Hey, peeps, guess what? It's December 3rd! And you know what THAT means...CHRISTMAS IS COMING SOON! Oh boy, I LOVE Christmas! And I thought, what better way to share my love of this most joyous of times with my FanFiction friends than with a GMD two-shot!

That's right, this time it's a two-shot; two chapters featuring our favorite Victorian rodents. Here's the first chap, and I hope you enjoy. Like always, I don't own GMD or its characters, just my OC's.

LONDON 1897

It was mid December. Snow was blanketing the city streets. The mice of London were preparing for Christmas, which was fast approaching. Children everywhere were writing letters to Father Christmas, indicating what gifts they wanted the jolly spirit to bring them. Yes, every child in London was thrilled beyond belief that Christmas was coming.

Well, almost every child.

Young Olivia Flaversham sighed as she peered out the window of 221 1/2 B Baker Street, her home for the past few months. The poor girl was an orphan; her mother had died of cholera when she was only a few months old and her father had been murdered by an evil nobleman the past July. This would be the first Christmas she would spend without her father, and she was depressed.

Danielle Ratigan, Olivia's foster sister, peered through the cracked door to the living room and watched the little girl sit at the window and cry. It broke her heart to see her little sister so sad, and at the same time she understood the child's pain. Her own father, the nefarious Professor Padraic Ratigan, had died by drowning in the Thames River that June, and so this would be the first Christmas she would be spending without him.

"How's she doing?" Danielle turned to see Basil Benson, London's greatest consulting detective and her fiance, standing there. Next to him were Dr. David Q. Dawson, Basil's sleuthing partner and best friend, and Mrs. Deirdre Judson, their landlady and housekeeper.

"Miserably," Danielle answered. "She's been crying on and off for the past hour."

"The poor girl," Dawson commented. "I think one of us should go talk to her."

"Excellent idea, Doctor," Mrs. Judson agreed.

Danielle nodded. "I'll go talk to her." She went into the living room, walked over to Olivia and sat next to her. "Hey, Livy, have you written your letter to Father Christmas yet?"

Olivia shook her head. "I'm not writing a letter to Father Christmas this year. He can't give me what I really want for Christmas." She sniffled, tears filling up her eyes. "All I want is my daddy back!" She began to weep, covering her face with her hands.

Danielle embraced the girl and gently rubbed her back as she sobbed into her chest. "I know exactly how you feel, sweetie. Remember, this is MY first Christmas without my father, too."

"Yes, I know," Olivia replied, nodding. "So why aren't YOU all sad?"

"I AM sad, Olivia," Danielle assured her. "I miss my father terribly, and Christmas won't be the same without him. But I know I'm not going to be alone this holiday, just like you're not going to be alone. You have me, and Basil, and Dr. Dawson and Mrs. Judson, and we all love you and want you to be happy." She paused. "You know, Basil and I are going to Northampton for Christmas to be with his family. Why don't you come with us?"

Olivia peered up at her sister. "You mean it? I can come with you?"

"Of course. I'm sure Basil won't mind," Danielle replied, straightening out the small red bow the girl had tucked behind her ear. "And besides, Basil has some nieces and nephews who are about your age. I'll bet you all could become really good friends and play together."

"That DOES sound like fun," Olivia agreed. "All right, if it's OK with Basil, then I'll go with you."

"That's my girl," Danielle cheered. "Now how about you and I have some of Mrs. Judson's Christmas cookies and tea?"

Olivia shook her head. "No thank you, I'm not really hungry." As if on cue, her stomach rumbled quietly.

Danielle chuckled. "Your tummy seems to think that you are." She picked up the giggling girl and carried her into the kitchen for a snack.

As the two sisters sat at the kitchen table, munching on cookies and sipping tea, Basil came into the kitchen. "You two beauties have the right idea," he told them, rubbing his belly. "I'm feeling a bit peckish myself." He sat down next to Danielle, who offered him a cookie. "Thank you, darling."

"Olivia, didn't you want to ask Basil something?" Danielle asked.

Olivia finished chewing the cookie she had in her mouth and swallowed. "Oh, right. Basil, would it be all right if I went to Northampton with you and Danielle this Christmas? She was telling me about it, and she said that you would be all right with me coming, too."

Basil smiled. "Of COURSE, Olivia dear. The more the merrier, as my grandmother would always say." He then leaned over to his fiancee and whispered in her ear. "You're not planning on inviting your father's old henchmen on our trip, too, are you?"

Danielle smiled and patted her fiance's shoulder. "No, darling, just Olivia."

"Oh, well in that case, that's fine."

D'awww, poor Olivia...I just want to give her a big, big hug right about now. I couldn't imagine having to spend Christmas without my parents or my siblings, I'd be heartbroken. Good thing she has a big sister who loves her and takes really good care of her!

Heehee, oh Basil, you and your somewhat inconsiderate nature...why do I love you so gosh darn much? Is it your intelligence? Your flare for being overly dramatic? Your nutty sense of humor? Your somewhat handsome appearance? Or is it because I've always had a thing for British guys? I don't know!

Next chapter, Basil, Danielle and Olivia meet Basil's family and spend Christmas with them. How will it go? Gotta read to find out!

All my best, DiscordantPrincess.