Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel.

A/N: Hi, guys! This is just a quick little meaningless fic that was inspired by my most favorite holiday! Let me know what you think!

Max walked at a brisk pace through the cold streets of Seattle with her hood up and a black snow cap on for good measure. She absently rubbed her hands together briefly for a little warmth, the black leather riding gloves with the fingertips missing making a soft scratching sound to her sensitive ears. It was simply too cold outside today.

Max had to get back to Terminal City with the medical supplies in the brown leather drawstring sack slung on her shoulder. She desperately wanted to be off of the streets and back in TC, but it really wasn't the weather that was troubling her. Cold, Max could handle if she had to. She had, after all, stayed submerged in a frozen lake waiting for the guards to pass by when she had escaped from Manticore back in '09. No, it was the incessant cheerful mood of the people of Seattle that Max could not deal with today.

Everywhere she looked, people were smiling at each other, holding packages and shopping bags, and holding doors for other people to pass through. They were being nice and polite, chatting in a friendly manner to total strangers and occasionally giving some money to those in the streets who obviously wouldn't be emerging from any store laden with purchases. They were directing lost visitors to their destinations, and they were taking fair turns in the gas lines. There weren't even any crooks lightening the loads of unsuspecting passersby!

Max mused that she should probably be happy to see world peace in action, but she just couldn't, because she also saw those cheesy Christmas decorations and bright lights everywhere she looked, too. It all served as a reminder of why these people were being nice.

Christmas is coming soon. That means people are nice to each other. For once. They treat others how they should for one day of the year, and then the other 364 days can just go to hell. After Christmas, it's like, 'OK, guys. Christmas is over. Now, gimme your purse or the baby gets it!' What the hell is that?

Max passed a group of carolers and grimaced at them in disgust as they approached her. As one, the group stopped short and looked fearful before backing away slowly. A few minutes later, Max heard rusty notes of "Jingle Bells" from a distance. She rolled her eyes. What was so great about Christmas anyways? There were Christmas carols about everything under the sun, from "Silent Night" to "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer." Do they even know what they're celebrating?

Max certainly didn't know. Manticore never really had a class on the meaning of Christmas. The best understanding she could get came from a TV special played ad nausium called "A Charlie Brown Christmas" or something to that effect. Some little boy with a blanket told some other boy about the meaning of Christmas, and it was something about a savior being born. Max didn't really care for that whole religious storyline about the holiday. She just wanted to know what a big tree with too many lights and random decorations had to do with a savior. For the life of her, she couldn't draw a connection.

Then the gift thing threw her for a loop, too. What was up with that? 'Oh, look, it's someone else's birthday, so I'm gonna shop all over downtown to get YOU the perfect gift. And dammit, I'd better get something just as nice back, or we are so through!' Psh, just like Darren. Stupid ass. I still remember that terrible Christmas I had...

Max had never had a significant other during the holiday season until Darren, and she didn't realize how important the whole gift thing was back then. On that particular Christmas, she had found a stunning pair of onyx earrings under the tree for her, and all she had to show for Darren was a mediocre necktie. Hey, the lady at the department store said he'd love it. How was I s'pose ta know that she was a tasteless piece of shit trying to line her own pockets? So, to make a long story short, Max had seen Darren's less than excited reaction to his present and she had ridden home crying.

"Well... it's the thought that counts, right?" That's what he had said. Yeah, Merry frickin' Christmas, Darren. You sure know how ta make a girl feel special. Some holiday. All about how good your present is, trying to outdo each other. Make someone else feel like shit.

Max watched a pair of girls pass by with a pad and pen, trying to write a good Christmas list telling everyone exactly what they wanted. She rolled her eyes again. Or make someone go broke getting you what you want.

Some guy in a shabby Santa outfit approached her with a red tin bucket. "Excuse me, Miss? Would you care to donate some money to the poor this Christmas?"

Max glared at him, reaching her last nerve with these people. "Why? I don't see your ass out here any other time of the year trying to help the poor. Why bother now?" The Santa dude stared at her in shock as she stalked off.

She felt like screaming in frustration! How can these people act all caring to all things alive and then turn around and burn crosses and throw garbage at my kind? Ya wanna help the needy? How 'bout getting human rights for transgenics? For the living things that you made and tried to sweep under the rug like last year's filth? If there was ever a noble cause for all their self-righteous Christmas giving, it's sitting right there in Terminal City!

Yep, that was it. Max realized that her city and her people and the horrible treatment they received daily from the rest of the world made her hate Christmas. It was truly nauseating to see them be so kind to each other and then so terribly cruel to other living things, other humans, regardless of how they came into the world. Isn't this s'pose ta be the time of peace on earth and goodwill toward men and all that crap? Well, world, I'm still waiting.

At long last, Max could see the secret tunnel entrance to Terminal City off in the distance with her enhanced sight, and she almost sighed in relief. Finally, I can get away from this hypocritical city with its goofy lights and back in my nice dark place where no one's heard of 'Jingle Bells'!

She entered the tunnel after casing the area to ensure no one was watching, and then she passed by the guards after flashing her barcode, even though they obviously knew who she was. They smiled as they saw her bag of goodies, but quickly erased those looks of happiness as they picked up on her grouchy mood. Eyes front, the guards simply nodded to her.

Max didn't even notice. I swear, if I see one more set of red-and-green anything, I'll puke in my mouth! That being said, Max decided to lose herself in the dull activities of organizational leadership for her growing city. Paperwork, food counts, and people counts required a certain mood to trudge through them, and Max knew that it would be almost therapeutic for her right then. Off to the old office, then.

Alec paced the halls of HQ, waiting anxously for Max to get back from her medicine run. She certainly seemed to be taking her time with it. Maybe she's just admiring the holiday decorations... I don't blame her, though. We certainly never had anything like that back at Manticore!

He had far too much energy today, and his restless impatience for the week to skip quickly to Sunday night was showing itself in full bloom.

"Alec excited," guessed Joshua from behind him.

Alec spun around at the voice. For a big dog-boy, Josh had a scary habit of creeping up on Alec when he was lost in thought. "Oh, hey, Josh. I dunno if I'd say 'excited'. More like, 'antsy, anxious, and impatient'. To start," he added off-handedly to his hairy transhuman pal.

"Alec impatient and antsy for Max," Joshua said with an eager smile.

"Yeah, I sure wish she'd get back... I still need to find out what she wants for Christmas! It's comin' up quick, buddy. I'm gonna get her the perfect gift. I just don't know what that is yet." Joshua widened that unsettling, knowing, canine grin, barely showing his pointed teeth. Alec frowned. "What's that look fo - ?"

Just then, he heard the quick sounds of Max's thick boots clomping through HQ. He turned around in time to see that she was clearly headed to her office and stole away after her. He whipped his head around to wave at Joshua. "Later, buddy! I gotta take care of something now!"

Then he faced the curtain of long, dark hair swaying gently as Max widened the gap between them down the hallway. "Max! Hey, Max!" She kept walking. Alec stopped and frowned at her back. Well, that's rude...

Max stepped into her office and sat down. Alec was about to go in after her, but he saw Mole passing by and hailed him quickly. He motioned the smoking lizard-man toward himself and asked in a low, confidential whisper, "Hey, Mole, whaddaya think I should get Max for Christmas? I'm drawing a blank..."

Mole looked at him like he was crazy. "How would I know, Princess? You're the one who spends the most time with her. You tell me." At Alec's pleading look, Mole sighed. "I dunno. What does any woman want for Christmas? Jewelry, clothing, and fancy perfume. In that order. Get her something like that."

Alec shook his head. "No, no, it's Max we're talkin' about! She doesn't get into all that stuff." He paused and added as an ill-tasting afterthought, "Besides, that stuff's the kind she'd expect from Logan, not me. He's her boyfriend; let him buy her a diamond necklace."

Mole glared at him and blew a puff of smoke out in a snort. "Then why do you care, huh? Hell, what she really needs is a pill, or something to remove the stick from her ass right now! You seen 'er lately? She's even worse than me!" With that, he walked off, leaving Alec to stare at Max's office doorway with a worried look. Max was feeling down? That would explain her angry step and deliberate ignoring. Well, it's not really that odd for her to ignore me...

Alec decided that he had to help his friend. Maybe a little holiday cheer can rub off on her. Maybe that's just what she needs! Without further ado (and without knocking), he entered her office.

"Guess what day it is, Max?"

Max looked up from her mindless paperwork once Alec's voice interrupted. She saw him relaxed and leaning against her doorframe, looking comfortable in his loose jeans and leather jacket. He was trying to appear nonchalant, but his face held excitement in his boyish grin and sparkling green eyes.

"Wednesday?" she guessed apathetically. She was in no mood to fuel his enthusiasm.

Alec frowned in disappointment. "No, it's actually Friday. But that's not the point. It's December 22nd!" He smiled brightly at her.

She cocked an eyebrow at him. "Do you have a point?"

Alec shrugged off her harsh words and went on as if she hadn't answered. "Only 3 days 'til Christmas!"

"So?"

"So? What do you mean, 'So'? It's almost Christmas, Max! Only the greatest holiday ever!"

Oh, great. Another one of Santa's little elves. Max had come to her office to be rid of that cheery crap, not to welcome it inside. She raised her eyes to the ceiling in mock wonder. "Huh, that's funny. I woulda thought you'd like your birthday best. Y'know, the day you graced the world with your presence 'n' all," Max shot back sarcastically.

Alec frowned again. "Gee, Ebeneezer. I didn't know they celebrated birthdays for test-tube babies. If you ever figure out the exact date when I was formulated in the lab, let me know, will ya?"

Max sighed. OK, so maybe Alec didn't deserve that. But she couldn't help it; he was just the perfect punching bag for her! Still, Max noticed that she had crossed the line. "Look, I'm sorry, Alec. I just..." She trailed as she struggled to explain to him how she felt. "I don't get why people get all excited over one stupid day outta the whole year."

Alec was slightly surprised to hear that negative talk out of Max. She had tasted freedom, true freedom, for much longer than he had, and he thought that if anyone would understand the ways of the world outside of Manticore, where December 25th really was just another day of the year, it would be Max. Yet here she was, talking like a total Scrooge.

He walked up to her slowly and spoke gently, trying to help her understand. "They say it's a time of peace, love, and happiness, Maxie. What's not to be excited about?"

Max snorted. "Yeah, they're real nice to each other, aren't they? For one day. Then it's back to war, hate, and anger."

"Max..."

"It's so incredibly fake! I mean, no one's ever nice to their fellow man 'n' all that crap any other time of the year. What's so special about Christmas that they act like good people for that day and that day alone?"

"But, Max - "

"Oh, and why do people bother buying gifts for each other? It's like they feel obligated to buy dad a necktie and mom a pearl bracelet. Who cares? They only do that so they get gifts back! It's all so selfish and materialistic!"

"Hey, what about - "

"And all those lights look tacky anyway. The whole thing's a load of crap, if you ask me." Max crossed her arms and glared at Alec, defiantly daring him to make a smart-ass comment about her opinions. She blushed slightly under his incredulous stare. She really hadn't meant to lay all her feelings out there, but his manner and her need to prove him wrong about the so-called 'holiday' had opened the floodgates, it seemed.

Alec gave her a pained look. He couldn't get a single word in with this fierce little woman! "But that's what makes it so special, Max! People set aside their differences and do nice things for others. They donate all sorts of toys and clothes 'n' stuff for poorer people who don't have as much. They open up soup kitchens, and even sometimes their homes, to people who don't have homes or family to be with. And yes, Max, they buy each other gifts, to show how much they care about each other. It's not fake. It's... wonderful! It's the most wonderful time of the year!"

Max snorted again. "Yeah, yeah, like the cheesy song, right? The way I see it, if you care about someone so much, you'll tell 'em. And you won't need to buy their affection with gifts."

Alec nodded slowly, looking as though her stubborn role of devil's advocate in their conversation had helped him reach a decision. He smiled that self-assured smirk and the light played in his eyes once again as he captured her in a playful but intense stare. "I couldn't agree more. But not all gifts are bought, Maxie!" At her dark and suspicious look, he widened that impish smirk he always wore around her and left his CO to her paperwork.

Max frowned at the doorway after him. "Just what are you up to, Alec?" she softly asked the air.

Hmm. What is Alec up to, LOL! Feel free to review! Thanks!