Author's Note: Alright, I've finally gotten around to uploading this chapter! Woo-hoo! It's mostly fluff, and didn't turn out exactly as I planned, but I'm satisfied with it anyway. Again, sorry for any mistakes, bad spelling, or grammar. Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed, favorited, and followed! I really appreciate it, seeing that is what pushes me to write and update more! Anyway, on to the story. Hope you enjoy!

Oh, and it should be noted that, though I stuck with the right numerical value for each line of the song so far (like '2 nosy boys' on the second day of Christmas), I'll be straying from that from this point on, for the most part.

Me: Oh Claire!

Claire: Yes?

Me: It's your turn! You get to sing this line!

Claire: Oh, okay. Now?

Me: Yes, now! And don't forget to really drag it out, like they do in the original song. You know, 'Five gooooold riiiiiings!' Just like that! 'Kay?

Claire: I...gotcha.

On the fifth day of Christmas, the Founder gave to me...One crazy boss!

X

Myrnin had absolutely no idea what to do.

Christmas was just days - days! - away, and he had absolutely no idea what to get Claire. Sure, he knew of a few things she might like, in theory. Like some of the old books she was always mooning over in his collection, or perhaps a new computer or lab equipment, but...

All of those things just said 'Boss gift'. Or 'I want new lab equipment, and I'm going to use you as an excuse to get it'. Or 'I was too cheap and thoughtless to actually get you something, so I grabbed a book off of my shelf and gave it to you'.

He was looking more for something that said 'I enjoy your company, so I put some thought into this.'

Unfortunately, all the thoughts he could muster would undeniably be as far from what would say that as could be.

Amelie had been no help at all. All she had done was question why he was putting so much effort into the gift to begin with. Oliver's words had actually been worth considering, though finding something along those lines that would fit his and Claire's relationship was proving difficult.

Going to that new shop to look for something had been disastrous, and if he ever got his way, the owner, that Collins boy, the Glass boy, and Oliver would all be hanged (Even if it wouldn't do much to Michael or Oliver, it would make him feel better). He was never going back there again, if he could help it.

So. What to get Claire?

He supposed he could always make something, that was usually considered a thoughtful gift. Though he didn't know what he could possibly make for Claire that she would actually like. She was rather opposed to giant machines with brains in them, or any other invention that came to his mind; he couldn't cook or bake (anything she would eat, anyway), and he wasn't inclined to attempt to knit something for her, either.

There was always something that would be useful to her, but he had no idea what that could be. Claire was such an odd girl, she had very different ideas than he did on what was considered 'useful' .

He thought about is some more. Something useful that was also thoughtful, that she would actually like, and he could possibly make.

Which was when he thought of it.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Claire sighed as she entered the lab. Myrnin had been acting dodgy all week, doing odd (well, odd for him) things at the lab, and running her off whenever he got the chance. She had caught him just staring at her intently a few times, and when she'd asked what was up, he'd just blown her off.

She'd heard he'd gotten into some kind of trouble with Amelie, so that might have had something to do with it. She'd also told him she wasn't mad at him anymore for signing her up for the Christmas play (not that she'd ever admit it to him, but she was actually having fun with it). And yet, he was still acting weird.

Well, weird for him.

She had no idea what was wrong with him. Maybe the Christmas spirit just made him act this way.

Maybe he would cheer up a bit when she gave him his Christmas presents. Probably not, he'd just blow it off, but she could try.

"Myrnin!" she called, since, once again, he'd forgotten to turn the lights on. She didn't get an answer, so she reached out and flipped the light switch with a sigh.

And was greeted with the sight of Myrnin sitting on his chair, grinning like an idiot, with a bunch of twinkle lights here and there around the lab. Only about half of them were even on, and they were basically thrown all over the place, but still. He'd tried.

It was really kind of sweet. She couldn't help but laugh.

"Merry Christmas, Claire!" said Myrnin, bouncing out of his chair. "What do you think?"

"It's wonderful. Where did you get the lights?" she asked, putting down her backpack.

"Oh, around." he replied with a wave of his hand. Claire had the ominous feeling someone in Morganville was wondering what happened to their twinkle lights. "Anyway, we have much work to do, especially as you've been everywhere but here as of late."

Claire raised her eyebrows. "And who's fault is that? I can't help rehearsals, Myrnin." Plus he'd been running her off all week whenever she had been there, but she knew better than to point that out. "What kind of work?" she asked.

Myrnin pointed out several things that needed to be done, and several more things he'd misplaced and wanted her to find. Before she started on anything, though, she walked back over to her backpack and the tote bag she had brought with her, and pulled two wrapped presents out.

"These are for you," she told him, holding them out to him. "Merry Christmas!"

He looked a little startled, but took them from her. "Why, thank you, my dear. I appreciate it."

Which, again, was a little odd for him. He was only ever polite with her when he wanted to be distant, or hide some internal issues.

"Well? Go ahead and open them!" Claire said. She was relieved to find she no longer had to worry about his manners; he tore into the packages like an excited 9-year-old. She couldn't help but grin.

Inside he found a new pair of fanged bunny slippers to replace his old ones, and a large deluxe set of Legos. He looked up at her when he saw the last one.

"You build with them," she explained at his puzzled expression. "Like models and things. I saw it at that new place in town, and it just looked like something you would like." The clerk had assured her that it would keep even the most rambunctious child busy for hours. Even if it kept Myrnin entertained for thirty minutes, she'd view it as a win.

She had already turned around and started to organize some books Myrnin had left out on the table when she heard him say "Thank you."

She turned back to look at him, but he had already cleared another table off (In other words, thrown what had been on the table to the ground) and was staring at the collection of colorful bricks from the Lego set. He was also wearing the new slippers.

Yep, definitely a win.

When she came back three hours later to ask Myrnin a question, she found him hovering over the table with several different models in front of him.

"Myrnin, what was the other thing you wanted me to-is that the Eiffel Tower?"

He looked up distractedly. "What? Oh, yes, yes it is. Isn't it nice?"

It was. And not only had he built that, but something that looked like a train engine, some kind of steam-punky looking thing that could be anything in Myrnin's imagination, and an elaborate Japanese-style fortress. He was also working on something complicated-looking now that Claire couldn't even begin to guess what it could be.

At least he was enjoying the gift. "Yeah, it's great. But what else was it that you wanted me to find for you?" she asked.

"Oh, it's somewhere in one of those drawers over there. You'll know it when you see it." he said absent-mindedly, giving his latest creation his full attention. "You can go home when you find it."

Claire sighed and started searching through the drawers Myrnin had waved his hand at. She had no idea what it was she was supposed to be finding for him.

"About what size is it, Myrnin?" she asked, irritated. He ignored her, or else was too absorbed in his project to hear her. She found some tools she herself had been looking for, some letters dated back to the 1850's, and a headband with reindeer antlers on them. She had no idea why he could possibly need those, but didn't think that was what he was looking for, so she put them back.

She was just about to tell him that whatever is was, it was no longer over here when something caught her eye.

It was a small velvet pouch, though what caught her eye was the tag with her name on it.

She looked over her shoulder at Myrnin, who had his back to her and was still absorbed in his models.

She pulled the pouch out of the drawer, pulled the little drawstring apart, and dumped out the contents into her hand.

It was a necklace; one with a long, sturdy chain, with a pendent on the end only slightly smaller than a quarter. It was pretty, and when she held it up, she noticed a faint ticking sound coming from the pendent. She examined it closer and saw a latch, like a locket. She opened it, finding the delicate little thing was really a watch.

She realized she was smiling, and turned when she heard a soft chuckle.

"Merry Christmas, Cariad." Myrnin said from right behind her, grinning from ear to ear.

"This is for me?" Claire asked, holding out the necklace.

"It has your name on it, doesn't it?" he said, eyebrows raised.

"I...thank you, Myrnin." she said, shaking her head and looking at it again. "It's really nice."

His cheeks colored a little. "Yes, well, I had some spare parts lying around, and I thought a watch would be useful to you, that way you won't have any excuse to be late anymore."

It was just like Myrnin to take a nice gesture and ruin it with a barb like that.

"Wait...you made this?" she asked.

He still looked a little embarrassed. "Ah, yes. I was bored, and it wasn't difficult." he said with a wave of his hand.

"That's...very sweet, Myrnin. Thank you." Claire said softly. She slipped the chain around her neck, then, on impulse and when he wasn't really expecting it, she reached out and hugged him. He froze for an instant, then hugged her back. When she stepped back, he still looked a little embarrassed, but oddly pleased as well.

"It was nothing, so long as you like it." he said, obviously trying to dismiss the whole thing as nothing. Claire couldn't help but grin; it wasn't too often she managed to make Myrnin uncomfortable.

She looked around the lab, then at her backpack. "Oh, you can leave now, then." Myrnin said, turning his back on her. "I suppose I don't have anything else for you to do. Have a nice Christmas then, dear."

Claire stared at his back (was it her imagination, or was it radiating disappointment?) for a minute, then around the lab, where the decorations were still thrown haphazardly about.

"You know, I don't have anywhere else to be. I can stay for a little while longer. We can decorate around here a little, if you like. And Gramma Day gave me some Christmas cookies to take back to the house, but I don't think they'll miss a few if you want some." Claire said casually.

Myrnin froze a minute, and didn't turn around. "If you really want to, I suppose." he said slowly, also trying to sound casual and careless, but still not turning around. "We could have some tea, too, with the cookies. If you insist."

Claire grinned. "Sure, why not? It will be like our own private Christmas party."

She caught Myrnin's quick smile before he dashed off, presumably to get tea. She grinned and shook her head. It didn't matter how old they were or if they were human or vampire, men were all the same when it came to their feelings. Idiots.

When she left a few hours later, the lab was noticeably more festive looking, and she had an empty cookie tin she was going to have to hide from her roommates. But she was smiling anyway.

X

Four stubborn men

Three ancient vamps

Two nosy boys

And a play I hope no one will see!

Claire: How was that? Did I drag it out enough for you?

Me: Yes, that was great, you were the best one yet!

Claire: *blushes* Thank y-

Myrnin: No she wasn't, she didn't even sing it in another language, like I did! And that was a horrible line!

Me: Myrnin, be quiet, you already got to sing. You did fine, Claire.

Amelie: You only think it's horrible because it's true.

Myrnin: Do not! And it's not fair, why does she get to sing the fifth line? Everyone knows that line always gets the most attention!

Me: Because I SAID SO, that's why. You did great, Claire, don't worry about him.

Claire: ...Thank you.

Myrnin: But-

Me: Quiet from the peanut gallery! Anyway, next up, Shane and Eve!

AN: Hope you enjoyed it! I hope to have the next chap up soon, though at the rate I'm going, I highly doubt this whole fic will be done before x-mas...all well, I'm just extending the cheer, right? :)

Song suggestion: 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' by Mariah Carey (though if you want it to sound more like Myrnin, then Michael Buble's version isn't bad).

If you liked this, please review! Even if it's just a smiley face or your name, the reviews are how I know if people like my stories! Thank you!

Edit (December 2014): Just some general cleanup.