Christmas is coming

>"Hey Marco, what's your dad doing with that tree?" -Star asked, pointing at the Christmas tree that Rafael had just dragged into the house with Marco's help
>Marco looks at the tree, then at Star, and lightly slaps his head
>"Oh man, I forgot to tell you...it's getting close to Christmas, so we're preparing the house, starting with the Christmas tree. It's a Earth holiday when we celebrate the year, good will toward our fellow man, give each other presents, and-" -Marco tried to explain before Star interrupted
>"I LOVE PRESENTS!" -Star yelled into Marco's face, eyes shining with glee
>Marco just smiled and patted Star lightly on the head
>"I figured you would, but we've still got most of the month to prepare, so you've got plenty of time to buy some gifts, I've already bought Mom and Dad's gifts, but I'm still looking for something for you..." -Marco said, pondering if it would be a good idea to ask her for a hint of what she might want for Christmas
>Probably better to surprise her for her first Christmas
>"I know just what I'm getting you Marco! You'll love it! It's a-" -Star started before Marco put his finger on her lips, trying to shush her
>"Ah-ah, it's supposed to be a surprise Star! Don't go telling me what your going to get me, eh?
>Star just nodded vigorously as Marco removed his finger from her lips
>"Fine fine, it'll be a surprise...do I have get a gift for just you, or also for your parents too? What about our classmates? Do we get them something as well?" -Star asked, somewhat deep in thought. How many gifts did humans expect to get during this holiday?
>"You can get a little something for our classmates if you want, we usually just do gag gifts, to keep things simple and fairly cheap." -Marco suggested, having already collected most of his gag gifts as well, but thinking about suggesting that they be counted as from both of them, so Star wouldn't have to worry about them.

>"Oh, we've got a few gift shops in Mewni I could stop by, little knickknacks and the like would work great then!" -Star said, mostly to herself, now that she knew where to get the extra presents for her classmates
>That still left Marco and his family though
>Well, she did have the rest of the month to figure out what to get them
>Reminding herself to check out those stores later, Star followed Angie's lead, helping put up some decorations on the Christmas tree while Marco and Rafael started stringing lights on the outside of the house
>As night fell, Marco and Rafael finished putting up most of the outside decorations and headed inside for a celebratory hot chocolate, even thought it wasn't that cold out yet
>"I like this...chocolate water." -Star said, showing some rare restraint and doing her level best to not bounce around the kitchen from the sugary drink
>"It's called hot chocolate Star, it's one of the many little treats that tend to be enjoyed this time of year. We'll get some eggnog sooner or later too, you'll love it!" -Marco remarked, remembering last year when his Dad had won one of the smaller lottery tickets and had brought home a couple gallons of the drink. >They'd all gained a few pounds, but it had been so worth it
>"Eggnog? What's that?" -Star asked, the name confusing her somewhat
>She knew what eggs were, but not what a nog was....
>More Earth riddles, no doubt
>"It's a...sugary drink, like the hot chocolate, but it's creamy, made with milk and other tasty goodness...I'd have to read the ingredients off the label to ya, to be honest." -Marco explained, as he helped clean up the mess from bringing the Christmas tree in earlier
>"Oh, neat, I look forward to trying some then." -Star said as she helped Angie clean up the kitchen a little before everyone settled in for the night
>Feeling in a festive mood, Marco put on some Christmas movies for him and Star to watch before they went to bed
>They never got that far, falling asleep in each others arms while in the middle of watching something about an abominable snowman, visions of gifts and hot chocolate dancing in their heads