❀ RatingT

❀ Beta-reader none

❀ Word Count 1,240

❀ A/N Shamelessly late Christmas story, happy new year yall.

During the day before Christmas, the village barely seemed like the calm place where he grew. Sure the new city had a lot of transients also on regular days but, even so, it could not be compared. Boruto learned it the worst way possible–being in the middle of the mess of people. Somehow the confusion made him feel better, just because he felt the reassurance that he was not the only one who left things for the last minute. He'd been bitting himself since the second he opened his eyelids that morning, when, while rummaging through the perfectly wrapped gifts he bought to his family, he noticed that one small detail was forgotten.

It was like her voice could be heard quietly in his brain and she was yelling at him. They never traded gifts before; they never spent the holidays together either. In a recent twist of plans–a twist that included dating for almost six months and many discussions with their parents–, their families decided to gather up in one big celebration. Disconsidering the part of the young couple that was frightened by all the things that could go wrong within four hours of those people under the same roof, Boruto and Sarada were surely excited to be together in such a romantic moment of the year. That if Boruto could just find her a last-minute gift that didn't seem too last minute; otherwise, the yelling on his brain would be much louder in his ears.

The worst thing was that she actually told him it was a stupid idea. One month before, she had said these exact words: "I'm not sure if we should exchange gifts, seems like something you will forget."

To which he confidently replied: "I would never forget you, Sarada."

Yet, there he was, walking from store to store during the Christmas' eve trying to find her gift.

Around the 10th store, he thought he might have spotted something for her and instead his nightmares materialized in the form of the prettiest girl he had ever seen walking around with her pink-haired mother. For a moment he dared to think that she might've had forgot his gift as well but, as he watched her from afar, her unamused look indicated that she was not looking for anything, more likely was merely keeping company to her mother. Boruto decided that staying there was testing lucky too far and stormed out to the next store. Without finding anything worthy of his perfect girlfriend he saw all stores closing and the sun setting. It was too late now and he had nothing.

He went through his options: he could go home and have fun with Sarada while it lasted or suffer walking around knowing that the only type of selling place open by then was bars.

"Sarada is not much of the drinking type, is she?"

He knew the answer. He walked home hopeless.

Boruto found himself literally sulking all the time between the moment he got home and when he heard the Uchihas knocking at his door. They had gifts; he didn't. On top of that, Sarada looked amazing. He watched as she greeted his family and took off her coats, exhibiting her pretty red dress underneath; when she saw him and got closer, soft giggles and red face from the cold air outside, his regret got even worse. She kissed his nose innocently and took the seat by his side on the couch, resting her body softly against his. No one noticed their small moment because Hinata started to give everyone hideous Santa's hats.

"It's gonna be fun!" She said while placing a hat over her own head.

It didn't take long for Sakura to get in the same mood as her friend, forcing her family to wear the hats as well–not without a threat whispered in Sasuke's ear. Sakura and Hinata were clearly having the time of their life while their husbands drank together and their kids shared an enthusiastic talk about their most recent missions. Meanwhile, all Boruto could think about was how bad he had fucked up. He couldn't imagine his luck when, a bit while after dinner, Sasuke got too drunk and Sakura said they would have to leave. Sarada grimaced, Boruto felt guilty for being happy–and oh, he was happy–and Sakura carried her pretty drunk husband out of the Uzumaki residence. On the way to the door, right when Sarada was already showing her disappointment and Boruto helped her gather her things, Sakura turned back.

"Sarada, you don't have to come now! Stay a little more but be home by 2 AM, please. Your dad will probably still passed out so he won't even notice your absence."

Simply as that, Boruto's nightmare–and dream–came true. Not much after Sasuke left, Naruto was also passed out. Boruto helped him up the stairs, followed up close by Himawari and Hinata. All his family members decided to hit the bed around that time, leaving Boruto and Sarada alone in the living room.

The first thing he noticed while he stepped down the stairs was that Sarada turned all lights off, leaving only the Christmas tree enlighted by the little lights and the firepit burning. She had taken her gift from under the tree and placed it over her crossed legs. Boruto sat in front of her doubtfully and ashamed because he had nothing. She probably knew that; he couldn't avoid the thought that she would yell at him saying "I told you so" at any moment. Instead, as soon as he sat, she gave him her gift and stood still. His confused stare must've told her more words than he expected because she grinned even more.

Sarada tilted her head at his lack of motion. "Just open it."

"Sarada, I…" He started but she interrupted him with a touch on his hand.

"Open it."

He started to unfold it carefully until he noticed that inside the wrap was another wrap. Boruto exposed it completely and when he checked the card from the inside wrap it said "from Boruto to Sarada" and the words "I'm sorry". Boruto's sight stared at her eyes through her thick lenses and Sarada smirked.

"I knew you would forget it so my Christmas gift to you is a gift for you to give me."

Boruto was so happy that the words failed him. He had felt terrible throughout the entire day and the only thing he wanted was not to disappoint her. She touched his face softly and that made him smile back at her. "That's exactly what I wanted!"

Still dumbfounded, Boruto took the gift and gave it back to Sarada, watching as she opened it carefully, untying the beautiful red ribbon and opening the box. Inside, a blue polaroid camera laid. Sarada smiled even if she knew what to expect, her hands quickly turning the camera on and getting closer to him. She pointed the camera to their faces and he slightly kissed her head right when the picture was taken. When they saw the picture, they knew that was a moment to forever cherish.

"This is our first picture as a couple in our first Christmas together." She said while he placed his arms around her.

This Christmas became the story they told all Christmas to come and, even if he got a lesson that day, Boruto still forgot to buy her gifts once in a while.