Chapter Three, Conclusion, the Thought That Counts

"My turn, right? Well, I had Emily. Here you go," Abby said. Emily took the package wrapped in reindeer, not cutesy Santa reindeer, but pictures of actual, wild reindeer in a natural, snowy setting. "Beautiful paper, Abby."

"Thank you. I can't stand the cartoonish reindeer of Christmas. Reindeer can't fly! It's ridiculous, and belittles a magnificent, majestic animal."

Connor cleared his throat, "Abs," he said gently. "Time and place."

Abby got a sheepish look on her face. "Sorry."

Emily returned to the present, opening it. Her face lit up. "You are a very cheeky girl, Abby and I am most pleased that you are. Thank you. They are lovely."

Abby smiled. "I thought you'd enjoy them, plus, they'd help you remember you're a liberated, free woman."

"Good grief," said Lester, "What did you give her, remains of a charred brassier?"

Emily looked at Lester. "I do not understand that reference. Why would an intimate piece of apparel be burned?"

"I'll explain later," said Abby.

"What is it Emily?" said Jess. "What on earth did Abby give you?"

Emily turned the box around to show them all.

"Cigars?" asked everyone in surprise.

Emily blushed. "I confess that I love the smell of a smoking cigar, and on some occasions when my husband was away, I would indulge."

Becker was astonished. "You've actually smoked cigars? Really?"

Emily lowered her eyes. "It's not something a respectable lady should be admitting, but yes."

Matt smirked, "That's alright Emily. You're not respectable."

Emily scowled. "Thank you, Abby, and I promise I shall think of you as I enjoy them."

Abby smiled.

Jess wrinkled up her nose. "I can't imagine what you like about them, but if it makes you happy, then, Yay," she said, giving a little hop and clap of her hands. "I have to say, that I am really impressed. You've all done really well. Aren't you really glad we did this?"

"Were forced into this you mean," said Lester.

"You're just grumpy because you haven't gotten your gift yet, and since Becker and I got each other, Emily has your present. Go on, Em."

Emily smiled. "I hope you enjoy it," she said, handing a beautiful, shiny red package, tied with a white ribbon to Lester.

"Thank you," said Lester cordially. Lester took the package apart carefully. He lifted the lid off the box.

"I do hope you like it," said Emily. "I am new to gift shopping in this century."

Lester smiled. He pulled a bottle out of the box.

"Oh, good Lord. Now, this is an appropriate gift, indeed. Thank you Miss Merchant. Thank you." As everyone looked on expectantly, Lester announced the identity of the gift. "Champagne."

"Oooh," replied everyone, but Emily.

"No, you can't have any." Lester was downright festive from that moment on, and he wasn't even drinking it yet!

Jess looked at Becker. "That leaves you and me." She was slightly annoyed at the round of coughs, cleared throats, and snickers that followed. "Since I'm kind of the host, I think it would be proper that I received my gift last. So, here,'" she said with a slight blush as she handed the present to Becker.

The gift wrapping was a bird's eye view of a Christmas tree, as if you were right inside it. The individual pine needles were quite big, as were the many different colors of lights. It was very interesting.

"I didn't want it to be too girly or cute," explained Jess.

"I like it, it's interesting."

"I agree," said Connor, "It's like we're all tiny little people on a normal size Christmas tree."

Jess smiled at him, Matt shook his head and chuckled, and Lester, he began looking for a champagne glass.

Connor looked self-conscious, and said, "Just saying."

Becker opened his gift, as Jess looked on nervously. He looked into the package, his mouth gaped open, and he did a double take. The he looked incredulously at Jess. Jess smiled, one of her radiant 'I'm staring at Becker' smiles.

"Well, don't keep us in suspense," commented Abby.

"Don't you know what it is?" asked Becker.

Connor answered, "No, Jess wouldn't tell us and she's too good at hiding presents." Jess smirked.

Becker reached in and pulled out a model '59 t-bird corvette, in shimmering, shining white, with a little vanity plate that said, "Becker."

"Oh," said Abby. "It's a little toy car."

"It's a model, Abigail, a model of a rare, incredible, antique car, probably the coolest car ever made. If you must belittle this car, please knock me out with an EMD first."

Everyone laughed. It was strange to see, stoic, cool, professional Captain Becker in love with a small, tiny model, even if it was "the coolest car ever made."

"You like it then," asked Jess.

"Like it? Jess I've been trying to find this since I was 14 years old. First, how did you find it, and second. I know for a fact this sells for at least, at least 500 pounds. You said we could only spend 25 pounds."

There was whistling, oohing, and 'you're kiddings' all around.

"Well," said Jess. "I found it via the internet, of course, and as far as the budget goes, I traded some of my original computer programs to make up the difference. Gave the bloke quite a deal actually. Those programs are one of a kind."

"I...I...I don't know what to say. Thank you, Jess. You are brilliant."

"Those words do nicely, thank you. And, you're very welcome. I just wanted to get you something I knew you'd like, something personal."

"Well, you totally did."

"You, uh, collect toy...uh, model cars… Action Man?" asked Connor.

"Yes, Connor, I do." He grinned at Jess. "As I told Jess a couple of weeks ago, my grandfather collected them and he got me into it." He smirked at Jess. "I still can't believe you managed to get it in a few weeks when Grandpa and I looked for years. You really are incredible."

Jess simply smiled.

"It really is fantastic, Jess," he said. "I'm absolutely gobsmacked."

Jess blushed more. "I'm glad."

Becker grinned, and then handed her a small, delicate box wrapped in pink poinsettia paper, topped with a bright green bow. "I believe it's time for your gift, Miss Parker."

Jess burst into a smile. Becker had expected her to slowly unwrap it, saving the paper and the bow. Instead she tore it open like a hyena.

When she opened the small box, tears fell. "How? How on earth did you manage this?"

Jess held up a small porcelain angel. It was mostly white with a gold halo, pink cheeks, blue eyes, and a smiling face painted on. It was a chubby, cute angel, very childlike. A small twine corded loop indicated that it was an ornament.

"Is that? It is. Jess, that's the ornament you broke," said Abby.

"What? The one she cried over for days? No way, Jess, you said they stopped making those 40 years ago." Connor pitched in.

"They did," said Jess holding the angel tightly. "I shouldn't be holding this. This can't be here."

Becker chuckled. "I have resources too. I bought it from a dear sweet elderly lady who was touched when I told her how sad you were that you broke an ornament your Grandma gave you. She agreed to sell it to me."

"You cheated a little old lady out of thousands of pounds?"

"Jess, it isn't actually worth that much, but no, of course not. Like you, I did some trading. She's a sweet gal. I noticed her roof had some damage. Her front porch had a broken railing. Some windows were cracked. Inside, some of the walls were cracking. So I told her I'd help. I fixed everything for her, and I did pay her the 25 pounds."

"Oh, Becker, that was so sweet of you to help her." Jess leaned up and gave him a nice smooch on the cheek. "You are just too good to be true."

Becker smiled. "So then, you're present..."

Jess interrupted by swinging her arms around him. "I absolutely love it. Thank you!"

They stayed intertwined longer than they meant to, and received many smirks when they released each other.

"That was a success." said Connor, winking at Becker.

Becker rolled her eyes.

"Well, if this concludes the gift business," said Lester getting up. "Let's get smashed. Happy Holidays Everyone.

Everyone chuckled. Connor and Matt were talking about Matt's CDs, and then went off to find a laptop to play them. Emily and Abby were drinking bad liquor and smoking cigars, and Lester was practically making love to his champagne.

Jess and Becker sat side by side explaining the details of how they found the perfect gifts. Becker suggested that they go visit the lady he got the angel from as she was kind of lonely. Jess looked at him with pride and love. They called her right then and there and made arrangements to meet after the New Year. Jess was brought to tears at how happy they had made her.

After that, they simply sat, staring at each other, until they leaned in and pretended there was mistletoe hanging over both of them. They pretended there was a lot of mistletoe and they had to kiss for a long, long time.

The rest of the party was a blur to them. Abby and Connor were singing drunkenly to the Christmas music, Emily and Matt blew smoke signals at each other, and Lester was passed out under one of the tables.

Becker and Jess were still kissing. It was the best ARC office party ever.

The End