"So Numbah 2, when exactly were you going to tell us you were dating the head of the bloody KND?" Kuki asked sweetly when Hoagie returned.
"Uh… I didn't think it'd come up." Hoagie replied. He was getting nervous with the entire team staring him. "Boy it's late, the day just takes a lot of you, doesn't it?"
"Hoagie, it's only 7 'clock." Nigel said, raising an eyebrow.
"It is?" Hoagie faked shock, edging towards the nearest exit. "Oh, look at the time… heh, I should get some work done."
"Work? You and work don't mix Hoag." Wally yawned, stand up and stretching. "Hey Hoag, what do you want for Christmas?"
"Great subject change." Nigel said, rolling his eyes.
"No, seriously, shouldn't we like worry about Christmas, it's like, next week!" Wally shouted.
"Maybe you should worry about Christmas, because the rest of us have already gone shopping." Abby pointed out.
"What?! And you all just failed to tell me?" Wally yelled. He walked in a nervous circle until Kuki placed her hand gently on his shoulder.
"If you want, I'll help you pick out gifts for everyone."
"For real? That'd be awesome! Let's go now." Wally said, taking her hand and his coat. She managed to grab her jacket as well before he tugged her out the door.
"Well that's a new one, Wally pulling Kuki somewhere." Hoagie joked, creating laughter in the treehouse as they got out the decorations.
"You think Nigel will like this?" Wally asked as Kuki lead him out of the bookstore. She'd suggested he buy a book called "A Complete Strategists Guide to Strategy."
"Trust me, Nigel is the only one who'd appreciate that book." Kuki confidently said.
"And Abby is going to like this CD?" he asked, holding up 8701, by Usher.
"Duh, Usher is her favorite artist. Let's focus on Hoagie and Michelle next." Kuki said, guiding him into the toy store.
"Aren't we a little old for toys?"
"Some things you find in toy stores aren't toys, Wally. See, model airplanes, Hoagie will love these." Kuki pointed out. She picked out a complicated one and waited in line with Wally. Then, she took him to the Gap where she had him buy a scarf. "Scarves are wonderful gifts for friends, and for people you don't know all that well."
"Ok, what about uh, girls? Like, if you've known them a long time and stuff." Wally nervously asked. He was thinking of the girl standing next to him and wondered what he could possibly get her.
"Well, there's always jewelry, or perfume." Kuki suggested. She wondered who he was thinking of, and felt a slight twinge of jealousy.
"Hey I'll be right back, aight?" Wally said, ducking into the nearest store. Kuki gave him a strange glance before she walked to the pretzel store to grab a bite. Wally strolled through accessories store in confusion before spotting an employee.
"Excuse me, but can you help me? I need a gift for a girl, a special girl." Wally said.
"A girlfriend?" the tall girl asked, while she lead him to the back of the store.
"No, just a special girl." Wally blushed.
"Well any special girl would love this." Sally, the salesgirl, said, holding up an extremely cluttered charm bracelet.
"No, it has to be something perfect, something original. Something she'll know I got just for her." Wally said, looking around for anything.
"If you want my honest opinion, I'd go with this." the salesgirl said, pulling out something from under the counter. "It's simple, but I think it's the best piece in the store. I think we were only shipped two, but if you like it, it's yours."
"Perfect!" Wally said. He paid for the trinket and hid it carefully with Abby's present. He didn't want Kuki to find it just yet. "Kuks, you ready to go?" he asked, reaching the pretzel place. She nodded and they hopped on the bus to get back to the treehouse.
"Merry Christmas!" Nigel shouted over the intercom a few days later. They had waited patiently for the day to come and now they bounded down the stairs in their pajamas. Kuki and Abby had half-robes over their spaghetti-strap tank tops and shorts, while Hoagie and Nigel had on t-shirts and shorts. Wally was the last one down in his pajama bottoms and an old tank top.
"Mornin." He mumbled, rubbing his eyes. He yawned and rubbed the back of his head, causing his hair to become even more messed up.
"Presents!" Kuki excitedly shouted. Wally could tell that she'd been up for at least an hour. The presents were already separated into piles and Kuki was holding out a steaming mug of cocoa. Wally looked over at his friends and noticed that they were already drinking the liquid.
"Morning Wally." Michelle said, smiling at them all. She set down some presents into each pile and sat on the couch. Then Kuki pointed to her left at a hefty pile that was for their commander. Surprised, Michelle took a seat next to her pile.
"Uh, thanks. Merry Christmas?" Wally shrugged, taking the cup and sitting down beside his pile. Then he started the tradition. "Three, two, one… OPEN!" The entire team stopped what they were doing and dove into their piles. In minutes there was an even larger collection of paper in the middle of the room.
"Nigel, it's prefect!" Abby chimed, holding up a necklace with her name scrawled on it.
"Great book Wally." Nigel commented, already reading it.
"Whoa, a two year subscription to Yipper, how'd you know?" Hoagie asked Michelle.
"I'm loving this hat Abby!" Michelle said, jamming the colorful cap onto her blonde hair.
"Hoagie, how'd you know I needed this card to complete the hero's collection?" Wally asked, holding up the trading card like it was the most valuable possession he had.
"You know," Kuki said a minute later. "we really shouldn't opened our gifts at the same time… I can never follow anyone's conversation."
"Heh, she's right you know." Wally laughed, opening his last present that was from Kuki. "Whoa, new gloves! They're perfect! Thanks Kuks!" He held them with even more regard then he had the trading card. He knew that she had taken a lot of time choosing the gift.
"See how much better that was? And you're welcome. I love his bracelet, it goes well with my necklace." Kuki blushed as Wally put it on her wrist delicately. She lifted the chain from around her neck and held it close to the bracelet to compare.
"Merry Christmas!" Abby yelled, fully into the spirit. She realized she was standing under the mistletoe, so she called Nigel over and with a sly smirk on her face she gave him a quick smile and kissed him swiftly.
"Merry Christmas!" rang throughout the treehouse, and the joy was felt all through the town.
A/N: Yes, corny ending ne? Sadly, the next chaptah will be my last for this story. I've become attached to all of you as my audience and reviewers. Who knows, I might write something knew, so be on the lookout for me. Your writing extrodinaire Signy