#baronyofthesilverwolf

Amy beams down at Joe and impulsively gives him a hug. "Anyone ever told you you're awfully smart for a little boy?"

"Never ever" He melts into the hug happily returning it "You better say it so it sticks"

"Well, I think you're the cleverest boy I've ever met." Squeeze!

It's possible he's having a glamor surge, or maybe it's just his heart is so full of happiness it might leak out of his ears. "This is the best Christmas ever" even though it's not Christmas yet, much of that is true.

"Not yet it isn't." Nick says to Joe, "We still have to put the star at the top of the tree!"

"Right you are, Tex" he grabs the star and points up "Launch me! A star must be born"

It's much too high to reach! Maybe... Amy boosts Joe into her arms, with help, and then Nick lifts them BOTH, stretching to the top of the tree. And yet... it's just a few inches too far, even with Joe's arms stretched to the farthest.

"Can you get it?" Nick calls up!
"We're so close!" Amy tries to lift just a bit higher, but her arms are at their reach!

And Joe whispers "I think I mightt just sneeze, a star up onto the trees" And he sneezes, the bunk to gimmix it up with a 'throw' ....

A glimmer and the star floats and settles just into place, with a glimmer and twinkle, even without being yet lit!

"Oh, it's PERFECT." Amy says....

"Perfect." Nick echoes, as he lowers her down, and for a moment, has both lady and boy in his arms.

"Ferpect" He grins and looks down triumphantly

Thistle applauds as the star goes up and the lights go on!

Art gazes up at it. "It's not as thrilling as a real star... but I think, maybe, I understand the appeal." As the tree twinkles.

"Light on a dark day, yeah?"

As the first flash of the lights turning on fade from Joe's vision, he looks up to see - Amy, and Nick, kissing, under the tree! There's a bit of mistletoe there. Where did that come from? It wasn't in the box of ornaments they put up... and yet there it is, as though it grows from the very branch itself.

"Santa is the man" He says in awe

"I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night." Art says, quietly.

"That's... beautiful, Art. You should write that down."

He gives her a sheepish smile. "It's from a poem. My English teacher kept seeing me doodling in the workbooks so he assigned one about an Astronomer... it is pretty, though. And saved me from getting a 'C'."

"Well, important."

"And wait until gift-giving, I got a plan for you."

Gwen has gone on patrol mode, but doesn't find Thallian. She does however smile to see Joe so happy, and that Art and Trinna are getting along.

"A plan?" He looks over at Trina now. "Oh! Did you make me something?" An excited grin. In a way, this is his first Yule...

Also patrolling the crowd is a tall blond fellow. He gives the kissing booth a thoughtful glance, but moves on. Chuck looks for Gwen!

Flustered. "I.. I tried..."

"But I got you something good, too. I think I've found gifts for everyone here..."

Gwen sees Chuck, and moves towards him. Suddenly duty doesnn't seem AS important, "Hey you"

Art looks a little worried. "I'm still figuring things out. But I'll get something for everyone, especially once I get paid after tonight. I'll have time to finish shopping before the booths close up."

"I wish I could make something meaningful like you do. All I can think of is something to throw money at. I mean, money helps at home. It helps a lot... but what do you get someone like the Baron? What can you buy for the guy who has everything?"

Chuck GRINS and gives her a kiss in welcome! "There you are! I was worried I wouldn't find you in the crowd. I brought your gift, since I knew you'd be spending the day with Family. You can't miss your first Christmas with your Mom, right?"

"Something... beautiful, right? He likes beautiful things, appreciates them."

"I didn't... I didn't make anything. But I found a lot of stuff today."

A confused look. "You've been cooped up in that workshop a LOT lately. I just thought..."

"I can't" She smiles and looks hopeful, "Got you something too but..what'd you get me or do I have open it ON the 25th?"

Chuck grins. "You can open it now, if you want..." He offers her a gift bag with crepe tissue sticking out the top. "Sorry, I can't wrap stuff for shit, but Mom said that you can get away with a nice bag and this crinkly stuff..."

"I... I mean, I messed around, I guess. But I want everybody to get something nice."

"I like nice bags with crinkly stuff" She kisses him, then, offers her gift for him "Ah, I have to admit , I picked it, but didn't wrap it."

"You want to go first?"

"You twisted my arm" She opens it up

Chuck watches her expression, waiting to see how she reacts!

"I LOVE IT!" She beams

And starts to put it on

He laughs and holds her stuff she she can shrug into the new shirt. He got her size right!

"Actually I had something else, too..." He waits until she's settled.

"Oh it's perfect and.. something else?"

"Yeah, my mom helped me pick it out." He doesn't sound embarrassed - much. He's not the sort of guy to be ashamed that he loves his ma, or that his ma likes his girlfriend...

A small box comes from his pocket, and he offers it to her.

She takes the box, feeling awfully ... well, not awful, but it feels kind of strange. Official. Not a RING, she knows that. They are both way too young

She opens it cautiously

A glint of silver on velvet inside, and it IS a ring! NOT a wedding/engagement ring, this one is smaller, simpler, with no stone. But still, it gleams.

A claddagh style, normally with hands holding a crowned heart - only on this one, the heart is actually shaped as a paw print. The inscription on the inside of the band says, friendship, love, loyalty.

"Um, you don't have to wear it if you don't like it..."