Okay, here's the fair warning. This story takes place after The Blood of Ancients and therefore contains mild spoilers (such as who's alive, who's dead, etc.) If this doesn't bother you, please read on. If you don't want to know until the story's done (whistles innocently) which may be a while (collapses in hysterics) then you should probably skip this one.

This is really short and vaguely purposeless and serves no real service other than making me feel all smarmy - that and it may keep the hordes back for a while. I just received my 25th e-mail informing me that it had been five months since my last update and I figured it was past time I got around to it.

Happy Holidays!

Christmas This Year

"We wish you a merry Christmas and a hap-py Neewwww Yeeeaaarrrr!!!!"

Duke didn't lift an eyebrow as he took in the scene of semi-controlled chaos that reigned in the main room of the Pond. "Don't you think you're getting just a little carried away, Dive?"

Standing amidst boxes of Christmas ornaments, piles of garlands, wreath and lights, with a Rudolph window-stickie in one hand and a candle shaped like a Christmas tree in the other while the jingle bell on the point of his Santa hat chimed with every move he made, Nosedive still managed to look completely innocent of whatever Duke was accusing. "Whaddya mean?"

Duke gestured, spreading one arm out to encompass the whole room. "Aren't you going just a bit overboard?"

Garlands hung from the ceiling along the top of the walls and around the doorways. The top of the television was decorated with a mini Christmas village and two large glass candles were positioned on the floor in front of it. A large green wreath, decorated with red bows and gold threads hung on the wall directly above it. In the back of the room, behind the largest couch was a large, lush tree, easily ten feet high. It was, as yet, undecorated, but Duke could see by the sheer amount of stuff Dive had gathered around him that that would soon be remedied. He cast it a doubtful glance. The room looked good enough - Dive had gone for sheer volume, but at least it was all in rather good taste. Duke didn't see how it would be possible though, to hang plastic balls on a dead tree and not turn out with something unbelievably tacky.

Wildwing, standing patiently while Dive draped lights and tinsel over him, gave Duke a commiserating glance, but said nothing. Duke mouthed the word "softie" at his leader while Dive wasn't looking and grinned when Wildwing held up a fist in silent reply. No help to be found in that corner. Their fearless leader wouldn't deny his baby brother some harmless fun.

No matter *how* ridiculous this human holiday was.

"I wanted to do it right this year," Dive said absently as he examined a string of multi-colored lights, checking each bulb individually. "We never have before."

This was to be their third Christmas on Earth, Duke knew, and looking back on the other two, he had to admit that Dive was right. Their first Christmas had caught them by surprise; Phil had shown up one morning with a tree, a bunch of candles and some colored lights, just like the ones Dive was struggling with now. None of them had known what to make of it and just sort of stood by and let Phil do whatever he wanted with the decorations. They really hadn't understood or appreciated the human custom. Well, scratch that. Mallory and Dive had latched onto the whole principle of Christmas gifts rather quickly. Then last Christmas...

Last Christmas, Dive had been dead, and they had been caught in a battle to keep three worlds from falling to the Saurians. There hadn't been much to celebrate about last year; even Phil hadn't tried to get them into the spirit of the season as he usually did with Earth holidays.

Duke's eyes drifted back to the tree. No matter how tacky it looked, it had to be better than what they'd gone through last year.

Seeming to sense Duke's acquiescence, Dive thrust a tangle of lights into his hands. "Here. See if you can get these separated. I swear, I just took the stupid things out of the box a few minutes ago..." his complaint subsided into a grumble as he turned back to checking the bulbs. Duke met Wildwing's gaze, exchanged a grin and began to untangle the lights. "Peace on Earth?"

"Something like that," Dive replied. "Maybe more like I'm just glad we're all here for it."

Duke freed one hand from the wired knot he held to reach over and ruffle Dive's hair, but Wing beat him to it. "Amen to that one, baby bro."

Duke hid a smile and carefully changed the subject before the conversation got too deep. "So what did you guys get me?"

Ducking the hail of garlands and ornaments suddenly heading his way, he silently echoed Dive's sentiment and hoped they'd have the same reason to celebrate next year.

End

Told ya it was pointless, didn't I?

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