"M-Mama?" Asked the small girl, looking up at her stressed mom with big brown eyes. Rima's mother looked up from her bills, "What? Can't you see I'm covering up for your father's incompetence?" She snapped.

The blonde girl took a step back and looked down at her feet, "Mama, I was wondering if I could… go to a Christmas party this year."

Her mother glanced at her then looked back down at the papers, muttering something as she scribbled down a note on one of them. "Where is this party?" Rima smiled timidly. By her mother's tone, she could tell there was a beacon of hope.

"A-At my friend Hinamori Amu's house, Mama." Her mother was silent for a moment, leaving the petite child standing at the wooden table.

"Well then. When is it?" Her mother asked coldly as she closed her pocketbook and opened a new envelope.

"T-Tomorrow night. And you wouldn't have to drive me, Amu's mother offered to pick me up…" Rima stuttered, smiling even brighter at her mother.

The woman narrowed her eyes and murmured, "I suppose that's good, because I'll be working all night tomorrow and your father is such a lazy bum, I doubt he drive you…"

Rima sighed and looked down at her feet. She wished her parents didn't put each other down so much. And they never, ever smiled or laughed.

"But, everything considered, go ahead." Finished her mother. "M-Mama! Thank you!" Said Rima, jumping up to hug her mother.

Rima's mom said nothing, but sort of shooed her off with her hand dismissively. Rima beamed up at her and practically skipped away to her bedroom to pick out an outfit.

Kusukusu giggled, "That went well!" Rima opened the door to her room, "Mmm." She agreed and closed the door behind her.

"What should I wear?" Rima asked her Chara, opening her closet.

Kusukusu shrugged, "I'm a clown character, Rima-chan! You don't want fashion advise from me." Kusu said, taking a seat on the bed.

Rima couldn't help but laugh at the joker-Chara's comment, but at the end she sighed. "But that doesn't help me."

The blonde girl shuffled through her clothes. "N-No… bad… That's just stupid." She smiled at a blouse she found, which she had paired with a plaid skirt. "Na-de-sh-iko." Rima murmured, as she put it back in her closet and she felt her cheeks flush red and hot.

Kusukusu laughed at her, "Thinking about Nagihiko again, are you?" The little creature rolled on the bed giggling.

Rima didn't respond as she threw a random dress on top of Kukukusu to shut her up. The Shugo Chara guffawed even louder as she crawled out from under the red dress. "How about this one, Rima-chan?"

The girl turned around to see the dress Kusukusu was talking about. "Well…" Started Rima as she flicked a stray lock of golden hair out of her face. "I never really though about that as an option… In fact, I don't think I've ever seen that dress before!"

She shuffled over to the bed and picked up the dress. It was a dark scarlet, like blood, and made of silky material. It had spaghetti straps and it was ruffled at the bottom, magenta fabric came from under, and there was a single ribbon for a belt. It was very loose and pretty.

"I neve-" She stopped when she saw a tag on it. Rima- Merry Christmas, I spent all day picking this out for you. Love, your mother.

"M-Mama!" Called Rima, running down the hall. She almost slipped because of her socks. "Mama! Thank you so much!"

She ran up to her mother, who was smiling weakly, "I thought you might ask to go to a Christmas Party this year… So I took the liberty of buying you a dress."

Rima hugged her mother, "It's so pretty, Mama!" Her mother nodded and embraced her too. "But," Her mother started sternly, "You'll be sure to wear a sweater, Rima. I don't want you catching a cold!"

Rima nodded in agreement, tears welling up in her eyes. Mama smiled… She felt hot liquid stream down her face, but before her mother could see, she wiped them away with her arm. "I'm going to try it on Mama." She turned away, unable to control her happiness as she pranced down the hall again and into her room. "Merry Christmas, Kusukusu!" She whispered as she plopped into her bed. "A Merry Christmas indeed."

Well then, this will be a fairly short fan fiction, maybe 5 chapters at the most. R&R and don't forget to give me advise!

This is my 'Happy Holidays' story, so stay tuned!

Oh and, AS OF NOW RIMA CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS IF SHE DIDN'T ALREADY.

~Kira