AN- YAY! Longest chapter thus far! ^_^ Definitely gets me into da Christmas mood...*sigh*

~UxieSweetie

Chapter 11

"Alright, Nny." Raven cheered. "What kind of kid is he?"

Johnny thought a moment as the two walked through the toy store. "Well, he's puny, he squeaks, and he's scared of everything." Raven glanced over.

"No, really. What kind of kid is he?"

"No, really. I'm serious." Raven looked around.

"Ok, so nothing too big, nothing that squeaks, and nothing scary. Damn, that's just about everything."

"I know. That's why I need help." They poked at a few toys, mainly plushies. "How about a stuffed pig?" Johnny picked up a small fluffy pink pig. "No, wait. He already has Shmee. That won't work." He set the pig down and continued looking around.

Raven scratched her head. This process was going to be harder than she thought it'd be. She knew what they needed…she just didn't know what form it would come in. "We need something that shows that we—you—care. What does Squee like to do?"

"You know…I don't really know."

"Christmas is tomorrow, Nny. We can't wait forever." He gave her the I-fucking-know-that-you-dib-shit glare. "Well, I mean really. He's about eight or nine or six! It shouldn't be that hard!"

Johnny looked ahead and smiled. "I found it."

"Found what?"

"IT! THIS! I want to get him THIS!" He walked forward to the shelf and picked up a remote control boat. "I'm sure of it!"

Raven gasped. "Johnny, look at the price! Geez!" They both gazed at the price tag. The boat cost $77.99.

"Well yeah. It's a remote control boat. Of course it's gonna be fucking expensive." Raven crossed her arms.

"Fine. It's your money, I suppose." She smiled and the two went up to pay.

After the toy store, they walked briskly to Johnny's house. Johnny, who'd never really had Christmas in the last fifteen years, was unable to wrap the boat due to no experience. Raven had to do that. Raven glanced up at the clock, which read 1:30 am. It was Christmas. Johnny smiled. He couldn't wait to see Squeegee's face when he received the gift. "Ok," he grinned, "let's go."

They crept across the lawn of Squee's house and Johnny peeked in the window to Squee's room. He was fast asleep, snuggling close to his demonic-looking teddy bear, Shmee. Raven tilted her head. "Um, how are we going to get in?" Johnny slowly and quietly opened Squee's window.

"Like this."

"BUT! Oops…but that's creepy."

"Better than the locked front door." He climbed in and grabbed the present from Raven. He saw that the boy had a small drawing of a Christmas tree hung on his wall, so he placed the beautifully wrapped red-and-green present underneath the drawing. Squee stirred, but did not wake and snuggled closer to Shmee. Johnny smiled and climbed out of the window. "Merry Christmas, Squeegee." He whispered and silently closed the window.

Raven smiled when she saw Johnny's beaming face. "Whose name did you put on the tag? Yours?"

"No, Santa's. I think it'd be a bit strange to have 'the creepy neighbor man's' name on a Christmas gift that randomly popped up in your room. I'm not that freakish." Raven giggled. "You know, you have a…well…huh, that's a really odd thought."

"What?"

"I was going to say that you had a really cute laugh, but then I realized that…that's strange for me…really fucking strange…" Raven nodded.

"Well," she said, "I like your laugh, too. Not the creepy serial killer laugh. I like Johnny's laugh. The laugh you do when you see something funny or something you like. I don't like the laughs when you kill people. It's a little…scary." She got quieter and stared at the barely coated sidewalk. Johnny gave her a confused yet sad look. He…he scared her? He had no idea… "Why do you kill people, Nny? I mean, other than the wall, why?"

Johnny scratched the back of his head. "Well…it's a long story that dates back to when my parents died. But…let's not get into that." They walked back into Johnny's house. He flipped the light on and proceeded to the bathroom. "Is it alright if I take a quick shower?" Raven nodded and sat on the couch, removing her jacket and shoes. Johnny smiled coldly and closed the bathroom door. Raven heard the water running, and she knew it was safe to go into the room with the people. She walked down into the basement and went into the room. They all looked at her and pleaded that she let them go.

"I…I can't right now." She stuttered. "But I will…I just have to get Nny to give me the keys to your locks…and…"

"Excuse me?" One woman cried out. "What makes you think that little bastard will give you the keys?"

"I don't know…I'll try though."

"Hey. You haven't been in that room, have you?"

There was one door at the far end of the room. "N-no. What's in there?"

"I don't know! I was wondering if you did, you fuckin' idiot!" Raven glowered. Well she knew why that woman was here. But that statement peaked her interest. She stepped slowly towards the door and gripped the cold doorknob. It turned and popped open a hair. But then something forced it closed. Raven looked up and saw two black eyes peering sternly down at her.

Johnny asked in a low whisper, "What are you doing?" Raven released the doorknob and backed up slightly. Johnny still held his hand on the door as if it would fly open on its own.

"I was…just looking." He stepped towards her with a murderous glare and made soul-shattering eye contact.

"Curiosity," he flicked out a silvery blade, "killed the cat." Raven's eyes never left the point of the blade. Her heart raced faster as she remembered his words, 'Down here, I get these urges. Sometimes, they make me want to kill people. Up there I can save you, but down here, I can't even protect you from myself.' He pointed the blade at the staircase. "Go." Raven obeyed. He followed soundlessly behind.

Johnny appeared last from the stairs and he shut the door loudly. "AH SHIT!" He shouted. "Phew, I'm SO fucking glad I didn't kill you! Don't go down there! I said that before, did I not?"

"Well…"

"I did! Please don't do that again! Those urges…they get stronger every time I see you down there…I don't want to hurt you."

Yes you do.

Johnny turned to Mr. Eff. "Can't you see this is OUR conversation?"

HA! You fool! You can't resist anymore. Each time she goes down there, that urge gets stronger. Eventually, you'll have no choice but to slit her throat!

"No! NO! That's not true!" Johnny screamed, covering his ears again and squeezing his eyes shut. Raven rolled her eyes and walked over to the Doughboys. She picked them up and opened the basement door and tossed them down the steps and slammed the door shut. Johnny poked one eye open. "What did you do?"

"I put them away. Now, have a conversation with me for once, damn it! I'm tired of having to please Mr. Eff and D-Boy! I want to talk to you."

Johnny was confused. "Me? About what?"

Raven flopped on the couch. "Anything. Tell me about yourself. More than what I already know."

"Like what?"

"ANYTHING! Pick something! Ok, no, I lied. Tell me what's in that room that you don't want me to see?"

"Abso-fucking-lutely not!" Raven furrowed her brow. ""It's something I can't show you, even IF I wanted to." Raven sat in a leisurely manner while resting her chin on her hand.

"Is it the 'thing'?" Johnny shook his head. "What is it?" Johnny shrugged. The two shivered at a sudden blast of cold air coming from the broken window. Outside had begun blizzarding rather quickly. "Oh crap…"

"Need me to drive you home?" Johnny asked. Raven nodded. As Johnny went to start the car, she put her coat and shoes back on. Johnny walked back in with a somber expression. "It won't start. Well, you can sleep here tonight!"

Raven blinked as she watched Johnny lock the basement door. "H-here? With y-you?"

"Yes. Is that ok?" He looked over his shoulder. "You'll sleep in my bed."

"With you?"

"No. I don't sleep. I abhor sleeping, but let's not get into that. You can sleep there tonight. I'll stay out here."

"You don't sleep?"

"Nope. I just go and go and go until I finally run out of energy and pass out. But waking up is horrible because I lose track of the real reality and it takes a minute or five minutes until I can regain my mind again." Raven figuratively scratched her head. "But anyways, do you need pajamas? You can sleep in one of my shirts and…um…some…well; all I really have are jeans or corduroys. I have boxers, but I don't think you'd…"

"Boxers are fine!" She said almost insistently. Johnny blinked at her urgency, nodded and went to get her some clothes. She followed. He handed her the "777, # of the Moose" shirt and plain black boxers. He smiled as he stepped out of the room.

"I'll just leave you. Sleep tight, Macbeth." Raven smiled and took off her clothes and replaced them with his. The shirt was incredibly soft and she curled up in his rarely ever used bed, which was soft and warm. She couldn't tell the design on the sheets or comforter, but she loved it. She loved everything about it…even its owner.

AN- AAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWW *sarcastic tone* *snickers*

What didja thiiiiiiiink?

~UxieS.