"It's Christmas!!!" Was the first sound Triad heard as he rolled over in bed. "Come on, Triad. Get up! Don't you want to go open presents?!" Ivan exclaimed.

"Five more minutes." Triad mumbled. "Wait. Did you say presents?!"

"Yes."

"Then what are we waiting for?!" Triad exclaimed, leaping from his bed wide awake and ready to go. He quickly changed and he and Ivan bounded down the stairs quickly and stuck their wrapped presents under the decorated tree. Triad was apparently the last one to awaken, as everyone else was already downstairs eating breakfast. There was idle chatter among the lot of them, and Garet seemed to be telling a story.

"And then, as soon as Isaac went to open the chest, it grew fangs, eyes, and teeth! A mimic jumped out at us and tried to eat us alive!"

"Actually Garet, it was you who tried to open the chest, and you know it." Isaac stated. "Someone deserves to get coal for Christmas for being such a fibber."

"Yeah." Mia agreed. "You ought to be ashamed, making my Isaac so greedy."

"All right. I opened the chest, big deal." Garet shrugged. "Anyway, the mimic started chasing us all around the cave. It was quite funny."

"Yeah, especially when it bit you in the hindquarters." Isaac laughed. "It took a lot of Cure power to fix that. I'm just glad Mia didn't have to deal with it."

"Me too." Garet chuckled lightly.

"Well, if your fascinating tale of a mimic making a meal of Garet's posterior is finished, why don't we open presents since Mr. Lazy has finally gotten out of bed?" Jenna asked, sarcastically.

"Hey! I'm not lazy!" Triad retorted. "I just sleep a lot!"

"Triad, give it up." Mia stated, resting a hand on his shoulder. "You'll never beat Jenna in an argument."

"Darn. Oh well. Presents!" Triad shouted turning to the tree.

"Easy, Sparticus." Isaac laughed. "We'll take turns. We'll draw lots to decide who goes first. Shortest straw wins." Isaac stated, holding out a bunch of straws in his out stretched hand. Each of the adventurers drew their straws. When all was said and done, Felix was to go first, then Ivan, then Dargon, then Jenna, Sheba, Triad, Garet, Isaac, and finally Mia.

Felix gave off a rare smile as he fetched his gift and set the wrapped box on the table in front of him. He tore the wrapping paper off carefully and pried open the box. He produced a pair of brand new black boots. Felix gave out a strong laugh. "Now I gotta guess who gave these to me. Hmm. . ." Felix puzzled. "Jenna, did you get these boots for me?"

"No, I did not, Felix."

"Well, who did?"

"They can choose to remain anonymous, remember that, Felix." Sheba pointed out.

"Well, thank you, whoever got me these." Felix stated, taking off his old boots and putting his new ones on. They fit perfectly, and given how worn his old boots were, they were considerably more comfortable. Garet smiled inwardly; he'd never tell him that he got the boots. "Your turn, Ivan."

Ivan smiled, finding the package with his name. He tore the wrapping paper off carefully, and he too smiled at his gift. "Wow! A book! It's just what I needed for the long voyages ahead!" Ivan exclaimed. "And I'll bet money it was Isaac who bought it."

"Wasn't me." Isaac stated, shrugging.

"Well, if it wasn't you and it wasn't Sheba, then. . . Triad."

"Nope, not me, bro."

"Darn. I give up. Who did it?" Felix chuckled lightly, but so softly, no one could hear him. He wasn't about to give himself away.

Dargon immediately went for his present and scrutinized the package very carefully before going after the wrapping paper. His box contained a brand new set of leather gloves; just the thing Dargon wanted, and needed, for the holidays. "Okay, who's responsible for this?" Dargon asked, pretending like he was angry. "Because I want to thank them for it." He smiled and several laughed. "Let me guess. I think it was Ivan who got these for me."

"Well, you'd be right, Dargon." Ivan smiled, putting his hands up in the air. "You got me. Jenna, it's your turn."

"Fun." She stated, finding the small package quickly. "Wow, I'll bet great things come in small packages!" She said, setting the box on the table, and opened it quickly. She smiled in pleasure of what she found. "Perfume! It smells really nice!" She said, uncapping the bottle and smelling the fragrance perforating through the top. "Triad, was it you who got me this?"

"Nope, but I do seem to remember not having a pleasant time with it."

"What?"

"Never mind, I'll explain later."

"Well, I know Garet didn't do it, because he's not smart enough."

"Hey!"

"Ivan couldn't have done it, so . . . my guess would then have to be. . . Mia."

"I surrender." Mia stated, smile beaming. "I figured you and Garet would enjoy the scent."

"I'm not big on perfume." Garet muttered. Jenna quickly sprayed a little on each wrist and walked over to Garet. The male Mars Adept started babbling like an idiot. "Wow. . ."

"See what I thought?" Mia smiled.

"Sheba, I think it's your turn." Ivan stated to her. The female Jupiter Adept smiled and walked over to the tree and found her present. She brought the long flat box to the table and set it down. She opened it without haste, but without dallying either. The young girl pulled out the cream and turquoise tunic and gasped with delight. "Wow! It's so perfect! Ivan, I would've said you got it for me if I hadn't see you buy Dargon's gloves. . . so. . . who could've?" She paused for a moment, thinking. "I'll bet it was Triad, who probably picked up what I wanted from Ivan."

"Right person, wrong method." Triad stated, with a smile. "Whose turn is it now?"

"Yours." Isaac stated.

"MY TURN!" Triad shouted, leaping to his feet. "I wonder if anyone got me that life I wanted." He joked, searching through the Christmas tree. While he was busy, Dargon shot Felix an 'I told you so' glance. Triad came out with a heavy package, and he set it on the table. Unlike his predecessors, who had been careful opening their presents, Triad went after it like a rabid junkyard Doberman. "Wow! Books! Reading material!" He said, holding up his novel and physics book. "The Fundamental Laws of Advanced Physics and Paladin's Heart! Nice combo!" Triad said, smile beaming. "Okay, now then. . . who got it for me. . . Felix, was it you?"

"No, it wasn't." Felix smiled.

"Then it must've been Dargon."

"Bullseye." Dargon stated, smiling. "Your turn, Garet."

"Fun! It's my turn!" He rummaged through the remaining presents and found his package. "I can't wait to see what it is." He exclaimed, tearing the wrapping paper like Triad had. "What the!?" He exclaimed, holding out a bag. "Coal?! Who would get me a bag of coal on Christmas?!"

"Wasn't me." Triad smiled.

"If you hadn't already been cornered for giving Sheba a gift, I would've throttled you then." Garet frowned.

"Garet, I saw another present with your name on it under the tree." Jenna stated, nonchalantly.

"What?" Garet said, returning to the tree. Sure enough, there was one additional package under the tree marked with his name. "I hope it's not more coal."

"It's probably kindling." Triad joked again. "Maybe matches."

"Can it, Triad." Garet said, ripping open his gift. He produced a pair of enormous brown boots from the package. "Boots!" Garet exclaimed. "I know who did this now. . . the coal helped give it away." Garet smiled, walking over to Jenna. He gave her a warm hug and whispered 'thank you' into her ear. As soon as he did, he was paralyzed by the wonderful smell of Jenna's perfume. "Duh. . ."

"Isaac, it's your turn." Jenna stated, trying to break free of Garet's bear hug. "Mia, next time, get me a perfume that doesn't paralyze him with love!"

"Note taken." Mia smiled. She glanced over to Isaac, who had already picked up his gift and set it on his table. He opened the box quickly after he removed the paper. His eyes grew wide as he pulled out a brown snap-brimmed hat.

"Cool!" Isaac exclaimed, putting the hat immediately on his head. "All I'm missing is a bullwhip." He joked. "Well, what do we have here?" He asked, pulling out a knife in a small sheathe. He drew it and looked at it carefully. "A field knife! Hey! That was really nice. . . ooh, nice quality, too!" Isaac smiled looking at the blade. He noticed one other thing in the box, and he removed a pink bottle. "Love potion?! What the?!" Almost everyone burst out laughing. "Okay, who's the wise guy?! Garet. . ."

"Wasn't me."

"Then it could've only been. . . Sheba!" Isaac glared at the young Jupiter Adept, who was smiling sweetly and innocently.

"What?"

"Now you know, Mia and I don't need a love potion. On the other hand. . ." He said, approaching her and Ivan. "Little Ivan here could certainly use it." He laughed, handing the bottle to the male Jupiter Adept.

"Hey!" Ivan shouted, as everyone except him and Sheba burst out into strong laughter. Sheba merely blushed like a beet and Ivan seemed as mad as a swarm of hornets. "Mia, you better open your present before I get half a mind to hurt Isaac!"

"Okay, anything to keep your mind occupied." Mia sighed, picking up the tiny package and setting it on the table. She tore open the wrapping paper like everyone else and opened the lid of the small box within. Isaac tried to keep a poker face as Mia reached into the box, but he knew his efforts would be futile. He knew as soon as Mia saw the necklace, she'd know who got it for her. Mia's hand exited the box grasping on the platinum chain of the necklace. Her face was filled with joyful shock, total and complete. Mia couldn't form any words from her mouth, and everyone else remained silent. Finally, Mia ran immediately over to Isaac and kissed him adoringly.

"Well, I think she guessed right." Garet muttered to Jenna.

"Isaac, I don't know what to say. . ." Mia whispered in his ear. Isaac pulled back an inch and wiped a tear from Mia's eye.

"Then don't say anything." Isaac smiled.

*************************************

Snowflakes found their way into the spiky hair of Isaac. He was sitting on the roof of the inn, gazing off to the horizon, to the sea. It was now dusk, but his Christmas had been perfect, no doubt about it. He was surrounded by his closest friends and his love, so, how could it have been better? He stopped. His thoughts immediately turned to his mother and father, who had both passed away. The only thing that would've made this year perfect is to have had them present through the whole day. His mind turned back the clock while he sat staring. His thoughts returned to the day the boulder had fallen on Vale and taken the life of his father and most of Jenna's family. The time after that was not easy for young Isaac, but his friends and his mother helped him through the tough times.

Then, after Alex's defeat at the Jupiter Lighthouse, Isaac and all of his friends had returned to their homes. Isaac's mother had been sick for weeks, as it turned out; sick from loneliness among other things. Isaac had always tried to help her from the day he returned, but six months after his arrival, his mother passed away. Stricken with grief, Isaac left Vale. The loss of his mother was as terrible as his father's death, and he feared he would've never recovered if it wasn't for. . . Mia. Her love and care soothed the loss of his mother, and he found his love of her because of it.

"What are you doing up here on the roof, Isaac?" A familiar voice echoed from behind him. Mia had climbed out the same window he did to reach the roof, so she sat down beside Isaac. She paused as she looked into his eyes. "You're thinking about them again, aren't you, Isaac?"

"Yes."

"I thought so. . . it can be tough this time of year."

"I know your loss was tough too, Mia. . ." Isaac trailed off.

"I'm just glad you were there to help me through it." Mia sighed, sadly. She rested her head on Isaac's shoulder.

"I'm just glad you were there to help me deal with the loss of my mother."

"Yes. . . it's a gift enough to have you around." Mia stated. "By the way, I translated the runes on this amulet. Are you in the least curious of what they mean?"

"I wondered what it meant from when I picked it up."

"Well, translated, the runes indicate that this amulet is a symbol of undying love for the person that is given it."

"Appropriate." Isaac smiled.

"Also, it is usually considered to be a marriage proposal." Mia smiled.

"What?" Isaac looked stunned for a moment.

"Relax, Isaac. I was kidding. However, the undying love part was true enough." Isaac laughed aloud.

"It's not like I'd have any problem marrying you, though."

"I wouldn't either, but I say we wait awhile first." Mia smiled. They were quiet for awhile after Mia's statement, both staring out to the sea. Eventually, Isaac could hear Mia humming softly.

"What's that you're humming, Mia?"

"It's an old Christmas song from the Mercury Clan. Normally, one would sing it."

"Why don't you?"

"Isaac, I'm not really a singer. . ." She blushed. "Besides, I doubt you'd understand it. The lyrics are in the ancient language of Mercury."

"I don't care." Isaac replied. Mia sighed and began singing the song quietly to Isaac in a voice that could only be described as of the heavens. Mia had been correct when she said Isaac would have no idea what the song meant, but she was wrong about not being a singer. She finished moments later, and Isaac wrapped his arm around her. "That was beautiful, Mia."

"I don't think I pronounced everything right, though."

"Don't make me repeat myself, Mia." Isaac smiled. "I couldn't think of a better way to end a Christmas than this way."

"I can't either." Mia said. "Except maybe like this." Mia smiled, pulling Isaac into a warm kiss. When she finally broke the kiss, she whispered only one thing into Isaac's ear. "Merry Christmas, Isaac."

-End