Disclaimer: Tales of Symphonia and all things related are © NAMCO and Tri-Ace, etc. etc...

Author's Notes: I've been a bad author... Yes, I'm still working on my first ToS fic (Damsel in Distress, if anyone's curious) and that's why I've decided to only post this "teaser". Uh... I'm anticipating nasty reviews, if I even get them at all. I have to confess this was done mostly for my own enjoyment, because this couple has become my absolute favorite pairing out of all ToS pairings, so I decided to try my hand at it. and contribute to the fanon which is unfortunately only really active in Japan at the moment...
About that... Ironically enough it was my sister who got me actually thinking about (and eventually adoring) this couple, even though she can't stand Zelos, much less the game itself. So even though she probably won't like it, a big thank you goes to my loving sister who can be a true source of enlightenment sometimes. Love ya!
So... enjoy and a Merry Christmas to you all!

Special Thanks: To the people who've read, reviewed and/or put this story on their alert list. Thank you so much!

. : ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS : .
by Omakase Shimasu

Prologue/Teaser

The bedroom is big. The curtains are closed against the late morning sun. The little light able to penetrate the beige drapes make pieces of furniture recognizable.

A dresser complete with a golden-framed mirror stands off to the left. Long, wavy hair the color of ruby stones, wide blue eyes, a soft blush on child-like chubby cheeks... Turn. Bed, closets, couch, door... A window which almost reaches the ceiling of the room on the other side, curtain aside... Snow flakes dance, following intricate patterns but beautiful nonetheless, on a gentle breeze right outside...

CRASH!

"...!" Startled jump and turn. "Mama!"

Angry voices and loud noises drift up from downstairs, penetrating the grand oak doors. A hesitant step forward... "Papa?" Another loud crash. More volume to the fight, until...

Silence...

"Mama...? Papa...?"

A small hand reaches for the door, but when porcelain skin makes contact with wood, the hand grows bigger and slender. Digits, slim and nimble take hold of the doorknob without a seconds pause and turns.

Twinkling lights and laughs, a peaceful air all around. No Mama and Papa however.. Instead, ten distinct figures share their happiness with each other and anyone willing to take part.

Lloyd and Colette...

Sebastian, Genis...

Regal, Presea...

Raine, Sheena and Kratos...

Even Yuan..

They beckon, gesturing...

I only smile, feeling a single tear rolling gently down my cheek...

Zelos opened his eyes ever so slightly (while a small part of his brain bemoaned the loss of his time cut short in La La Land), a tiny crack of befuddled sapphire visible. Only to screw his eyes shut, whimper and bury himself underneath the soft fluffy blankets not even three seconds after having noticed 'the abominable light' of noon.

For a long moment, the small lump-- in comparison to the grand size of the king-sized, four-poster bed -- didn't stir. Until realization that something big was missing dawned on the pretty boy: The pillow, which of course matched the sheets' color tone while complimenting the Chosen's looks, disappeared with a light 'whoosh' under the covers afterwards.

Snuggling his burning head into the fluffy and cool fabric of his newly acquired prize, Zelos moaned loudly at his pains and aches. "How can such a... dream of a dream be followed up with such a bad... lousy... stinking morning?" he whined in a hoarse whisper into his heavenly pillow. Unfortunately, there was no such thing as a hangover polite and nice enough not to cause you any discomfort at all. "It's Christmas morning, for the Pope's sake -- bless his eternally narrow-minded soul. Aren't there rules for this kind of t--"

A low moan that hadn't originated from the Chosen's own pale throat interrupted the little speech, followed by the theft of Zelos' king-sized blanket.

"...thing...?" The redhead lifted wavy bangs out of his face and gazed over at the other side of the bed with wide eyes, hangover all but forgotten in the face of a new predicament. His heart even skipped a beat, the most unpleasant feeling he had felt since waking up.

A bigger lump (mainly caused by the blanket-snatching earlier) lay at the far side, a pair of toes the only part of the being beneath the heap visible.

Toes... A human... Zelos' sight swam, the question why he would be relieved if the being hadn't been human the farthest from his mind at the moment. The redhead only kept from toppling by acting before thinking, holding one of the support-beams of the bed like a lifeline, his one anchor in a raging squall...

OK, OK... get a grip, stud. Take a breather before jumping to conclusions that'll screw up my beauty. I swear if I find just one grey hair.. Zelos nodded to himself and let his head rest against the woodwork, settling on the spot not occupied by his shaking limbs. That, however, proved to be a lethal mistake.

Another skip of the heartbeat, whole body spasming in shock, Zelos almost lost it then and there. Naked skin... The Chosen knew he was blessed with a glorious body, nobody had ever denied the fact, jealousy often times a direct result from him only being part of society. And that was only talking about him properly clothed. Naked. Skin. But looking down in his lap, noticing the state of undress he now found himself in, how could he possibly try to fool himself? That nothing had happened the night before? Sylvarant's Chosen, known world-wide for her naivete if not for her title... and Lloyd combined wouldn't have been naive enough if they had been in Zelos' shoes right then...

Realizing depressing thoughts didn't get him anywhere, Zelos took reassurance in the fact that the one sharing his bed wasn't Presea. Unless the tiny girl had grown an additional two feet and several inches (or had taken her trusty axe with her -- Zelos blanched at the mere thought) since they'd last met she couldn't have possibly filled up all that space beneath the covers.

Zelos shook his head mentally, too woozy to move at that moment. No, it has to be either Raine or Sheena... "Not exactly prospects to look forward to either... Maybe Lady Luck will be smiling upon me later today and they'll be slowed down by this God-awful hangover as well..." He turned his head, eager to observe anything else besides the contents of the bed. "Although... that lump sure doesn't seem a-- ...aaaaaAAAAAAH!"

The last piece of the puzzle: clothes of a royal purple and lilac color. Having scooted to the headboard, as far away from the evidence as possible, Zelos looked paler than his half-elven friends, only able to stutter incomprehensible words, while muffling those same words with a shaking hand. They were definitely not Sheena's despite the matching colors, he'd recognize them anywhere. No, these clothes belonged to none other than..

The redhead's attention was drawn to the side, as a mop of disheveled maroon surfaced from the hill of blankets and pillows, a cross expression screwed on his face. "Please refrain from making too much noise. I'm suffering from a terrible headache at the moment and wish to sleep it..." Blinking, the old man did his utmost best to focus his narrow eyes and recognize the person he was talking to.

Knowing who it was and being faced with that same person under these circumstances were two different things entirely. Simultaneously, the two pointed at each other and screamed:

"ZELOS!"

"KRATOS!"

"Dear Goddess, have you no decency, boy!"

"You're one to talk, Pops!"

That had them both shut up, both blushing furiously as both got embarrassed, all too self-conscious now that the adrenaline had worn off. While Kratos re-covered himself with the blankets, Zelos made do with his pillow, making sure it covered his lower-region assets as best he could.

The silence that followed was beyond uncomfortable and tense. Neither knew what to say or do in the situation they found themselves in, only troubled by the fact they still suffered from hangovers.

The time ticked by slowly...

"So uh... you remember what happened last night?" Zelos inquired timidly, keeping his gaze fixed on his pillow, wishing he could just plunk down, sleep off the headache and pains and not care about the who, why and what.

Kratos seemed to agree, judging by his voice. "No, I don't. And I gather you don't either," he added dryly. The seraphim didn't wait for a reply, just sighed and rubbed his eye. "The intoxication must have something to do with that..."

Zelos found it within himself to admire the way the older man kept his cool after the initial shock, when a double knock on the bedroom door sounded.

"Zelos, you awake? I'm looking for Dad." Lloyd's own mop of disheveled chestnut hair appeared around the door. "I haven't seen him... since..." The ever-expressive face became totally emotionless.

The naked men blanched, both preferring the hangover over the prospect of explaining the situation -- or make an effort of it -- to Lloyd, of all people...

Positively splendid start of the Worst Christmas ever.

To Be Continued...

Kase: Um... don't think I only think of Zelos as an extremely vain and shallow person. It's just that I think he'd wind up back in his role of 'pretty boy extraordinaire' whenever he feels a great discomfort, to... I dunno, cover up his feelings or something. Blah, it sounded better in my own head...
Well, if you decide to leave a review (be they positive or negative), it would be wonderful if you could find it within yourself to add a little C&C because I know I need it bad.
Thanks in advance and Happy Holidays!