Christmas for Sam

[thethirdwonder]

It was kind of weird how technically Cassie had had Christmas in a different place every year thanks to the islands magic. London had been pretty last year but Cassie was really enjoying New York. Especially the beautiful decorated apartment she shared with Sam. It was definitely a better job then she could have done on her own.

And now it was Christmas morning. She and Sam had spent a late morning in bed and then had a leisurely breakfast, also in bed. Cassie had taken then tray back to the kitchen and prepared a nest of pillows in front of the Christmas tree for opening presents. Spending the whole day in bed sounded like a great idea, but that didn't mean the whole day had to be in the same bed!

When she was done, she went back into the bedroom and pounced on Sam to pull him out of bed. "Come on, it's ready!"

Comments

[not_so_smooth]

If Sam couldn't spend Christmas back home with his friends and family, spending it with just Cassie had to be a close second best. Maybe even the best. Snuggled up to each other and finding every excuse they could to stay in bed had been awesome, and moving the bed over to the tree was a brilliant idea.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," he said with a laugh as he let her half drag him to the little nest that she had made. He didn't even know they had that many pillows in the apartment.

"Here, open yours first," he said, pushing a giant box over to her. Inside of that was another box, which was another box which was... well there were a lot of boxes that eventually led to a very small jewelry box.

[thethirdwonder]

Cassie coudln't help the childish glee in her eyes at the large box. By the third box, she was wadding the paper up and throwing it at Sam in retaliation. When she got down to the jewelry box, she got oddly still, looking at Sam out of the corner of her eye.

"Nothing's going to pop out of this when I open it, will it?" She asked teasingly, to calm the knot in her stomach.

[not_so_smooth]

"Just open it you big baby," Sam told her, keeping a grin plastered to his face the entire time. It was maybe a bit cruel to mess with her like this, but she was a good sport.

Inside the jewelry box was... A strip of paper that would tell her to look under the kitchen sink which would have another piece of paper that would, well, let's just say Cassie would be hunting through the house a bit before another piece of paper told her to get the star off the tree.

[thethirdwonder]

Cassie stuck out her tongue as she opened the box and visibly relaxed whens he found the note. She hunted around the house, occasionally jumping Sam for a kiss or to hit him, depending on where she'd just had to look.

When she was finally perched on the edge of the couch to snatch the star off the tree, she looked down at him with a laugh. "So, where is this going to tell me to look? I think there are some shoes I haven't looked in yet." She asked as she dropped to sit on the couch and inspect the star.

[not_so_smooth]

Sam enjoyed watching Cassie's expression of equal parts amusement and exasperation while she hunted all around the apartment. When she finally sat back down, he still had a ridiculous grin on his face.

"Nowhere, that was just to get you to look somewhere else while I got these out of my pillowcase."

Reaching around behind him, Sam pulled out two metal bracers<\a>.

"They're not magic or anything, but they have spots on them for you to affix little... charms or jewels or something for all your friends, since your friends being with you has always made you your strongest."

[thethirdwonder]

Cassie held the star in her lap and just kind of stared at the bracers in Sam's hands. They were a nicer design of the ones she wore with her costume, that had seen some use since the island had changed into a city.

They were perfect. And so was what Sam said.

There was a sparkle that she was ignoring in the corner of her eyes as she reached out to run her fingers over the bracers, not yet taking them from Sam's hands. "They're...they're beautiful, Sam. I don't know what to say...."

Suddenly, her present for him felt horribly childish and impersonal.

[not_so_smooth]

"I think 'They're beautiful' pretty much says everything I was hoping you'd say," he told her, still grinning. Apparently he had chosen well for her gift. He wasn't sure if they were a good idea since she couldn't really use them for anything, but apparently he'd done alright.

"Come on, put them on."

[thethirdwonder]

Quick to put the star to the side, Cassie put her arm out so Sam could slide first on, then the other. She had no idea where she'd wear them, they were too decorative to be practical with her superhero costume but she would find somewhere. As often as she could.

"Oh Sam, I love them! You'll have to come with me to find charms for everyone." It would be fun, like another scavenger hunt.

[not_so_smooth]

They fit as well as Sam had hoped. Even though they were still just in their pajamas, somehow they didn't look out of place on Cassie. They suited her perfect.

"Here, open this," he said, handing her another box. Inside of it was another jewelry box and this one had a small ruby heart surrounded by small sapphires. Red and blue to go with the gold.

"I don't know if what's in there will stay after the island changes back, but it's my charm to you."

[thethirdwonder]

It was a charm. In Wonder colors. Cassie just held the box in her hands and stared at it for a good few minutes before she dropped it in her lap and reached over to pull Sam into deep, loving kiss.

[not_so_smooth]

Sam waited patiently for some sort of reaction from her. He was pretty sure that he'd done well, but maybe it was too big of a gift? Or maybe it reminded her of home too much. Or maybe it was perfect, which was what he was going with once she jumped him and kissed him. He kissed her back, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close. Yeah, he'd done well.

[thethirdwonder]

The kiss lasted for a while and Cassie was reluctant to break it. Not only because she really enjoyed kissing Sam, and he really deserved it right now, but because now she had to give him her gift and it wasn't nearly as awesome or thoughtful as his.

"So...Umm...I guess you want your present now." She sighed and moved to pull it out from under the tree. The highly detailed die-cast model was in a box about the size of shoe box and as nicely wrapped as she could manage. She chewed her lip as she handed it over.

[not_so_smooth]

Sam initially tore off the wrapping with all the glee of a child, but once he was able to see what it was, Sam slowed down, his hands almost shaking as he pulled the last scrap off and stared at the present in his lap.

"Bee," he said softly, looking at it. "Where- where did you find this?"

[thethirdwonder]

"A hobby shop a few streets over." Cassie said softly, watching his expression carefully. She knew it had been a risk but she knew how much Sam missed Bumblebee and she'd hoped this would be a happy reminder. Now she wasn't sure. "The details weren't quite right but the shop owner did some custom paint work from some pictures I brought him."

[not_so_smooth]

"Cassie this is-"

He broke off, not sure how to explain what he was feeling. How could he describe what it was that she had done?

"You found a way to bring a part of my best friend from home to me," he finally said, wiping a tear away. "This is the best present I've ever gotten. Although I think some dust or something got in my eye."

[thethirdwonder]

A huge weight lifted off Cassie's shoulders and she snuggled into Sam's side on the couch, glad she wouldn't have to explain how she was afraid he wasn't going to like it or think it was insensitive of her to give him a toy of his best friend. "I'm really glad you like it. I know how much you miss him."

Ignoring the tear, she reach over to run a finger along the car in his hands. "Tell me about him?" She knew what she saw in the movies she'd seen but there had to be more to Bumblebee then that.

[not_so_smooth]

"He's almost like a puppy. He's not, of course, he's as smart as a person but he's just so excitable, you know?"

Sam refused to talk about Bumblebee in the past tense. Somewhere his friend was still out there, helping keep Earth safe from Decepticons.

"And loyal. Not matter what, back home, he was always there for me."

[thethirdwonder]

Cassie didn't blame him. She liked to think that way too, about those who weren't here like Diana and Donna.

"I wish I could meet him. He sounds like a good guy...robot...alien." She laughed softly, "You know what I mean. Anyone who has been there for you is okay by me."

[not_so_smooth]

"He is, he's great," Sam said, just staring down at the car for a moment longer. He hoped that he got to keep this, that he could take it back to the island with him and put it in their hut.

"This is the absolute best thing you could have ever gotten me," he said, turning to smile at her again.

[thethirdwonder]

Cassie felt the same way about her gauntlets. She kept touching them and spinning them around her wrists, she loved them so much.

She looked up at him, letting her relief show in her eyes. "I'll admit...I was a little worried. I was afraid it might be insensitive, you know, a toy of your best friend." Of course, she lived in a world where there actually were action figures of her and her friends, but that was different. "So I'm really glad you like it."

[not_so_smooth]

From anyone else the present might have been insensitive, but Cassie knew just how much Bee meant to him and just how much it had to have even a little piece of him on the island. Best. Girlfriend. Ever.

"You don't ever have to worry about anything you give me," he told her, pulling her even closer. "You know me perfectly."

[thethirdwonder]

"I'll try to remember that." She meant it as she curled into his side. As much as she wanted to, she knew there would always be a little insecurity, but that's how she knew it was right. She left the arrogance to the Bats.

"Speaking of perfect, can we just stay here for while? I'm feeling just as close to perfect as you can get on Christmas." Of course there would be going out and seeing friends later, and there were people missing from the island, but right now...Cassie just wanted this moment with Sam to last as long as possible.

[not_so_smooth]

"Right here sounds good to me," he said, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her a bit closer. Sam would gladly stay like this all day, every day, except that he would probably die of malnutrition in a few weeks.