Chapter 2

What Is Christmas?

As they approached the Baskar tribe, the drifters were greeted than none other Shane Carradine, Gallows little brother. Jet was getting off his horse until he saw Gallows standing by him, probably still angry that Jet kicked Virginia. For the sake of his bones, Jet quietly reamined on his horse until Gallows moved.

"Welcome my friends! Oh how we've missed you so!" Shane exclaimed and ran up to hug his older yet dumber brother. "I believe the battle with Beatrice went smoothly?"

Before Clive could give a full detalied explaination as usuall, Gallows had already began talking. "Oh Shane you shoulda been there! It was amazing! Beatrice was all like "I'm gonna win" and we were all like "Yeah right!" And like it was sooo like cool, the way like we kicked her ass!" He stopped and grinned, leaving Shane speechless. Smiling weakly he turned to Clive, hoping he could get it Gallow's like explaination translated.

"The fight went well," Clive finally commented, "but we are so short on money after spending all of it on upgrading our weapons and buying various healing berries. And we need some place to rest where we don't need to pay." He gestured towards Virginia, who was still on her horse sleeping.

Without a word, Shane nodded and beckoned them to come inside his warm cozy hut. Gallows slowly went up to Virginia and carried her the rest of the way towards the hut. But before Shane reached for the door, he turned around and laid his eyes on Jet. "Aren't you coming?" He asked him. Clive and Gallows turned around as well, and stared at Jet, who was still on his horse. They all stared him down until he finally spoke.

"Yeah yeah yeah, I'm coming." Jet mumbled and got of his horse, so the caretaker would take the remaining horse to the barn. Once he was off, the four drifters walked to the hut.

"Gallows Carradine!" A familiar voice echoed across the bedroom. "You'd better have a good reason for dropping in here at a time like this!" the voice screeched once more.

"Hi Granny." Gallows mumbled as Halle entered the kitchen, where all of them were seated, waiting for dinner, except Virginia, who was resting in one of the spare bedrooms. "I've missed you too." He got up and walked towards her to give her a nice "hello" hug.

WHACK!

Gallows staggered back rubbing his sore head and looked at Granny with an innocent expression. Again as he looked harder. he saw that she had her old handy dandy cane with her. An icy glare was sent his way. "What are you trying to do!" She screamed. "If you wanted to crush my bones with that hug, wait till i have my own ARM so that i can shoot you with it!"

The former priest looked taken aback, but knowing Granny he sighed. "I'm sorry Granny." He apologized.

Shit. I should've known better!

"Well you'd better be, or I'd have you stay longer so that i can teach you a few good manners!" Suddenly she clutched he cane once more. "With interest." Looking back at the rest of them, she put on her happy face. "Why Clive! I haven't seen you in ages! And Jet too!" She ran up to the both of them and gave them both a friendly hug. Peering around the room, she frowned. "But where's Virginia?"

All three of them exchanged glances. Not wanting to infuriate her about the trip, they all decided to keep their improvised story. "She's asleep right now." Clive replied. "It was a long trip."

"And an annoying one too." Jet grumbled, letting Gallows give him death glares.

"Oh that's a shame." Shane answered. "I do hope the next trip will be a better one."

"Probably Gallows had something to do with it." Halle growled, turning to face Gallows.

"Please don't look at me that way Granny. I didn't do nothing!" Gallows exclaimed, stepping back.

Clive decided to intervene. "Why don't we forget that mishap, and have some dinner?" Besides, Halle can beat up Gallows later. I'm starving.

They all agreed and sat down to enjoy a precious meal made by Shane himself.

3 hours later...

"Wow Shane, that was an excellent meal." Clive said, patting his full tummy lightly. "I hope you weren't planning on making dessert."

"No I wasn't, so you don't have to worry!" Shane answered warmly. "I figured that all you three would be full with my meals. I have an enormous knack for making a little too much. I do hope all of you enjoyed my cooking."

"Yuuuuummmmy!" Gallows said, burping a couple of times, which made him get two bruises on his leg by Halle. "I love your cooking Shane. Hope you can cook for us till we leave!"

"Oh yes, I would be happy to brother!" Shane cried in delight. "But you must insist on staying for a couple of weeks!"

"We would Shane, but unfortunately, we still have to do a couple of missions for some of the people we met on our journeys." Clive explained. "But we will be returning on a regular basis."

"You must not go yet! I insist!" Halle said. "I think you should spend the holidays here. Not somewhere out in the desert!"

That's when Clive chocked. "Pardon me, but i believe you said holidays?"

"Have you forgotten all ready?" Halle yelled, but in a mannerful way. "I mean Christmas! It's only a week and a half away!"

Clive and Gallows looked dumbfounded.

"WHAT!"

While Jet sat in his chair calmly, he would much rather be upstairs than here Gallows and Clive screaming and buzzing around the hut like maniac flies.

"Oh my goodness oh my goodness!" Clive squeaked walking back and forth around the kitchen. Caitlin and Katherine must be expecting me for Christmas! Oh my! The presents! I must get the presents! Oh no! It will take weeks for the presents to arrive! The shame is unbearable!"

"Shit! Christmas! Oh crap! We have absoloutely no money! Now who's gonna buy me presents?"

On the other hand, Jet thought, just watching them scatter about it actually entertaining.

"The presents!"

"Kaitlin!"

"The money!"

"Catherine!"

"The christmas tree!"

"The stockings!"

"Oh shame!"

"No presents for me!"

Okay...this is getting old.

"Would you both just SHUT UP!"

Clive and Gallows immedietly stopped.

Jet was outta his chair, with his fists wrapped in tight balls, his teeth were clenching, and his eyes were twisted with annoyance. "Can-you- guys-just-calm-down!" He was just about ready to explode.

Shane finallt stood up. "Jet's right you know." Shane said. "The tree won't be a problem because we already got one. Halle is already knitting the stockings. Money isn't a problem because people around Baskar will give you all work to do to earn some gella. And there are a lot of shops down here, so i believe presents won't be a problem." He suddenly turned to Clive. "You needn't worry, because i suspected your family would be lonely for Christmas, so about a week ago, i sent them a letter, inviting them down here to celebrate christmas with us. They will be arriving this weekend." Clive let out a sigh of relief. "There will be a guide leading them here so they won't get lost either."

Gallows spoke up."How do you even know them?"

"Apparently, they sometimes would some here for our monthly celebrations. You were usually never here at the time. So I've talked to them as well." Shane smiled kindly and turned around to do the dishes.

Halle stood up as well, and started ti head out. "If you need any questions, I'll be outside gardening. But I suggest you get a good nights sleep. That way you can start earning money first thing in the morning." And with that she opened the door and left.

Jet snorted and headed upstairs. "No way I'm gonna spend my time off working for people." He started walking up the stairs until he heard Clive speak.

"Well Jet, I believe that is your choice, but a word of caution. Christmas is about holiday cheer and fun, so don't ruin it for all of us."

Jet shook his head and sighed. "Why would i even be celebrating with you dopes? I have better things to do in my life than watch Gallows and you get drunk."

"Hey, watch it punk!" Gallows threatened. "Or perhaps would you like to settle this outside?"

"If it has to deal with talking to you, than I'm out." Leaving Gallows in an angry matter, Jet headed towards the second bedroom, because Virginia was in the first.

Walking in Jet started cursing. Gallows and Clive had already put their stuff in the cabinets, and beds. So that meant...Jet shuddered. He'd be sharing a room with Virginia.

Heading towards the first spare bedroom, Jet already realized that Virginia was already up. She was sitting at the edge of her bed, clutching her stomach and staring out the window.

"Hi." She said as Jet walked in quietly.

Not answering, he looked at her, then looked away. He walked over to his side of the bed and continued to put his stuff away.

Virginia held her breath, waiting for him to speak. A couple minutes passed, but he still said nothing. So Virginia tried to carry the conversation.

"Christmas is coming up." Jet stood up and faced her. Atleast this caught his attention.

"Yeah, so?"

"Aren't you excited?"

Jet shrugged. "Should I be?"

Virginia smiled kindly. "Of course you should be! It's so fun and cheerful."

"The two things i suck at." Jet replied and lied on his bed, relaxing, not caring where this chat went.

"Don't say that Jet, you can be good at it. You just have to like it, that's all."

The sliver haired boy closed his eyes and sighed deeply. "What's to like about it? From the commotion downstairs, i don't think it's that fun. Just an excuse to get wasted in my opinion."

Virginia stood up and glared. "Is that what you think Jet Enduro?" Virginia demanded. "An excuse to get wasted? That's not what Christmas is about at all."

Jet frowned and sat up, gazing into her deep blue eyes, that made his throat get stuck. But he got these two words out just before he saw those caring, beautiful, ocean eyes. "Enlighten me."

Grinning, Virginia paced around Jet, just wanting to hug him, and hope it will change his inner heart forever. Heck like that will happen. She thought. I bet he doesn't even like me. But she decided to try anyways.

"Christmas is about giving things to other people that they don't expect. It doesn't have to be wrapped in a package at all either. It's about love, friendship, caring, and a time of sharing and having fun. You need to be there when Christmas comes. Because I cannot really explain it. You'll Just have to figure it out for yourself." She smiled warmly and suddenly left the room, leaving Jet on the bed, just laying there to ponder on the things she just said.

"Feh, Christmas is stupid." Jet said to himself. "I don't need Christmas at all. Just me and my gella pouch." He quickly undressed into his shirt and pants, and got under the covers to go to sleep. Thinking to himself, is gella all he wanted. He shook his head. But still, it felt like something was missing...something, warm and caring and lovely and-

"Shit." Jet cursed. "Virginia get the hell outta my head with this stupid lovey dovey stuff." He paused. "And that stupid holiday as well." He then noticed that Virginia didn't even demand a apology after what happened this morning. Maybe he should apologize. He thought harder. "Nah, that's for sissies." Trying to sleep, Virginia still kept on popping into his mind, which caused him to get very frustrated,

But this state of mind put him right back where he started.

WHAT IS CHRISTMAS?

A/N: ooooooooo. wat's gonna happen next? Don't mind the spelling of Clives family, just sorta got mixed up is all. well, do u think Jet's gonna figure out this dilemma by himself? Or is that certain female gonna help? Chapter 3 is still in progress! It will be done soon though!