Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VIII.

Squall leaned against the wall with a fold of his arms. He was unaffected by all the Christmas cheer which filled the room. A frown crossed the scarred face of the SeeD as he watched his friends enjoying the festive day of the year. He had no intention of indulging in the follies himself.

"Alright!" Irvine grinned as he held up the sniper he just had unwrapped. "This is my kind of toy! I can't wait to play with this!"

"Boyakka!" Selphie squealed as she sat in the middle of the present which she had received. "I got a train set! Choo choo!"

"What did you get, Zell?" Quistis asked the spiky-haired solider.

"I haven't found out yet!" Zell answered with his mouth full. "I'll unwrap my presents as soon as I'm done eating these tasty hot dogs!"

"What?!" Irvine's voice raised the roof as he ran over to the dining table Zell was at. "Dude, don't eat the hot dogs! That's our Christmas dinner!"

"Hot dogs for Christmas dinner?!" Quistis raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"That's all we've got!" Irvine explained, trying to pry the plate of hot dogs from Zell's grip. "Since Selphie burnt the turkey!"

"Hey!" Selphie cried. "It's not my fault! Cooking is not one of my strengths!"

Squall groaned and shook his head. He felt his crew were behaving like a bunch of children on this one day of the year. He was determined not to fall victim to it.

"Hey, Squall…"

Hearing a familiar warm voice speak to him, Squall turned - and his scarred face instantly lit up in surprise.

Standing before him with a sweet smile on her face was Rinoa. She had swapped her blue sweater for a red dress. It matched the Christmas hat she was wearing in her head. She gazed at the grunt young man, determined to help him find his Christmas spirit.

"Don't tell me you're just gonna stand here sulking all day," she said, tapping Squall's nose. "Christmas only comes just once a year."

"Well it's certainly one very long day of the year." Swill turned away. "I'm a serious high-rank SeeD. I have no intention in taking part in this nonsense."

"Oh, that's too bad - because you already are."

"Huh?" Squall turned back towards the girl with a baffled look. "What do you mean?"

Rinoa's smile brightened. "Look where you're standing, Squall?"

Squall lifted his gaze - and his face fell when he saw what was hanging from the ceiling above him and the young lady.

"Oh!" he exclaimed. "It's a…a…"

"It's a mistletoe, Squall…" Rinoa gently cupped the SeeD's cheeks in her hands. "And you're standing underneath it."

"I…" Squall stuttered. "I…"

"So am I…" Rinoa half closed her eyes as she pulled her boyfriend towards her. "You know what we have to do now, Squall. You're not getting out of this!"

There was nothing Squall could do. He felt himself being pulled into the pretty girl's embrace. His scarred face turned red as Rinoa's smiling lips were pressed against his own to kiss him under the mistletoe.

For a moment, silence filled the room as the others stopped what they were doing. They observed what the couple were sharing together - much to their amusement.

"Well now!" Quistis exclaimed. "Would you look at that?!"

"Oh my gosh!" Selphie squeaked. "That's so romantic!"

"A kiss under the mistletoe?" Zell smirked. "Guess Squall managed to find his Christmas spirit!"

"Look!" Irvine pointed with a laugh. "He's turning even more red than Santa Claus!"

"S-Shut up!" Squall huffed as he blushed with embarrassment.

The others laughed while Rinoa giggled softly. She took the red Christmas hat off of herself to pull it onto her boyfriend's head, smiling at him just as cheerfully.

"Merry Christmas, Squall!"

The end.