The fireplace crackled,

Merry Christmas from the Outers!

The fireplace crackled,

Its flames so bright

Shining through the windows,

Onto the cold winter night

The turkey was roasting

Its aroma so sweet

As a little girl was singing

A carol from her sheet

She had skin so pale

It was white as the snow!

And hair raven-black,

Even and straight upon her brow

She sang of joy,

And love, and of light

She sang of Christ being born

On a cold winter night

She sang of the love

That we feel on Christmas day

But that really should be present,

Every month, in every way!

That magical feeling--

Like our souls taking flight

Even through the chill

And pitch-black night

She sang of harmony

And of being like one

With everybody rejoicing

So that peace will have begun

As Hotaru sang,

The doorbell rang,

And the child jumped for joy at the sight!

For, you see, this was her Haruka-papa

Coming home tonight!

A lovely slim woman came out of the kitchen

And wrapped Haruka in a warm, tight embrace

She whispered 'Merry Christmas darling!'

And brought a smile to her beloved's hard face

The whole family gathered—

Setsuna, Haruka, Michiru, Hotaru:

And each took a package from under the tree

The gifts were small

A trivial expense each

But what lessons of smiling, of joy,

Of love did they teach!

As the clock struck eleven,

Hotaru's eyelids drooped,

The girl leaned her head on Haruka's lap and thought,

'home is heaven'

She was gently scooped

And carried to her bed

With the magic of Christmas

Inside her heart and her head

She truly believed in the Christmas Light,

And wished for everybody to share it, every day, every night

~ MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE OUTER SCOUTS!

Author's Note: Merry Christmas everybody! And please, in the spirit of the holidays, please kindly review if you've read this!