Carly's Christmas Wish
Disclaimer: iCarly is created by Dan Schneider
A/N: Story has references to "iChristmas" in case you haven't seen it. A short break from writing my other iCarly fic. Intended to be a one shot fic, but decided it was getting long. Enjoy
It was a cold, December evening in Seattle. It had been raining hard the past several days. Fourteen year-old Carly Shay was sitting on the sofa while she was wrapping a few Christmas presents. She looked over at the Christmas tree which stood in the middle of the living room and kitchen. Carly's brother, Spencer, made a rather unique Christmas tree out of scrap metal from the junk yard. Carly, at first, was not too thrilled about her brother's Christmas creativity. After a freak mishap, the tree was charred black, losing that metallic shine and luster. While it wasn't the prettiest or the most elegant Christmas tree, it reminded Carly that it was the thought that mattered and she was grateful for the brother she had. She finished wrapping the gifts as she hummed to herself.
"There, hopefully these presents won't catch fire and make it 'til Christmas," Carly sighed after thinking about what had happened to the last batch of gifts that were underneath the tree. She heard the door open, as Spencer, who was wearing an over-sized umbrella hat, had just return from Christmas shopping, juggling several bags of gifts in his arms while talking on his cell phone.
"…so you'll be here for Christmas, right?" Spencer motioned for Carly to relieve him of the gifts off his hands as he was on the phone. "Great, can't wait to see you too, Granddad. I'll talk to you later. Bye."
"Granddad's coming for Christmas?" Carly asked excitedly.
"Yup," Spencer hung up as he took off his drenched umbrella hat. "Man, it is a madhouse at the mall right now. The Crown Ridge Mall is packed. And it doesn't help that it's pouring outside either."
Carly set the newly arrived gifts aside on the kitchen counter. She took a wreath out of a box of Christmas decorations. It was a lovely green wreath with a simple red bow. She went out to the hallway and placed in on her door. Looking over across the hallway, Carly walked over to Freddie's door and gave a quick knock. She could hear footsteps walking over to the door.
"Oh. Hey Carly. How's it going?" Freddie said.
"Hey… did I catch you at a bad time?" Carly was snickering at the red and green apron that Freddie was wearing.
"Oh, you mean the apron? Uh, I was just…uh ….well… don't mind the apron. What's up?"
"I just wanted to invite you and your mom for Christmas. It's just going to be me, Spencer, and Granddad and I wanted to know if you wanted to join us."
"Thanks, Carly, but I think my mom and I are visiting my aunt and uncle in Portland." Just then Mrs. Benson could be heard yelling out from the kitchen.
"Freddie! Do you want me to help you to put on the gumdrop buttons on your gingerbread man?!" The overprotective Mrs. Benson always had impeccable timing.
"No Mom! Don't… I mean… I can do it myself," Freddie groaned. His face was flush a beet red with embarrassment. He turned back to Carly, "I'll text to you later."
Carly laughed to herself thinking about Freddie baking cookies with his mother. She thought it was a little cute with him in a little apron on. Upon entering her apartment, Carly saw her brother putting a few more touches to their fairly unorthodox Christmas tree. Spencer reached up to hang the rubber salmon up the tree. The tree consisted of some unusual Christmas ornaments as Carly looked at the banana and a head from an old G.I. Bro action figure dangling above. She looked at the wall clock which now read 9:00 P.M. Carly had been decorating the apartment, wrapping and rewrapping gifts for nearly six hours.
"I think I'm gonna turn in for the night," Carly stretched out her arms.
"Alrighty, g'night kiddo," Spencer said standing on a step ladder, arranging some of the tree ornaments while whistling 'Deck the Halls'.
"Night, Spence," Carly walked up the stairs.
The next day, the two stars of iCarly were relaxing in the Shay's living room. Carly was relieved that winter break had arrived. With no school, there was plenty of time to prepare for the holidays. Her best friend, Sam, was very ecstatic about the school holidays.
"Man, this is the life, isn't it? No school. No teachers. My Christmas wish has finally come true," Sam said as she planted herself onto the couch, putting her feet up on the coffee table.
"Hey, you got any plans for Christmas?" Carly asked.
"My mom said Aunt Jodie getting paroled so we're going to visit her for Christmas," Sam explained as she turning her socks inside out. .
"Is this the same crazy Aunt Jodie who got arrested for assaulting Milford Mouse at Chuck E. Cheddar's on nine separate occasions?"
"Hey, Milford had it coming. Besides, Aunt Jodie always sends me Christmas cards of her and her cellmates."
"Well, good luck to your Aunt Jodie," Carly sounding a little disappointed now that Freddie and Sam will be out of town for the holidays.
"Don't worry, me and Mom will be back by New Year's," Sam reassured her best friend.
"I know. It's just that I wanted to have a big Christmas get-together. Usually it's just Spencer, Granddad, and me during Christmas. I just had this perfect Christmas envisioned my mind. Everybody usually has all these relatives and friends over with this big fancy feast," Carly said to her friend while she hung the holly and mistletoe by the window.
"Cheer up, we still got a couple more days 'til Christmas, let's make the most of it," Sam suggested. The elevator doorbell dinged as the doors opened. Spencer brought in another box of Christmas decorations.
"Hey guys, what's shakin'? Wanna head to the mall? Get a look at all the holiday specials," the older Shay was full of Christmas cheer. Both of the girls perked up as Spencer offered to take them to the mall.
"You don't have to ask me twice," as Carly was already making her way towards the door.
"Right behind ya," Sam said with glee.
"Hey, wait up guys," Spencer grabbing his car keys off the kitchen counter, trying to catch up with Carly and Sam.
The Crown Ridge Mall was swamped with holiday shoppers trying to finish their Christmas shopping. Crowds of men and women had gift boxes and shopping bags in hand as the led their children alongside them throughout the mall. Carly, Sam and Spencer passed by Santa's Winter Wonderland and noticed the long line of children and their parents waiting to see Santa. Spencer was feeling giddy at the sight of all the Christmas décor. He was astounded with all the bright Christmas lights. Then he caught of glimpse of the Jolly One himself. He sat on a large throne made of candy canes. The burly man in the red and white suit had rosy cheeks and a pair of bi-focal eye glass that sat upon his cherry red nose. His thick, robust snow-white beard flowed down to his round belly, bellowing out a loud, "Ho, ho, ho."
"Oh my God-it's Santa! Let's go see Santa! Can we go see Santa? I wanna go see Santa! Please- please-pretty-please?" Spencer jumping up and down with excited, looking as if he need to go pee.
"Well, okay, I mean it is Santa after all," Carly speaking in a very motherly tone towards her older brother.
"Aw man, look at that line!" Sam commented at mass of people waiting to take their picture with Santa Claus.
"It's alright. I think the line's moving pretty quickly so maybe it's not that long of a wait"
As the three approached the front of the line, Spencer could hardly contain himself. An unenthusiastic elf yelled out in a monotone voice, "Next…."
"Oh-my-God-I'm-next-I'm-next-I'm-next," Spencer being hyperactive as the elf took him by the hand.
"I never seen Spencer so happy," Sam commented.
"Every Christmas…he's like this," Carly sigh.
"You going to see Santa? I'll go if you go. C'mon it'll be fun," the blonde urged her friend.
"Oh ok… I know exactly what I'm gonna ask him for Christmas," smiled Carly.
Spencer jumped into Santa's lap. The jolly old man in the red suit grimaced in pain.
"Ow, ow, my word, aren't you a big fella. What's your name?"
"Spencer Shay. And I've been really good this year. Hey Santa, I was wondering…can I tug your beard?"
"I suppose, eh what the hey…go ahead, tug away." Spencer gave old St. Nick's beard a pull.
"See… I'm the real deal. So tell me Spencer, what would you like for Christmas?"
"I'd like an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200 shot range air rifle," said a starry-eyed Spencer.
"Oh, I'm not sure. You could shoot your eye out."
"But Santa, I've been really, really good this year…"
"Well, if you promise to be extra careful…I'll see what my elves at the North Pole can do," Santa said.
"I'll be really careful."
"Next!!" the apathetic elf shouted as he motioned to Sam to come.
Next Sam strutted her way towards Santa and pulled one of the giant gift boxes aside and sat on it. She crossed her legs and folded her arms, staring dead in the eyes of the man from the North Pole.
"So Miss, what's your name?"
"Sam," she sternly said without changing her demeanor.
"Have you been a good girl, Sam?"
"Look," she grunted. "Let's skip the interrogation. I want a Pearpod touch, a Pentendo DS, an iBerry, a Pearphone, a gift certificate to B.F. Wang's, some beef jerky, season tickets to Seven Flags Mystic Mountain…"
"Whoa, whoa, slow down there. That's an awful lot of things, Sam…"
"Just make it happen. You got until Christmas," she glared at Santa as she walked away.
"Next!" the elf called out to Carly.
"This job never gets any easier," Santa said to himself, wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead.
Carly walked up to Santa and sat on the armrest of his candy cane throne. She saw a warming glow in his eyes.
"Ah, I can tell that you're a special one. Yes, I see that you been such a good girl, looking out for your friends and your brother, Spencer and always willing to help out others. Now tell me, Carly, what can I do for you," Santa said in a resonant voice.
"Hey Santa, how'd you know my name?"
"I watch your web show every week, Mrs. Claus thinks you're so funny. Sometimes, she laughs so hard she chokes on her gingerbread cookies."
"Wait a minute, are you really Santa? Anyone could say they watch the show. Prove it. Tell me something that only I would know."
"Oh let's see, hmmm, Carly Shay born January 14, lives at Bushwell Plaza with older brother Spencer. Uh what else? Oh yeah you just recently got a visit from your Christmas angel, Mitch, I believe. Ole' Mitch showed you just how important your brother, Spencer is, even if he is a little odd. So, how'd you like them apples? Impressive, huh?"
Carly's jaw dropped in amazement at what she had just heard.
"Oh my God, you really are Santa Claus! I mean, you'd you know about Mitch and everything," Carly was starting to shake.
"How is Mitch anyway? Did he ever manage to get his wings?" Santa let out a great big laugh.
"Yeah, he got his wings," a teary eyed Carly chuckled. She smiled as she was starting feel the warmth and joyfulness of Kris Kringle.
"Now that I proved that I am the one and only Santa Claus, what can I do for you this Christmas?"
"Well, there's not a whole lot of stuff I really want, but I was wondering…" Carly leaned towards Santa and whispered into his ear.
"Oh…I see, uh-huh" Santa said has he listened to Carly's wish. "Carly, let me tell something. There's no such thing as the perfect Christmas. The true meaning of the Christmas comes from one place," Santa pointed to Carly's heart, "from here." Carly smiled as she felt as like a little girl again.
"Oh, and you might want to talk to Cupid about that other request. That's his department, not mine. Odds are that if he's been at this for this long, he's the one you've been waiting for," Santa winked. Carly blushed.
"Thanks again, Santa. You'll really made my day," Carly got up from the armrest and gave a quick peck on Santa's rose-colored cheek.
"And Carly, have a Merry Christmas," Father Christmas said as he waved good-bye.
Carly met up with Sam and Spencer at the exit. Sam noticed how happy her best friend was after meeting Santa.
"See, aren't you glad I made you see Santa."
"I think Santa is the greatest," Spencer added, already regaining his composure after his exciting visit from Santa.
"Yep, he sure is," Carly exclaimed as she, Spencer, and Sam, left Santa's Winter Wonderland.