"Make sure you get all your work in before you leave for vacation!" The professor called after his students as they practically sprinted out the classroom door and climbed up the stairs. That was it. Your last class before the holiday break. You had a week and a half to see your family and friends back home. You gingerly gathered your things in your bag and left the class.

"Have a great holiday!"

"Thank you!" You called behind you.

You walked through the campus, your boots crunching on top of the snow. It was buzzing with activity, people were running all around, packing their things and saying their goodbyes before getting into their cars. You told Alfred you would meet him in the courtyard after you packed up and said your goodbyes to Erza and Oliver. Alfred wanted you to go to his dorm but he didn't want you to see Allen. At all.

...

"Erza! Where are you?" You said as you placed your bag on your bed. You smiled small as you looked at the picture on your night table. It was your second favorite, the first being the photo you took on Halloween with Alfred as Captain America kissing you on the cheek as you blushed as Peggy Carter.

"_____!" Erza practically jumped out of the closet and enveloped you in a surprisingly strong hug. "Ahh I'm gonna miss you so so so much!!"

"It's only a week and a half." You playfully rolled your eyes and hugged her back.

She broke the hug and looked you in the eyes. "That's like half a month!" She paused and thought for a few seconds. "Sort of."

You giggled, "I'm going to miss you too Erza."

"Oh I know! Maybe we could get together over break! And with Ollie too!"

"Yeah, that sounds fun. The only problem is that I don't know what Alfred and I are doing. I don't even know where he's taking me!" You said, exasperated. It was true. Alfred told you to pack your things but he didn't tell you where you were going at all. You've been trying to pry clues from him but... Nothing. For once his mouth was a tight as a steel trap!

It was getting annoying and you were becoming impatient.

Erza shot you a knowing smile and looked away. You paled. "What do you know?"

"Oh nothing."

Narrowing your eyes, you sighed. "He even told you!"

"Of course silly! We're besties! He had to tell me! Plus I might've threatened him a little..."

"You? Threaten someone? No!"

She smiled triumphantly, "there's much you don't know about me _____."

"Ready?"

"Yeah..." You said warily. "Where are we going anyway?"

He grinned and gave you a quick peck on the lips. "It's a surprise babe. And no matter how much you ask, you'll have to wait and see~"

You sunk down into your seat and frowned. "The wait is killing me."

He looked you in the eyes and smiled small, "you've waited longer."

Alfred started his truck and drove away. His words really stuck with you as you smoothed your hands over the interior of the car. You felt the upholstery under your fingers. Memories danced in your head as colorful images. Only this time, they didn't make you sad, they made you happy.

...

"Where are we?"

Alfred chuckled, "we're here."

Alfred had blindfolded you a few miles back so you couldn't see where you were going or recognize anything. You obliged because he threatened to "turn this car right around young lady".

You felt him take your hand and help you down from his car. He lead you a little ways forward and then he stopped. "Stay right here and take the blindfold off when I tell you." You could practically hear the smile in his voice.

A few clicks and taps later and you heard his voice once more. "You can look now!" You raised a brow at the muffle of his voice.

You took off the blindfold and can face to face with a very familiar door. It was the door to your old high school! "Alfred?" You called.

"In here!" The voice came from the other side of the door and it was muffled once more.

Oh! The intercom! I remember this now! It's the first day of the cleaning!

You hit the button on the intercom. "Alfred let me in."

"You figured it out! Okay!" The door unlocked with a click and you pulled open the door. Alfred was standing on the other side with a wide smile. Your jaw dropped to the floor.

"Merry Christmas _____!"

It was beautiful, there were lights strung up in the halls illuminating the building. They were of all different colors and sizes. Some were flashing and twinkling, and some were solid colors. It was amazing.

"Oh Alfie..." You breathed. It was amazing. "You did this?"

He nodded. "Well yeah... I knew how much these memories meant to you and..." Alfred rubbed the back of his neck nervously and continued. "I also knew that you missed out on some too. I figured we'd make new ones here." He grabbed your hand. "Come on there's more!"

"There's more? This is so much work."

"Well when I told our friends what I wanted to do they wanted to help, even Romano and Ivan wanted to help me." He shrugged.

You walked through the halls to the cafeteria where you loved to take a lunch break and then finally to the football field. "How did you get permission to do all this?"

"Well you are alumni and our story is kinda famous. We're like Romeo and Juliet!" He laughed and you couldn't help but laugh along.

"Alfred this is so sweet and perfect." You hugged him tightly.

"That's not all..." Alfred paused for a moment as you waited on edge and he grabbed your hand. "I love you so so much and I wanted to give you this." He pulled out another box out of his pocket. "It's not an engagement ring because that's too cliché."

You smiled and opened it. Inside was a charm bracelet.

"Each charm is a memory. Remember the doughnut and the football game? Oh!" He pointed to a charm of a mop and bucket. "And this one? It's the cleaning!"

He was so excited and it was so adorable. You felt tears at the corners of your eyes. "Thank you Alfred it's amazing. It's all amazing."

"And the clock is how long you waited and how long I'll love you. I'll love you forever. And of course the cliché heart. But this one," he pointed to the knot charm, "this one is strength and another promise. Like the ring. Our love is strong and it will never break."

Immediately your McDonald's gift card and Hero shirt felt minimal. By the end of his speech, tears were streaming down your face and for the first time in a while, they were happy tears.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!