A/N: So, we're continuing with Christmas eve still, rather than going with my original plan, and having one day per chapter/one chapter per day. What else do I say?

24th of December(continued).

As Ash approached the front door, he sighed, yet again.

"Oh, man, Pikachu. What am I going to do? I need a present for Misty, but how can I get one for her?"

"Pika, Pikachu," he sighed back, followed by Ash giving off another sigh.

"Hey, Ash, you're back late. How come?" his Mom asked.

"Uh, didn't you know? There was a blizzard," he told her.

"What! But Misty's not back yet either!" she yelled.

"What!" Ash yelled back.

"Don worry! I'm back!" they heard Misty's voice say.

"Misty!" Ash cried, pulling her into a hug, but quickly pulled out when he realised what he was doing, then mumbled "Uh, I mean, you're okay!"

"Yeah, I just got caught up, why, is something wrong?"

"Misty! We thought something had happened to you!" Ash cried at her.

"Well I'm fine!" she half shouted. "Anyway, can we watch TV? One of my favourite Christmas specials is on."

So the five of them(three people, two pokemon in case you've forgotten) spent the next hour watching Jimmy the red-nosed Stantler(don't sue!), then when it finished Mrs. Ketchum decided there was time for one more mug of cocoa before bed.

Ash had fallen asleep almost instantly when he had lain down, and he wouldn't ever remember how, although he guessed his excitement must have been cancelled out by his anxiety about not having a present for Misty. Even though he had fallen asleep quickly however, he wanted to wake up immediately, due to nightmares, all of them including Misty telling him that she didn't want to be his friend anymore because she didn't get a present from him(A/N: And that was the cleaned up version so that I don't have to change the rating).

"Ash? Ash, wake up!"

Ash could here someone calling his name, and despite the fact that he'd only just fallen asleep within the past few hours, he definitely didn't mind obliging.

"Huh? Huh? What's going on? Why's it so dark?" he called out into the black, and a few moments later he heard(and saw) the light turn on, and quickly closed his eyes, because he had just seen you-know who.

You don't know who? Oh, for crying out loud…

Santa Claus.

"Ash, are you alright? He asked Ash.

"I-I'm not supposed to see you," Ash told Santa.

"Yeah, well…what's up anyway? You wouldn't stop tossing and turning. Were you having a nightmare?" Santa asked.

"No," Ash answered quickly. Santa however frowned.

"Ash, I don't need to be Santa to know that that's a lie. Now what's wrong."

"Well…Hey! I thought you were supposed to be able to "see me when I'm sleeping" and "Know when I'm awake"," Ash replied.

"Maybe so, but I think it'll do you good to get it off your chest," And with that, Ash launched into the full explanation, and even telling him what he hadn't told anybody before, not even Pikachu, how he felt about Misty.

"…And now, with about eight hours left to go, I haven't got a present for her."

Santa had kept quiet throughout Ash's explanation, but now, he spoke up.

"Hmm. That's quite a pickle you've got there Ash. Mm, pickles, I like pickles, have you ever had a raw pickle, Ash?"

"Umm, yeah, but isn't that getting a bit side-tracked?"

"Oh, right, sorry. Anyway, I think I've got a plan…"

After Santa had told Ash the plan, which he had strongly refused at first, until Santa pointed out that it was his only option, and Santa brought up pickles three more times, it was time for him to go. But Ash had one last question to ask.

"Hey, Santa?" he said, just as Santa was stepping into the fireplace.

"Yeah?"

"I gotta ask. Do you really have extra time to help people with their everyday problems tonight?"

"Hey, you made time for me a few years ago, so now I've made time for you. Merry Christmas!" then Ash blinked, and the next moment, Santa was gone, and another moment and Ash had fallen asleep.

"Hey, sleepy-head! Come on, you gotta wake up! Presents!" and then, Misty jumped on him for the second day in a row, which Ash really didn't need, because at the mention of the word "presents", he had been up like a bolt, which meant that Ash and Misty painfully head-butted each other.

Everybody spent the next half hour opening their gifts. Ash had been given a new pack of underwear from his Mom, which he had quickly hidden as Misty was laughing so hard, a book called "Brocks best pick-up lines from - guess - a training guide from Max, a cuddly toy Pikachu from May, a photo album from Mist, which mainly had photos of just him and Misty, but there were some with Brock, Pikachu, Tracy, Max, and/or May, and he also got a jar of pickles that didn't say who they were from.

Pikachu had been given a bottle of ketchup from everyone, for which he was extremely grateful, except Ash, who managed to find him a book called "What to do if your obsessed with ketchup", which earned him a Thundershock.

Mrs. Ketchum had been given a necklace from Ash(which Misty had helped him buy), and perfume from Misty, and she had gotten a new apron from Mr. Mime, who was delighted.

Misty had been given a book about World War's one and two(who obviously had no idea what she liked), and perfume from Ash's Mom. Now the only thing left was Ash's present…

"Hey Ash, where's your present for me? Don't tell me you've forgotten," Misty laughed.

"Um, right, yeah, hey, could I talk to you upstairs for a minute?" Ash asked her.

"Uh, sure Ash," Misty replied, following him up to his room. "So what is it?" she asked when he had closed the door.

"Um, right, yeah," he said again. "Look, I'm really sorry Mist', but, I did get you a present, but yesterday, in the blizzard, it got blown away, I'm really sorry," he told her, and he could see she was disappointed.

"Oh, don't worry Ash," she said, despite her disappointment. "Its okay-"

"No it isn't!" Ash snapped suddenly, before becoming extremely shy. "You deserve the best, Misty, and anyway - Santa said - and I-I just wanna tell you-"

"Tell me what, Ash?" Misty asked, interrupting.

"I-I like you, okay! I really, really like you, I've liked you for ages, years even!" he said, panting. "Anyway, I gotta go now…" he told her, turning towards the door, but Misty stopped him.

"Ash, I-I like you too," she whispered.

"You-" Ash began, but Misty stopped him by kissing him. When they finished, Misty said "Merry Christmas, Ash," and Ash said "Merry Christmas, Misty," back, before they kissed again.

"Hey, Misty?" Ash asked eventually.

"Yeah Ash?"

"…"

"Ash?"

"Do you want a pickle?"

A/N: Ten, nine seven, six - wait, I'm early? Well, I wont be when my fic Oh, not another pokemon New Years fic!

And, if anybody wants to see undeniable proof of AAML, follow the link on my profile page.

"And so(Santa said), the moral of the story is EAT PICKLES! Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!"