Disclaimer: I don't own SpongeBob SqaurePants. He and the rest of the characters belong to their rightful owner the genius; Stephen Hilenburg.

Warning: It's a T for a reason.

Notes: This chapter will be written fully in SPONGEBOB'S POINT OF VIEW. This story is in somewhat way the continuation to chapter 12 (you should read that first) after a year. Thank you for the reviews and enjoy!

Title: Forgiveness


It has to be: the snow, snowmen, snow angels, snow ball fights or snow-flavoured Krabby patties that inflames my soul in glee. This winter season is my favourite time of year. Christmas! Ever since Sandy Cheeks taught it to me and I brought about even more, the festive day is now practised annually in Bikini Bottom. The values of joy, conviviality, (hopefully) love and for sure festivity, swarm all over the city and I couldn't be a a happier sponge, except that this Christmas is different from the rest. I can't be a happy sponge because at the moment, I'm a miserable one but there's still some hope.

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Sandy was hosting another Christmas party this December, and I, being her most trusted friend was obviously invited, though Larry was too...and also Don. Setting those two facts aside, I could wholly admit that it was a wonderful, white wonderland of delicate snowflakes and snow in her tree-dome. The eye-catching festive lights were present the tree, there was a tantalizing aroma of food about and a majority of land creatures and sea were glaring at me...wait a minute, why is everyone staring at me? It can't be my clothes because if I do say so myself, I made sure to look dashing tonight. Still, I can't help but feel that the atmosphere has turned frosty since I arrived.

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"Oh, woe is me." I say in despair. "What did I do to deserve this?" I question.

I can't socialise like the others, I can't drink (this milky beverage), play games or even dance. Everyone else is having the time of their lives at their exclusive club while I'm here behind Sandy's tree with my own little table and squeaky chair watching them. I feel alienated, unimportant and isolated. Patrick, my best friend for years, didn't even acknowledge me or wave back-he just continued talking to his belly button again! I must have done something recently to put a lot of guests in an unforgiving mood.

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My head is faced down on my small hardwood table. I'm in my unhappy sponge mode so I don't hear the gentle sigh of sympathy from the host of this evening.

"I would say happy holidays, but I don't think it's appropriate right now." says a female in her Southerner drawl.

"Yeah, it really wouldn't b-" I stop. I stop because I stare. I stare at her and my sentence becomes stuck in my throat-it won't come out. My mind is still able to do the talking to me.

'She's stunning' it says. Apart from the accessories she has on like: the cute Santa's hat on her head, the black belt that shows her feminine shape (I should stop staring), the scarlet satin bow on her neck and the green leather gloves with white wool or fur. What stands out the most is her dress. It's definitely much more captivating than what she wore last year. It's not that I'm jealous or anything, but I just hope that Larry or especially Don don't see her outfit.

The dress is red and I know it's respective to Christmas but red symbolises other things too like: passion and beauty. The other thing is that, well the dress, I find it to be a little...a little too suiting on her, like it was sculpted exactly for her frame. I do have a 'thing' for her so I better stop my developing thoughts now because knowing me, I'll blurt something out that shouldn't be said in the open. Plus, I'll have dreams at night and Gary already complains that I sleep talk. I can't bear to imagine what my pet snail has heard me say.

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I forcefully shake my head which breaks out of my stupor. Before I clear my throat, and give her a reply, I swear on the Krusty Krab establishment that Sandy's cheeks turned rosy pink.

"It wouldn't be appropriate to say that, considering I'm not so happy in this holiday today." I say.

She walks closer too me. "I'm sorry, about this lil' temporary arrangement. I do think they went too far but, I guess lettin' bygone be bygones ain't so easy for some folks."

Her response frustrates me. "What did I do that has made be the most hated person here?"

"Y'all don't remember?" She asks.

I shake my head, signifying no.

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Oh, dear Neptune. I really hope this is all a dream because her explanation isn't pretty at all, but it does explain the bleak atmosphere I felt when I entered. Last year's 'eggnog incident' is a blurry trip to memory lane for me. Vaguely, I remember asking Larry for advice, something about a mistletoe, being chased, resting in hospital and a massive headache. If I can remember a mistletoe, then Sandy had to be an important concept in my 'crazy' actions somehow.

"No way, you gotta be kidding me?"

"Way, and I ain't kiddin'. You were crazier then a run over dog, so crazy that the crazy scale needs to get update cause you passed it's limits. It's no wonder that some guests didn't wanna come today."

'All because of me' I think. "So why invite me if I'm so, so heavily influenced by one drop of eggnog?" I ask.

"Because," she starts off. "You're important to me. Besides it's Christmas, it's the season of forgiveness and clean slates for New Year. Broodin' over what happened in the past don't solve anythin'. We all gotta let the resentment go."

Insightfulness, was just one out of the hundreds of amazing qualities Sandy had.

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Relief, rushes throughout my body because of Sandy's forgiveness. I don't know what I'd do if someone close to me as her decided to never pardon me. I notice that Sandy begins to place both her arms behind her and rock back and forth on her heels. I know that she's nervous about something.

"I-I came 'ere to give ya' some company but also, to ask a question." She states.

"Ask away." I say.

"Earlier, I was talkin' to Larry," I can admit that when she says that, a pang of jealously hits me. That flirtatious lobster must have given a compliment to Sandy's outfit. "it was little chit-chat but I was still askin' him on the 'eggnog' incident last year...he told me that he suggested you drink it."

This is true. I nod my head at her. I do remember that, he suggested that it could help me greatly to gain something.

"So ya' can remember that. Well, he also mentioned that you drinkin' eggnog, was to gain confidence?"

I nod my head again at her. Jigsaw pieces of my memory are starting to place themselves together and I can almost see the full picture. I needed Larry's help, he suggested I drink eggnog to help me with what I needed confidence to do, but, what did I need to do?

"That night, y'all drank the eggnog, suggested by Larry, to gain confidence, to kiss me, under the mistletoe." She recaps.

I nod at every statement until I realise I've been betrayed by Larry the lobster. He told her! He actually spilled the beans to her. I sense the burning stare Sandy is giving me and I know she wants me to give her a true or false answer now. There's no point lying because that's not who I am and also, she just forgave me for another crime I committed. I don't Christmas is big enough for her to forgive more bad behaviour from me.

"Are, are you mad? Now that you, well now that Larry has told you," I look up at her and I see her smiling, her smiling turns to laughter and I am completely confused on what is so funny. "Er, are you so mad that you've gone mad?" I asked concerningly.

She halts in her actions though she's laughing in her eyes. "You'd think that, wouldn't you? That I'm mad but I guess I ain't. Y'all went through so much trouble, extreme trouble just to get a lil' lip action with me. I can't help but say I'm flattered SpongeBob."

Her comment makes me happy. I want to jump to the moon and give out a victory screech.

"I find it a shame that, though all that trouble, you didn't seem to get what you wanted." she utters in a tone that is giving me the chills-in not a bad way.

What she does next: surprises and pleases me to great extents. Dare I say it? Yes I will, it; makes me feel light-headed, like I'm a floating balloon high in the sky. I don't want to come down. I should have paid attention to her eyes turning that shade they do when she's determined to do something. I find out the hard way, which isn't so bad.

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Sandy walks to my side before I can question it; her right hand, her soft right hand is gently brushing the side of my face. It dawns on me that this contact is not a dream and is possible because it's snowing in the tree dome and I don't need my bubble helmet. I don't think I could be a happier sponge in this moment.

The way she's moving slow, so slow as if purposely in the direct of my mouth, makes me impatient. I don't dare do nothing to rush anything because I'm still not sure on what Sandy is doing. She was always an unpredictable girl (which isn't all that bad, except in this case).

Our lips are just inches away from each other. One move would be all that it takes. After quite a number of years (5) of having this 'thing' for her, I'm shocked my self that I have such restraint to wait.

"I hope you can forgive me, for partly forgiving you." Is all Sandy whispers before her lips are on me. Not on my lips like I thought they'd be their all over my face but lips. My forehead, my left cheek and then right. My jaw and even my chin. This cannot be happening. Once again I don't know the difference between reality and my reveries. As if knowing this, Sandy pinches me on my arm which does get a little yelp out of me. Her eyes seemed focused on something up so I follow them and see what is truly real; a mistletoe, held above us in her left hand.

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"Not that I'm complaining," I start off because when crushing on someone, the most you can hope for is a hug. "but aren't kisses under the mistletoe, supposed to be, on, well y'know-" I say not finishing.

"-the lips?" she completes for me. Well partner, you shouldn't have been so distracted when I was whispering to you," she says that with a smirk that I find completely unfair. In such close proximity to me, how in davy jones locker was I supposed to not get distracted? "I forgive partly, cause the half of forgiving is forgetting an' that still ain't fully done yet so..." she drawls out.

"So?" I ask.

"Christmas is the season of forgiveness, so I forgave you with what I could," I listened intently to the next bit. "Sorry SpongeBob," she said shrugging her shoulders. "I guess y'all just gonna have to wait on the day of midnight, during the time of new beginnings, fun and fireworks to get that full on kiss."

Because Sandy always held that mischievous side to her that was rarely shown. It made an appearance, meaning she blew a kiss at me and walked off to catch up on the talk with the other guests. My time of being isolated was up, I could go out and socialise now but I wouldn't leave my seat until I figured out the day Sandy was talking about. She hinted briefly but I could still remember the words: midnight, fireworks and new beginnings.

Fireworks occurred in July but they also occurred in December worldwide when it was...Great Barrier Reef! It was in five days!

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It has to be: the lingering and pleasantly warm kisses she gave that have inflamed my soul in glee and changed my perspective on winter festive periods entirely. This winter season is still my favourite time of year but not because of Christmas but...New Years Day!

A/N: It's the Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas everyone! It is the 25th today (well, in country it is, depends for you). Constructive Criticism and advice is always welcomed.