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"No--no--stop!" Pen gasped, trying to get air as she was tackled by a playful Mikey, trying to tickle her into giving up what she had bought him for Christmas. She was laughing so hard she could barely speak, as was Mikey. He didn't even really care about what she had gotten him, he just wanted an excuse to make her smile and laugh.

Even though she vehemently denied it, the guys had all figured out that the mysterious objects in the plastic shopping bag were gifts for Christmas.

"You may as well tell us, Pen. We already know," Ray said to her on Christmas Eve, as they all sat around on the bus.

"I've got no idea what you're talking about," she answered coolly, smiling to herself. She sipped her hot chocolate that she had bought while she was out, and then made for everyone to cut down on the tension. It seemed to be working. Mikey's anger at Gerard seemed to have simmered, as though he were used to disciplining his older brother with such harsh words.

As of now, the gang were reminiscing about what they were missing back home.

"Hanging out with my family while they pretend not to notice that I'm high, or that I'm having my sixth drink," Frank smirked around at everyone while they all rolled their eyes. Frank seemed to be obsessed with letting people know how much of a rebel he was.

"Opening just one gift on Christmas Eve, and hearing my little nephew plead to open all of them," Ray smiled at the memory, a bit of heartache settling in as he wished for home.

"Mom and dad getting smashed and fighting about whatever new argument they've thought up this year. Or telling me I need to find a girlfriend." Gerard tilted his head back, sipping his whiskey-laced hot chocolate.

"Or trying to fatten me up," Mikey added in, causing the two brothers to laugh with nostalgia.

Pen sat back in her seat (well, actually, she was on the floor in front of Mikey's chair), thinking about what she was missing.

"Nothing," Bob piped up, staring down into his mug thoughtfully.

"Me too," Pen said quietly. They made quick eye contact before hastily looking away.

"Hey, I know!" Frank said, jumping out of his seat, spilling some of his (also alcohol-infused) cocoa on his jeans, which he ignored. "We should watch a movie!"

"What movie?"

"Let's watch..." They studied him as he thought, the other guys in the band knowing what he was thinking, and groaning when he confirmed their suspicions. "Nightmare Before Christmas!" he beamed excitedly, already showing signs of being buzzed.

"I love that movie!" Pen said, before she could stop herself.

And so it was that the six friends were sitting on a bus, at midnight on Christmas Eve, one by one nodding off to Nightmare Before Christmas.

Christmas day dawned bright and early for the people on the My Chemical Romance tour bus. Pen was the first to wake up, lifting her head from inside Mikey's knee and yawning. She looked out the window for a moment, waiting for consciousness to restore her senses. When it did, she gasped. "Guys!" She said, throwing the DVD box at Frank, who woke with a small yelp, causing everyone else to wake up as well. "It's Christmas day, guys!"

She wasn't sure why she was so excited about Christmas. Perhaps it was because she was so eager to give the guys their gifts. She jumped up, running into Mikey's room to grab the presents, hauling them out in the shopping bag she had bought them in. She handed out each newspaper-wrapped packages with a small clump of scotch tape on the top to be "bows".

"I knew it!" Ray exclaimed as she handed him his, causing her to laugh.

"Of course," she said like it were obvious. "What else would I have come back from shopping with two days before Christmas?"

Ray laughed and ripped the paper off of his gift, laughing heartily when he saw what it was. "A set of picks!" he exclaimed, pulling all six out and sticking them all in his hair at once, making everyone laugh.

Gerard opened his next. He froze once the newspaper was torn away. It was...

"A sketchbook," he murmured, running his hand over the cover, and then inside to feel the rough paper.

"And charcoal pencils," Pen added, motioning to the gift in his lap.

"How did you--"

"I noticed the sketchbook in your room. It seemed pretty beat-up, so I thought I'd get you a new one," she smiled, misinterpreting his shock for glee, and feeling proud of herself.

Inside, Gerard was quivering. A sketchbook...He hadn't touched that sketchbook in months, maybe a year. He hadn't even wanted to touch it to take it out of his suitcase before leaving on tour; that's why it was there. He didn't draw anymore, he had no inspiration left..."Th-thanks, Pen. I love it," he plastered on a fake smile for Pen's benefit. He was touched by the sentiment, but he was wishing she had just gotten him a bottle of Jaeger and left well-enough alone.

Frank let out a small squeal as he opened his gift. "A roach clip!" he held the small, silver, clothespin-looking thing up for everyone to see. "I've been meaning to get a new one! Thanks, Little Red!" he smiled a genuine smile at Pen, making her smile as well, and ignore the nickname she hated.

"Hey, thanks Pen!" Mikey opened his gift to reveal an assortment of comic books. "I love these," he examined the titles, smiling over at his new friend, who blushed. Pen had just grabbed whatever she thought Mikey would like off the shelves, praying that he was into that stuff. It was either this or scented candles. She was glad that this had worked out.

"Go on," Pen urged. "Open your gift, Bob."

"You didn't have to get me a gift, Penelope."

"But I did. Now, open it!" She ordered, smiling at him, and earning a small grin in return.

Bob carefully slid a finger under the tape, opening the gift as if trying to preserve the paper. Folding the edges back, his smile grew a bit as he recognized what it was. "Awh," he took the small parcel out of its wrappings, showing it off. "A new set of marbles. How did you know?"

"I saw them in your bag," she smiled at her own talent for picking good gifts.

"What the fuck?" Frank looked at Bob quizzically. "I didn't know you played with marbles."

"I don't," Bob informed him. "I just like them. The ones in my bag used to be my dad's."

An uneasy silence settled among the men, one Pen decided not to question. She cleared her throat. "Well," she said. "Merry Christmas everyone," she got up to go back to sleep for a few hours, seeing as this was way too early for her.

"Where are you going, Pen?"

"What?"

"You haven't opened your gifts yet!" Mikey told her, giving her a quizzical look.

"Oh," she said, uneasy. "You guys didn't have to get me anything, you've been--"

"So nice already!" everyone finished, making Pen turn a bit red and laugh.

"Well, fine!" she said, taking her place back between Mikey's knees.

Each man produced from somewhere a gift for her. "When did you guys have time to get these? I've been with you!"

"We have our ways," Ray winked at her.

Pen rolled her eyes and opened her first present; from Frank. She was a little bit afraid of what it would be. She was relieved when she saw it was a small figurine of Little Red Riding Hood walking, and another figurine of Big Bad Wolf. She even smiled. "Oh...Thank you, Frank. I really like this." she smiled at him, earning a proud smirk in response.

"Open mine next, Pen," Gerard said, shoving a messily-wrapped parcel in her face.

"Oh...makeup! Thank you, Gerard! Just what I need!" she said, making Gerard beam.

"A CD! I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, My Chemical Romance. Awh, Mikey! I love this!"

"Well, you said you liked the concert, so I figured you'd like the CD," he mumbled, blushing at her gratitude.

"I do. Thank you," she turned to Ray's present next. "Oh, a book! The Lovely Bones. You know, I've been meaning to read this. Thanks, Ray!"

"Don't forget mine, Penelope," Bob said, handing her a long, thin box.

"Oh!" she said, her jaw dropping as she peeled back the paper and saw her gift.


Cleef-hangah! What did Bob get Pen? Ooh. The anticipation! Okay, go Comment/Rate/Subscribe. Okay? OverAndOutxx