Considering how short this chapter is, you would not know how AGONIZINGLY long it took for me to write it. There's not even any Channy in this chapter...but one step at a time, right?

50+ reviews...I love you guys!
Oh by the way...happy 2010. :)

WARNING: the following section of this author's note contains nothing pertaining to SwaC
Joker236 - Yay, l ve Raxtus. LOL Gavin was my LEAST favorite character, I don't even know why! I wanted him to just DIE. I mean, no offense; if you wanna get mixed up with an ancient evil demon prince, be my guest.

I've watched Lord of the Rings for the first time ever. Who's shocked?

Sonny

"Hey, Grady!"

"Hey, Sonny! Merry Christmas!"

I shifted the cell phone to my other ear so I could stir the noodles with my dominant hand. "Merry Christmas, Grady. Did you have a good one?"

"Yeah! Well, it's still going on, but I had a moment so I figured I'd thank you for the awesome slinky! And you even threw in a can of spray paint! But…my mom wasn't too happy with that…she said I might get too carried away and paint my room. Of course, the thought didn't come to me until after she said that."

I shook my head, though he couldn't see it. "Just like you, Grady. Oh, well, I have another call! Merry Christmas."

"Bye, Sonny."

"Who was that?" my mom called from the living room, trying to get It's a Wonderful Life to play on the DVD player. She's hopeless with technology.

"Grady. Nico's calling now," I told her as I eyed my caller ID. "Hello?"

"Hey, Sonny! Merry Christmas! Hey, I can't talk long but I just want to say thanks for the comic books! It's really the best gift I've gotten this year," he gushed.

"Aw, Nico, really, it was no trouble at all," I replied, my smile widening as I remembered who had actually bought them. "I hope you get all the enjoyment you can from them."

"I will. I'm just sorry I didn't get you anything!"

"No biggie! Really. I'm here to give," I insisted, absently fingering the cold stone at my chest.

"Really, though. Thank you so much. Bye, Sonny!"

"Bye!"

I received a text from Zora wishing me good tidings as well, and evidently she had received her gift the night previous, which she thanked me for. Now, I was sitting down at the coffee table before the TV, pouring Parmesan over a mound of red noodles in preparation for a Christmas dinner with my mother, when who should burst through the door but,

"Tawni?"

"Sonny Munroe!" she shrieked, bejeweled phone in manicured hand, face contorted with rage. "Am I so unimportant to you that you didn't even so much as send me a Christmas card?"

Uh-oh.

"Tawni…I am so sorry! Really I am. I'll make it up to you!"

"You had better hope so, Sonny! Otherwise, your life in Hollywood will be miserable!"

Before I could fit another word in, the door slammed behind her and I could hear her stomp down the hall.

My mom glared at me, and I winced. "Mom, it's Christmas…can we just…enjoy the movie and deal with this tomorrow?"

I could see her hesitate. She knew it wasn't like a good parent for her to just let something slide, but it was Christmas after all, her favorite holiday. "Okay, I suppose I could let this one go. But tomorrow, I want to hear why you didn't get your best friend a present. Could it be that your fame has made you forget the important things?"

"Mom…please don't lecture me right now."

Well, it wasn't as if I could enjoy myself now. Though I must say my spaghetti was delicious.