A/N: Well, this is a belated Christmas gift. Hope everyone had a nice holiday. I got a laptop for X-mas from my parents with a wireless internet connection...I know, I know, you're all dying of envy. WE GOT A DOG TOO! Our cat loves him, they were wrastling all night.

Ahem...any-hoo. This story takes place in the A Simple Kiss timeline; it's actually supposed to take place after A Dim Light in the Dark (which isn't written yet) but there's a slight spoiler for that story. Reg and Twister both get jobs in the story; but I don't tell you what their jobs are in this story so...um...

Summary: Nostalgic for the white Christmases they used to experience in Kansas, Sam's mother concocts a plan to spend the holidays in the mountains with the Rockets, Rodriguezes, and of course, Tito. But when Twister loses his present for Reggie on the slopes of Mt. Baldy, he and Otto brave a blizzard to look for it. Will Twister be empty handed on Christmas day? Will the two boys even make it back safely?

ENJOY!

A Very Twisted Christmas

Chapter 1

Reggie rolled over, reaching across her dresser, past the multiple pictures of her brother, herself, her good friend Sam, and the big heart shaped frame sporting a picture of her boyfriend Twister, to switch off the blaring alarm clock. The digital numbers read 4:35. She smiled, shifting slightly in her bed. Winter Break had just begun; it was going to be a good day.

-0-0-Two Weeks Before-0-0-

Ray leaned over the counter at the Shore Shack, nabbing a free piece of his son, Otto's, tee shirt. The irrepressible Rocket boy was spinning wildly in the barstool, head-banging to some rock band's music blaring through his headphones. Ray had been trying to get his son's attention for the past five minutes, and it wasn't until his son began air-drumming that Ray realized there were miniscule earphones tucked in those severely tanned ears.

"Otto," Ray persisted, tugging his son's shirt vivaciously, "Otto!" He yelled, just as said young man removed the headphones from his ears.

"Dude, Raymundo," Otto moaned, "You don't have to yell."

"'Cause the rest of the Shore Shack can hear you just fine," Tito; the burlesque Hawaiian cook and long-time friend of Ray, commented from the grill before releasing a hearty chuckle.

"What's up, dad?" Otto asked, turning his CD player off and grinning winningly up at his father. He had turned sixteen that year, which meant he would be getting his license if he ever past his DMV test, a fact that tormented Ray to no end.

Reggie, Ray's daughter and Otto's older sister, had gotten her license the year before. She was responsible, organized, and knew how to follow the rules. She was a good driver, which the man at the DMV had gladly told Ray. Otto, on the other hand, was a risk taker. He was brash, loved speed, and broke rules whenever possible. After Otto had returned from taking the test the first time, the man; hair bothered, shirt rumpled, and eyes seeming to be permanently widened, announced that as long as he worked at the DMV Otto Rocket would never get a license. Of course, then Maurice 'Twister' Rodriguez, who happened to be Otto's best friend, took his test the following day and the man promptly retired.

"I was wondering," Ray began, trying to compose himself, "If you're not doing anything besides sitting there could you possibly pick up an apron and help bus some tables?"

"Dad, I am doing something," Otto protested, "I'm waiting for Twister to get off work, we're going to Madtown."

"Really…that's a great deal more than just sitting there," Ray muttered, before throwing a white apron over his son's shoulder and saying, "Here, get to work."

"Sure thing, dad," Otto snarled, before tying the white cloth about his waist, slipping the headphones back in his ears, turning his CD player back on, and marching to the first unoccupied, dirty table.

"You could always get a job, Otto," Ray called over his shoulder, as he turned to the customers waiting patiently to order.

It was getting chilly those days. Otto was wearing a long sleeved shirt under his usual tee. Ray was bundled up in a sweater, and Tito was kept warm by the fire of the grill. Being a bayside diner, the Shore Shack was an open restaurant, sporting a beautiful view of the ocean, the beach, and the amusement park further down the Pier. Unfortunately, it was also open to the breeze of winter. They lived in California, so the area didn't really drop too far down, but being used to the warm weather had bred the Rockets, and other locals, into warm blooded people not well-adjusted to anything below fifty degrees. The cold weather also foreshadowed something else. Winter Break, and more importantly, Christmas. One would think California would be unusually flocked with tourists, or shoobies as the kids called them, what with being a vacation time. However, the Yuletide season had just the opposite effect. Most locals left the sunny Ocean Shores to spend time with family members elsewhere. Ocean Shores was fairly empty by the time schools were released for the vacation time.

"Mount Baldy is covered," Tito announced conversationally to Ray.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Ray retorted.

"Ski trip with the little cuzes?"

"Yup." Ray nodded, taking two plates back to a table of customers. He glanced Twister making his way skateboard wise up the boardwalk, still dressed in his uniform a red shirt and baggy khakis. He came to a halt outside of the Shack, kicking his board into his hand and removing his helmet. Twister slumped into the nearest chair, head falling onto his arms, coming to rest on the table in front of him. "How's it going at the old salt mines, Twister?" Ray asked.

"What salt mines?" Twister mumbled in return.

"He means work," Otto clarified, having noticed his best friend's entrance, removing his headphones and apron.

"I have to work another double shift," Twister grumbled, his voice muffled by his arms, "I have half an hour before I have to go back."

"What? But Twister, we were going to go to Madtown!" Otto cried, falling into the chair next to the obviously exhausted young man, "They can't make you work double-shifts, can they? Aren't there child labor laws?"

"I have to, Otto," Twister protested, "I'm sorry…I'll do it…sometime…or other…or something…" He trailed off and was silent, his breathing steady.

"But Twister…Twister?" Otto frowned, "I think he's asleep."

"Well, that settles it," Ray announced, and Otto looked questioningly to his father, "We're taking that trip."

"Which trip?" Otto asked.

"To Mount Baldy. That kid needs a vacation…maybe more than me," Ray mumbled, scratching his chin and turning to resume work.

-0-0-

Mrs. Dullard pursed her lips slightly as she tiptoed next to her son Sam's room. He was inside with his friend, Reggie, and Mrs. Dullard wasn't sure she liked the idea of him being alone with a girl, no matter how long he'd known her for. She always made sure he left the door open whenever Reggie was over, and often times would tiptoe up to check on the two. She wouldn't say she was overprotective, just cautious. They were huddled around Sam's computer, obviously completely consumed by whatever was on the monitor.

"Have you gone Christmas shopping yet?" Reggie finally spoke up.

"Yup. I wrapped the last of my gifts last night," Sam replied, "If you're wondering, yes, I got your gift. In fact, it was one of the first ones I bought."

"Oh, I was just wondering…you know…I still have a few things to get and…" Reggie stammered, fiddling with a strand of her hair, "Maybe you could…"

"You don't know what to get Twister," Sam concluded and Reggie sighed with exasperation.

"This is our first Christmas as…well…a couple, and…what is a girlfriend supposed to get her boyfriend? I don't know," Reggie cried. Mrs. Dullard frowned slightly. Reggie was dating the awkward one that liked to tease her son? The one they called Twister? Since when? Mrs. Dullard couldn't say she wasn't disappointed. While she'd partly thought of Reggie as something of a hussy, she'd somewhat hoped there was more to Sam's relationship with the young Rocket girl. Reggie was fairly attractive, and it was more than evident Sam's fondness of her.

"What makes you think I know?" Sam retorted, receiving an anguished look. He sighed. "Reg, just because you two are dating doesn't mean you have to buy him a certain kind of gift now. Just buy him something you know he'll like, like you always do. Though it would be expected you put a little more time, thought, and of course, money into his gift. But you know, it's Twister, anything you get him will make him happy. Literally, get him socks he'll be ecstatic."

"Sam," Reggie scowled.

"Sorry," he mumbled, moving the mouse and clicking on some desktop icon and asking, "What were you thinking of getting him?"

"I don't know. I thought about getting him something…like a camera…or something great like that. But when I was looking…well, everything's so expensive, and my job doesn't really pay that great. I could work extra hours at the Shack, but my dad's struggling to get the bills paid as it is," Reggie replied.

"Have you guys even talked about the exchanging of Christmas gifts?" Sam questioned, leaning back and peering at Reggie.

"No," Reggie sighed, "We really haven't had time to talk about serious stuff like that at all. He's been so busy with his job, and school, and his job. They're really working him over there, you know. When he finally gets home and calls me, I usually do all the talking, and I mostly just complain about my day. I feel so badly, because I know he's so much worse off, but he likes hearing about my problems, I guess because…"

Mrs. Dullard decided it was time to slip back down the stairs, silently reprimanding herself for eavesdropping so long. She sighed, finding herself in the kitchen looking out the window. She'd moved her son from Kansas what seemed an eternity ago. He was at an impressionable age, which made adjusting to the new environment hard. But he'd made good friends with the Rocket siblings and the Rodriguez boy. They'd helped him with the move. She, however, still found herself reminiscing about their hometown. There would be a blanket of snow on the ground by that time of year. The houses would all be aglow with beautiful lights, and the evergreens would look so majestic in the far distance, carefully accenting the enchanting scene.

But the Dullards lived in Ocean Shores now. There was no chance of a white Christmas in Southern California. The move to the sunny beaches was necessary, mostly due to Sam's allergies. But often times Mrs. Dullard found herself longing for the green pastures of Kansas. The winter season was exceptionally painful for Mrs. Dullard as she had been born and raised in the mountainous prairie country. She remembered the long and chilly nights, wrapped up in a blanket, sipping hot chocolate and roasting chestnuts by the fireplace. A fireplace was more or less - well, out of place - in a California home. That wasn't to say some homes weren't equipped with them.

When Sam was younger, he and his father always built a traditional snowman on Christmas eve. Mrs. Dullard smiled at the quirky memory. Her ex-husband had always been a busy business man and his son rarely saw him. But he always managed to find time to build that snowman. They would traverse out into thick of the cold, bundled in layers of clothing, cotton and wool. They would carry various garments with them; a scarf, a hat, and different things like a carrot for a nose, coal from the barbeque. One year they used crushed cans for buttons and Mrs. Dullard's snakeskin belt. They would then trek back into the house soaked from head to toe and shivering, breathless. They would drag Mrs. Dullard out into the chill, camera in hand, and she would snap a picture of their creation. She had a shoebox full of such photos. The year before Sam and Mrs. Dullard had moved from Kansas, the traditional snowman hadn't been built. Things had been too strained in her relationship with her ex-husband and it had affected his relationship with their son.

When the phone rang, shaking Mrs. Dullard from her thoughts, she nearly jumped. She rushed to the living room, picking up the receiver on the fourth ring, and breathing heavily into the phone a deep "hello?"

"Hey, it's Ray Rocket, Reggie and Otto's dad," the husky voice on the end of the line greeted.

"I remember who you are, Ray, Sammy has only been playing with your children for six years," Mrs. Dullard scolded, and Ray chuckled slightly, nervously.

"Oh, sorry," he mumbled, "I can never tell with you."

"How's Tito?" Mrs. Dullard asked, though she'd seen the friendly Hawaiian only yesterday.

"He's fine. Grilling up a storm down here at the Shack. Listen, Paula, I just recently heard the slopes of Mt. Baldy just got a layer of fresh powder, and I was thinking this Winter Break I'd take the kids up for the annual ski trip. I was just checking to make sure that it was cool with you if Sammy came," Ray said. Mrs. Dullard felt a tug at the corner of her lips. An idea was forming in her mind. Sam often traveled with the Rocket family on their ski trips and was always coming back home with tales of how great Mount Baldy was and how much fun he'd had. She'd never gotten the courage to go up herself. But that year, she was feeling nostalgic for snow.

"You know, Ray," Mrs. Dullard stated, "I wouldn't mind making a trip up to that old mountain myself."

"You, Paula?" Ray nearly choked.

"Well, I've just been thinking a lot about home - Kansas, I mean. I miss having nice white Christmases," Mrs. Dullard mumbled, twirling the phone cord about her fingers, "I was thinking...well, wouldn't it be nice to rent a cabin up in those hills for the week and spend Christmas up there?"

"That's actually a good idea," Ray replied, and Mrs. Dullard smiled proudly, "I could talk to Sandy and Raul about it. The kids wouldn't want to spend Christmas without Twister, but I don't think his family would be too keen on the idea of him being separated from them on the holiday. Maybe I could talk the Rodriguezes into joining us. Tito will come, of course, but I'll have to discuss it with him..."

"I could look into the cabins' availability on-line," Paula put in, feeling very much like a conspirator.

"That'll be great," Ray said excitedly, "I'll call Sandy and Raul right now. It'll be like our own little Christmas present to the kids, they'll be so happy. They're so much to do up there, I know they'll be really anxious to hit those slopes."

"Oh, good. I can't wait to see my little Sammy on that snow. He tells me all about his little excursions...I worry, of course," Mrs. Dullard squealed.

"There's nothing to worry about, Paula. Sam is a great snowboarder, and I've always instilled proper safety on the slopes into each of the kids' heads."

"I don't doubt you did," Mrs. Dullard replied, then as a second-thought, "Ray, I was wondering, how long have Reggie and the Rodriguez boy been dating?"

"What?" Ray seemed startled by the question, "Oh...ahem, I really couldn't say. A few months, I suppose, I don't much know the details of their getting together. Why do you ask?"

"No reason. How are you handling it?"

"Well...it's Twister. How can I handle it? I guess they've known each other their whole lives...what can I say...well, um...I guess...anyhow...I'll talk to you later, Paula?"

"Um...certainly, Ray. Oh, when do we want to tell the kids?"

"Well, I've already told Otto we're heading up there come Winter Break, so we'll just surprise them with the fact we'll be there all through Christmas when we get to the mountain," Ray told her decidedly, "Bye."

Mrs. Dullard replaced the phone on its cradle, smiling despite herself. She would be getting her white Christmas after all. She rubbed her forehead. But why had she felt the need to ask about Twister and Reggie's relationship? That was all very confusing. But poor Ray, she thought, he seemed uncertain of what to think of his daughter's dating the Rodriguez youngest boy. Often times, she herself didn't know what to make of him.

-0-0-

Twister sighed, stopping on his way back to work, in front of the line of shops on the Pier. He kicked his board up into his hand, undoing the helmet strap beneath his chin. He was exhausted. He'd been working harder than he'd ever worked in his entire life those past weeks; asking for as many extra hours as he could from his boss. His days consisted of waking up, going to school, leaving school straight to work, coming home sometimes around eleven, even twelve on some nights, doing his homework as quickly as possible while making a phone call to Reggie, then passing out for four or three hours on his bed. Then the weekend rolled around and he would wake up early, and go to work the entire day. He pressed his hands against the window of a particular store. There were different items featured in the window for people passing by to see.

For Twister, buying presents for his family and friends had been easy, as always, and he didn't doubt, as always, his gifts would be considered the lamest under the tree. He tried to get what he thought his loved ones would like and appreciate, but he always thought wrong. So he always tried, and always failed. His parents would tell him, "it's the thought that counts", leaving off for him to fill in, "even if the thought is wrong." So he got everyone simple gifts. And, having a job that year meant he could splurge slightly, rather than relying on what little allowance he'd saved over the several weeks before Christmas. But one gift was still missing. Reggie's.

That year was different than every other. Reggie was his girlfriend that year and he wanted to get her something special that showed her how strongly he really felt about her. He'd never been able to get her the presents he'd wanted to in the past, because they'd always been inappropriate coming from a friend. But now, staring down into that window, as he'd done so many days before ever since Reggie had paused, glancing longingly at the different items, he knew he could buy her what he really wanted to. That particularly intricate pendant inlaid with delicate precious stones dangling on the silver chain. It was so expensive though.

Just seeing the price tag on the necklace jolted Twister back to his current responsibilities, mainly getting back to work to start the next shift. A co-worker had called out and Twister had volunteered to cover for him. He felt guilty about it, knowing that he'd made plans with Otto, but he was that much closer to purchasing the necklace.

Twister slid his board to the ground, hopping back on it while redoing his helmet straps. It he weren't so fatigued, he would pull off a few radical moves, but all he could manage was to wheel himself down the sidewalk while praying he didn't fall over.

Otto had mentioned a vacation before Twister had torn down the street away from the Shore Shack back to his workplace. Winter Break, Otto had said, Ray would be taking them up to Mount Baldy. A vacation, Twister thought longingly; rest, relaxation, and tearing up the slopes of Mt. Baldy. He had to request the time off within that week. He fantasized about asking for the entire Winter Break off, and it wasn't truly impossible, as that was their slowest time of year. He grinned to himself. He would do it. He would ask for the entire Winter Break off. By then, he undoubtedly have the necklace purchased. In fact, by his calculations; which weren't entirely accurate, he would be able to buy the necklace by the middle of the next week.

With that thought, Twister propelled himself forward more enthusiastically. If it was for Reggie, he could survive the next several days.

-0-0-0-0-----------Back to the Present: Winter Break----------0-0-0-0-

Reggie tiptoed through the quiet Rocket household to the kitchen, slipping down in silence. She sat on the couch in the living room, pulling her knees up to her chest. She'd finished packing her things the night before. This would be a trip with Twister's family, Sam's family, everyone would be coming. She opened her laptop, which sat on the surfboard coffee table in the middle of the living room, opening the e-mail she'd received the night before.

Yo Reg,

How's it going? So your hitting the slopes of Mt. Baldy this winter too, huh? Awesome.

See ya' there,

Lizzie.

Reggie smiled, pulling open the last article she needed to finish for the latest issue of her Zine. All she needed were a few final touches. Sam would be showing up early, so they could print the Zine and deliver it before the road trip started.

END A/N: For those of you who don't remember Lizzie, she's the girl Reggie met on Mount Baldy, you know, who only had one leg. I saw that episode recently and said "she just has to make a guest appearance in my fanfic!" So, yeah, that's why she has a little cameo...

I know, slow beginning, and the flashback is bringing back memories of another ff I have to finish (cough, cough...Killing the )...

I have to away to post the next chapter, and eat because my family is bugging me.

Please excuse any grammatical and typing errors (especially since I'm not proofreading this damn thing...) and go REVIEW! As it would be much appreciated.

Thanks for Reading.

I don't know why I put eleven. My math sucks. This is why I should proofread things.