[Synopsis: The Christmas party on Polus is going to be in a few days. EVERYONE is gonna be there, and it's going to be their biggest shindig yet...But the excitement can wait. Right now, all MrEgg wants to do is spend some quality time with Ria.]

[Location: MrEgg's house]

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"The doorbell...I hope that's her..."

Before MrEgg ran to answer the door, he tossed another log into the fireplace, fluffed a couple of the cushions on the chairs and took one more glance at the lights and tree to make sure everything was in order...Nothing was amiss from what he could see, so with all of that settled, he hurried over to the door and opened it...He flinched at the cold blast of air from outside, but quickly regained his composure once he saw the lime-clad figure standing there, wrapped in nothing more than a thin mint green jacket and a fuzzy blue hat over her signature bandana.

"Ria, you're finally here!" he sighed with relief. "This storm came out of nowhere, I was starting to worry...! Here, come in, love, you'll freeze half to death out there."

He lead her inside and shut the door...She was shaking from head to toe.

"Here, let me take your hat and jacket. They look rather damp," he remarked. Ria nodded in agreement, peeling the hat and coat off of herself and handing them to MrEgg, who promptly hung them up on the coat rack then started leading her into the living room.

"Wow..."

Ria's visor sparkled when she saw what he'd done with the place; garlands of pine branches trimmed the living room walls, and there was either a wreath or bow on every door. There was a pair of crimson stockings hanging from the mantel, each with one of their names on it, and the fireplace beneath it crackled as it warmed the house...And then she spied the Christmas tree in the corner of the living room, covered from top to bottom with tinsel, lights, and red and gold ornaments, a shimmering silver star placed on its very top.

"...This is amazing," she marveled.

"Well, I did what I could," MrEgg blushed. "I just didn't want the place to be a mess when you got here."

"You really know how to decorate, don't you?"

"I try..."

They made their way over to the fireplace, and Ria sighed contently as she sat in one of the big chairs by the hearth, practically melting into it.

"How about you warm yourself up by the fire while I make us each a cup of tea?" MrEgg offered. "And if you don't mind, I'm sure there's enough space where you're seated for one more to squeeze in."

"Aww, I was thinkin' the same thing right about now!" Ria smiled. "That really sounds perfect."

"I couldn't agree more...Lemon ginger, with a touch of honey?"

"You...remembered my favorite?"

"I could never forget...I won't be long, love."

He ran from the living room to the kitchen in a flash and started to prepare the beverages...Ria had only ever mentioned her favorite kind of tea in an offhand comment during a conversation. She said it tasted like heaven in a cup, especially whenever she was feeling under the weather...That'd been a good three months ago, but still he remembered. MrEgg was one to remember the small details when it came to things; he appreciated the little things in life quite a lot, since the big picture throughout most of his early years wasn't quite so pleasant. Even when it'd taken a turn in his favor, he still rarely took anything for granted.

And he certainly didn't pass up an opportunity to please someone with something like such...Especially someone like his dear Ria.

"Alright...That should be done brewing in a few minutes," he thought aloud after having boiled the water and poured it over the teabags in the cups. He headed back into the living room to humor his lime-clad lady friend until it was finished.

"Rough weather out there, isn't it?" he remarked. "You know, this is the heaviest snowfall I've ever seen here. And even for a place that doesn't get a lot of snow, that's saying something, you know?"

"Yeah...It kinda came out of nowhere, didn't it? And the temperature shot down like a bullet..."

"Indeed it did. I took another look at the forecast not long before you arrived, and they said it was in the upper teens out there now."

Ria hissed and winced at the notion; just thinking about it all over again sent a cold shiver through her.

"Man...I'm glad you're able to keep your place so warm. Not just for my sake, y'know. We all know what happens when you get too cold."

"Well, yes. I sort of have to keep the temperatures up because of that...I guess it's good that I can keep us nice and toasty, isn't it?"

"It sure is, MrEgg...Man, I'm really glad I decided to move here. I really like it here in England so far."

"Well, some places are nicer than others, I do admit...I'm lucky to have found myself living here in Poole. Take it from me; I tried planting my roots in London for a while, and it isn't all it's cracked up to be, at least not nowadays."

"...Is the whole place turned sunny side up?" Ria smirked.

"Indeed! To compare, I think where I am now is egg-cellent!"

They both burst into a fit of giggles. Ria wasn't sure what it was that made MrEgg's corny egg puns so funny, but there was just something about them that she couldn't help but laugh at.

"Ah...I'll go check the tea," the latter announced once he'd gotten everything out of his system. "It's likely done steeping by now. I'll be back in a tick."

He headed into the kitchen, and a waft of lemon and ginger instantly hit him. He breathed it in as he headed over to where the teacups were sitting, savoring the scent as he got the honey out from his drawer and stirred a small amount into each cup.

Ah...Ria has good taste.

Of course, his favorite tea had been and always would be Earl Grey, but this was starting to become his close second.

When he returned to the living room once again, he saw Ria's eyes light up.

"Your refreshments, love."

"No...Our refreshments."

MrEgg let out a joking gasp.

"I had no idea you were a communist. I am shocked."

"Nahh," Ria chortled. "I just like having someone to share things with."

"As do I. You got me there."

Ria scooched off to the right side of the chair, giving MrEgg room to sit beside her. He moseyed into the empty spot, handing Ria her teacup before settling down into the seat.

"...How is it?" he asked her.

"Mmmmmmm...It's perfect. Thank you so much, Eggy."

MrEgg flushed pink at the nickname, but at the same time, a somewhat sad glimmer entered his visor.

"'Eggy'...My...my mother called me that on occasion," he remembered. "She was the only one in my family who ever did...She was the only one of them I really mattered much to."

"How long's it been since then?"

"Oh...five years. Pushing six..."

"I'm so sorry you had to live like that. I know you don't like to talk about it, or give me too many details, but...Just know that I'll always be there for you if you want to talk about anything that upsets you. You know how much you matter to me, right?"

"...Yeah."

"And you know that won't ever change, right?"

"Never...?"

"I promise."

She leaned in and planted a comically long, noisy smooch up against the inner corner of his cheek, making him go from just pink in the face to full-on bright red.

"...Love you."

"I...I love you too, Ria," he responded, wiping away a tear threatening to spill from the corner of his visor. "You really are wonderful..."

She smiled at him as she took another sip of her tea...There was a calm silence between them for several minutes afterward, their cups slowly being drained, and their eyes slowly growing heavier.

But about a minute after they'd both finished their hot beverages, and just when MrEgg was about to doze off with Ria in his tender hold, he felt her jolt all of a sudden, and was snapped back awake.

"Oh-! I just remembered! I gotta get up for a sec, would you hold my tea please?"

"Certainly."

She handed him her empty cup and ran back over to the front door. MrEgg stuck it on the small side table next to the chair along with his own, wondering all the while what Ria was up to.

It didn't take him long to find out. She came back to him with a parcel in hand, wrapped in pretty red and green paper with a silver bow in its corner.

"I figured I'd get you something small before the crazy parties start up...Merry Christmas."

"Oh, I...Thank you, Ria, thank you so much...!"

"Do you wanna open it now, or wait a while?"

"No, I can open it now if you'd like me to! Why, the suspense is already killing me..."

Ria watched eagerly as MrEgg removed the bow and started to tear at the wrapping paper, uncovering what was underneath it.

"Oh, my goodness..."

MrEgg gasped, and his eyes widened as he unfolded the object in the package. It was a thick, knitted wool scarf, colored a soft crimson red with a striking white and green argyle pattern on it.

"You like it?"

"Ria, it's lovely!" he gushed, looking about ready to cry all over again as he hugged the scarf up to him. "I shall treasure it for as long as I live...Oh, I'm going to try this on right now!"

He flung the scarf around himself and then tucked one end of it beneath the other to secure it.

"How do I look?"

"Cuddly beyond all get-outs," Ria smiled, scorching closer and nuzzling into him. MrEgg closed his eyes and gave her a gentle squeeze back, pressing his visor against hers.

"...I love you so."

"Love you, too."

"Ohh, I can't help it. Hang on, Ria!"

His head perked up and he hopped off the chair, heading over to the Christmas tree. He bent down, rummaged around the tree skirt, then got up and headed back over to Ria with something in his own hand...The wrapping on the package was a bright metallic gold with lacy silver patterns painted across it, a bright red bow stuck on top of it.

"I kind of wanted to wait until either Christmas Eve or the morning after for this one, but I just couldn't resist after you gave me the scarf. You deserve it now...I hope you like it."

He handed her the package, glancing off to the side bashfully and scuffing his foot against the floor.

"Awww, Eggy...You're so sweet."

He flushed red again and smiled, hopping back up onto the chair to watch her open the package.

Ria could tell by its weight and sturdiness that it was nothing like a scarf. Her curiosity piqued, she pulled the red bow off...and jokingly stuck it on MrEgg's head just to the right of the fried egg he always wore.

"...This is probably great, but YOU'RE what I want for Christmas."

A flustered giggle escaped him as he fiddled with his hands, waving one dismissively before balling his fists up and drawing them in towards himself in a sheepish manner.

"Aha ha, I...w-well, I must say, I...I'm tickled pink knowing you think that."

Ria held back the urge to laugh herself...MrEgg always tried so hard to be courteous and sophisticated at first whenever they got together, but he always ended up all giggly and blushy, getting flustered over little compliments and acting all sheepish...It was honestly adorable.

After that little display of affection, she started tearing into the paper. For some reason, she found herself being a bit slow about it; MrEgg had his gift open in no more than five seconds, and here she was taking as much time as she could. Maybe she was just building her suspense? It seemed that way.

Finally, she removed the wrapping completely, and got a clear look at what it was.

A sketchbook. One with bright red roses and green leaves all over its covers, painted against a bright blue sky. He knew how much she enjoyed drawing, and that she was an absolute sucker for things with flowers on them. Particularly roses; they were her favorite.

"...What do you think, love?"

She turned to face him, eyes sparkling and her smile wide.

"I think it's incredible, MrEgg...You never miss any details when it comes to me, do you?"

"I can't help it, Ria. These things just stick with me, and sometimes, I barely even realize it until I'm putting what I remember to good use."

"See, that's part of why you're so amazing...You always seem to know just what I'd want."

"Well, that's part of what it's all about, isn't it? Getting to know one another better as we go along, learning what makes the other happy, or sad, or frightened, and knowing how to handle those things...That's what's needed to make it last, right?"

"I couldn't have said it any better myself..."

She tapped her visor against his again, and he leaned in to return the gesture.

"...You're the best, MrEgg."

"It takes the best to know the best."

"Awwww..."

They stayed there for a few more moments, taking in each other's presence and enjoying every second of it...Nothing could ever compare to this.

"...So. What do you want to do now?" MrEgg asked, deciding to break the silence.

"Hm...Wanna watch a movie?"

"Ooh, I like the sound of that. What did you have in mind, love?"

"How about we turn on the TV and see if there are any of those old stop-motion Christmas specials on? Those are probably playing all the time right now."

"I very vaguely remember something like that from my very early childhood...I'd certainly like a refresher. Ha!"

He reached over onto the side table, grabbed the remote and gave it to her.

"Care to do the honors?"

"My pleasure."

She flipped on the television, looked through the guide and eventually found one; the moment she went to the channel, several newspaper articles about a massive winter storm started flashing across the screen.

"Oh, awesome, it's just starting! Snuggle up, Eggy. This is gonna be good."

Before MrEgg got got immersed in the film, he grabbed the fleece throw off of the back of the chair, draped it over himself and Ria, then pulled her close and cuddled up to her...In all his life, he never imagined himself being lucky enough to have someone like her.

But now it was happening. And he was ever grateful for such a wonderful person to have entered his life.

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I am writing Christmas fics while summertime is in full swing, and this isn't going to be the last one. Try and stop me, mortals. 👌💯