FYI please read the previous chapter first as I uploaded them at the same time :)

The smell of gingerbread in the air, colorful lights all around and cheerful music hung around them all.

Laughter and happy shouting. Playful arguing.

Obnoxious sweaters and the warm heat of the fireplace.

They were all at Chase's house celebrating Christmas and everyone was having a great time.

Except for Anti.

He hated this time of year and he had no problem telling them all why.

Anti hated all the commercials, the songs on repeat, the happy smiles, the fucking SNOW. Most of all, he hated how the other egos dragged him into it all and it felt like he was stuck in a pit of hell.

He preferred Halloween and he couldn't have been more proud when both Sammy and Kallie dressed up as him, fake bleeding neck and green contacts. Chase even got them fuzzy socks so they could slide around the carpet and shock the others.

Marvin and Henrik hated it. Anti, Chase and Jackie laughed their asses off. Jameson chose to stay away from that entire situation.

Anyway, it was Christmas and the other Septics had forced Anti to join them and now Anti was stuck in between Sammy and Kallie making paper snow-flakes while Chase and Jameson made cookies, Jackie and Henrik were putting up some last minutes decorations and Marvin was out at the store getting more groceries.

Technically Christmas day was tomorrow but they all wanted to spend both days together.

Anti's living nightmare.

It was okay, he supposed as long as the kids weren't too annoying and the warmth and smells of the place were alright, too.. . . . .

'Dammit, this is really what I've become. A glorified babysitter, magician's assistant . . I still hate Marvin for dragging me into that. . . . Jackie's even got me helping him and the detective solving murders and James has made me his suit Guinea pig. Schnneep's even poking at my health, the bastard. I can eat whatever I fucking want! Damn bastards, the lot of them'

As he looked around, though, he smirked as the kids had seemed to fall asleep on him, 'Little brats. They're not so bad. Wouldn't even think they were Chase's'. He smiled and lightly ran his fingers through the kids hair, letting them use him as a pillow.

Suddenly he heard the snap of a photo being taken and his eyes went black, "Alright, who the fuck did that!?" he didn't care that he just woke up the kids but they didn't seem surprised and just rubbed at their eyes.

There was a snicker and Chase popped in, "That's going in a frame"

"The hell it is! Delete it!"

"Nope!"

"Anti, be nice!" Jackie called from the other room, "You're gonna be in a lot more pictures anyway so you might as well suffer through it!"

Anti groaned and mumbled angrily to himself.

Sammy heard him and asked, "What does that mean?"

Anti blushed, "I'll tell you when you're older."

"But what does that mean, uncle Anti?"

"I-"

Chase didn't give him any help but suddenly Marvin burst in dramatically with some groceries and a large box in his hand.

"Gather 'round peasants! I have brought food and gifts!"

Sammy and Kallie cheered and abandoned Anti, running after the 'magic' uncle instead.

But Anti was grateful for that, taking a small breather alone on the couch.

The other walked on in taking things from Marvin but he kept the box in his arms.

"What's in the box, Uncle Marvin?" Kallie asked.

Marvin grinned, "I know it's a little early but I want Uncle Anti to open his present early. What does everyone think!?"

Of course the other Septic egos knew about the plan already but the kids had no clue and bounced up and down excitedly, cheering for Anti to hurry up and open it.

Anti was. . . .. shocked to say the least.

Here he hadn't really gotten them all anything. Giftcards and money to buy whatever they wanted. Nothing thought out because really . . he didn't know them all that well yet.

'They . . .they got me a present?' he was having a hard time believing it, really but tried to act like it wasn't a big deal.

"The hell is in this thing? A damn bomb?" he joked.

Marvin sat next to him with Jackie on his other side. Clearly everyone was excited for him to open it.

"But. .. . it's not Christmas yet. Shouldn't I. . .wait?"

Marvin bat the back of his head, "Just open it, already!"

"Fine! Fine. . .." he winked at the kids, "Bunch of grinches"

"But YOU'RE the grinch, Uncle Anti!" Kallie giggled.

"You better watch your tongue else Santa will give you coal!"

The kids just giggled again and Anti grumbled to himself.

He started to open the box, tearing off the paper. He tried to shake it but Marvin stopped him, a worried expression on his face.

Anti finally got it completely open and stared inside the box.

Quickly he shut it again, a panicked expression on his face and looked from Marvin to Jackie like he didn't know what to do.

"What's wrong?" Marvin teased, "What's in the box?"

"Like you don't know" Anti bit his lips and reopened it. Jackie pat his back as Anti pulled out what was inside.

"IT'S A KITTY!" Kallie screamed, making the small cat wriggle in Anti's grip.

"Hey, shhh, shhh" Anti instinctively held the kitten to his chest and pet it, "A cat . . . . you assholes got me a fooking cat"

No one really knew what Anti was actually thinking but then he started to laugh, talking to the kitten to soothe her.

She mewled loudly and scratched as his fingers, nipping at them like they were a tasty treat, "Hey, you . . ." Anti sniffed a little, still stunned by what just happened.

"We all thought you'd like her" Marvin scratched the back of his head nervously, "After the way you spoke to me and treated me that one time when you didn't know. . . . hearing you talk like that. . . . I thought she'd be a good present for you"

"We all helped pick her out" Jackie nodded, rubbing Anti's back, managing to sneak in a quick side hug, "You like her?"

"I can always take her back"

"No!" Anti whined and pecked the kitten's face lovingly, "She's perfect"

"What you gonna call her?" Chase asked.

"Anti Jr.?" Henrik joked.

The kitten had black fur and shocking green eyes. Really, she probably did look like a mini Antisepticeye if he were a cat.

"What about Princess?" Kallie suggested.

"Or Death-striker?!" Sammy shouted.

Chase glared at him scoldingly, "We're gonna talk about the games Anti lets you play later"

Anti laughed, "I don't know. . . . I like . .Morticia"

" . . . . of course you'd pick that name" the all agreed with each other. They should have known Anti would have chosen something like that but it WAS his choice.

"I like it" Jackie lightly pet Morticia, letting her nip on his finger, "Gonna look after my brother, are you little Morticia?"

She mewled again and Anti put her in his hoodie to cuddle her more, "Thanks . . . . I uh . . . ." he wasn't used to this sort of thing, "Just. . .. Thanks, guys"

The rest of the day was spent all together and Anti's mood seemed to have lifted greatly. He loved his present and he couldn't have been more happy.

That night when everyone else went to bed, Anti stayed up, still holding Morticia in his arms, smiling as she slept soundly.

Jackie watched him from afar, happy that he was happy. Finally decided to come out of the dark, he came up to sit by his brother, "How's she doing?"

Anti just nodded, stifling a yawn.

Jackie smiled, "You know she isn't gonna disappear, right?"

He nodded again, "I'll always keep her close so that doesn't happen"

Jackie smiled, "I'm glad you love her so much. Surprised though you didn't go with Death-striker considering your way of naming things. Like me, for instance. . . Blood-streak"

"Oh fuck off" Anti grinned.

Jackie sighed, "You know. . . I wouldn't change a damn thing, Anti. I'm glad I went undercover like that. . . . I'm glad I got to know the real you. Glad I got to . . . understand you better"

Anti swallowed but nodded, "I'm glad, too. I'm . . . glad I got to . . . hang out with you and . . . You know I . . .changed because of you . . you . . . you were the only one to WANT to know me. . . You know I'm grateful for that. Not that I'd ever say anything like that again so you better appreciate what I say now"

Jackie chuckled, hugging him, being careful of Morticia. Anti growled at the contact but let it happen.

"I love ya, brother"

Anti was silent for a few moments, slowly petting his kitten, until he finally mumbled quietly, "Love you, too, fuck-face . . . . .. . . bro"

Morticia softly purred in his arms. It was clear she loved him, too.

It took all their lives but finally. . . . .

Both Anti and Jackie had finally found peace in understanding one another.

As neither a villain nor a hero.

Just . . . . . themselves.

I love you guys so much! Thank you all again for reading this story and getting me up to over 500 followers! I still love reading all of your comments, and I appreciate all the reads, votes and support! I can't wait to start the next story and I hope you guys love reading it, too! See you in the next one! 😊