Kaden was thankful for many things this Christmas. She was thankful for her new home, for her new family, her new friends. She was thankful to be alive.

Months had passed since her first mission; since she had been wounded and came very close to death at the hands of Hojo. And the now thirteen year old girl (she still wasn't used to saying that, her birthday having passed only a few days ago) would like to say that nothing had changed inside of her. That her views on life were the same; her views on people and morals and justice.

But, although she had become many things, she would not allow herself to become a liar.

Kaden had changed. Little things in her mannerisms that she could never change again. Not all of these changes were bad, though. She held a new respect for the SOLDIERs she was privileged to call her brothers in arms, she was thankful for all they had done for this world, for all they were willing to sacrifice.

For a girl who had grown up always fighting for others, it had been like a jolt to her very core when others were willing to fight for her.

Soria had been the first. The first to fight for her, the first to care.

Soria. She hadn't changed since coming here. She was still so optimistic about everything; so kind yet willing to break your arm if you rubbed her the wrong way.

Soria was her sister. That would never change.

But Kaden had changed. She had more reasons to fight now, for she had more family then she could even bring herself to imagine.

And she owed a large to debt to someone. A debt worthy of her life.

Kaden closed her eyes, calming her nerves before raising her hand to knock on the steel plated door.

It swung open almost immediately; flashes of silver and black leather clouded her view.

"SOLDIER," The word left his lips smoothly, thought they assaulted Kaden's ears like acid, "What brings you here?"

Shoving aside all apprehension, Kaden thrust the rectangular box at the SOLDIER General.

"Merry Christmas…" She forced herself to look the man in his eyes; his emerald eyes that cut her so much more than any blade ever had.

Or any belt.

Over all, however, she was glad she looked at him. She wouldn't have wanted to miss the wide-range of emotions that burned to life in his eyes before simmering down once again.

"How unexpected." Sephiroth took the box slowly, watching the girl before him.

So they stood there, neither knowing what they should do next. Kaden broke the silence first.

"I wanted…..to say thank you. For what you did. For me. Saving me, I mean." Sephiroth's eyebrow arched.

"That's why you got me….this?" The silverette gestured to the box. Kaden frowned up at the man, her previously averted eyes shifting back to his face.

"No. I got you that because I wanted to. You deserved it. Because it's Christmas, and…..I….just….I…..nevermind. I just wanted to give you that." And the girl, with her now flushed cheeks, left the General standing there; the amusement dancing behind his eyes and a ghost of a smile on his lips. Tentatively, Sephiroth ripped the paper from the box. A mahogany box met his eyes, and he lifted the lid from the box.

Sephiroth has seen many astonishing things, things that would take any others' breath away, and remained unaffected. But what he found in this box, a box given to him by a person he never imagined would make it as far as she already has, took his breath straight from his lungs.

A picture of Angeal and Genesis along with himself. They stood in the center of a field, unaware of the camera aimed at them. Genesis's head was thrown back in laughter, Angeal smiled brightly at whatever had been so funny, and he himself attempting to smother a smile. What was the most astonishing thing, however, was what he found underneath this picture. A small, silver chain led to what appeared to be a wing pendant with the words "Never alone" inscribed on it.

Soria dashed down the halls, ignoring the comments she received after pushing and shoving her way through crowds. She had to get to him before it was too late. There was a box tucked protectively under her arm as she burst into the stairwell. Her feet were barely touching the ground as she began her descent from the 30th floor in the Shinra Tower.

Soria could feel it. She could feel herself moving far too slowly, not being able to make it and then him being gone forever. Just as she reached the bottom of the stairs and threw the door open, she saw him.

He was leading the troops through the door, outside to the waiting trucks that would haul them to the battle field.

"ANGEAL!" Soria shouted, running out to tackle-hug the startled Commander.

"Soria, what are you doing?" Angeal righted himself, lifting the girl to her feet as he did.

"I have something for you!" Soria pushed the box forward into the man's arms.

"Thank you, you didn't have to do this you know." Angeal smiled warmly at the girl, waving his troops toward the trucks.

"I know I didn't have to, I wanted to! Because…you're….." Soria's cheeks flushed pink as she lost the ability to speak.

"Are you alright?" The concern in Angeal's voice made her cheeks flush even brighter.

"O-Of course! It's Christmas after all!" The girl threw her arms around the older teen's chest.

"Be safe out there Angeal." And with that she was gone, running to find Kaden and tell her about how brave she had been.

Angeal stared at the gift in his hands before unwrapping it. The Commander sucked in a breath, unable to believe what he was seeing.

It was his Buster Sword, only smaller. Meant as a side weapon no doubt. But there was one thing that differed from his original, the words inscribed into the steel.

Hesitantly, he traced them with his index finger.

"Freedom is seeing you smile"

Author's Note: Well, here it is. I know it isn't Christmas anymore, but still. I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading! Sincerely, Kay.