This is dedicated to 'Just a Happy Wombat', one of my bestest friends on here! ;) thanks for all of your help and support! I hope I do your OTP justice!

Side note: If anyone is following my other two stories, I'm sorry I haven't updated! There has been SO MUCH going on in my personal life (job, family, holidays) that I haven't been able to focus on the plots like I should. Both of them will probably be on hold until January (or at least until after Christmas) but I promise to continue them! This fic is just easier to write because it contains no action, and I have to work harder writing that genre.

Anyways, on to the story!

—

Alek Spasky frowned at the web page, currently more annoyed than the time his sister had accidentally sabotaged an important mission.

Purses, scarves, jewelry, those were some of the items listed under the article title: Stumped on what to get her? Look no further!

Well, I'm still stumped; your stupid list didn't help one bit, he thought menacingly.

Biting back a verbal curse, he tried another article, and another, and another, until he couldn't bring himself to look at one more 'perfect' item.

It's not a big deal. Just buy her a random item and call it a day.

The thought was tempting but it was the last thing Alek wanted to do because Nataliya wasn't simply a random person. It was a little awkward to call her his girlfriend—their relationship seemed like so much more than that—but when it came down to it, that's what she was. Though they had only been dating for ten months, it seemed like he had known her forever. She was able to look past his tough exterior, to bring out the qualities in him that most had never even glimpsed. And better than all of that, she simply made him happy, an emotion he hadn't truly felt in years.

And now, with Christmas only five days away, he had no way to convey what all of that meant to him.

Wracking his brain, he tried to think of her favorite things. But she was simple, and even though she liked items like accessories and clothing, none of those seemed that special. He had considered buying her jewelry and having it engraved, but that seemed like too much.

Would she think it's too soon for gifts like that when it hasn't even been a year? Besides, I've never seen her wear anything fancy or engraved. She might not even like that kind of stuff.

But he could try to find out, he realized. After all, he wasn't a KGB agent for nothing, and if he could go on top-secret missions and be trusted with highly sensitive information, then finding out what gift to buy for Nata should be simple.

A smile almost broke out across his face as he reached for the phone.

—

Nataliya bit her lip as the video finished playing. After hours of searching online, she had resorted to a random guy's YouTube channel, after the title of his latest video promised that he would produce the 'perfect' gift idea. Only, it was a lie.

Alek could care less about clothes. He's already got all of the latest gadgets, and things like watches and jewelry are so cheesy.

Five days. She tried not to think about how close Christmas was, but it had rushed up on here, and here she was, trying to find a gift still. To be fair, she had purchased presents for everyone else on her list, but this one was the most important.

I've got to figure out what to get him, and quickly.

The sound of her phone ringing brought her out of her contemplation, and her heart leaped as she saw who it was.

"I was just thinking about you," she murmured as soon as she answered.

Alek's dry chuckle was the first thing she heard, followed by an "Uh-oh, what have I done now?"

"Nothing," she said truthfully. "You were on my mind, that's all."

"That could be good or bad."

"I was thinking of Christmas. Only five days away!"

"And only four until I get to see you."

His voice, low and somewhat teasing, warmed her. When she and Alek had first started dating, she wondered at the cool front he put on. But it easily melted away, revealing a sweet guy that had simply been hurt a lot in life. The more she found out about his past, his struggles, and unveiled who he was—the Alek who cared, who had feelings, who had his share of insecurities—the more she fell for him.

"I know. Excited?" She threw the teasing back at him.

"You know it. I wish it were sooner. But I have this job to finish."

"As long as you put your foot down and tell them that you're not staying to work on Christmas Eve, I'll forgive you." She said the words knowing that for her sake, he would say no, but wanting to keep up the conversation while she tried to figure out how to approach the 'gift' situation. Nataliya didn't want to admit that she was struggling in that area. But before she could, Alek gave her the perfect opening.

"My flight is for early Christmas Eve morning and it will stay that way. Speaking of Christmas, did you finally get your shopping done?"

"Mostly. I just need to pick up a few items but it will be easy. What about you? Finding everything okay?"

"Yeah. Sure," he said, then muttered, "I hate shopping."

"Receiving is the best part huh? What do you think you'll get?" Nata asked, hoping that she wasn't making her desperation too obvious.

A snort came from the other side of the phone. "Eh, I probably won't get much. But that's okay. I can't think of anything I need."

Her heart sank, but she didn't give up. "Nothing at all? What about something you want?"

"I have everything I want." The statement was laced with something she couldn't place, but Alek moved on before she could dwell on it. "There are probably tons of things you want though. And you will probably get them, as much as people love you."

Nata rolled her eyes but had to admit that she probably would receive more gifts than Alek. But females were different than males, and the gifts would mostly come from the people she worked with, went to the hair salon with, had lunch with…

"Not everyone loves me," she felt like she should remind him.

"I—" Alek started to say something, then stopped and coughed. "I think they do."

"You aren't getting sick are you?" Nataliya frowned. "I told you last week that you needed a break—"

"I'm fine sweetheart. Don't worry about me."

She couldn't help the smile that popped on her face at the term of endearment. Alek rarely used them so when he did, it was special.

I've got to keep trying to find the perfect gift. He does so much for me and means so much to me.

"...plus, I've been taking vitamins," Alek said, and Nata realized that he had been speaking but she hadn't been listening. She quickly tuned in, and was glad, because something he said next caught her attention. The smile she had been wearing turned into a grin that was so bright that it would put the town hall Christmas Tree to shame.

She had it—the exemplary present that would make Alek's Christmas.

—

Alek hung up the phone, feeling accomplished. It had taken some digging and some careful wording on his part, but he had it—the exemplary present that would make Nataliya's Christmas.

—

So a small start, but at least it's a start! This will have at LEAST two more chapters, maybe three! So stay tuned!

Also: Present predictions? ;)