"with Shane distracting everyone, days," Jaxon said as he continued to wrap lights around the tree.

"hey, I'm not the one being distracting. I mean just look at Sparky heartbreaker over there! how is anyone supposed to focus with that man in the room!" Shane said as Jaxon just shook his head.

"the same way the rest of us do Shane, by not drawing attention to it." Fletcher chuckled as Nova rolled her eyes.

"come on, we're supposed to decorate the meeting rooms and the lobby of the apartments after we finish this damn tree." Nova huffed as soft Christmas music played through the room.

"it's the holiday's Nova, I think we can take things a little slow today! besides were spending time together. that's the whole point of decorating for the holidays." Malorie giggled as Fletcher placed a loving kiss on her forehead.

"Not when you don't enjoy the company," Nova said rolling her eyes as Ed shook his head. 

"Don't deny it you love our company. you just hate things not being as efficient as you want." Ed said as he handed her a tangled string of lights. 

"well, most of our company." Ed laughed as Shane started chasing Jaxon around the tree.

"what's that supposed to mean?" Chadwick asked as he walked into the room with Ruby. 

"It means we had you distracted for a good four hours and you still end up finding your way back to us." Alfred sighed as Rigby lightly hit his arm while handing him more garlands.

"Why don't we just send Shane and Chadwick to go decorate the meeting rooms together?" Nova suggested as she finished untangling the lights Ed handed her. 

"Awww but I wanna stay with Sparky!" Shane pouted as Jaxon pushed him away.

"better idea, you, me, Jaxon, Alfred, and Rigby go decorate the offices and the others stay here to finish the tree and the rest of the lobby," Ed said as Alfred climbed down from the ladder he was on.

"best idea you've had all day, it gets more work done and better company in one place," Nova said as she quickly ran out of the room before anyone else could protest.

She had never been big about the holidays. Valentina thought it would be good for everyone to get together and decorate the base for the holidays to bring up spirits. each crew had been assigned places to decorate, and of course, her group had gotten the biggest areas to cover. well except the garage which was being taken care of by Egil and the cleaners. She saw no point in decorating just so it could be taken down a few weeks later, but what the boss wanted the boss got. Nova sighed as she walked into the office building, they had about 8 meeting rooms to decorate before the end of the day. 

"it seems like a lot of work but if we all work together we'll get it done quick. especially since we've eliminated all the major distractions." Ed said as he and the others filed in behind her.

"not all of them." Alfred chucked as he kissed Rigby.

"you're such a brute!" Rigby laughed as he pushed Alfred off of him.

"I'll show you a brute." Alfred playfully laughed as he chased Rigby out of the office building.

"and, now we're down two." Jaxon sighed as he watched the doors to the rebuilding swing close.

"if you need four more hands we'd be happy to help!" Era said as she and a random guy walked up to them.

"Sure I don't mind the help," Nova said as Era quickly grabbed a box of decorations.

"Maxwell take this up to meeting room number 8, Nova and Jax if you want to go up with him me and Ed can handle rooms, 1-4 if you want to get 5-8?" Era said quickly taking control of the situation.

"sure sounds like the first good plan I've heard all day," Nova said as she grabbed a box and quickly started up the stairs.

she didn't enjoy the fact she was working with Jaxon yet again, but at least she would have maxwell as the middle ground between them. she had met him a few times over the years, he was a nice guy and worked in records. she knew he was trying to become one of the crew members but he was needed in records because of how swamped it was down there. she hoped he got transferred out soon, he'd be a great asset to any crew.

"Alright, we've got 4 room's to decorate and about 4 hours before Valentina comes back," Maxwell said as he set the box down on one of the tables.

"Well, numbers let's get started then shall we?" Nova said as she grabbed a strand of lights and began hanging it around the room.

"That a silly new code name for me? because if it is I'll gladly take it." Maxwell chuckled as he grabbed a few garlands from one of the boxes.

"Better than the one I got stuck with," Jaxon mumbled as he pulled out a few decorative Santa clauses and set them on the table.

"you don't get to pick your code name, it's not our fault Alfred got to pick yours," Nova said stifling the laughter in her voice. 

Alfred had picked Jaxon's code name based on one of the first things he called him, pretty boy. Shane wanted it to be Sparky heartbreaker but after a few days Pretty boy had stuck and that was that. All code names were chosen that way. Someone gave you a bad nickname or something and it stuck. She was given her code name by Barnaby when he called her a grumpy game of Russian roulette and it just stuck. Of course, her's wasn't bad, roulette fit her, and she hated to admit but Pretty boy fit Jaxon quite well.

"Well at least you got one, I've been trying to get into a crew position for the longest time. fieldwork suits me better than sorting all those papers." Maxwell said as he hung up the garlands above the windows in the room.

"I never thought I'd be the one to say this but you both need to stop moping," Nova said almost cringing at her own words.

"finally in the holiday spirit?" Jaxon chuckled as she rolled her eyes.

"I still don't understand why everyone gets so excited over the holidays." Nova huffed as she strung more lights around the room.

"well ya know its a time for loved one's to get together and exchange gifts and spend time together, it seems silly but you always get that warm feeling that makes you know your loved, even when your grandma gets you an itchy sweater you don't want or you have to use a weird pencil holder your younger sibling made for you because they thought of you and just knowing that makes you feel good and happy," Jaxon explained as Nova hung her head slightly.

She had never had anything like that, she had never celebrated any holiday until she came to this mafia. her holidays consisted of Egils comfort sometimes and Leons company. she had never had what he had explained, it was stupid of her to resent a holiday she knew nothing about, but when you've lived a life without love you can't help but feel cheated and bitter during the holidays. 

"Jaxon... Nova hasn't exactly had a family to share that with..." Maxwell said gently trying to choose his words carefully. 

she knew he knew about her situation. he worked in records, he knew everything about everyone. he life story she had submitted to the archives he had read. he knew she had never had a proper Christmas, and why would she? she was abused most of her life, and when she wasn't being abused she was training. however she couldn't be upset with Jaxon he didn't know, but she wanted him to drop the subject.

"Come on we have three other rooms to decorate," Nova said quickly changing the topic as she grabbed a box and went to walk out of the room.

"Nova wait you can't move!" Jaxon chuckled as Nova quickly froze and turned around and gave him a confused look.

"mistletoe, you can't move until you get a kiss," Jaxon said smugly as he pointed to the small flower above her head.

"what do you mean? I can just walk right out the door." Nova said as she turned to leave.

"Nova, come on its tradition. you can't move until someone gives you a kiss." Maxwell laughed as Nova huffed and set the box she was carrying on the ground.

"What kind of demeaning tradition is this?" Nova asked as she crossed her arms.

"it's quite popular with couples." Maxwell shrugged as Nova shook her head.

"well come on let's get this over with so we can finish decorating the rooms." Nova huffed as Jaxon smiled and gently took her hand in his.

"As you wish malady," Jaxon whispered in her ear as he gently placed a kiss against her cheek.

"aww! that shouldn't count!" Maxwell laughed as he walked past them to the next room.

"what?" Nova gasped out as Jaxon smiled at her and grabbed the mistletoe from off the doorway.

"you're usually supposed to give the person a kiss on the lips, but I'd never do that without your consent," Jaxon smirked as he pocketed the mistletoe.

"Can I see that?" Nova asked pointing to his pocket.

"sure why?" Jaxon asked as he handed it to her.

"For this," Nova said as she stuck it back over the doorway right over Jaxon's head. 

"Oh, Shane!" Nova shouted as she ran off to get him. 

"Nova! Don't you dare!" Jaxon shouted at her from his spot under the mistletoe.

Nova let out a quiet laugh as she continued her search for Shane. maybe the holidays weren't too bad after all.