I know that it is a little early, but I would like to wish everyone a very happy, and safe, silly season. No matter where you are from or what you believe, I hope that you are able to all spend time with your loved ones. And despite everything that has happened over this terrible year, that you all have chance to enjoy yourselves. I thought that the only gift I could give you all was a little Arthur imagine, so here it is.

Arthur sat at the kitchen table, his head firmly in his hands. He had done his best to save all he could, but the few crumpled up bills and some lose change were not going to buy (Y/n) anything that Arthur thought that she deserved.

For him, she ought to have diamonds and pearls, gold and champagne. Yet he would be lucky to be able afford a cheap Chinese watch from one of the many street vendors that plied their wares on any number of corners.

He hated the idea that he couldn't even scrape together enough to buy her a real Christmas present. That he couldn't afford to take her to the best hotel in some nice city for a weekend, or even just enjoy an intimate candlelit evening at a elegant restaurant. He hated that he couldn't provide for her, give her a nice home or be able to show her just how much he cared.

(Y/n) had always told him that material things didn't mean anything to her. That there blossoming relationship was a partnership and she didn't need him to take care of her. She had told him that she had a strange love for his shabby little home, and that she didn't need him to have a mansion, or millions in the bank for her to love him. But Arthur would always find himself wondering why she was with him. Why out of every man in Gotham, a simple clown like himself had been lucky enough to catch the eye of such a beautiful intelligent woman.

He had first met (Y/n) at a New Year's party held by the firm that she worked for. Arthur and a couple of others had been hired to entertain the revellers at the festivities, providing the staff with silly balloon animals, and performing simple magic tricks which the slightly inebriated attendants applauded as if they were watching the exploits of the great Harry Houdini himself.

Arthur had seen a beautiful woman sit by herself with a glass of champagne in her hand, looking out of the window as the sky outside was filled with millions of twinkling snowflakes. Normally he would have not interfered in her thoughts, but she looked sad and as far as he was concerned, it was his job to make everyone happy.

"I have something for you." Arthur said quietly, not wanting to shock the young woman.

"I.......beg your pardon." She had replied, looking slightly shocked as a brightly painted clown had handed her a vivid red balloon dog.

"You looked a little sad, and I thought that you could use a friend." Arthur told her, a smile growing across his broad red lips as she took it gratefully.

"Thank you. He's lovely. And red is my favourite colour." She retorted, Arthur feeling himself begin to blush as she smiled up at him.

"You don't have to go. I don't mind some company. That's if you are able." The young woman called out, as Arthur turned to leave.

"My name is (Y/n). I don't mean to be a party pooper. It's just, unlike my work colleagues I have no desire to get drunk and do something that I will not live down for the coming year." (Y/n) had said with a chuckle, as the kind clown had come to sit next to her.

Arthur couldn't help but stare at the woman next to him. She had such a sweet smile, and eyes that seemed to sparkle just like the champagne in her glass. He was surprised that she was by herself. Someone as beautiful as she was, should have all manner of suitors, yet here she was talking to a clown.

"I'm Carnival......well Arthur actually." Arthur told her as he held out his hand for her to shake.

"Its nice to meet you Arthur."

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As soon as Arthur had finished for the night, he had managed to change and had found himself walking through the falling snow in the early hours of the new year arm in arm with (Y/n), the two laughing and joking like they had known one another for years.

As they had reluctantly parted, Arthur had given (Y/n) his number, never actually expecting to hear from her again. Only to find himself talking to her the very next day, and every day since.

The year had been like a miracle. Everything that Arthur could have only previously hoped for had seemed to come true. And now, here he was, their first Christmas together, and he couldn't even afford to buy her a decent gift.

Reluctantly he rose from the table, grabbing the few notes and pushing them unceremoniously into his pocket. And if matters weren't already bad enough, it was Christmas Eve, and soon the stores would be closed, and even though he knew that finding something suitable would probably be a longshot, he also knew that he had to brave the last minute shoppers and come up with something special.

                                                           >>------------------------------<<

Arthur looked in yet another store window, only to try the door and find it locked. He had tried everywhere, tried everything, yet he still hadn't found something worthy of the woman he loved.

As he shuffled along the street, his feet pushing away to snow, he couldn't help but hear the sound of a small shop bell ring out. The tiny jingle notifying that some place nearby was still open.

Dodging the cabs that carried their passengers to and from last minute celebrations, Arthur found a small store, its light shining brightly against the dark night sky. His eyes scanned the display in the window in hopes that something would catch his attention. And there it was, a simple snow globe, the scene inside the dome reminiscent of the first night that he and (Y/n) had met.

Rushing inside, he pulled out all the money from his pockets and dropped it onto the counter. An old lady smiling broadly at him as she handed him the item he had asked to see. It was perfect. It wasn't much, but Arthur knew that (Y/n) would love it.

                                                                 >>-------------------------------<<

Arthur looked at his watch. It was getting late and he was beginning to get worried. He knew that (Y/n) had had to work late and she would be there as soon as she had finished, but it was nearly midnight, nearly Christmas day, and (Y/n) still wasn't there.

A sudden knock on his front door made Arthur jump from his seat, his heart pounding as he opened the ingress to find a tired looking (Y/n).

"I'm sorry Arthur. I didn't mean to be so late, but with all the work that needed doing, time sort of got away from me. And then I needed to find you a gift, and........well, at least I'm here now." (Y/n) said, as threw her arms around his neck and kissed him softy.

"Merry Christmas, honey." (Y/n) continued, as the clocks rang out the midnight hour.

Arthur couldn't help but feel as though he should pinch himself as his arms wrapped themselves around (Y/n)'s waist. It had nearly been a year, and despite his laugh, despite all his conditions, his terrible job and even worse apartment, (Y/n) had stuck by him. And for once in his long, lonely life, the world was finally being good to him.

"I.......I have something for you." Arthur chuckled as he rushed off to the bedroom, remembering that that was exactly what he had said to her when he had handed her the balloon animal that first fateful night.

"I know its not much, but.........well...... I hope you like it." Arthur said hesitantly, as he rushed back into the room, and handed (Y/n) the item that had been neatly wrapped.

"Oh, Arthur. You didn't have to get me anything." (Y/n) told him, as she reached into her bag and pulled out a similarly wrapped gift.

"If I had had a little more time, I would have bought you something better. But.......I hope you like it too." (Y/n) said, as she handed her gift to Arthur and the pair sat down on the old sofa.

Arthur began to laugh as he saw his gift. (Y/n) doing the same as she opened hers. The two looking down at the exact same snow globe.

"I knew I had to get it as soon as I saw it. It reminded me of the first night we met. That walk through the streets as the snow was falling. Gotham had never looked more beautiful, and I knew that it wasn't the lights, the music, or the snow that made it so perfect. It was you, Arthur. And I knew then that I was never going to let you go." (Y/n) told him, as she leaned over and kissed him. Arthur pulling her close to his side as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I love it too. I just wish I could have got you something real. Something perfect." Arthur replied, as he turned his own globe upside down, and watched as the sparkling snowflakes slowly fell down on the happy kissing couple in the scene.

"This is perfect, Arthur. I love it. And I love you. I told you. I don't need expensive gifts, grandiose shows of wealth spent on items that mean nothing. This simple thing means everything to me. And so do you. You are all I ever wanted for Christmas." (Y/n) replied, as she turned her globe upside down. The two of them smiling as the snow fell.

It may not have been what Arthur wanted to give her. But as he and (Y/n) curled up on the sofa, the pair chuckling about their gifts. Arthur knew that this too, was all he had ever wanted for Christmas.