<--Jeremy

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,
Jack frost nipping at your nose

The words play through my head as I listen to the radio in my room.  Christmas, the time of joy and giving, a time for peace.  That's what it represents, but I haven't celebrated the holiday in years.  I just don't ever feel like it.

Maybe it's the entire peace on Earth thing, the way I look at it Christmas is the perfect time for the enemy to attack.  The Senshi are distracted with the shopping, decorating, and everything, so why not?

Yet despite that fact, I have only seen one attack on Christmas Eve, and never on Christmas Day itself.  Of course I remember the attack all too well, it's the reason I quit celebrating the holiday.  I finally grab my remote and turn on a CD, frankly the radio's constant carols and other holiday comments are getting to me.

I lay back on my pillow and close my eyes, Christmas is only a week away, and once it's over everything will be back to normal, including the Deathbusters who will surely strike again, if not before Christmas, then definitely after.  The Senshi and myself must be ready, because if we aren't many more could perish.

<--Ami

I watch Serena as she flies around the mall, we came here to try and get that last minute Christmas shopping finished.  Myself, I've had my shopping done for weeks now, all except one gift, the most important one of all.  The most important, and I, the school genius, can't figure out what to get.

Of course that's another reason to come here with the others, they know my problem and try to help, but each time I just don't think it's right.  The others keep telling me not to worry, I'll find the perfect gift for him, or if not he'll love whatever I get him anyway, just because it was from me.  They may be right, but I want to get him the perfect gift.

We all know he doesn't like Christmas, he stays locked up in his room all the time with his CD player on.  Either that or he's outside the city in the woods training.  I wish so much I could just know why he despises the season so much, but he won't even talk to me about it.

I hear Serena shout at me, "Ami!  Oh, come look, come look!  Maybe Jeremy would like this."

I walk over and glance at what she's talking about.  She's pointing at a crystal sphere that reflects different lights into different colors.  I have to admit it's beautiful, but still doesn't seem right for him.  I shake my head and she frowns slightly and goes back to her search.

Serena.  Out of all of us she's the one who loves Christmas the most, she's so kind and giving the holiday fits her perfectly.

<--Serena

Ami looks so depressed it tears me up inside.  She's always so calm, and generally does this stuff weeks in advance, and for once she just can't find what she's looking for.  I want to help, but every idea I get Ami thinks isn't right, she's after the perfect gift.

It reminds me of the first Christmas I spent with Darien, except he wasn't a sour puss that hid from the holiday like Jeremy.

Sometimes I don't get that boy, he came from Crystal Tokyo, our future, to protect us from the Destruction Squad.  He was ordered to do so by the Queen and King, me and Darien.  He's stronger than anyone I've seen before, but he's so cold.  He hardly ever smiles unless Ami happens to be around and sometimes I wonder if the smiles are just faked for her.

I mean the reason those two took so long to get together is that he's worried about messing up the time stream or something like that.  I have to agree to Ami though, what do you get your boyfriend from the future who doesn't even like Christmas.

Suddenly I feel my foot hit something and I fall forward but find myself being caught.  I glance up and see a tall stranger holding me by my arms.  I smile up at him, "Thank you."

He nods, "You're welcome.  Forgive me for asking but you seem to be in quite a rush looking around here?"

I blush ever so softly and look up into his blue eyes, "Sorry.  I'm just trying to help a friend find a gift for her boyfriend, and my own.  See her boyfriend doesn't like Christmas that much and she can't seem to find the right gift."

He smiled, "Well I'm sure with your help she'll figure it out."

I watch as he walks away.  He's kinda different here in Japan for a guy, he's got a Native American complexion.  Hard to believe I can figure that out, but I remember Jeremy telling me about them and how they were treated in the United States.

I sigh and turn back to my search.

<--Ami

I walk into the penthouse apartment I share with my mom and at the moment Jeremy and shut the door.  I spent four hours at the mall going through every store trying to find the perfect gift for him.  I can hear his stereo playing in his room, another of his CDs from the United States.

I walk into the kitchen and Mom turns and smiles at me, "Any luck, dear?"

I shake my head, "No.  I never thought Christmas shopping could be so hard, but I just can't find the right gift for Jeremy."

She walks over and gives me a quick kiss on the forehead, "The first Christmas with any man, especially one like Jeremy is tough, but it's also one of the most memorable moments in your life.  Don't look for the gift, you'll find it when you least expect it and you'll know it's the right one."

She goes back to chopping the salad for dinner, "I have something else I want to talk to you about though.  You remember Mike, the intern who volunteered to be Santa at the hospital's Christmas party?"

I nod my head.

"Well he got a really bad case of the flu and the hospital can't find anyone else to do it.  I was hoping maybe you could ask Serena's boyfriend Darien if he could do it."

I reluctantly shake my had no, "He can't Mom.  His job's Christmas party is the same night, and he said he'd only be able to come to the hospital for an hour or so before he'd have to leave."

Mom's face lowers and she goes back to her salad, "Ok, it was just an idea anyway."

"What if I ask Jeremy to do it?"

Mom looks up at me, her face stone cold, "I don't think he'd do it sweetheart.  He's not a very big Christmas joy kinda guy."

"I know, but still it's worth a shot isn't it?"

She nods and I go and knock on Jeremy's door, entering his room.  I glance at him and see him sleeping peacefully on his bed.  His hands are behind his head and he's looking up at the ceiling and I can't help thinking how cute he looks like that.

I smile and lean down to kiss his forehead and walk out of the room, I won't wake him until dinner time.

<--Jeremy

I awake to the feel someone gripping my arms and gently shaking me and my eyes snap open to see Ami leaning over me smiling.  I breath a sigh of relief and let my eyes flutter open and shut a few moments, "Hey their beautiful."

Her smile grows wider and she blushes slightly, "Good evening sleepy-head.  Dinner's ready and Mom said don't worry about changing before you come eat or else it'll get cold."

I nod and flip myself into the air landing at the foot of my bed and pull on a tank top at least in addition to my sweat pants.  I walk out of my room and rub some of the last traces of sleep from my eyes and sit down at the table where a salad's waiting for me.

I eat the salad and watch as Ms. Mizumo brings out the main course, nice and juicy steak, my favorite.  I can't help but smile slightly in anticipation and then it dawns on me, why are we having steak.  Generally the only reason the Mizumos have steak is when they have company over for dinner.

I start to eat, the thought still on my mind when I realize why, they want me to do something.  I have to admit it's a good way to start out, butter me up with my favorite meal, a steak dinner.

I watch as they finish eating and push my plate aside and set my hands on the table, and save them the trouble, "So what do you ladies need me to do?"

Ms. Mizumo is clearly surprised, but Ami isn't.  She knows where I come from and knows that I can read situations like that.

Ami smiles, "Well see Mom has a bit of a predicament and we were wondering if you could possibly help us out."

I simply nod, "Help with what?"

She breathes deep and answers, obviously nervous, "Well we don't have a Santa for the hospital Christmas party and we were wondering if you could do it?"

My face actually widens in surprise and I glance at them both, "I'd love to, but I'm not much on the entire Christmas thing or anything, plus I don't think the kids would like Santa having only one eye.  Sorry but I have to decline."

I watch their faces grow a bit saddened and my own takes on an unhappy look and I excuse myself to go for a run.  As I walk out the door I find myself anxious to just run and forget about what I just did.

<--Serena

I find myself walking in the park for a change, by myself.  Generally I want to be here with Darien but something made me come here by myself.  I don't know why but I feel as if I need to be alone to my thoughts.

I sit on the bench and sigh, it's not snowing.  I haven't seen a white Christmas in years and I can't help being totally bummed about it.  I look around at everyone so happy though and have to smile, white or not I still love Christmas, I just wish I could help Ami make Jeremy see what a great holiday it is.

I glance down the path and see the devil himself, out for his evening run.  I smile as he starts heading my way and I wave at him, "Hey, Jeremy."

He stops and nods, "How are you this evening Serena?"

"I'm fine.  I just came out here to think how it's kinda depressing how we're not going to have a white Christmas."

I watch his face take on a dire expression, "Christmas is holiday for children.  Doesn't matter if it's white or not."

I can't help but start to sniffle slightly at this comment and finally I lose it and scream at him, "You're such a monster!  I can't believe you!  You're literally Ebenzer Scrooge and I don't see what Ami sees in you!"

I turn and run away, literally in tears from him.

<--Jeremy

I walk back into the apartment, still feeling bad about not helping Ms. Mizumo and upsetting Serena like I did.  I glance to see Ami sitting on the couch glaring at me, looks like I'm in for a piece of her mind.

"Jeremy.  Did you have to say what you did to Serena.  I understand you refusing to help my Mom for the Christmas party, despite you being her last hope.  But to just tell Serena that Christmas is Christmas is just plain...horrible."

I just nod my head in response and start to head towards my room when her sweet, innocent voice stops me, "Jeremy, I love you, but I need to know why you dislike Christmas so much."

I turn and breathe deeply, "You really want to know?"

She nods and I lay down on the love seat across from her, "Ok.  Be ready to hear about a tragedy though."

I take a moment to collect my thoughts and begin the story.

"It all happened on Christmas Eve right after the war against Nemesis.  It started during a Christmas party that Neo-Queen Serenity was throwing, everyone was in attendance, myself, Elizabeth, and my pupils included."

"At the time I loved Christmas, it was among my favorite holidays next to Valentine's Day, but then it happened.  See not everyone from Nemesis had laid down to do nothing, some members survived to wreck havoc occasionally, Malcontents if you would."

"Anyway one of these Malcontents was a sorcerer who called himself Santa.  He disguised himself as our Santa Claus and came to the party and kidnapped Chibi-Usa.  I didn't think it was much of a threat so I took my pupils with me as my team to rescue her."

"We found her all right, but 'Santa' wasn't a pushover.  He was a major-league baddie and he managed to fight the six of us to a stalemate.  We fought back though and won, but at a great cost.  One of my pupils, Anaraki Shoibo was killed in the process.  He was just a kid that wanted to fight, only fifteen and he fought well."

"He had the potential to be one of the best, but he got killed fighting that monster who used Christmas to ambush us."

"Ever since that day I've looked at Christmas as a weakness, nothing else but a weakness."

A tear slowly slides down my face and Ami moves over and wraps her arms around me, holding me as I let tears flow in memory of Anaraki.  She doesn't say a word but I know she understands now.

<--Ami

I wake up the next morning to find myself laying with Jeremy's head still resting against my chest and Mom making breakfast.  I carefully get up and into the kitchen intent on apologizing for the way things might have looked.

She smiles and whispers, "It's ok.  I'm guessing you found out why he doesn't like Christmas that much and then comforted him when the memories got to him."

I smile back and help her make breakfast and look up smiling when Jeremy walks in and sits down, still wiping the sleep from his eyes.  He sits down and eats in silence and then goes to his room to get dressed.  He steps out and gently kisses me on the cheek saying he'll be back later tonight, he has something he has to do.

I nod and watch him leave before going myself.  Tonight's Christmas Eve and it's my last day to find the perfect present for Jeremy.

This time I try something new though, I go and just glance at the various things in the mall, I don't look just for that, I just go shopping.  I step out of the mall and look at my watch and realize I just spent another six hours there and didn't find him nothing, only a few things for myself.

I start to head home in disappointment when something at a street vendor catches my eyes.  I take a quick look at it and smile, it's perfect.

<--Jeremy

I look down at the spot and kneel on the ground, "Hey there kid.  Figured I owed you a visit since you got killed under my watch.  Ever since then I haven't been able to enjoy Christmas all that much, in fact I 've been a literaly Scrooge."

"Anaraki, you were one of the best I ever had.  Only John was better, but your resolve was much stronger than his.  The Pantheon wouldn't have gotten to you.  I never should have accepted you as a pupil, you were so young, so prepared to use your abilities to protect the world after your parents died.  You never got a chance though.  You died before you could become part of the Senshi Forces I was in the process of preparing."

"I wish I could go back and change it all.  Wish I could take the attack that killed you, who knows, maybe I could have survived it.  I can't though, with the time key fused to my Imperium Armor it's made this the core dimension, and the world where you died just a parallel Earth."

"I'm sorry kid.  I can still remember the joy on your face at the party," I find myself sniffling at the face burning into my memory, "I ruined your life and brought about your death."

I sit there, letting the tears flow, and talk to the spot where he'll be buried for hours before I finally push myself up and head back to the city.  As I leave I feel like a great burden's been lifted from my shoulders.

<--Ami

I look around the room to see the kids that are stuck here for Christmas running around and playing.  The sight combined with the Christmas carols playing over the PA system keeps me smiling, although I know we don't have a Santa to visit us this year.

My ears perk when I hear something outside the window and smile when I hear the deep voice, "Ho, Ho, Ho."

I look over to see the window lifted up and see Santa start to climb in.  The kids all scream in happiness and rush over to him before he's even in.  I hear his voice cut through the screaming though, "Easy little ones.  You don't wanna knock Santa out the window before he gives you his gifts do you?"

As he gets inside and brushes the dirt and dust from his pants he laughes, his stomach actually moving with it, "Ho, ho, ho.  You kids really need to get all these doctors to put in a chimney or else they may have Santa stuck in here some Christmas."

Santa talks with the kids some more before heading over to the chair we had for him and sitting down to pass out the presents.  Each kid got a chance to spend a couple minutes on Santa's lap as he gave them their gifts.

I smile as I watch it all, and if I didn't know better I'd swear it really was Santa Claus just by the natural way he keeps all of the children smiling and laughing.  I have to remember to thank whoever did dress up in the suit, when I find out who it was.

I watch as one of the kids leaps into Santa's lap and looks up at him smiling, "Santa what happened to your eye?"

Santa smiled and patted the boy on his back, "Well you see young man, even Santa gets hurt every once in a while.  The nice doctors said they could make it all better but I told them I had too many good boys and girls to deliver gifts to and they'd have to do it later."

The boy smiled as he continued to chat with Santa and got his present as well.  I even had to smile at the question, realizing who it was.  I don't know what he did today, but it sure worked wonders for him.

Finally all the presents were given out and Santa stayed to play with the children for a while before he headed to the window with the empty bag, "Well everyone as much as I'd love to stay and spend the entire party with all of you there are millions of children that still need their Christmas presents so I must bid you farewell."

As he climbed out the window he let his laughter bellow through the window as he closed it, "Ho, ho, ho!  Merrrrryy Christmas!"

I smile and turn my attention to the children who are scurveying across the floor playing with their new toys when I feel an arm reach across my shoulder and hug me close.  I look up at Jeremy standing their and lean into him and smile up whispering, "Thank you."

He looks down and I can see the love in his eye as he smiles down at me, "You're welcome, but to be honest I didn't do it for you.  I did it for the children and myself."

I put my arm around his waist, "So what made you change your mind?"

He smiles and leans down to gently kiss the top of my head, "I realized that I wasn't just holding myself responsible for Anaraki's death, but also Christmas itself, when in actuallity it was the sorcerer who was at fault."

"Plus I thought about how much children look forward to visiting Santa in the malls and how some of these children don't get that chance, and even in a few cases, will never get another chance.  I just couldn't do that to them, after all someday I'll be a father myself, and then I really need to be able to do the whole Christmas thing."

I smile and just lean against his chest, here he was still helping us battle unspeakable evil, and he had no doubt that he'll have children.  Well if I have anything to say about it we'll have children together, but that won't be for years to come.  This man is a statue of solid strength, yet inside he's as soft as air.

He reaches into his pocket and holds it out to me, "Here I got you something on the way over."

I smile and open the package to see a small jewerly box inside.  I open it and gasp in shock.  Inside rests a small star locket and as I open it I see two pictures inside it, one is of me and the other is Jeremy.

I smile up at him, "It's perfect.  Thank you, I love it."

I hold the necklace out to him so he can fasten the locket around my neck.  I suddenly remember that I have his present with me.  I turn around and smile up at him, "I got this for you."

He takes it from my hands and unwraps it, looking down at it.  I let my smile drop and start, "I'm sorry it's not as nice as yo..."

He gently presses his finger to my lips and looks down at the little crystal knight figurine in his hand.  He lets his finger trail down from my lips and gently runs his hand over the symbol of Mercury on the knight's shield and whispers, "It's the best gift you could have given me besides what you did for me last night."

I smile and hear Serena scream from the window.  We both turn to look to see her jumping up and down and pointing out the window shouting, "It's snowing!  Look it's snowing."

Jeremy and I both walk over to the window with everyone else and stand there watching out the window at the falling snow.  I look up at him, "Merry Christmas."

He smiles down at me, "Merry Christmas, Ami.  And thank you for reminding me what Christmas is about."

He looks above us and then back down at me, "We're under the mistletoe."

I look up and can't help but giggle.  He's right.  I look into his eyes as he leans down.  Our lips meet and I find myself being lifted off the ground in a passoniate kiss.

When he finally sets me back on the ground I smile and look to see everyone watching us and blush, burying my head in Jeremy's arms.  Slowly everyone looks back out the window and I find myself doing the same with Jeremy, his arm still around my shoulder.

END