"-And then he said, "But I thought you had money dad,"" Darlton finished, getting Guilford and A.A. to laugh and Cornelia to chuckle.
It was Christmas day, and the top four leaders of Cornelia's regiment (Cornelia included) were sitting down enjoying tales of previous Christmas'.
"Oh," Guilford chuckled, "I wish we had days like this every day."
"But then Guilford," A.A. mocked, "we would all die of old age. Well I won't, but you would."
Both Guilford and Darlton were told about A.A. and his special immunity as well as Cornelia's Geass. Well, they had to be told, after A.A. got decapitated by an assassin (long story) and he came back to life with his head still on his body.
"I don't mind," Darlton added, "to die in a bed, away from bloodshed."
"Yeah," A.A. mumbled sadly, "away from bloodshed."
"Are you okay, A.A.?" Cornelia asked, concerned.
"Yeah," A.A. immediately said, changing his demeanour, "As okay as anyone can get."
Guilford drank from his cup, before standing up from his chair. "Well," he said, "It is about time I retire for the night."
"Wait," A.A. said as he goes to his bag to get something, "There is something I want to give you three."
"What is it?" Cornelia demanded, wandering why A.A. was keeping them up later than he usually does.
"Here," A.A. said as he picked out a few items, "this is for Darlton."
A.A. handed Darlton what looks like a sword in a scabbard. Darlton unsheathed the sword, marvelling at its perfections.
"Nice sword," Darlton mumbled.
"I had it," A.A. said, "Ever since the day Britannia first won against the Roman General, Julius Caesar. Caesar himself gave the sword to me after the battle."
"Considering how it looks after two Millennium," Darlton replied, "I say you kept it well looked after."
"Just," A.A. warned, "Don't use it in combat. It is very old and is useless in this time era."
"Don't worry," Darlton chuckled as he sheathed the sword, "I won't."
"Now Guilford," A.A. said as he opened a package, "Your own was the most difficult to choose, but I heard from Nonette it is tradition to have one of these, and I saw you don't have one, so here."
A.A. gave Guilford a plate, with a picture of Princess Cornelia.
"Umm," Guilford asked confused, "May I ask why did you give me this?"
"I heard from Nonette that is was tradition," A.A. asked with his head tilted, "Or did I hear it wrong?"
"I think," Guilford said emotionlessly, "she was playing a prank on you again. Regardless, thank you for the gift."
"I am sure you can use it for decorations," A.A. said offhandedly, "Or you can use it as an actual plate and say to your friends you ate off Cornelia."
Cornelia chocked on her drink, Guilford blushed a bright red and Darlton was covering his mouth so Cornelia doesn't notice him laughing.
"Wait," A.A. deadpanned, "that came out wrong."
"YOU THINK," Cornelia screeched.
"And at last," A.A. said as he looked to Cornelia, thankfully alright from the choking, "Princess Cornelia."
A.A. gave Cornelia a photo. In the photo though, it brought Cornelia to tears. In the photo stood Darlton and his adoptive sons, each of them wearing the Darlton Knights uniforms. Stood next to them is Guilford, standing straight, with his Knight of Honour Badge on him. Next to him stood Cornelia, who had both Nonette (in her Knights of the Round uniform on) and A.A. with their arms around the unfortunate princess. Both of them were grinning like idiots, while Cornelia was frowning.
Cornelia turned the picture over, to find A.A. has written on it:
'Dear Cornelia,
I noticed that your family is pretty screwed up (with the exception of Euphie, she is a good girl), so I decided to give you this picture of your new family. I know it is not a great ancient sword like I gave Darlton, or a very fancy plate like Guilford's gift, but I thought that this will be the greatest gift I can give you.
From A.A.'
Cornelia's eyes widened at the letter A.A. has written, who is sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.
"Look I know," A.A. started before Cornelia interrupted him with a crushing hug.
"Thank you," Cornelia said as she tried to stop the tears coming out.
"Y-You're welcome," A.A. said as he hugged her back.
LATER
"Merry Christmas," A.A. said to one of Darlton's boys before closing the doors to his room.
The instant he locked the door however, A.A.'s smiling façade dropped. He walked to the window and looked out into the darkness of the night.
"Why do I have to experience it again?" A.A. asked to thin air.
Then, in his mind, someone from his past said, "Because, she is a witch."
A.A. shook his head. Cornelia is not a witch. Not like her.
A/N: This is my Code Geass, Cornelia of the Defence Christmas special. Sorry for not submitting any chapters. By the way, the woman (the witch) that A.A. is referring to is NOT C.C. It is someone else entirely. Sorry for not updating. This takes place before the events of Code Geass.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.