A/N: The angst continues...And from now on, Christmas will be referred to as Yuletide. So, yeah...

Disclaimer: It's mine! All mine! I will keep it and cherish it forever! (turns, revealing Sephiroth chibi plushie) What? Oh! You thought I was talking about the creative and legal property of Square Enix? NO! That, sadly, is not mine. But, I shall inherit it someday. (takes out black box wrapped in caution tape) Mother says I will.

Niki was cold. She was cold on the outside and the inside. Last night, she hadn't bothered bringing a coat, knowing they would be going straight from the ShinRa Building to the limo to the club to Kandi's place. She hadn't needed one. But right now, the clinically insane little rookie wished she had even just a hoodie, or Fezzik her St. Bernard friend to cuddle up with.

Or Reno's arms around her to fight off the chill.

Warm tears chilled almost instantly against her skin as they began anew, leaving icy trails down her cheeks. Rubbing her arms viciously, she kept walking, trying to get back to her apartment before she completely broke down on the sidewalk. But her noble plan was destroyed when she saw a happy couple walking towards her, the man's arm wrapped tightly around the woman's shoulders before his head dipped to plant a sweet kiss to her lips. Niki's knees hit the lightly snow dusted concrete hard, her face buried in her hands as she cried. She scrambled across the cold ground to lean back against a brick building, her tears coming full force and her little body trembling in the harsh weather. No one paid her much attention, most just passing by without casting her a second glance. A few kind hearted souls tossed a few gil at her feet, as if she were a homeless girl in need of a bit of charity. Drawing her knees up to her chest, Niki curled herself into the tightest ball she could, just willing herself to die.

If Reno didn't want her anymore, she didn't want to live. It was that simple. Her heart belonged to the red-head and if he rejected her and turned from her, she would simply give up and die.

Niki didn't know how long she lay there, curled up into herself, but her entire body was numb. Snow clung to her Converses and knee socks. She wrapped her arms around herself tighter, her teeth chattering violently. There was about 15 gil scattered around her from various charitable people, but she paid it no mind. Burying her face further in her arms, Niki shivered, only to be moments later wrapped up in something soft and deliciously warm and smelling so incredibly male and familiar that she nearly shrieked with joy. Opening her eyes, she stared up into mysterious blue eyes surrounded by shoulder length blond hair.

"You okay, Niki-chan?"

Niki sniffled and began crying again, allowing herself to be wrapped further up in Revan's coat and then his arms. "Come on," he said gently, pulling her to her feet. "Let's get you somewhere warm."

Niki nodded and gathered up the gil that had been scattered beside her, snuggling against her friend. They passed a bell ringer and Niki dropped the gil into the bucket. The people who had given it to her wanted it to go to the homeless. She was just helping it along it's way.

Revan pulled her into a building and instantly Niki was hit with the orgasmic smell of coffee and chocolate. She breathed in deeply as Revan escorted her over to a sofa and pushed her down gently. "Stay right here," he said with a grin. "I'll get you something to drink. You hungry?"

Niki nodded and Revan smiled. "Don't move," he ordered.

The little rookie obeyed, curling her legs up under her and burying herself in Revan's coat. She watched him as he ordered, his hands buried in the pockets of his hoodie. At least he wouldn't freeze since he had given her his coat. He was a nice guy. Really cool. What he saw in that green-haired bitch was beyond her. Maybe she'd get lucky and he'd chop Akalara up into sushi. Though she doubted it.

Revan handed her a steaming cup of white chocolate mocha and a chocolate chip muffin before sitting beside her with his own cup of coffee. He put his arm around her and she snuggled closer against him, relishing in the warmth of the coffee and of him. "Thanks," she said softly. "Most people don't get me coffee."

Reven smirked. "It's decaf," he said. "You're normally hyper enough as it is."

Niki giggled and began eating her muffin. "Guess so," she said with a small smile.

Revan flicked her nose and she squealed a little bit. He pulled her closer. "Wanna tell me what you were doing on the street wearing hardly anything and crying your pretty little eyes out?" he asked taking a drink of his coffee.

Niki bit her lip. "Reno's mad at me," she whispered. "But it's not my fault! Akalara set me up!"

Revan winced. Akalara's obsession with Reno was really starting to get to him. He absolutely loved the green-haired Turk, but he knew that he wasn't the only man in her life. And that hurt. "What happened?" he asked.

Niki sat up and lifted her shirt to show him her lower back. "She wrote that on me last night after we passed out at Kandi's," she sniffled. "Reno came by this morning to take me Yuletide shopping and saw it. I didn't know what it was when I was showing him and Kandi."

Revan read it, taking a deep breath. "That dude's a loser," he said. "Rude was telling me about him. He's still in the military and he used to be a SOLDIER Second Class. He and Reno hated each other. The fucker was always torturing him."

"I know," Niki said softly. "I didn't sleep with him, Revan. The only guy I've ever been with is Reno. Well, unless you count those missions where I fucked 'em then killed 'em. Reno was my first."

Revan's eyes widened at that. "Huh, really?" he asked. He allowed the clinically insane rookie to snuggle into him again, still munching on her muffin. "So, Ak did that?"

"Yeah," she answered. "I know you like her, Rev, but she's a real bitch."

Revan chuckled and kissed the top of Niki's head. "I know," he replied. "But that's one of the many things I love about her. I'm sorry that you and Reno got hurt, though. I just don't understand why she would use Razor's name. I mean, according to Rude, the asshole tortured her, too. Back when she was with Sephiroth."

Niki snorted. "She said she was too drunk to realize what she was writing," she told him.

Revan cocked his head. "That could be," he said. "You ever been drunk enough that you know you are doing something, but you don't know what it is?"

Niki was quiet for a minute. "Doesn't make it right," she grumbled.

"No," he said. "But I have faith in Ak. She'll make things right again. You'll see."

"Why do you like her?" Niki asked in exasperation. "You are such a nice guy; you deserve a good girl. One that won't play you and then sleep with another guy."

Revan smiled down at her. "I could ask you the same thing about Reno," he countered. Niki opened her mouth to say it was different, but quickly shut it. The sushi enthusiast laughed. "You can't help who you fall in love with, Niki-chan," he told her. "There's no way to explain why I like her other than I just do. Okay?"

"Fine," she grumbled. "I still think she's a bitch."

"And you're still clinically insane," he said. "It's what makes each of you uniquely you."

Niki stuffed the rest of her muffin in her mouth and chewed with a pout, something very few people could do. Revan laughed at her. "Quit sulking," he said poking her nose. "It doesn't become you at all."

Niki continued to pout and Revan sighed with a roll of his eyes. "Come on," he said, reaching his hand out and pulling her to her feet. "I'll take you home."

Niki grinned and took his hand, linking their fingers together. "Thanks, Revan," she said, planting a kiss to his cheek. "You're a great friend."

He gave her a genuine smile. "Anytime, Kiddo," he said.

Reno opened the door to his apartment, cigarette dangling from his fingers. "Hey Ak," he said with a smirk to his green-haired lover. "What's up?"

"I need to talk to you," she said, rushing inside the apartment. She stopped when she saw a pink and black backpack on the couch. "You got Axys this weekend?"

"Yeah," he said. "We went Yuletide shopping. Niki was supposed to go with, but..."

"That's what I needed to talk to you about," she interrupted. She shrugged out of her coat and sat on the couch. "Reno, I'm sorry. I was the one who wrote that on Niki's back. She didn't sleep with Razor."

Reno took a calming drag off his cigarette, flicking the ashes in a glass ash tray on the coffee table. "Why did you do that?" he asked quietly enough to unnerve Akalara.

The green-haired woman buried her hands in her hair. "I was messed up," she explained. "That's no excuse, I know that. But it was anniversary night. I kept thinking how I lost Sephiroth and then this girl was trying to take you from me. I couldn't bare the thought of losing you, too, Reno. So, I thought I could discredit her to you. I was just going to write some obscure name. I didn't mean to write Razor's."

Reno sat back beside her, throwing his arms over the back of the couch. "Why the hell would you do that?" he asked harshly.

"I really did not mean to," she replied, glancing over at him. "I know you don't believe me..."

"No, I don't."

"Reno," she said with a sigh. "Look, I'm sorry. It was my fault. Niki didn't sleep with Razor. I just thought you'd want to know that. What more can I do?"

Reno tossed her his cell phone. "Call her," he snarled. "Call her and say you're sorry."

Akalara gritted her teeth but flipped the cell phone opened anyway. "Just hit number 2," he said. "I've got her on speed dial."

The green-haired woman did as she was told. Reno reached for the phone and put it on speaker so he could hear as well.

"Reno?!"

"No," Akalara said, clearing her throat. "It's Akalara."

A low growling noise could be heard over the phone and Reno laughed. "I'm here, too, Doll," he told Niki sweetly. "Akalara told me what happened."

"So you know I didn't sleep with him?" Niki asked, her voice so full of hope it made Reno's heart melt.

"Yeah, she told me, Babe," he answered. He flicked Akalara's ear. "Ak's got something she wants to say."

"What?"

Akalara swallowed her pride. She hated being wrong. She loathed it. But when she was, she always owned up to it. That was the type of person she was. "I...I justed want to apologize, Niki," she said, forcing her voice to be strong. "I honestly did not mean to write Razor's name on your back. I was trying to make one up and with all I had to drink last night and it being anniversary night, I guess my mind was gone. I really am sorry that I did this...to both of you."

Reno took another drag off his cigarette. "Okay, Niki?" he asked.

There was silence on the other end of the line. "That was mean, you know," she told them softly. "I'd never sleep around on Reno."

"No, you wouldn't, Niki-chan," Reno told her softly. "You're too innocent for that."

Akalara closed her eyes and stood up, the pain in her heart almost crippling. "I'll see you around, Reno," she whispered, grabbing her coat.

"Niki, Babe, I'll talk to you later, okay?" Reno said hurriedly. "I've got Axys right now."

"Okay! Bye Reno!"

Reno closed his cell phone and jumped to his feet, grabbing Akalara in his arms and kissing her fiercely. Akalara stiffened in shock but then relaxed into the familiar feel of Reno's arms around her, his mouth against hers. When they finally broke the kiss, she stared up at him in question. The red-head merely smirked. "I'm proud of you, Ak," he told her, brushing his fingers through her hair. "That took guts, you know?"

Akalara nodded. "So, everything's okay?" she asked.

Reno kissed her again. "Yeah, Babe," he answered. "Everything's cool."

Akalara smiled and nodded again. "Okay," she said with relief. "Okay."

Sunday came and went with no drama and nothing noteworthy. Which was a relief considering how bizarre and draining Saturday had been. Monday morning came all too soon, with it's bleak weather and promise of snow. Edge was dreary in the winter time; not so much as Midgar had been with it's massive pollution. But still, the cold steel backdrop did little to put people in the Yuletide spirit. Though, the snow would do wonders when it would fall, brightening up the otherwise gray city.

Akalara saunteered into the IT room, knowing her long time friend would be there first thing in the morning. She tossed something from one hand to the next, eager to get the information on it.

"Morning Kandi," the green-haired woman said cheerfully.

Kandi looked up from ripping the guts out of a tower and grinned. "I'm assuming that the talk with Reno went well?" she asked.

"Yeah," Akalara said with a sigh, sitting down beside her friend. "All's forgiven. I even apologized to Niki."

Kandi arched an eyebrow at that. "Wow," she said. "Good job. I'm impressed, Ak. You've never apologized to me for anything."

"That's because I've never done anything to warrant apologizing for," she smirked. "Count yourself fortunate that you are my friend."

"I do everyday," she said, clicking something into place. "Ha! There you go, you little motherboard fucker. Who's your Mama?"

"What did you do?" Akalara asked.

"Hard drive was about to crash," she answered. "I stored all the data on a back up disk and replaced it. Now, I'll just re-network it and upload the data and it'll be good as new."

"Well, while that's doing that," Akalara said, handing over the object she'd been fiddling with to Kandi. "Would you like to break into that for me?"

Kandi took it. "Nice cell phone," she said, opening it up. "Whose is it?"

"Revan's," Akalara said with a grin. "I swiped it. I figure I might find some information as to what he got me for Yuletide."

"You sneaky little brilliant bitch!" she exclaimed, pushing a few buttons. "Why didn't I think of that? I'm getting Rude's, then!"

Akalara laughed as she hit the speaker phone option and listen to Revan's voicemails.

You Have Two New Messages

Message One:
Revan, this is Shiva Chocolatiers. Your order for a two pound box of gourmet chocolates is ready for pick up. Thank you for your order.

Kandi arched an eyebrow. "You're getting chocolates at least," she said. "Premium stuff, that."

Akalara smirked and continued listening.

Message Two:
Hey Revan! It's Niki!

Akalara's face turned bright red with rage.

I just wanted to thank you so much for Saturday. You are absolutely amazing. No wonder Akalara likes you so much. But I still think you could do so much better than her. Just being with you made me feel so much better about the situation with Reno. Anyway, hope we can get together again. Talk to you later! Bye!

Kandi's mouth was hanging wide opened. "Holy shit," she whispered. She looked at her friend. "Okay, don't jump to conclusions. Remember, this is what happened with Reno and..."

Akalara let out a shriek the likes of which Kandi had never heard. The green-haired woman closed the cell phone and hurled it against the wall, smashing it into tiny pieces.

Kandi let out a distressed cry. "Oh gods! That was a bitchin' cell phone!" she exclaimed. She shook herself and turned back to Akalara, grabbing her shoulders. "Be calm, Ak. It's probably not what you think."

"Oh, you mean Niki isn't sleeping with my other man?" Akalara hissed. "She's already got Reno wrapped around her little finger now she's after Revan, too? And by the sounds of things, she fucked him this weekend!"

"Okay, I admit, it does sound bad," Kandi said. "But, don't you think you should ask Rev about it first? I don't think he would ever cheat on you, Ak."

"He has every right to," Akalara mumbled. "I've been putting off having a real relationship with him because of Reno."

Kandi blinked. "Ookay," she said. "Just talk to him first, okay?"

"No," Akalara hissed, cranberry red eyes flashing dangerously. "No. Niki is going down for this!"

Kandi watched as Akalara stormed out of the IT room. Sighing, she went and picked up the pieces of Revan's cell phone, examining them thoughtfully. "Maybe I can fix this," she said to herself, switching off the light and heading to the lower levels of the ShinRa Building where all the vehicles and mechanical equipment was kept. This would require some soddering.

The elevator opened and she stepped into the chilly garage, the smell of oil and grease prevalent. She saw a pair of legs sticking out from underneath one of the Turk recon cars, a '67 StingRay, jet black. Kandi kicked the boots and heard a curse come up as Joel rolled out from under the car. His face broke into a smile when he saw her.

"Hey, Vending Machine," he said. "What's up?"

Kandi held up the pieces of the cell phone. "I need to use the soddering tool," she said. "See if I can fix this beautiful broken piece of technology."

Joel stood up and looked at the phone with her. "Damn," he whistled. "What you do to your phone, Babe?"

"It's not mine," she said as he lead her over to a work table and rummaged around until he found the soddering tool. "It's Revan's. And I don't think the cell phone company covers acts of jealous lovers, so I'm gonna try to fix it for him."

"Jealous lovers, huh?" he asked, sitting across from her. "Akalara? What would she be jealous of? Revan's a one woman kinda guy."

"There was a questionable voice mail on this," Kandi answered as she set to work. "From Niki."

Joel's eyes widened. "Niki?" he asked. "Okay, that don't add up. Niki's obsessed with Reno."

"I know, right?" she said. "I told Ak not to over react, but you know how she is, especially when it comes to her guys."

"Damn," he said, scratching the back of his neck. "That's fucked up."

"I know," she said, closing the back cover of the phone and hitting the power button. The cell phone chimed as it powered up and Kandi smirked. "Good as new."

"You're too damn good," he grinned. He gestured to the StingRay. "Think you can help me with something?"

"Oh, I don't do mechanical things," she said. "Just computer stuff."

"It is computer stuff," he said, taking her hand and leading her over. "It's an computer controlled firing mechanism. I installed the guns under the chasis, but they are useless unless the programming is set up."

Kandi was already in the passenger's seat stripping wirings and installing them into the glove compartment where the keyboard and monitor for the computer was set up. "This won't work well if it's not a partnered mission," she said, splicing a few wires. "I'll connect it up to the hands free system in the car and make it voice activated as well."

"You can do that?" Joel asked, sitting down in the driver's seat and watching her work.

Kandi nodded, getting up on her knees and feeling around in the top of the car for the microphone. "Sure," she said. "It's fairly simple."

Joel turned his head and grinned at her breasts in his face. "If you say so," he replied.

"Quit staring at my breasts and turn the car on, you asstard," she laughed.

Joel rolled his eyes and fired the car up, grinning as the car growled. "Okay, Babe."

Kandi typed a few commands into the keyboard. "Check this shit out," she smirked. "Activate weapons."

The guns came out from underneath the vehicle, awaiting further instruction. "Rotate right weapon 45 degrees east."

The gun did as it was instructed.

"Cool!" Joel exclaimed. "You really are good."

"You did a good job installing them," she said. "Deactivate weapons." The weapons went back under the StingRay. "Just make sure everyone knows to say 'deactivate weapons' when they are finished. Otherwise, if you say fire, they'll fire. Got it?"

Joel grabbed her chin and kissed her lips. "Got it," he smirked.

She shoved him playfully. "Quit that or Rude is gonna kick your ass," she told him with a grin.

"I was sexually harassing you!" he said in defence. "I was doing my job!"

Kandi laughed and made her way out of the garage with Revan's cell in her hand. She sobbered as she reached the office floors again. She really just wished that this shit would all go away. But with Akalara's reaction, she doubted it would. And things were not going to end well.

A/N: The StingRay thing was something my husband had been wanting to do for a while. I know it's kinda out there, but it's fun. Anyway, so Revan is totally cool and sweet, isn't he? HOORAY for Sushi Boy! And I was proud of Ak for apologizing and owning up to her mistake. Good girl! Oh, but now we have another problem. See, this is what happens when you are sneaky, Children. Bad things. Bad, bad things. Review!