Disclaimer: Not mine, won't ever be mine, no matter how hard I try.
Author's Note: This is the first piece of fan fiction that I have written in 8 years, so please be gentle.
Best. Present. Ever
Claudia took one final look at the schematics in front of her before gently gathering the aging documents in her arms and returning them to the safety of their secured location in the Farnsworth aisle. She was careful to leave no trace of her presence amongst the papers and inventions surrounding her. She remembers all too vividly the tedious hours of inventory forced upon her as punishment the last time Artie caught her improving upon the inventor's work, and had no intention of getting caught this time around.
Returning to her make-shift work bench, Claudia lifted her masterpiece out from the surrounding wires, crimps, and scraps of metal. "I don't like to brag, but . . . oh who am I kidding, I'm a freaking genius!" She placed her invention in her messenger bag, careful not to cause any damage to it or the precious item she had tucked away unnoticed earlier that day from another aisle in the Warehouse. She bundled herself up in her coat and scarf, slung the bag over her shoulder, and headed out the umbilicus to face the cold South Dakota air. Flurries were already filling the air with the promise of a white Christmas.
When Claudia entered the Leena's she was welcomed by the familiar sight of Pete with a fist full of cookies and a crumb laden grin on his face.
"Claudia! Hey, where have you been? Leena made cookies!" He gestured excitedly with his cookie-filled hand and added, "There's plenty more in the kitchen." Pete took in Claudia's sheepish look and glanced down at her decidedly over filled bag.
"Okay Claud, I'm vibing on something strange and secretive right now. Spill it. Unless it's my Christmas present!" He considered the prospect that her bag could be full of fun holiday surprises. "Scratch that, spill it especially if it is my Christmas present."
The sounds of laughter coming from the nearby kitchen reminded Claudia that Pete was dangerously close to ruining the surprise she had been working on for months. She put a finger to her lips with an accompanied "Shhhhhh" and dragged Pete into the study. After glancing around the room to be sure they were indeed alone, her face lit up with a proud smile.
"You know how last year I gave Artie the best Christmas present ever by reuniting him with his father and that glooken-whatever piano?" Pete nodded with a grin. Artie and his father hadn't thought quite as highly of her interference at first, but in the end Pete would have to agree that it was one killer gift. "Well this present makes that look like a big flaming bag of dog poo!" Claudia clutched her bag excitedly and grinned triumphantly.
Pete laughed at Claudia's enthusiasm. "Okay, a present so awesome that it knocks your former 'Best Present Ever" down to the level of flaming poop. This I've got to hear. Unless it's mine! Gah, nope, I want to hear either way."
Claudia smiled at Pete's conflicting needs to be surprised by his present and to discover Claudia's secret. "Dude, do you really think I would be telling you any of this if I was talking about a present for you? This is for Myka. I'm going to tell you what it is, but you need to keep your trap shut and help me. I need you to keep her busy while I set something up, and then just follow my lead."
Pete bowed down to Claudia. "The master of distraction is at your service, milady. I'll do whatever you need." He straightened up and grasped his hands together. "Now spill it."
Claudia opened her messenger bag and reached inside, carefully drawing out her newest toy. "Okay, remember when a bunch of your favorite movies tried to kill us?"