When you go in for a hug, it is customary for each of the participants in the hug to turn their face in the opposite direction of their partner. That allows chins to gently rest upon shoulders for the brief moment that the hug ensues. Toby chose to forgo this norm. He wrapped his arms around Happy's slim frame, and in the split second it took to bring their bodies together, his face turned left just as hers went right. And so he found himself with lips hovering just shy of Happy's forehead.
"This is awesome." And he applied just a hint more pressure into her shoulders to help convey his feelings. She knew his attachment to that hat, saw the flashes of real human regret when he talked about it. And because she knew how important the item was to him, she ventured out to find his exact hat. The woman was a master of precise detail and quality craftsmanship, and had seen to it that all the nuances of his old hat were present in this new one.
"That was very nice of you." With their heads turned away from the others, bodies serving as a sound barrier, Toby was able to utter the words as if it was just a secret for the two of them. He could have easily slipped in a witty innuendo, diffused the entire situation and bring them back to a platonic equilibrium where it was just two friends exchanging presents. But Toby didn't want to make his usual wisecrack and ruin this. The warmth and intimacy of their quiet moment made him content to simply hold Happy close.
As they pulled away, he didn't think anything could surpass that brief moment. That is, until he noticed her eyes staring right into his, uncharacteristic smile (not smirk) adorning her face. Chatter from the others moved to his mind's periphery and all he could focus on was Happy. The curve of her lips expressed more than just fondness for his gift, but a lightness and joy he would do all that was in his power to have appear again.
Happy had reunited with her father and finally received the Christmas she had always deserved. He wanted more smiles for her.