uh...warning :: long chapter...
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On the 23rd, they went out. Faith had told them not to get her gifts, and to get Nina gifts. So they spent most of that day at malls and plazas.
' How do I get myself into these situations...' thought Robin as he was again forced to endure hours of shopping.
Lucky for them, the villians seemed to be on vacation so it was a pretty darn smooth day. Robin had secretly gotten Faith a gift even though she had said not to. Actually, all of the Titans got her a gift. What kind of friend wouldn't have!? Faith got presents for each of her friends. A new video game for Cy, another tofu cookbook for Beast Boy, a tub of mustard for Starfire, a magic book for Raven, and something special for Robin.
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Christmas Eve was always a bright and shiny time at the Tower. Plus, it was the only time where Starfire wore something else besides her purple outfit. Instead, she wore a red, mini skirt length T-shirt dress with white fluff on the hems. BB wore his dorky santa suit. They had their lights and tree up along with decorations. There was also their annual snowball fight, which Faith had won nearly every year since the tradition had been started. Afterwards, they'd go inside for BB's exquisite and gourmet cocoa. Then they'd enjoy the Christmas specials on TV, since they were the only shows on. Faith would yammer on about how she thought cancelling her favorite shows were wrong. Sooner or later, BB and Cy would pull out the old mistletoe and and caught Faith and Robin under it. Soon after, they'd all settle down and enjoy a movie. Like good little boys and girls, they'd all go to bed around 10pm.
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While everyone else was asleep, Robin was outside channel surfing. Obviously, he couldn't sleep because he knew that tomorrow morning, Faith would be gone.
' Sigh. I'm just going to lose her again. But what can I do? She's already been dead for almost two years! ' he thought.
Little did he know that he wasn't alone in the room. Suddenly, Faith appeared out of nowhere and hopped onto his lap, causing him to drop the remote.
" Hey! " he said with a smile.
" What're you doing still up? "
" What about you? "
" I'm bringing out the gifts for you guys. I can't trust BB...Remember last time, he peeked! " she replied, putting her arms around his neck.
" Here, " he handed her her gift, " Open it. "
' I hope she likes it. ' he prayed silently.
" Now? " she looked so eager.
" Yep. "
Faith tore at the wrapping and then there was a sharp intake of breath. She held up the silver anklet and looked at Robin.
" It's beautiful! " she whispered.
On front of the band it read, I love you, with a snowflake in front of the I and after the you. On the back it read, Robin Faith.
" I had it made just for you, " he took the piece of jewelry out of her hands, " Give me your foot. I'll help you put it on. "
She nodded and lifted her leg. It fit perfectly and matched her outfit, a white halter top with a matching skirt and stilettos.
" I love you! " she gave Robin a squeeze.
" I love you too, " he returened the squeeze, " Where's my gift? " he asked her.
" I didn't put it under the tree yet, because you're still awake! " she poked him for emphasis.
" So? "
" Robin, I have one more Christmas wish, " she began, " Actually, it's more of a question..."
" Shoot "
" What color eyes do you have? " she leaned in on him as if that would enable her to see through his mask.
" Why do you want to know? " he seemed kinda nervous.
" I mean, I've never been able to look into your eyes fully, " she stared at him, " And..."
" Well okay, but just for a second. " he agreed.
" Really!? Cool! " Faith reached for his mask. She slowly began to peel it off.
" So... " he sounded uneasy.
" Whoa..." She gazed into the depths of his crystal blue eyes, " You're eyes are incredible. Almost the same color as mine. "
' It's like a whole new perspective into him...' she thought.
" I know, I meant about the color. "
He quickly slipped his mask back on.
" Now, bed! " she insisted with a tiny shove.
" Okay okay! "
As soon the boy was out of sight, Faith took their presents out of hiding and began to arrange them under the tree.
" Maybe I should hide BB's gift in the tree...That outta teach him to not peek. " she muttered to herself as she nestled the gift in the branches.
She finished around 11:50 pm and then settled down to the side to write her letter to the Titans. ' What to say, what to say...' she pondered while tapping her pen. In the 10 minutes she had left, she quickly scribbled down what she had to say. Then she curled up beside the Christmas tree and fell asleep. Around 11:58 pm, Robin came in to check up on the goddess and found her soundly asleep.
He chuckled. " I love you so much Fai, " he stroked her cheek gently, " So much that'd I'd give anything for you to stay permanently. But that's not going to happen. "
He got up and retrieved a blanket for her. He lovingly tucked her in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. At that moment, a particular song crossed his mind :
I don't want another pretty face
I don't want just anyone to hold
I don't want my love to go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul
You're the one I wanna chase
You're the one I wanna hold
I wont let another minute go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul
I know that you are something special
To you I'd be always faithful
I want to be what you always needed
Then I hope you'll see the heart in me
I don't want another pretty face
I don't want just anyone to hold
I don't want my love to go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul
You're the one I wanna chase
You're the one I wanna hold
I wont let another minute go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul.
" The past two days you've been asking me, what did I want, and you gave it to me, " he brushed her hair out of her face, " Love and faith. I was so lonely before I met the other Titans. But when you came, you gave me what they couldn't and that's all I ever wanted. Then you left, you died. I lost faith in almost everything. I blamed your death on myself. I thought fate had turned cruel on me. But I was wrong, all I had to do was believe. "
Then another song passed through.
Because you live and breathe
Because you make me believe in myself
When nobody else can help
Because you live girl
My world...
Has twice as many stars in the sky
It's all right. I survived. I'm alive again.
'Cause of you, made it through every storm
What is life? What's the use?
If you're killing time
I'm so glad I found an angel
Someone who...
Was there when all my hopes fell
I wanna fly looking in your eyes
Faith smiled in her sleep, as if she had heard his every word. He sighed and exited the room.
' I know Robin, I know. ' She opened her eyes, ' Well, it's time for Nina to re-enter the stage.'
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" Nina, it's time. " Faith awoke the girl.
" Oh, hi! How was it? " she asked.
" Better than I would have expected. " Faith answered, ' Oh, and Gizmo called you a srum muffin toe licking fire goddess. "
Faith's image slowly began to fade and fizzle out.
" He what?! No wait -- " But the former Titan was gone.
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As clocks struck twelve throughout the city, Nina was returned. In an explosion of red, orange, and yellow light, Nina replaced Faith's spot under the tree.
----------------------------------Nina's Point Of View--------------------------------------------------
" Hey Nina, " Someone shook me, " Wake up! It's Christmas! "
" Huh? Wha? " I rubbed her eyes to find Beast Boy standing above me in a santa suit.
Not something I needed to see in the morning. Not something I'd ever think of seeing in the morning.
" PRESENTS! " he beamed.
" It's morning already? " I asked.
" Yup! Come on! Get up! " he urged.
The others filed in all at once. They all seemed fine to the fact that Faith was gone. This is a bit queer... I got up and greeted my friends. Beast Boy was already sorting the gifts and finished.
" NO WAY! " He yelled, " I'm missing one! "
" Isn't Christmas not about the gifts? " said Robin with a point.
" Yeah B! Where's your holiday spirit? " Cyborg teased.
" Christmas already. " Raven flatly.
I looked at the piles of neatly organized presents to find that I had a pile. I hopped over and found that each of the Titans and Faith had gotten me a gift. The gift the awed me the most was Faith's. It was her communicator and attached to it was a note that read :
Nina,
This may come in use someday. I mean, where I'm going it's no use of to me. So keep it and when's there's trouble, you know who to call. I don't know if you're going to leave or not, but they'd love it if you stayed!
Love,
Faith
Wow. She's giving it to me. This is great and such an honor! Right then, in my head, I swear I heard Faith saying, ' Thank You '. Was that just me or real? I shrugged it off and joined the others in opening their gifts. When Robin was preparing to open his gift from Faith, we all crowded around him.
" Do you mind? " he was probably rolling his eyes behind his mask.
" Be nice, Santa's watching. " joked BB weakly.
Robin sighed and began to peel off the wrapping. Everyone gasped at what was inside.
" Now I remember, she wasn't wearing it the whole time she was here! " Cyborg recalled.
" Yes, her neck was bare! " Starfire nodded in agreement.
" She never took that thing off. " Raven added bluntly.
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Songs :: Beautiful Soul and Because You Live
Artsit :: Jesse McCartney
These two songs just seemed to fix right into the mood...