Chapter 21

Christmas Eve.

"Are you sure? We didn't get them anything!" Angela stated.

They were halfway up the stairs, Snek carried a few boxes and some groceries however he insisted it was fine. "I have tried for years to see what the family wanted, they never tell me anything. We come, we cook for them and spend the holidays, and they consider it a gift. Not to mention… they got a hot spring…"

"Wait, really!?" asked Angela.

"I'll reserve it for us tonight" he whispered.

They made their way to Garou's house, Snek walked in, as the twins were the first to greet him after nearly bowling him over.

"SNAKE!"

The groceries went flying into the air only to be caught by Pac's esper abilities in the distance. "Bros, be careful, remember, he's human… and fragile"

"I ain't that fragile!" Snek protested. "But you two are crushing me."

The twins got off and helped him up. Pac brought the groceries to the countertop where Angela was quick to unpack and start cooking. Melee however insisted she didn't have to. "We're doing a massive hot pot dinner tonight. We have more guests for Christmas than anticipated."

Snek didn't know Saitama and Genos were also going to be coming around. But it didn't bother him the least bit. He tucked two gifts under the tree. One he hoped would go over very well on Christmas morning. Yet, he couldn't help but stare at the two massive ones behind the tree. "Are those industrial tires?!" he questioned.

Pac shrugged. "Something Amai ordered. He's been trying to keep them tucked back there for the past few days now. No one knows what they are. Let alone who they are for,"

"Keep them guessing huh?" Snek muttered.

The house was full, everyone was having a good time, even Amai! He sat and talked as if he were part of the group. A part of Snek wondered if Sweet Mask was a better serpent than he was, but he wasn't going to bring that up now. It's Christmas! Everyone ate well, they watched Christmas specials until Snek went to Garou and Melee and requested personal time at the hot springs with Angela.

"Ooo kinky." Purred Garou.

Melee gave him a firm elbow to the chest. "Go ahead, we'll make sure no one bothers you." She whispered.

The two smirked as they slinked off. Everyone was too enthralled with the Christmas specials. Snek led Angela down the hidden pathway to the hot springs. From there he locked the doors and just for extra security he put up the divider. It was jus the two of them. "One of the perks in living here, wouldn't you say?" he asked.

Angela smiled. "So… just the two of us here?"

"Last I checked…"

She approached him, and started stripping off his clothes. "Ooo, I get my Christmas present early!" she purred.

#

Christmas Day

Snek woke with everyone else as Hunter decided it was best to get the whole house up. "It's four in the morning…" Snek muttered as he slept on the floor in the guest room.

"Huh?" moaned Angela.

However Drax was quick to wake. "Really? It's Christmas morning? Wait… why am I so excited for it?"

"Because, you have a reason to be." Sighed Snek. He woke and peered out of the room, everyone was up now as Hunter pretended to act so surprised. Garou knew there was no point in going back to sleep now. But first, coffee.

Snek pounded down two cups before become coherent. By then, everyone had at least one cup in them to stay awake for Christmas morning. Taking their spots around the tree. Alley handed out the gifts. The first to open was Drax. He was so excited as he ripped the paper and showed everyone he got his own biting snake fist uniform. "YES!" he cheered.

"You earned it. You mastered all the leg strikes, and we can work on the upper body ones." Snek announced yet gave a wink to him. Next was Angela. This one he was nervous about.

Snek thought long and hard about it, he didn't know if it would blow up in his face, or it would be one of the best Christmas moments he will ever retain in his mind and heart. Angela opened her gift and saw a ring within. "I got to do this now, I ain't going to have the knees for it later." He said. She gasped as Snek got down on one knee. "You and I both know I won't be able to do this, so I got to do it now!" he announced. "I lost you once before in my life, I won't be stupid and do it again. Angela. I won't be like this forever, but I hope you will love me just as I am. Human or not, but I know I will love you no matter who or what I am. Will you marry me?"

She froze to the question, already he felt his heart breaking a little, until her head nodded. She wept happy tears as she said yes aloud for the room to hear. Snek was thrilled! He picked her up off her chair and spun her around happily, Angela was back in his life and for the rest of it too.

"That one is going to be hard to top" muttered Garou.

As the gifts were open, Snek laughed when Garou spilt the beans on his gift for the guys, a special edition Hero association handbook of heroes. Everyone got two pages, even Snek had one of his old hero rank. But then, the M Class it was their monster form, yet in the background was a shadow of their human bodies. "I got to say this is really creative!" said Max. "It's done tastefully"

"Yeah, well I thought it would be cool." Muttered Garou.

"He worked hard on that," explained Melee.

With gifts opened and breakfast soon served, it was a holiday to remember. Snek however sighed to it all, he wondered though as great as this was, will it last? Will Angela really stay with him when he turns back? There was a nagging sensation in his mind. He was worried. But, only time will tell.