I loved getting this one done... so, I've got nothing much to say for it... except...

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

Alyssa sighed as she ate a little heavier breakfast before she walked off the Animarium and onto Earth, walking by most shops, getting ready to sell the first day of Christmas for those doing it early for the next day.
She walked by all of them, not entirely interested in giving a gift anymore.
She sat in the plaza after getting a light snack from a vendor and taking slight nibbles from it.

Merrick paced back and forth in front of the door, waiting for it to be knocked in, almost impatiently.
"It'll get here when it gets here, Merrick." Willie assured as he was counting the previous night's earned money.
"I don't even care about who it is that's doing it… I just wanna leave something for someone…" He let out as he passed Willie for the fifth time, "And that someone is usually here by now!"
"Is this someone the girl you upset yesterday?"
"I didn't…!" Merrick took in a quick deep breath before he could shout, "I didn't upset Alyssa… She was perfectly fine."
"And yet, no present or visit from Alyssa yet… maybe you need to go out to apologize?"
"I have!" He insisted easily.
"Face to face?"
"Yes!" Merrick nodded, then sighed, "Then I went on to say she wasn't special….. I'll go find her."
"Good thinking." Willie agreed.
With that decided, Merrick quickly headed out.

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Merrick found Alyssa eating her snack in the plaza.
"Alyssa… can… can we talk?"
She sighed and turned to him, "Why?"
"Because I… I wanna apologize." He sat down beside her, "I shouldn't have simply assumed you weren't my special friend… then I shouldn't have apologized before repeating it…"
"It's okay, Merrick." She sighed.
"It's not." The Lunar Wolf put his hand atop hers as she was about to get up, "Alyssa… please… believe me."
"I wish I could." She pulled away, "I need to go, Merrick. I told you, I'd be busy…"
With that, she started walking away.
But, Merrick let something slip before he was even ready, "I heard someone was planning something special for you tomorrow."
She froze, and turned to him, "What?"
"I don't know… I just… I heard someone say they had something planned for you tomorrow…" Merrick shrugged simply, playing it cool.
"Why would someone do that?"
"Because you deserve it." He stepped up to her.
"So?"
"So you should be happy." Merrick took her hands, "I'll even go with you tomorrow… I'll do whatever I can to see you smile again… to see you happy."
"My joy really means that much to you?"
"Of course it does…. Of course, you do." He nodded.
A small smile brushed onto her face, causing Merrick to grin and hug her close to her heart.
"At least I got you to smile." He whispered softly.
"Thank you, Merrick." She let out gently.
"Welcome, Alyssa."

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Now with a renewed want to spread Christmas Cheer, Alyssa walked out of a pet store with a rotating goose that had a bunch of mirrors to make it look like six, each going up and down.
It was expensive, sure… but it'd work for Merrick…
She could only hope.

"Hey… uh… Willie? What time is it?" Merrick bit his lip.
"Six geese a-laying is a heard gift to figure a workaround for, Merrick." Willie reasoned, "I'm sure she knows-"
The almost traditional knock on the door occurred and Merrick bolted from where he was by a napping Deeg in a corner of the front room and up to the front door.
He calmly composed himself, opened the door, and looked to see a bag with 6 on the side in silver.
He grinned and picked it up as he saw the letter attached to it.
Merrick walked back inside and held up the gift.
With the sound of rustling paper waking him up, Deeg hopped onto the side of the bar and barked for his owner to open it.
"Give me one second, Deeg." Merrick sat the bag on a table close to the bar before he opened the letter.

Dear Merrick Baliton, thank you so much for your kindness to Alyssa today… she told me everything.
Inside this bag is a special Gees a laying.
I know it's not much, but… it's the best I could do.
Signed, A Special Friend.
P.S… sorry this was a little later than usual.

Merrick sat the letter down and looked inside the bag before pulling it out.
"Weird… but cool." He noted simply.
"Oh yeah… that's pretty expensive… even for a pet store to sell." Willie commented.
"Yeah…. Hey, do you think we could leave the shop open a little later? I don't know when Alyssa's gonna be by… but I feel like it's gonna be a little later…"
"Since you got mad at her?" Willie raised a brow, then nodded, "Sure thing… but you're gonna have to lock everything up yourself."
"Done." Merrick agreed.

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Snow was coming down very hard outside, making Merrick a little nervous.
But, sure enough, Alyssa came by just as the usual shop hours were an hour from closing and rubbed her chilly arms, Dos resting in her crossed space.
"Oh, Alyssa." Merrick rushed up to the door with a cup of very freshly made hot chocolate before gently giving it to her as Dos jumped to the floor.
"Thank you…" The White Ranger let out before she took a sip, then explained herself, "Sorry I'm late…."
"It's okay." Merrick assured, "Come… sit down."
He pulled out a chair for her and she smiled gratefully as she sat down, shivering a bit. "Thank you."
"It's okay…" Merrick repeated, "It's coming down pretty hard out there… are you sure you can make it back to the Animarium?"
"Mew!" Dos hopped onto her owner's lap.
"That's…. kinda why I brought Dos with me… I didn't wanna leave her up there without me all night…"
"So….." Merrick's mind raced a bit.
"Could I stay here the night? I promise I'll pay for my stay and everything." Alyssa insisted.
"No… no… it's okay." Merrick shook his head a bit, "I have a trundle bed you can use in my room… not that you have to sleep in my room… I mean… I'm just saying… it's pretty much the best thing to do…"
Alyssa smiled and nodded, "Okay… sure…"
"…Good." Merrick let out.

##########################################################################################################

Alyssa was looking over some magazines as Merrick was looking over some special places to go to for the next day.
"Partridge in a Pear….. hey, just…. Outta curiosity… do Pear trees grow around here?" Merrick looked over at the white ranger, "Alyssa?"
"Huh?" She looked up, shaking her head a bit, "I'm sorry… what was the question?"
"Do Pear trees grow around here?" Merrick asked, "Just… trying to settle my curiosity is all…"
"Uh… at this time of year… I think so." Alyssa nodded softly, "Pear trees usual can only grow in warm climates… but there's a grove in the park…. People always leave a fake Partridge in one of them to give to a loved one every year."
"Really?" Merrick nodded softly, "That's nice…"
"Why do you ask?"
He shrugged, "Just curious."
Alyssa nodded, then went back to looking at her magazine, "I see."
Merrick smiled as he watched her before he looked at the time on the clock on his wall, "We better get to sleep… It's almost midnight."
"Whoa… you're right." Alyssa nodded before she put her things under her bed, and grabbed the blanket Merrick had provided her.
The Lunar Wolf did the same as he put his idea-list inside his nightstand drawer and pulled his comforter up higher.
"Thank you for letting me spend the night, Merrick." Alyssa smiled as she laid down.
"It's the least I could do…" Merrick reasoned.
The smile on the Tiger ranger's face remained as she closed her eyes and drifted off.
Merrick watched her for a second longer before he turned away and turned off his lamp before he laid down a little more.
As he closed his eyes, he too was smiling.

Tomorrow, for them, starts the Twelve days... but what could Merrick do especially for Alyssa?

Find out Tomorrow?

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