~A/N: okay. That title is either really cliche or downright horrible. Anyways...Christmas special! Kinda~

Sam

I put the last ornament on the tree. We were staying at Chan's house for holidays. Taurtis was helping me decorate the Christmas tree. He was putting the star on top of it.

"Got it!" I heard him say. He jumped off of the ladder he was on.

"Taurtis, be careful!" I heard Chan say.

"I'm fine!"

I laughed. Then I walked over to Chrissy, who was writing something. I sneaked up behind her.

"Watcha writin'?" I said suddenly. Chrissy jumped. Then she saw it was me.

"Sam!" she said. "Don't do that!"

I laughed. "Really, what're you writing?"

"Oh, I'm just, um, I guess you could call it composing." She showed me the paper. She had drawn the grand staff and added a bunch of music. I had no clue what it was, but it looked amazing.

"Woah," I said. "You did all this?"

"Yeah."

"Oh my gosh," someone behind me said. "That's amazing Chrissy!"

It was Chan. She took the paper. "I didn't know you could compose."

"I wasn't really composing," Chrissy said. "I was just messing around with the old Christmas carols. You know, making them a bit different."

"When your done, can you play this? I have a piano."

"Okay. Let me just finish." Chrissy took the paper and went back to working. Chan walked away happily.

"Sam, Taurtis," a voice said. I turned around. Grian was standing at the door, holding several bags. "A little help?"

Me and Taurtis walked over an took a few bags. We set them down in the living room.

"What's in all these?" Taurtis asked.

"Some are presents," Grian said. "So don't look in them. Those," he pointed at three black ones, "They have our things in them. Sam, yours is the middle. Taurtis, yours is the right."

We grabbed our bags. I reached inside and pulled out...

"Mr. Snugglemuffins!" I exclaimed, hugging my teddy bear. "You found him?"

"Yep. He was deep in the closet."

Grian grabbed the rest of the bags and walked away. He probably had presents for us. I hope he did.

"I'm finished!" Chrissy yelled. "Chan, where's your piano?"

"I'll move it into the living room!" Chan yelled from somewhere in another room.

Soon, she trudged in, pushing a piano in with her. She put it near to the fireplace, beside the Christmas tree.

Chrissy walked into the living room, her paper in hand. She sat down at the piano and played her song. It sounded like something I'd heard before, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

"That's amazing," I said after she finished.

"That's just the beginning," she said. "I also have the words." She pointed to writing underneath every note.

"Cool. You can sing it tonight. The school's having a Christmas dance/party."

"No. Nonononono."

"Yes."

"No."

"Please? For me?" I gave her a puppy dog (or should I call it bunny) face.

"Alright. I can't say no to that face."

"Yay!"

"I'll tell Okami. I'm going out today."

"Why?"

"I have Christmas shopping to do."

"Can I come?"

"Okay. But you have to leave when I go to buy your present. And you can't tell anyone else what I'm getting them."

"Okay. When are we leaving?"

"In a few minutes. I need to get something."

"I'll be waiting."

She walked upstairs.

~

We went to the store. Chrissy had a list with her. She bought Taurtis a phone (since his last one broke, and she's nice), Chan a sweater she wanted, and Grian a mug that he said he liked. (A/N: roll with me here)

"Alright bunny boy," she said after she bought the others their gifts. "I need you to leave now."

"Awwww," I protested.

"You said you would. Go buy the others gifts. You still need to do Christmas shopping."

"Okay. Meet up back at Chan's house?"

"Yes."

I gave her a kiss, then walked out of the store.

"Now what am I going to get the others?" I said to myself.

Chrissy

Once Sam left, I went and got his present.

"Could you go ahead and wrap it up?" I asked the clerk.

"Sure," he said.

After he wrapped it up, I put it in my bag and walked out the store.

I ran around, trying to find the one person I needed...Ellen.

Someone bumped into me. "Oh, I'm so sorry," I said.

"No, it's okay," they said. "What're you doing Chrissy?"

"Oh, it's you Patty. I'm looking for Ellen."

"Why?"

"I need to talk to someone."

I found Ellen outside a shop. "Ellen!" I said. "You can summon spirits, right?"

"Yes," he/she said. "Why?"

"I need to talk to someone."

"Well, you need something that was theirs first."

"I do." I pulled the scarf out if my pocket. It was silk. It was a light shade of violet, her favorite color. I handed it to Ellen. "Will this do?"

"Yes. Come, we can't do this here."

We walked to the back of the building beside us. Ellen placed the scarf on the ground. Then she/he spread out her/his hands. Her/his eye started to glow.

"Locatmotor priori," Ellen said. "Ginus thwha humbluck opritiny. I summon you, spirit, to talk to Chrissy Karu!"

Then she appeared. Hazel Karu. She was gray and slightly transparent, but it was still her. Her long used-to-be brown hair was curled. Her used-to-be bright green eyes were dull, and sad. I told Ellen and Patty to leave, nicely. I wanted to talk to her alone.

"Hi Mom," I said. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," Mom said. "How are you?"

"I-things have been hard. A lot has happened."

"Tell me."

So I told her everything. She closed her eyes.

"You're father isn't the best of people," she said. "I still can't believe he did those tests. Now you're dating-"

"Sam Gladiator," I cut her off. "The last one to be tested."

"Yes. It feels like a coincidence you found each other. But I know it's not." She sighed. "At least you found Taurtis."

"Yeah."

"How is he?"

"Good. I wish he was here. He never even met you."

"I know. I was heartbroken when we gave him away, but it had to be done." She looked at me. "What's wrong, darling?"

"I'm scared. With the nightmares I had, with what Ellen said. I know I shouldn't be worrying. It's Christmas Eve! But I-I don't know what to do."

"Listen to my advice. Stay strong. Trust your friends. Do your best. Keep Sam safe." She touched my shoulder. "You are his lifeline."

"I-I am?"

"Yes. I've been watching you, my daughter. You and him have a special relationship. If something does happen to him, the only thing he'll remember is you. You will keep him sane. You will keep each other sane."

"If you've been watching, why'd you ask me to tell you everything?"

"Because I wanted to hear it from you. You comforted yourself I telling me. Don't you feel better?"

"Yeah."

"Don't worry, I'll always be here for you."

Then I cried. Even being a ghost, my mother hugged me. I felt warmth.

"Why'd you have to die? Why'd you have to leave me?"

"I do not know. Fate has not let me see your story yet. But now I can watch you more. See if you're behaving," she joked.

"Ha ha." I dried some of my tears. Then she let go. "Thanks, Mom."

"You're welcome, Chrissy. Now I have to go. I've spent too long with you. Just know, I am with you always."

"I know."

Then she disappeared.

I picked up the scarf and walked away. I needed to get to Okami.

I found her inside a store with Rowan.

"Um, Mrs. Okami?" I said.

"Oh, hello Chrissy," she said. "How are you?"

"I'm good. I need to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"Tonight, at the dance-party thing, can I, um, do a...performance? I have a song I composed today, and Sam wants me to sing it tonight."

"Sure. We don't really have any entertainment planned. We were just going to play some Christmas songs."

"Really? Thank you! But I need help moving a piano."

"I CAN HELP," Rowan said. "WHERE IS IT?"

"At Chan's house."

"OKAY. I'LL COME BY BEFORE THE PARTY."

"Okay. Thanks Rowan! Thanks Okami!" I started running.

"ANYTIME MAGGOT."

"You're welcome! :D"

Then I ran back to Chan's house.

Taurtis

After Chrissy got back to the house, she put four more presents under the tree. I immediately found the one that was mine and shook it. It was a big box. It didn't shake inside.

"Ooo," I said. "I wonder what it is."

"You're gonna have to wait until tomorrow," Chrissy teased.

"Aww."

"You know the rules."

"Yeah."

She laughed and walked away.

While Sam and Chrissy were gone, me and Grian added a few more decorations. By 'a few', I mean fifty million. We covered the house in anything Christmas-y. I took a mistletoe and out it in my pocket. I was totally going to catch Sam and Chrissy together and put it above them later.

We also decided to dress up some. I put on an elf hat and all green. Green sweater, green pants, green boots, everything.

Grian only put on a long, black, coat-jacket and a blue and silver scarf.

"Um, that's not really Christmas-y," I said.

"I know what it is!" Chrissy exclaimed. "I think." She ran over. "Are you a Ravenclaw?"

"I wasn't really planning that," Grian said. "But now that I look at it, I do look like a Ravenclaw." They high-fived.

"Harry Potter nerds!" Chrissy said.

Sam put on a Santa hat. I don't how how it stayed on because of his ears, but he made it work. He also had on his, quote, 'normal clothing.' It consisted of jeans and a blue, long-sleeved shirt with a white, short-sleeved shirt on top of it. I was disappointed.

"Really?" I said to him. "The only thing festive about you is that hat."

"What are you, OCD?" Chrissy asked. I was confused.

"Obsessed with Christmas decorations." Her and Sam laughed.

"He sure is," he said.

Chrissy also had on her 'normal clothing.' It was a long-sleeved, light pink shirt. The torso part was a slightly darker pink. It also had a built-in hoodie. (A/N: I did this 'cause I have this shirt) She was also wearing jeans.

Chan was the only one other than me who was festive. She had on a green, long-sleeved dress with white fluff(?) along the bottom and sleeves. She was wearing white stockings and short, brown boots with the same fluff. She also had a small green shawl that was tied in a ribbon around her neck.

Rowan came by. He used his bare hands to pick up Chan's piano and carry it out the door. Okami was with him.

"See you at the party!" she said as they walked out the door.

"Uh..." I said.

"I'm going to need that at the party," Chrissy exclaimed. "Rowan said he would bring it to the school. Speaking of which, we should go."

We pulled on our jackets and walked out the door. Grian didn't need to, since he was already wearing one. I didn't either. The green sweater I was wearing was warm enough already.

"Let's go," Sam said, taking Chrissy's hand.

We started toward the school.