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Candace was actually somewhat surprised when she woke up beside a warm body on Christmas morning, sitting up sharply and looking down at who was beside her. Was it--oh..oh! It was Molly. She smiled softly, leaning down to tuck a soft curl behind the girl's hair and lay a kiss against the corner of her mouth before she quietly climbed out of bed. The blankets were fixed around Molly, she grabbed a long robe and wrapped it around herself, yawning and wandering out of the bedroom to head into the kitchen. She walked on quiet footsteps, tiptoeing through the small apartment until she was in the kitchen.

She hummed a cheerful little Christmas song as she went about preparing her morning coffee and a cup of tea for Molly, trying to keep as quiet as possible so as not to disturb Molly's sleep.

She barely had time to react to what was happening when someone suddenly came at her and grabbed her up in a tight hug. Candace's heart felt like it was going to burst from her chest from the surprise of suddenly be attacked by love. "Shhshhshhhhh!" She hissed, not entirely because she was telling her attacker to shut up. Mostly Candace was trying to refrain from going 'HOLY s**t!' and looking like a complete idiot.

"O-Otto?!" Otto...Otto was hugging her.

Oh my god.

It's a Christmas miracle~! Atropos cackled.

"You're welco--oh!" The skateboard! She grinned and returned the hug now that everything made sense again, nuzzling her cheek against the top of the boy's head. "I hoped you'd like it! Merry Christmas, brat~."

Candace smirked as she watched Otto try to hide his smile, fixing her hair and robe while debating whether to tease him about it or not. Nah, it was Christmas. She'd let it slide this once. "You're welcome! I figured a delinquent like you could do with a skateboard that literally screams death wish." Ah! He was smiling again. Christmas miracle indeed!

"I'm not sure yet, I only just woke up. You're lucky I was even awake yet when you came in~." It really would be like Christmas morning then, an excited little kid jumping into bed with the parent who'd given him awesome Christmas presents. It'd also be a little bit awkward.

Jump over her own stash? Candace's eyes widened and lit with excitement as she visibly held her composure. She would not go running to her door like a four-year-old on Christmas morning. She would not shove Otto out of the way to get there. She would not. She would not. She would not.

Four..three...two...

Candace could barely contain the excited squeal as she bolted out of the kitchen, through the main living area of the apartment and opened the door.

Oh my goooooood..! She squealed louder now, bouncing on her toes and clapping her hands just beneath her chin. "Ahhhhh! Look at them all ohmygooooood!" There were so many of them! Was it more than last year? She couldn't remember! This really was her favorite holiday. "Can you help me bring it all in?" Candace turned to Otto with the biggest smile ever. She'd nearly forgotten about her sleeping guest in her moment of joy.

"Apparently~." Candace chuckled, gathering a few gifts in her arms and bringing them into her apartment. She left them on and around the coffee table, stopping when she spotted a bouquet of flowers on her desk beside a box that had already been placed there. What..? She blinked, walking across the room to pick up the box.

She didn't even need to read the note to know who it was from. Oh, Aria. She'd solve this like she solved the last one. But who were the flowers from? Candace plucked out the card and read it with a look of surprise followed by a warm smile. She picked up her phone to send off a quick text.



The phone was put away and Candace turned to the rest of the gifts, looking through them deciding which to open first. Ohhh..one of them was from Otto. "Aw, for me?" She grinned, sitting down to open it up. Candace was actually surprised by what it was, looking through the bag with a look of delight. "It's been forever since I..thank you, Otto~!" She tugged on the boy's arm to bring him closer to her and press a kiss against his cheek.

"You're probably antsy to go play with your skateboard, right? You're free to go if you want, sweetheart~."

Good boy, no fussing over his kiss. Candace smiled and let him go. "Oh no, we can't have that." She nodded, waving Otto off with a playful roll of her eyes. "Merry Christmas, Otto~. Go wreck up some floors with your new skateboard."