy, which was a detriment in their circumstances. He could be extremely selfish if he wanted to, which often closed him to others. He could be lazier than Espio would like too, although how much of that was just Espio's discipline kicking was up for debate. But when Vector was nice, he was dedicated to it, and it was moments like this that made Espio appreciate how much Vector was willing to work and sacrifice to support his friends. His family.

"Vector…" Espio whispered softly into his earhole. Vector must have sensed something beforehand because his snoring has come to a stop.

"Vector…wake up…" Espio whispered again. This time, he rubbed Vector's side, simultaneously soothing him as Espio tried to rouse him from his sleep.

"Charmy wants the decorations up now…you need to look after him while I go and purchase them…"

"Nrrgh…"

A sudden slow groan startled Espio. He rapidly backed off from Vector and stood to attention. The Crocodile sluggishly raised his body and yawned loudly as he stretched. Blinking the sleep out of his eyes, he turned his head to where he'd heard the low noise before, and sure enough he found Espio waiting for him to come to his senses.

"Mornin' Esp'" he greeted his friend pleasantly but groggily. Even though Espio preferred everyone to be up early, he never usually bothered with making the others get up unless he felt there was a pressing urgency. Vector gathered that making the kid placated was pretty urgent.

"You might as well go down stairs and get ready, Esp'. I'll catch up, don' worry."

Half an hour later, Vector came trudging down the stairs and into the main office. Espio had put on his gloves, shoes and a long black scarf that felt silky to the touch. He was holding several reusable bags, and there was a little safe box on the coffee table which was open. Setting a budget in his mind, Espio was ready to go out after he'd spoken to Vector. Vector, however, spoke first.

"Hey, you forgot somethin'!"

"Huh? I think you'll find that I have made all the necessary preparations for the trip, Vector. I have the bags, and the savings, and…are you listening?"

Espio has noticed that Vector had gone to a nearby cabinet and started to trawl through it for something. Espio really hated when he was disturbed during a conversation. He was about to give Vector a piece of his mind when Vector pulled his hands out triumphantly.

"Found 'em!"

He span round to face Espio. In one of his hands he clutched a pair of earmuffs. To be exact, a pair of black earmuffs with pink Japanese kanji on either side.

"Oh…those."

Espio's cheeks flushed as he realised that Vector had only meant well, even if he thought of it as unnecessary.

"I wanna make sure you're all wrapped up warm. You'll catch pneumonia or somethin' if you get cold!"

Vector approached Espio to put the earmuffs on. The buff figure of his boss was imposing over Espio's own small and lithe figure, but he knew that Vector wouldn't hurt him. Not deliberately anyway. As Vector lowered the earmuffs down over Espio's earholes, a sharp sound made Espio alert and curious. He could have sworn Vector just took a sniff when his head had been close to him, When he looked up once he adjusted the earmuffs Vector didn't say anything or even looked funny, so Espio just shrugged it off mentally.

"Speaking of staying warm" Espio began to retort, "I brewed you a coffee, it's sitting in the kitchen and should still be hot."

"Oh, thanks Esp'! I sure do like…"

"And another thing, Vector. Whatever you do while I'm gone, make sure you cover yourself. I noticed that you had no heating on this morning, and without your duvet on as well! Do you know how worried I would be if you fell ill?"

"Erm, alright. You don't really have to worry about me, y'know."

Silence briefly fell between the two reptiles. Espio was being more protective than usual this morning, and neither of them had failed to notice it now. Espio resumed the conversation with sharpness.

"If Charmy asks what I'm doing, tell him I'm meditating."

"Isn't that what I always have to tell 'im?"

Espio gave a serious, but still warm, glare. It was then that Vector recalled to the fact that Espio always meditated anyway.

"Oh. Yeah, sure, I'll tell 'im that."

"Thank you."

The two of them headed to the front door. Vector put his arm around Espio roughly as he pushed the door open to the outside atmosphere. The air was frigid and the ground covered with a sheet of snow, but he didn't care. He wanted to see Espio off for the town. He looked down at Espio and smiled warmly, to which Espio responded with a small smile himself. He then let go of the Chameleon so he could exit the doorway and start trekking. As Espio's silhouette became progressive smaller to Vector's eyes, he gave out one last shout of goodbye and waved enthusiastically. Espio turned to see the farewell, and waved back in bright spirits. He then pressed on and faded out of sight. Vector didn't go inside yet though. He just stood there in the doorway, cheerily thinking to himself about the chance he'd get to impress Espio later. He had one last thought which he noted aloud before he retreated back into the warmth of the office.

"Espio smells really nice in lavender."