It was the holiday season at Stork Mountain, which meant more baby deliveries than usual. On some days, storks were taking six babies at a time to their parents. Over the months, Junior, being CEO built another warehouse beside Stork Mountain. Instead of cold metal and towers of boxes. The warehouse had separate baby rooms made, hundreds of rooms, occupied by three to six babies at a time, with three storks working around the clock to take care of their needs, including Junior and Tulip.

"Okay little guy." Junior chuckled as he picked up a blonde headed baby. He sat down on a rocking chair, resting his head back as he takes a warm bottle and press the nipple into the baby's hungry mouth. He always found it relaxing being in a baby's room, which is ironic since it should be the less relaxing place to be but with all the hectic holiday letters, it was nice to get the chance to sit down. With the baby's eyes slowly closing, Junior took a look around the room, seeing the nice blue color on the walls, with white painted storks decorated throughout the room. Blocks and dolls were scattered on the floor making Junior decide to pick them up once he is done feeding the baby. He heard the door of the room click, and immediately sees a tuff of bouncy red hair come in.

Tulip's smiling face come into view and she grins when she sees him. She gently tiptoes in and quietly close the door.

"Thought I'll find you here." She said softly, taking a seat on another rocking chair, in front of him.

"Yeah well, I need a break from all the letters, sorting out which are kids and which are the real parents is actually getting out of hand." Junior said, rubbing his tired eyes.

Tulip leaned forward, placing her hands on her knees. "When was the last time you had a good night's rest?"

"Hmm, you mean this week?" He chuckled, making Tulip cross her arms at him. Junior took the empty bottle out and placed the sleepy baby over his shoulder, patting his back gently.

"You really need to sleep." She said. "You're already growing some grey stubble there." She pointed out making him scratch under his chin. "It's a good thing you're coming with me to visit my family right?" She smiled excitedly. "You can sleep when you spend the night!"

Junior winced as he put the sleeping baby back into his crib. "Oh right, the family...um Tulip?" He tapped on the crib nervously. She lifted her head up and blinked.

"What? You-" she scoffed. "You are coming right? I mean we have been planning this since the beginning of December."

"I know, I know, but we are so backed up with letters to sort through and babies to deliver…"

"We were going to spend a real family dinner together, and have secret Santa, and open presents!"

Junior turned to her. "Tulip-I don't think I can leave the babies during the holidays."

"What? I know this might sound bad but Christmas is about not worrying about the deliveries and spending time with family!"

"Tulip, come on don't get upset."

"Upset? No I'm not upset! I'm just wondering why you can't take a couple of days off to visit my family, who loves you! You know mom and dad are excited to see you again."

"Tulip, I- I'm not saying no, just think of it as a maybe…"

Her eyes narrowed and her mouth went into a thin line. "No it's fine, if you didn't want to go than you should have told me right at the beginning!" She stomped away, opening the door. Junior quickly grabbed her shoulder.

"Tulip! Don't get mad!"

She shook her head and made a swift motion with her hands. "I'm not mad! Look you're busy I get

It, but I took the weekend off, so…." she bite her lip before speaking again. "Bye!" And she shut the door, but not hard enough to wake the baby.

Junior's shoulders slumped. He couldn't believe it. She was making him the bad guy! He is just doing his job! As CEO he has to be responsible, sometimes that means giving up on personal days. He sighed and collapsed on the chair, feeling his body violently slink back and forth. She was right about one thing, he hasn't slept in a while, about three days. He closed his eyes, breathing out, he slips into his dreams.

He woke up about an hour later because that was when the baby woke up, hearing the baby babble and giggle made him open his eyes. His eyes shifted to his lap as he felt a new weight. On his legs was a small box, wrapped in green and dressed in a red striped bow, attached to it held a note which he took nimbly in his fingers.

To my bestest friend.

He placed the note down as he felt a slight tug at his chest. He carefully opened the box, as if he thought it was made out of thin glass. Inside was a friendship bracelet. It was made out of string and colorful beads that were a dark green, white and blue. A small metal heart was attached to the bracelet that read, Junior. He felt himself smile at the handmade gift and immediately smacked himself in the head.

"Ugh! Why am I so stupid?" He asked to the baby, only to get a babble as a response. He picked up the infant and bounced him in his arms. "But I can't just leave! I need to at least let someone cover for me…someone who knows babies." His fingers snapped as he rushed out the door towards the baby machine.

Tulip sighed and pouted throughout dinner, poking her peas with a fork and moving them side to side watching them roll around. Her family exchanged glances making her mother put a hand over her daughter's shoulder.

"Oh Honey, I know how much you wanted Junior to come with you…"

Tulip sat up. "Sorry Mom, I just wanted him to spend time with you guys too. It would have been his first time spending time with family…" she slouched forward. "And with me."

"Maybe opening presents with make you feel better Sweetheart!" Her father said with a large smile. "Your brothers and sisters each wrapped one for you, that's eighteen presents!"

Tulip let out a small smile when her sibling all nodded their heads at once. "That's so nice...thanks guys." She lower her head again and sighed, pulling out a small gift from her lap. "I just wish I left this for Junior back at Stork Mountain." She left the present with her parents because she thought Junior would be coming with her but that doesn't seem like it's going to happen, she would have to give it to him after the weekend is over. She still felt horrible for losing her cool with him, she shouldn't expect him come with her all the time since he's boss, but they planned on going together and she really thought he would have time. She sighed softly. Babies have to be delivered and delivering them on a special day on Christmas, she couldn't be mad at Junior for doing that. Her head peaked when she heard the doorbell.

"Oh Visitors?" Her mother said as she got up but her little sister, Emily, who had turned 6 ran towards the front door.

"I got it! I got it!"

Tulip turned back to her half eaten plate and poked her food again.

"Hey Tulip!" Her sister cried out.

"Yeah?" She called back.

"Your boyfriend is at the door!"

"Boyfriend?" She turned around with a brow raise. "I don't have one-!"

"Yeah, and I'm not her boyfriend!" Gritted the visitor at the door in a harsh whisper. Tulip got up with a large smile and ran to the door.

"Junior!" She called out, he gave her a little wave before being attacked with a hard hug as she wrapped her arms around him. Junior had to balance himself from falling straight to the ground. Tulip let go as she grasped her hands together. "W-what happened with the babies and the deliveries?"

"I ask Jasper to cover for me, he said he was happy to do it!" Junior smiled as he shrugged. He bought out a small gift wrapped in white towards Tulip. Her eyes widen slightly as she takes it into her hands. "I know it's not Christmas yet...but I want you to open it."

Tulip smiled and giggled slightly when she ripped the gift open to find a small brown box with a label. " ? We still have these?"

"Sorry! It was the perfect size and it was just laying around so…" He motioned her to pull the lid and she opened it.

"Oh wow!" She gasped, taking out a small charm bracelet. It was red and brown with charms of storks and babies with also a heart shape charm that said "Best Friend". Her eyes gloss over as she put it on. "Thank you...I love it."

"I'm glad you do." He replied gently. "And now we can match! See?" He said as he put up his wrist showing his own friendship bracelet.

"Oh! No way! You made one for yourself?"

"What? No, I got this from you, see?" He pulled out the handwritten note. "It made me realize how important it is to be with the ones you lov-!"

"That's not my handwriting."

"Excuse me, what?"

"And my present for you is inside the house, it looks like this handwriting looks like...Pidgeon Toady's."

Junior whirled at the bracelet in disgust and groaned, covering his face in shame as Tulip laughed loudly at him. "Now you have to wear it!"

"Ugh! I thought this was really from you!"

Tulip waved a hand at him and scoffed. "Oh nah, I got you a scarf since you get cold when out on deliveries."

Junior's face fell. "Did you really just told me what you got me?"

"Yeah." She laughed and grabbed his wing. "Now come on and have dinner, we still have plenty more fish to eat!" She said pulling him inside.

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