DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN CODENAME: KIDS NEXT DOOR

A/N: Aiight, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that some people would guess that I just paired up the couples with each other for the Secret Santa game. I think you're just trolling me, but it can be hard to tell over text sometimes. lol At any rate, I would hope y'all have a little more faith in me than to allow the game to be that easy to figure out, at least this early on. :P

To my awesome reviewers:

appleduck – I'm glad you're so certain of whom Rachel's shopping for. ;) Yeah, I thought it seemed like a Wally kinda thing to do. I could totally picture him stalking her like that in an attempt to "cheat." Thank you! Please enjoy this chapter as well!

FrittzyCrazy – No worries; you don't have to guess at all. I just figured letting my readers try to guess who has who could potentially add another layer of entertainment, as opposed to revealing their targets from the onset. Also, it makes it a little more interesting for me to write, what with trying to find the right balance of (lack of) details and red herrings. Thank you for the review!

looneymania – Yes! You got them all! We're all impressed by how much you won! :P Thanks a lot, I hope you enjoy the rest!

partygirl2000 – You're welcome. lol Take your time in guessing, you got a while to go until Christmas. :P Well, wait no longer! Here's the next chapter. Obviously. Please enjoy!

Double Deuce – Thanks, man. And, yes, I'm sure the couples all happened to pick each other's names. You just keep thinking that. :P Thanks for the review.

numbuh 1x1 – Thank you very much! I'm stoked that you're enjoying this and wanting more. I'll try not to disappoint.

Oh, and in case you're wondering why I'm uploading another chapter so soon: this story has surpassed my other story, The Saccharine Exposure, in reads, favorites and follows (though I was expecting the follows), and in a much shorter time. I'm pretty sure it's because this is a Christmas fic, and who doesn't love Christmas? lol So, here's another early chapter, to "celebrate" in a way, and to thank you all for your support. I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to read my work. It means a lot. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Hopefully my posting chapters before even Thanksgiving isn't putting anyone off.

Also, as I mentioned before, I have a poll up on my page regarding post-childhood KND fics on which I'd appreciate votes. Thanks in advance.

Long A/N is long. So, let's on with the show!

CHAPTER 4: PREPARATIONS

22 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS

The Gallagher Elementary School auditorium was a large room with dozens of rows of dozens seats each. The children decorating the walls on either side of the seating arrangements to compliment to forthcoming play could hear the ones socializing up on the stage, thanks to some top notch acoustics. Suspended above the stage, hidden from the audience by tastefully hung burgundy curtains, were rows of lights of various colors and some walkways from which one could reach said lights. It was, for all intents and purposes, an auditorium.

"Man, Numbuh 5 hasn't been in here since the last play!" Abby said as she and Kuki walked down the aisle toward the stage, examining the walls next to her as she went. The decorations were all made with construction paper, giving everything a sort of cartoony look. Snowy houses and trees and snowmen were taking shape, along with candy canes and other Christmasy things.

"Me neither," Kuki admitted. "But it looks so good in here! The decorations already look so cute!"

"Yeah, well... Let's just hope this show doesn't bring the house down like that one did."

Kuki giggled. "Oh, I donno, I thought that last one was pretty special!"

Abby couldn't help but scoff. She only remembered the fight that broke out, thanks to the Delightful Children From Down The Lane. Kuki, on the other hand, remembered Wally coming back for her after everyone else had left, evening singing part of the finale with her to cheer her up. Sure, she only got one line out of him, but he did his best to tolerate it for her, and she cherished the memory just the same.

"Yeah, it sho' was 'special' alright..."

The two girls climbed up the stairs leading to the backstage area and turned to join the rest of their peers in the middle of the stage. There were about twenty of them total, not including our heroines or the behind-the-scenes set crew, all talking excitedly and speculating about the play.

"Looks like a good turnout. Numbuh 5 hopes-"

She stopped walking when a spotlight illuminated her and Kuki. They looked at each other, then up past the source of the light at Hoagie, who smiled and waved at them from the walkway. Kuki smiled and returned the friendly gesture, while Abby just smirked and placed her hands on her hips.

"A verbal 'hello' woulda done jus' fine, Numbuh 2," she said jokingly. "It's a li'l too early for this kinda attention; we ain't even got our scripts yet."

"I know," Hoagie said, shutting the light off. "You just seemed kinda curious about the set, so I thought I'd shed some light on it!" He burst in a fit of laughter as the boy up there with him smacked himself in the face with his own hand (facepalmed, if you will). Abby just shook her head.

"Boy, you bettuh be glad you all the way up there, 'cuz that was the lamest joke of the season yet..."

"Well, we've still got the rest of the month, so don't you worry about that," he said, as if interpreting her statement as one of disappointment.

Abby rolled her eyes as she spun around to join the rest of the actors centerstage. Kuki skipped after her gleefully, humming "Jingle Bells" as she went. The two lingered on the outside of the group, smiling at their classmates' discussions of the holidays and their plans for them.

"Well, well, well," said an all too familiar chorus of several voices from behind. "There seems to be an impressive amount of participation for this year's Christmas play."

Everyone twisted around to face the Delightful Children as they emerged from the shadows. Abby curled her fingers into fists and glared at the smirking group... thing.

"Well, well, well yourselves, yah buncha dorks! Yah here to ruin another good show, or do yah wanna go ahead an' get yer butts kicked now an' get it over with?"

"Why, Abigail!" they said, their voices high in faux offence, "Why would we want to do any such things? We only want to do our part to bring Christmas cheer into the lives of this play's future attendants!"

"Ha! The only people y'all care about are yahselves. Especially this time o' year! You've proven that!"

To Abby's surprise, their smirks vanished, and they shook their heads in disappointment. "That... incident last year was most unfortunate. We've learned our lesson, though. And we do want to make up for it."

They really seemed sincere, apologetic even. Abby couldn't detect any subtle tones in their voices, nor any other signs of deceit. But she still didn't buy it; they'd also proven before to be exceptional actors. But, they were still students volunteering for a school play, and she couldn't stop them.

"Hmph. Numbuh 5's got her eye on y'all..."

They grinned, though not a sinisterly as usual. "Of course. Wouldn't have it any other way."

Abby continued to eye them suspiciously. "And that's 'Numbuh 5' to you."

"Okay, children!" Miss Thompson called out enthusiastically from her place in the first row of seats, seemingly oblivious to the drama onstage. Her voice drew their eyes to her like a magnet. "Who's ready to start rehearsal?!"

Everyone cheered in affirmation, especially Kuki. Abby glanced at the Delightful Children from the corner of her eyes, only to see them smiling pleasantly at their teacher. If they were up to something, they were hiding it well.

"Ohmygosh, this play is going to be sooo great!" Kuki said as she donned her pink Rainbow Monkey jacket. "I can't believe we both got lead parts! This will be so much fun!"

"Meh," Abby mumbled, already in her blue jacket. She held her script in her right hand, and Kuki's in her left. "Numbuh 5 thinks she's gonna swap hers out for a smalluh role tomorrow. She didn't realize there'd be so much singin'..."

Kuki zipped up her jacket, and Abby handed her her script back. "Aw, c'mon, Numbuh 5!" She pleaded as they headed for the exit. "You've got such a good singing voice! You're like the best in the school! You'll be great!"

"Yeah, Numbuh 5!" Hoagie chimed in, joining the girls in front of the doors leading outside. He opened the door for them, and then assumed the spot next to Abby, on the opposite side of Kuki. "It wouldn't be the same without you!"

"Aw, guys..." She wanted to modestly decline them, but was finding that quite difficult to do. Kuki, being one of her best friends, always spoke what she believed, and always encouraged Abby to do more with her vocal talents. And Hoagie... well, he had some influence on her as well. The two of them combined were too much for her to turn down. "Okay, fine. Numbuh 5'll do it."

Kuki giggled. "I knew you would!"

"Ha, sho' yah did..."

"So, are you guys comin' with us tomorrow?" Hoagie asked.

"Nah, can't. Got a dentist appointment. Numbuh 5'll see y'all back at the treehouse afterward, though."

"Ok. What about you, Numbuh 3?"

"Where ya going?"

"Me, Numbuh 1 and Numbuh 4 are gonna find a Christmas tree for the treehouse."

"Ooh, that sounds like fun! But you boys have your fun. I'll wait at the treehouse and finish decorating."

"Suit yourself. So, I've been watching this new show called 'How I Met Your Father', and it's hilarious! It's about this girl in Chicago who..."

He proceeds to tell them all about the premise of the show, though neither girl was really listening. Both of their minds were on the same thing: Secret Santa. Neither was aware of the other's distraction, which was kind of funny, seeing as it was the real reason for their opting out of the annual tree hunt. Great minds think alike, right? Or maybe it's just girls' minds...

A/N: I know, the shortest chapter yet. Like I said, some are like that. Still, I hope it left y'all satisfied. :D Oh, and shameless HIMYM reference FTW, right? Yeah. That just happened.

Until next time,

- Marty