he put the last ornament on the Christmas tree. None of the members of Depeche Mode were
religious and they were atheistic, but that didn't stop them from enjoying the romantic feeling of
Christmas. "Mart, you've spoilt the Mariah Carey song, you know," Andrew Fletcher chuckled.
"Well, I didn't mean for my singing to be seriously taken," Martin retorted. Andrew chuckled again.
"Hey, Dave, do you want to plug the lights in?" Andrew suggested to David, who was busy signing
Christmas cards.
"Sure," he replied, setting his pen down. He missed the Christmases when Alan was with them.
Occasionally, Alan would visit them in the studio and of course, David and Alan would go on dates, but
both of them were extremely busy for the past few months.
"I wonder if Alan will be at our Christmas party again...," David wondered as he plugged the lights in.
Sapphires, rubies, diamonds, topazes, emeralds and amethysts made from lights twinkled in the tree.
Returning to the Christmas cards, he let out a sigh.
"Dave doesn't know about his present, right?" Martin worriedly asked Andrew.
"He doesn't. But he'll love it more than a box of chocolates or flowers," Andrew whispered back.
It was only one day until their Christmas party and David had not heard from Alan yet. David
sulkily left the desk to grab a handful of fudge biscuits. Nibbling on them, he resumed signing the
cards.
"There goes David and his chocolate again...," Andrew remarked, putting away the empty boxes.
"Dave, I'll help you with the envelopes," Martin offered.
"Go ahead. I'm going to take a break," Dave replied, taking another triple fudge biscuit from the table
and retracted to the sofa. Carefully and gently, Martin started to place the cards in the envelopes. He
noticed one card in particular that stood out from the rest. He looked at the back of the card; it was to
Alan. Some of the handwriting was tear-stained---David had been crying. Martin didn't bother to read
the card, though. He thought it was an intrusion of privacy to do such a thing.
"How are those envelopes coming along?" Andrew asked Martin, looking over his shoulder.
"Look at this," Martin whispered, pointing to the card addressed to Alan. Andrew picked the card up
and set it down.
"Now I know for sure that this surprise would cheer him up," he told Martin. The tear-stained writing
told him everything.
Twenty four hours later, David, Andrew and Martin were busy at the party, greeting guests and
such. Then, the presents were being passed.
"Dave, we have got a fabulous surprise for you," Martin told Dave.
"What is it?" Dave asked, slightly puzzled.
"Close your eyes, Dave," Andrew added.
Dave replied, "OK...", unsure of what his present was.
"Now open your eyes," Martin whispered. As David opened his eyes, he let out a gasp. It was his
beloved Alan Wilder who was standing in front of him.
"Alan! I..I thought you weren't going to be here...," David reached out to him.
"Dave, honey, Happy Christmas," Alan hugged David and kissed him. By then, all of the guests had
went home; they just wanted to drop by. David sobbed, "I missed you, Alan!"
"I missed you too, Dave," Alan wiped off the tears on David's face.
"I've heard that Mart and Fletch have another gift for you," Alan gently told him. David nodded.
"You're the best Christmas present I've ever received," David whispered in Alan's ear.
"Alan's right, David. Here's your other present," Andrew told David as he handed him an envelope.
Inside were two tickets to a free spa treatment.
"Alan, we could go to the spa together," David joyfully said as he hugged Alan again.
"Happy Christmas, Dave, Mart and Fletch!" Alan smiled.
David added, "This is the most wonderful Christmas I've ever had!"
Martin and Andrew simply smiled at the overjoyed couple.