"Do you really have to go?" I pouted.

"Lena, we go through this every time I go," Alex said with a light laugh as he adjusted his camouflage pants.

"Yeah, because I don't like it when you leave," I groaned. He sighed.

"If you really don't want me to go, I won't," he sighed.

"No, no," I shook my head, dismissing the thought. "I don't want to keep you from what you love doing. I'll just be a bit lonely, that's all."

"You have Eva, Kadie, Lucy, Lexi, and even Trott and Ross."

"But I can't kiss and cuddle with them," I said with sarcasm.

"Well, technically, you can but I'll have something to say about it," he joked. "I should go now. I love you."

"I love you too," I said with a small smile. He gave me several pecks on the lips before making his way out the door. Off he goes to shoot people with BB's. All a part of being in the TA, I guess.

  I laughed at my own joke as I made my way back to bed. It was 5:30, after all.

/////

  I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around myself. I dried and brushed my hair before putting it into a messy bun. I went into the bedroom and put on my undergarments and one of Alex's T-shirts. No pants, though. That's one of the only benefits of him not being there. I didn't feel the need to be modest and could wear (or not wear) whatever clothes I pleased.

  I walked into the kitchen and started to make myself some pancakes. After I ate, I sat down on the couch with my phone. I scrolled through Tumblr, still not done with the crap storm that spawned from last night's livestream. There were about a million gifs of the kiss or of my desperate attempt to run off and multiple text posts of people saying how lucky I was or how they'd kill to be in my shoes. It seemed like most people were just incredibly shocked that something like that was kept hidden so well.

  A lot of people recognized me as 'the girl from that picture Smiffy took that one time'. The one where I was sleeping on his shoulder, I think. Dang, it seems like it's been forever since that was taken.

  My thoughts were interrupted by a ringing from my phone.

"How may I help you, my dear Eva?" I asked as I answered the call.

"Well, mi'lady Lena," Eva said. "I am calling to inquire if Sir Smithy has left for his TA duties."

  I snorted in laughter. Even Eva refers to Alex's airsoft as the TA. Never to his face, though. He gets a bit more upset than he should when people say that, unless it's me who says it. If I say it, he just sighs. It's quite funny actually.

"Why yes he has! May I ask why you inquire such a thing?"

"Okay, I can't keep up with that fancy talk any more," Eva laughed.

"Agreed," I chuckled. "But seriously, why do you ask?"

"Well, I figured you'd be lonely and want to spend time with someone."

"You're right about that," I sighed. "What do you have in mind?"

"We could go shopping?" she suggested. "I still have tons of people to buy for."

"Same," I agreed, looking to our Alex and I's Christmas tree. It was pretty but it lacked personal touch and it had few presents underneath. Most of those presents were from Alex to me. My present game is really lacking.  "Maybe while we're out I can pick up some bits and baubles for my tree."

"So it's a date then?" Eva asked with a sarcastic tone.

"Yes, I do believe it is," I laughed.

"I'll be there in an hour."

  We said our goodbyes and I hung up the phone. I sighed and looked around the apartment, feeling rather bored. I looked beside me to see my birthday Kermit. I picked it up and hugged it. I call him 'Replacement Alex' because he's all I have to cuddle with when Alex goes off. Holy crap, I sound so pathetic!

"Hey!" a voice rang out. I would've been freaked out had I not recognized the voice to be my sister's. She walked into the living room, took one look at my bare legs, and laughed. "What's up, Lady No-Pants?"

"You mock me but I'm enjoying the freedom. It's not every day that I get to be pantsless," I scoffed.

"And why can't you be?"

"Because Alex is usually around."

"So? I walk around in my underwear around Ross all the time."

"Well I, unlike you, have morals."

  That's always been the biggest difference between Lucy and I. Lucy's always been the more outgoing and outspoken one of us. I've always been the quieter one.

"Screw off," she huffed. It sounded as though she meant it, but I knew she was kidding. She sat beside me on the couch. "You really miss him when he's gone, don't you?"

"Yeah," I nodded.

"Too bad he leaves every weekend..."

"Well, it isn't every weekend any more," I said with a slightly happier tone.

"What do you mean?"

"He goes every other week now."

"How did you swing that?" Lucy asked with a laugh.

"I told him I didn't want to be alone every single weekend so we made a deal," I shrugged.

"Ah," she nodded. "Anyways, any plans for today?"

"Yeah, I'm going shopping with Eva," I answered. "Speaking of which, I should probably get changed."

"Okay, I was just stopping by anyways. Ross and I are going out for lunch," she said excitedly.

"Well you guys have fun."

"We will," she said before heading toward the front door. I made my way back into the bedroom and looked through my closet. I put on jeans and an oversized sweater. I pulled on a pair of black boots. Well, that's me ready.

/////

"So what are you getting him?" Eva asked as we walked into the mall.

"I've no freaking clue," I said honestly. "I might get him some khaki pants and burgundy shirts to add to his collection. He's already got, like, six pair of each."

"Holy sh*t, please do that," Eva laughed. "That would be so funny!"

"Okay, I will but I still need more gifts for him."

"Any ideas at all?" Eva asked as we approached a pet shop. I stopped in my tracks and peered into the store.

"Yes, actually," I mumbled, making my way inside.

"What are you thinking?"

"A gecko."

"A gecko?"

"Yeah," I smiled. "He's always said that he wants one. That or a pug but I think he'd like a gecko more."

"Hello, can I help you ladies?" a woman in the shop's uniform asked.

"Yes, do you have any geckos?" I asked.

"I believe we have one leopard gecko. Most of our stock is gone. Christmas time and all that," she said politely.

"Freaking perfect," I smiled.

  I picked out a tank and things for the tank and a box of crickets. We arranged an agreement to where Eva and I could pick up the gecko after we finish shopping.

  I sat down on a bench and began thinking through all the things I'd bought and for whom I bought them for. A tea kettle for Mom and Dad, two new plaid shirts for Trott, a poo emoji stuffed animal for Ross, a blouse and skirt for Kadie, a yellow dress for Lexi, a book by her favorite author for Lucy, several bits and bobs for different Yogs, and a pair of boots for Eva, which I was thankfully able to sneak in without her noticing. I also bought a few tree decorations. I got a heart shaped bauble with Alex and mine's names on it and I got a Kermit and Ms. Piggy one.

  The two of us put our bags in her car before going back in to get the gecko. The cashier handed us a pamphlet with all the necessary care instructions we'd need. I thanked her and we went back to Eva's car.

"Eva can I ask you for a favor?" I asked as we pulled up to my apartment complex.

"What is it?" she questioned.

"Can you keep the gecko at your place until Christmas? I can't keep it  here, for obvious reasons."

"Sure, no problem."

"Thanks, be sure to take good care of it," I smiled. She nodded and I got out of the car. I got all my bags and made my way to my apartment.

  As soon as I got inside, I took to wrapping up the gifts. About an hour and a half later, I'd finished wrapping them all. I hung up the new ornaments and took a step back from the tree to admire my hard work. It looks good.

  I yawned and made my way to bed.

/////

  I squealed as I jumped onto Alex, hugging him very tightly.

"Yes, hello, Lena," he said with a laugh. I got off him and looked into his light blue eyes.

"You had fun, I presume?" I asked with a smirk.

"Yeah," he nodded.

"Did you get shot?" I asked.

"Er, yeah."

"Where?" I asked, a bit worried.

"Why?"

"I'm worried, that's why. I saw what happened to Lewis after you shot him. I don't like you getting hurt, okay?"

"I'm not a baby, Len. I'm used to it anyways."

"Please let me see," I begged. He sighed pulled up his shirt a bit. There were welts on his side but they didn't look as bad as what Lewis had and there was only one or two. I gave him a sad look before he put his shirt back down.

"No big deal, see? I wear protective gear so that usually doesn't happen. A rare occurrence, that was," he said confidently, though I'm still not if I entirely believe him. 

"I got a few hits on my a*s, if you wanna check those out too," he said with a smirk.

"Alex!" I scolded. He burst out into laughter and pulled me into a hug.

"Only kidding, Len, only kidding."

/////

*CHRISTMAS MORNING*

 I felt something on my neck. It was a  very light wisp of contact and it happened every second or so. I don't what it is, but hey, it feels pretty good.  I slowly opened my eyes to see what the mysterious force was. As soon as my eyes opened, it stopped. I racked my brain for a moment to think of what it could've been. Oh wait, they were kisses.

"She's awake!" Alex said happily. I smiled and turned over to face him. He had a huge grin on his face.

"So I am," I said, my voice coming out very tired.

"I turned off our alarms so that I could wake you," he said, his grin growing even wider. 

"By kissing my neck?" 

"Yep," he said, giving me another kiss, this time on the lips.

"Ah, you're the cutest alarm clock ever," I giggled. Alex gave gave me an over-exaggerated frown and in one swift motion, pushed me off the bed.

"Alex!" I whined from the floor, though I doubt he heard me. He was too busy laughing like a madman. I stood up and gave him a sad look. "That's not in the Christmas spirit."

"Come here," he choked out between laughs, holding his arms out wide. I crawled into his arms and he pulled me close to him. "I'm sorry."

"You better be," I pouted.

  After the morning routine had been done and breakfast had been had, Alex and I sat on the floor next to the tree. Behind the tree sat a few boxes, and behind those boxes, sat Alex's gecko in his tank.

"Okay here," he said, handing me a small square present. I opened it to reveal Pokemon Alpha Sapphire.

"Ah, thanks!" I smiled. I handed him a gift bag that contained the shirts I got him. He opened it and laughed.

"Oh, thanks, babe," he smiled. "I definitely needed more of these."

  I laughed and handed him another gift from me. Then he handed me one of his. That went on for awhile until we'd opened all our gifts, including the one's from family and friends. We each had one big present to give each other.

  Alex handed me a long black velvet box.

"I wasn't super sure what to pick so I had Lucy help me," Alex said sweetly. I opened the box and gasped at the beauty of the gift. It was a silver necklace with a silver heart pendant. The right side of the heart had a row of diamonds. 

"Holy sh*t," I gasped. "It's beautiful."

"Let me put it on you," Alex said. I scooted closer to him and allowed him to clasp the necklace around my neck. I turned around to face him and smiled. "Yeah, it's pretty, but it's not as beautiful as you."

  I felt a tear roll down my cheek as I smiled. 

"You're so amazing," I sniffled.

"I know," he smirked. I hit his arm playfully before giving him a kiss.

"Oh wait, I almost forgot about yours!" I exclaimed, pulling away from Alex.  I went over and gently picked up the gecko, making sure to extra cautious due to the fact  that it's young. "Close your eyes."

"Er, okay," he said. I sat next to him.

"Okay, put out your hands."

"I swear if it's a piece of dog shi-"

"It isn't poop," I laughed. He held his hands out I gently placed the gecko into them, closing them off slightly so it couldn't run off.

"Holy sh*t!" Alex smiled. "It's a f**king gecko!"

"Yeah, it is!"

"This so f**king cool!" he chuckled, lightly stroking the reptile's head.

"What are you gonna name him?" I asked.

"Dunno, I'll ask my Twitter followers later," he grinned, still distracted by the creature in his hands.

"I'll go put the tank in the bedroom," I said, picking up the tank and making my way the bedroom. I did good with his present, I think. Perhaps a bit too good...

.....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!