Merry Christmas to all! This may be the last chappie I do today, but maybe not. I got a laptop for Christmas, but I'm on the family computer still, waiting for it to charge. I'll be doing family stuff soon! Later!

MAX

"Max! Max! Max!" Angel and Gazzy jumped on my bed. "UP!"

I got up and put on my Santa hat on. The others were headed downstairs. I tossed Fang his hat, which I'd gotten yesterday. Five days since Sam's betrayal, and I realized I couldn't care less. Guess I didn't love him too much, did I?

Fang looked at the hat and smirked. Santa's helper is Emo! The black Santa hat amused me. We sat downstairs, munching on cookies, red pancakes, and green eggs, a tradition in our family. The kids delivered presents. Fang got a his own, brand new laptop. I got music, mostly. I like music. The kids gave me cutesy little "Best Big Sister" pins and stuff, like usual. I love the stuff. They know it.

Then Fang came out with wrapped packages and handed them to each of us. The kids tore into the gifts and squealed, hugging the now statue-stiff Fang. He awkwardly hugged them all back. He walked to me. So softly I almost didn't hear him, he uttered, "Merry Christmas Max," and handed me my gift. I was reeling with shock. Fang spoke. To me! He grinned nervously at me. I opened his gift.

Inside was a mix CD. I smiled. "I'll listen to it first," I promised.

He handed Mom and Dad their gifts. "Merry Christmas Dad. Merry Christmas…Mom," he murmured, scurrying away. Mom's eyes flooded with tears. She opened the gift. Inside was a sketch in a frame. On the corner it read, For the only foster mom that ever really cared. Merry Christmas, from Fang. Dad's mug was done the same way, but in ceramic paints.

Mom burst into tears and hugged him. "Thank you Fang."

He nodded and hesitantly hugged her back.

"That was incredibly sweet."

FANG

That whole day, no one tried to make me talk again, but I tried to please them. They were obviously waiting for it. At dinner I tried to join the conversation. A little awkward.

"Fang?" Max came up behind me. "Thank you. You've made this Christmas…utterly amazing. You're the best." She hugged me and by now I was so used to it, I hugged her back.

"And I mean it, for real. If you want to talk, I'm here. Merry Christmas," she smiled.

"Merry Christmas Max," I whispered. She closed her door and I added so softly I knew she wouldn't hear, "I love you."

So, how's that stand still for you?

This is me enjoying the suspense here! WHOO!

Merry Chrsitmas!