heyz! yea, i know, im still workin on chapter nine of Blood and Love, but i wanted tew write a fic on christmas, sho, ta dah! ^^ for those who dont read Blood and Love, yooh should read et and review! nah, jp, yooh dont have tew read et, but at least review this story, kz? sorrwie if the characters are a lido ooc! enjoy! ~Tenshi

***Merry Christmas, Rinoa***

I walked glumly on the brightly decorated halls of Balamb Garden. Everyone

around me were wearing red, green, and white. The colors of Christmas. I felt a little

out of place with my black and blue clothing. I sighed. Christmas time always

brought back unwanted memories.

"Hey Rinoa!" greeted Selphie, who was wearing a red replica of her orange

dress.

"Why the long face, Rinoa?" asked Irvine, wearing one of those Santa Claus

hats instead of his cowboy hat.

"Yea! It's Christmas!" said Selphie.

"Don't remind me," I mumbled. Selphie and Irvine looked shocked.

"You don't like Christmas, Rinoa?" asked Irvine. I nodded meekly.

"Why? Christmas is like everyone's favorite holiday!" said Selphie.

"Well, it's not mine. I gotta go; Squall told me to meet him in his office," I

said, leaving Selphie and Irvine.

"Ok, bye Rinny!" said Selphie.

"See you, Rinoa!" said Irvine as he and Selphie walked towards the cafeteria.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When I walked into Squall's office, I was astonished when I saw him.

"Did you lose a bet, Squall?"

"Zell told me if I wore it he'd stop bothering me," explained Squall with a

forlorn expression. I giggled-it was funny seeing Squall in a Santa Claus suit.

"So, what is it you wanted to tell me?"

"General Caraway called-"

"What!? I don't want to go back! Especially now! Tell him I won't go back!"

"That's what I told him, but-"

"No! Squall, please, I wanna stay with you!"

"After long deliberation, he decided to let you stay..." Squall put a finger on

my lips before I could say anything.

"On one condition: Accept his gift to you." I was afraid he was gonna say

that. Ever since Mom disappeared, Father changed. I stopped opening his presents

after he gave me a dagger for one Christmas. All of his presents for me consisted

mainly of weapons and stones used to kill.

"Well, ok. Where's the present?" I asked. Squall reached for a box in his

pocket and held it out for me. I took it and examined it. Hmmm, it's too small to be

another dagger, it could be poison. I began to open it when Squall took it away from

me.

"Squall!" I whined.

"It says to open it on Christmas. I think you can wait to open it tomorrow,"

said Squall. I pouted at him.

"Please, Squall?"

"No." When Squall says no, he means no. I sighed.

"Fine, I'll open it tomorrow. Now can I have it back?" I asked.

"No, I'll keep it for you. Don't worry, I promise to give it back to you

tomorrow." I frowned at him.

"Ok..." I said, leaving.

"Rinoa, there's something else I need to tell you." I turned around.

"You're invited to a private party tomorrow at the place in the training center.

I'll pick you up at 5:30," said Squall.

"A Christmas party?" Squall nodded.

"I don't wanna go." Squall looked at me, confused.

"Why not?"

"Christmas is a time to be with your family. I...don't really have a family

anymore, since my mom..." Tears escaped from my eyes as memories of

Christmases spent with my family when Mom was alive and my father was a caring,

loving man. Christmas always reminded me that Mom was dead and that I had an

estranged relationship with my father.

I felt Squall's arms around my waist and hugged him back.

"Rinoa, your mother is deceased and your father is drifting away from you,

but you still have a strong family." I looked up at Squall, confused at what he had

said.

"Selphie, Irvine, Zell, Quistis...They are your family too. They care a lot about

you, just like a real family would," explained Squall. I was surprised and happy at

the same time. Surprised because Squall rarely shows this side of him and happy

that he cared about me.

"You're in my family too, right?" I asked. Squall smiled.

"Of course."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Squall's conversation made me change my views on Christmas. I have a

family who cares about how I feel and let me express myself in my own way.

I looked through my closet, looking for something suitable to wear. I found a

white sleeveless shirt, a red skirt, and a green ribbon to tie my hair with. I put the

chosen clothes on and checked myself in the mirror. There was a knock on my door.

"Hi Squall!" I greeted him with one of my biggest smiles. He smiled back.

"Hey, Rinoa. You look...beautiful," he complimented. I smiled. I looked at his

choice of outfit to the party. I frowned; he was wearing what he wore everyday.

"Where's your Christmas spirit, Squall?" I asked. He frowned at me.

"Whatever." I smiled and linked my arm with his.

After battling a few Gnats, we arrived at the party. Selphie, Irvine, Zell,

Quistis, Xu, and Nida were already there with presents under the table.

"Rinoa! So, you changed your mind about Christmas?" asked Irvine. I nodded.

"Yup! Squall helped me with that!" I said.

"Well?" asked Quistis.

"Well, what?" asked Squall.

"Are you two gonna kiss or what?" asked Zell, grinning mischievously. I

looked up and found a mistletoe hanging above me and Squall. I started blushing.

What is Squall gonna do?

He lowered his head; I closed my eyes and felt his soft lips on mine. My whole

body started feeling tingly; even after Squall parted. Everyone gave whoops and

whistled as I blushed even more and Squall turned pink.

"Ok, present time!" said Selphie as she took the presents from under the table

and handed it out to everyone. Squall turned to me and took my father's gift from his

pocket. I took it from him and opened it, surprise to find a locket in the shape of a

heart.

I opened the locket and read what was inscribed inside:

"'To Rinoa, I love you. From your father.'" Three words I never thought I

would get from him. Tears sprung from my eyes as I put the necklace on.

"I love you too...Daddy," I whispered. Squall hugged me and whispered into

my ear,

"Merry Christmas, Rinoa."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

sho,watcha think? reviews are appreciated!! ~Tenshi