Chris Felhopher (A Rocket Raccoon Series) Book 1

Chapter 17 The Gift

Chris got up off the bed and quickly climbed down the ladder, and hit his toe on something hard and medal. It was Rocket's gun.

"Come on I start the day off with me stubbing my toe," Chris whispered angrily.

Chris opened the door and closed it quietly so Rocket could sleep. Chris walked into the living room seeing the gifts all sprawled out under the tree. Even though Chris was an adult now, he always acted like an excited child. Chris went into the kitchen to grab a cup of yogurt then walked over to the couch and laid on it as his whole body took up the couch and Chris waited as he was scooping his yogurt with the spoon and putting the substance into his mouth. Minutes passed by maybe even hours, Chris checked the clock and it's been 20 minutes since he woke up. Chris pulled out his gaming console and yes it was a Gameboy. Chris looked over seeing Rocket in his orange suit, walking over to Chris. Chris laughed seeing Rocket's fur pushed up against his face.

Chris paused the game, "Well it looks like someone got up on the wrong side of the bed," Chris says, laughing.

"Yeah sure laugh all you want, you know it will go back to the way it was," Rocket comments.

"I know," Chris says leaning over the couch holding the gameboy in his hands.

"Playing your gameboy?" Rocket asked.

A couple months ago, Chris told Rocket that he was a gamer. On occasions Rocket would play with him when he was bored or wanted to hang out with Chris.

"Yeah just passing time until the others wake up," Chris replied, smiling.

"I'll be the watcher and you get your gear on," Rocket says with a smirk.

Chris sighs knowing he means it. Chris got up and walked over to their room. Chris took off the pajamas, slipped on his shorts, his space - tech shirt, put his hoodie back on, then finally his Hero Runners. Chris came back into the room, seeing his best friend in his casual outfit.

Rocket sighed, "So I presume this is my first Christmas?" Rocket asked.

Chris gave a nod, "Yeah Rocket, it is," he replied.

Mealeah and Chris's mother walked into the living room going to the tree to pick out the presents. Mealeah handed everyone one present then sat on the couch across from Chris and Rocket.

"Chris you can start!" Mealeah announced.

Chris looked at the tag, "To Chris, From Rocket," Chris spoke looking at Rocket with a proud face.

"Hey open it and see what it is," Rocket confirmed. 

Chris unwarped the bow on the gift and opened the box, there he saw it was a wrist computer or like a watch. Chris held in his hand seeing it was big enough to fit Chris's wrist.

"Thank you Rocket," Chris says, giving his pal a hug.

"Your welcome Chris. I actually stayed up last night making that for you," Rocket replied with a small smile.

Rocket grabbed his present from off the table seeing it was from Chris. The raccoon unwrapped the box of the gift and saw it was a hoodie with a zipper like Chris's.

"Now you too can wear one of my hoodies or one like mine anyway," Chris says.

Rocket jumped on the couch reaching a good height of where he can reach the top part of Chris. He put his paws on Chris' face and gave him a hug. Chris soothed the fur on his head.

"Thank you Chris," Rocket mumbles as he is against his shirt.

"Your welcome," Chris replies.

"You two have a good friendship," Chris's mother says.

"Thank you Mrs. Felhopher," Rocket says in a kind tone.

"Please call me Molly," Chris's mother replies.

"My turn!" Mealeah says opening her box.

"It's from me," Chris says proudly.

The gift is a bracelet with one of Chris's famous quotes on it.

"Never judge a book by it's cover," Mealeah says as she reads it.

Chris's quote was based on what Rocket felt. Rocket thought he was a monster but Chris knew inside, he cared for others and including Chris.

"Thank you Chris!" Chris's sister says with a smile on her face.

Molly grabbed her present off from the table seeing it was another gift, but it was from Chris.

"Chris gifts I guess?" Rocket says with a smirk.

"Hey I care for all of you," Chris crosses his arms looking serious.

Molly opens the gift seeing it was a photo of Chris and Rocket. In the photo, it was a background of Xandar's fountain with Chris smiling with his arms crossed as Rocket was on Chris's shoulder.

"Aww I'll make sure this is displayed somewhere good," Molly says.

"Not out in the open Mom," Chris replies with caution.

"Yeah I know honey," Molly says.

After two more presents from Molly to Mealeah and Mealeah to Molly all the presents were gone.

"Well I think it's time for us to get going," Rocket says jumping and climbing onto Chris's shoulder.

"Good luck Chris," Molly says.

Molly got up and hugged her son. She was crying with tears.

"I'll find him Mom. I promise," Chris says with his eyes shut.

They let go and waved goodbye as Chris and Rocket went toward the engine room.

"See you someday Chris!" Mealeah shouted.

Chris looked back and waved goodbye. The duo orbited Earth seeing Earth's ball shaped form. Chris sat in the pilot chair seeing Earth just float in the void of space. He knew that Earth would be his home and forever it will be. Chris shook his head, getting him out of his daydreaming. Chris heard a drilling noise. Chris walked down the stairs seeing Rocket finish making the device he had in his cage back on Halfworld.

"What is it?" Chris asked as he sat in a chair across from Rocket.

"I don't really want you to know," Rocket says, putting his head down.

Chris got off his chair and walked over to him, "Hey what's wrong?" Chris asked the furry creature.

"Chris I don't want to talk about it. Please," Rocket says jumping back onto his seat with the driller in his hand.

"Okay, if you ever need to talk, you know who to call," Chris says walking toward the staircase that leads to the pilot deck, "Ghostbusters!" Chris turned around making a happy pose.

"Ok..ay?" Rocket says looking confused.

"Earth thing," Chris replied smiling as he walked over to the pilot chair.