Weeks after weeks, almost a year went by before Pein even saw the boys at dinner with him and Temari (which hurt him a lot). The trial was taking longer than ever because they all wanted to point fingers at each other. Temari was treating him like one of her brothers which made him feel okay but he wanted affection from Gaara of all people more than eating or remembering his homework. His grades began to slip and he started to play sick a lot which made Temari's job easier but not good for him.
On Christmas Day, Pein was looking forward to seeing what they do but for some reason he really couldn't bring himself out of bed (every single Christmas he had was alone, full of presents, and no love). He wasn't going to go downstairs to see nothing for him especially watching the smiles on their faces from whatever their father bought them aka Santa Clause sent them to keep them children forever. He felt sicker thinking about the lack of Santa in his life only presents saying from 'dad' or 'mom'. He loved watching the Christmas specials with the jolly old man spreading love and warmth among people. He was crying silently into his pillow angry that no matter what he did he never got a minute to talk to Gaara any more...the park left him more than half empty.
"Um...Pein...Temari sent me up to get you to come open presents Santa sent you." It was Gaara's voice but he sounded less than confident through the door. With a quick gulp, Pein dried his face opening the door. The boy was still in his boxers and that was all Pein needed as he bulged but noticed so was Gaara. Pein shook it off as excitement for presents. The two of them walked silently downstairs away from the bedrooms. Temari smiled covering their eyes with blindfolds which caught Pein off guard but of well. She hadn't killed him yet so he trusted her enough to lead him wherever she was taking them.
When she took the blindfolds off their eyes, Gaara was already jumping into a pile under the stocking that had his name. Pein swallowed his sob seeing as big of a pile as Gaara with a stocking holding his name full of something. He looked at Temari confused.
"How?" He asked.
Gaara bust out laughing. "Santa Clause silly."
"There..." he couldn't ruin their lives like his was so he sat quietly opening a few...there wasn't anything for Temari...all she did was sit near by on the couch smiling.
He felt bad...he had never received something he actually wanted before and he had nothing to return to her. He held the picture of his mother close crying silently into his knees.
Sorry short chapter but Christmas ended badly forever one this year so I want to make it, it's own chapter. ^_^ Forgive the short.
