Epithet Erased requests

Christmas (This is late I'm sorry)

A/N: I'm sorry this was so late for a Christmas Oneshot, I'm sorry for that and I still hope you guys enjoy this. This was requested by candycaneheart7 

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Snowflakes drifted down onto sidewalks already blanketed by a layer of white fluff. Lights of red and green flashed across stores. Heating bills had begun to soar. This was the holiday season, and that meant Molly had to restock an entire section of the toy store with Christmas-themed toys. Between running the store and catching up on over-the-break homework, there wasn't much time to get a rest.

Outside, children played catch and laughed in the streets as others talked and shared smiles. Molly sighed. They all looked...happy, with their friends and all. All of her friends had been away for various reasons and as such, they couldn't visit the store. Still, she couldn't shake off the small feeling of loneliness always by her side. It seemed like this would be another Christmas spent alone, just like her days before the museum incident.

No, a part of Molly urged her. An idea flashed into her mind. Not this year.

I shouldn't bother everyone, she tried to reason with herself. Giovanni was probably doing some crime "work" (if you could even call it work), Sylvie had said something about getting a lot of clients during the Christmas season, and Mera and Indus were likely still in jail.

But try as she might, Molly missed her friends. She couldn't push her little idea away as something in herself refused to spend another holiday season alone. So, reaching for her phone, she decided to make a few calls.

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It had taken a while, but finally, everyone decided to meet Molly at the toy store a few days before Christmas. Everyone was coming, even Mera and Indus, to Molly's surprise. Her idea was to have a small Christmas party so she could spend at least a little time with everyone. 

In the days that followed, Molly felt happier. She smiled more when working at the shop. Even the rudest customers, it seemed, could not extinguish the spark of joy that came with preparing for the party.

Finally, the day had arrived, and the excitement began with a rather loud knock on her door.

"Bear Trap! The great Giovanni Potage is here!"

Giovanni stood in the door wearing a light red jacket as well as a Santa hat. Molly sped up to him and he greeted her with a hug. Behind him, Sylvie waved wearing a blue winter coat.

"Hi Molly, it's been a while."

Mera and Indus trailed not too far behind them. Indus wore a bright red-and-green Christmas sweater, while Mera simply wore a grey overcoat. 

"Hello, miss bodyguard, I see we meet again, and I have even convinced Lady Mera to accompany me!" Indus exclaimed as Mera rolled her eyes.

"Ugh, whatever," Mera said, folding her arms. "We only came because he told us." She pointed to Giovanni.

"Yeah, why did you invite them?" Sylvie asks, narrowing his eyes at the pink-haired man, who raised his arms. He remembered how Mera tricked him at the museum. A slight grudge seemed to return.

"What, I had to tell everyone, and that involved those two," he responded. "Even though they're still losers" he added, prompting Mera to glare at him as Indus remained blissfully unaware.

"Uh, hello everyone!" Molly said nervously, anxious to avoid another argument between everyone. "It's great to see you're all here. I brought you guys gifts."