by L M Lacee
“A fat man who rides across the skies in a red suit.” Keeper told them.
“A what? And why?” Rene` asked.
“In a sleigh pulled by reindeer, they fly.” Keeper elaborated on what he had quickly gleaned before the meeting. Ella leaned over to Edith and Charlie and whispered with pride. “He has been reading all morning.”
Charlie nodded keeping her laugh hidden as Edith refused to look at her and said. “How clever.”
Reighn sighed. “So basically, like me, none of you knows!”
“Well, how would we. Have we ever celebrated Christmas?” Andre` asked with raised eyebrows.
“No but as you can see some of the members of our family have and I think it is an instinct. My Molly is talking about it constantly already.”
Lars moaned. “As is Kammy.”
Storm nodded. “Kelsey is writing lists.”
“Oh, they have lists?” Lars asked Storm who smiled proudly. “Yes, she wants a book and new dresses and shoes.”
Rene` grinned. “What does Cara want?”
“Pink hair!” They all chorused as Storm and Charlie laughed. Charlie sighed, knowing she was going to have to relax her stance on her Cara’s request. All she said though was. “She is determined and single minded.”
Storm nodded as he said. “Like her mother.” Which made Charlie smile softly at him.
“Well, what are we to do.” Elijah asked. “We do not know this Christmas either. But my Light has demanded we celebrate it as well.” He looked past Scarlett who sat with a small smile on her face and frowned at Edith who sat three chairs down on the same side of the table. He knew she had spoken of this Christmas thing to his light, now the whole Grove was a twitter with the word Christmas.
Edith stared blandly back at him. Scarlett slipped her hand into his. “My light you would deny me this small pleasure after all we have gone through these last few months?”
Softening his expression and his voice, he shook his head. “Of course not, my light, I will make Christmas for you.”
“Thank you.” She whispered.
Thorn nodded to Ciana and said. “My Radiance has stated it will happen as we have the young, this appears to be important even it they are too small to see Christmas.”
Ciana grinned and shook her head at the laugh she saw in all her friends’ eyes. Frankie stood as all eyes swung to her she smiled and said. “Christmas is important to all the young and old in fact to all of us. We need this because Christmas gives us hope and unites us in love. We as adults are tasked with making sure all the young of Dragon’s Gap receive a Christmas they will never forget, that is our gift.”
“Thank you Frankie.” Reighn smiled at her as she sat. “So we all know Dragon’s Gap has never celebrated Christmas. We will allow all who know of this Christmas to guide us. Edee?”
Edith said. “Okay, so here it is, your assignments. Read over the Christmas books Olinda has pulled from her library for you. From them you will learn what Christmas is about and why we want to enjoy it.”
Reighn said. “Once you have found out the information, you will then decide what gift for Dragon’s Gap you wish to be part of.”
Ciana said. “I don’t understand. What do you mean gift?”
Sage told them. “What that means is we want to start our own traditions. Like where I grew up they use to have a Santa village.”
Ocean said. “I use to see the Christmas street lights from my house.”
“Decorations everywhere.” Edith said with a soft smile.
Sage agreed. “Just like that, so what we decided was people could pool their strengths and abilities together and then create a gift for the town of Dragon’s Gap.”
“What if we all pick the same thing?” Charlie asked.
Reighn told her. “I thought about that as Sage and I will not participate, we will oversee the preparations. So therefore, you will by lunchtime today search out what Christmas is and what group you want to work with and what gift you will give. Write up a proposal and submit it to us. We will make sure we have no double ups and then on the first of December which is tomorrow. We put into action Christmas!”
Ark raised his hand. “When is Christmas?”
Sage told them. “Everything has to be done by Christmas Eve which is the twenty-fourth of December. Christmas is the twenty- fifth!”
“That is not long.” Harper groaned.
“We know but we will do it because it is Christmas damn it!” Frankie yelled.
“Well alright! Sheesh it was just an observation.” Harper eyed her friend. “If it means that much to you. I will say nothing else.”
“I find that hard to believe, and it does mean that much. It is our first family Christmas together.”
Harper smiled. “Yeah, it is. Family altogether, it will be amazing.” She agreed as she looked at Charlie who nodded and said. “It will be, we have little ones to surprise as well.”
“Knew she could not stay silent.” Frankie whispered to Johner who grinned but made no comment.
Edith said. “So as this is our first Christmas together as a family and with the citizens of Dragon’s Gap, we will make sure everyone has the best Christmas ever. We are starting a tradition that will reach into the future for the community and our family. We need this people. We need to connect, to become one. And it starts with Christmas.”
CHAPTER FOUR
S harm sat at the outside table of the coffee shop with Ark who looked glumly at the medic and told him. “You know I think our shadows are not tapping into our potential.”
Sharm smiled. “Can you sing?”
“No, how did you know that was what she is doing?”
“Seriously, she sings most weekends with her brothers. Sort of a gives it away don’t you think?”
Ark nodded but his expression was still disgruntled. “I hate that I can’t think of anything to do. Even my brothers refused me to join their gifts. You know I am starting to feel unwanted!”
“Just starting?” Charlie threw herself into the chair opposite Sharm as Ocean sat opposite Ark, who pouted. “Yeah! Why are you here at the unwanted table?”
Outraged at the indignity of Storm’s refusal for her to join his team, coloring her tone as she grumbled. “My own shadow refused my help!”
“What is he doing?” Ocean asked her.
“Who knows, he wouldn’t tell me.”
Ark speculated as he eyed her scowling face. “So must be to do with weapons. Don’t know why you could not help.”
“Me either.”
Ocean looked a little baffled as she asked Charlie. “Wait, I thought you were a weapons person?”
“Aww! That is such a nice way of saying assassin.”
“Yeah, I was trying to spare your sensibilities, killer female.” Ocean snarked back.
“Huh so sweet.”
“Shut it!”
Charlie sniffed indelicately. “I am guessing they are using weapons that I have no knowledge of or…”
“Explosives!” Ark crowed. “I wonder if they need help.”
“Hey, we have no proof. I don’t even know if he knows what he is doing. He just said I was not needed.” Charlie told Ark, crushing any hope of joining Storm.
He moaned. “Oh, that sucks.” Charlie tapped her fingers on the table in thought as Ocean asked. “Did you not get picked either Sharm?”
Smiling he answered. “I am apparently useless for her gift.”
“You don’t seem very upset about it?”
“Well truthfully as the chief healer it is hard to commit to a team. Ella and I are just helping, not actually doing. We are on call.”
Charlie nodded. “That makes sense.”
“Why are you here at the unwanted table?” Ark asked Ocean, who grinned and told him. “I am the Christmas official photographer, so I am like Sharm, only on call to help where I can.”
Charlie asked with a laugh. “That was Sage’s title right?”
“Yep.”
“We
ll, why are you not on your sister’s team?” Ark asked Charlie who grimaced. “It seems I am either too aggressive in my suggestions or…”
“You are just bossy!” Ark nodded, “Yeah I feel for you.”
“Ohh! So the same with you?” Charlie asked sharing the male’s disappointment. “Yeah, they are so wrong!”
”I know right… bossy us… ridiculous!”
Sharm laughed into his coffee as Ocean grinned but did not comment on their combined pity party. “So what can we do?” Charlie asked instead.
Sharm placed his cup back on the table and said. “I have an idea, but it is towards after Christmas, rather than about Christmas.”
“Is that permissible?” Ark asked.
“Do we care? They should have included us.” Charlie sniped. “I say we do it.”
Ark grinned. “You do not know what it is yet.”
“Don’t care.”
Ark pulled on his lower lip and nodded. “Well okay, count me in too.”
Ocean asked casually. “Sharm are you talking about New Years?”
“Yes.” He looked at Ark and Charlie. “You two, if you truly want to do this, will have to take the lead as both Ocean and I are otherwise engaged.”
Beaming Charlie grinned at Ark, who high fived her. “We agree.” They chorused together. Ocean grinned. “You know the kids got excluded from all this as well.”
Charlie frowned. “But Christmas is for them.”
“You should live in my house. No, as far as they are concerned they want to help.” She smiled “It is their first Christmas here too.”
A crease appeared between Charlie’s eyes. “Sounds like you two already thought this through?”
Sharm shook his head and innocently said. “Are you accusing us of colluding?”
“Ahh… yeah!’ Ark nodded. “Exactly that.”
Sharm’s eyebrows climb up his forehead as he asked. “So you don’t want to do it?”
“Never said that. Did we?” Charlie growled. “Just don’t like being lead down the garden path.”
Ark looked at Sharm. “I have no idea what she just said, do you?”
“Not a clue!”
Ocean laughed at the males total nonplussed expressions. “Charlie, we were not doing that, we just wanted to make sure you wanted to do something that is all. Plus there are several others who would like to do something as well.”
“Okay, well alright.” Charlie nodded her annoyed tone disappearing. “So we need to notify all those that want to be involved. So first problem how do we find them?”
Sharm smiled. “No problem, I have a list!”
Ark looked flabbergasted. ‘How do you do that so fast, we just found out about the Christmas thing this morning.” Sharm did not want to say Edith had been working on this for days, ever since she had realized how close to Christmas they were. “And now it is eleven o’clock, people talk to me or Edith actually and she talks to me, which I find helpful.”
Charlie nodded. “Well okay smarty pants let’s get going. We have to write this up.”
“We can do that at my place.” Ocean said. “It is empty, apart from the kids who we want to be included anyway.”
“Oh is that where my daughters ended up.” Charlie asked as she stood with Ocean.
“Yes with my girls.”
“Right little pack they have going.”
“Pride, dear Goddess say pride. Otherwise its a five hour sulk and lecture.” Ocean moaned to the other three, as she opened a portal. Sharm threw some money down on the table then they stepped through the glowing doorway into Ocean’s kitchen. “Huh! I did not know you could do that?” Charlie murmured to Ocean.
“Oops! Don’t tell anyone.” Ocean grinned as Charlie laughed. Kadee ran into the kitchen. “Mom did they say yes?”
“Yes.”
“Yippee!’ Like a whirlwind she ran from the room yelling to everyone. “Come to the lounge for a meeting, they are all here.”
Ark grinned. “Excited I see!”
Ocean smiled. “They are, be prepared for many outlandish ideas, they have had time to think.”
Charlie grinned as Ark said. “No problem that is why we are here.” He and Charlie laughed together as they both left the kitchen. Sharm murmured to Ocean as he walked passed her. “This should be fun!”
Ocean shook her head and sighed. “Oh yeah!”
CHAPTER FIVE
V erity poured tea for Rene` and Grace as well as Andre` and Patrycc. Grace folded her hands on the table and said. “So what are we going to do?”
Rene` stated. “Why do we have to do anything? We are the elders we should just sit back and enjoy watching the younger ones run around.” Andre` and Patrycc nodded their heads in agreement.
“Because…” He and the two males could not miss the tone his Verity was becoming quite adept at using lately as she said. “We are the elders, and we lead by example.” She ignored the sour expressions on the males’ faces. “In saying that, I am too old to be running around putting up decorations or cutting down trees.” She said thoughtfully. “No, I say leave that to the younger ones.”
“But you have something in mind.” Grace asked with a smile.
“Well yes, although it seems to me that Christmas is about this mythical person called Santa?”
Andre` said before taking a sip of his tea. “I read that Christmas was a religious holiday.”
Grace agreed. “It is for many humans and shifters although I have never observed that aspect of it, many do. Although, Reighn has stated that, that is to be an individual decision.” As Grace was the only one in the group who had lived in the human world she was the one to answer with authority on this holiday.
Verity smiled as she told them. “So we need a Santa and reindeer or in our case dragons.”
Grace nodded as she reached for her tea. “And food. I was thinking we should hold a street party or street lunch on Christmas Day.”
“What do you mean?” Patrycc asked.
Verity smiled. “We organize, or actually Grace and I will organize people to cook their favourite dishes. Like turkeys, hams, and all the food of their homelands that means Christmas to them. Desserts as well, that seems to be the important part of the meal. We will be guided by Grace on this and you gentleman will organize tables and seating. Then we will line the main street with one long table and feed everyone.”
“Everyone!” Rene` asked, startled at her plan.
“Yes Rene` food for everyone.”
Patrycc mused. “That is enterprising and ambitious.”
“It is, but doable, if we involve the people of the Gap.”
Rene took a piece of marble cake and said changing the subject somewhat. “You will make a lovely rein dragon my dear.”
Verity gave him an arch look. “I am sorry… I will what?”
Rene` with a twinkle in his eyes explained. “The Santa sleigh needs dragons to pull it across the sky. I assumed you would be one of the dragons.”
“Oh my dear no, I will not be pulling any sleigh, now you and Patrycc on the other hand.”
“Wait, what? No my dear!”
“Oh please, who did you think was going to do it?” She and Grace laughed at his scowl.
“Where does that leave me?” Andre` asked with a frown.
“Why Santa of course.” Grace told him.
“I will what now?”
“Be Santa.” Verity answered him with a smile.
“Excellent choice!” Rene said with a slap on his brother’s back.
“Not bloody likely!’ Growled Andre` at the other four sitting around the table.
Grace softly said. “Oh but you will! I have it on good authority that your granddaughter promised that you will be.”
Andre` sighed with resignation. “I see…Kadee?”
Verity shook her head and softly said. “No Joy!”
Andre`s face softened from his normal austere look. “Joy of course, who else. She is my delightful little chatter box. How can I d
isabuse her of the notion that one, I am now her grandfather and two, I will endeavor to do all I can to make her life better.”
Patrycc stated. “It is hard to combat someone who has decided you are worthy of her trust and love.”
“I am daily honored.” Andre` told them simply. “So sign me up to be this Santa male.”
Rene` grinned as he murmured. “They are all delightful, we should be thankful for the happiness they bring to our lives.”
Patrycc agreed as he looked at his shadow. “For them and our shadows.”
Grace blushed prettily as she told him. “You are my delight and my Christmas wish all wrapped up in one.” For that he kissed her as he murmured. “As you are mine.”
Andre` a little alarmed as another term was thrown onto to the table, asked hesitantly. “Christmas wish! What is that?”
“Well!” Grace answered sitting as Patrycc released her, “It is what Santa is going to grant each one of the young ones in our family.”
Verity told them as she poured more tea. “Obviously we cannot give every child of Dragon’s Gap a wish, although I am assured they will all be receiving presents from Santa.”
Andre`s expression was a cross between scared and bemused as he asked. “Me… I have to give them all a gift. How am I to do that?”
“We have that sorted.” Verity told him. “Before the lunch on Christmas Day, we will have you, Santa, give a gift to each child. Ocean will take photos and Ciana will assign us some elves to help Santa, apparently that is tradition.”
Grace smiled at the frowning male. “Do not worry Andre` I have movies for you to study, that way you will know what you are doing.”
Relieved Andre` sat back in his chair and muttered, “Remind me to thank our Joy for nominating me for this delightful mission.”
Rene` grinned at his brother and told him. “It could have been worse.”
Andre` exclaimed. “How…tell me how it could be worse?”
“She could have nominated you to be the Easter bunny next year.”
“Dear Goddess, I do not know what that is but it sounds deplorable!” He eyed Verity and Grace as he said. “Do not allow that to happen and I will play this Santa male happily.”
“Agreed!” They both said together which somehow made Patrycc and Rene` look at each other nervously but before they could voice their apprehension. Verity said. “We are only interested in Christmas at the moment.”