It's the last chapter! It's kind of depressing...

Anyway, as it's the last chapter of my story, this is where I thank all my reviewers. There aren't a lot, so it should be short. Here you go: crystalwolfberri (who giggled and screamed XD), freakyanimegal456 (and her undying love for Kratos, regardless of time), darkangel24700 (who just wanted me to update), and Kitty-Katz-Katz (another one who liked the concept of more than one Kratos running around.)

Thank you all!

Disclaimer: Tales of Symphonia and its characters, plot line, and locations belong to Bandai-Namco. Actually, I have to say that I don't own the movie A Christmas Story either, because I make a rather blatant reference to it.

Chapter IV: Christmas Day And What It's All About

"WAKE UP EVERYONE! IT'S CHRISTMAS!"

Finally, that most magical of all days had arrived.

Everyone under the age of twenty practically flew out of bed and downstairs to see the Christmas tree and all its shiny, gift-wrapped glory. After prodding the adults (and dumping a bucket of water on an already awake Young Kratos, because it was slowly becoming tradition), the gift opening began.

Many gifts were given that day, but a few in particular were special.

Presea found a small red box to her from Genis. It was surprisingly heavy for its size. She shook the box gently, and heard something slide around inside. She carefully, and very neatly, unwrapped the box. After setting the paper aside, and carefully lifting the lid of the box, she discovered a small, decorated hatchet. She picked it up and examined the small axe. It was embellished, and probably not designed for real work.

She loved it anyway. It was the first Christmas gift she had received since her father had died.

Raine, as predicted before, loved her new book on the ancient history of Tethe'alla.

"MARVELOUS!" she shouted, hugging the thick volume to her chest, "Imagine! I MUST know how the histories of Sylvarant and Tethe'alla differ! Or where they very similar? Ooh, I simply MUST KNOW!" She immediately opened the book and stuck her nose in its pages, occasionally making 'ooh!' noises whenever she learned something interesting.

Genis held onto his gift from Raine (a book on advanced magic, Indignation Judgment) and quietly scooted away from his crazy older sister as fast as his tiny little legs would carry him. He loved his sister dearly, but sometimes she was just plain scary.

Zelos looked down at a long wooden box. It wasn't wrapped but there was a large shiny bow on top. There was no card to say who it was from or how it had gotten there. After discovering that the box was nailed shut, and a short search for his short sword, he started to pry the box open. When the lid came off he found himself staring into a boxful of yellow straw. Lloyd, curious, looked down at the box.

"Who would give someone straw for Christmas?" he asked.

"There's something in the straw Bud," said Zelos. He carefully stepped into the box, crouched down and started throwing straw out of the box. Eventually the rest of the group gathered around, with presents in various states of unwrapping tucked under their arms, watching Zelos dig. Then there was a triumphant "Aha!" and Zelos emerged, holding… something.

"…What is it?" asked Colette, who was probably the only one who had to ask this question.

"Well…" Zelos stared, trying not to drool, "…It's a leg."

Sheena frowned, "We can see that!" she said, disgusted, "But what is it?"

"Uh…" Zelos started to dig a little more in the straw, before digging something else out of the depths and sticking it on top of the first thing he found. "…It's a lamp!"

Zelos leaped out of the box and then plugged the thing into the first outlet he found. The party was instantly bathed in the soft glow of electric… well, you know. Some of the younger men in the group suffered from instant nosebleeds, while the older men were uninterested, and all the women were either oblivious (i.e. Colette) or understandably angry.

Needless to say, after 'accidentally' breaking the leg lamp, Sheena started slapping Zelos until he was raw all over.

Later, Lloyd and Colette shyly handed each other a small box and, while blushing, said at the same time, "This is for you!"

After an awkward pause, and deepening blushes, they exchanged presents. Lloyd opened his by nearly shredding the paper. Colette carefully unwrapped it without tearing any of the paper. Inside was a finely crafted wire bracelet, with seven small blue stones set into it.

"Aw, did you make this Lloyd?" she asked, smiling, and putting the bracelet on.

Lloyd smiled proudly, "Yup! Took me all night!"

"Did you see what I got you?" Colette asked.

Lloyd had been distracted by Colette's reaction to his gift. He looked down at the carnage of shredded shiny paper, and unearthed from it, a small wooden figurine of a snow rabbit, identical to the one Lloyd had received from Colette in Flanoir during the Regeneration Journey.

"So the first one doesn't have to be alone!" said Colette, smiling warmly.

"Thanks Colette," said Lloyd, blushing red enough to lead a sleigh.

Elsewhere, Sheena picked up a long box, wrapped in red paper with pink ribbon. She inspected the card.

To Sheena, From Zelos

She noticed the utter lack of the word 'hunny' in the note. She looked over at the Chosen, who was busy unwrapping something else. She looked back at the gift and started to slowly unwrap it. Zelos noticed and crawled over to her, one of his presents under an arm. Sheena reached the box inside the paper and slowly lifted the lid. Her eyes went wide, struck speechless. She gently lifted out a stuffed animal, shaped like Corrine.

She looked into the doll's black button eyes, trying to figure out how she felt about the gift.

"I know you miss the little guy," said Zelos, sitting down next to her, "So I hired somebody I know to make this. I did some drawing of what I remembered Corrine looked like, and she made the doll. You like it?"

Sheena hugged the little doll. Zelos wished for a moment he were the doll.

"It's wonderful," said Sheena, "…Thanks."

It was around noon when all the presents were unwrapped. What was to follow would be a small party of sorts. It looked like it was just an excuse to eat fancy food again, so Lloyd didn't mind. The thought of buttery biscuits and peppermints slipped away when he saw Old Kratos stand up and, without a sound, leave the manor. Lloyd watched him go, wondering where he would go, and why he left all of a sudden.

"Well?"

Lloyd looked over at Young Kratos, who had spoken. Young Kratos was frowning at Lloyd.

"Aren't you going to go after him?" persisted Young Kratos.

"Dad probably wants to be alone for a while," Lloyd said, a little uncomfortably.

Young Kratos rolled his eyes, "No one will mind," he said, waving some sheet music at Lloyd, "Go and make sure the geezer doesn't have a stroke or something."

Lloyd glared at the other boy, but stood up anyway. He left the mansion, hoping he wouldn't be away long enough to be missed. Young Kratos watched him go with a smile.

"Now they might finally start acting like they're related…"

Outside Lloyd followed Kratos' footprints in the snow. Lloyd passed few people as he walked, as this was a day when people stayed inside, celebrating with their families. Lloyd walked on, wondering where Kratos had gone.

Lloyd eventually discovered Old Kratos sitting alone on a bench, staring up at the snow that still fell down slowly, as if it had a grudge against gravity. Lloyd slowly approached the bench, his boots making faint crunching sounds as he walked.

Kratos heard his son's footsteps, and turned his head to look over at Lloyd. Lloyd hesitated for a moment, "What are you doing out here?" asked Lloyd, "Aren't you cold? Can you feel cold?"

"…Not really and yes." Said Kratos. Lloyd sat down on the bench next to the older man.

"I tried to think of something to get you for Christmas," started Lloyd guiltily, talking to his feet, "I really tried, but… I dunno… nothing really seemed right, so…" he floundered, and then muttered apologetically, "I didn't get you anything for Christmas. Sorry."

Kratos looked down at Lloyd and shook his head, "You do not have to apologize. You have already given me enough."

Lloyd blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

"After Anna died," started the angel, "I was so sure that I would never have a family again. For me it is enough to celebrate this holiday with a family I thought I would never have. After all… that is what this holiday is all about, is it not? Family and the spirit of giving?"

Lloyd looked down at his feet, and then back up at Kratos.

"Merry Christmas Dad,"

Kratos looked down at his son. He smiled a small, rare smile.

"Merry Christmas Lloyd."

Old Kratos has obtained the title Oyako Fodder: Awww…

The End

And from me to all of you, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!