Hey everyone! This is just a little something for the holidays, hope you like it!

Disclaimer: KH2 is Sqaure/Disney, Christie is mine, The small amount of Lyrics is Celine Dion's "Taking Chances", which I hereby order you all to listen to!

What do you say to taking chances?

I sighed, curling into a ball against Riku's chest. He was still sound asleep, despite the fact it was past dawn. It was December 21st, 4 days to Christmas. It hadn't chilled much here, but it was still mid-winter. What to get for these people when only Axel and I even cared the holiday was coming. One look at Riku's bandaged wrist and I knew what to get for him, Namine needed a new dress BADLY, and DiZ was running out of his Munny fund for Ice Cream. Kissing Riku on the forehead, I climbed out of bed. Four days, it was just enough time.

Maybe not enough time, eh Christie? I winced, none of these dresses suited Namine at all. Exchanging length for low cuts, or vice versa. The white dress she had now did enough to show her thighs, thank you very much. Leaving yet another rack, I turned to the last one. All the dresses were the same, low cut, short as hell, and black. No, no , no, no, no! I sighed, Tifa might wear somthing like that, but not Namine. I spun on my heal, heading back for the counter. Maybe a skirt and blouse? No, that wouldn't work. She never wore anything but those dresses. I yelped, having bumped headfirst into a another customer. We both hit the ground, and I winced. Just great. I'd bumped into the one person I wanted to avoid at all costs.

Siefer Almasy.

The boy rubbed his head, before standing up. He rolled his eyes before offering me a hand, pulling me from the ground. I muttered an apology, but he just waved it off, leaving the store with a bag under his arm. I headed after him, there was nothing here for Namine. But before I'd even taken a step towards the door, my foor hit something. A bag, the ones they used here, with a note card attached to it. I picked it up, reading the note. I smiled, I'd know Siefer's hand written scrawl anywhere.

I've got the feeling that you'll need this more that me. You can repay me later, Leonhart.

-Siefer.

In opened the bag and smiled. Perfect. This dress would do perfectly for the resident artist in the household.

Riku was a little tricky to shop for, no shop sold what I was looking for. SO I settled for the next best thing, I'd make his present myself. Cream colored cloth was easy to come by in this town, as was the thread and needle I'd need. Waving goodbye to the shop keeper, I headed for the sandlot. If I tried to sew this together in the Mansion, DiZ would be hounding me all day to "get back to work". At least, at the sandlot I could find a moment of peace to do this right. Humming a Christmas tune to myself, I took a seat on one of the empty benches. Hayner was shodow boxing in the lot itself, with Pence snapping pictures here and there. I smiled slightly, those two were so much like Sora and Riku had been all those years ago. Blinking away tears, I set to work on Riku's present. Ever since we'd left castle oblivion, Riku had been covering his wrist for some reason. I knew he didn't want me to see whatever it was, but those bandages weren't good for him at this point. Thankfully, I knew Riku's measurements my heart, so the size would be alright. When I'd just begun to sew the cloth together on one end, Ollete took a seat next to me. After a moment of fidgeting, she spoke up.

"What do you get for the boys who have everything?" I shrugged, setting down my half finished project in my lap.

"Give them your love. It's really all you can do, if they have everything." Ollete looked at Pence and Hayner across the lot, and nodded.

"I guess you're right. Thanks." Smiling, she walked across the lot to her boys. They left the sandlot hand in hand, leaving me to my devices. I finished Riku's present just as the clock struck six, tucking it back into the bag so as not to draw suspision. DiZ's present and the tree would have to wait until tommorow.

The next day dawned chilled and grey, and DiZ was in a foul mood. Namine had overslept the day before, and now DiZ's "schedule" was all out of wack. None of us liked DiZ all that much, and it was worse when he as in a bad mood. I winced, ducking my head as DiZ really started shouting. Namine's shoulder's were shaking a little bit, and even Riku began to look a tiny bit afraid. After yelling at us for almost half an hour, the man stormed off into the basement. Riku and I exchanged bitter smiles, this guy... Namine sighed, shoulders sagging as she headed back upstairs. Riku headed after DiZ for some reason, and I left the unhappy mansion for the more chipper town. DiZ either needed a giftcard for Ice Cream or Munny, I was leaning more towards the former. Thankfully, the Ice Cream shops here sold Gift Cards, and I was finished with my present shopping in that day. With the card tucked into my pocket, I started walking around the town aimlessly. Where to buy a Christmas tree around here? I shook my head, maybe a tree was too much to ask for in this town. I headed for the tunnels, maybe they'd have something in the other side of town. I passed one of the many alcoves, waving to Axel before I stopped in my tracks.

Wait a minute...

Sighing, I headed back to the alcove I'd just passed, and sure enough, there was the pyromaniac that had been absent during the last three days. His cloak was looking a little worse for wear, and I could tell he was tired, but he waved off my concern, handing me a long box and some red flowers. At my confused look, he smiled.

"The box is my present for Namine. The flowers are for DiZ. Your brother said something about Ansem liking Galbana Lillies." I nodded, knowing where he'd come from. Of course, Leon would have roped a strong guy like Axel into helping with the restoration even a little bit. I was jolted out of my reverie by Axel kissing my forehead, and I looked up in surprise.

"That was from your brother to you, don't ask me to deliver a kiss to him. Only guy I'll kiss is Roxas, and goodness knows where he got off too." I smiled, Roxas would be safe for a little bit longer, and even after DiZ caught him, I had a plan. Axel rubbed the back of his neck, and I understood. We couldn't be seen together, or everything would go to waste. He portaled out, and I turned at footsteps through one of the stagnant pools of water. Someone had seen us.

This, could get ugly.

Remember when I said someone had seen Axel and I yesterday? Yeah, I thought so.

It had been Riku.

And a jealous Riku is a bad thing, especially on Christmas Eve day. Becuase a jealous Riku is a clingy Riku, and a clingy Riku makes it difficult to wrap presents. I had to wait until it was past midnight to get his own present wrapped and set on his nightstand. Namine's things had been easier, as she always went to be at exactly 10PM on the dot, every single night. DiZ was hardest, he didn't go to sleep until almost 3AM. For three hours, i sat up in bed just thinking. This was the first Christmas where I was the only one planning anything. On Earth, my adoptive mother would always surprise me on Christmas morning with a small gift, to tide me over for a little bit while the rest of the family got here. More often that not, it was a book or movie to keep my intrest occupied for a couple of hours. Then on Destiny Islands, Christmas was a huge affair. The entire village would pool together, gifts and food would be exchanged, all in all amazing. The entire Island was just one huge family.

But here, not so much.

Namine suffered from DiZ's wrath, DiZ had revenge on the brain, Riku was more concerned with waking Sora up, and Axel was trying to find Roxas and stay out of trouble.

"And what about you?" you ask?

Well, I was more preoccupied with just keeping my friends alive. I looked to the door as the creaky board outside our shared room shrieked. DiZ had finally come upstairs. I smiled, slipping from the bed and padding out of the room. I'd hidden DiZ's present in the most obvious place, in the middle of theroom, tucked away behind one of the Unicorn statues. I headed down the stairs, jumping the last two stairs as I knew they creaked. I grabbed the card and flower, tying the ribbon on my way down into the basement proper. I set them on DiZ's chair, he'd see the flower before he sat on it. With that done, I did the one thing I had left to do that night. Still barefoot and in my "pajamas" I headed for the pod room. Wishing Donald and Goofy a Merry Christmas as I passed them, Sora's pod greeted me with a continus hum. My cousin was sound asleep, like he'd been for the past year. Placing my head on the cool glass, I let one tear slip it's way down my cheek.

"Merry Christmas Sora."

I left the pod room, deep in thought. It wasn't until I heard bells ringing that I actually looked up. There was someone in the house besides us, Riku and Nami were sound asleep, and DiZ didn't wear bells. Best case scenario, it was Axel playing a prank. Worst case scenario,

I didn't wanna think about it.

I shouldn't have worried.

I smiled as I came up the stairs, looks like Santa finds people wherever they are. I waved goodbye just as he exited the house through the garden door, and he smiled. Eyes twinkling, he waved back. I headed up the stairs just as he took off in that sled, and was already back in bed as he flew past the window.

"Merry Christmas, and to all a Good Year!"

Riku and I woke to pounding on the door the next morning, and I buried my face in the pillow. If that was DiZ, I was going to kill him. The pounding didn't cease, so Riku got up to open the door. Imagine my surprise when in comes Namine, dressed in the red, shortsleeved dress I'd gotten her, a Lily pendent hanging from her neck. Riku, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, almost fainted when he looked outside into the hall. I got up to see what all the fuss was about, only to smile.'

Looks like Santa works in mysterious ways to. ­

Namine giggled, leaving the room to let Riku and I get dressed. Still confused, Riku peeked into the hallway before nodding.

"So that's why you left so late last night. You decorated the whole mansion." Pulling on my tanktop, I shook my head.

"Wrong. I didn't put a single light on out there. Sides, it would have taken hours to do all that." Riku shrugged as he zipped up his top, not really convinced. I left the room as he noticed the box I'd put on his nightstand, heading downstairs for the kitchen. When I reached the bottom of the stairs, I smiled. I'd gotten my Christmas Tree after all. And it was decorated too.

Standing in the middle of the main room, red ribbon garland, white light ands balls, and the star on top. Smelling of pine and snow, this tree was still chilled under hand. DiZ wass lookking at the tree from the door leading to the only room with a fireplace, a small brown box in hand. His only visible eye widened in shock at the sight of the gargantuan tree, but he smiled just the same. Riku came barreling down the stairs with Namine fast on his heals, and they both skidded to a halt at the sight of the tree. I'm amazed that Nami hadn't noticed it before. Riku swung his arm around my shoulder, wearing the wrist gaurd on his once bandaged wrist. Nami ducked under his other arm and smiled at me, beckoning to DiZ. At his hesitation, I slipped out from Riku's hold and took the wise mans hand, dragging him over to our ragtag little group.

"All is forgiven on Christmas DiZ, lighten up." He still hesitated, but could do nothing to stop my dragging him across the room. Namine, still on an apparent sugar high, shrieked loud enough to wake the dead when the doorbell rang. Riku jumped a little, fist clenching instinctively. I headed for the door, ready to call on my daggers if needed, before my jaw dropped at who stood before me.

"Oh my gosh..." Kairi smiled, blue eyes filled with joy. Riku, wondering was taking so long, appeared behind me. I swear he almost fainted at the girl in front of him. And it was no shock, she'd really changed in the three years since we'd seen her last. Her hair had grown out to be rivaling Riku's in length, and her face had become more delicate, almost heart like. Namine wandered over, dragging DiZ behind her for some reason. At the sight of Kairi, I coiuld have sworn DiZ was about to faint. Kairi made a choked sound in the back of her throat, gently pushing her way past Riku and I to stand in front of DiZ. Father and Daughter stared at eachother as the rest of us waited with baited breath. After a minute, Kairi made the first move. DiZ "oofed" as she threw herself at his chest, but wrapped his arms around her anyway. I smiled, pulling Riku and Namine away from the family reunion. Better give those two thier privacy. We were almost out of the house when Namine looked up and giggled, running on ahead. Eye twitching at all her running around, I looked up and smiled.

Mistletoe. Ok, remind me to thank Mr. Claus when we see him again.

Riku followed my gaze, before smiling mischievously.

"Can't fight fate, can we?" I nodded, walking closer to him and lacing my fingers with his.

The rest, I'm sure you can piece together yourselves.

With Kairi lightening DiZ up, dinner was no longer a subdued, quiet affair. Everyone was laughing, even DiZ. He had taken off his mask for once, and it looked like he'd actually slept. He probably had. Namine and Kairi were giggling over something or another, and I was hardpressed not to keep my hand in Riku's throughout the meal. We finished up at around 8, and much to DiZ's complaints, Kairi had to go home. I snapped my fingers, making everyone jump as I suddenly ran up the stairs. Sure enough, there was Axel, camera in hand. I laughed, taking it from him and sliding down the banister. Without saying a word, and against everyone's protests, I starting dragging them in front of the huge tree. Kairi caught on quickly, helping me drag her father into position. Nami and Riku moved to be standing next to Kairi as I set the timer on the camera, making a mental note to thank Axel when I see him next. While the timer ticked down the few seconds I'd set it to, I ran into my own spot, standing in front of Riku with Kairi and Namine next to me. I made a peace sign in midair as the camera flashed, and the night came to a close.

"Merry Christmas everyone!"

2 Years Later
The 20 year old woman smiled, setting down the picture frame. It seemed only yesterday that she'd taken that picture, when in reality it had been almost 2 years now. A pair of arms snaked around her waist as she returned to bed, her husband blinking sleep out of his eyes.

"Finished wrapping everything?" The woman nodded, slipping into his arms. After a moment of just listening to eachothers even breathing, the Woman smiled.

"Merry Christmas Riku." Riku hugged her closer, kissing her forehead.

"Merry Christmas Christie."

Hope you all enjoyed! Happy Holidays everyone, see you soon!

HOM