A/N: I guess this is a Christmas oneshot that's...three days late. Set immediately after the events of Comfort and Joy. So I guess another warning would be a reference to a particular item mentioned in Alien v2 Chapter 24.

A single green orb descended into the stratosphere of the planet Earth. The two occupants of said sphere were bruised yet in rather good spirits despite this. The Thanagarian, more so than the Green Lantern, was amused by the day's events. It was well into the evening when the two had returned to Earth from their off-world skirmish.

"I guess we didn't get back to Earth in time for Christmas," Shayera stated with a somewhat sympathetic look on her face. "Perhaps my bar idea wasn't the best after all."

John waved her off, "It's fine Shay. Trust me I never had an action-packed Christmas like the one we had. Admittedly it was actually fun."

Shayera smirked and lightly elbowed him, "See? I told you it would be fun."

John likewise smirked as he released the bubble around them as they now descended into the troposphere, "Yeah your version of fun tends to involve a lot of violence."

"Says the one who started a snowball fight," she retorted.

John raised an eyebrow, "Snowball fight versus a bar fight, that's hardly a comparison right there."

"Close enough, anyway what are we going to do now? I mean it is getting somewhat late. We left for that snowball of a planet early this morning."

"Technically you could just call it in the middle of the night we left. What was it like two in the morning?"

"Whatever time we left was way too early even for me."

"Now that's saying something given you're up at the crack of dawn."

Shayera shrugged, "Force of habit I suppose. I've always gotten up early. So back to my question Lantern, what are we going to do now?"

"Well," the Green Lantern began with a smirk. "We could go all the way back up to the Watchtower."

"And ruin Batman's quiet time?" Shayera asked with light chuckle. "Plus I don't think the Princess would like that either. She stayed behind with him. I'm sure she's enjoying her time up there immensely."

"What Batman and Wonder Woman?" John questioned before waving a dismissive hand at the Thanagarian. "No way, not in a million years Shayera. Batman is just looking out for Diana. That's all. She's a sheltered princess who doesn't know a lot about the world."

The Thanagarian rolled her eyes, "You're so oblivious."

John frowned, "I am not oblivious."

"You are too," she retorted with a light frown. "Anyway we're not going to the Watchtower. I spend enough of my time there. I've been trying to spend more time down here on Earth and not up in space."

"Whatever fine," John shook his head with some annoyance. "So either Detriot or Midway City. Your choice."

"It's only fair we go to Detriot since we went to my place last time. Plus you get to teach me more about this Christmas stuff."

"You never tried to learn about Christmas at all while in Midway City?" John asked her. "It never interested you over the years?"

"Besides the decorated tree and all of the lights, not really," Shayera shrugged. "I never got the whole gist of the fascination with the holidays. I mean besides the whole religion aspect that goes into it. That was rather educational."

"You find the religious aspect of the holiday to be educational?" John asked her with an incredulous look. "How did you even find out about the religious side of it?"

Shayera let out an exasperated sigh, "Just because I'm an atheist doesn't mean I can't read a religious book John."

John raised an eyebrow, "You've read the Bible?"

"It is a book at its core and you know that I like to read," she countered. "Don't sound so surprised. I will say it did take me over two weeks to read through it. I probably could have gotten through it faster if we didn't have any League missions to go on."

"When did you decide to even read the Bible?" John asked her with a raised eyebrow.

Shayera averted her gaze as she lightly frowned, "After the whole Grundy incident."

"Oh," John quietly murmured. He recalled what Diana had told him and how hard Grundy's death had effected Shayera. He was more surprised that the death of the undead villain had impacted her so much that she had even cried.

"I just wanted to understand why," Shayera stated with a sigh as she looked forward. "I still don't understand why Grundy was so happy in the end despite knowing that he was going to die. Aquaman said it was faith but I still don't understand it."

"You're not supposed to," John replied to her. "You just sorta have it."

"That's what Aquaman said as well," she glanced at him. "I still thought I could apply logic to it so I went to the source. I didn't find my answer there either."

"And that's where you went wrong. You shouldn't have tried to apply logic to something like this Shayera. Having faith in something like religion is just," John sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck. "How do I explain this? It's just knowing that someone or something out there exists who created everything in the universe. It's the comfort that it brings to some people that they know there's this all-powerful deity there to protect them. Or put the fear in them if they do something wrong and sin."

Shayera tilted her head slightly, "You seem to know quite a bit about this."

John shrugged and gave her a small smile, "My grandmother used to make me go to Sunday school every week." Seeing the confused look on the Thanagarian's face, John waved her off. "Never mind I'll explain what that is to you another time. Since you know the whole religious aspect that comes with the holidays, I can show you the other side of it."

"Which is?"

"The other true meaning of Christmas," John kissed her cheek. "Spending time with family and loved ones."

Shayera smirked, "I think I can grow to like that."

"Remind me again why I have no warm clothes here?" Shayera complained for the third time within a span of two minutes. "How is it that I've only brought over shorts and t-shirts these past few months?"

"That seems like a you problem that you caused," John replied humorously from his spot on the couch. "You know you get cold easily and you know how cold Michigan gets."

Shayera rolled her eyes as she flopped on the couch next to him and wrapped her arms around his body, "Shut it you smartass."

John involuntarily shivered as soon as her skin made contact with his, "Your hands are freezing Shayera."

"I said shut it. I'll just have to modify one of your sweaters later," Shayera muttered as she pressed her body deeper against his. "What are you watching?"

"This?" John gestured towards the TV with his head. "This is an old movie, It's a Wonderful Life. Basic summary is that this guy wishes he was never born so his guardian angel shows him how different everyone's lives would be if he never did exist."

"Interesting concept," Shayera stated. "I'm going to guess that in the end he saw reasoning that he needed to exist for the whole greater good and all that?"

"Pretty much," John shrugged before glancing down at her. "You know? There is another aspect of Christmas that I do need to teach you about."

Shayera raised an eyebrow as she shifted a bit so that she could look up at him, "Which is?"

"The gift giving side of it," the Green Lantern replied as he managed to worm out of her grasp and got off of the couch.

"Gift giving? Oh that's right you humans..." Shayera's voice trailed off before her eyes widened slightly. "Dammit John, don't tell me you got me something. I didn't get you anything."

John smirked as he walked over to his nightstand, "I figured you weren't going to so don't worry Shayera."

"But it's not fair," Shayera replied as she looked over the back of the couch.

"Let me ask you this then," John started. "Have you ever received a Christmas gift before?"

"No why?" She tilted her head.

"This will be your honorary first Christmas gift then since coming to Earth," John grinned at her. "Now turn around and close your eyes."

Shayera gave him an unamused look, "I'm not a child."

"Just humor me would you?"

Shayera let out a sigh as she turned herself back around on the couch, "Alright fine. Happy now?"

"And close your eyes," the Thanagarian could swear she heard the smirk in his tone. "No peeking."

This time she let out a frustrated groan as she closed her eyes, "Alright my eyes are now closed Lantern. You better have not gotten me something expensive or fancy."

"It's not Shay, I promise," he assured her as he moved behind the couch. "I also want to apologize in advance if this in anyway offends you."

"How would a Christmas gift offend me?"

"Well I don't know what's acceptable on Thanagar compared to Earth when it comes to gifts."

"Trust me John we don't do gifts at all," Shayera paused for a moment. "Honestly John, you don't need to wor-" Shayera stopped herself abruptly as she felt something very light hang around her neck.

Shayera immediately opened her eyes and tentatively touched the necklace that was now hanging around her neck. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She simply blinked a few times as she continued to inspect the necklace. It was a simple, silver heart locket that had the word love engraved on the front. The words 'A simple I love you means more than anything' were engraved on the back.

Finally the Thanagarian gathered herself enough to speak as she stood from the couch, "You didn't need...I mean...I don't deserve...why did you?"

John smirked as he walked around the couch, "I take that reaction as you like it."

"I love it even if I find it to be highly impractical. I mean I can't wear it while fighting bad guys obviously but it's beautiful. I still don't understand why you humans wear jewelry when it can get damaged so easily."

"I take it you don't do jewelry on Thanagar huh?"

"Not at all," Shayera wrapped her arms around him as she softly kissed him. "Thank you John. I guess I could wear it if we go on a more uneventful date."

John smirked as he kissed her back, "I think that can be easily arranged and you're welcome."

Shayera tugged on his arm, "Come on, let's just go to bed. I'm freezing and it's getting late. I want to watch that movie in its entirety tomorrow."

"Sounds fine to me," John reached over to grab the remote so that he could turn off the TV. "Can you at least spare my sweater if I let you have all of the blankets?"

The Thanagarian lightly chuckled as she shook her head, "Not at all Lantern, I'm wearing it to bed. Where are those scissors at?"