Twelve Days of Christmas

Santa

Sang woke to find herself alone in bed. She laid in bed thinking about the last few days. The boys had made her feel important, like she mattered. The gifts they've given her, the thoughtfulness behind them was unique. She began to think again about what to give them.  Before long Nathan came in.
"You ready to have breakfast Peanut"? He asked.
Sang jumped up, "I thought you left for something. Why didn't you wake me? I would've helped make breakfast".
"You looked like you needed the sleep." He answered.
Sang looked at the clock. It was already eight thirty. She rushed through her morning routine and went to the kitchen.
Nathan and Sang were talking about what to do for the day when Gabriel and Victor walked in.
"C'mon trouble lets get you ready" Gabriel pulled her up.
"Are we going somewhere?"
"Yeah! Shopping. We need buy presents for everyone."
Sang was sad. She didn't want to use Victor's money to buy the presents. After she put on what Gabriel left on the bed for her she went to the closet to take out her stash of tip money from the diner.
"Are the others coming?" Sang asked getting in Victor's car.
"Everyone is meeting us there except Mr. B and Doc." Nathan answered her.
At the mall the pulled in at the same time as Kota. Silas, Luke and North weren't far behind.
Shopping with Gabriel was an event by itself. He looked for any chance to dress Sang and Victor encouraged him. They started looking for things for each other, their families. Kota bought a pendant for his mother. He got lost trying to buy something for Jessica.
"What do you usually give her" sang asked.
"A gift card" Kota muttered, "maybe I'll do the same again".
"You can't give your sister a gift card!" Sang exclaimed. Her voice was raised a little. That was enough to get the others attention.
"What happened, baby!"
"Trouble, you okay?"
"What's wrong cupcake?"
Sang was turning red. Kota rescued her. "Sang didn't like it that I want to buy a gift card for Jessica".
"You have to give her something she likes" Sang said softly.
She went over to the accessories. There was a pack of different color nail polish. "Something like this. Gabriel can help you find it."
"Hell yeah! I can do that!" Gabriel was almost rubbing his hands together.
They ended up buying a small makeup collection for Jessica with all the boys chipping in. Sang bought a stone setting hair clip .
After going to almost every store in the mall they went to the Food court. Sang's feet was hurting. She winced a little getting Kota's attention. He picked up her feet on his lap and started massaging it. Sang almost fell asleep on the table.
Sang went to the bathroom, barely able to stop Silas and North from following her. There were few other girls in there. Sang picked up on the conversation on two of the girls. They were discussing about getting registered for a designing class after winter break. It sounded interesting to her.
In the center of the mall there was a huge Christmas tree with all its trimmings. Lights, ornaments, tinsel. In front of it sat Santa. There was a big line of children with parents waiting to see him. Sang loved how the children's faces lit up with excitement of meeting Santa. The parents smiling and taking pictures. She kept looking at them.
"Did you ever take pictures with Santa, Sang" asked Victor. Every one else turned around.
"No! I never came out at Christmas. My dad usually bought something for me, gave it to me at Christmas."
"Well c'mon cupcake! We have to go meet Santa" Luke was pulling her towards the line.
Sang didn't want to wait in line with the kids. She hesitated, looking at the line.
"Go on agelle, you have to do it at least once".
After some more encouragement Sang and Luke waited on the line and the others on the side.
When it was their turn Luke smiled at the Santa and said "cupcake here never had a picture with Santa. What do you say Santa?"
Sang was not going to sit on Santa's lap, but they took a picture of her standing next to him. Sang heard all the boys taking their cellphone out to take pictures for themselves.
They were finished with the shopping with more clothes for Sang along with the gifts. Sang still didn't have anything for the boys.
When they reached Kota's house Sang felt exhausted. She just flopped on the sofa.
"Tired baby" North asked pulling her on his lap. He was rubbing his hand on her back. Sang woke up to North nudging her. "Baby wake up. Dinners ready".
Kota had called for takeout.
After dinner all of them were watching TV when Victor took her on his lap. He pulled out a black velvet box like the one Mr. B had. He opened it and held it to her. Inside was a chain with five interlocking rings where the pendant would've been. The chain was gold. The rings were a mix of red and yellow gold. The middle circle was made of white and it had nine stones.
It was beautiful. It was also very expensive. "I can't take this Victor" Sang whispered. Victor was always buying things for her. Gabriel choses them but Victor pays for them. This gift was too much.
"What's wrong baby? You don't like it?" North spoke up.
"Its too much" Sang whispered.
Victor looked sad. Before anyone else could say anything Kota spoke.
"Sang these gifts are something we want to give you. We want to make you feel special, loved. Victor calls you princess but you are ours as well."
Sang looked at Victor. The look on his face was something she couldn't take. She took the box and laid her head on his shoulder, "thank you Victor."
Soon it was time for everyone to leave for their homes. North was staying over at Kota's along with Sang.
The boys said goodnight to Sang one by one. Sang got ready for bed. She was thinking of Victor's gift. They all gave her gifts that she would treasure forever. She still didn't know what to give them. She fell asleep thinking about it.
********************************
Sang woke up snuggled up next to North. She didn't see Kota anywhere. She untangled herself from North and washed up. She went downstairs and found Kota in the kitchen.
"Did you sleep well Sang" he asked pulling out eggs from the refrigerator.
"Yes. When did you get up" she asked helping him carry the items to the counter top.
"A while ago. Mr. B called for something".
After they were done making the food Sang went to call North. He was already coming down the steps. The three of them sat down and finished breakfast.
She was still worried about the gifts when one by one everyone piled in. They were talking amongst themselves when Sang felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking up she saw Mr. Blackbourne behind her. He signaled her to go in the kitchen.
"Is everything alright Ms. Sorenson?" He questioned her.
Sang didn't know what to tell him. She remembered that he'd told her to go to him with any question.
"It's the gifts." She whispered. "They are all too much. The one you gave me and Victor, they are expensive."
"I see" he said. Pushing her chin up her looked in her eyes. "The gifts the boys or I give you are given freely. There are given out of love. You were right in thinking that it was the song we are giving you. Because you are worthy of a song! You are special to us. We want you to know that."
"But I can't give you anything in return" she was on the verge of crying.
Mr. Blackbourne sighed. "Your presence is a gift to us. You've changed our lives in many ways and all for the better." He told her.
Sang looked at him, wanting to see the truth in what he was saying. The silver swirling in his eyes were telling her things she wasn't she wanted to explore then.
"I still don't know what to give them as gifts. I would like to. I've never had anyone to give gifts to. I have some money from working at the diner. But I don't know what to give them" she admitted to him.
He looked at her. "You know the boys very well, more than they know themselves. Give them something that reminds you of them. I saw the ornaments on the tree. They are perfect."
"You saw them"!
"Of course we did Pookie." Said Dr.Sean from the kitchen door. "Now stop hiding in the kitchen you two. We are wondering what you are up to."
When she walked into the living room the guys were busy playing video games. "Boys! Pookie was wondering if all of you had seen her ornaments on the tree" Sean asked loudly.
All of them turned around to look at the three of them. "Fu*k yeah! We all saw them" Gabriel's outburst brought a giggle out of Sang. She saw all the gboys smiling at her. "We love them baby." North smiled at her.
After a while Gabriel jumped up. "We are going to be late! Let's go trouble, we gotta get you ready."
"Where are we going?" Sang was almost running behind him.
"You'll see. Now go take a shower and wash your hair. I'll set it." He said pushing her in the bathroom.
After she put on what Gabriel set out for her and he was done with her hair they came down to find every one else ready to go.
"Ready Ms. Sorenson?" Mr. Blackbourne held her coat.
"Wait! The gift!" Silas yelled. He ran outside to North's car and came back with a package. Gift wrapped. Everyone laughed remembering her unwrapping process.
"You did this on purpose, didn't you" laughed Luke.
Inside was a small leather purse. With detailed colorful designs on top. It was of six geese. Three on each side. Sang smiled looking at it. She jumped on Silas and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you superman. I love it".
"Really! It's hard to get six geese on anything" Silas was hesitant.
Sang looked at him and laughed. "It's beautiful! Look at the geese! They are babies!" She ran her hand on the design. " Meanie can I carry it today?" She asked.
Gabriel looked like he would protest but taking a look at her face he sighed. "Yeah. Go ahead."
Sang rang inside to get her money out of her clothes inside Kota's closet put it inside the purse and went back to the boys.
Once in the car Sang asked where they were going again. "You'll see" was all she received. They were in another part of Charleston this time.
"We are going exploring again sweetheart" Sean told her.
"This are is the historic district. Every Christmas the society decorates all the houses. They have music, dancing, different kind of shops, food everything" Kota was telling her in his team leader tone.
"Cookies! They have cookies Sang!" Luke yelled out.
"You are not feeding baby too much sugar Luke" North's growl came quick.
They started walking towards the main area. Each house had a history of its own and was decorated all the way.  There were musicians playing at different corners. Sang and the guys moved from store to store, one thing to another. Sang and Luke even managed to get their cookies without North finding out. It also helped that Mr. B chose that exact moment to show North something away from them.
Night brought different kinds fun. The streets turned into stages. With bands playing. They saw groups of carolers. Dinner was simple. They all found a family restaurant and ate there.
By the time they were home Sang was tired but also excited. She was enjoying her time with the boys. She fell asleep on Kota's bed thinking how she still didn't have anything for the boys.