The Christmas plot bunnies have gotten to me! Not really, but the Christmas spirit has! This is the first of many chapters featuring characters from KHR in my Vongola Asylum universe on their views about Christmas or whatever. This chapter of my rather long Christmas Special is Fran-centric, read and enjoy!

KHR and all associated do not belong to me.


'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Varia Ward office, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Thunk.

"Ow, damnit."

…Okay, maybe not.

Fran massaged his toe gently, picking up the files that had fallen on the floor. Everyone had left already, and he was the only one still there, cleaning up his desk and drawers. Well, except Hibari, but he practically lived in the building anyway, so he didn't count.

Fairy lights cast a warm colourful glow in the otherwise dark office, and the radio was on, broadcasting Christmas songs.

Christmas, Fran thought, another day of the year when people get drunk and crash out on a friend's couch. Really, it's no big deal.

He stacked the dropped files neatly on his desk in order of appointment times, then kicked open a drawer. Inside was a cardboard box, labelled "2010". Fran frowned at the box, he had forgotten what was inside. Ah well, no harm in looking, right?

Lifting the cardboard box onto his desk (it was surprisingly light) he opened the lid and rifled through the contents. Papers, birthday cards, letters, random blackmail photos were all there. He flipped through them, laughing quietly to himself at the memories of the past year. The time when Hibari got drunk, when Squalo and Levi started singing Italian love songs on New Years', when Tsuna got a surprise visit from his godfather Reborn (Fran still had nightmares about that day), so many memories that he hadn't really thought about.

He was just about to close the lid and return the box to its drawer when he noticed a very inconspicuous book. The cover said, "Christmas 2010". It was a photo album.

Fran sat down in his chair and opened the album, looking at every photo carefully.

He flipped the page, and was greeted with a picture of Hibari and Tsuna liplocking. Ah yes, that was the day when they got together for real. It took an awful lot of alcohol, blackmail and persuasion to do that. Fran chuckled softly when he remembered his role in this entire fiasco (that turned out quite well). He was the person who had to slip alcohol into Hibari's tea. Not an easy job, to be honest.

The next photo was one of Yamamoto and Gokudera. Yamamoto, smiling as always, and Gokudera was just being his usual grumpy self because he couldn't "save Juudaime from the skylark monster." That obsession still hasn't changed, Fran thought, if this goes on for any longer, I'll have to put him in therapy too. Back then, Yamamoto had just transferred from Shigure Soen Asylum, and immediately clicked with everyone, except Gokudera, who thought that this newcomer was stealing his precious Juudaime from him. It took many, many occasions of setting up and planning to get them moderately close to each other.

After that was a photo of Mammon and him, both not quite smiling, but not impassive as always. It was the first photo they had taken together in quite a long time, and it was the happiest Fran had ever felt in his life. It finally seemed like he had a permanent family member. Fran's sea-green eyes stared back at him from the picture, and present Fran felt just a little bit scared of his own impassiveness, not that he would admit this to anybody.

Photo after photo of smiles, mischief, blackmail material and the occasional running away from Xanxus and Squalo appeared before Fran's eyes. Xanxus throwing chairs, Squalo and his monologue of swear words, Levi getting kicked in the nuts by Squalo, Mammon performing magic tricks, Gokudera showing his inner pianist, Tsuna receiving a surprise Christmas call from Reborn (his shocked expression was priceless) and various other Christmas Varia shenanigans refreshed themselves in Fran's memory.

The last was the group photo of all the patients and therapists. He remembered that time with a smile. The picture looked fairly innocent, but the few minutes before that photo was taken had been unbelievably hectic.

"VOI! DON'T PULL MY HAIR, BRAT!"

"Trash, stop yelling."

"Omo~ Everybody calm down, we have to take a picture~"

"I'm charging you for this, Sawada Tsunayoshi."

"HIEEE? WHY?"

"Stop crowding."

"DON'T TALK TO JUUDAIME LIKE THAT, BRAT!"

"Maa, maa, calm down, Gokudera."

"Shoichi, candy."

"Not now, Spanner…"

"Everybody shut up so we can take a picture and you can do whatever you want with whoever you want, okay…"

"HIEEE/WHAT WAS THAT FRAN?/SHUT UP FROG./I'LL BITE YOU TO DEATH."

Fran couldn't help but search for a certain tiara-wearing blonde, even though he knew he wouldn't be there. He was labelled 'highly dangerous' and was not to be allowed outside his room for any reason whatsoever. It felt strange, not seeing him. It was as if the Varia Ward wasn't quite complete without this maniacal, blood-loving fake-prince. And it really wasn't.

Seems like I won't see him at the party this year either, Fran thought.

He replaced the photo album and closed the lid, returning the box to its proper drawer. His elbow accidentally brushed with another pile of papers stacked haphazardly on his table, sending them tumbling to the floor. Groaning inwardly, he stooped to gather them up again.

Just then, a glittering thing caught his eye. It was a red box, wrapped in a shimmery black ribbon. How the hell did this thing get here? he thought. Tucked under the ribbon was a piece of paper, addressed to him.

Fran,

He wanted me to give you this.

Merry Christmas.

M.

So Mammon put it here, but who's this 'he'? A split second later, he had the answer and groaned, running his hand roughly through his sea-green hair. Don't tell me…Is this his idea of a practical joke or something?

Gingerly untying the black ribbon, Fran opened the innocent-looking red box. But then again, looks could be deceiving, and Fran knew that perfectly well. Seeing as the sender was him, there really was no surprise.

What will it be? A frog? A dead frog? Or anything dead in general?

He was surprised when nothing jumped out at him. On the velvet cushioning inside the small box sat a necklace. A miniature curved, silver knife on a chain, to be exact. A knife that looked exactly like the ones that he used. There was another note there too, written in red ink.

Hey Froggy,

Thought you would need something to remind you of me.

The prince doesn't like to be forgotten.

"I haven't forgotten you, stupid fake-prince," said Fran lowly, "How can anybody forget somebody as obnoxious as you anyway?"

He paused and smiled slightly. "Thanks, Bel-sempai. Merry Christmas."

And the little knife glinted around his neck.


Did you like it? Hate it? Reviews very much appreciated, and have a very merry Christmas!