Hey y'all! A quick slice of Christmas cuteness for your enjoyment.

I know it's been two years in real time since the fanfic where Zane and Pixal got married, but I'm treating this as one year later. Got plans for more content for this fanfic, but it's been a shitty year and I've been busy with work and uni... and my magnum opus which is still not close to finished.

Enjoy the next three (?) chapters of Pixane fluff!

Nya strolled into the living room, to see Pixal and Cole getting the Christmas decorations out. Pixal had all but climbed into the box containing the tree, rustling around the artificial branches like an excited puppy and pulling out the segmented parts, along with the stand. Cole laughed as she stayed in the box for a few seconds after everything else had been taken out

"Pix, what are you doing?" He chuckled.

"I am wondering where Jay's light projector is," She replied, looking befuddled. "I was certain that it was put into this box with the tree, but it is not here."

"I think it's in this one," Cole mentioned as he pulled over a large storage container marked 'decorations'. "I mean, I could be wrong but-"

He pulled off the lid and there it was, resting on top of a nest of tinsel. Pixal seemed very happy to see the device. She carefully took it out and plugged it into a nearby socket, watching with delight as the ethereal shimmer shone against the far wall; even with the living room light on, the colours danced brightly.

"You really like this, don't you?" Nya commented.

"It is beautiful, and it reminds me of my first day in the temple." Pixal admitted.

"Am I right in thinking it also reminds you of something else that happened in the temple?" Nya baited. "Or should I say on top of the temple?"

Pixal's facial circuits glowed, as she was reminded of her intense kissing session with Zane, the day after she received her new body. It was a beautiful, snowy night; she sat on the temple roof with him, and they became embroiled in a heated embrace. After being interrupted, the two of them came down to see the light projector that Jay had finished building, and she remembered being utterly enthralled by the synthetic aurora borealis: drawn to the colours gleaming against the baubles like a magpie.

She would always associate the projector with that affectionate night.

"This time of year, in all its glittering wonder, will forever have a place in my heart." Pixal swooned.

"Not surprising really," Cole smiled. "it's when you and Zane officially got together."

"And then you got married on New Year's Eve," Nya cooed. "it was the most romantic thing I've ever seen in my life."

"Zane's got his hands full now though," Cole whistled. "I mean, how's he gonna top the Christmas present he got you last year?"

"Not to mention your first wedding anniversary." Nya nodded in agreement.

Pixal, who at this point had begun assembling the tree, paused and tilted her head.

"I was not aware that the first wedding anniversary was a gift giving occasion." She stated.

Nya was gobsmacked.

"Of course, it is!" She squeaked in disbelief. "It's a very important milestone!"

Cole started laughing again.

"One year? Really?" He raised his eyebrow dubiously.

"All the 'first' moments in a relationship are important!" Nya insisted. "I can't believe I have to tell you this again!"

"Well, excuse me, but me and Jasper don't wait for some specific date or time to show each other we care." Cole retorted as he took out the bauble container from within the storage box.

"I am inclined to agree with Cole," Pixal interjected. "Zane and I alternate randomly surprising one another with tokens of affection; I have his next gift upstairs, ready for when he gets back."

"Even so, it's important to recognise special dates," Nya confirmed. "I know I'd be annoyed if Jay forgot something so significant."

"I am aware of Valentine's Day, and the corresponding White Day, and I am familiar with birthdays and the holiday season," Pixal mentioned. "but beyond that, I am not as well versed with interpersonal gifting occasions."

"I guess it makes sense, I mean, you've never been in a romantic relationship before," Nya nodded empathetically. "and you haven't had the societal expectations that we've had while growing up."

"When one is built, one does not 'grow up' in the traditional sense." Pixal giggled.

"Very true, but it's still good to recognise certain relationship milestones – like anniversaries." Nya continued.

"But there's nothing to say that your relationship needs to be anything like a human one, Pix." Cole intervened, glaring at Nya.

"May I ask what significance it holds to acknowledge such markers with a physical object?"

"It shows your partner that you're thinking of them, that you appreciate their company, that you want them to know how much you love them." Nya attempted to explain.

Pixal fiddled around with the branches as she let this information sink in. She hadn't realised that relationships could be so complicated, especially when her relationship with Zane was relatively simple; they declared their love for each other regularly, they showed each other appropriate affection depending on how public or private the situation was, they celebrated special days together and they even had pet names. But aside from the obvious 'couples' holidays, gifts were very much a random affair for them.

While she silently contemplated the upcoming first anniversary, Cole frowned and waved Nya over to him. She approached with a mildly curious expression.

"Nya, I know you mean well, but stop putting ideas in Pixal's head!" Cole hissed quietly. "You're confusing her!"

"No, I'm not!" Nya snapped back in a hushed voice. "She's married now, she needs to know about this stuff!"

"Yeah, if she was married to a human she would, but she's married to Zane – a nindroid," Cole refuted. "and I know he was pretty clueless at first, but I didn't see you pushing human customs onto him once we found out he wasn't human."

"Perhaps I should say something to Zane," Pixal suddenly stated out loud. "he may know more about this than I do."

"Where is Zane, anyway?" Nya asked, looking around.

"I dunno," Cole responded flatly. "all I know is, Pixal offered to help me with the decorating, and I'd sooner do it with her than Kai."

"Am I safe to assume that this is not the 'do it' you use to refer to intimate relations?" Pixal wondered. "Because you do not appear to be Kai's type."

Nya burst into fits of giggles while Cole's face quickly turned red, as he silently inspected the baubles to avoid talking about the matter any further.

"I didn't think my brother had a type." Nya said as her giggling tapered off.

"Humans often have a 'type'," Pixal noted. "Zane is very astute in determining these variables, and he has been teaching me how to identify them."

"And what have you learned so far?" Nya queried.

Pixal glanced at Cole through her peripheral vision, and deliberately considered what she should openly disclose about the many wisdoms that Zane had been imparting to her. Although she carefully selected the words in her mind, she did not have a chance to speak them.

"Darling…" a male voice purred.

"Coming, angel..." Pixal responded in kind, happily trotting in the direction of the voice.

"That's it, we've lost her now," Cole joked. "here, give me some help with this."

Having immediately recognised the voice as Zane's, Pixal enthusiastically went to greet him at the door. He had returned from wherever it was he'd gone to and beamed at her happily as she approached.

"Hello angel," She smiled sweetly as they exchanged a kiss. "I am glad you are back."

"And what did you do while I was gone?" He grinned back at her.

"I offered to help Cole with the Christmas decorations," She nodded. "although, we have not finished the tree yet."

Pixal suddenly noticed the coloured box he was attempting to hide behind his back.

"Is this what you went out for?" She asked, pointing at the box.

"Maybe…" He teased.

"May I ask what's inside?"

"No," He smiled, handing the box to her. "but you can open it and find out."

"Oh Zane, you shouldn't have…" She said coyly. "especially since it was my turn to give you a gift."

"I know, I know, but I wanted to get you something special for today." He admitted.

"Today?" She tilted her head as she put her hand on the lid of the box.

"It is the 21st of December," He said. "on this date last year is when you received your new body, so I commissioned Rose to create this for you."

Pixal gazed at him in awe. Zane already understood the importance of date recognition. Further to that, he had pinpointed a date of great importance to them and had procured a special gift for her to mark the occasion – while she had remained clueless about such things. There was much she needed to learn about the complexities of a traditional union. Zane smiled and gestured for her to open the box.

She lifted the lid and, upon seeing what was inside, her eyes widened.

It was a black velvet choker, adorned with a teardrop-cut sapphire.

"It is magnificent, I do not know what to say." She stammered.

"You do not have to say anything," He insisted, kissing her forehead. "just promise you will wear it so that we can match."

Before she could ask what he meant by that, he reached under the lapel of his gi and pulled on a silver chain round his neck. Attached to the chain was an amethyst, also teardrop shaped. However, as he held the purple gem close to the blue gem, Pixal realised that the two precious stones were not cut into teardrops, but into the two halves of a yin yang: symbolic of balance and two separate pieces forming one singularity.

"Zane, it's perfect!" Pixal squeaked, pulling him close for a loving kiss.

"Just like you…" Zane whispered with a wide grin.

Pixal giggled coquettishly as Zane nuzzled his cheek against hers.

He took the choker from the box and placed it around her neck, connecting the clasp at the back.

"How do I look?" She asked softly.

"Stunning as always." He growled.

She excitedly dashed back into the living area, where Nya was helping Cole with putting the various baubles on the tree.

"Nya!" She squeaked again, touching the sparkling sapphire. "Isn't it just beautiful?"

"Wow, it's gorgeous!" Nya admired.

"It is a gift from Zane," Pixal blushed bright purple. "to commemorate the one-year anniversary of receiving the new body he built for me."

"You lucky girl!" Nya smiled. "Not many people get a gift in honour of a previous gift."

"That reminds me," Pixal realised, turning to look at Zane as he stood behind her. "I have your Christmas Angel in our room, I will go get it for you!"

She giddily pranced out of the room and up the stairs, while Nya flashed a cocky smile at Cole.

"See, Cole?" Nya boasted. "This is why anniversary gifts are important – look how happy she is!"

"You're gonna spoil her you know?" Cole playfully said to Zane, ignoring Nya's sassiness.

"My darling Pixal deserves the world," Zane replied. "she left behind a life of luxury and stability to be with me, so I want her to know how much I appreciate her sacrifice."

"Stop! You're gonna give me a toothache with all your cuteness!" Nya mewed.

"Wait, what's a 'Christmas Angel'?" Cole wondered.

"Angel is the nickname she attributed to me after the incident on the island, and since we alternate buying each other a surprise present on a purely unsystematic basis, she has taken to referring to her present for me as a '~something~ Angel'," Zane sheepishly responded. "so, for example, there was the 'April Angel', the 'Wednesday Angel' and – rather amusingly – the 'National Cat Day Angel'."

"National Cat Day?" Cole bellowed as he fell into a bout of weighty laughter, muttering 'are you serious? Oh, my gods!' between full belly guffaws and taking deep breaths.

"Ohhh, I get it," Nya nodded. "so, because it's nearly Christmas, this one is the 'Christmas Angel'."

Pixal soon returned with an ice blue rectangular box, momentarily glancing at Cole as he rolled around on the floor laughing.

"Don't mind him, he's got a feather in his boxers." Nya joked.

"That sounds uncomfortable," Pixal noted, before presenting her gift to Zane. "my angel, please accept this heart-felt offering."

"Thank you, darling." Zane put his hands over hers as he opened the box she held.

At first, he was a little confused, when there appeared to be a short, severed ponytail inside. He wondered if she had perhaps taken out some villain and claimed their hair as a trophy.

"Do you recall when we were rebuilding you?" Pixal baited, sensing his uncertainty. "And you were debating a change of hairstyle…?"

Suddenly it clicked, as he recalled their conversation…

["Long hair is very becoming on you," She stammered out, her cheeks still flush with admiration. "I for one would love to see you with this style,"

"Thank you, I quite like it myself," Zane said as he looked over the design. "but I do not think it is appropriate for fighting, and I would not resemble the memorial statue anymore."

"Perhaps for now you could keep your hair short, we can always make an attachment piece later," Pixal suggested. "for your days off or for special occasions or-"

"Or dates?" He asked with a sincere grin on his face.

"Yes, that too," She giggled…]

"You had the attachment piece made," Zane gently brushed his hand across her cheek. "you're so thoughtful, thank you."

"Perhaps you could wear it for our wedding anniversary..." She casually mentioned.

"Good idea." He beamed at her.