Christmas seemed so ostentatious, next to Chanukah. Farkle would get one gift for eight nights. Meanwhile, mountains of gifts were underneath the tree he helped Mr. Matthews killed. From what Farkle understood, Christmas was about celebrating the birth of Christ but the holiday didn't seem so much about that. Stuart saw it as being about fighting over children's toys and consumption of all impure things. In short, it repulsed him and he wouldn't take part in it. To Farkle, it was a bit more. It wasn't so unlike Chanukah to him because it brought people together and made them happy. The traditions weren't the same but it looked as though the feelings were. Christmas was new to him and he made no plans to convert to Christianity - and the Matthews' didn't ask him to - but Farkle was still grateful, so he willingly participated in every custom. Except the one most common - gift-giving.

It's not that he didn't want to; Farkle just couldn't afford anything. The money he made from Toppie's was barely enough to buy one gift, let alone five. Besides, everyone in that house gave him so much, anything he could wrap in a box didn't feel like enough. Still, everyone got him a gift. Cory and Auggie got him an mobile train model kit. Farkle enjoyed helping Auggie with his, the little boy wanted them to make another one together. Topanga got him a new coat. The padding inside was so billowy and warm, it was heaven. Lastly, Riley got him a sun filter for his telescope.

"I know how much you like to look at the stars at night. It seems a bit unfair that you can't look at the brightest star. I thought you might want to be able to see the sun, sometimes." She smiled kindly, handing it to him. "I think they you have to look at the paper, not directly at the sky I think. I don't know much about this stuff, but you like it?"

Farkle made a crooked grin. This was surprising, considering every time he'd try to speak to her about astronomy, she had that pinched and confused look on her face. Still, it was very sweet that she even cared enough. "Yes. Thank you, Riley."

Farkle didn't wear his emotions very openly but he thought thanking Riley was a good enough reply. However, later Farkle was in the kitchen, sneaking some extra turkey when Riley cornered him with a worried look. "Farkle, are you sure that you like it? Don't worry about my feelings, please."

"Riley, honestly. I love it. I will use it on the first sunny day. I promise."

"I can return it to Mr. Sanders, he'll - "

"Sweet Riley, it's fine! It is the best gift I have ever gotten!" Farkle put his hands on her shoulders, then ran his hands up and down her arms, comforting and warming her. "Why don't you believe me?"

She make a weak smile, feeling slightly embarrassed, "I do. I'm sorry. It's just, I really wanted to get you something that... showed you that I-I'm glad you're here. I know I wasn't at first but... you're my friend, Farkle. One of my best friends."

Farkle blinked his blue eyes. Those words made him excited and he didn't know what was the appropriate response but in that moment he felt like he wanted to hug her. Farkle had friends but he has never had a best friend before.

Suddenly, Auggie appeared in the doorway with red bows in his hair. "Ooh!" He pointed at them. "Mistletoe! Mistletoe!"

Farkle and Riley looked up at the garment hanging above them.

"Mistletoe?" Farkle questioned.

Riley blushed, "Um, you're supposed to kiss whomever you land under the mistletoe with."

"K-kiss?"

"It's the rule, Schmarkle. I know it's Riley, but you have to do it." Auggie sympathized.

Farkle gulped, thinking about what to do. Who thinks of these strange rituals? She just said he was her best friend but, do best friends kiss? Farkle didn't want to infringe on her relationship with Charlie. But he also didn't want to make her feel bad if he chose not to kiss her. It shouldn't matter this much. It was a just a kiss. Besides, they couldn't back out because of their audience. Riley's doe eyes became bright and bigger when Farkle quickly leaned in and pressed his lips on hers.

It was chaste but still little Auggie chided, "Ewwwwww!" Then, he ran away.

Farkle glanced back to Riley and saw her frozen expression, quickly he apologized, "I-I'm sorry, it was just," he realized he was still holding her and dropped his arms immediately. "It is tradition, right?."

"Yes, yes." Riley was beet-red. "Tradition."

"... Maya?" School came back and everyone went into their normal routine. Or, Riley tried to. It's been over a week but she couldn't help thinking about her and Farkle's kiss. She was laying on Maya's bed and Maya was sitting on the carpet. They were doing homework and listening to records, like usual.

"Maya?" Riley pushed again.

"Yeah?" Her voice was monotone, thinking of the next sentence in her short essay about Shakespeare.

"Have you... have you ever done like... junk with another boy while seeing Lucas? At the same time?"

Then, Maya came to life. "What?! Heck no! I'd never do such a thing!... But, I've thought about it."

"No fooling?"

"Sure," the blonde shrugged. "It's only natural. Then, I think about how Lucas would find out - "

"And then you stop?" Riley insisted.

"No, I think about how Lucas Friar will turn the guy into mince meat with his knuckles." Maya then made a devilish grin, curling a strand of her hair in her finger. "Yep, that's my man. Why are you asking all this anyhow? It's not like you'd ever step out on Charlie." Riley looked down at her fingers and picked at them. "Riley...?" The brunette seemed that she might burst. "Riley... did you...?"

"I kissed someone else!" She exploded and then threw her face into Maya's bed, in shame.

Maya gasped, almost thrilled, "Riley Matthews!"

"I'm a harlot!" She shouted into the pillows. Maya joined her on the bed, rubbing her back.

"Who was it?"

She picked up her head and answered, "Farkle."

"No!"

"Yes!" Riley cried.

"I can't believe he had the guts." Maya was shocked and impressed. Farkle was unlike the guys they knew: subdued, freakishly smart and sensitive. It seemed so out of character for him to just lay one on her taken best friend. "How'd it happen?"

Riley turned over and stared at Maya's ceiling. She felt like she was in a psychologist's office, on the couch. That's where she was going to end up anyway. "It was on Christmas. We were underneath the mistletoe and he - kissed me." She paused for Maya's reaction. Maya was snorting, suppressing her laughter not very well. "What?"

"That's it?" Maya giggled.

"What do you mean, 'that's it'?" Riley sat up, offended. "I two-timed Charlie!"

"Did you now?"

"Yes! Of course!"

"Riley, look. Everyone kisses underneath the mistletoe. It's a just a Christmas tradition. You did nothing wrong." Maya pet Riley's brown hair.

Riley held a pillow, thinking out loud, "Then, why does it feel wrong?"

Maya shrugged, "I don't know. Did you like it?"

Riley bit her lip, "I think I should tell Charlie."

"Oh, honey - no."

"But, why not? He's going to be my husband, isn't he? He should know these things."

"You know how men can be? Jealous and brute and temperamental. You wouldn't want him getting all worked up over nothing, right? Because that's all it was: nothing?" Maya theorized.

"I suppose..."

"So, then why would you tell him something about nothing?" Maya looked innocently into Riley's troubled eyes.

After a few moments of silence, Riley confessed, "I told him about New York University."

The only ones who knew about her applying to NYU was Farkle and Maya. There wasn't a point to tell her parents unless she actually got in, she reasoned. Riley didn't think they would find trouble with that, because she was still in New York. Charlie, however, was a different story.

"But, Riley, cookie, we're going to Cornell. That is the plan." She told him right after she sent the application in the mailbox. They were sitting on the steps of the high school while it was still closed for the holiday. It was where they first met, where Charlie asked her to go steady and now, where they might break up. "Why did you do this - without telling me?"

"I didn't tell anyone at first." Riley tried to explain but Charlie was hopping mad.

"Where did this cockamamie idea even come from?" He leapt up, almost slipping on the ice.

Cockamamie? Weaker Riley rose to meet him,"I... was talking to Farkle - "

The sound of his name threw kerosene to Charlie's flame. "Farkle?" He scoffed. "You let a foreigner come in and put all of these ideas in your head? First of all, New York University is not an Ivy League school. Second, I'm a legacy that's sure to get into Cornell and I'll get you in too."

"'You'll get me in?'" She repeated, bitter. "You don't think I could get in alone?"

"Don't twist my words, Riley. I'm just saying - why apply to a place where you don't have a chance of getting in?"

The cold air catching in her throat hurt but that's not why Riley began to cry. This was supposed to be the love of her life. The person who she was supposed to make a family and grow old with. Charlie Gardner was supposed to be the beginning and the end of her life. Yet somehow, he couldn't understand how cruel he was being to her right now or worse, he didn't care.

"I... I just thought..."

"Riley, I love you but sometimes, you don't think." Charlie said, with compassion. "Sometimes, your head is in the clouds! I made this plan for the both of us because I want us to have a future." He put his arms around her as quiet tears fell down her cheek. "Don't you want us to have a future?" She silently nodded. "I know you do, cookie. Listen, it's OK! We still applied to Cornell! We'll still get in and we can just forget about this dumb NYU stuff. OK?"

"OK." Riley muttered as she wiped her face.

"Still my girl?" Riley nodded and tried to find a smile. "Good. Now, let's go get something to eat at your mom's. I'm starved!" The boy put his arm around her and walked to his car.

"Well... Charlie is just trying to look out for me." Riley reasoned to Maya's increasingly frustrated demeanor.

"Maybe... but I really don't like how he talks to you sometimes, Riley." Maya said, like she has before.

"That's just his way of showing affection. Tough love, you know." Riley began to put on her purple frock. "I better get going."

"OK." Maya walked Riley to her door and bid her goodnight. On the walk home, she heard her boots click in time with her rapid thoughts. She probably was just being silly. Not just about New York University but about Farkle as well. He was a sweet, genius boy but he was too naive. He didn't understand things about American life, especially not a woman's American life. Things are better left how they are. Farkle's idealism - while it lifted Riley's spirit - could not get in the way of her obligations to society. Farkle's a dream; Charlie was the real world.

"Hey, I'm home!" Riley opened the door and put her outerwear on the coatrack. Then she turned to see everyone huddled around Farkle. He had a cut on his lip and a dark, swollen eye. Riley screamed and ran to him, kneeling at his lap. "Farkle! Who did this to you?! What happened? Oh, are you hurt bad? Let me see!" She touched the bruise on his forehead.

"Riley, I am alright." He tried to reassure her, palming her face.

"No, you're not. We should take you to the hospital." Topanga insisted.

"Call the 'ambalance'!" Auggie demanded.

"No hospitals, please! Please, I am fine everyone! Honestly." Farkle's voice was tender as he winked at Riley with his good eye and she sobbed, falling into his arms to hug him.

Cory carefully approached him. "Can you at least tell us what happened?"

Farkle gulped and explained, "I was coming home from my shift at Toppie's and I was attacked. I did not see who did it."

"Huh." Cory was visibly unconvinced, crossing his arms. Suddenly, Stuart came upstairs. He just got off of work and saw his son, battered. He immediately started yelling in their native German. Farkle was answering him calmly but Stuart only hollered louder. Finally, Cory intervened and suggested they talk in the den. Just him, Stuart and Farkle. When Cory shut the door behind them, Topanga tried to usher her kids to get ready for dinner. Auggie went upstairs to wash up but while their mother was in the kitchen, Riley was eavesdropping near the den door. She could make out her father's english but could not understand when Stuart and Farkle speaking in their language. Although, none of the words sounded good.

"Farkle," Cory kept his voice easy to foil the fuming Stuart. "You left Toppie's at 4:30."

"Yes, sir."

"It was broad daylight at the time you left. You were wearing your glasses - "

"Until they broke, yes."

"You still have all of your things and you're telling us that you didn't see who jumped you?" Farkle said nothing but his fists balled up. "I think you know who did this, Farkle. You just don't want to say who."

"Farkle," Stuart asserted. "You must tell us, so we can seek justice."

Minutes passed where not a sound was made. Riley could only hear her own breathing.

Until, "I do not wish to hurt Riley," Farkle uttered low to the ground.

Cory cocked his dark brow, "Riley? Why would you hurt Riley? Unless... is the person someone Riley knows?" Farkle was silent, sucking in his lips and huffing through his nostrils. "Farkle, as much as I appreciate you caring about my daughter, I care about her too. I need to know who did this, so I can keep her safe. I wouldn't want her to be friends with someone who could hurt people so senselessly and easily. Please, Farkle."

Stuart also made another plea to the boy, back in German. "Bitte, Farkle."

Farkle made a deep sigh with his eyes closed. "It was Charlie. Charlie Gardner and Andy Dixon."

Suddenly, the den door broke open. Riley gusted through and charged right to Farkle. Farkle and Cory said her name at the exact same time. "Charlie did this to you?! Is that what you said?!"

The boy stammered, shaking his head, "I - it-it was hard for me to see - "

"Don't you dare lie to me, Farkle! Honesty, always!"

"... Yes but Riley - " Before he could say another word, she ran back to the door to get her coat and stormed out the door. Cory quickly followed his daughter.

"Riley?! Cory?!" Topanga called after them and held herself as she went outside, watching them get into the car and drive away. Then, she went back to Farkle and Stuart. Auggie observed the commotion from the top of stairs. "What's going on? Where are they going?" She asked them.

"To get justice. For me." Farkle was near tears.

Cory was careful with their family car, so he drove to the Gardners' residence. Also, Riley was a terrible driver, underneath any type of circumstance, but especially now when all she can see is red.

"You didn't have to come with me, you know." Riley told Cory as they walked to their front door together.

"Of course I did, Riley. Besides, I'd never let you have the car unsupervised." He stared at his daughter with a smile in his eyes as he rang the doorbell.

"Oh, daddy." She rolled her eyes.

A big man with a grey beard but dark hair opened the door. His voice was low and sounded important. "Mr. Matthews! Riley! What a surprise!"

"Good evening, Paul!" The two men shook hands.

"The wedding's not tonight, is it?" Paul Gardner made a big laugh.

Riley's flat face was not amused while she drained, "No. Not at all."

"We're not intruding, are we?" Cory politely asked.

"Of course, not! Come on in! Debbie and Charlie would love to see ya!" They all walked inside the Gardners' lovely five-story home. The Matthews' wiped their feet on the welcome rug. Mr. Gardner got the maid to take their coats. "Debs made this ham - it's the best! Come join us for dinner!" His big hands gripped Cory's shoulder, trying to be comrade-like but it only felt aggressive.

"Oh, thank you but we won't be staying long."

"Ah, c'mon Matthews! It's no trouble at all!"

"We won't be staying long." Riley asserted again, firm.

Paul made a blank face but nodded, "well, alright. Come into the living room, please."

"Thank you." Cory said.

Cory and Riley sat on their luxurious, velvet couch. Riley couldn't help but admire the silver tea set on the table. Mrs. Gardner said it would be hers one day. "Tea?"

"No, thank you." Cory started. "Paul, it seems that we have a bit of a problem."

"Do we?"

"Hey, pop can I - " Charlie saw his girlfriend and her dad sitting in his house unannounced and cocked his head to the side. "Riley, Mr. Matthews. What's going on?"

"That's what I'd like to know." Paul added. Uninvited Charlie sat on the opposite couch with his father.

This became a lot harder now that Charlie was here. "Paul, we took in borders earlier this year. One of them is a boy, about the kids' age."

"Yeah, I remember."

"Today, he came home, pretty banged up and... he says Charlie did it."

Paul looked back to his son, "Charlie?"

Riley's stoic expression watched her boyfriend's every move while he answered. "... I was there but I didn't touch him."

"That's a lie!" Riley interjected.

"Riley!" Cory scolded.

"It's a lie, daddy! I can tell when he's lying! He holds his hands together and bites his lip!"

"So, you think I'm a liar, Riley?" Charlie shot back.

"Where did those bruises on your hands come from?" She interrogated.

But Charlie was quick, "I play sports, Riley! Of course, I'm gonna get marked up from time to time!"

"OK, OK." Cory put his hands up so the two could cease fire. "So, you were present but you didn't hit him, is that right?"

"Yes." Riley scoffed.

"So, Andy Dixon beat him up?"

Charlie hesitated but replied, "... Yeah. It was Andy."

"And you didn't stop him?"

"Andy's an ox! OK? No one can stop him from doing anything!"

Riley was about to yell, "Oh, that's Bu- !"But then finally Paul asked a question. "Hold on, why did Andy beat him up?"

Charlie shrugged and plainly stated, "Because he's a Jew. I mean, he's a weird guy - and getting between me and Riley - but finding out he was a Jew was like, the last straw." The smirk that played on his lips made Riley's blood boil. He knew exactly what he was doing.

Paul licked his lips and had the same smarmy grin that his son had. "You, uh..." He began, looking to the floor then he looked up to Cory in condescension. "Are you harboring kikes, Matthews?"

Cory's once mediated demeanor became stony and defensive, hearing that slur and ruefully figuring out the type of people that he was about to let into his family. "They're good people, Paul. I wanted to help them."

"Huh," Paul made a dry laugh and stood, glaring down at Riley and Cory. He tied the belt to his monogrammed robe around his waist. "I think we're done here, Matthews."

Cory rose up to meet him, "probably so, Paul. Let's go, Riley."

Riley hastily tread behind her father and left the Gardner home, most likely for the last time. Sobered, Riley and Cory sat in the car for a minute, absorbing what happened.

"We just made everything worse, didn't we?" Riley asked.

As Cory turned the ignition, he nodded hard. "Oh, yes. Yes, we did."

AN: In the interest of updating quickly, I didn't really close Winter out the way I wanted to. I said it was going to get real and I wanted to stand by that. Sorry for the late update but guys, life is hard. Please review if you liked what you read. Thanks.