Chapter One; The Best Christmas Ever!
Merry Christmas everyone! Great news! Not only has Jesus been born in Bethlehem, but there is no more specific waiting for new "episode" because there will be a few regular episodes before the Valentine's Day one in February. So enjoy this one and have a wonderful Christmas and happy New Year since this story celebrates both!
Cassie was very excited. Not only had she just finished staring as Dorothy in her school play, Christmas was coming, and shortly after that she'd be nine years old. Another reason that she was excited was that her big sister Jane was coming home from Hogwarts for the Christmas holiday season. This month Martha was also having her baby shower since she was now several months pregnant with her twins. "This is going to be the best Christmas ever!" she cried as she ran downstairs while swinging her backpack around her shoulders.
This was hers and Nathan's last day of school. Peter had had his the day before. The Doctor smiled at his youngest daughter as she raced into the kitchen. Nathan was already sitting at the breakfast table eating some bacon and eggs. "Well good morning munchkin, I see that somebody's excited." He said.
"Duh!" Cassie exclaimed. "Oh and Daddy don't forget, my Christmas concert's tonight. You and Mum are coming aren't you?" she questioned him with uncertainty.
"Of course sweetheart, we wouldn't miss it for the world. Now go ahead and eat your breakfast so you don't miss the bus. After you get home from school you can help decorate the Christmas tree. Your brother's going to help me pick one out while you're gone." He explained. "And I'm also going to pick you both up from school today so that we can go Christmas shopping, and I figured that we could donate some of your old toys that you don't play with anymore to the homeless shelter." He said but Cassie just simply passed him a piece of paper acting as if she hadn't heard him.
"That's my Christmas list." She said before taking another bite of toast and then a sip of orange juice.
The Doctor glanced down at it before back up at her. "How many things do you have written here?" he asked her. "You gave me three pieces of paper." He pointed out.
"I know that's because I had to write down everything that Tiffany had so she wouldn't brag about the fact that I didn't get it for Christmas. It's all of the latest and hottest items." She explained.
"Well you know Cassie, Christmas is more than just about getting toys. You know that right?" he questioned her.
"I know." She began with a nod. "That's why I have clothes written down too." She said as she stood up and pointed at the list.
"That's now what I meant and you know it." He told her but that's when all of a sudden there came a loud beeping noise.
"Oh shoot! That's the bus! C'mon Nathan we have to go!" Cassie cried as she quickly leapt up from the table.
"Alright have a good day at school, but you and I are going to have a long talk about this later young lady!" The Doctor cried pointing a firm finger at her as she and Nathan raced through the living room and out the front door. Just as the door slammed shut Peter woke up and walked downstairs two at a time.
"Oh Peter, I wouldn't think that you would be up this early now that school is out." His father said glancing up at him.
"Me neither, but Cassie woke me up." He said groggily while rubbing his eyes and walking into the kitchen.
"It's just as well. I mean not about Cassie. I know she's excited about Christmas but she's getting a little too greedy about it. Anyway, I need you to go out into the woods and help me pick out a Christmas tree." He told him.
"Sorry Dad, I can't. I told Maggie that I would go ice skating with her." He said.
"Yeah but Peter, you've always helped me pick out the tree. Then we'll decorate it later this afternoon after we go shopping and pick Jane up from King's Cross." He said.
"Sorry Dad, but I promised Maggie that I would help decorate with her. I'll catch you later." He told him before giving his shoulder a pat and running out the door. The Doctor just simply heaved a heavy sigh and shook his head. That's when suddenly a few moments later the doorbell rang and Shadow started to bark and rushed over to it as Clara came through it.
"Hullo Shadow." She said as she bent down and scratched him behind the ears. Shadow wagged his tail and began to pant happily while placing his front paws upon her pant leg.
"Shadow down." The Doctor instructed as he quickly grabbed ahold of his collar and pulled him back as Clara slowly rose back onto her feet.
"Oh that's alright, he wasn't bothering me. Hullo Doctor, merry Christmas." She told him as she pecked his cheek which he secretly enjoyed but wished for once that she would give him a real kiss on the lips since they had been going out for a rather long time now.
"Merry Christmas." He said breathing another heavy sad sigh.
"Are you alright?" she asked him.
"In all honesty Clara, no." he began. "Cassie is only concerned in impressing Tiffany, and Peter is more interested in impressing Maggie than spending time with his family and decorating the tree like we do every year." He told her.
"Oh, I see." She said as he took another deep breath.
"I dunno, since Jane's getting home today I just thought that this year we would have a great Christmas, but I'm afraid that both of my children have lost the Christmas spirit. Rose was always better at this kind of thing than I was." He explained.
"Well you've got to understand that Cassie's just a little girl and Peter's growing up. If you really want them to know how you feel you might try talking to them about it though." She told him.
"I tried, they just won't listen to me." He said. "What am I going to do Clara?" he questioned her as she thought about it for a moment before a sly grin stretched a crossed her face as she saw that snow was softly falling outside the window.
"I think I have an idea." She said.
