Day one for these two... sorry it's kinda down to the Wire for the Twelve days here in the Midwest... I've been a little caught up in some other stuff... but... here's day one of the Twelve days.

Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers... if I did, Merrick and Alyssa would've gotten together for sure!-

Alright, the first day of Christmas… six days early.

Alyssa sighed as she walked to the shop, biting her lip in thought.

She wanted to get the Christmas Spirit in Merrick started now… even if Taylor wanted to make Merrick excited for Christmas on the day.

So, as she walked into the shop, color her surprised when she saw Willie Millard of all people talking to one of the works.

She ducked low and started looking for the Partridge in a Pear Tree Taylor had spoken of the previous day.

She found it, but there was only one left… and it looked pretty expensive.

"No, no, no…" She moaned softly as she looked it over.

"There a problem?"

She turned to see Willie walking over.

"Sorry, Mr. Millard… I was just… there's someone I wanna do the 12 Days of Christmas for…."

"Would that someone be Merrick?" He figured.

Alyssa blinked, "How'd… how'd…."

"I have security cameras, ya know. I've seen the two of you together a lot over the last two days." Willie replied, "Don't worry… I'll keep the secret, and pay for it… you just find a way to give it to him without knowing."

Alyssa nodded before she got an idea, "And I think I know a way how…"

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Merrick was cleaning the table when there was a sudden knock on the door.

He frowned and walked over to it, confused.

Usually, people just walked right in, so hearing a knock on the door was definitely new.

He opened the door but didn't see anyone there… but he did see a box.

To: Merrick Baliton.

Picking it up, he looked for the deliverer for a final time before he shrugged and walked back inside, closing the door all the way behind him.

"What's that you got there?" Willie questioned, nodding to the box.

"Don't know… can you hand me a knife or something?" He requested, "It's addressed to me."

"Sure." Willie gave him a packaging knife.

The Lunar Ranger opened the box and blinked at what was inside.

He pulled it out, surprised.

"A Pear tree figurine?" He frowned.

"I don't think that's all….. Check to see if there's a letter." Willie advised before he left.

Merrick frowned before he looked inside, then pulled out a letter addressed to him in unfamiliar handwriting.

Dear Merrick, you may not know who gave this to you, but I've known you for a while now.

This is Day one of the 12 Days of Christmas, A Partridge in a Pear Tree.

I know it's early, but you deserve a little Christmas joy sooner rather than later.

Signed, A Special Friend.

Merrick read the letter aloud, his voice letting up a bit at the last three words.

"Sounds like someone's got a secret admirer." Willie brought him out of his thoughts.

"What?" Merrick blinked in surprise, "I… I can't…"

"There's nothing wrong with that…. Back in my day I even had a few admirers myself." He assured.

Merrick looked at the gift in surprise, "They got this for me? …Why? It's gotta be expensive."

"Well, it's probably none of my business… but, I think it's because they like you." Willie noted easily, "Sometimes money's just an object with people…. Also, I've heard that was the last one in town… so it must've been very expensive."

"The last one?" Merrick repeated softly, then looked at the gift again, "I just don't get why?"

The door opened again and Alyssa poked her head inside, "Oh… good… it's just you two… uh… Willie, can I borrow Merrick for a bit? Our friends are having a snowball fight and I thought it'd be a good idea to have him along…"

"Go ahead." Willie nodded, "I'll put that gift up."

Alyssa raised a brow, "Gift?"

Merrick shrugged before Willie tossed him a pair of gloves and he followed the White ranger outside. "Don't know how I got it… I just… got it."

Alyssa nodded as they walked over to where the others were already throwing snowballs.

"Here… let me show you how to do it."

Alyssa~ could only hope he liked the gift as she showed him out to make a snowball.

"Alright… just… pick up some snow, pack it together…" She demonstrated the two steps, "Then throw it."

When she did the last step… she threw it and it hit Max on the back of the head.

She put her hand to her mouth as he turned to her.

He threw a snowball back, but she easily ducked, causing it to hit Merrick instead.

Everyone froze before Merrick smiled lightly, got down, and started making a snowball before throwing it back.

Merrick laughed to himself as he did this.

He hadn't played in the snow since he was 13, after that, he was usually on duty being a Warrior.

Now that he could do it again, it felt amazing…

A feeling he didn't want to go away.

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But, when the game was over, he sloshed back into the Roadhouse, and walked to his room, Alyssa following up until his room.

"Thanks for coming out." She breathed softly, her nose tinged red.

Merrick smiled softly, then shook his head, "I haven't had fun like that since I was 13… it's good to do it again… so I should thank you."

Alyssa smiled back, then nodded, "You're welcome."

"Are you gonna show me some other fun holiday activity?" He asked with a slight smile, "I actually enjoyed today."

She shrugged, "I don't know…. But…. Hey… is that the gift you got earlier?"

Merrick looked behind him to see the 'Partridge in a Pear Tree' figurine was on his desk.

He picked it up, nodding, "Yeah… someone gave it to me… but not their name…"

"Secret Admirer?" She suggested.

"That's what Willie thinks." Merrick commented, "But… I don't know… not many people even come through here… girls or guys."

"Maybe it's someone you've met at a store?" Alyssa pointed out, "Or protected…?"

Merrick shook his head, "I don't give my name… they wouldn't have written my name down like they had if it was one of them."

Alyssa nodded softly, "I see… well… who do you want it to be from? That'd be as good a place as any to start."

"Princess Shayla." Was his instant answer, "She still wants me back…"

If he hadn't been looking right at her, he wouldn't have seen Alyssa's face literally drop at the idea.

"Oh… r… right." She let out either way.

"What's wrong?" Merrick stepped up to her, "Who do you think it is?"

"It's not my opinion…" She assured, "I just…. Thought it could be someone else…"

Merrick raised a curious brow, "Who do you think it is?"

Alyssa shook her head quickly, "No one at all… forget I said anything…."

"Too late." Merrick gently took her hand with his free one, "Please tell me."

Alyssa shrugged, then let out, "Maybe…. Me?"

Merrick blinked several times before he shook his head, "No offense, Alyssa…. But I honestly doubt that."

Alyssa looked heartbroken, but he didn't catch it.

Instead, the White ranger nodded, "Oh…. Okay…"

"Do you want some hot chocolate?" Merrick was about to walk out to get it when she stopped him.

"No… I should be getting back to the Animarium anyway….. they'll wonder why I'm gone…" She let out, now wanting to be as far from him as possible.

Merrick frowned, then nodded slowly, "Okay… I'll see you later then?"

"Tomorrow." She replied, then left in a hurry.

She wouldn't say it, but she honestly wished Merrick had thought a little more.

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For what felt like the hundredth time… he looked at the figurine, trying to figure it out.

He'd never seen the handwriting before, and he definitely hadn't seen that many girls coming into the Roadhouse that would know his name.

Heck, for almost three days after he came here, Willie didn't even know his actual name.

With that in mind, he laid down, closing his eyes and rubbing his face in annoyance.

"On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me… a Partridge in a Pear Tree." He whispered the words, then sighed, "Day one… day two would be… on the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me… two Turtle Doves… well, that should be easy… the town's called Turtle Cove…"

But, it took him a second to realize something.

"True love?" He sat up in surprise.

Could that even be possible?

Could… whoever sent this… be his true love?

Alyssa sighed as she looked over a catalog.

"Our town is called 'Turtle' Cove!" She moaned softly, "And there's nothing for Turtle doves!"

"What do you need Turtle Doves for?" Danny walked over to her.

Alyssa looked up, then sighed, "It's a… a gift idea… you know… Twelve Days of Christmas?"

"Oh… yeah… I think the Pet Store's selling Turtle Dove shaped mittens." He recalled.

"That's perfect!" Alyssa grinned, then blinked, "How do you know that?"

"Oh, I was trying to find a present for Kendall, and I happened by them… they're down to their last ten though… so I don't know if you can get them by tomorrow or whatever." He let out.

Alyssa sighed as he walked away.

"I really hope I can…. Cause his Christmas joy kinda depends on it if you ask me…"

Yes, I know she said it outright and it went over his head... this is before the Unfinished Business episode... so I figured Merrick wouldn't have gotten it that easily...

Tomorrow is two Turtle Doves... I can't wait to see how that goes...

In the meantime, please review... and please no hate!