Her green eyes scanned over the many different orbs that were laid out before her. Some of them were flat colors like red, blue, gold, purple, even black, and others had designs on them that consisted of a shiny material known to her as glitter. Her curiosity grew even more as she watched her friend hang them on a tree in no particular rhyme or pattern, which she found strange.

Ruby climbed down from the ladder she had stood on to admire the work she put into the top portion of the tree.

"What do you think, Penny?"

Penny continued to observe. "I… I'm not quite sure?" She cocked her head to the side.

"What do you mean?"

"Well…" she paused and pondered her words for a moment. "I'm not sure I understand the reason why," she admitted sheepishly.

"Penny, did you never celebrate the holidays in Atlas?"

"No, we did, but my father was not one for big celebrations so, many of the traditions you practice that I have observed but never fully understood or practiced myself."

"Well then, how about I teach you?" Ruby beamed at her friend.

"Would you really do that for me?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Oh, thank you, Ruby!" Penny took Ruby in one of her signature rib crushing hugs.

"Penny… crushing… lungs!" Ruby gasped.

The two of them traveled the streets of Vale's shopping district that was decorated for the holiday season. Many of the people around them were running here and there trying to get some last-minute shopping done whether it be for gifts or for their holiday dinners. Penny watched the crowds as they swarmed around the two. Subconsciously, she took hold of Ruby's hand and drew herself closer as she wrapped her other arm around hers. If she was being honest, the large crowds were slightly startling to her and she did not want to lose sight of Ruby.

"Penny, are you okay?" Ruby asked.

"Yes." She hiccupped. "Why?"

"It seems like you're holding on to me for dear life."

Penny tried to think of something on the fly. "I just thought you were cold, that's all." Another hiccup.

"Penny, you know you can't lie to me, right?"

She hung her head. "Yeah." She looked back up at the crowds of people. "So why is it so busy right now?"

"Well," Ruby began, "Some people have a hard time with their lives to try and get everything done when they want which usually leads to the crowds. Everyone who hadn't bought anything when they wanted to usually end up doing it last minute because of other priorities or they forgot."

"Okay?" Penny was still rather confused. "What about the paper boxes?"

"Paper boxes?" Ruby thought about what Penny was asking. "Oh, you mean the gifts. People usually give gifts to the people they care about for the holidays to show them how much they've been thinking about them."

That one actually clicked with Penny. "So, like if I decided to get you a gift because I care about you," she added.

"Precisely! Wait… what?" Part of Penny's statement caused Ruby to blush.

They continued to walk with Penny wrapped around Ruby's arm. At one point, Penny's head passed under a strange ornament that was hanging from a shop's sign and she stopped to observe it. It consisted of three free hanging stems that were held together by a strand of red ribbon. She pulled on Ruby's arm.

"Ruby, what is that?" She pointed at the strange ornament. Ruby looked up and developed a deep blush in her cheeks.

"That's uhh… that's mistletoe," she stammered.

"Oh. What's it for?"

"W-well…" Ruby's blush deepened. "Traditionally, when two people pass under mistletoe together they have to uh…" she gulped as Penny simply stared at her. Ruby took a deep breath and looked at Penny. "They kiss." She quickly averted her gaze when she locked eyes with Penny. "But we don't have to if you mfph!"

Ruby was interrupted when Penny decided to lean down and lock lips with her. The sensors in Penny's mouth detected hints of strawberries as Ruby reminisced on how warm Penny's lips were despite her being synthetic. They closed their eyes as they both leaned into the kiss. It went on like this for several seconds before Ruby had to pull away for air.

"That was…" she began, but she could not find the words to say.

"I've been wanting to try that for a while now," Penny chimed. "I never knew what kissing was like. Maybe we can do that again sometime."

"Uh… s-sure," Ruby stammered. The two of them began walking again.

"Ruby?"

"Yes?"

"Can we keep holding hands? I like having your hand in mine."

"Sure?" Ruby was having some difficulties with her current state of emotions as she took Penny's hand in hers, a new-found warmth developing in her heart. Do I really feel that way about her? she asked herself. Maybe she did, but it was something more than a once in a lifetime chance could tell her.

A/N: I still love this ship, but it is not our finale. Stay tuned for the final chapter with some Arkos fluff! Don't forget to leave a review!