Author's Notes: Hey, thanks for the reviews! It sure encouraged me and let me know that people are actually reading this. Well, I guess I'll post this chapter, now. This one is my favorite out of the three put up so far. I haven't started writing the next chapter, so I don't know when you should expect it.

Chapter Three: Year 18

It was the night of Christmas Eve, again. Vash was busy filling a well insulated thermos full of milk. On the counter lay a flat package wrapped in red and green striped paper. The card on top read,

"To: 'Santa Clause'

From: Vash"

Finished filling the thermos, Vash put some cloth on his hands and took a batch of cookies out of the oven. When the cookies had cooled enough, he placed them on a large plate and covered it with plastic wrap. He stood back for a moment to admire his work. Yes, this would definitely do.

Vash had thought that if his brother was going to send him gifts even when he was far away, it wouldn't seem right not to send Knives anything in return. And if Knives was going to continue to call himself "Santa Clause", then he would get the cookies and milk that goes with the job.

Vash set the cookies and milk outside on a stand by the front door, and laid the present outside the foot of the entrance. This Christmas wouldn't be lonely at all. Vash had invited a couple of friends to come over then for chess and card games. The plant sighed contently as he went off to go to bed. Christmas was, once again, his favorite time of year.

The golden-haired plant awoke the next morning and got dressed. His guests would be here any minute. Soon enough, there was a knock at the door. Vash walked over and opened it. Outside stood two tall men.

"Hey Vash," the taller of the two men grinned, waving a bottle of whiskey, "Look what I brought!"

"Hey, Bryan. Keith," Vash nodded to the other man who appeared to be looking at something.

Keith spoke up as he entered the house, "Hey, you have a package out there."

"Ah," Vash acknowledged as he went to bring it in. Picking up the present, Vash smiled as he noticed that the cookies and milk were gone.

'Gah. Note to self: Next time use cheaper dishes,' he thought as he realized the plate and thermos were gone as well.

When Vash came back in and set the present on the table, the guys were already pouring the whiskey and dealing the cards.

"Who's it from?" Bryan leaned over to read the card on the package as Vash sat down. "Santa Clause? …Vash, do you have a secret admirer?" he grinned teasingly.

Vash blushed, "Wha?! No! It's from my brother!"

"Oh!" Bryan laughed at his own misinterpretation.

"You have a brother? I always thought you were an only child," commented Keith.

Vash shook his head, "Nope. I've got a twin brother."

"A twin?! That must be really cool," Bryan remarked.

Vash thought for a moment. "Yeah, I guess it is pretty cool," he agreed.

"So are you gonna open it, or what?" asked Bryan rhetorically.

The plant nodded and began opening his gift. The other two men watched intently as Vash finished and pulled the gift out of its box. Vash laughed out loud. In his hand was a green and orange striped tie. He didn't know his brother had that kind of a sense of humor! It was a pleasant surprise.

Bryan cracked up and Keith chuckled.

"A gag gift! Man, if I ever met your brother, I think I would really like him!" Bryan said, snickering.

"Uh…heh," Vash refrained from commenting that his brother would most likely kill Bryan on the spot.

The plant tied the tie around his head, letting it hang to the side of his face goofily, and took a gulp of his whiskey, "Alrighty, let's get this game started."

Keith dealt the cards, and the three men started their card game.

Knives sat in his chair at a computer console, typing away at the controls.

A voice broke the silence from the other side of the door, "Boss…"

The platinum blonde turned his chair around, "Come in, Shadow."

A man covered in black clothing stepped into the room and knelt in front of his boss. Knives waited expectantly for his gofer's news.

"This was left outside Vash's house," the black-clad man handed up a striped package.

Knives blinked in surprise. Somewhat stupefied, he took the present that was offered to him.

As soon as the package left his hand, Shadow continued, "and these, as well." He held up a wrapped plate of cookies and a thermos of milk.

Blankly, Knives took the items and set them on the console and to the side. He lifted the present up to read the card, and his dazed look disappeared. As he put everything together in his mind, an elated grin slowly crept up his face. He paused, noticing his lackey was still in his presence.

Straightening his face to look serious, he turned to face Shadow, again. "You may go now," he ordered.

As soon as the man was gone, Knives' grin spread back into place. His brother had gotten something for him in return. He unwrapped the gift and pulled out a book. The title read The Night before Christmas: a Story from Earth. Interested, he turned to the first page. Taking a bite out of a cookie, he began to read the story.

Author's Notes: Okay, time for some comments. I'm actually not too unhappy about this chapter. I'm glad it isn't even shorter than the ones I've already posted.

Did you think putting the milk in a thermos was weird? Well, if you left it out normally it would probably spoil!

Lolz I couldn't help making Knives give Vash his green and orange tie! It's just too funny!

And yay, we actually get to see Knives this chapter! I know I don't put enough of him in, but sometimes it just doesn't fit with the part of the story.

Were you expecting to see Legato? Sorry, he's not born yet! oO Remember, the twins are only eighteen years old…which I think sounds kinda weird.

Wow, I have three original characters in this chapter. I doubt you'll ever see any of these characters again; my apologies if that is disappointing. So, who is Shadow? He works for Knives, specializing in stealth (Hence the name "Shadow." --;). He wouldn't want to get caught while delivering presents giggles! Does he get paid? I dunno! I guess that depends if the Gung-Ho Guns get paid.

Mega huge time jump next chapter. I would put more in between those times, but I don't have any ideas that would make it interesting enough.

Sorry if anyone is out of character in this fic. And please let me know if anything in here is inconsistent with the anime. Now please R and R! It really lifts my spirits to get feedback!