"Yoo hoo! Merry almost Christmas everyone!" Bulma waved happily at her friends.

Krillen looked over his shoulder and smiled, "Merry Christmas Bulma! Here." He dug in his bag and brought out a small package, "I got you a Christmas gift. I still have the receipt if you don't want it."

Bulma took the small package and quickly unwrapped it. "Oh, Krillin you shouldn't have!" she squealed in delight when she saw the ear - rings Krillin got her. "These are beautiful. I'll put them on when I go to my parents house for Christmas, they'll go great with the outfit I picked out!" She said, tucking the package in her purse.

"I got something for you too." Juu said, tossing a package Bulma's way (which she barely caught)

"Oh!" Bulma gasped, seeing the necklace, "Its wonderful, it even matches the earings!" she got a sly look on her face, "Have you two been shopping together?"

"Uh uh!" Krillin stammered, flushing.

"Yeah, we have" Juu confirmed.

Bulma smiled, "Well, thanks guys. I got you guys some things too – here." She said, retrieving two packages from her big bag. "I put the receipts in them just in case."

Krillin and Juu started to unwrap their presents, Krillin being careful not to rip the paper so he could use it later, and opened the boxes.

"Hey!" Krillin beamed, "This is the video game I wanted – how did you know?"

"Oh, come one Krillin. You've been raving about it for forever." Bulma answered, "I needed to shut you up."

Krillin rolled his eyes at his friend, "Yeah yeah."

Juu blinked in surprise at her package, it was a leather jacket, "Hey, we saw this at a store a few weeks ago when we went shopping together, Bulma. How did you know I wanted it?"

Bulma grinned, happy she got it right, "I saw you admiring it. It was the only thing you seemed to like so I bought it the day after."

The blond nodded and slipped on the present, "Thanks."

"No problem."

Krillin grinned, "It looks really good on you, Juu."

The officer nodded, a small smile appearing on her face. "I've got to get back to work. Lunch break's over."

Bulma sighed, "Yeah, you're right. But," she stopped them, "have you seen Goku, Vegeta, and Nira? I want to give them their presents."

Juu shrugged but Krillin nodded, "Yeah, they were in the lunch room but if they're not there they could be in the commons area or in the art room."

Bulma nodded, "Thanks Krillin, see you guys later!" she waved bye and left.

DBZ

"Damn, you beat me again." Goku pouted at the chess bored.

Nira smiled, "It's okay. You almost got me this time."

Vegeta snorted, no he hadn't. The girl was just trying to make him feel better after ten wins in a row.

"Hey, guys!" A familiar voice said.

Vegeta and the others raised their heads to see Bulma walking towards them. A friendly grin on her face and carrying a plastic bag over her shoulder.

"Hi, Bulma. How are you?" greeted Nira, happy to see her friend.

"Heya, Bulma. What have you got there?" asked Goku, curiously.

Bulma ruffled Nira's hair, she loved how fluffy it was despite the way it stuck out in weird places, and answered, "I'm fine. Thanks for asking. And these-" she put the plastic bag on the table, "Are for you guys! Merry Christmas!"

Nira's face fell, "Its Christmas?" she asked.

Bulma nodded, "Well, its almost Christmas but I have that day off so I can visit family so I'm giving your presents early." She explained, emptying the bag of its contents.

Goku was surprised too, "I can't believe it! Its Christmas already!"

Bulma gave him a look, "You always forget. And as for Vegeta," she raised her eyes to the other man, "he's never cared."

Vegeta grunted and looked away.

Bulma sighed at her patient before handing box sized package to Nira, "Ladies first."

Nira looked surprised that she had gotten a gift at all and took the package gingerly. She shook it a little and things moved around, so multiple presents. She carefully took off the wrapping paper and opened the box.

The girl gasped, "Books!" she grinned at the blue haired woman, "Thank you so much!"

Bulma smiled brightly, "You mentioned once that you like reading so I visited every bookstore I new of and got you all the books I thought you might like."

Nira picked up a book at random and flipped the pages between her fingers; she was at a loss for words.

"Okay, Goku. You're turn." Bulma said, handing a medium sized package to Goku.

Goku quickly ripped off all of the wrapping and opened his box. He cocked his head to the side and picked up a piece of paper and started reading. His lips tightened and his eyes started to water but he didn't cry. He put the letter back in the box and picked up a leather bound book and opened it and he smiled sadly.

"Thank you, Bulma." He said softly. Closing the book and putting it back in the box. "Thank you so much."

Bulma smiled sadly and patted his shoulder, "It was nothing." The woman picked up a medium sized, flatter package and handed it to Vegeta, "Last but not least."

Vegeta took the package and ripped off the wrapping and opened it. His face became one of frustrated rage as he picked up the gift.

It was a bright pink shirt and on the back it said, "BADMAN".

Nira took one look at the shirt and burst into laughter!

Goku hid his smile behind his hand, "Badman, huh?"

Bulma smirked evilly, "You like it Vegeta?"

"What is the meaning of this?!" Vegeta growled. "Why is it… pink?!"

"Come one, Vegeta. With your complexion pink will look gorgeous on you!" Bulma snickered.

Vegeta looked ready to kill someone but he simply stalked off, the shirt still clenched in his fist.

Nira wiped the tears of mirth from her eyes as she watched Vegeta leave. She looked at Bulma and Vegeta and back again. The girl wondered why Vegeta hadn't really done anything. She knew that if Goku or she had pulled something like that he would yell their ears off! So why…

It clicked, "Vegeta must like Bulma!" she gasped in surprise.

Goku and Bulma stared at her as if she had grown another head before throwing their heads back and laughing.

"As if!" Bulma shook her head, "I don't think Vegeta is the romantic type."

Goku chuckled, "Yeah, there's no way."

Bulma's wristwatch beeped, "Oh! Damn, I'm late. Look, I need to go. I hope you guys have a good holiday!" she shouted over her shoulder as she left.

When Bulma left Goku leaned over to whisper to Nira, "Actually, I agree with you about Vegeta and Bulma. But don't tell anyone!"

Nira smiled, "Of course. You're secret's safe with me."

Then her thoughts turned to Christmas. She hadn't celebrated for ten years so of course she hadn't noticed but why did she feel bad. And even if she had how could she get a present? Her eyes roamed to the art room. Well, she thought, if I can't buy a present I can certainly make one.

DBZ

"All done." Nira sighed. She beamed at her creations. The three paintings that she had been working so hard on were finally finished. They will be a little late but that doesn't matter, besides, Bulma was coming back tomorrow. She'll give them to her friends then. Its too bad that Krillen and Juu will be gone for a little while longer, but Nira had a nagging feeling that she should wait to make those two one's on another date.

Nira stared at the paintings and twisted her hair around her fingers, she was nervous. She hoped they liked their presents but they might not. Especially Vegeta who, Nira was pretty sure, wasn't an art person.

She sighed, no sleep for her again tonight, her nerves would no doubt make the dreams worse.

She hid the paintings and started wondering around the hospital like she did most nights. She stopped by a window. It was snowing, blanketing the ground and cars in white. It looked so soft.

"Merry Christmas." She whispered softly to the sky.

DBZ

"Bulma, over here!" Nira shouted when she saw the doctor.

"Whats going on?" she asked, sitting down at the table with Goku and Nira and Vegeta standing off to the side.

Nira reached under her chair and brought out three canvases. "I know it's late, but I made you guys presents." She smiled shyly, her face flushing in shy embarrassment.

"Here's yours, Bulma." She said, handing the top canvas to the doctor. Bulma took the canvas and gasped.

"Nira… wow, this beautiful!"

It certainly was. It was a portrait of Bulma made out of the same blue as her hair. She was smiling the way she did when she figured something out. A sort of proud smile that was also soft in its own way. Although it looked rough and somewhat sketchy it was also amazingly life like at the same time.

Nira blushed in pleasure that her present was appreciated. She handed Goku and Vegeta's theirs. Her face was burning and she wanted to get it over with to save her from embarrassment.

Goku studied his with a look of wonder on his face. "Woah, Nira. This is amazing! Where did you learn to paint like that?"

Goku's was also a portrait of himself except it was in orange. He was smiling the way he did when he finally beat her in chess, just a day ago. His was the last one she painted.

She shrugged, picking at her shirt. "I kinda taught myself."

She glanced at Vegeta. He was staring hard at the canvas. Nira swallowed.

Vegeta's present was also a painting of him in blood red. He was smirking because Nira hadn't really seen him smile. The kindest smirk she seen him wear was when Nira had gotten food all over her face when she and Goku had challenged each other to an eat – off. It was a smirk of amusement and it almost softened his face. Nira had immediately saved the image and locked it away in her brain and she used that as for this portrait.

He didn't say anything as he walked off.

"Where are you going, Vegeta?" Bulma asked, watching the man walk away.

"To my room." He answered, not looking back.

Goku smiled nervously, "He might be putting you present in his room."

Nira tugged at her hair, "Hmm."

Bulma shook her head, "He'd better. These paintings are wonderful. I hope he won't do something bad to it."

Nira's brows furrowed but she was quiet.

"Merry Christmas."