The tree decorating went much better than expected. Although there was a bit of arguing, and Frank was caught stealing a few of the candy canes, everyone pitched in to help. Accept Magenta. She stood, watching the three people put up lights and ornaments. She listened as Columbia taught them traditional Christmas songs and encouraged them to try singing a few. The domestic still did not get it. She felt as if all of this was pointless. Why in the world did the earthling seem so excited for Christmas?

"We're done!" squealed a voice. Magenta turned to see Columbia, standing in front of the tree. Much to the domestic's surprise, the tree actually looked… nice. Cheery gold and red ornaments hung on branches, striped candies were hooked here and there, rainbow lights were wrapped around the tree's trunk, and on the very top a twinkling star loomed over everything. The groupie turned with a huge grin, looking at her friend. "Isn't it great, 'Genta?" she asked, clapping her hands once more.

Magenta nodded. "Yes, it is pretty nice." she agreed. Riff Raff walked over to Magenta and sighed.

"Finally done…" he sighed. Magenta rolled her eyes. The siblings looked over and saw Frank, his arm around Columbia, humming the tune to the "12 Days of Christmas". Magenta – who had heard enough carols today – put her hands over her ears. Riff chuckled. "Come on, 'Genta, it's not so bad." he encouraged her. She shook her head.

"I've had enough Christmas, thank you!" she spat.

At this, Columbia turned around. "But 'Genta, it's Christmas eve!" For the first time that night, Magenta noticed that there was no sparkle to the girl's eyes. Only disappointment. Magenta, who had always had a soft spot for the groupie, sighed and looked down.

"I'm sorry, Columbia. I'm just not into all of this. I mean, I can see why you would like all of this earthling stuff, but not me." Her tone was a bit harsher than intended.

Magenta looked up to find her friend on the verge of tears. Frank let go of Columbia. He chewed on his lip as he stared between the two girls, wondering how this would end. Finally, the groupie managed a soft, "But… it's Christmas Eve…" She looked up at her friend with a sadness that nobody had ever seen in her before. It was as if all of her dreams had been crushed. She looked at the ground.

The domestic sighed, feeling very bad. "I'm sorry, Collie. I just…" she stopped talking. She knew that whatever she said would come out wrong. Instead, she just turned away. There was silence for a long time. Riff Raff and Frank kept exchanging glances, both wondering what would happen. Finally, Columbia turned and began walking out of the room. She could practically feel all three of the alien's eyes stare at her.

"It's okay, 'Genta. I don't want ya to have to do something if ya don't want to…" she whimpered. With these final words, she walked away. Frank immediately turned on the domestic, not even trying to hide the anger in his tone.

"Why?" he snapped. "You know you just crushed my groupie's dreams, right?" he snapped. Magenta took a step back, raising her hands defensively. Riff Raff, who refused to actually yell at his sister, also felt very upset with the domestic. Magenta looked into her brother's eyes, hoping for some sort of guidance. He just shrugged and looked away. The domestic looked down.

"I'm sorry. I really am. I didn't mean to." She sighed. "But it's not my fault. I just don't want to celebrate Christmas. There's nothing wrong with that, is there?"

Riff Raff finally spoke. "'Genta, we all get that by now, trust me. But Columbia does want to celebrate. And if you won't be cheerful for yourself, could you at least do it for her?" Although his tone was gentle and soft, there was an edge to it that Magenta immediately recognized and knew to take seriously. She opened her mouth to speak – possibly apologize – when she looked up at the tree. For some reason, so felt… hatred? Why would she feel hatred? How strange. One thing was for certain: she would NOT be apologizing any time soon. Instead, she stomped her foot.

"Go away! Quit bothering me! I don't care about Christmas. Or Columbia. Or her pitiful little emotions. She's got to learn to grow up." Magenta stole one last, accusing glare at Riff Raff before stomping away. Frank and Riff heard her cuss aloud as she stomped up the stairs. Her brother sighed. Frank put his hands on his hips.

"You should go talk to her." he told him. Suddenly, a huge grin appeared on the prince's face. "…While I go hang up stockings! Yay!" He clapped his hands and skipped out. Yes, skipped. Riff Raff watched in disgust. Finally, when he was certain Frank was out of sight, he walked up the stairs to the hallway. He found the room Magenta and Columbia shared and walked in quietly. He found Columbia sobbing on the bed, and Magenta nowhere in sight.

"Go away!" screamed Columbia, making the handyman take a step back in surprise at her tone. The groupie hardly ever raised her voice.

"Columbia." Riff Raff stated calmly. The girl in question raised her head and looked at him, her makeup running down her cheeks. Riff sighed and walked over, sitting beside the girl on the bed. "Don't be mad at 'Genta." he stated, his tone never changing. Columbia folded her arms, looking away. She felt tears form in her eyes.

The groupie sighed. "I'm not mad at 'Genta. I'm not mad at all. I just… wish she would appreciate Christmas, ya know? Do you have any idea how excited I was to share this all with her? I just wanted my best friend to really be able to experience her first Christmas with me! So it's not anger, just… disappointment…" She sniffed softly. Riff Raff looked at her, feeling awful. And guilty. It was as if he was just as disappointed in his sister as Columbia was. He put a hand on the groupie's shoulder.

"Magenta means well. She's not very happy about being here on Earth, you know. I think the main reason she doesn't want to celebrate Christmas is that she doesn't want to be sucked into the culture of a planet she hates. I don't think she meant to hurt your feelings at all."

Columbia looked up, a very small smile appearing on her lips. Riff Raff smiled back, relieved to see her feeling better. Much to his surprise, she grabbed him and hugged him. "Thanks, Riff." she mumbled.

Riff Raff, blushing furiously, muttered, "It was nothing. I just… wanted to make you feel better. It is Christmas, after all." Finally, the groupie let go of him. A huge grin was on her face now. She wiped a few tears from her face, not caring that her makeup was awful. Riff stood up, sighing. "Hey, let's get going. I bet Frank's having trouble getting the stocking's hung up." He rolled his eyes. Columbia giggled and stood up as well.

"Let's go!" she cried with a laugh. Riff Raff smiled and watched the girl exit the room, relieved to see at least one of the girls feeling better. Of course, Magenta was a completely different matter…

XXX

Frank took about ten minutes finding the stockings and hanging them up over the fireplace. Then he decided to find something to eat. Today had been incredibly tiring (picking a perfect tree, driving it home, and decorating it was rather exhausting), and he needed at least a small snack. However, when he came to the kitchen fridge he found – much to his horror – that it was completely empty. His first thought was immediately to find Magenta. She always found something to put together no matter how little they had.

But Magenta was pouting in her room, wasn't she? Sighing, Frank realized he would have to go find her and yell at her if he was to get a snack. With this thought, the prince left the kitchen and walked up the stairs to Columbia and Magenta's room. To his surprise, it was empty (Riff Raff and Columbia had already gone downstairs). Frank thought for a moment, wondering where Magenta may have gone off to. Finally, he had something of a revelation – Riff Raff's room!

He knew perfectly well that the girl often went to Riff Raff's room when she had a problem. So why should tonight be any different? Feeling proud of himself for solving his mystery, he walked out of the room and down the hall until he came to Riff Raff's room. Sure enough, a soft sobbing could be heard inside. Why exactly Magenta was sobbing was beyond him. He opened the door loudly, forcing the domestic to look up in surprise. She turned and – when she noticed Frank – she cursed and lay her head back down on the pillows. The prince sighed, knowing this would not be easy.

"Oh, Magenta!" he called. Magenta muttered something that sounded a bit like a death threat and ignored him. Frank growled. "Magenta, I need some help with something." Once more, there was no response. The prince rolled his eyes and sat down beside her. She pushed him away.

"Go away. I do not wish to be your presence, Master. I'd much rather spend the night up here, drowning my sorrows in my brother's pillows." Frank sighed, looking down. He thought hard, trying to think of something that would cheer her up. Sadly, he only knew one thing that would make her feel better, and that was Riff Raff. So this mission proved to be harder than he had thought.

"Magenta, it's Christmas." Magenta raised her head and gave him a "so…?" expression. Frank smiled. "Columbia told me that Christmas is a time to be with the people you love. Friends and family, you know?" He paused. Magenta shook her head, as if saying, "no, I don't know." Frank sighed once more. "Listen, I know my groupie. She isn't upset because you won't celebrate Christmas. I honestly don't think she cares much. I think she's upset because you won't celebrate the holidays with her. You know, she said on our date last week that you're her best friend?"

Magenta sat up. "She did?"

Frank nodded, grinning. "She did. She specifically called you her best friend. I think that's why she's upset. She wanted to spend Christmas with her best friend. And with you not in the spirit, well… I think it really hurt her." When Magenta's expression still did not change, the prince growled and stood up. "Well, I better go. I think Columbia may be feeling a bit better now. I believe Riff Raff talked to her." He began walking towards the door when he heard the domestic cry out:

"Wait!"

Turning, the prince asked, "What do you want?" He put his hands on his hips, as if very agitated by her. However, in all honesty, he really wanted to her come downstairs with him and makeup with Columbia. The domestic looked down as if feeling awkward about admitting anything.

Finally, she managed to mutter, "I should probably go downstairs. It is Christmas, after all." She forced a smile and stood up. Frank grinned and the two walked out together. "Thanks, by the way." she told him after a moment of silence as they walked down the stairs.

"No problem, honey." he told her with a huge grin. "Oh, and by the way, I need you to make me a snack."

With the two girls filled with anger and dread,
Their dreams and friendship both shattered and dead,
Brother and prince knew they had to be strong,
So they worked to help the two friends get along.