Disclaimer: Shotaro Ishinomori's, not mine
"Would you mind too much if I barged in for a second?"
Geronimo hoped he didn't look too startled. Seeing Francoise standing in the door of his quarters had been quite a surprise, partly because of what she had gone through last night, but mostly because she tended to respect her teammates' privacy. If she had worked up the nerve to 'intrude', it had to be important.
"Not at all, come in." Geronimo motioned for her to come in, unable to explain why he felt so awkward all of a sudden.
"Thanks!" Francoise seemed cheerful enough, but she stepped as if she expected the room to crash around them if she wasn't careful. He also noticed that she kept her hands behind her back the entire time.
"Is anything the matter? You seem a little nervous."
"... I'm fine, really! what would make you think otherwise?"
Great. Just great. Now he was really confused. What on Earth would cause Francoise Arnoul to resort to (almost painfully obvious) subterfuge? "003... is there something you want to tell me?"
Francoise sighed heavily, realizing that she had been found out. "No. There's something I want to give you." Looking guilty, she brought her hands from behind her back, revealing a tiny, potted fir tree with a bright red ribbon.
"It's supposed to be a Christmas-slash-birthday present. I was going to give it to you last night, but well... you know what happened." She handed him the gift, trying to grin. "I know it's not much---"
"Francoise, you just reminded me that there's still a world outside fighting Black Ghost. That's not much. That's impossible." Very gently, he placed the tiny Christmas tree on the desk so he could hold her hands. "But not anymore. Thank you."
"I take it you like it, then?"
"More than I can ever say."
Francoise looked up at him, smiling warmly. "Merry Christmas, Geronimo. Happy Birthday, too."
And for the first time in his life, it actually was.