OC CONTEST - ENTRY 1

9-Christmas by ~Snow22



6 was humming happily despite seeing the clouds so gray outside. Winter had come so quickly to all the stitchpunks, the life had almost been completely sucked dry from the gardens 0 tended to daily. All that was left was a lone pine tree, standing tall and green against the chill from Mother Nature.  She climbed up the steps to his room on the top floor of the Library and smiled at his drawings. They were not of the Source but of stars and angels. These new images were vivid and happy, making the elder beam with joy. And the one he was working on made her lean over to examine.
She took the paper into her own hands and stared at it slightly, "What is this son?"
"A Christmas tree…" He whispered, pointing at its triangle design. A rectangle was drawn for the stump and a small angel upon the tip. Lights adorned the nonexistent branches with little lines around them signaling they were blinking.
0 stared into the garden below, watching as light snow began to fall from the skies. "I've got an idea…" She whispered.
The next few days, she and 2 were busy in the workshop. He had dethatched all the lights hanging from the back wall, climbing up and down the branches. The two got help from 8 who gladly obliged, heaving them into the tree as they continually added more lights to each branch hourly. This gained attention in the other stitch punks. 0 never really explained in detail what they were doing, for she didn't have much of an idea herself!
But something about this time of year made a ray of hope shine in their souls. There was a certain warmth the strange activities brought about.  3 and 4 found themselves projecting films about flying reindeer, 6 was busy cranking the phonograph to hear songs he'd never dream about listening to before. Even grumpy old 1 found himself a bit taken in all the festivities, smiling at the new round ornaments that began to fill each area where they could be hung. Candles were lit from each wall daily, burning to repel the chill of the winter air. 7 and 9 found themselves inside the irrigation tunnels where the water had frozen over. They laughed and giggled, sliding across the ice. 4 and 5 decided to join in. The small mute doll had bumped into her love, making him trip and fall onto the ice. He struggled to get up but could not help but smile when she leapt onto his back and scooted them across. His buttons made a strange noise against the frozen waters. 7 and 9 stood back, laughing at the two. They managed to sneak out, holding hands as they traveled through the sculptures of lights.
Just as they were getting some time apart, 2 and 0 managed to get on either side of them. The elders pushed the young couple together and from a branch above 3 managed to pull out a mistletoe.
The two gazed slightly to the ground, each rising their head slightly. 7 was the first to make a move as always, leaning up and puckering her fabric lips. The two came together slowly, wrapping arms around each other in a deep, passionate kiss. 0 and 2 smiled at each other, clasping their hands tightly as well.
The moon was bright as the family finished up the touches to the tree and gardens outside. Everything was filled with a brilliance like no other. Decorations completely oozed from every area of random junk and rusted metal formed into art. 6's pictures hung from the branches of the pine, making him smile and play with them. He stared at his own reflection in the mirror-like surface of the ornaments along with the twins who continued to flash, cataloguing each image fully. The scene was so vibrant as snow lined the ground. 5 kicked some of the crystals up near his father-like 2 who flailed and fell onto the ground. 0 fell back with him and created small snow angels.  She blinked up towards 7 who was wearing an angel costume, bird skull around her optics. Her dress was a beautiful white silk filled with patterns, lining the ground making a path where her feet had set. 9 ogled at her from afar, scratching the back of his neck with a bit of embarrassment in his thoughts.
7 sat on the ledge of a branch with 9 later, staring up at the stars with him. 2 and 0 were a level below, holding each other for warmth. 6 continued drawing patterns in the snow below as 8 slept at the base of the tree. 4 and 5 giggled as they threw snowballs at 1 and 3.
"What do you call these festivities son?" 0 asked to 6 from the tree. He stared up and opened his hand, throwing a few snowflakes into the skies. "I think it's called Christmas."
"Well then, Merry Christmas…to all of you." She told quietly, looking into the depths of the moon. She leaned over and 2 followed close by, the two sharing a deep kiss.
And the night never seemed so full of peace, the skies glowing with peace.