Secret Santa, 1/2, By Sailor GlitterGirl and Rose Aquarius, Christmas, 2001 GlitterGirl: Well, here it is finally! Rose-chan: It turned out a lot bigger than we anticipated, so its gonna be a two parter. GlitterGirl: Just to get this out, this is not an action, romance, adventure, or any other catagorial fic. This is just a simple nothing to bring a smile to your face. It really has no plot, save the Secret Santa part. Rose-chan: This does, however, have a purpose. Two, actually. One, is for a lil break from all the waring and battles. The actual UGS is turning out quite a bit more angasty that we had ever thought it would be. GlitterGirl: The second purpose is that is serves as a bit of a preview. There will be mentions of happenings in book three, to give you a taste of what it will be like. Rose-chan: Oh, and yes, Lily is a real person, too. You see those gorgeous pics on our website? Those are done by the ever wonderful KeishuuGengetsu (we call her Kei-chan) aka Lily. GlitterGirl: So without furthure adieu, we, the writting goddess duo, present to you- @~@~_SECRET~SANTA_~@~@ Part One "Jingle bells Jingle bells, Jingle all the way..." Alexandria Whitcom, aka Galaxcia Aurora the Sailor Senshi Sailor Galaxy sang her heart out as she danced around the living room of the apartment she shared with her sister, swinging around a garland of golden beads. "LAXA!" A voice snarled from down the hall. Alexandria/ Galaxcia, called Laxa by her close friends, giggled as she skipped across the room to the large, dark evergreen christmas tree in the corner of the room. "Yeeeees?" Laxa drawled, her face a mask of innocence as her sister, black haired, golden eyed Alison, aka Universia Aurora, Sailor Universe, stomped into the room, covered in flour, fresh chocolate stains on her black, gold snowflaked apron. Her hands on her hips, she glared at her sibling. Laxa turned from placing the gold bead garland on the tree to face Versia, and promptly burst out laughing. "S-sorry!" The silver haired sister laughed, doubled over. "You-you just look s-so fun-funny!" Versia grumped and crossed her arms, making a face as she walked over. "Whatever." She sniffed, shoving her still doubled over sibling, making her crash to the floor with a screech. She inspected the tree, which at that moment still only had the lights and the bead garlands. "Not bad, sis," Versia nodded. Laxa rolled her eyes as she stood. Laxa mock bowed. "Gee thanks," She laughed. She raised an eyebrow at her sibling. "What happened to you? Did the Christmas cake decide to attack you?" "Something like that," Versia made another face. "Is it edible?" "When is it ever not?" Versia demanded, and marched out of the room, shoving Laxa down onto the couch in the process as she walked by. "Hey!" The silver-eyed girl protested, laughing. She shook her head and stood up, reaching for a box of ornaments as she began to hum. Loudly. The sound of breaking china was heard from the kitchen. "LAAAAXAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!" Laxa only giggled as she hung a glass nutcracker from a branch. *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* "Think they've killed each other by now?" Rose asked, eyes twinkling as she, Raven -called Ralph by anyone else other than the Guardians- Eclipse -called Logan- and Lilyanna -called Lily-chan- stepped out of the elevator onto the tenth floor of the apartment complex. Raven laughed over the top of the uncountable number of gift wrapped boxes and packadges stacked in his arms, and Eclipse chuckled as Lily grinned. "I'm betting we'll find the whole place in shambles," Eclipse looked at his best friend with sparkling eyes. "Again." They chorused together. "You guys have done this before?" Lily asked, shifting the box containing four pies inside. "I thought you said this was your first Christmas on Earth?" "It is. But we had Christmas on the Moon and Sun, too." Raven told her. "We would altnerate going to the Moon to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with the girls, then the next year they'd come to the Sun to be with us." "And every year, they insisted on baking the meals, and doing the Christmas tree." Eclipse shook his head shifting his own box to his other hip. "And every year we'd end up eating take-out and doing gifts under a wreath," Rose laughed. "It became a running joke between us, but they never stopped trying to fix up the perfect christmas for us all." "They'll probably be trying harder than ever now that the Senshi and the Princess are coming, as well." Eclipse said thoughtfully. Raven nodded and Rose shook her head. "Poor girls," The black haired girl said mournfully, her eyes twinkling mischief as they came to the door they were looking for. They all exchanged looks, before Lily raised her fist and knocked on the door swiftly, five times. Eclipse looked down at his side and peeked a look inside the box he was carrying. He noticed Rose leaning over to try and get a glimpse of the box's contents, and he abruptly closed the box, giving her a look. Rose made a face and moved away. "Coming!" A muffled voice called from inside. "Laxa, what the heck did you do with my earrings?" "YOUR earrings? Those are mine!" Laxa shouted back. The group outside the door exchanged looks and promptly burst out laughing. But the commotion inside the apartment wasn't over yet. A loud beeping noise was heard, and Versia gave a cry of despair. "AAAAAAIEEEEEEE!!!!! LAXA! Why didn't you take out the TURKEY??" "Cause it was still frozen in the oven, thats why!" "That would be because you never turned it ON!" "I did too!" "On FIFTY degrees? You think that would cook a thirty pound turkey?" "It did on the Sun." "Thats because on the Sun all you had to do was stick it out the window and it would be charboiled! Ugh!" Angry high heeled footsteps were heard on kitchen lenolium (sp?), or at least they would have been had Raven, Eclipse, Rose, and Lily not been doubled over with laughter. Raven had just managed to contain himself, the others doing their best to follow their example, when the door flew open and a feminine screech was heard. "ACK!" Raven cried, throwing up his arms -and dropping all the gifts in the process- to shield his face as a mass of silver, blue and white threw itself into his arms, knocking him against the wall across the hallway. "Hey, there, Muffin!" Laxa smiled widely at his bewildered look. Raven scowled. "I'm not a bakery item," He muttered, enfolding her in his arms nevertheless. Laxa laughed. "Would you prefer to be cupcake?" A look of alarm crossed Raven's face as Eclipse fell to the floor, clutching his sides, tears of mirth streaming down his face as laughter wracked his body. "Good god, no!" Raven shook his head fiercely, and Laxa laughed again. "C'mon, everyone; Christmas dinner should be on the table in about half an hour." She helped Raven gather up the assorted, brightly wrapped gifts and carry them inside, Lily -with the pies- Rose -with more gifts- and Eclipse -with a box containing something he had been keeping secret- following. *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ "Oh, you better watch out-" Serena started. "You better not cry-" Mina picked up quickly. "You'd better not pout-" Amy laughed. "I'm *telling* you why!" Lita slammed a fist into her palm, grinning. "Santa Clause is coming...to town!!!" Raye's midnight silk voice sang the last line perfectly as the girls made their way down the steps to the white mercedes parked at the sidewalk. "Man, I LOVE having my driver's license!" Serena grinned, opening the doors for everyone before slipping behind the driver's wheel. The other girls sweatdropped as they buckled in. "If you drive half as good as you walk, we're doomed," Raye muttered, smoothing her skin tight, three quarter sleeve red shirt after buckling her seatbelt beside Serena. "Hey!" Serena laughed in spite of herself as she pulled away from Cherry Hill temple steps and merged into the traffic. "Too bad Rini couldn't be here," Amy sighed, without her books for once, leaning forward, her elbows on her blue rhinestone speckled and be-glittered blue jeans. "Yeah, but she was really starting to get homesick," Mina said, pulling her hair over her shoulder so the red and blue ribbons that were streaming through it wouldn't get crunched. "And you know how much she missed her mom. I imagine being away from her family at Christmas would have been a bit much." "True," Serena sighed as she stopped for a red light. "But I still miss the squirt." She winced as a gust of wind blew her hair into her face. Despite the cold, and the snow covering the ground, the windows were open to allow in the crisp cool air. "Hey, Serena!" A well known voice called from the left of Serena's white mercedes. The girls looked out their windows in surprise at Darien and Orion in Darien's sleek black ferarri. The girls all waved, Serena blowing kisses. Seeing this, Lita got an evil idea, and, from behind Mina, reached her arms around the Senshi of Love, grabbed her hands, and before Mina could follow or protests, moved her arms in arms and hands in a motion of blowing a kiss to Orion. The girls burst out into gleefull laughter and screeches as Mina blushed scarlet and turned on Lita, whapping her upside the head with the white christmas teddy bear that had been in her lap. The light turned green, and Serena sped across the clear intersection, Darien right beside her as the two of them raced to the apartment complex. *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* "We're here!" Mina called, bashing open the door to Laxa and Versia's apartment, countless bags hanging from both arms. "We can have fun, now!" Everyone laughed, and Rose went to hold the door open for the Senshi as they trooped in. Hugs and kisses and 'nice to see you's and 'hiya! How ya doings?'s were heard as Laxa and Versia arranged the gifts under the tree. 'Under' being a loosely used term. "So the Outers aren't coming?" Laxa asked, rising to her feet. She looked like a sparkling winter snowflake with ice blue pants covered in silver glitter, silver platform shoes, and a white top that only had one strap and was covered in glittering silver and white snowflakes. "No, afraid not." Serena sighed, handing her coat to Versia. The Moon Princess lived up to her name at the moment, clad in white skirt with cream, picked out with gold thread tanktop sweater, her hairbuns wrapped in streaming white and cream and gold ribbons. "They said they'd had enough action with us phsycos." Everyone sweatdropped and laughed at the same time. "Can't say I blame them," Versia said, smiling as she returned from depositing everyone's coats and wrappings in one of the bedrooms. The Senshi of Starlight truely glowed, wearing a slit black skirt with gold tassle fringe and sparkling gold haltertop. A christmas tree pin was on one of the halter straps; an early gift from Laxa. Serena suddenly sniffed the air. "Oooooh....I smell food!" The girl's eyes widened and her mouth began watering. Everyone laughed again. "Everyone ready to eat?" Laxa asked, her eyes sparkling mysteriously. A chorus of agreements were heard, and she looked at Versia. Raven looked at the girls warily, knowing they were up to something. "Okay, then, everyone move to stand against the walls, please." Versia shooed everyone out of the middle of the room. Together, she and Laxa shoved the sofa over as well. Then they went to stand in the center of the room, length wise. Versia at one end, Laxa at the other. They both closed their eyes, Versia's brow scrunched in concentration, Laxa gnawing on a glossed bottom lip. There was a great 'POP!' and a whirlwind picked up, followed by a dim flash of light. When it was all over, there, between Laxa and Versia, was a long mahogany table set with golden goblets and plates. Jeweled wine glasses, and sparkling silverwhere. Candles in gold and silver dragon candleholders. Laxa snapped her fingers and the lights went out, and the candles lit themselves. Everyone oohed and aahed at what lay before them. Great pewter and silver and gold dishes containing cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, stuffing, yams, pickles, olives, vegetables, corn on the cob, barbequed chicken, rice of all kinds, sushi, platters pilled high with rolls and muffins, crackers and even chocolate bars! In the center of the table, two feet apart, really, was a great, glistening, golden brown turkey in a gigantic golden tub, surrounded with roasted apples floating in rich gravey. Two feet down the table from it on either side was a smaller ham, one tranditional, the other honey spiral cut. Both were surrounded with wreaths of holley and basil and rosemarry and sticks of cinnamon. "Cheaters." Raye crossed her arms, and everyone laughed, Raven and Eclipse most of all. And so the Christmas feast began. The sisters took the seats at the head of the tables, Eclipse on Versia's right and Rose on her left. Raven claimed the seat to the right of Laxa, and Lily sat elegantly in the chair to Laxa's left. Serena sat at the center of the table, on the left side, Darien on her right, Raye on her left. Mina sat across from Serena, Orion sitting across from Darien, with Amy on Mina's right. Lita sat across from Amy. Voices asking things such as 'pass the peas,' and 'could I have a drumstick?' were heard amid laughter and chatting, catching up on old times. "Oh!" Lita exclaimed suddenly. "Did you hear that Melvin (Umino) asked Molly to go steady?" Lita said excitedly. "No way!" Mina burst out giggling. "What did she say?" "She said yes!" Lita answered, and laughed as well. "Whose this Melvin and Molly?" Kei asked, taking a bit of a buttered roll. Since Mina and Lita were still laughing, Serena launched into the explanation of her lifelong best friend Molly, and her boyfriend Melvin, a sort of geek (who had actually gotten much better at being normal) and who used to have a crush on Serena. "I think we needed this," Laxa said softly to Raven sitting beside her. He smiled as he sipped a goblet of light wine. "We all did," He set down his goblet, and took Laxa's hand and gave it a squeeze. "That last fight was not an easy one." He smiled down at her. "But then again, we're all alive." "Man, that last battle was a doozy!" Lita spoke up, stretching, her plate empty. Laxa smiled. It was amazing how they all seemed to read each other's minds, even without their corrisponding telepathic powers that aquiring their True forms had given them. "Hey, but they say any battle you run away from is a good battle," Mina pointed out. Everyone got odd looks on their faces as Versia coughed. "Thats 'Any landing you walk away from is a good landing,' Mina," Laxa laughed. "But close enough, and you're right. We have a lot to be thankful for on this Christmas eve." "A lot to be thankful for," Amy echoed, smiling gently, and looking at the promise ring on her finger. "I'm glad we decided to have our Christmas on Christmas eve," Serena chirped up. "That way we can all have a holiday together, and still spend Christmas with our families." A month ago, this comment would have made Laxa and Versia sad, but now, since they knew that they would never be completely without family, it made them smile. "Everyone done?" Eclipse suddenly spoke up. Everyone exchanged glances, the nodded or voiced their 'yes's. "What do you have up your sleeve, mister?" Versia asked warily, seeing the miscievious glint in her lover's eyes. Eclipse only smiled mysteriously. "Everybody come sit around the tree," He said. They did so, and the scraping of the chair legs and whispering of shifting skirts and clothing and murmurs of contemplation were all that were hear as they all moved to do what Eclipse asked. When everyone was seated, whether on a couch, chair, or the floor, Eclipse brought out the box he had been carrying. He flipped it open, and pulled out a large top hat. "On the Sun," He began. "There was a tradition. It didn't really have a name, but if you had a party around Christmas, you did this. It was simply...a party thing. Like having food at a party; you just do. I recently discovered that Earth has a similar tradition, and its called 'Secret Santa.'" Gasps of realization and excited squeals rang out. "Cool!" Serena exclaimed. "I get to pick first!" Laughing, Eclipse handed her the hat, and she reached in, swished her hand around, and pulled out a piece of paper. She unfolded it, careful not to let anyone else see it, and her eyebrow twitched, but she said nothing as she refolded the paper and stuck it in her pocket and handed the hat to Darien beside her. Darien took the hat and drew, a sly smile on his face as he wadded up the paper with the name on it. Next came Lita, who made a face, then Mina, who blushed. After that was Amy, who smiled smugly. Raye was next, and she groaned, but grinned nevertheless. Laxa squealed happily, Versia facefaulted, Orion coughed, Eclipse grinned. When all had a name, they immediately began pelting one another to tell who they had gotten. Laughing, many refused, but Darien was already conversing in what sounded and looked like a serious conversation with Raven. "Okay, okay enough is enough," Versia stood up, smiling. "There is a reason is called 'secret' santa, peeps." Lita stuck out her tongue, and Mina and Serena pouted while the rest made faces. "PRESENTS!!!!!!!" Serena screeched, and immediately everyone pounced on the multitude of gifts under the tree. "Here, ya go, Raye!" Serena tossed Raye a package, which was opened to reveal a book of world religions. "And this one got Christianity straight!" Serena told her as Raye hugged her princess in thanks. "Now here's yours," The Mars warrior handed Serena a silver wrapped, triangle package. Curious, Serena opened it hastily, and found a wooden, triangle box filled with herb oils and bath salts and aroma candles with massaging cream. "Cool!" She exclaimed. "Thankies!" Mina released a shrill shriek as she opened a box to reveal the entire Beach Boys CD set, as well as an official T-shirt and cap. Shoving the cap on her head, she launched herself at Laxa and hugged the laughing girl tight. "Thank you!" "This is for you," Eclipse said softly, handing a small, long rectangle package to the raven haired girl. Versia turned and looked at him as she took the gift, and slowly unwrapped it. "Ooooooooh! How pretty!!!" Serena gasped as Versia, speechless for once in her life, pulled out a solid gold, black freshwater and diamond bracelet. Near the clasp dangled a gold spiraling star with a black diamond in the middle; her symbol. "I don't know what to say..." She breathed. "I say its my turn," Raven grinned, and pulled Laxa up to sit beside him, and handed her a identiclely shaped box. Looking at her lover warily, Laxa took it and tore of the wrapping paper quickly, then squealed in delight when she pulled out a matching bracelet, silver with pure pearls and sparkling diamonds. It, too, had her symbol -a silver star that spiraled the opposite direction of Versia's, with a diamond in the center- near the clasp. "Oh, I love you!" She cried, turning and throwing her arms around Raven's neck. "You're the best!" "I beg to differ," He laughed, kissing her on the nose as she snuggled into his arms. Versia smiled as Eclipse sat down beside her and pulled her into his lap. As he did so, he reached over and handed Rose a similar box. "For my other favorite girl," He told her. ROse's eyes lit up as she pulled out a gold charm bracelet, already with its first heart pendant with a emerald christmas tree on it, and a black gold 'R' for 'Rose.' "While we're doing jewelry," Darien spoke up, and Serena blushed as her prince handed her a small medium sizes square box. Its size alone told Serena it wasn't that special piece of jewelry, but she opened it quickly nonetheless, and shrieked in delight at the sight of the white gold and sapphire pendant, matching earrings, ring, and bracelet. Present and gift exchanges began again as the couple kissed, and it was a long while before at last they all sat in a sea of nothing but wrapping paper and ribbons, the sun had set hours ago. The tall grandfather clock in the corner of the room rang out, annoucning the nearing midnight hour. "Thats my cue," Mina sighed as she wrapped her new golden, sparkling muffler around her neck and pulled on the matching gloves; she sent yet another look of thanks to Serena for the gift as she continued. "Mom will probably be waiting up for me." She shook her head. "You'd think she knew about my life as a Senshi the way she's always acting like I'm a newly hatched chick." "Same here," Serena stood, stretched, and yawned. "Sometimes I think she does know, but if she does she's keeping quiet both to me and everyone else, so I'm not complaining." "I'll stay here and help clean up; I can walk home," Raye offered. Versia shook her head and smiled. "No thanks." The raven haired girl looked at her sister. Eyes twinkling, their raised their newly be-braclett-ed wrists and snapped their fingers simultaniously. With sparkles and fairy dust and a small, glitterly flash, the apartment was splotless, and everything back in place; the garbage can was overflowing with crammed and crunched wrapping paper. Everyone laughing and Raye made a face. "You never offered to snap your fingers over *my* place after you guys all totally trashed it." She muttered as she pulled her coat on. But then she laughed and shook her head. "Thanks anyway, Raye," Laxa returned the smile. "As much as I want to stay, I think I'll have to take a ride home with you, Sere," Lita yawned as she stood. "I've got a full day of work tomorrow if I'm to find a gift for *my* elf." She made a face. "I'm definately not going to be the best Secret Santa." "Oh, give yourself a chance, Lita," Amy soothed as she pulled her hat onto her head, careful of her hair. "I'm sure you'll do fine." "Well, I guess we'll see you all tomorrow," Serena waved as she and Mina, Lita, Amy, and Raye filed out the door, waving good-bye and chattering about the secret santa and what they would get for their 'elves.' Laxa sighed and smiled happily as she closed the door after them. "You guy's leaving soon, too?" Versia asked of who was left; Darien, Orion, Raven, Eclipse, Rose, and Lily. She pouted a little just to let them know she wasn't trying to get rid of them. "Yeah, I should probably get back to my apartment," Rose said sadly. Versia shielded the look in her eyes by looking away. She still wasn't happy that Rose had decided to move out of her apartment and into her own, even if it was only a ten minute walk away. Nevertheless, Versia nodded in agreement. Rose rolled her eyes and gave her foster mother a tight hug. "I'll walk you home, Rose," Orion offered, and Rose smiled her thanks to her adopted uncle. "In that case, I'll just drive home," Darien spoke up. He hugged and kissed the girls goodbye, shook hands friendly-like with Raven, Orion and Eclipse, hugged Rose, and left. "See you all in the morning?" Rose asked as she wrapped her scarf around her neck and buttoned up her coat. "Bright and early," Raven ackowledged, and Laxa moaned; she was *not* a morning person. Neither was Raven, but he just liked to tease her about the fact that while he simply did not like mornings, she was *dead* in the morning. Rose, knowing what had prompted the groan, laughed along with everyone else and shook her head. "See you tomorrow!" She called, Orion echoing her. Then they were gone. A soothing, comfortable silence followed among the remaining warriors. Raven, Laxa at his side, leaning against a wall. Eclipse, Versia pulled close to his side, and the ever smiling Lily, leaning against a book shelf. This was the first time since...since the battle that the fivesome had been together, alone. It broughgt back memories. "Together again," Laxa said quietly. She smiled at Lily. "Thank you for everything." "Me?" Versia nodded. "Without you, Rose would most likely be dead, as would everyone else in this solar system. We owe you, so now that we have fulfilled our-" "Wait," Lily held up a hand. "Lets discuss this...after the... holidays." She smiled. "I know this is a special time for humans, and you, as well. I'll let you enjoy it before collecting my half of the bargain." She smiled knowingly at the couples. "But I want you guys to know it was an honor fighting with you on Daloris." "Highness-" Raven started. Lily cut him off with a raised hand and a laugh. "Please, none of that," She smiled. "I also want you to know that it was one of the greatest joys of my life to be able to help you in your quest to truly become the Guardians of the Solar System, and to be -however temporarily- considered one of you." And with that, she slunk out of the apartment with the unnoticeably, liquid grace only she could possess and use. The Apartment was empty save for two pairs of soulmates. *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* Lily smiled as she walked down the streets, a happy spring in her step. She stopped suddenly at a thought. She had intended to just leave Earth and come back after the holidays to further the discussion Versia had tried to start. She figued an outside like her and tagged along long enough. But now she stopped and reached into her pocket to pull out a small, rectangular piece of paper with Eclipse's precise scribe's script on it. The woman smiled, her deep violet eyes twinkling. Had they known that this would make her stay? Probably. In any case, Lily knew exactly what to get the planetary royal whose name was on that paper. But she didn't have much time... *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* "Well, that went nicely," Eclipse said casually. Versia smiled. "It went more than 'nicely,'" She laughed. "That Secret Santa was a good idea, too," Raven said, sipping from a glass of punch. "Guess everyone has a decent idea at least once in their lives, no matter how mentally blonde they may- Hey!" Raven ducked just in time to avoid getting lopped upside the head with a heavily tassled pillow. Eclipse's arm was in such a position that looked suspicously like an after-throw position. Raven sent his best friend a withering glare while the girls cracked up. "Nice to know I can rely on you, girls." The Solar Prince muttered. Laxa shook her head, calming her laughter as she slinked one arm through his and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Did you boys want to spend the night here, in the living room?" Versia asked as she looked at the clock. "It is late." "Uh...." Eclipse blinked, his face red as Raven's eyebrow twitched. "Thanks for the offer, but I think we'll...pass..." Eclipse laughed nervously. The girls exchanged looks and burst out into giggles again. "Oh..." Laxa grabbed her sides. "Any more laughing and I'm gonna burst...hee hee..." Raven just shook his head as Eclipse scowled. "Well, we'd better be going." Eclipse helped his girlfriend wipe away the tears of mirth before pecking her on the lips. Versia grabbed a tissue and walked with him to the door, Raven and Laxa following. A few minutes later found the two girls on their balcony, waving to the boys below as they walked away. Laxa sighed dreamly and touched her lips and smiled. He really was good at goodnight kisses... Versia saw this and rolled her eyes, giving her sister a playful shove. Laxa shrieked her indignation and pounced on her sibling. Below, the boys just laughed and waved again. Versia and Laxa stopped and waved back, and kept waving until they were out of sight and their arms were sore. They stood there for a moment, just looking up at the stars and full moon, thinking simple nothings, their thoughts wondering across the galaxy. "That," Versia stated. "Was a wonderful Christmas." She smiled. "And its not over yet!" "Nope," Laxa grinned, linking he arm with her sisters. "And I didn't even burn the turkey this year!" End Part One of 'Secret Santa'