Successfully managed to get out a Christmas special for the holidays! Happy holidays everyone, whatever you celebrate. ^-^

"How about something like this?" Rin held up the ugliest sweater that Hikaru had ever seen.

"You have got to be kidding me Rin. Go put that back!"

Rin shrugged but she obeyed. Rani stared at the pile of ugly sweaters in confusion. "I do not understand why these are considered ugly. They look warm, which is good with the cold weather we've been having recently and the colors go well together."

"Ummm, yeah, you are correct about that," pointed out Hikaru slowly. "But…for a Christmas present…umm…that won't be very…good."

"Hikaru here needs the perfect present for her first Christmas Eve with her boyfriend," Rin laughed. "I don't think a sweater like this is going to cut it."

"Oh," stated Rani. "Well, I have read about this event. In this country it is a night for couples and presents are given in order to reaffirm what is already known. "

Hikaru massaged the bridge of her nose. She had brought Rani and Rin to the mall to help her chose a present for Archer but by the way it was going, it looks like she was going to leave with nothing. She had asked Aunt Nomi for advice but it had been less than helpful.

"Guys," she protested.

"Sorry, sorry." Rin threw her hair over her shoulder. "So this store is out. Where else do you want to go Hikaru? We've hit almost every store in this place and you haven't found anything."

"I know, I know," replied Hikaru. She ran her fingers through her hair. This was hard! So very hard! What could she give him to thank him for everything?

"Why aren't you making something?" wondered Rani. "I also read that that is kind of presents that are usually given and usually liked."

"There's no way I can make something. I'm all thumbs about that kind of stuff. I tried to make a hat years ago but somehow it turned into a three sleeved scarf monstrosity!" She shivered at the thought. "I was so happy when Aunt Nomi and I burned the thing. It was a danger to humanity!"

"But even if you cannot do it…is it possible that in another world, you have been able to do it?"

"Can you even do something like that?" wondered Rin.

"I have no idea," Hikaru admitted. It was one thing to learn how to use a power that another version of her had (and even then she could not use it proficiently). It was another to actual learn a skill like knitting. Now that she thought about it, probably not. She was good at searching by powers now but unless a version of herself was skilled in knitting magic, the chance of her finding that ability would be incredibly unlikely.

"I don't know Hikaru," said Rin. "I think Archer would be happy with whatever you give him. Just bake him something-a Christmas cake, you can make those pretty well."

"But it's our first Christmas together!" Hikaru twiddled her fingers. "I…I just wanted to give him something that he can keep so he can look back and remember that it was from the first Christmas…"

"That's so cute and so like you Hikaru," laughed Rin.

"Hey! Don't laugh at me!"

"I can understand the sentiment. Human memory is difficult to be retained and a reminder will help recall the memories. Hikaru's logic makes perfect sense."

"We're going to need to work on that aspect a bit," Rin sighed as she massaged the bridge of her nose. "Honestly, couples are so difficult."

"Hey!" protested Hikaru. She puffed out her cheeks. She relaxed a moment later. It wasn't Rin's fault that she was so huffy. "I'm sorry you don't have someone to spend Christmas with," she apologized quietly.

Rin waved Hikaru's apology away. "Hey, don't worry about it. It isn't your fault. Rani and I will be attending that Christmas party our class is hosting."

Oh yeah. Hikaru had heard about the Christmas party. She had also been invited but she had declined because Archer and her were going to be going to a fancy restaurant and then spend the evening together.

"Well, you originally did not want to go but she decided to attend when I said I was."

"Someone is going to need to be there to help you out." Rin shook her head.

Hikaru bid Rin all the luck. Rani was getting better at social interaction but she still had mishaps every now and then. "Guys. I still don't know what to get Archer," she reminded as they walked out of the store.

"I say you try again at knitting or just go with baking him a cake. That is unless you want to buy him something like that." Rin paused in front of a jewelry store and pointed to a men's watch in the window.

"That would be a great idea!" exclaimed Hikaru as she leaned in to get a better look at the watch. She backed up immediately when she saw the price tag. "Ummm yeah, never mind. I don't think I will be going with that idea."

"I do not understand why this is worth so much." Rani tilted her head to the side in confusion. "The materials in the watch do not match up with the price." Her eyes lit up in understanding. "Is this the 'buying the brand' thing you mentioned before Hikaru?"

Hikaru nodded. "Yup. This is a 'buying the brand' type of watch." She sighed and turned away. Was there any stores left that they could try?

"Don't worry, I'm sure we'll find something." Rin put her hand on Hikaru's shoulder for comfort. "I think there's a couple stores on the first floor we haven't tried. Let's go."

Hikaru almost flung the knitting needles across the room in frustration. After a day of fruitless shopping she gave in and bought a skein of yarn and dug out her old knitting needles. Even if she couldn't make a hat, she could manage to make a scarf…right? She stared down at the knitting book in front of her that told her to move the knitting needles in a specific way to make a row. Was this even Japanese? It barely made any sense!

She carefully put the needles down before falling back on her bed. Why was it so hard to shop for Archer? They lived together! She knew what he liked and didn't like! Sure she could give him a bottle of cologne or something but he already had one that he used and liked so what was the point of giving him another? Plus wouldn't he get offended if she gave him another? Maybe he would think she thought he smelled bad! Ack! That would be a huge problem!

"Life is so hard right now," she mumbled. She glanced over at her calendar. Only a week left until Christmas. Was she even going to make it in time? She sat up again. Well, just lying here would do nothing for her! She needed to get to work.

She picked up the needles and was about to attempt to work on another row when she heard noises coming from downstairs. She glanced over at the clock on her wall. ACK! It was that late already!?

Throwing the needles down, she jumped from her bed and raced over to her door. She somehow managed to get out of her room and shut her door behind her before Archer made his way up the stairs. "Welcome home!" she said cheerfully. "How was work today?" Oh she could hear the strain in her own voice. She was way too cheerful and happy for her own good.

Archer seemed to pick it up as he just stared at her. Hikaru tried to make her face look as innocent as possible. Think cute thoughts! Think cute thoughts! Bunnies! Flowers! Archer blushing!

"It was fine," he relented as he walked past her to get to his room. "The usual."

"Well that's good," replied Hikaru. She followed him to his room.

"Yes?" he asked when he noticed her standing in his doorway. "What is it?"

"Oh, I was just wondering who is making dinner tonight," Hikaru replied lightly.

"I'll get on it soon. I just want to get changed."

"Oh! Well then I guess I won't stand here then!" Hikaru turned to head back into her own room.

"Hang on. What's going on here?" He walked to the doorway and watched her open the door to her room.

"Nothing, nothing at all," Hikaru replied quickly. A little too quickly as Archer had raised an eyebrow at that response. Dang it! She stunk at lying.

"Hikaru, what's going on?" he asked again.

"Nothing! It's fine, everything is fine!" She waved a hand to show that it was nothing at all. "Just don't come into my room for the next week!"

"Uh…okay?" Archer said slowly.

"Great!" She replied as she bid a hasty retreat back into her room, leaving her confused boyfriend in her wake.

A week and later, Hikaru held up her finished scarf with her tortured fingers in glee. The red scarf was pretty long and a couple of spots were a bit messed up but no one would see it unless they looked hard enough. Archer had been really suspicious of her over the past week but thankfully he did not pry to why her fingers had been looking like a mangled mess and he did not enter her room at all.

She grinned to herself as she continued to stare at her handiwork. This made up for the past week worth of sleepless nights. She was so worried she wasn't going to get done in time but here she was, now with a finished scarf.

"I can't wait to give it to him!" She looked up at her clock and her eyes widen. That was the time!? She only had two hours before she needed to meet up with Archer outside the restaurant! "I'm going to be lateeee!" she yelled as she scrambled to get ready.

Archer checked his watch for the third time as he waited by the entrance to the train station. Around him the shops were decorated with Christmas lights and with Christmas cheer despite the fact there was no snow on the ground. Around him couples were walking around, enjoying the evening together. He put his hands back in the pockets of the coat. It was pretty cold.

"Here! I'm here!" Archer heard Hikaru yell from behind him.

He turned to greet her and paused in mid-word. She was wearing a coat open over a short dark blue dress with thick black stockings under the dress. Her hair was curled a bit more than usual and she had a decorative hairpin holding her hair back on the left side. She wasn't wearing any makeup (he didn't mind, she looked better this way) but her cheeks were flushed. She had probably ran over here.

"Archer?" she asked, tilting her head to the side slightly.

Recovering his wits he grabbed the bottom of her coat and zipped it up for her. "You're going to catch a cold," he scolded.

"Sorry!" she replied. "I was rushing to get out here. I was running late." She sheepishly curled a lock of her hair around her finger.

"Don't worry, we still have time," he insisted. "Plus." He glanced down at her feet. She was wearing heels. Thankfully they weren't as crazy as the ones she wore at Leo's party but they were still heels. "I'm surprised you were able to run in those."

"These are kitten heels. I can manage these just fine!" she huffed. "I'm not that bad when it comes to wearing shoes. Now, let's go before we lose that reservation."

Archer rolled his eyes but decided to just give it to her. It was a special night after all. Hikaru took a step and somehow tripped over her own foot. She would have hit the ground if Archer hadn't quickly grabbed her elbow to steady her. "I guess some things will never change, " he said with a laugh.

"Oh hush!" Hikaru stood up and dusted herself off before she began walking, albeit much slower this time to prevent herself from falling on her face again.

Archer had to laugh as he fell into step right next to her. Since it was so cold, they were not holding hands as both of them kept their hands in their own separate pockets but she was walking close enough to him to make up for it.

"That dress looks really nice on you," he complimented.

"Oh, uh, thank you!" she said happily. "The girls and I went out and picked it out together. Rin thought it would go well with my eyes although my eyes are brown so I don't understand why she would think that, I mean come on! That makes no sense! Although I think it is interesting that blue is apparently my color since you know, Moon Cell Hikaru and you hung out in the Moon Cell and that was all ocean and stuff so it was blue and…" She trailed off as she realized that she was rambling on.

"You don't need to be nervous," he told her. "It's just like any other time we went out together."

"But tonight is Christmas Eve," she protested. "It's…different…" Her eyes flittered around to stare at the couples on the street. They were everywhere and a lot of them were being more lovely-dovey that they are.

"Don't worry about them, we'll have a good time tonight, you'll see," Archer promised.

"I know," she replied as she leaned her head against his arm for a moment before she lifted her head and kept on walking. "Come on Archer! I'm hungry!"

Hikaru gently stabbed her scallop and swirled it in the sauce before she brought it to her mouth and ate it. Across from her, Archer was carefully cutting his steak. She paused in mid-eating to watching Archer's expression as he stared at the cut of meat for a couple of seconds before he brought a piece up to his mouth and ate. He was chewing with a ridiculous serious expression that Hikaru had to giggle.

"I never knew eating could be this serious."

He looked up in surprise like he forgot that Hikaru was right there. "Oh, sorry." He looked so sheepish that Hikaru just had to giggle again. "It's just that, we have been trying to think of ways to spice up the menu so…" He shook his head. "Sorry. I won't do it again."

"No, no, it's fine." Hikaru waved a hand to show it didn't matter. "It's just that it's so cute to see you so into something!"

Archer turned his gray eyes down to his plate and even though the lighting was dim in the restaurant Hikaru could tell he was blushing. "Well, still," he said slowly. "I should be focusing on you. It is Christmas Eve after all."

Hikaru casted her eyes down to her plate as his eyes turned to gaze at her. Her cheeks burned as she felt the strength of his gaze. Dang it! She probably looked like a tomato right now. Curse him and his tan skin! Why couldn't he feel embarrassed like she was right now!?

"Stop looking at me like that," she mumbled as she ate more of her scallops to try to distract herself.

He chuckled but said nothing as he turned his attention away from her and back to his food.

She glanced up at him through her eyelashes at him.

"Yes?" he asked, not looking at her as he continued to eat.

Hikaru jumped slightly and puffed out her cheeks. "How did you know I was looking at you?"

He reached out and gently flicked one of her puffed cheeks. "I always know."

Dang it! She was blushing again! She turned her eyes down to her food and took another bite. "Well, I was just thinking about the Grail War. It's been months since then and well, just looking back on it, it just doesn't seem real anymore. Like it was all just a long, dream."

She looked down at her left hand and the grayed out command seals there. They were no longer bright red but looked more like a dark gray birthmark now. One of the only real reminders left of the War. Well that wasn't exactly true. She had a bunch of new friends out of it (and most of them in high places) as well as the man currently sitting across from her at the table. A year ago she would never have guessed that she would end up in a relationship by the end of the year. With an older man nonetheless.

"You're thinking something weird aren't you?"

Hikaru covered her forehead in protest even though Archer made no move to flick her forehead. "It wasn't something bad!" She looked down at her almost finished scallops. "Like I said, I was thinking about the Grail War and stuff. And well, how I met you. And how we ended up here after everything," she added quietly.

He didn't respond and Hikaru thought he didn't hear her at first. She glanced up and her eyes locked with his. Her heart began to pound faster as he did not break her gaze. She tried to drop her eyes but something in Archer's gaze prevented her from doing so.

"I'm happy that we are able to be together," he said softly. "And I won't let anything happen to let that get taken away."

"Me too," she whispered.

He chuckled. "I know you won't."

She blushed. She had a feeling he was thinking back to the incident with Julius's apprentice. She had been pretty vicious. It wasn't her fault though. The version of her that she had been connected to had affected her personality for the few brief minutes she was connected.

"Just…be more careful when you use your bonds power." He reached over the table and held her hand in his. "I don't want a repeat of what happened last time."

"Don't worry, I'm getting better. Soon I'll be able to do that stuff all the time!"

He rolled his eyes. "Don't push yourself now."

"I won't!"

They fell silent as the waiter came by and took their empty plates away. "Will you be wanting the dessert menu?"

"Get her the crepe special. I would like a coffee."

"Crepe?" Hikaru perked up.

"Yes sir," said the waiter before he walked away.

"They have the best crepes here; at least that's what I read online."

"Is that why you picked this place?" Hikaru asked in surprise.

"Maybe…"

Hikaru grinned. If there wasn't a table between them she would have given him a huge hug right then and there. "This is why I love you!"

After eating the most delicious crepe on the planet, Hikaru and Archer walked out of the restaurant, both full of delicious food and very, very happy. The first thing that Hikaru noticed was that the ground was covered in a thin blanket of snow. Snowflakes danced as they floated to the ground to join their brethren.

"It's snowing!" squealed Hikaru. She ran ahead of him and spun in a circle a few times. "Archer! It's snowing! It's snowing! Look! Look!"

"I can see it is snowing," he said with a chuckle. "Honestly, you are worse than a kid."

Hikaru puffed out her cheeks. "I am not!" she protested. Her eyes lit up as she thought of something. "Oh! This is perfect!" She ran back over to him and almost slipped in the progress. Archer held out a hand but she was able to regain her balance. After a sigh of relief she dug into her purse and pulled out Archer's present. "I was going to give it to you later but it would be perfect for now."

Archer looked down at the scarf in surprise as he took it from her. "You made this?"

"Yeah," she said sheepishly. She pressed her pointer fingers against each other. "I know I'm not as amazing at you are at domestic things. Not like that's a bad thing, mind you! I'm not complaining! It's pretty awesome and all! But I tried my best and at least it didn't turn into a monstrosity as my last attempt at knitting did. So I would say this is pretty good. I also went with red cause, you know, red is your color and you always did wear red so I went with red and…I'm going to shut up now."

Archer chuckled. "You messed up here, here, and here," he pointed out. "However," he continued as her face fell. "I love it." With one motion he wrapped the scarf around his neck. He was giving her a goofy smile as Hikaru puffed out her cheeks. "I'm sorry. I just couldn't resist."

She crossed her arms. "Really? Really!? And here I was worried you wouldn't like it!" She sighed in relief.

"Was this the reason why you wouldn't let me in your room?"

"Uh…yeah." She rubbed the back of her head sheepishly.

"Well I love it," he told her again. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. "Ummm here."

Hikaru took the small box and opened it. Sitting in the box was a gold pendant. The pendant itself was Archer's twin swords crossed over a heart. The amount of detail in every part of the pendant was astounding. She looked up at him in surprise and then down at the pendant. Of everything he could possibly have given her, she was not expecting this. "Archer," she whispered as she took it out of the box. "It's so pretty."

"Do you want me to put it on you?" he offered. Nodding, Hikaru handed the necklace to him before she turned around and held her hair out of the way. "This makes mine pale in comparison," she said with a small laugh.

"No. Yours is perfect. It's worth way more than my present." After the necklace was on, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and buried his face into her shoulder.

"Archer!" she squealed. "There are people around!" However no one was paying attention to them. There was so many couple around, all lost in their own little worlds.

He released her and Hikaru whirled around to glare at him. After a moment her eyes softened. Honestly, she could not be mad at him at all today. "You are lucky you are so cute," she murmured as she held onto his arm and rested her head against it.

He just laughed. "Well I have a very cute girlfriend." He kissed the crown of her head. "Want to walk around for a while before going back home?"

"Sure!" she replied as they headed down the lit street with the snow falling all around them.