I didn't have anything planned Thursday, so I relaxed with Zakari all day. We walked to the park, then went out to eat with a credit card that Itachi had said was for the 'allowances' that we models got instead of actual cash. It was at a small breakfast place, IHOP. The food was delicious despite the fact that all I could eat was a small fruit bowl. Other than that the day was uneventful.

Around nine I finished bathing, and signed onto messenger.

Winterfrost had signed in

Sandcoffin is online.

Winterfrost: Hey sand.

Sandcoffin: Hi

Winterfrost: I was wondering, so we plan to meet at the fountains tomorrow night right?

Sandcoffin: Yes.

Winterfrost: Ok, well we need to figure out what were wearing and such so we can pick each other out.

Sandcoffin: I have red hair and green eyes.

Winterfrost: I have white hair and green eyes! I'll be wearing a long black shaggy fur coat over a casual black dress and white boots with white knee high socks and a white and grey earmuffs. I will also be wearing a white scarf and my hair will be down.

Sandcoffin: I will be wearing a dark red coat with a grey scarf and dark brown khaki pants.

Winterfrost: Great! It will be hard to miss each other. I think. Ha-ha.

Sandcoffin: Yes. I need to go now.

Winterfrost: Oh ok… See you tomorrow around eight at the Hokage's fountain.

Sandcoffin: Bye.

I signed off the computer then, and tucked myself into bed along with Zakari. Even though I was a little put off by Sands abrupt conversation, I wouldn't let it get me down. I was excited for the next day. I had a long day to say the least.

I woke up around six in the morning and got Zakari and I ready. Naruto came over at eight to relieve me. I left Zakari in his care and went shopping. I had about five hundred dollars, and planned to make this the best Christmas Zakari and I would ever have.

The first stop was the shopping centers. I bought shiny Christmas wrapping paper, bows, and scissors and tape. I shopped for a good hour for presents for everyone.

I finally settled on a ring with a blue gem that matched Naruto's eyes for Naruto. It was a very manly ring, and it matched the necklace his grandmother had gotten him. $20

Madara was easy to shop for. I got him a necklace with a red gem and matching studded earrings and a pair of new red boxers. It only cost me 39 dollars.

For Itachi I bough a red ring that bore the kanji for Vermilion and a necklace with three metal circular rings on it. I don't know why, but something about it screamed Itachi. $34

Shikamaru was a little harder to shop for but I eventually settled for a pair of plain silver studded earrings and a book full of logic puzzles and another with Sudoku. I was sure that he would solve them all in less than an hour but it would provide momentary entertainment. $20

Zakari was where the majority of my money went. I bought him two new pairs of jeans, a white T-shirt, and a black T-shirt and a blue and green one. I also bought him a:

Smithsonian Eco Dome Habitat with Triops

Illuminated Ant Gel Habitat.

Creative Activities Spark Art Dinosaurs.

All together I was able to bargain and it cost me only 150 dollars. I was excited to say the least. All I had left now was getting a gift for Sand, and then buying groceries.

Picking out a gift for sand was harder than I thought. I didn't know much about what he liked. Then It popped out when I was walking buy. A silver dog tag that was engraved with the Kanji for love. It was $40 but the lady gift wrapped it and put it in a pretty little blue box. I held it close with a smile.

Lastly, on my way out a Yin-Yang mood ring caught my attention. I picked it up and realizing it was only 10 dollars decided I might as well buy it just in case I forgot anyone.

With my hands already extremely full, I had no idea how I managed to carry all the ingredients for food back to the house But after spending nearly 100 dollars just on food for the two of us, I had made my way back. I hid Naruto's gift deep in one bag, and I had Zakari and him stay in the main room while I wrapped all of the gifts. Naruto tried to peek once but I hit him in the head with a pair of high heels and that stopped him for a while. It was less than 400 dollars but still more money than I had spent in a long time, if not ever.

When I was done I placed all of the presents neatly in a corner of the room. Naruto busted in wanting to open it but I adamantly refused. Not until Christmas. He would have to wait. I smiled to myself as he threw a small fit but held fast.

It was six and I needed to get ready so that I could be at the fountain by eight. I dressed in the promised outfit. I did my makeup like the makeup artists did for my shoots, in hues of silver and black. My lips in a brownish red, then brushed my hair out to fall loosely around my face. I wasn't satisfied with my appearance, but it would have to do. I picked up a green shoulder bag with Sand's present and 50 dollars in it. Saying i was nervous would be an understatement.

At 7:30 I walked to the Hokage's fountain. I was five minutes early. There were quite a few people their despite the fact that the snow was falling lightly and the ground was covered in said snow. The fountain's lights were lit up and Christmas lights decorated the businesses all around it. It was breathtaking.

I stood their awkwardly, looking through the crowd for a man who fits Sand's description. There were others there waiting for their dates or friends. One by one they found that person and I watched them take off. As soon as they left though, more people would come. It seemed like forever and I checked my watch. 8:20.

I sighed, and just as I thought I was being set up and had turned around to leave, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I smiled brightly and turned around, expecting to see sand.

I nearly dropped my present. Instead of sand, Gaara was there. I tensed. "Gaara." I greeted. "D-do you need something?"

A million things ran through my mind. How did he know I was here? Did he just see me and want to torment me? Was he waiting for someone?

"Zena…" He said, looking at me intensely. I looked down.

"Um, I'm kind of waiting for someone…" I tried to tell him off without being rude. He wouldn't seriously try to hurt me the day before Christmas right? He wasn't that cruel… right? I wasn't sure.

"I know." He said. He looked at my outfit and my hair, then back in my eyes.

"How do you know?" I tensed up more. Was he stalking me now?

"You're waiting for sand." He said after a moment's pause.

"How did you… Have you been stalking me?" I accused in shock. Was he watching my internet conversation! He was rich, maybe he hired someone to hack into my computer. I heard he had a large sum of money, but that was too far.

"Look at me." Gaara said. I was confused again, but I looked at him. His eyes held none of their usual bloodlust but something else. I really looked at him. At his red hair; his green eyes, his long red jacket and green scarf. His…

His reddish brown khaki pants…

I gasped. NO! That couldn't be it… "Sand…" I whispered. "Gaara of the sand…" I looked back into his eyes, openly displaying my shock.

He nodded his head. "Winterfrost."

My hand flung to my lips. I shook my head and took a step back out of his grasp on my shoulder. This was too much. "No… he… sand wasn't… you can't be." I felt tears well up in my eyes. I forced them back down.

"Yes. I am. I'm also the 'good looking and smart asshole'" He took a step towards me.

"Sand… you… I thought he was… you were toying with me this whole time? This was all part of your plan?" I accused. I was taken aback. Sand, the boy I thought I loved, that had pulled me through so much abuse… he had been Gaara. He had been the one causing me the pain. Now it made so much sense. The way he acted when I said Zakari's name, the way he wanted to know so much about shukaku and why he was interested in Gaara.

"I wasn't toying with you." He glared.

"You…" I started before just shaking my head and giving up. I turned around and without a word ran in the opposite direction to the park. I had just entered it when a hand shot out and grabbed my arm. I yelped and was spun around to face Gaara. He had a glare on his face. It was then that I noticed that we were alone.

"Just let me go Gaara. It's Christmas Eve. Please…" I pleaded, trying to pull out of his grasp on my wrist.

"You promised to spend it with me." He said.

I widened my eyes before narrowing them. "I promised to spend it with sand!"

"I am sand!" He insisted, clutching my wrist neither hard enough to hurt, nor soft enough for me to break out of.

"No you're not! Sand was kind to me, whereas you only want to hurt me. He gives me advice and makes me laugh whereas you put my down and try to make me cry. Sand! Who is a just little perverted, not you who tried to rape me in front of my son! Sand who saved my life when it became too much to handle the torment I got from you! Who I was starting to love even though I didn't even know what he looked like! You're not sand… no… sand never existed…" I sighed, hanging my head and ceasing my struggling to get out of his grasp.

"It was too good to be true. Congratulations Gaara. There is little you could have done to hurt me more. You gave me a friend, someone I could count on and was starting to develop strong feelings for. Then you took him away."

"Zena!" Gaara growled. "I. Am. Sand. I showed you who I was online. I didn't know it was you until a little while ago."

"Just stop it Gaara. You win OK? I give up. Do what you want with me. Kill me, abuse me, break me. If it makes you happy, if it will make you leave me alone, then do whatever you want." I said in a monotone voice. I was done, defeated. The one person I felt I could trust with my life turned out to be a liar. I just wanted it all to end already.

"Then spend Christmas Eve with me like you promised." He said, letting go of my arm and turning around.

I hesitated. What did that mean? Was it a trick?

"I'm not trying to trick you. Just spend tonight with me." He said as if he read my mind.

"Why should I?" I looked to the side.

"I'll leave you alone after tonight if you do. It will be like you never knew me."

I widened my eyes at the promise. Would he really? Would I… be freed from the torture? No more broken bones, sprained wrists, cuts or bruises? No more tears? He was probably lying but… if he kept his word then… if there was just a small chance, I would take it.

"And you won't kill me tonight?" I had to make sure.

He smirked. "No. I won't kill you."

"OK then… if you keep your promise." I didn't know what I was getting into and that scared me. I would take a chance.

If only for tonight…