A/N: Well, I let Raphael and Marie get a Christmas story… Why not Zoid- I mean, why not Charlie and Leo? Merry Christmas. You've all been awesome readers. This takes place BEFORE ROTH II.
"Leo, it's less than a day before Christmas. Can you believe it?" Galileo asked, putting the last ornament on a small Christmas tree.
"That's just the way time passes, little brother." Leo said, sighing.
Speaking of time passing, I haven't seen Charlotte in a while….I should get her something for Christmas… Leo thought, thinking deeply.
"We should probably get ready for Duchess Elizabeth's Christmas ball. Marie sent us an invitation." Galileo said, pulling out the small invitation from his pocket.
Leo stared through the window, lost in thought.
"Emily, Angel, and Charlie are going to be there." Galileo said, reading a note attached to the bottom of it.
"We should probably get Charlie something…But what?" Leo said, still looking out the window.
"Why don't you just ask her?" Galileo asked. Aren't you forgetting about two other people who we should get gifts for? He thought.
"No, that'd make it too obvious. I'd like to give her a nice surprise." Leo said, pacing.
"Is this because you want to impress Inspector Vergier so you can date Charlie?" Galileo asked.
"….Maybe." Leo said, avoiding his eyes.
Galileo stared at him.
"Fine! Yes, I would like to get Inspector Vergier to hate me a little less." Leo said, sighing.
"He doesn't hate you. He just hates you dating her daughter."
Leo sighed. "Now, what is something Charlie would love to do?"
"Apprehend Phantom R."
"Something that doesn't involve our best friend getting shipped to jail."
Galileo shrugged. "Your girlfriend, not mine."
"I need advice. From someone like Charlie. And I know just the person." Leo said, snapping his fingers.
"Emily?"
"M-Hm."
"But how are we supposed to find her before the ball? We don't even know if she's Paris!" Galileo said, exasperated.
Leo smiled. "I have a plan. All we have to do is find a black van with a crazy driver!"
"Or we could just call her." Galileo said, pulling out his phone.
"How'd you get her number?" Leo asked, confused.
"Angel, I am pretty sure you ran the red light." Emily said, sighing.
"It turned red after I passed the line! I did not!" Angel retorted, still driving.
"You're going to get us pulled over."
"No I am not. I'll tell the police we're on a very important mission." Angel's phone started to ring.
"Hello? Oh, hey Galileo. You're going to the Christmas ball? Leo wants to get something for Charlie that doesn't involve getting Raphael arrested? Em, do you have any ideas?" Angel asked, looking at Emily.
"Simply talk to her." Emily replied.
"Anyway, we have to check in at our hotel, so we'll see you two later. Bye." Angel said, hanging up.
*******6
"Ok. All I have to do is talk to her. I just need to go to her house and strike up a nice chat with her." Leo said, sighing.
"I'll come with you, if you want." Galileo said, nodding.
"Of course, Galileo. I'd never leave you behind. You should probably bring something to read, though. Galileo, I need to ask you a question."
"Oh? What is it?"
"How are we supposed to get to Charlotte's house?"
"Here we are." Galileo said, standing in front of the apartment with Leo.
Leo walked up to the door, and knocked on it a few times. Inspector Vergier opened the door, staring at the two.
"Hello, Inspector Vergier." Leo and Galileo said, nodding.
"Good evening. I presume you're here to speak with my daughter?" Vergier asked.
"Yes." Leo said, nodding.
"Charlotte! You have a guest." Vergier said, before walking inside. A moment later, Charlie walked up to the door in a green dress.
"Oh. Hello, Leonardo. Hello, Galileo." Charlie said, nodding at the two. Crap. I forgot to get them a present. I need some time.
"Hello, Charlie. You look…Beautiful." Leo said, smiling.
"T-Thank you, Leo. You're going to the Christmas ball, right?" Charlie asked.
Leo nodded. "The both of us. You're going too?"
Charlie nodded. "My father and I. Though I'm ready, he'll take a while. An hour at least."
"So…Would you like to go out? Paris has some wonderful Christmas eve sights." Leo asked, scratching the back of his head.
"Sure. Let's go, then." Charlie said, holding Leo's hand and walking with him.
"Soo… How have you been?" Leo asked, walking down the street with Charlie.
"Fine. Our soccer team won the regional championship." She replied, looking at the sky.
"Congrats." Leo said, still looking at the sky.
"What are you doing for Christmas?" Charlie questioned.
"I'll just go to stay at home with Galileo. What about you?"
"I'll just be with my dad. " Charlie replied.
"So…Are you still after Phantom R?" Leo asked, shifting uncomfortably.
"Yes. And my father's still heck-bent on catching him. I wish I could catch him so my father could relax." Charlie said, sighing.
Okay Leo, you have two options. You could turn in Raphael and give Charlie the best Christmas gift ever…Or you could keep Raphael out of jail and not get Charlie a gift…
"Oh, crap! I left the turkey in the oven!" Leo said, running off. He waved back to Charlie. "I'll be back later!"
Charlie sighed. Oh, well. At least I have time to get him a gift. But what could he want for Christmas? She turned to look at Galileo, who was playing a game of chess with Vergier.
"Galileo, what would Leo want for Christmas?" She asked, watching the two playing the game.
Galileo shrugged. "I don't know anything in particular." Please don't get me caught in the middle of this…
"You're his brother! You have to know something!" Charlie retorted.
"Well, would you look at the time… I have to go now, so see you at the party!" Galileo said, running off.
Charlie gave an annoyed sigh. I guess he doesn't want to spoil anything.
"I still don't like you being with that boy all the time." Vergier said, sipping a cup of coffee.
Leo knocked on the door of Raphael's apartment. The red haired thief opened the door, smiling.
"Hello, Leo. Are you going to the Christmas ball tonight?" Raphael asked, petting Fondue.
"Yes. Speaking of Christmas, I need to ask you something." Leo said, scratching his head.
"What is it?" Raphael asked.
"Well… I need to get Charlie something for Christmas… And I know what she wants…" Leo started.
"If you can't afford it, you can borrow some money from me…" Raphael said.
"It's not that…She wants to arrest you." Leo said, sighing.
"Oh…."
The two sat in an awkward silence, until Raphael stood up.
"Okay, then. When do you want me to do it?" Raphael asked, smiling.
"Wait…You'll do it?" Leo asked, shocked.
Raphael held out his hand. "What are friends for? Besides, I have a plan."
"What?"
Raphael winked. "You'll see. Just keep Charlie occupied until the ball."
Leo awkwardly knocked on the door, holding a bouquet. Charlie opened the door, still in her dress.
"Sorry, Charlie. My flower order just arrived." Leo said, holding out the flowers toward Charlie.
"Thank you, Leonardo." Charlie said, taking the flowers and smiling.
"So, we still have an hour before the party. Want to go around Paris? For real this time?" Leo asked.
Charlie nodded. "Sure. My dad went out and said he'd meet me at the party. Now, let's go." Charlie said, grabbing a coat and putting it on.
"So, have you ever been to the ice skating rink?" Leo asked, walking along the snow covered road.
"Yes." Charlie said, suddenly scowling. It took me a week to get all the snow out of my coat.
"So, do you want to go? I'll pay for your skates." Leo said.
"Sure. " Charlie replied.
Galileo sat at home, reading a book until there was a knock at the door. He opened it, and Angel smiled at him.
"Ey, Galileo. How've you been? You've grown since I last saw you!" Angel said, hugging the younger teen tightly.
"Angel, you're hurting him." Emily said, holding a present and patting Galileo on the head.
"So, Leo's out with Charlie?" Angel asked.
Galileo nodded. "He said he'd meet me at the ball. Could you please drop me off?" Galileo asked.
Angel nodded. "Sure!"
"You know how to skate, right?" Leo asked.
"A little." Charlie said, avoiding his eyes. "Okay, I don't."
"It's easy. Just relax as if you're dancing." Leo said, holding her hands and leading her onto the ice.
I always like it when we're this close together… Charlie thought, resting her head on his shoulder and blushing.
"You ok, Charlotte?" Leo asked, doing a slow spin with her.
"I'm fine." Charlie said, only blushing more.
Leo then gave her a quick peck on the check, and skated away before she went after him.
"Leo!" Charlie yelled, blushing furiously and skating after him.
"Catch me if you can, Charlie!" Leo said, skating away and smirking.
After a few minutes of Charlie chasing Leo, the two eventually got off of the ice and started to walk again.
"Was that fun?" Leo asked.
Charlie nodded. "Yes, it was." She then shivered.
"Are you cold?" Leo asked, holding Charlie tightly.
"Yes." Charlie replied, still shivering.
"I know the best hot chocolate place in town. Let's stop there." Leo said, smiling.
"Aww. You got the last marshmallow pop." Leo said, pouting.
"It's only one marshmallow on a stick." Charlie said, sipping her hot chocolate.
"Covered in chocolate and sprinkles." Leo replied.
Charlie shrugged, and popped the small marshmallow in her mouth. Then Leo leaned over and kissed her on the lips.
Charlie started to blush feverishly, especially when Leo stuck his tongue into her mouth and stole the marshmallow.
"Got it." Leo said, smirking.
"Leo!" Charlie said, sputtering hot chocolate.
"Oh, would you look at the time. It's time for the ball. Time to go, Charlotte." Leo said, getting up and walking out with Charlie following.
"Hello, sir. Hello, madam. May I see your invitations?" A man at the door said, looking at Charlie and Leo.
"Don't worry, Alfred. They're friends of mine." Marie said, walking next to them and smiling. She wore a blue dress and a matching bow.
"Hello, Charlie, Hello Leo. Merry Christmas!" Marie said, smiling.
"Merry Christmas, Marie." Leo and Charlie said in unison, walking inside.
"Marie, is Galileo here yet?" Leo asked.
"He arrived with Angel and Emily a few minutes ago. Follow me!" Marie said, smiling and walking through the crowd.
"Is Raphael here?" Charlie asked.
"I haven't seen him yet." Marie replied, and then she waved at someone. "Angel! Emily! Over here!"
Angel, Galileo and Emily walked toward the three, Emily holding presents.
"Charlie! Leo! I haven't seen you in so long!" Angel said, hugging them both.
"Angel…You're crushing us..." Leo said, wincing.
"My bad." Angel said, letting the two of them.
"Merry Christmas." Emily said, handing each of them a wrapped present.
"Have you two seen Raphael?" Galileo asked, looking around for the red headed thief.
"No." Leo said, sighing. I hope he didn't plan anything crazy…
"Stop! Phantom R!" Vergier's voice said from a distance.
Anndd he did. Leo thought.
"Hi, Leo, Angel, Emily, Marie, Galileo, and Charlie. Merry Christmas!" Raphael said, running past the six as Vergier chased after him.
"Phantom R!" Charlie yelled, running after Raphael with Leo following.
"Well….Anyone up for eggnog?" Angel asked. Emily, Galileo, and Marie shrugged.
As Leo ran pass a hallway along with Charlie, he heard a whisper from a hallway.
"Leo. Over here!" Raphael said. Charlie heard, and turned.
"Phantom R! Surrender at once! And no tricks!" Charlie said, pulling out her soccer ball.
"No need to hit me. I'll go peacefully." Raphael said, holding his hands up.
"What are you planning?" Charlie asked, eyes narrowing.
"Nothing." Raphael said, sighing.
"Leo, is he planning something?" Charlie asked.
"No. You said you wanted to capture Phantom R for Christmas so your dad could relax…So I got him for you." Leo said, sighing.
"Leo…You did that for me?" Charlie asked.
"Yes, I did."
"What kind of friend are you?" Charlie asked, surprised.
"What?" Leo asked.
"You'd let your best friend go to prison…For me?" Charlie asked.
"I'm sorry, Charlie. I just wanted you to be happy this Christmas." Leo said, sighing.
"Leo..." Charlie said, walking towards him and hugging him.
"Not all presents need to be bought, you know. Or captured." Charlie said, looking over at Raphael.
"So…You're fine?" Leo asked.
Charlie gave him a kiss. "Of course I am."
"Annnd I'm out." Raphael said, running off to see if he could get a kiss from Marie. "Oh, Leo! Catch!" Raphael said, throwing something.
Leo caught it, and he and Charlie looked at it.
It was a piece of mistletoe with a note attached.
Dear lovebirds~
Merry Christmas, and have a love filled New Year ~
~Your wonderful friend who just videotaped this, Raphael.
"RAPHAEL!" Leo and Charlie yelled, running after a laughing Raphael who was holding a video camera.
Review and have a Merry Christmas! You guys are awesome!