I shivered as I waited for Col to arrive, holding his gift in my hands. I'd gotten him a specially made figurine of me, him, and Skylark riding through the skies. Col's eyes were squinted together with laughter, and Skylark was neighing in pleasure. I was clinging to Col's waist, a look of both wonder and delight on my face. I scowled, remembering how the painter of the figurine(Mack, of course.) had mix-match my eyes. The green was where the brown would be, and vice versa. Hopefully Col wouldn't notice, as he tended not to notice things like that. He also seemed not to notice a lot of things. Like, how it drove me bonkers whenever Col was with Shirley, or how my face automatically smiled when I saw him. I couldn't have prevented my feelings… they just…

Came out.

I stared at my watch, willing the last three minutes to pass. Surely there was a mythical creature that could speed up time? No such luck, Connie, I told myself. I took a cold seat on the bench just a few paces next to me, and spent the next three minutes people watching. It was an activity I did quite often. It was fun to watch people be themselves. Sometimes, I felt like I could never be myself, being the universal and all.

I glanced at my watched again and was surprised to find that ten minutes had passed, and Col had yet to appear. I sighed and crossed my arms over my chest, setting his gift on the other side of the bench. I looked up and noted the cloudy snow sky. I grinned, as I realized Col would owe me ten dollars, because we'd made a bet whether it would snow or not.

As I stood up to leave the park, I heard jogging steps behind me, and panting,

"Wait!" a familiar voice breathed, "Connie, wait!"

I turned, and saw Col bending forward, hands on his knees. A woman with a violin on her back walked past, and asked him if he was okay. He nodded and thanked her. She smiled, nodded, and turned back to the other woman with her, whom was carrying a flute case.

Col turned back to me and held out his arms, inviting me in for a hug. Of course, I couldn't refuse. I slipped into his warm embrace, and found that I was trembling. I had been worried he wasn't coming.

He, unfortunately, let go of me, and held my shoulders so that he could look me straight in the eye. He smiled, his one green and one brown eye lighting up in my own.

"I must be honest with you, Connie; there isn't anyone else I'd rather spend this Christmas with."

I felt heat rush to my face, like the blood in my veins was having a race to see who'd make it to my cheeks first. I smiled with teeth and answered back; "I'm glad you feel that way."

He reached into his pocket, and pulled out a small box. I reached over to the bench, and picked up my own box. He smiled at the box, which I'd taken such an effort to wrap, but stilled failed at.

"I still couldn't wrap a box to save my life." I sighed. He laughed heartily,

"Says the girl who defeated Kullervo."

I shook my head and laughed. Then, I held out my gift to him, "Open mine first."

He took the box from my hands and we sat on the bench. Col tore at the wrapping paper, until he reached a white container. Lifting the lid, he smiled when he saw the wings of the Pegasus, knowing instantly that Skylark had something to do with it. He pulled out the figurine and smiled wider, seeing the two happy figures on the back of his companion. The expression he was displaying was worth waiting for him. Maybe I wouldn't make him pay me ten dollars, after all. He reached over to me unexpectedly, and pulled me into a tight hug.

"Thank you, Connie." He breathed into my hair and down my neck, causing me to shiver in surprise and delight. He held me tighter for a moment before letting me free, much to my disappointment. I didn't look at him until the warmth had left my face. He set the small box of his in my lap, and looked at me expectantly, as though he already knew my reaction, as he probably did. I slid the box out of its wrappings, figuring his grandmother had wrapped it. The black box inside was long, and felt on the outside. Col looked up at the sky as I opened the box, but I could've sworn that his face was turning red.

Inside the soft, black box was a silver-chained necklace. I beamed and traced my finger down the chain until I saw the charm, and gasped in surprise.

On the charm of the necklace, was the sign of the universal, a silver compass with the symbols for mythical creature groups on each prong. I took the necklace out of the box, and struggle to open the clasp. My fingers were numbed and without nerves, so it was a near impossible task for the 'indestructible' Connie. Col smiled with relief when he saw my face and took the necklace from my hands,

"Let me help you with that." He unhooked the clasp, and came up behind me. Brushing my hair away from the back of my neck, he pulled the necklace around my head, meeting the ends in the back. I heard the click of the clasp and touched the charm dangling below the base of my throat. Col still stood behind me, and there was silence. I laughed, and turned around quickly, throwing me arms around him, "You cabbage-headed fool! You silly one-track mind of a Clamworthy!"

He looked confused, but accept the hug graciously, "So, you like it?"

I beamed at him and nodded my head rigorously, "I love it. I'll never take it off."

He smiled, more than pleased with this answer.

Only then did I notice how close he was to me, our noses nearly brushing.

Col was the first to seize the moment and pressed his lips against mine. Determined at first, but then softening into a sweet caress. To add to the sickly sweet cliché of it all, the women with the violin and flute started playing, encouraging Col.

He smiled against my lips and his arms curved around my waist, leaning into me. I, too, smiled against him, as I knew this was the best order of things to happen.

We broke apart, much to my dismay, but I smiled up at him, still giddy with the feeling of his lips against my own.

Merry Christmas, Col.