A Star on a Tree (Secret Santa gift)

Roland was ready, he's been practicing this for the last 2 months discreetly, but he knows he's ready now. He's been talking about it with Erik for a while and he managed to convince the giant to let him do this task. He got his gloves on, set up his ladder, and made sure the object was big enough to be seen to Erik but also light enough to carry up the ladder. Roland looks up the ladder, knowing this was going to be a long trip.

In the living room with Roland, Erik was sitting on the couch pretending to read a book but really watching Roland attempt his task. It's been a little over  a year since Roland suddenly appeared on his table while he was eating lunch, Roland begging Erik not to eat him because he was tiny and Erik was giant. Erik was glad the tiny was more comfortable around him, and they were getting along well.

Back to the task on hand, Roland had asked Erik if he could put the star on top of the Christmas tree, since he couldn't really help with any other ornaments. Erik was originally going to say no, but seeing the effort Roland made to make a star out of styrofoam, color it and hollowed the bottom so it could fit on top of the tree, Erik would feel guilty to refuse. So here they were, Erik watching from the couch as Roland was lifting up the star up the ladder that was against the tree up to the top.

Roland's method of climbing the ladder made Erik feel a little on edge. Roland's back was against the ladder, climbing up backwards and both his hands were gripping on the star and slowly lifting it up step by step. While Erik didn't get that big of a Christmas tree, it still was quite big compared to Roland's small size. Whenever Roland stumbled or something Erik forced himself to stay put instead of rushing over to help.

Erik lowers his book from his face  when he sees Roland staying put, "You know, I can help-" Roland quickly interjects him, "I got it! Just taking a little break is all!" he yells back so Erik could hear him, "I know I can do it! Have a little faith ok!?" Roland moves up another step on his ladder just to prove his point that he could do it, not realizing he wasn't even a forth up the tree.

Erik could only sigh, but nods his head, going back to pretending to read as he continues to watch Roland go up the ladder. After 30 minutes pass he sees that Roland was finally halfway up the tree, but Erik notices that Roland was looking tired, "Hey, are you ok there Roland?" Erik asks.

Roland didn't only look tired, he felt it. His arms were like jelly, and shaking a lot as he was holding the star, which felt a lot more heavy to his weakened arms. As he takes another step back up the ladder, his foot slips, and his grip jerks, causing the styrafoam to chip and break, making it fall. "No!" Roland cries out, trying to grab it and now he's falling along with the star when the weight of the star causes him to lose his balance on the ladder.

Instead of hard ground, Roland lands on something soft, his star still intact as well. He looks down, seeing himself on a large hand, the styrafoam star in another large hand. Erik managed to catch both of them. Roland looks back up at Erik, "Thanks Erik, but..." he looks down, feeling sad, "I can't believe I couldn't do something as simple as this..."

Erik frowns, concerned for his friend but smiles shortly later, "Of course you can do something like this." He moves over to the tree, handing Roland the star, "You just needed a better ladder than that," he muses, pointing to the tiny ladder against the tree. "I'll show you that you can do it Roland."

Before Roland could question Erik, he feels himself being lifted up towards the top of the tree. Soon he was face to face with the tree top, Erik waiting for Roland to place his star on the top. With a big grin, and the last on the strength he could feel in his arms, Roland lifts the star over his head and places it on top of the tree.

Erik was glad to see Roland smiling, lowering his hand down and backing away from the tree to see it, "It looks perfect, and I couldn't have finished it without you Roland."

Roland still has his smile, looking back at Erik, "I couldn't have done it without you either Erik. Thanks, and Merry Christmas." Erik smiles back at Roland, "Merry Christmas to you too."