Obvious disclaimer: I own neither Even Stevens nor "The Gift of the Magi." In fact I'm deeply indebted to the creators of both for the inspiration behind this story.


Louis walked over to Tawny's house on Thanksgiving night. He had trodden this path so many times before, yet he could feel the butterflies particularly strongly on this cold night. Tawny and her parents had invited him to dinner on Thanksgiving. Louis and his parents had in turn invited Tawny to dinner on the day after, as was fitting. All the same, it somehow felt strange to be going to Tawny's as the guest of honor, when of course all the honor was his.

Louis gave a knock on the front door. He didn't have to wait two seconds before Tawny emerged, an expression of such delightful affection on her face. She pulled Louis inside and into a heartfelt embrace, her warmth instantly taking away the cold. He then drew back and looked fondly at the wonderful, wonderful woman that he was so thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day.


"Mom, dad," Tawny said at the dinner table. "As always, I'm so thankful for you, your loving care, and all the support you've given me." She paused and turned to face Louis. "And this year, I'm so thankful for Louis. I'm so thankful to be in such a wonderful relationship with someone who loves me and cares about me so deeply. I feel his love every time we talk, hug, or just look into each other's eyes. And I feel so blessed by it."

Louis was transfixed by Tawny's loving words and her loving gaze. His heart stirred wildly, as it always did when Tawny expressed her love. It stirred with delight at her words, but also a sense of awe at how she pronounced them with such beauty and sincerity. It stirred with the urge to pour his heart out in return, to express his passionate love for her. But he knew that this wasn't the time or place, as the curious stiffness in his jaw reminded him. All he could do was return her loving gaze, pouring every ounce of affection that he could into it, making her feeling of being so loved come as true as possible.

Dr. Dean was studying Louis, in his own discreet way. He was studying him with the interest of a psychologist, but also with the fondness of a father. And it didn't take his PhD in psychology to tell what was going on. Louis, as transparently as ever, was burning with passion, his feelings written all over his face. This was clearly a different Louis from the one that prank called them pretending to be from "Who wants to be a millionaire," that was for certain.

"We're happy for you, Tawny," Dr. Dean just said. "We're happy for both of you."


Louis and Tawny walked to Louis's house after dinner had ended. Tawny had insisted on walking him back home, in spite of the cold. Or maybe because of the cold. She must have understood by now how much just being with her warmed him, and holding hands with her all the more so.

Louis thought again about what she had said to him at the dinner table, and his inability to say anything in return. He thought again about the thoughts he had been having lately, and his burning desire to do things for her. He glanced at her again. "Tawny," he finally said, breaking the silence. "Is there anything you would like for Christmas?"

Tawny stopped for a moment, clearly surprised by both the nature and the abruptness of the inquiry. Then she just chuckled. She now took both his hands in hers as they stood there on the sidewalk. "Louis," she said. "It's not even the day after Thanksgiving…" Louis looked down at the ground, slightly embarrassed.

Tawny was looking intently into Louis's eyes. He knew from the look that something was about to come. Something powerful and sincere, something that could come only from Tawny.

"Louis," she said, her voice now deeper and richer than it had been just a few moments ago. "You're the greatest gift I could have asked for this Christmas. You and your love. There's nothing more I could ask for."

Louis just stood there helplessly. Tawny could make him feel so special, yet so pathetic in a way. The ultimate confirmation of his feelings of inadequacy was that he had them at all, that he kept thinking of what to do for Tawny when his love was enough for her magnificent heart. He felt the urge to drop to his knees and look up at her, to show her how much he adored and worshipped her. But he knew that she wouldn't want him to. She wanted him nowhere but at eye level. Instead he now lifted his hand, gently and carefully, and just stroked her hair, with the care of touching something infinitely precious, making her lips widen into a magnificent smile.

Louis knew that the words now had to come, but still hesitated. "Tawny," he said. "It's getting cold." Tawny responded by taking the hand that had just stroked her hair back into the warmth of her palm.

"Tawny," Louis started again. "It's hard to put in words what a blessing you are to me…" Louis broke off momentarily, struggling to keep his emotions at bay. "When I first met you, I was just a no-good troublemaker. And you knew that. But then you became my friend. And you remained my friend no matter how many times I acted selfish and immature, no matter how many times I just took you for granted. But you also turned me into a better person, every time. You taught me to do the right thing, act more responsibly, and understand myself better than I ever could have on my own. You taught me to appreciate you so much, every time. And now I have your love, the most precious thing in the world. Now my life has a meaning that it never had before. I'm now your cherished soulmate, your loyal companion. I'm now someone who means so much to another someone, more than I could have ever imagined."

"Tawny," Louis said, the tears beginning to flow. "You're the greatest gift my life could have ever gotten. Thank you…so much."

Tawny took Louis in her arms. She squeezed him tightly, pouring every ounce of affection that she could into it, pouring back into Louis's heart what he had just poured out into hers. The two just stood there, locked in embrace, not feeling the cold one bit.