d e c e m b e r    2 5 t h

"Wake up Anneliese" said Howard.

Ana groaned as she rolled over in the guest bedroom at Howard's mansion, holding onto the quilt for warmth. It was a very cold night, last night and Ana had struggled to go to sleep because of it. She felt the quilt being tugged from her, she hissed and Howard's laughter filled the room. Ana was only a morning person when she wanted to be.

Giving up, she got up after dodging Howard's attempted of a hug, in her nighty she stretched her arms and legs. Looking at the clock it was only 6 in the morning, she glared at Howard.

"Why did you wake me up this  early?!?!?"

"Its Christmas Ana! You already missed one year, you are not missing another!"

She was dragged out with her nighty still on, a hair in a birds nest and morning breath, trying to get Howard to stop dragging her it was a fail. Walking down the stairs still tired she saw bright lights, turning the corner, Howard had set up a Christmas tree.  

"Merry Christmas" he said, "Oh and Happy Birthday for yesterday!"

Howard was out of town on her birthday, she was used to it as she was usually not there for his. She was told that Edwin and Ana Jarvis had left to celebrate the holiday somewhere else, somewhere were War can be provoked at any moment. The two had it tougher than most in the war.

Howard went to kiss her but she stopped him "I have morning breath, save me from the humiliation and let me get changed" Giving him a tight hug, she ran upstairs, washed her self, dressed and brushed her teeth and hair. Rushing back downstairs, she became accustom to quick changed with her forever changing schedule.

"Always so quick to change?"

"Always so quick to question?"

The two smiled, finding that Edwin has left Howard and Anneliese some tea, toast and a pot of warm hot cocoa, Ana's favourite drink after Coffee. The two took the food and went to sit next to the tree, suddenly feeling selfish that she forgot to get Howard a gift.

Howard shoved a gift into her hand, unwrapping the box she found a pendent.

"What is this?"

"A way to remember me? See its the same colour as my eyes, brown"

"But why?"

"A war can change anything"

The two sat silently, not saying anything.

"if i knew you were going to be so sentimental, i would of wore a more 'sentimental' dress"

He laughed.

"I feel so embarrassed siting here" she said "i didn't get you anything"

"Well i took that in my own hands"

"How-"

He presented to her a fancy new orange and brown robe, it was thicker than silk but not at all fluffy. 

"So how is this my gift to you?"

"Because i used your pay check...."

"Howard...."

"Well okay, since you missed last years christmas i thought i damn well spoil myself"

"Don't you spoil yourself enough?"

"I am a poor rich kid, i like the feeling of being spoilt by others."

Holding onto a laugh, she kissed his cheek.

"Well enjoy the gift"

"Thank you Ana for spoiling me."

A/N

Little x-mas chapter..... should of done a halloween theme but oh well.

A holiday is a holiday

2 CHAPTERS TO GO!