Day 17

"I have a problem."

It wasn't every day that Troy admitted to having a problem. Tully looked at him in confusion while kneading a massive ball of dough for cookies. "You okay, Sarge?"

"Oh, yeah, I'm okay, but I have to break the rules of secret Santa because I need help," Troy said.

"Why? Did you get stuck with Anah again? I will admit, she can be kinda tough to shop for."

"No. Worse. I got Moffitt."

Tully raised an eyebrow. "Okay. How is that worse? You know Moffitt about as well as Vanora or Jules or Anah does. He should be pretty easy to shop for."

"That's the problem. Everyone's going to get him tea and horse stuff. He told me after last Christmas that he wants something… different."

Tully rubbed his chin. "Something different… I can see why you're having trouble, Sarge. It is easy to default to tea and horse gifts, but that's not the sum of who Moffitt is. Maybe something practical."

"You sure? Seems kinda boring if you ask me. I know he needs new wiper blades for his car, but that's something he can easily get on his own. Doesn't feel like a proper Christmas present."

"Get him something that you know he needs, but he'll never admit to needing."

"Like what?"

"Well, you know how he's always cold? Especially in the wintertime?"

"Yeah. He won't stop griping about it."

"I planned on getting this for him anyway, even if I didn't get him in the secret Santa draw, but how about an electric blanket? I think he'll love it."

"Alright. I'll give that a shot. Thanks."

Doing a secret Santa event with the rest of the family was always fun, but there were some baseline rules that everyone agreed to—everyone had to get someone different whom they didn't live with, which meant spouses couldn't get each other and parents couldn't get their own kids. It also meant Moffitt, Vanora, and Jules couldn't get Anah, and vice versa. It was certainly a fun way to see how well everyone knew each other. It was also sometimes easy to tell who got who. Anah was known to get gag gifts for Troy, but for everyone else, she would make something from scratch, whether it was a baked good or a knit piece of clothing. Pyrography was one of Shauna's hobbies, and always set out to make something unique and special for whoever her recipient was. Tully always got something practical for his recipient, and usually tried to get something that his recipient was hesitant to mention. Other times, he would get something fun but specially tailored for them, like this year.

Tully had gotten Dietrich that year, and had already taken care of his gift—a box of homemade chocolate-dipped fruit—so he was more than happy to help Troy out with getting an electric blanket for Moffitt.

The night everyone visited Tully's place to reveal the gifts, Tully watched Troy set a large box under the tree before disappearing into the kitchen to get a cup of hot chocolate. He certainly hoped Moffitt would like it, but Tully was going to do what he did best and stay quiet until after the presents were opened. He grinned when it was Moffitt's turn to open his gift.

"What in the world is this?" Moffitt pulled the folded blanket out of the box. "A blanket? Who had me?"

Troy raised his hand. "It's an electric blanket."

"There's no way you thought of this on your own."

A disappointed look crossed Troy's face. "I mean, no, I didn't. Tully suggested it."

Hitch lowered his mug. "Uh-oh."

"What 'uh-oh?'"

An embarrassed look came over Hitch's face. "I got Moffitt an electric blanket, too."

"So did I," Dietrich said with his mouth full of chocolate-covered strawberries.

"His parents got him an electric blanket as well," Anah said.

"I got him one, too." Jules looked around at everyone in confusion, then focused on his father. "Blimy, Dad, everyone had the same idea and it wasn't bloody tea this time."

Moffitt glanced around the room. "Everyone got me an electric blanket?"

"Looks like it," Tully said. "I was gonna get you one, but since I gave Sarge the idea, I decided to get you something else."

"And what did you get me?"

"A pair of slippers."

Moffitt took on an embarrassed look. "Well, I… i-it certainly looks like I moaned and groaned about being cold quite a bit this year."

"You did, love," Vanora said.

"At least I'll have plenty of electric blankets to choose from now." Moffitt smiled broadly. "I feel loved. Thank you, everyone."

Jules took a sip of his cocoa. "I got one with sleeves so you can still have your tea while wearing it."

Moffitt reached over to ruffle Jules's hair. "I take it back. You outdid everyone else. I love you most."

There were groans all around.

"Come on, kid!" Troy shook his head and smiled. "You just had to go and do that!"

"I'm only joking, bloody hell!" Moffitt said. "I appreciate all of you."

"Thanks," Tully replied.

"I must ask, though… does this mean I didn't get any tea this year?"

"I thought you wanted something different," Troy said.

"I did, but I've gotten very used to getting tea, and you all get me some wonderful flavors, although Dietrich should've gotten a prize for that massive tin of loose-leaf English breakfast tea last year."

"Oh, of course, Dietrich's giant tin of tea warrants a prize," Vanora said. "My picture frame with our names and wedding date doesn't?"

"I-I… w-well…" Moffitt stumbled over his words when Vanora looked at him. "O-Of course it does, darling. It was a wonderful present. I just—"

"Somebody is getting the couch on Christmas Eve, I see," Dietrich said.

"No, I can't put Jack on the couch," Vanora sighed. "He would freeze to death."

"Not with these electric blankets, I won't," Moffitt said.

"Good. Then you will get the couch on Christmas Eve."

"Oh." Moffitt frowned. "But, darling—"

"I'm joking, love. I'd never actually kick you out of bed."

Tully looked at Hitch. "I feel like I'm the only one of us who hasn't been threatened with being made to sleep on the couch."

"Really? Never?" Hitch gave him a surprised look.

"Nope. Never."

"Wow."

"Yep." Tully smirked a little, then turned to Troy. "Well, what do you think? Still glad you got that blanket for Moffitt?"

"The one year getting him tea would've been fine." Troy sighed and shook his head. "Oh, well. He likes it. That's all that matters."