Christmas morning came delightfully for the occupants of Santa's place.
Heidi and Misery were among the earliest to rise, and when they set about helping Jessica start breakfast, Jessica informed them that Santa would probably not be up for quite some time. Understandably, he would sleep in, and no one deserved that more.
Jessica suggest they wake their friends gently with carolling. She even had a list of names and what some of their favourite carols were, and lyrics printed out to go with the titles.
So, the morning began with Misery and Heidi going around singing carols in their lovely voices to wake or greet their friends.
NT was just getting dressed when she heard Misery and Heidi sing "What Child Is This" and they hadn't quite finished when she opened the door and gave them a broad grin.
She joined their carolling.
At Pippi's, they sang "Oh Holy Night," and she came out almost immediately to join them.
They stopped at Indy's, but only NT was sure of the words to "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" so she did carried them through much of the song until everyone came to the part that went "Deck - the halls with boughs of holly!" Then all the singers chimed in confidently.
They could hear Indy in her room, laughing, and telling them to hang on because she'd be right out.
But Indy was rather self-conscious and didn't sing out as much as the others.
At Cosima's, they did "The Holly And The Ivy" and they could hear singing along with them from inside her room. She came out and joined them.
They did "Oh Holy Night" once again at Ameh's, and she came out, having just finished brushing her hair and tossing the brush on the dresser.
At Diane's, they did "Once In Royal David's City" and she came out to join them.
At Nutcracker's, they did "Oh Come Oh Come emanuel" and he joined them.
At Carma's, they did "Oh come All Ye Faithful, and she joined them.
They did "The Little Drummer Boy" for Gretel, and "Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem" for Clara Marie.
Everyone stood and stared blankly when they came to Madonna's and saw what her favourite was on the list.
There were several incredulous looks exchanged, and Cosima muttered, "No way."
"what are you kidding me?" Diane chuckled.
The selection in question was:
The "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's "Messiah"
"Well, we don't have to do it in the original key, do we?" NT suggested.
"That's not the only problem," said Diane, "The notes are too high, there are different singing parts, All I know is 'Hallelujah! Hallelujah!'"
And NT picked up where Diane left off, singing a few phrases on her own, as much as she could recall.
"Merry Christmas out there!" Madonna called from in her room. and she continued, in effect, helping NT along.
Then she came out, all smiles.
"Well," Cosima sniffed in an air of mock annoyance, "First Santa, now us, you sure know how to give people a difficult time, don't you?"
"Oh, sure, I'll never live that one down, I can just tell." Madonna retorted. "What did I do now?"
"Of all the Christmas songs in the universe, you would pick the most difficult one as a favourite." Pippi grinned at her.
"So?"
"Well," heidi explained, "It was Jessica's idea that we go carolling our friends awake with their own personal favourites, she even gave us a list."
"What? How did she - " Madonna marvelled.
"This is Santa and Mrs. Claus, remember," Nutcracker put in with a grin, "It's their business to know and find out these personal little details about us. It sort of goes along with the who's been bad or good thing I think."
Oh, dear," NT said as they approached Elsa's room, "I can't do this one without choking up."
Elsa's favourite was "Mary Did You Know", and it was taken up by Madonna, Misery, and Clara Marie.
"For Bethan, they sang "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear.
For Iris, "The Wassail Song".
Rebekah was pleasantly greeted with "The First Noel".
Once everyone except Santa was up, they had a glorious Christmas breakfast, there was just about everything anyone could want from toasty warm fruit bread to sausage and bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, pancakes, cereal and various beverages, both hot and cold.
It was a wonderfully calm day, everyone took things easy, lounging about and chatting, new friends were becoming better acquainted, exchanging internet information and phone numbers, and no one even mentioned Miranda.
Santa slept until lunch time, and after lunch, he also took things easy and socialized with all of his new friends.
Everyone was making conversation, no one was left out.
"NT, Rebekah, may I speak with you?" Santa asked.
"Yes, certainly," said Rebekah.
NT nodded, and stood up to follow Santa and Rebekah out.
They talked in private for some time, and from what could be heard from outside the room by others who passed by that room, it was quite an emotional conversation.
Eventually, Santa returned with Rebekah and NT, who walked hand in hand, looking much happier than their friends had seen in quite some time.
"Pippilotta," Santa said, "I could use your help with something."
"Certainly. What is it?"
"Come with me." he said.
Santa and Pippi left.
Once he got her alone, he explained, "We are about to open Christmas gifts. And I have one for you, but I need you to keep it a secret for now."
"I can do that." she said, giving him a puzzled look.
Whatever it was they had talked about, Pippi appeared overcome when she and Santa returned to the living room where everyone else had gathered.
"Okay everyone," Santa announced. "It's that time."
"What time?" Iris asked.
"Time to open presents." he said.
"Several people expressed excitement.
Santa handed Cosima a small gift that made her squeal with disbelief and delight when she tore off the glisteny red and white wrapping.
It turned out to be an updated console to use at Mission HQ.
And this is for you, Diane." Santa handed her a large box. It was wrapped in red and black and was fairly heavy.
Thanks, mate." She said with a broad smile, and carefully unwrapped it.
It turned out to be the whole musical score to "Les Mis."
Diane opened her mouth and let out a gasp of astonishment and delight. Her eyes lit up. "I've been trying to find this for ages! The real thing, not that simplified sheet music the average 12-year-old bangs out. This is the real thing!"
If and when we put on a production of 'Les Mis' Diane, will you do us the honour of being our keyboardist?" Santa asked.
You bet!" Diane exulted.
Oh, you lucky duck!" NT congratulated.
I'll be the loudest one cheering you on." Carma added.
Carma, how would you feel about a role in the musical?" Santa asked.
Carma looked at him, puzzled, "You're kidding, right?"
No, you sing very well, and you are good at comedy And - "
But I thought this was 'Les Mis' we were talkin' about?"
Yes." Santa nodded, smiling.
There isn't much to choose from for actual roles, though, is there?" Carma asked. "I could be part of the chorus, or a very minor part."
I was thinking more along the lines of - " Santa grinned, "Madamme thenardier."
Carma chortled. "What - seriously!?"
Look at it this way," Diane quipped, "You don't have to sing well for that."
Carma grinned. "if you think I'd be up for the part, santa, I'd be honoured."
"I do." said Santa.
And we'd have another project to work on together." said Diane.
"Sounds good, actually," Carma said, still grinning. "It'll just take me a while to process myself playing this role."
NT received a small package wrapped in shimmering blue paper that she was hesitant to tear, so tried saving it as much as possible. She got some trinket or other, plus a real sleigh bell that was actually used on Santa's past sleigh rides.
She beamed at him and said "Thank you!"
Other gifts were received, Gretel got the newest Ipad model, Madonna, a new down comforter, Heidi, a week-long stay at a ski resort, Indy, a bunch of Itunes cards for downloading more music and programs, Bethan, a collection of favourite songs on cds, Iris, bluetooth speaker and headset, and Misery got a beautiful light-up Christmas scene and fountain combo. It could be set up in different ways so that it displayed a fountain flowing over shimmering stones and decoration in the summer, and a land of snow and ice in winter with snow falling.
Nutcracker got the deed to an outbuilding on Santa's property that still had to be repaired. But when it was, it would be his.
Clara Marie received a beautiful dress, and a new phone.
"That's not all. You are all invited to stay and celebrate the New year with us." Santa offered.
"Thanks!" Indy squealed.
"Oh, wow, I never dreamed…" said Cosima, "This is one of the best times I've ever had."
"Yes, but what when it's all over. It'll be such a downer." said NT.
"Oh, you'll be coming back often for your weekly skating lessons, and - "
"What!? NT squealed, "Skating lessons!? Here!?"
Santa laughed, smiling broadly at her. "Yes indeed! It's all arranged. You'll start on January 7."
Nt hooted and jumped up and down for joy.
Pippi laughed at NT's uninhibited excitement, something the girl rarely expressed.
"And since you are due for a dentist appointment, we've booked you one with Hermey the following week."
"Great, thanks!" NT beamed.
"That's not all." Cosima piped up. "We are getting another resident. Elsa is coming to stay with us."
"That's what we were discussing in private a while ago." elsa added, grinning. "I'm part of Mission HQ now!"
"Oh!" NT beamed.
"So you won't feel disconnected from us, even when this celebration comes to an end, NT. And Elsa, you'll finally get to see what life is like for people beyond our community."
"I can't describe how this makes me feel." elsa said, looking too excited to say much.
"Also, I believe there are birthdays coming up. Why not come back here so we can all celebrate them together?" Santa suggested.
"Yes!" exclaimed Indy, jumping up and down.
"What a great idea! I like it!" Clara Marie added.
Santa smiled. He had received the gift of a new leece on life, and the gift of true friendship, he just couldn't ask for more. These people were not going to just forget about him once Christmas was over, only to suddenly remember him and ask for things when next Christmas came around. They would maintain close contact throughout the whole year.
"This next gift is, well, it's rather complicated. Ameh, it's in another room." Santa said, and motioned her to follow him out.
"What about you, Pippi," Iris said, "Is he saving you for last or something?"
"I already got my Christmas present." Pippi replied, looking overjoyed. "You just won't see it until later on.
"That's what you think" said Santa with a sly grin. He picked up a parcel in glittery green and white, and took it to Pippi. "A Merry Christmas to you, Pippilotta Longstocking!"
She looked astonished. "Thank you, Santa!" And she opened it, being careful to save the beautiful wrapping as much as possible.
"Her gift turned out to be a new laptop computer. She thanked Santa, beaming with gratitude.
Santa took ameh to a room, where there was a snowy white, silver star-covered gift-wrapped package that was so gigantic that Ameh would've been able to stand inside it and still have plenty of room to spare.
Ameh's eyes bugged out when she saw the large lettering across the side of the box that was facing her.
On the wrapping paper was a taped a sign that said "Merry Christmas, to Ameh from Santa and Jessica Claus."
She just stood there, and her mouth fell open.
"Do you need a start to help you open it?" Santa said with a grin.
"What? What did I do to deserve - "
"I think if you start here on this side," Santa lead her over to one side, where the tape could be undone.
She stared a moment longer. "It's too beautiful to unwrap."
santa took out his Iphone. "I'll snap a picture and send it to you over the internet, then you can enjoy looking at it long after it's unwrapped."
She nodded, and he snapped a picture.
If I could get up on top of it, that would make a pretty good picture and really put it into perspective when looking at it." Ameh suggested.
"I think that can be arranged." said Santa with a grin. Before Ameh could react, he lifted and hoisted her up until he could set her gently on top of the box.
"Ameh whooped. "Nothing quite like moving up in the world."
Santa chuckled, then prompted her to strike various poses at different angles and while she was up there. He took a few more pictures and helped her down again.
Then, with some encouragement from Santa, Ameh finally began to gently unwrap the huge present.
Santa had to help her tip the box on its side so she could get at the contents.
Inside that enormous box were many more smaller gifts, all in the prettiest wrappings. They all had different dates on them. This puzzled Ameh greatly, and Santa told her to find the ones that were dated earliest, and open them all chronologically.
The experience was almost but not quite like an Easter egg hunt. It took a lot of time sorting the gifts in order to open them all in order.
The first gift was from the first Christmas Ameh spent in Drusilla's custody, and it turned out to be a little play nursing set, a baby doll with eyes that opened and shut, a toy thermometer and other nursing accessories.
"Do you remember wanting this, and wondering why it never came?"
Ameh shrugged. "I - suppose - but why - "
"How about this one?" Santa handed her another present. This one turned out to be a puppy that jumped and flipped, and did other funny, cute motions when wound up. Ameh shrilled in excitement. "You - "
"It's yours, it was always yours, Ameh Chase." Santa said, and encouraged her to open all the rest.
He explained when she had come to the last one, that he had in fact given her everything she had requested, but her evil guardian Drusilla had sent them back, and used magic to prevent Santa from coming to deliver them again after Christmas every year.
"I held these in safe keeping all these years for you. They are yours by right, and there is no better time and opportunity than now for you to have them."
Ameh couldn't say anything for choking up. Santa held her while she cried quite hard for a while.
Finally, she managed to get out. "Even when I thought no one in the world gave a hoot about me - you cared - you always cared."
Santa held and rocked Ameh, nodding at her and sometimes speaking softly in response to her. "It sometimes isn't clear to us if we are cared about, even I have my down days, Ameh, we all do. But now you can just remember this when you are in a downer. Things are often not as dark as they seem, or at least, all darkness eventually ends."
Ameh sniffled. "You always cared, and that Miranda wrote you such nasty things. She was another Drusilla in the making and I hated her nearly as much as NT or Cosima did, probably for another reason besides."
"And what was that?" Santa asked gently.
"Miranda never made any effort to - be a good daughter to rebekah after those two found each other. Rebekah is one of the sweetest, gentlest, but saddest people I know. And she's sad because of all the years she missed Miranda growing up, and even worse, Miranda just never gave a flying hot darn! She only used her relationship to Rebekah as a ploy for sympathy from anyone. She never appreciated Rebekah at all. And I would've given both arms to have a mother like that. Why couldn't I have been born later and been Rebekah's daughter instead of Miranda? I would've loved her, even if we were separated for a long time."
"It is definitely unfair when evil people cause so much strife," Santa agreed. "But the best we can do is continue on despite everything that happened. Drusilla and Miranda for all their evil and scheming, are not the ones who won, it is you who came out stronger for it all, and Rebekah will too. There are so many people who life has thrown together for what seems a no good reason and a terrible waste of precious time. But we can learn even from those experiences and go on living every new day afresh. You missed out on a good childhood, and Rebekah missed out with Miranda, but look what has happened. You have become good friends with so many people, including Rebekah. And Mrs. Claus and me. If Miranda hadn't mounted her terrible mission, I never would've had to contact Cosima, and we might never have met in person, or at least not this Christmas."
Ameh nodded and smiled through her tears.
After some time, she and Santa returned to the others.
Just after dinner, Santa assembled everyone, including the elves in the meeting hall.
"Thank you for joining us this evening, I have an announcement to make." Santa said, and he appeared to be getting choked up.
"The crowd grew quiet.
"Rebekah Harlan and NT Dawson, would you come up here, please?"
"They did, smiling warmly.
"I have here an adoption certificate. Rebekah Harlan has adopted NT Dawson as her daughter, and NT has accepted."
The room erupted into aplause, and Santa had to wait for it to subside before continuing.
NT's birth Mother, Ariel, passed away earlier this year, may she rest in peace. She would want this for both parties."
NT reached out to hug Rebekah, who lovingly returned the embrace.
Joyful tears spilled down Pippi's cheeks.. Soon, she felt herself being embraced by Ameh, who was sitting next to her, shedding tears of her own.
There was a collective "aww" and more applaus.
When it died down, Santa spoke again.
"And now, I would like to thank each and every one of you, for giving me the greatest gift of all. You saved my life and so many others including yourselves. You spared everyone around the world a lot of grief. Many adults would've been sad if worse had come to worse, but not getting presents would not have disappointed them the same way it would have done to children. I was able to bring a little happiness to these children once again because you helped me and stopped the worst danger I've ever known in its tracks. You have given me and so many others something that was almost taken away, the gift of life, the best gift of all.
That Christmas had been like no other, and night fell once more. This time, there was no mad rush to deliver gifts, and no preparations for battle.
Everyone was turning in for the night, but Jessica suddenly motioned Cosima to come back into the front room. "I almost forgot. This is a little something extra for you." Jessica handed Cosima a small package.
Cosima looked surprised, and opened it.
Soon, she burst out laughing. Her laughter caused some of her friends to come back and see what was so funny.
The package had "Merry Christmas, Noelle." written on it, and turned out to be a little sample bag of cat chow!
--