Makoto hurried up the steps of the Hikawa Shrine, breathless as she reached to top of the stairs. She was hoping to surprise Rei with a Christmas present. The American holiday was a favorite of hers even if it was highly commercialized in Japan. But no one seemed to be around the grounds.

Mako crept toward Rei’s room, but there were no lights. The smell of food wafted over from 
another area, drawing Mako over to a window. She looked in and saw Rei, Grandpa, and Yuuichirou sitting down to a meal, happily enjoying each other’s company.

I won’t disturb them now, she thought. I’m sure I’ll see Rei-chan tomorrow or in a few days.

Makoto then walked to Minako’s house to see if anyone was home. However all the lights were out and even Artemis seemed absent. She’s probably out shopping with her mother…, thought Mako wistfully before leaving. I’m sure Usagi will be home, there’s always someone home, so I can at least leave the present for her.

On the way to the Tsukino house, Mako happened to glimpse into a sweet shoppe and saw Ami and her mother buying some chocolate together. Mako was going to Ami’s last, but she knew how rare evenings were for Ami and her mother together, so decided it would be better to wait.

After finishing the few more blocks to Usagi’s house, Mako heard voices coming through the windows. It sounded as though Shingo and Chibiusa were ganging up on Usagi again in order to make her mad. She chuckled to herself, but also felt a little sad, as though she were intruding once again. Thinking better of it, Mako decided to head home and perhaps give the gifts to her friends on New Year’s instead.

Mako slowed when she reached her building. Her thoughts drifted back to when she was small. Her parents were the ones who taught her about Christmas, and the joy in giving to others. They would always surprise her with presents and also give gifts to children in need as a nice gesture at the end of the year. Mako didn’t have very many friends with to continue the tradition after the plane crash and it was painful to remember those times when she was all alone. But this year, she had wanted to start a new tradition with her wonderful friends.

Mako sunk down on the stairs, tears coming to the corner of her eyes. She knew her friends had their families but deep down, it just made her solitary home life that much more apparent. After a few deep breaths, Mako wiped her eyes and continued up the stairs to her apartment. She tried the door and found it to be unlocked. Mako reached for her transformation pen and tensed her muscles in anticipation of what might be inside. Very little could take her by surprise. Slowly she pushed the door open, prepared for anything. When nothing moved, she flipped the light switch.

“SURPRISE!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!” a chorus of voices called from inside. Mako’s face lit up as she saw Usagi, Minako, Rei, and Ami sitting around her coffee table in Christmas colors. Haruku, Michiru, and Setsuna were also sitting on the couch. “Come inside and open your presents!” Usagi shouted, grabbing her by the hand. 

“Everyone…” she said softly. "Usagi and Minako came up with this plan,” Ami said. “Chibiusa found a picture of you and your parents celebrating Christmas and told the rest of us. We decided to put together a celebration for you, since you never mentioned it and seemed not to celebrate anymore.”
Tears began to flow down Mako’s cheeks. “Thank you all! Merry Christmas!”

Ami walked through the park, bundled up in a thick light blue jacket, a scarf, and a pair of gloves. Her boots sank into the light layer of snow obscuring the ground. Winter had swept into Tokyo quickly, blanketing the city in a coating of white powder as the temperature dropped. This kind of weather never really bothered her, something Ami suspected was mostly because she was Sailor Mercury, but she had always loved winter. Seeing the cold air turn to steam when she breathed out brought a smile to her face. There was just something about seeing iced over rooftops and water fountains that-Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft, wet impact of packed snow hitting the back of her head. A snowball. 
She shivered as bits of it dripped down her coat, and turned to see who threw it. But there was no one she could make out. Ami heard a familiar laugh, and then frantic shushing. Her eyes narrowed with understanding. Minako was here, most likely hiding behind a tree or wall. She had forgotten that Minako and Usagi had made plans to come to the park too, just to hang out. Apparently they had decided to start a game… Well, if she ignored the snowball, maybe they would lose interest and stop- Ami yelped and dodged as a second one hit the ground right where she had been standing. The laughing grew louder, and Ami figured it was too late to just walk away now. Instead, she started sprinting towards the cover of the park’s forest area. A wave of snowballs fell behind her, and a few caught her in the back. When she could no longer see the clearing, Ami slowed down to a walk again, glancing behind her to see if she had been chased after. Right until she walked into something solid. 
“Ami?” the solid object asked. At first, she thought she had run into a post or tree, but a pair of arms caught her when she stumbled backwards, and Ami could now see that she had just collided with Makoto. She was wearing a heavier green jacket and a pair of gloves, along with a set of earmuffs and a heavy duty pair of boots. “What are you doing here? I thought you were staying home today?” she asked, brushing the snow off Ami’s coat. “You look like you fell into a snowdrift!”
“I was taking a break from studying to stretch my legs, but I somehow ran into the crossfire of a snowball battle,” Ami said. Despite herself, Mako cracked a smile at the thought.
“Oh, so they got you?” she asked. “I knew they were around here somewhere…”
“And what are you doing here, Mako?” She looked away at the question, scratching the back of her head.
“I, uh...may have been roped into a game with them.” Mako admitted. They were interrupted by sounds of shouting, and Ami was suddenly dragged off in a new direction by Makoto. “Sorry about this, but Minako and Usagi aren’t going to let you go that easy. Just stick with us until this is over….” Ami nodded and started running again, following her until they reached a small ledge in the woods. Makoto ducked behind it, and Ami turned the corner to see that Rei was here as well, grumbling to herself and she added to a pile of snowballs and crouched down next to them. Her red jacket and hat were stained with white from the times she had been hit.
“Rei, why are”-
“Usagi kept whining and throwing snow at me at the shrine until I chased her over here, and then I got sucked into thismess,” Rei said, glaring at the packed snow in her hands. “After I get payback on those two ice-for-brains, I’m going back home…”
“I’m helping Rei out to even the odds,” Makoto explained further, kneeling down to grab more ammo from the pile.
“You can’t hide forever!” Ami heard Usagi yell. Rei rolled her eyes.
“Let’s just get this over with…” Rei stood up and ran around the wall, to the surprise of their pursuers. Makoto shrugged and followed after. 
“No fair, Rei! We were ambushing you!” Ami smiled at the accusation. 
“Well, do it faster next time!”
“Don’t put one down my jacket, it’s cold!”
“Stop squirming around, Minako, this was your idea in the first place!” She heard the snowball fight escalate further until a bright orange light flared up.
“Venus Crystal Power!” Ami took a risk and looked over the barrier. Minako had actually turned into Sailor Venus and was currently threatening to knock down a tree’s worth of snow on top of Rei and Mako with a blast of her Crescent Beam. 
“What the- You can’t transform, are you crazy? Turn back right now!”
“I will defeat you both in the name of Venus!” Ami sighed. She needed to end this right now before they were seen. Reluctantly, she reached for her own transformation item. 
“Stop right there, Venus.” Venus looked over to see Sailor Mercury, hands already in the right position to attack. Venus gulped.
“We can talk this over, right?” she asked. The other girls paled as well, realizing the kind of damage Mercury could do in the snow. 
“This is for your own good…Shine Snow Illusion!” 
“Wait, don’t!” Moments later, all four of them were buried in a pile snow, Mercury’s self made blizzard catching them all full force. 
“Sorry, it’s a little hard to aim in this weather…” A faded burst of pink energy could be seen from somewhere under the pile, and Sailor Moon’s head popped out, carrying a knocked out Venus. She spat the snow out of her mouth and groaned.
“I think Ami wins…” she said, shivering. Nearby, the snow was melted by a small fireball,
“Venus, I’m going to kill you!” Mars said, brushing herself off as she stood up. A burst of green next to Mars came before she was restrained by Jupiter. 
“How about we dry off first before we start punishing out leaders?” she said. Mercury sighed again. Well, at least the snowball fight was over.

[size=36]Snow fell thick and heavy, obstructing his windowed view. He sat on the edge of his seat, numb to the rolling chair beneath him and the table before him. The balls of his feet supported his nervous bouncing legs, his folded knuckles pressed against his lips as his vision swam blindly, his gaze directed towards the window that was quickly filling with snow. He had stopped actively thinking hours ago, his mind wandering and yet tethered to the present, never able to go far, always waiting for a sign.[/size]
 
[size=36]Behind him the clock struck midnight and he jerked violently, his raw nerves springing into action without delay, his right hand grabbing for his beeper. In his haste he fumbled and the small black case bounced away; it took two hands and a solid forward push to catch it before it fell off the desk. He turned it around quickly, flipping it over to read the message right-side-up… only to find there was no message. He pressed a few commands, just to be sure, and as the hope that had surged within him slowly faded he read only that the date had changed. [/size]
 
[size=36]December 25[/size]^th[size=36].[/size]
 
[size=36]Left elbow planted firmly on the desk, he rested his forehead on his palm, staring down at the little device devoid of any meaningful message. His body relaxed, slumping as he stared at the date, taking in its meaning as his emotions made his heart feel leaden. It was Christmas day. If it were any other year, he would have probably gotten a phone call by now as Usako made her rounds. “[/size][size=36]Mamo-chan, why are you still awake?[/size][size=36]” she would accuse, and then sigh remorsefully, “[/size][size=36]At this rate nobody is going to be visited by Santa.[/size][size=36]” Normally he would smile at the memory – there were times he couldn’t tell if she were teasing to be playful or bothersome and that was one of them – but not tonight. [/size]
 
[size=36]His eyes returned to the window, the piling snow without lit only by the Moon, the power having gone out hours earlier. His eyes strayed to the decorations in the window, the small colored lights they hung together framing the sill, the small cards decorating the table, their old holiday photo with Chibi-Usa dressed as a small Santa Claus. Beside that there was the little tree dressed for the holidays, the hand-made ornaments hanging on its boughs, the small pile of presents sitting beneath it. He found Usako’s personalized ornaments right away; they were small and unique and well-crafted – despite Usako’s clumsiness in other areas, she had great ability in shaping cute cookies and clay ornaments. He first found the little pink partridge in a pear tree, the metallic gold-colored paint illuminated by the moonlight reflecting off the settling snow. Then the pair of turtledoves, shaped together into one form, tiny pink hearts for eyes; the three French hens with blue, green, and dark red eyes – she had them all wearing French maid bonnets and carrying feather dusters. He could not find the fourth calling bird in the dim light, but the details in the one he could see nearly made his mouth twitch up into a smile – they were all birds, but each had something on them that recalled one of her friends, and each held a tiny phone to its ear. That was as far as her ornament song went. This year was their fifth Christmas together, and one of the little well-wrapped boxes beneath the green boughs contained her take on five golden rings. Were they golden, or did she color them blue, red, yellow, green and pink? Were they rings, or hearts, or stars? How had she personalized them this year? [/size]
 
[size=36]He stood, pushing back from his desk hastily, and strode to the door, slipping into his shoes easily and locking the door behind him as he headed upstairs rather than down. He would search again; he would scour the city until he found her. His transformation over in seconds, he jumped easily to the next rooftop, and the next, throwing his heart open for any hint of her, pushing forward through the thick falling snow.[/size]
 
[size=36]….[/size]
 
[size=36]“[/size][size=36]TUXEDO MASK, WATCH OUT![/size][size=36]” [/size]
 
[size=36]No sooner had his foot touched ice in the park then he was jumping back up again, Mars’s warning sending him skyward. He landed on top of a gazebo and looked around, rather than focusing solely on Usako, the absolute relief he had discovered in finding her fading away quickly as he took in her surroundings. They were there, all five of them, skating for their lives around the new ice-skating arena that had only recently been the natural park. He had had difficulties in breaking through the near-invisible barrier surrounding the place, his Golden-Crystal topped cane helping immensely to let him through. The barrier explained why he could not sense her before, but it did little to explain the scene around him. [/size]
 
[size=36]The senshi were dressed for battle, but their uniforms differed from their usual forms: while still retaining the general feel of an ice-skater’s dress, they were now more military in nature, looking almost like soldier uniforms with skirts and bladed boots. Each carried a thin rapier, which they used to battle the human-sized anthromorphic rats that skated against them; as he watched Jupiter aimed a well-timed kick at a rat, turning into a spin neatly before changing direction to skate over to Mercury. Faint music played a background to the odd battle, and in the distance stood a grey-haired man with an amused smile on his face as he watched on.[/size]
 
[size=36]Usako’s attire was different – the outer coat red, a large hat atop her head… [/size][size=36]The Nutcracker Suite. [/size][size=36]Mamoru jumped down immediately – if this were the nutcracker suite, then Usako was Nutcracker, and by the end of this rat battle she would be seriously injured by the Rat King. He would run interference for as long as he could, and distract the Rat King long enough to give them a heads up. As his shoes touched down blades immediately formed between his soles and the ice, and he turned his landing into a push and skated easily across the distance, a fight long ago coming to mind as he approached Usako, his cane in his hand like a sword.[/size]
 
[size=36]But as he glided, pressing forward to gain momentum, he felt his attire, too, was changing in the magic of the air. He pushed faster, keeping his mind off the possibility that [/size][size=36]he[/size][size=36] might turn into the Rat King. As he closed in he could see the tears in her uniform, the thin lines of sword cuts in her skin, and while he was proud she was holding her own, the fact that the rats seemed to suffer worse damage did nothing for the anger he felt. His cane disappeared in his hands, to be replaced with…[/size]
 
[size=36]A slipper[/size][size=36]?![/size]
 
[size=36]He glanced down at himself and blushed – he had not turned into the Rat King, but he had not turned into one of the Nutcracker’s soldiers, either. He had turned into Clara. Or a male approximation of Clara, at any rate, dressed in nothing but a full length white unitard with a blue vest and frilly necktie sewn on for decoration. [/size]
 
[size=36]Too late to change trajectory, he held on to his blue slipper, reared his fist back and punched his intended rat in the face, knocking it to the ground. Usako cheered, a laugh trailing behind her tone, and Mamoru blushed brighter and fought harder, keeping an eye out for the Rat King as he punched and round-house kicked the enemies in his way. Any time he came close to Minako he heard a sly comment or remark – “[/size][size=36]Lookin’ good there, Tuxedo Mask~[/size][size=36]” – which at least told him they were still in good spirits. In fact, any time he saw Jupiter she was grinning determindly, whether she was racing across the ice or neatly slicing a rat.[/size]
 
[size=36]Knowing his part to play, as soon as the Rat King came forward, Usako in his sights, Mamoru took aim with his slipper, treating it like a rose, and threw it as hard as he could towards the creature’s head. As it struck the rat’s head came clean off, and it fell neatly to the ice. Usako danced backwards as the other rats stopped their battle to gather around their King, raise him high, and skate back towards the old man as quickly as they could.[/size]
 
[size=36]Mercury clapped behind him, and was soon joined by the others. “Way to go, [/size][size=36]Clara[/size][size=36]!” Venus cheered, emphasizing the last a little too heavily for his liking. He stood straight, refusing to look at them, waiting for his attire to be restored. Usako slammed into him, spinning them both around as she cheered, her words moving a mile a minute as she told him what happened, but before she finished she paused, listening as[/size][size=36]Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy[/size][size=36] snuck up on them, making them all very sleepy…[/size]
 
[size=36]…[/size]
 
[size=36]Mamoru awoke slowly, his mind fuzzy but well rested as he sat up, his elbows pressing hard against the floor. His head hit the lower boughs of his tiny tree, shaking the structure and causing all of the decorative bells to ring and shake.[/size]
 
[size=36]“What time is it?” a familiar groggy voice asked beside him. As in the end of the ballet, Clara awakens beneath the tree with her nutcracker. Mamoru smiled, relieved to see her safe.[/size]
 

[size=36]And then froze, as visions of Kenji-papa flashed in his head.[/size]

[size=36]It feels ironic, but the Time Gate knows no time.[/size]

[size=36]Pluto stands alone beside the never-changing gate, watching the world around her move. Change. Evolve. [/size]

[size=36]Change is the only constant thing in the world, but in the middle of it all, at the core of it, it is still. The Time Gate is the eye of the time storm. And Pluto is its guardian.[/size]

[size=36]***[/size]

[size=36]It is the holidays in Silver Millennium, and the kingdom is even more festive than usual. Its silver lights grow even brighter, and laughter fills the air. Pluto watches as the little princess runs around the castle, her dress swishing with each step. Once, she steps on the hem of the skirt and tumbles.[/size]

[size=36]Pluto reaches out as if to catch her, but of course, she isn’t really there. The princess falls and cries. Her loud wails call forth her guardians, who quickly try their best to cajole her and treat her inconsequential wound. At the promise of presents, little Serenity beams again, and it doesn’t take too long until she sits among the piles of gifts wrapped in silver and gold.[/size]

[size=36]The queen joins them soon after, and her face when she sees her daughter’s smile is purely radiant. Pluto gazes at her queen wistfully, longing to see the same smile directed her way. Longing for the warmth that is permeating the room as everyone celebrates, their joy but an echo by the time they reach Pluto’s dimension of nowhere.[/size]

[size=36]Still, being able to watch is better than nothing. Seeing everyone else’s smiles brings a tiny quirk to the corner of Pluto’s lips, too.[/size]

[size=36]***[/size]

[size=36]The Tsukino house is alive with festivities. [/size]

[size=36]Not only Usagi and her family is there—and they are already a loud bunch on their own—but Ami, Rei, Makoto, Minako, and even Mamoru are also present. There is an ever-present awkwardness and tension between Kenji and Mamoru every time they’re in the same room together, which amuses Pluto. She watches as Usagi diligently distracts her father’s attention with things to fix or getting the ornament on the highest part of the tree while she whisks her future prince into a safe distance.[/size]

[size=36]Makoto and Ikuko are trying to wrestle for control in the kitchen, though after a little bit of tension, the two manage to work together harmoniously and produce delicious-looking Christmas cookies. By the end of the night they are exchanging recipes and tips and Usagi’s favorite dishes. [/size]

[size=36]Ami and Rei are on Minako duty, making sure she doesn’t introduce questionable things into the family-friendly scene. Finally, when the tree is trimmed and dinner is served, they all sit around the full dining table. [/size]

[size=36]Pluto observes them talk, laugh, chide, joke, and banter with each other. Each relationship between any two people are so different, and yet here they all are, somehow meshing perfectly well as one big happy family.[/size]

[size=36]She wonders if she will ever have that.[/size]

[size=36]***[/size]

[size=36]“Setsuna-mama! It’s Christmas morning!” Little Hotaru’s voice in Setsuna’s ear jolts her awake. [/size]

[size=36]Groggily she turns, wondering what time it is. For a soldier of time, she seems to perpetually feel disoriented ever since she’s forced to live and follow only one linear timeline. After years of keeping track of all of time’s threads, she wonders if she will ever get used to shutting out the ghosts of the past and the future.[/size]

[size=36]“Setsuna-mama! Come oooonnnnnn!” Hotaru bounces on her bed. “I want to open my presents!”[/size]

[size=36]Setsuna, still completely not awake enough for this, has to beg for mercy. “Alright, alright, dear. I’m up!” [/size]

[size=36]Hotaru lets out an excited squeal and pulls her hand. Setsuna attempts to keep up, practically stumbling out of bed ungracefully and thanking the stars she doesn’t have to share a room with Michiru.[/size]

[size=36]Downstairs in their huge mansion, Haruka and Michiru are already enjoying breakfast. They look at Setsuna in amusement, knowing perfectly well how she feels. Living with her long enough has told them she is not really a morning person.[/size]

[size=36]“Everybody’s here! Can we open the presents now?” Hotaru asks hopefully.[/size]

[size=36]Michiru laughs a little. “Give your poor Mama a chance to get some coffee first, sweetheart.”[/size]

[size=36]Setsuna is already halfway to the coffee pot, smiling gratefully at Michiru, who no doubt was the one who’d brewed it as well. “Yes, this will just take five seconds.” She pours the content into her favorite mug and returns to Hotaru’s side, sipping the blissfully strong liquid on the way.[/size]

[size=36]Hotaru practically skips to the Christmas tree, eyeing the pile of presents with her name in it. “I don’t know which to open first!” she complains, but then quickly grabs Haruka’s. “Ooh! Is this what I think it is?”[/size]

[size=36]As excited squeals and yells of triumph erupt from Hotaru every time she discovers a new present—each one somehow better than the last—Setsuna settles onto an armchair, watching the scene in contentment.[/size]

[size=36]Her body is still perpetually out of time, it feels, and she’s tired and bleary and wishes she could go back to bed, but suddenly she realizes she would not trade this for anything.[/size]

[size=36]All those holidays she watched from the Gate of Time… she only ever had one wish every time that time of year rolls around. [/size]

[size=36]To have a family.[/size]

[size=36]And now, against all odds, somehow that came true.[/size]

[size=36]“Here’s one for you, Setsuna,” Michiru hands her a box wrapped in purple. [/size]

[size=36]Setsuna smiles. “Thank you. I love it.”[/size]

[size=36]“But you haven’t seen it yet,” Michiru says, confused. “Did you use your superpowers to peek into the future?” she asks with a mock disapproving look.[/size]

[size=36]“Of course not,” Setsuna laughs. “I just know that I will love it.”[/size]

[size=36]Michiru does not push for more explanation, and Setsuna sips her coffee again, watching as the rest of her family continue to unearth treasures from under the tree.[/size]

[size=36]The feeling that is building inside of her is so warm, so powerful, and so indescribable that a single tear leaks out from her eye, rolling silently down her cheek.[/size]

[size=36]They say this time of year is the time to be grateful, but Setsuna does not know anyone who could possibly be more grateful than her.[/size]

[size=36]Thank you, Serenity.[/size]

To: Makoto
From: Rei
Message: You need to come over to Ami-chan’s ASAP. She really needs your help!
 
Mako blinked at the text message on her screen. What did Ami need her for and why was Rei texting her about it? Maybe Ami was unable to and had asked Rei? Whatever the reason, Mako would do her best to help. She sent Rei a quick text letting her know that she was on her way.

Entering Ami’s apartment was like entering a horror film set if one substituted blood for flour. On the counter, raw cookie dough in clumps, forming random patterns, bits of egg mixed with flour looking like blood spatter. Piles of used egg shells were gathered into what Makoto could only guess was a sacrificial pile.  Another edge of the counter was the home to burnt cookies of all sizes and degrees of being burnt. In the middle stood Ami, her hair more white than it was blue, looking as if she were close to tears.

“She’s all yours,” Rei said as she threw her coat on and shoved her feet into her boots. “Good luck.” Makoto nodded, her gaze remaining fixed on Ami. She quickly took of her coat and boots, snagging a pair of guest slippers as she fully entered the apartment.

“What’s the matter Ami-chan?” Makoto asked, enveloping the shorter woman into a hug.

“I don’t understand why I can’t make simple cookies. It’s basically science. Mix an exact amount of ingredients, mix and eat at a specific temperature, yet every time I try they come out burned or rock hard or tasteless.” The words were muffled where Ami had buried her face against Makoto’s shoulder.

“I’m sure you can do it. Common, let’s get this place cleaned up then we’ll make another batch.” Mako smiled encouragingly at her friend before moving to start cleaning the kitchen. At least this was something that she could help with, although she was still confused as to why Ami was so upset. She normally didn’t get this worked up if she was unable to do something. Was there some connection that she was missing? Pushing the thoughts aside, she put her mind towards cleaning, getting the kitchen spotless in a record amount of time with Ami’s help. Grabbing the ingredients, she organized them on the counter for easy access before putting Ami back to work.

“No no, you need to level the flour before you put it in.” Standing behind her, she guided Ami’s hands, showing her how to level the flour, making sure there were no air pockets. Suddenly realizing how close they were, Mako quickly backed up, blushing furiously. “So you just, uh, do that for all the dry ingredients and you’ll be fine.” She busied herself getting a glass of water, attempting to will the blush away. As she drank the water, she turned back towards her friend and watched her as she put the butter into the electric stand mixer and begin to cream the butter.

“Should I put all the eggs in at once?”

“Put them in one at a time, making sure each egg is mixed in well before adding the next one. Also, turn off the mixer once the last egg is mixed in.” Soon enough it was time for the dry ingredients to be mixed in. Mako was pleased to see that Ami had turned the mixer to a low setting and was gradually adding in the dry ingredients to the wet ones, incorporating it well before adding more. Looking over the ingredients once more, she noted something was missing. It wasn’t something that was essential to the cookies, but it was something she liked to add. Rummaging trough the cabinets, she grinned as she located what she was looking for. Unscrewing the cap, she added a bit of liquid into the mix.

“What’s that?”

“Vanilla extract. It’s my secret ingredient! Ok, well, not really secret, but I do like to add it.” she smile at the other girl as she moved to prepare the baking sheet. Normally she would have lined it with parchment paper, but seeing how there wasn’t any, Mako made sure she coated the sheet liberally with butter so the cookies wouldn’t stick.

“Turn the mixer off now. It’s really easy to over mix cookies which changes the texture and flavour.”

“Really? Perhaps I over mixed a batch or two.” Ami admitted, blushing. Working together, they got the cookies into the oven and began cleaning the kitchen for the second time that day.

“Hey Ami-chan, you making these for someone? You’re putting a lot of effort into them,” she asked.

“Yeah, I uhh…wanted to surprise them with it. I got a box and some ribbons to use as well.” Mako raised an eyebrow as Ami blushed furiously. Whoever they were, they must be something really special to have captured Ami’s attention. Part of her couldn’t help but hate that person a little. Forcing down the anger she could feel coursing through her veins, she took a breath to center herself. Ami-chan needed her support right now, not her anger.

“Alright, why don’t you go get that stuff and I’ll put the cookies on the cooling rack?” Ami nodded before disappearing to fetch the requested items. When she returned, she put the supplies on the counter, one of the ribbons rolled along the counter, bumping into Mako’s wrist. Picking it up, Mako noted that it was pink. There weren’t many guys that liked pink; did that mean Ami-chan liked girls? No, it was probably a guy that liked pink as Ami-chan had never given any indication before about liking girls, or liking anyone really beyond friendship until now. Maybe I’m just over thinking this entire situation, Mako mused. She placed the cookies in the container and then gently wrapping the decorative green cloth around it. Grabbing the ribbon, she used it to help secure the cloth in place and added a small cute bow to it.

“There you go, all done,” she said brightly, “So is the person you’re giving this to someone I know?”

“Mmm, you could say that.”


“Well, whoever it is, I’m sure you’ll make them happy.”


“You really think so?” Ami ducked her head at Makoto’s praise, causing the other to smile. Ami-chan was too cute when she was like this
“I know so.”


“I had wanted to wait until morning to do this, but I may lose my nerve.” Ami thrust the carefully wrapped cookies she had been holding out towards Makoto. “Merry Christmas Mako-chan. I wanted these to be a surprise but I guess that was kind of ruined, huh?”


“Ami-chan.” Mako stood there, frozen with her mouth slightly agape. She had gone through all that effort for her? Her gazed softened at the thought. “It’s a lovely gift Ami-chan, thank you!”
“Did you want to stay for movies?” Ami peeked up at Makoto through her bangs, still nervous as to the other girls’ reaction.



“Yah, I’d like that.” Grabbing some milk to go with the cookies and settled on the couch. They fell asleep cuddled under the blankets, watching their favourite Christmas movies.

As this was started late, I am extending the deadline to December 24th!