Author's Note: Ack.. writers block *stares at the blank wordpad that she writes all this on*. Alright so hopefully if you're reading this *before* Christmas, I lifted, if not, well...
Okay so it's certain that I won't have this one done by Christmas, it'll probably be done mid to late January, but you people don't care, now, do you? *laughs*
Merry Christmas!!
=Oo= --- Holly Berries... I know it stinks.
---------------
For once in my life, I have someone who needs me, someone I needed so long.
For once I'm afraid I can go where life leads me, and somehow know I'll be strong.
For once I can touch what my heart used to dream..
Oh, long before I knew of someone warm like you would make my dreams come true.. yeah..
For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me not like it's hurt me before.
For once I have something I know won't desert me, I'm not alone anymore.
For once I can say if it's mine you can take it. As long as I know I've got love I can make it.
For once in my life, I've got someone who needs me. Someone who needs me.
For once in my life.
Someone who needs me.
For once in my life, I won't let sorrow hurt me, not like it's hurt me before.
Oh, for once I've got something I know won't desert me, I'm not alone anymore.
For once I can say if it's mine you can take it. As long as I know I've got love I can make it.
For once in my life, I've got someone who neds me. Someone who needs me.
I've got that someone who needs me.
Someone who needs me.
----- For Once In My Life - Justin Guarini -----
The bustling crowds, the crazed last minute sales at stores, the back-to-back traffic near the airport, which was poorly placed down the road from the mall. It made people wonder why they still played the song "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year". It sure didn't seem like the most wonderful time of the year, more like the worst time ever to be last minute shopping.
But all those horrible shopping memories seemed to slip away in front of the fire in the fireplace with a plate full of cookies nearby and wrapping paper scattered from one side of the room to the other. Henry had to admit, even though he and Rika were still going wild trying to get all the presents wrapped before Suzy came home from the Christmas play she went to see, it was peaceful now.
Much to Rika's displeasure, Henry insisted on Christmas music playing on the radio, and now that was softly echoing through his ears as well. He smiled slightly and taped another piece of green wrapping paper together as he listened to Rika softly sing along with one of the Christmas carols that everyone knew so well.
"You have a nice voice." he said simply enough, fumbling to get the ribbon tied on the bulky package.
Rika shrugged. "Yeah I guess." she mumbled under her breath, and shifted to her side in order to assist Henry. "Here, look."
With a few flips of her fingers the ribbon was tied snuggly on the package, and she turned the present back into an upright position and handed it to the boy.
"Thanks." he made a face at her, and set the present to the side, then looked around at the scattered boxes that had already been wrapped. It was easy to tell who did what presents. Henry's looked delicate with pale colors that he had been accustomed to at his house. The Wong's always made their house a winter wonderland every year, and a sharp pang went through Henry's heart at the thought of it, so he continued on quickly with his thoughts.
Rika's presents were bold and bright, barely recognisable as Christmas gifts. Most the gifts for Suzy were in bright pink wrapping paper with snowflakes, or now and then a red present with a kitten drapped in holly berries on the side. Henry couldn't help but laugh at the sight. He knew Rika was trying her best, and that was just her style, in fact he had to admit he kind of liked her style after all.
His attention diverted over to Rika, who was finishing up the last of Suzy's presents. Her hands flew like magic and within a few seconds the large box was completly wrapped in bright blue paper, and a silver ribbon was secured around it. Another flip of the wrist and a large silver bow was stuck on the top, and she calmly slid the present on the coffee table, as if she had been doing that all her life. It wasn't anything new to her.
Henry's silent laughter came out, and she jumped slightly and looked up at him. "What?"
"Nothing.." Henry quieted his laughter and shook his head, finishing up his own present as Rika scattered around to pick up the scraps of paper to be thrown away.
"You just amaze me, that's all."
Rika threw another piece of paper in the long black trash bag she held and looked up at him, puzzeled.
"What do you mean?"
Henry shrugged, cut the end of the ribbon he held, and taped it down onto the box. "Everything you do anymore is so unlike the Rika I knew before."
Rika didn't give an oral responce, but stood there a moment, the puzzeled look a bit stronger.
"I.. kind of like the new Rika better." Henry admitted, not seeing the look on her face as he gathered up all the presents and stuck them under and around the large Christmas tree that seemed to be sparkling from the firelight that engulfed the room.
He stood back upright and dusted his hands off on his shirt, looking over at her when he was finished. "Did I say something wrong?" he asked as he noticed the look of almost hurt in her eyes.
"No.. no you didn't." she quickly went back to picking up the rest of the paper, avoiding his eyes.
"Rika I said something that bothered you, I can tell. What did I say?" he persisted, but Rika shook her head violently.
"You didn't say anything, alright?!"
Henry walked right up beside her and snatched the garbage bag from her hands, causing her to jump and stand upright, eyes wide at his sudden flare of temperment. They stood silent for a few moments, each shocked by Henry's actions but soon he threw the bag down on the couch and put his hands on Rika's shoulders. "What did I say?" he asked again, this time with a bit more patience in his voice.
Rika kept silent, debating her next move. She was tempted to snap at him and cause him to let go of her so she could make a run for it, but the feel of his hands on her shoulders and the warmth of the fire they stood right in front of caused her to take that option out of her mind.
Then she broke down.
Henry stood in complete shock at the girl that suddenly threw herself against him and started into heavy sobs. It.. was something he hadn't been expecting, for sure. His shock soon melted away and he puts his arms gently around the girl as she started ranting through her tears about everything that had been going wrong lately, all of which were not answering his immediate question, but he listened anyways.
He listened to her heartwrenching story of finally losing Renamon, heard her words about her mother's remarks about her 'style', and finally understood the story of Ryo, and how he had broken up with her before they left for the mall that day. Finally in a round of sobs that were harder than the last, she explained how she finally felt like she belonged somewhere, and didn't want him or Suzy to leave her alone like she had been before.
It was all making sense to him now. She needed someone to love her, she wanted a family, and only he and Suzy could give her that family. She finally had gotten that taste of love that she wanted so badly, and realised that as soon as the Wong family decided to take them back in, she'd lose it again and be right back where she had started before; cold and wretched.
She saw her reflection in the mirror every morning, and how it had gone from bitter and sour, to sweet and loving. She realised that she was beautiful, just as people had told her before-hand, but was afraid to lose that sense of peace that she had now.
Henry held her closer and gently rubbed her back. "I'm not going anywhere."
A promise that even Henry himself was surprised he made. How could he keep that promise? What if his family really did want him back? He couldn't stay with Rika and her family forever.... or could he?
"I'm going to be here for you... I promise you, Rika.. I promise."
Rika's sobs continued on, but they no longer sounded heartbroken, but more relieved as years of bitterness suddenly melted at his words.
No, he still wasn't sure she 'loved' him... like a boyfriend/girlfriend type love... but she loved him in some way, and he couldn't break the heart of anyone, especially Rika. If she didn't love him in that way, he was dead sure that at least he did.
"Okay.." Rika forced out in between her sobs, and Henry just smiled at the innocent of her voice. He had finally broken down the wall of defense, she had let him into her heart.
Henry gently let go of her, and made a quick bolt for the couch, motioning for her to sit beside him there instead of having to stand the entire time.
She sank down in the cushions beside him and leaned against him, her attention soon on the magical-looking Christmas tree as Henry put his arms back around her.
"I'm.. trusting you with that promise, Henry."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Henry whispered.
"We'wre HOME!!" Suzy exclaimed as she bounded in the front door of the house and down the narrow hallway, Rika's mother walking slowly behind her, taking off her long red jacket and hanging it on the coatrack, and just as Suzy disappeared around the corner and into the living room, and loud gasp was heard.
Suzy stared in amazement. The entire room was packed to the brim with presents in differant colors and styles. She ran left and right, looking at the labels on each of the packages, and grunted in disgust at the ones near the back of the tree that she couldn't get to. But for the ones she could see, there was anything from "To: Suzy From: Henry" to "To: Suzy From: Rika". They were all for her, except one small box, not much bigger than her own hand, and inscribed on the label was "To: Rika Nonaka From: Henry Wong" in perfect looking red handwriting. Suzy skipped over it rather quickly though and continued in her search of the entire room. The walls seemed to be made of presents. Tall ones, short ones, small ones, big ones. Everywhere there was wrapping paper and bows, but what finally caught her eye and made her gasp the most was the two teenagers curled up together on the couch, one with a tear-stained face. Her big brother and Rika were now sound asleep, never even stirring despite Suzy's squealing. Suzy quickly fell into a hushed awe and only made a sound when Rika's mother walked in.
"Shhh." she put her finger to her lips and grinned at the woman. "They'wre sleeping.."
The blonde woman stopped short at the sight, and stared for a moment, but soon a warm smile crept across her face. "Alright." she whispered. "Go off to bed now, Suzy. It's late and tomorrow is Christmas Eve."
Suzy nodded and bounded down the hallway, and the sound of a door closing was soon heard.
Rika's mother smiled again, and gently picked up the blanket that was hung over the top of the couch. She spread it out in front of her, then draped it over the two teenagers, and smiled.
"Goodnight, dear." she pushed back a piece of Rika's hair, looked towards Henry, then walked on through the room.
Okay so it's certain that I won't have this one done by Christmas, it'll probably be done mid to late January, but you people don't care, now, do you? *laughs*
Merry Christmas!!
=Oo= --- Holly Berries... I know it stinks.
---------------
For once in my life, I have someone who needs me, someone I needed so long.
For once I'm afraid I can go where life leads me, and somehow know I'll be strong.
For once I can touch what my heart used to dream..
Oh, long before I knew of someone warm like you would make my dreams come true.. yeah..
For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me not like it's hurt me before.
For once I have something I know won't desert me, I'm not alone anymore.
For once I can say if it's mine you can take it. As long as I know I've got love I can make it.
For once in my life, I've got someone who needs me. Someone who needs me.
For once in my life.
Someone who needs me.
For once in my life, I won't let sorrow hurt me, not like it's hurt me before.
Oh, for once I've got something I know won't desert me, I'm not alone anymore.
For once I can say if it's mine you can take it. As long as I know I've got love I can make it.
For once in my life, I've got someone who neds me. Someone who needs me.
I've got that someone who needs me.
Someone who needs me.
----- For Once In My Life - Justin Guarini -----
The bustling crowds, the crazed last minute sales at stores, the back-to-back traffic near the airport, which was poorly placed down the road from the mall. It made people wonder why they still played the song "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year". It sure didn't seem like the most wonderful time of the year, more like the worst time ever to be last minute shopping.
But all those horrible shopping memories seemed to slip away in front of the fire in the fireplace with a plate full of cookies nearby and wrapping paper scattered from one side of the room to the other. Henry had to admit, even though he and Rika were still going wild trying to get all the presents wrapped before Suzy came home from the Christmas play she went to see, it was peaceful now.
Much to Rika's displeasure, Henry insisted on Christmas music playing on the radio, and now that was softly echoing through his ears as well. He smiled slightly and taped another piece of green wrapping paper together as he listened to Rika softly sing along with one of the Christmas carols that everyone knew so well.
"You have a nice voice." he said simply enough, fumbling to get the ribbon tied on the bulky package.
Rika shrugged. "Yeah I guess." she mumbled under her breath, and shifted to her side in order to assist Henry. "Here, look."
With a few flips of her fingers the ribbon was tied snuggly on the package, and she turned the present back into an upright position and handed it to the boy.
"Thanks." he made a face at her, and set the present to the side, then looked around at the scattered boxes that had already been wrapped. It was easy to tell who did what presents. Henry's looked delicate with pale colors that he had been accustomed to at his house. The Wong's always made their house a winter wonderland every year, and a sharp pang went through Henry's heart at the thought of it, so he continued on quickly with his thoughts.
Rika's presents were bold and bright, barely recognisable as Christmas gifts. Most the gifts for Suzy were in bright pink wrapping paper with snowflakes, or now and then a red present with a kitten drapped in holly berries on the side. Henry couldn't help but laugh at the sight. He knew Rika was trying her best, and that was just her style, in fact he had to admit he kind of liked her style after all.
His attention diverted over to Rika, who was finishing up the last of Suzy's presents. Her hands flew like magic and within a few seconds the large box was completly wrapped in bright blue paper, and a silver ribbon was secured around it. Another flip of the wrist and a large silver bow was stuck on the top, and she calmly slid the present on the coffee table, as if she had been doing that all her life. It wasn't anything new to her.
Henry's silent laughter came out, and she jumped slightly and looked up at him. "What?"
"Nothing.." Henry quieted his laughter and shook his head, finishing up his own present as Rika scattered around to pick up the scraps of paper to be thrown away.
"You just amaze me, that's all."
Rika threw another piece of paper in the long black trash bag she held and looked up at him, puzzeled.
"What do you mean?"
Henry shrugged, cut the end of the ribbon he held, and taped it down onto the box. "Everything you do anymore is so unlike the Rika I knew before."
Rika didn't give an oral responce, but stood there a moment, the puzzeled look a bit stronger.
"I.. kind of like the new Rika better." Henry admitted, not seeing the look on her face as he gathered up all the presents and stuck them under and around the large Christmas tree that seemed to be sparkling from the firelight that engulfed the room.
He stood back upright and dusted his hands off on his shirt, looking over at her when he was finished. "Did I say something wrong?" he asked as he noticed the look of almost hurt in her eyes.
"No.. no you didn't." she quickly went back to picking up the rest of the paper, avoiding his eyes.
"Rika I said something that bothered you, I can tell. What did I say?" he persisted, but Rika shook her head violently.
"You didn't say anything, alright?!"
Henry walked right up beside her and snatched the garbage bag from her hands, causing her to jump and stand upright, eyes wide at his sudden flare of temperment. They stood silent for a few moments, each shocked by Henry's actions but soon he threw the bag down on the couch and put his hands on Rika's shoulders. "What did I say?" he asked again, this time with a bit more patience in his voice.
Rika kept silent, debating her next move. She was tempted to snap at him and cause him to let go of her so she could make a run for it, but the feel of his hands on her shoulders and the warmth of the fire they stood right in front of caused her to take that option out of her mind.
Then she broke down.
Henry stood in complete shock at the girl that suddenly threw herself against him and started into heavy sobs. It.. was something he hadn't been expecting, for sure. His shock soon melted away and he puts his arms gently around the girl as she started ranting through her tears about everything that had been going wrong lately, all of which were not answering his immediate question, but he listened anyways.
He listened to her heartwrenching story of finally losing Renamon, heard her words about her mother's remarks about her 'style', and finally understood the story of Ryo, and how he had broken up with her before they left for the mall that day. Finally in a round of sobs that were harder than the last, she explained how she finally felt like she belonged somewhere, and didn't want him or Suzy to leave her alone like she had been before.
It was all making sense to him now. She needed someone to love her, she wanted a family, and only he and Suzy could give her that family. She finally had gotten that taste of love that she wanted so badly, and realised that as soon as the Wong family decided to take them back in, she'd lose it again and be right back where she had started before; cold and wretched.
She saw her reflection in the mirror every morning, and how it had gone from bitter and sour, to sweet and loving. She realised that she was beautiful, just as people had told her before-hand, but was afraid to lose that sense of peace that she had now.
Henry held her closer and gently rubbed her back. "I'm not going anywhere."
A promise that even Henry himself was surprised he made. How could he keep that promise? What if his family really did want him back? He couldn't stay with Rika and her family forever.... or could he?
"I'm going to be here for you... I promise you, Rika.. I promise."
Rika's sobs continued on, but they no longer sounded heartbroken, but more relieved as years of bitterness suddenly melted at his words.
No, he still wasn't sure she 'loved' him... like a boyfriend/girlfriend type love... but she loved him in some way, and he couldn't break the heart of anyone, especially Rika. If she didn't love him in that way, he was dead sure that at least he did.
"Okay.." Rika forced out in between her sobs, and Henry just smiled at the innocent of her voice. He had finally broken down the wall of defense, she had let him into her heart.
Henry gently let go of her, and made a quick bolt for the couch, motioning for her to sit beside him there instead of having to stand the entire time.
She sank down in the cushions beside him and leaned against him, her attention soon on the magical-looking Christmas tree as Henry put his arms back around her.
"I'm.. trusting you with that promise, Henry."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Henry whispered.
"We'wre HOME!!" Suzy exclaimed as she bounded in the front door of the house and down the narrow hallway, Rika's mother walking slowly behind her, taking off her long red jacket and hanging it on the coatrack, and just as Suzy disappeared around the corner and into the living room, and loud gasp was heard.
Suzy stared in amazement. The entire room was packed to the brim with presents in differant colors and styles. She ran left and right, looking at the labels on each of the packages, and grunted in disgust at the ones near the back of the tree that she couldn't get to. But for the ones she could see, there was anything from "To: Suzy From: Henry" to "To: Suzy From: Rika". They were all for her, except one small box, not much bigger than her own hand, and inscribed on the label was "To: Rika Nonaka From: Henry Wong" in perfect looking red handwriting. Suzy skipped over it rather quickly though and continued in her search of the entire room. The walls seemed to be made of presents. Tall ones, short ones, small ones, big ones. Everywhere there was wrapping paper and bows, but what finally caught her eye and made her gasp the most was the two teenagers curled up together on the couch, one with a tear-stained face. Her big brother and Rika were now sound asleep, never even stirring despite Suzy's squealing. Suzy quickly fell into a hushed awe and only made a sound when Rika's mother walked in.
"Shhh." she put her finger to her lips and grinned at the woman. "They'wre sleeping.."
The blonde woman stopped short at the sight, and stared for a moment, but soon a warm smile crept across her face. "Alright." she whispered. "Go off to bed now, Suzy. It's late and tomorrow is Christmas Eve."
Suzy nodded and bounded down the hallway, and the sound of a door closing was soon heard.
Rika's mother smiled again, and gently picked up the blanket that was hung over the top of the couch. She spread it out in front of her, then draped it over the two teenagers, and smiled.
"Goodnight, dear." she pushed back a piece of Rika's hair, looked towards Henry, then walked on through the room.
