Happy holidays everyone! UGH. I always find a spelling error after I post. Gosh, I'm dumb. I LOVE YOU ALL.

DON'T OWN THISSSS.

Wrapping

"AH! I give up!"

Cindy laughs as she puts down the magazine she's been reading. She finds Neutron in the study, surrounded by bits of wrapping paper and tags and bows. "You are admitting defeat already? Wow, a bit earlier than usual this year."

"Gas planets, I'm a genius, so why I can't figure this out?" He huffs as he runs his hands through his hair.

She smiles as she sits down next to him. He'd been trying to wrap the one for his father. In his defense, it is a duck, so it has an odd shape. "Let me help."

"Thank you," he answers as he lays on his back.

Cindy carefully measures out the wrapping paper and cuts it. She folds and tucks and tapes. Several moments later, she sighs in relief. "Done."

As Jimmy sits back up, his eyes widen. "You are a miracle worker, Cind."

"Yes, I am," she teases. "Do you need me to wrap anything else?"

"There is one thing," he says as he passes her a small box.

"Neutron, I can't wrap my gift! There are rules about that kind of thing," she rolls her eyes and tries to give the box back to Jimmy, who shrugs.

"Who says it's for you?" He adds with a smug smile.

"I can not believe I'm doing this," she takes it from him, and it gives a soft click. It opens in front of her. Inside is a pair of pearl earrings that match the one on the chain around her neck perfectly. "Where did you get these?"

"They are from the island. I hope they are okay. I used my time accelerator this time. I don't know if I enjoy the way they turned out."

She's speechless. She had expected him to say some store or other, but no. He'd gone back to that wonderful island where he'd first held her hand as they watched the sunset. "They are perfect," she puts them on with a grin.

"Good."

She leans over and kisses him. His hands cup her face, and his thumbs brush against the pearls. She pulls away and leans her forehead against his. "I'm sorry I spoiled the surprise."

"I set the sensitivity of the release mechanism high intentionally, Cind. I couldn't wait."

"You little romantic you."

"You live, and you learn. It helps that I've had an excellent teacher," he waggles his eyebrows. She smacks his arm but then leans forward to kiss him again.

The wrapping is quickly forgotten.