This is going to be a super short seasonal fic, daily updates. I'm writing it quickly and keeping it light; hope you enjoy!

The Twelve Days of Christmas
Prologue: Christmas Eve

"See, I told you," Naruto breathed in relief as he swung the van off of the exit ramp and into the parking lot. "This place is always open. Even on Christmas."

"As long as it has a clean bathroom and something to eat, I don't care," Hanabi muttered, reaching for her seatbelt. "Sis – the kids okay?"

"Sleeping," Hinata said in a hushed voice. "I think the plane ride really wore them out."

"That makes three of us," Hanabi yawned before putting a hand to the swell of her belly. "Make that four."

"I remember those days," Hinata smiled gently. "You and Konohamaru go in. Naruto and I will follow with the kids."

Too tired to argue, Hanabi nodded and put her heavy coat back on before getting out of the van.

Hinata began to gather the children's things as Naruto angled the vehicle at the pump. Himawari was an easy traveler, and would likely stay asleep in her carrier even after they arrived back at home. Boruto, was not normally as good of a traveler, but he was exhausted from their trip. Hinata gently brushed back the bright blond hair from his forehead. Their week in the sun had lightened it a shade or two and darkened his skin – just like his father.

It hadn't been the most convenient time to travel, but Udon and Moegi's destination wedding had been beautiful. Unfortunately, a cold front had swept in while they were somewhere warmer and sunnier, and their flight back to Konoha got pushed back. The drive from the airport to Konoha was normally much quicker, but the heavy snows had slowed them down.

Exhausted from their travels, and knowing they had no food at either of their houses, they opted to stop at a 24/7 diner just on the outskirts of Konoha. Hinata looked beyond her reflection to the diner. It was open, despite it being 12:01 on Christmas morning, and doing a moderate bit of business. Her eyes roved over the parking lot, absently following the wisps of exhaust to a vehicle tucked in the corner of the building. She glanced around the lot. Plenty of open spaces – why park there?

She looked around again.

"Perhaps they are waiting for someone inside," she murmured.

Half a second later, Naruto climbed back in the car with a shiver. "Brrr! It is freezing out there! Let's get all of you inside where it is warm."

They hurried into the restaurant, Himawari contentedly sleeping in her carrier/carseat, Boruto sleeping in his father's arms.

Hanabi already had a mug of hot chocolate waiting for her sister when she arrived.

"Bit slow tonight," she murmured as they laid Boruto to sleep in the corner of the booth. "Seems one of their employees didn't show."

"Oh?"

"Yeah," Konohamaru leaned on his elbows, his voice low. "They sound kinda worried – guess it isn't like her not to show up."

Hinata glanced up in time to see the waitress frown into the receiver of the wall phone, the curled cord wrapped in her fingers. She hung up with what Hinata suspected was a mild curse before crossing to another waitress, who was frantically texting. The second woman shook her head and held up her phone.

An older gentleman – the cook – stuck his head out from the window. "Any word?"

"Not yet, Mr. Maruboshi," the first said, clearly worried.

"Call over to her other jobs," he said with a patient cheer. "Maybe she got held up."

The girls exchanged a dubious glance but nodded, the first returning to the land line, the second back on her mobile.

Something in Hinata's face must've shown as the strange prickling made its way from the back of Hinata's neck down her spine.

"Sis?" Hanabi pinned her with a knowing look. "What is it?"

Hinata flicked a look to her sister before gently easing her way out of the booth and out of the door.

The wisps of exhaust were still in the air, but they were fainter than before.

She followed them.

"Hinata?" Naruto caught up with her. "What's wrong?

"That car," she motioned to the beat up burgundy four-door vehicle that had long since passed out of style. "It's been running since we got here."

"So?"

Hinata didn't have an answer to that, but to her husband's surprise, she went right over to the strange car and began rapping urgently on the window. "Hello?"

She knocked again, harder. "Hello?"

"Hinata – what are you?"

"There is someone inside," she peered in. "And they aren't moving."

"Right," Naruto shifted into business mode. "Be right back."

He jogged to their van and pulled out the emergency tool.

"Stand back, 'Nata," he said gently. "I'll bust the driver's-side back window – less chance of hurting the driver – and I can reach in and unlock the car."

In seconds, he had done just that, yanking the door open.

The driver's seat was reclined, and the driver was burrowed into a blanket, sleeping.

They hoped.

"'Nata," he warned.

But she stepped forward and reached for the top of the blanket, and pulled it down.

The woman appeared to be about their age, with dark brown hair twisted into two buns, and long, dark eyelashes fanning over deeply circled eyes.

Hinata immediately pressed two fingers to her carotid artery, and for a horrifying moment felt nothing but cold and stillness. When the thready pulse fluttered under her fingertips, she felt relief wash over her.

"I'll call 911," she reached in and turned off the car. "You bring her into the diner."

*Recognize Mr. Maruboshi? You should: Maruboshi Kosuke - the Eternal Genin

*This story is set in a Modern world AU/fictitious country that will read a lot like the USA. No reason other than simplicity and keeping my over-research tendencies to a minimum.