Alone at last. With my uniform replaced by a comfy, warm dress I could hear Tech and Rev starting to work on something in the lab while Ace started battling Slam in the virtual trainer. Duck was out on the town doing who-knows-what on Christmas Eve so I had the lounge to myself with a gorgeous, giant Christmas tree standing tall and ready to be decorated. No one would be around for a while. Standing with my hands on my hips I excitedly studied the tree I'd barely gotten together by myself before glancing at several boxes sitting around it on the floor.

"Of all the things I had to be old-fashioned about..." I mumbled before picking up my music blaster to switch on my playlist. "The guys will love it though."

We'd never had a tree in HQ. I missed it and the guys did too so this year I found the perfect sized one and waited for exactly the right moment I could get it up and surprise them. It finally came. As my Christmas beats started, I moved to the light control panel on the wall to cast the entire lounge in darkness aside from the few city lights reaching our high windows. With a skip to my step, swaying, and twirling I returned to the tree to flick the switch on its lights. It glittered. Illuminating the whole lounge in warm, white light from top to bottom as I bobbed to my music beneath it.

"Perfect."

Turning with a pop of my knee, I yanked the first box close. Full of ribbon and bows I sorted through it deciding which color to wrap around the tree. Green. Red. Blue. Silver. Deciding to start from the top I grabbed a chair from the kitchen table. I was still too short but determined to decorate I stretched and successfully tucked the thick, silver ribbon into the tree to begin winding it around through its branches, moving the chair only a few inches at a time to reach the top. Bobbing and spinning to the beats despite the hazardous footing my music filled my mind as I worked the ribbon down the tree in a spiral until ending it at the bottom. Satisfied with its placement, I rummaged further through the box to pull out the star next. I glanced at the treetop.

"I can do it."

Repositioning my chair, I slid it as close to the tree as I could. Then added a small box. Climbing, star in hand, I balanced near perfectly as I stretched to reach the very top. I connected the power cord first making the star glow in my eyes, blinding my slightly, before reaching further to set it on the tip-top of the tree.

"Almost... Got it..."

With a small lunge I plunked it down. "Got it!"

The box tipped. It slipped away as I squeaked, bracing for impact against the floor when I hit something warm and soft that grunted but held me against him. Still cringing, I slowly opened my eyes. Ace smirked down. Wearing a button-down shirt sitting open over grey sweats, he cradled me in his arms while trying to stifle a laugh.

"So this is what yer doin' up here..."

"What are you doing up here? I thought you were training?"

I scanned the lounge. We were alone. Relieved, I crossed my arms as I glowered at him intruding on my Christmas surprise. He shrugged with a sweet smile, still holding me tight.

"Slam wanted ta play games with Duck when he came back so they're in Duck's room now. I was gonna read but I heard yer music playin' so I figured I'd see what ya were doin'. I like the outfit."

I glanced down at my dress. Made of a red, knit sweater material with white stripes around the waist, it hung off my shoulder and hugged my curves. My white shorts barely peaked under the hem sitting halfway down my thighs. When I looked back up I caught Ace's eyes trailing over me before he averted them to the floor. I felt my cheeks warm.

"Thanks. I was feeling festive and I wanted to surprise you guys with the tree. As a gift I guess."

"It looks gorgeous, Lex." The grey bunny gently bit his bottom lip before asking, "Do you need a hand? I miss decoratin' too and apparently someone has to be here to catch ya."

Ace gently set me down on the floor. I held his shoulder as I found my balance.

"It only happened because of the star so don't get your hopes up."

"Is that a yes then?"

With a roll of my eyes his smile widened.

"The ornaments are next."

Grabbing the largest of the boxes we dragged it closer. I hopped back onto my chair. Several ornaments in hand I placed them as high as I could safely reach while the grey bunny dug through the box beneath me to start handing them to me as I started swaying to my music again. He eyed me amorously.

"Every color?"

Hopping down, I shoved the chair further along the tree. "Every color. Not just the round ones either. Every ornament."

We coated the tree in balls, bells, cones and every decorative shape and size ornaments came in. In pink. Red. Blue, purple, yellow, and green. We could hardly fit any more ornaments on it as they shone in the lights but there were still a few open spaces near the very top just below the star. I stared at them with the last of the shiny and glittery ornaments hanging from my fingers. Ace smirked.

"Ya gonna try the box again?"

"I could get a heavier one this time," I suggested with resolve and searched the room for something heavier when the leader suggested instead, "Or I could just lift you?"

Startled, I turned as he glanced to the tree before motioning for me to get closer.

"Are you sure?"

My heart started hammering. Thank god he wasn't the one with super hearing as he took my wrist to guide me closer to the tree.

"I'll lift ya onto my shoulder. If you're okay wit that?"

"Yeah. Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I laughed nervously but quieted when the leader's hands rested gently on my waist.

"Ready?"

"On two," I ordered, bracing myself. "One, two!"

I jumped and he lifted, gracefully guiding me onto his shoulder and clamping his arm around my legs as he held me. I leaned my hand on his shoulder to balance. When we were steady I sat up, him still holding my legs as I held the ornaments.

"Now try not ta fall, will ya?"

"What, scared I'll make you fall too?"

With a chuckle, Ace carried me to the tree for me to start placing the last of the ornaments around the star at the very top.

"It's too late for that," Ace mumbled under his breath making me stop and look down at him.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Ready for more ornaments?"

I scoffed. "Sure. If you can reach them without falling yourself."

He handed me the last of the ornaments and without putting me down grabbed another, smaller box filled with silver, glittered birch tree branches. He began handing them up to add to the tree. Then we added strings of beads. Starting at the top and following between the thick ribbon we wove the beads around the tree from top to bottom, moving carefully around the base to not lose balance. I placed the strings meticulously as Ace held the coil in his free hand with the other still securely wrapped around my legs.

"Getting tired yet?" I paused to glance at him below me and received a smile in return.

"Of you? Never."

Feeling another blush rise in my cheeks I let the last of the beads fall and Ace placed them along the bottom of the tree. He took a step back. Still holding me on his shoulder we admired our work as the large tree glittering with lights and color dazzled in front of the windows overlooking the city. Ace gently squeezed my thigh.

"It looks great, Lex."

I rested my hand on his shoulder. "Yeah. We did a pretty good job. I hope the rest of the guys like it though."

The lounge doors opened. Ace turned, keeping me perched on his shoulder as Tech and Rev entered the room. Their eyes grew wide. Staring up at the tree in awe as smiles spread across their faces. Tech waggled his eyebrows at Ace while the roadrunner became a blur of excitement, dashing around the tree with blasts of speed.

"Lexi,-Ace-this-is-absolutely-amazing!-I've-missed-having-a-tree-so-so-much!-This-is-positively-absolutely-definitely-the-best-thing-"

Tech caught the road runner's beak with a smug smile, earning a muffled grumble from the bird. "It looks amazing, guys. You did a great job."

Ace glanced at me on his shoulder. "It was Lexi's idea."

"I hope you guys like it." I shrugged as Rev beamed.

He shook his beak free and dashed from the room to return a moment later with Slam, his hands clenched around an invisible controller as he plopped onto the lounge floor in confusion. The tree quickly caught his attention before Duck appeared at his side with a look of rage on his face while tossing nothing at the floor.

"You cheated you big- Wait..." The mallard glanced around scratching his head before noticing the glowing tree before him.

"Look-what-Lexi-did!"

Slam's fingers wove together. "Purdy..."

The mallard stared at the tree for a few moments before crossing his arms and shaking his head.

"Yeah, great. Tree. Very pretty. Am I still gonna see the T.V. with that thing on?"

Rev, Tech, and Slam threw Duck a glare as he shrugged his shoulders.

"What?"

Expecting as much from the duck I rolled my eyes before feeling Ace's hand take a gentle hold of my wrist and the other unwound from my legs to take the other. With him bracing me I hopped to the floor and strode away to the kitchen. Tech and Rev threw him small smirks.

"I think this calls for a party," Tech proposed. "Any takers?"

I hesitated in the kitchen doorway as Rev added, "Christmas-P-J-Party!"

Slam was all for it with a happy growl as Rev turned to Ace.

"I'll-go-and-get-snacks!-Lots-of-chips-and-dip-and-veggies-and-oeur-d'oeuvres-"

"Call Zadavia and invite'er too," Ace mentioned, "And take Slam with you, Rev. You'll haul twice as much."

"Great-idea!-Let's-go-Slam."

The devil squealed and giggled excitedly before they both took off from the lounge. Tech made his way to the team room.

"I'll give Zadavia a call."

Duck watched the coyote leave before turning his eyes on us.

"I ain't going to a lame Christmas pajama party in our own tower, thank you very much."

Ignoring him I slipped into the kitchen. I started myself some coffee as I listened to him and Ace.

"But Duck, you've got that new karaoke machine you got fer yer birthday. Now would be a great time ta show off that mad talent to the boss lady..."

I stifled a laugh hearing the duck's silence and madly beating heart.

"Why didn't you say so! I'll set it up right now."

He quacked out. Ace chuckled to himself as I mixed my coffee and another one poured into his mug. When they were done I carried them both into the lounge where our leader had wandered closer to the tree to admire it. He turned as I approached, no doubt smelling the caffeine.

"Fer me?"

I handed him the warm mug as I set mine on the table by the lounge couches.

"A thank you. I probably wouldn't have been able to decorate everything myself in time to make it a surprise. And you know, catching me."

Mustering up a shred of courage I took his hand and planted a kiss on his cheek. His heart rate leaped. Ace stared at me stunned for a moment before he smiled bashfully.

"What are friends for?"

I distracted myself by looking at the tree with all the ornaments reflecting the lights and sparkles shimmering while Ace twined his fingers in mine. His eyes were still on me. He gave me a gentle tug to make me face him again as he gazed down at me, his smile gone.

"Or more than friends?"

My heart skipped. His raced faster than Rev. I gave him a small smile and couldn't stop my eyes flicking to his lips before lowering my gaze to hide my face. His free hand reached for my cheek when Duck quacked into the lounge with his karaoke machine in his hand. I jumped away from Ace. The leader gritted his teeth in annoyance as I heard Tech curse under his breath in the other room. Peaking over my shoulder he spied from the doorway.

"Zadavia's gonna love this!" Duck sang as he strutted toward the entertainment system completely oblivious to us.

I turned back to Ace. I nervously clasped my hands behind myself as he stared daggers at the mallard's back before timidly glancing my way. I shrugged with a small smile.

"Or more."

Feeling like my heart would bust I picked up my coffee to have a seat on the couch before I imploded. Our leader's heart rate remained racing but he smiled before joining Tech who also stepped back into the room. The coyote gave the rabbit a gentle punch to the arm.

"Still routin' for you, Chief."

Rev and Slam returned next. They burst into the lounge carrying enough shopping bags of food to feed a circus and made their way to the kitchen to start unpacking it. Ace, Tech, and I joined in the fray. While Duck set up his machine snacks were poured into bowls. The oven was fired to cook what needed cooking and spare tables were brought out of storage. Slam filled half a table with drinks alone and by the time Zadavia arrived we had two more tables worth of food hot and ready for picking. She entered the lounge in green, fleece pajamas with a smile.

"Evening, Loonatics," she greeted. "I was told this is what would be appropriate for this evening's festivities?"

She caught sight of the tree. Stopping she held her hand to her chin in awe.

"My, my. I've never seen anything so lovely. It's wonderful, Lexi."

"Thanks, Zadavia. Ace helped too."

We exchanged a small glance as the boss lady smiled warmly at us. Before another word could be said Duck quacked to her side to take her hand.

"You've seen nothing yet, Zadavia! Let's grab a bit to eat and then the real party can begin."

With a patient smile, the gorgeous woman let Duck guide her toward the food.

"Pyjama-time!" Rev announced and sped off with Tech and Slam a step behind.

When they returned in their own pajamas, Zadavia, Ace, and I were already sitting on the couch with food as Duck chose his first song. They got plates and joined us. Thankfully the karaoke machine seemed to be malfunctioning as Duck tinkered with it and after whining and complaining Tech offered to help, leaving the rest of us to chat as my music still played.

Settled into the couches surrounding the tree we talked and laughed. Drank. Ace sat close by me and despite being deep in conversation with Zadavia and Rev his arm slid along the back of the couch behind me. Tech noticed with a small smile. When the karaoke machine was finally up and running Duck was the first to start off a karaoke battle which Rev joined. As the night wore on they managed to pull Tech into it too. Zadavia and I won with a Christmas duet though.

We ate more. Drank. Laughed and told stories from past family Christmases all the while Ace kept getting closer. First his arm around me. Then his hand on my shoulder. I got up to get us more food and sat down so close we were wedged together on the couch and he let his hand rest on my thigh. Zadavia also started to notice. She smiled and said nothing as Duck talked off her ear and Rev started poking fun at him about losing in front of her.

When we'd finished the last of the food and the drinks were long gone, our boss was the first to stand from the couches and stretch. Rev yawned along with Slam.

"Tonight has been wonderful, Loonatics. Thank you for inviting me but It's late and I'm afraid you've exhausted me beyond belief. We should all head to bed."

"I agree." Tech stood and stretched. "I need to keep working in the lab tomorrow. Merry Christmas everyone."

Zadavia gave the coyote a quick hug followed by Rev and Slam.

"It-was-great-having-ya-here-Zadavia!-We-gotta-do-this-more-often-than-just-for-Christmas,"

"I agree, Rev. Goodnight."

The three dragged their feet from the room as Duck sadly approached our boss. Still sitting on the couch, Ace and I watched trying to hide our sniggers.

"Do you have to go already? How about one more song?"

Zadavia smiled down at the mallard and pat his head. "Thank you, Duck, but I feel as though we're all ready to turn in for the night. Goodnight and Merry Christmas to you."

She gave him a hug. The duck happily sighed and when she let him go began sleepily walking toward the door. She finally turned to us and smiled.

"Your tree is beautiful, Lexi. Please leave it up. I'd like to see it again before the season is out."

"Sure thing, Zadavia. Thank you. And Merry Christmas."

"You too, Lexi. And Ace?"

"Yes Ma'am?"

The woman gave him a knowing smile. "Be good."

Giggling I covered my mouth as Ace when quiet. Zadavia turned and left leaving us the last ones in the lounge with the tree casting its warm glow over the room. Silence ensued. Setting my empty drink glass on the table I stood from the couch and turned my music on again. Softer Christmas melodies played quietly as I walked to my tree. I tinkered with one of the branches to fix a bead that had fallen off when Ace stopped beside me. Hugging myself I sighed. I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas.

"Not tired after all that singin'?"

Ace rested his arm around me. Smiling, I nodded before resting my head on his shoulder.

"Exhausted. But this has been the best Christmas I've had in years. No one even tried to steal anything this year."

"Ya sure?"

Ace smiled down at me. Playfully I pushed his face away before we gazed at the tree, neither of us wanting to move. The grey rabbit was warm and snug with his arm wrapped around me as I leaned against him under his arm.

"We should get ta bed," the leader sighed as he turned to look at me again. "No doubt Slam and Rev will wanna have Christmas dinner tomorrow so we'll need our strength."

"That sounds wonderful. One thing first, though."

Ace Bunny turned to me curiously. Reaching for him before my nerves got to me, I touched my hand to his cheek and gave him a gentle kiss. Feeling him freeze I pulled away but he clutched my arms to guide me back to him. Cradling my neck he returned the kiss. Soft and cautious, I didn't want it to end as he held me close and brushed his fingers across my fur. When we pulled away he smiled down at me with a lopsided, happy grin.

"Merry Christmas, Ace."

The grey bunny wrapped his hands around my waist, linking his fingers together while I rested my hands on his warm chest.

"Merry Christmas, Lex."

Raising a hand the leader of the Loonatics grazed his fingers down my neck making me giggle. He stifled my laughter with another gentle kiss. Followed by another. And another. Exhausted we made it to the couch where we found ourselves curled up in blankets and pillows while falling asleep in one another's arms. I gazed at the tree casting us in warm light before drifting off after the best Christmas so far.