Nareen was deeply moved. No question, the gifts were awesome, but they were only a fraction of the job she felt this day. She raised her voice. "I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for coming to this party! This is my first Christmas, and it is so fabulous that I want to celebrate it every year from now!"
"There will never be as many gifts as this year again, though," Libra sneered, but the necromancer just looked at her smiling. "That doesn't matter! The best thing about this day is how many great people I met! Even though I didn't have a chance yet to get to know everyone more closely, I can't wait to meet everyone again in the new year and catch up on everything about you!"
Many of the attendant crowd nodded their heads, some gave polite applause.

"Nareen,now don't become corny!" Eternia laughed. "Of course we'll meet everyone again! Maybe as customers in the shop I'd like to open?"
"Eternia, stop that."
"Seriously, Nareen, think about it!"

"So many items," Yuki murmured and tugged her jacket into place. "I wonder if anything would fit me?"
"Of course, kiddo," Libra promptly said. "We won't let you down, even though you're an unexpected surprise guest! Your favourite colour is green, isn't it?"
The girl was perplexed. "How do you know that?!"
"Don't underestimate a garden faerie! Wait a sec!"

Libra rummaged around in the box with clothes, which somehow seemed to be bottomless, until she found what she was after. "Here you go! It isn't much, but... two kimono, a hat and a toy."
"Erm... I'm a bit too old for toys," Yuki said choked, meanwhile pressing a kimono made from very thick fabric to her chest. It wasn't exactly a masterpiece but she was still happy to have something else to wear than the bear costume.
Libra rolled her eyes. "Pardon, an action figure. Everyone needs something for dispersal, don't they? And I believe you do like horses."
"I... I love horses," Yuki admitted.
"Aw!" Nareen was happy. "Welcome to the dollhouse, Yuki! Giselda and Elizabeth also like horses! And if you like green you're just going to love our bathroom!"

The evening faded away with some destive music from the new stereo and some happy chatter. Some had even tried to dance in the snow. Everything nice has to come to an end eventually, though, and thus the crowd had dispersed one by one the darker and colder it became.

On the next morning there was active bustle when everyone did their best to put all the new treasures up in the house. Yuki, who had slept in the simple kimono on the sofa, rubbed her eyes and wearily put on the only shoes she owned.

"Well, Nareen, will you pamper everyone here with knitted masterpieces from now on?" Elizabeth asked with a faint smile.
The necromancer laughed, but answered with cautious volume. "I guess I'll manage some socks, maybe a pullover and scarf for poor Yuki. But there's no way I'll create items for Eternias fixed idea of running a store."
Elizabeth grinned. "That will be a heavy blow to her dream, but I suppose she'll have forgotten about the idea around New Years again."
"There's hope!"

Nareen joined Yuki on the sofa. "Good morning, Yuki! Did you sleep well?"
"So so," mumbled the teenager.
Eternia raised her eyebrows. "Why didn't you stay in bed with me? That would have been much more comfortable!"
"Because when asleep you kick like a horse, sister!"
"Whoa, that's a lie!"
"Is not!"
Nareen laughed. "Stop bickering, you two! We'll have to think of something for Yuki to stay. She needs a bed and a space where she can do her homework."
"Homework?!"
"Of course," Eternia agreed, "You will have to attend school."

Giselda was in a great mood, since Tamara was up for hours, helping her getting the kitchen sparkling clean again. "It was so nice of you to help me do the dishes and pack up the leftovers, Tamara!"
"Don't mention it, Giselda. I learned a lot from you yesterday, so it was only decent to help you. Especially since the other two are... rather way too lazy."

"Aw, you do them wrong! It's imperative for Eternia to take care of her sister first. And Nareen entertained the guests until the end, when I was off just dancing."
"Eternia even pushed a bath on Yuki by force so the girl didn't stink up the whole house." Tamara grinned impishly. "Giselda, do you still agree to teach me cooking from now on?"
"Of course I do!"

"Thank you very much, Giselda!"
"What are you most eager to learn, anyway? Cooking or baking?"
"I want to learn everything you can teach me."
"Ohooo!" The wingling grinned from ear to ear. "Do you plan to open a restaurant or to impress a guy?"
Tamaras face kept calm as a stone as she went to get the others. "Who knows? Maybe both?"
"Tee hee hee! Akshi, did you hear that?!" The wingling chirped happily and put a tea pot on the stove to begin breakfast.

Dolltopia Archive 59 <-- # --> Dolltopia Archive 61