Seeing as I'm always a bit behind when it comes to just about everything, here is my holiday gift to everyone. Hey, it's still the holiday season! And since I feel like being politically correct, it's a New Year's fic. There, isn't it great I'm not going to get into religious preferences?

            And this is just a bunch of WAFF. I thought it was appropriate what with the season and all, but if you're not in the mood, I'll have something out later that's more…me.

            This takes place after the first (not happy) ending of Okaeri Nasai.

            All standard disclaimers apply.

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            Usagi put the car in park and unfastened her seatbelt. Her eyes fell on her handbag and the cream envelope that lay on the seat next to her. A vague sensation of butterflies hit her. She always got like this before going to any large gathering.

            'Maybe I should have brought someone…no, that would have been bad,'

            She suddenly slumped back in her seat, feeling overwhelmed for a moment. It was just a party. It was just a stupid New Year's party. She could get drunk, stay up late and then wake up the next morning, recover, and the holiday season would finally come to a close.

            Christmas had come and gone with the usual amount of stress, shopping, terrible gifts, and family. Not that she had minded all that much. It was nice to buy things for the people she cared about, and it was good to see them with Christmas to distract them from one another's problems.

            Her friends and family seemed to be on her back less during Christmas, which proved to be her favorite gift.

            Although tonight, and the days leading up to it had been hell. The New Year always put everyone into the fervor of renewal. Every mistake that had been made in the year before was to be forgotten, and only the future seemed to matter.

            God she hated it.

            Since when could one night change everything? How could an entire future be wiped clean in an instant?

            A gunshot echoed in the back of her head, and she sat up suddenly. How wrong she had been about New Year's. After a moment more of moping, she finally realized that the party was going to be over, and/or someone was going to discover her sitting in her car fretting if she didn't get in there and at least make an appearance.

            With a deep breath she yanked the keys from the ignition and stuffed them in her purse. She grabbed the envelope as well.

            Her heels clicked on the pavement. She fought to keep her balance. It didn't matter how cute Makoto had thought they were when they found them in the shop, they were awful to walk in. She neared the doors, and was reminded of her appearance. A swift check of her hair and a smoothing of her dress before she smiled and showed the man at the door her invitation did the trick.

            She entered into the room filled with lights and people. The butterflies multiplied and grew at the same time. 'Quit being such a wuss Usa-chan,' she mentally chastised herself.

            Usagi had barely put two feet in the door before Bulma was running at her with a huge grin on her face. Usagi managed a weaker version.

            "Oh Usagi-chan it's so good to see you again," she said, hugging her.

            Usagi felt her smile become stronger. "It's good to see you too," she said genuinely.

            "You look great! Have you enjoyed being back in Tokyo?" She asked, looking her over.

            Usagi shrugged a little. "It's not bad, but I forgot how crowded it was! It's good to be near my family though, and I like working at home and sleeping in,"

            "That's great! Although I can't say I don't miss having a secretary like you,"

            She flushed, laughing a little. "I do miss it," she said, and then went silent. Discomfort filled her. 'God this was a bad idea,'

            Bulma smiled then. It was one of understanding and comfort. "I understand." Usagi believed her. "I think I have to get back to the other guests, I wish I could stay and chat-"

            "-Don't worry about it," Usagi smiled gratefully at her. "I'll go mingle,"

            "I've seen a few people around you might recognize."

            She nodded absently. Bulma left, and Usagi was alone in the crowd of happy people. She noticed there was less than an hour until midnight. She felt slightly relieved.

            Usagi spent her time mostly hiding out of sight. She wasn't in the mood to socialize with most of the people there, so she contented herself with several cups of punch.

            She hummed lightly to the music, leaning against her favorite part of wall. Raising her fourth cup to her lips, she watched the dancers contentedly. Just thirty minutes until she could cheer, toast and leave.

            "Usagi-chan?!"

            She jumped, upsetting the cup in her hands. Luckily the pink substance landed on the carpet instead of her dress. Her eyes became the size of saucers as she looked to the person addressing her.

            "Ami-chan!" she gasped.

            "What are you doing here?!" they chorused. Both broke out into laughter.

            "Well I used to work for Bulma-san, you know that," Usagi said after recovering.

            "And I've been researching and trying to convince the hospital I'm working for that Bulma-san's latest technology is needed for exploratory surgery," Ami replied. "And I'm so sorry I surprised, you, here, let me get you another glass,"

            "Oh, don't worry about it, I've had enough," Usagi said with a wave of her hand.

            "It was so great to get invited by Bulma-san. She was so nice to me when I interrogated her on her latest work." Ami said with a smile. "I just didn't expect you to be here, you don't like parties like this very much,"

            "Bulma's great," Usagi agreed. "And I don't like parties like these, she's the reason why I'm here actually. I felt bad passing up her invitation,"

            "Ah, the one way to beat Usagi-chan's nerves is guilt," Ami surprisingly joked.

            Usagi flushed. "You're right, what a weakness," she sighed, gazing at the sea of people. There was a period of silence between them. Usagi shifted, wanting to change the subject. "So twenty minutes and the another year has gone by,"

            "Mmm," Ami agreed, taking a sip of her own glass. "Can you believe how much time has passed?"

            "Don't get nostalgic on me Ami-chan," Usagi said with a sad smile. "Aren't we supposed to dismiss our past mistakes and look blindly towards the future?"

            Ami quirked her lips. "Usagi-chan, it's interesting to see how your sense of humor has changed. But yes, you're right. New Year's is about making a fresh start, not reminiscing."

            They stood, talking quietly about other more meaningless things until only a few minutes remained on the large clock hanging from the ceiling. Somebody called to Ami and dragged her away, claiming some other important doctors wanted to speak with her.

            Usagi was left alone again. She decided she actually would have another cup of punch. Easily draining it, she noticed several people handing out noisemakers, blowouts and other items to play with when the clock struck 12.

            "Here, have a kazoo," One grinning woman said, cheerfully handing her one.

            "Thanks," Usagi forced a smile as she fingered the instrument. Only two minutes remained, and she realized that all that punch had gone straight to her bladder. "Where's the bathroom?" she muttered to herself.

            It was then she noticed it was located at the other side, across the dance floor, and unfortunately, the large group had gathered in the main room, all facing the enormous clock expectantly. She sighed in dismay, and began shoving her way through.

            The clock hit one, and everyone went silent.

            Usagi cursed violently in her head as she laced through the crowds. After nearly and hour of standing around in her nice tall shoes, her feet were throbbing.

            Only the numbers ten remained illuminated, and Usagi didn't need to look up to keep track, she just had to listen to everyone eagerly shouting out the countdown.

            "Nine…"

            She groaned, moving faster. She had to get to the bathroom before everyone started toasting and dancing and singing. Otherwise, she would stand no chance.

            "Eight…"

            She pushed past a large man and a woman at his side…

            "Seven…"

            …Only to knock into another man who had his back to her.

            "Six…"

            "Dammit," she muttered under her breath. "Excuse me," she said more loudly to the man that was standing in her way.

            "Five…"

            He turned around.

            "Four…"

            Her eyes widened.

            "Three…"

            His eyes widened.

            "Two…"

            Her mouth parted, and she found her voice was long gone.

            "One!"

            "Usagi,"

            "Happy New Year!"

            She gasped, and then managed to regain the remnants of her voice. "Trunks," she breathed.

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            I'll post the rest tomorrow. Don't worry, it'll be finished. And like I said, it's just sappy romance.