On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me eleven pipers piping.

Zack sat outside Angeal's door a wrapped box in hand. He needed to give is mentor the present he had gotten for him. Angeal came around the corner looking a bit hurried.

"Zack? What are you doing here? It's Christmas eve, aren't you going to catch the bus to see your mom?" the older man asked.

"Nope. Mom says the weather there is crap. So I decided to stay behind." Zack stood, "Besides I had to give you this."

Zack held out the brightly wrapped package to his superior. The older man cocked his head and smiled.

"Thank you. I really appreciate it. You didn't need to-"

"I know, but I wanted to. You have done so much for me. I couldn't just ignore that on Christmas."

"But I didn't get you anything."

"You have personally helped in my training since I got here. I really don't want anything else. You are once of my best friends."

The older man gave a huge grin, "Thank you. What is it?"

"Why don't you open it and find out."

Angeal looked at the little package and then carefully pulled the tape open, being sure not to tear the paper itself. Once he finished he gave a laugh.

"This is from when you first started. You had just run through the simulator and once you got done you could barely move your legs. I told you that if you did squats you would do great. This was the face you made when I showed you a proper squat. I remember Genesis telling me he had caught your expression on film but I never actually saw it."

"I demanded that he give it to me, because I was embarrassed. He argued at first, but then gave it to me. I thought you would want it. You loved my expression back then, why not enjoy it now."

Angeal stepped forward and gave Zack a guy hug. Which put him right where Zack wanted him. Angeal went to pull away but Zack pointed up.

"You little sneak, I told Genesis to take that down."

"Mistletoe tells no lies Angeal. Besides, who else is going to see? It's Christmas eve and the only reason I knew you'd be back to Shinra was because I hid your hat in your office."

Angeal gave a sigh and leaned in his lips barely brushing Zack's cheek.

"Now that's cheating." Zack said pouting sadly.

Angeal gave a grin and a sigh. "I suppose I can do better than that."

He leaned in and pressed his lips up against Zack's, letting his hand wander to the back of the younger man's head. Zack opened his mouth, offering gently to deepen. The older man obliged, slipping his velvet tongue past Zack's inviting lips. The two kissed for what seemed like blissful years before Angeal pulled away and looked down at the younger man his eyes soft and gently.

"Stop."

Angeal froze and Zack frowned.

'I'll never get the look on his face right.' Zack thought.

Reality always set in when he saw that look. Angeal was long gone, dead to the world. Now all he had was the simulator and his memories. He scoffed at the Angeal doppelganger and removed the simulator hood. The image before him flickered and fell away leaving him alone in the room.

He looked at his hands, feeling oddly empty. He had always wanted to do that. He told himself that he would go to Angeal's office and make sure he got caught under the mistletoe that Genesis had inevitably hung there. He had always wanted to tell the man that he cared so much for him. Zack shook his head and looked away. He would never have his chance now. The man he loved was gone and he would never know what Zack felt. He would never hear the words that Zack could never whisper, but his heart screamed.

Zack turned in the room and walked out the door, the last thing that the room would hear was a "Merry Christmas Angeal. I love you."

~Here it is Chapter 11. It is a bit shorter than usual, only because if I had tried to make it longer it wouldn't have the meaning behind it and would have been far too drawn out. Is everyone ready for the last chapter? Any guesses as to who it may be? I hope you all liked it! Thank you for reading and as always please feel free to R&R!~CR