A/N: MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Wow what started as a some fun story I had in mind, ended in a wonderful journey. It was hard to publish every day, especially because I'm a little bit of a perfectionist and I didn't like it when a chapter wasn't perfect in my eyes. But really this was wonderful.

I started writing fanfiction in October this year, I never could have expected it to be this amazing. I want to thank all of you who read my story, reviewed, followed, favorite. You have been my greatest Christmas present this year.

I wish you all a wonderful and hopefully healthy Christmas. Let's make 2021 a year to remember in a good way!

Day 12

"Will wake up! I don't want your friends in front of my door today, so hurry up." Halt didn't need to say anything more. Will was already standing next to his bed and tried to get all of his things ready.

"Merry Christmas Halt!" he flung himself to Halt and gave him a hug. Halt awkwardly petted Will on his back.

"You too a merry Christmas." He said.

They had a extensive breakfast together and Will had given Halt his gift. Halt was surprisingly happy with his new boots but couldn't resist giving Will a slight warning never to spill coffee in it again.

Will was nervously tapping with his feet. He knew the great surprise could come any minute now and after all those days it was just impossible to keep his excitement under control.

Halt rose an eyebrow, looking at his apprentice. "What is wrong with you today?"

"Hmm, oh nothing."

"You're tapping like a nervous rabbit."

"Oh well just excitement for Christmas, I guess."

Halt knew something was not quite right, he had felt it the past few days and something inside him was warning him.

"You've spend Christmas a few times before with the same people, what is so special about this time?"

Before Will could answer he was saved by a sound in the distance. Even though they were inside it was clearly audible.

They heard little bells coming near the cabin, their trained ears also heard something heavy was pulled through the snow. The training of Cropper and Blaze kicked in when they heard the sound and they sounded the alarm by nickering.

Halt's head shot up, he was already wondering what the bells were about, but the horses made him jump out of his skin.

"That was not Abelard nor Tug. I recognize their nickering from anywhere." He said with a dark look at Will. He remembered Will taking care of the horses the previous night. He couldn't have swapped horses, right? And if he did which horses were standing at the cabin right now? They were obviously ranger horses as they sounded the alarm.

Will couldn't hide his smile and decided it was no use trying. A grin spread across his face as Halt hurried outside to see where his beloved horse was and what those bells were.

When Halt opened the door he couldn't believe his eyes.

A giant red sleigh was placed in front of the cabin. It was highly decorated and shone like someone had been polishing it for days. In the sleigh was Lady Pauline in the most beautiful dress he had ever seen.

The great horror however was what was pulling the sleigh. A shaggy small grey horse, looking quite content with his new job. The pony was shaking his manes in order to let the bells jingle once more. Next to him was a dapple grey horse looking quite embarrassed of the whole situation. He looked at his master saying I only did it for the apples.

Halt turned to his apprentice, for the first time Will saw the eyes wide in shock. For a moment Halt stayed silent and Will wondered whether this shock was healthy for the older ranger.

Finally Halt found his voice again, with great restraint he asked calmly "what is this?" Will shrunk, even though Halt had control over his voice, he could feel all the negative energy radiating. He guessed even people in Picta could feel this fury.

But then he grabbed all his courage together. He hadn't gone through all this just to cower back now. So he did what he thought was only possible in this situation. "merry Christmas Halt," he said with a big smile.

Halt's hand began to tremble, it was his great love for the boy that prevented him from strangling Will.

"What was not clear about rangers not spending Christmas? I was generous letting you spend it one time with your friends and this is your way of saying thanks? And why in the world would you do this to Abelard?" he started breathing more heavy while trying to control himself.

Will thought it wouldn't be the best option to tell Halt not to ask many questions after each other. But he was still not taken back by his mentor. He straightened his chest, put his chin in the air and said with the greatest confidence he could summon, "No one should celebrate Christmas alone, Halt. Besides, I learned that you are the only ranger who doesn't celebrate Christmas."

Before Halt could do anything more, Pauline decided to step in. She had enjoyed the conversation between mentor and apprentice far too much. But now it was time to get between them.

"He is right Halt, even you can't spend Christmas alone. So please put your pride aside and step into the sleigh. We're going to a place in the forest so no one will know their famous ranger is celebrating Christmas."

Halt softened a bit by her words, but then realized something. "You were in it all this time?" and his question was quickly answered by a broad smile.

After a few struggles and a lot of deadly glares, they finally got Halt in the sleigh. It was an odd sight, the radiant courier and young ranger having so much fun and a grumpy ranger tucked away in the sleigh trying to become invisible, which was practically impossible.

Tug and Abelard began to walk, getting the sleigh into motion. For Halt this couldn't get any worse as the little bells were clearly jingling with every step the horses took. Tug seemed to enjoy it the most as he was making sure every bell was heard in the entire fief. His excitement soon passed on to his comrade and after a while even Abelard started shaking his manes in order to make more noise.

After a short walk, for Halt a excruciating long walk, they arrived at the clearing where the Christmas tree stood. Will and Pauline could feel Halt was tensing up more and more, but they didn't care. They knew what was about to come now.

When the horses stopped in front of the tree all people came in sight. Baron Arald, Crowley, Gilan, Alyss, Horace, Jenny and George all stepped to the Christmas tree. As if they had studied it a thousand times they shouted in unison "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

There was no turning back now for Halt and even though it was not his wish, he let himself being guided to the tree where Jenny had stalled all the delicious food. Everyone started talking and soon the Christmas cheer was spread across the forest.

Finally getting himself loose from Crowley and Arald, Halt walked to his apprentice who had been talking with Gilan. Gilan saw their mentor first and said joyfully "how did you like your sleigh ride, Halt? Maybe you could use it to come to the gathering next year."

Halt grunted, Baron Arald had told him quite extensively that it was his idea. Not to his surprise, only Arald could come up with something hideous like that.

"I still can't believe how you convinced my poor Abelard into this. Tug is always a weird one like his master, but I think I should let Old Bob check Abelard." The boys roared with laughter.

Halt turned to his apprentice "so you organized this all by yourself, behind my back?" Will could hear a hint of pride in the voice of his mentor. He smiled and nodded "Well I made sure everyone was involved but then each of us had our share in this. Gilan has been here for some time now, would probably nicer to let him sleep in the cabin instead of the woods this night."

Halt got surprised more and more, "How long have you been here?"

"I came here the day before Will got sick from all his work. It's a tough job hiding and organizing Christmas for you Halt, you should be proud of him."

Halt turned back to his apprentice and his face fell down. The pieces finally fitting together from the past few days. From the poor excuse when he had his relapse in the snow, his talk with Horace, the mumbling in his sleep. He realized that Will had indeed worked himself sick to make this day happen.

Both the boys could see the guilt on the face of their mentor. Will didn't know what to say and luckily was Gilan by his side. "Well I think everyone get sick of you one day or another Halt, so better get used to it." He joked.

The tension washed away and they walked back to the group, because Arald was announcing it was time for presents. Halt just quickly took Will apart before anyone could notice.

Will was thinking of every way Halt could punish him right now for letting him endure this whole day, but instead he was pulled into a hug. He heard the familiar grizzled voice say "thank you Will. You're right, no one should celebrate Christmas alone."

Will smiled and when he pulled back he swore he could see a tear glistering in his mentor's eye. "you're welcome, Halt," was all he could say. Everything else was said in the silence between them. The pride, love understanding filled the air around them as they looked at each other.

Finally they decided to join the others and started exchanging presents. Will was surprised by Alyss with a wonderful new cloak filled with extra fur to keep him warm in the winter months if necessary. For now they had started a fire to keep themselves warm as the conversations around the tree started again.

Will sat next to Alyss and looked around the area. He suddenly realized the special feeling inside him, all his life he had been raised as an orphan, but right now with all these people he could feel the warmth only a real family could give.

END

Yes guys that's it for this year. Maybe I was a little overexcited with the red sleigh couple of days ago, but come on just try to imagine Halt of all people sitting in a giant red sleigh pulled by Tug and Abelard.

I hope you all enjoyed the story as much as I did.

Again a merry Christmas, stay safe, keep your cloak close and spread some love!