DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own the characters from Touched by an Angel. They belong to CBS. Everyone you don't recognize, I do own.

A/N: This story came to me while listening to the song it is named after. I hope everyone likes it.

God loves you

"The Christmas Shoes"

Chapter 1-The Spirit of Giving

Gloria smiled as she watched through a mall display at the children who ran throughout it, gazing at toys and books. She enjoyed watching children have fun. She loved having fun herself and she was a child at heart.

As Gloria continued to watch the children admiring the toy displays, she was joined by Tess and Monica.

"Aw, Tess, Christmas is so much fun!" Gloria exclaimed, her voice full of the joy and innocence she felt. Her rosy cheeks were pink with cold, but the little angel didn't care.

"Yes, you're right about that, little angel. Christmas is a joyous time of year. It's a time for miracles. It's also a time that brings out the best in some people and the opposite in others."

"What do you mean, Tess?" Gloria asked, her brown eyes full of confusion.

Tess gestured to a man standing in a long line of a Sears. He was holding a package while grumbling and glaring at anyone who tried to politely pass him. Two children stood next to him, both of them clearly oblivious to his irritation.

One was a girl about the age of five while the other was a boy who looked no older than ten or eleven.

"Who is he, Tess?" Gloria asked, frowning at the man in question.

"His name is Jerry Thompson, little angel. He's your assignment. He needs help. Jerry has never been one for Christmas."

"How can someone not be into Christmas?" Monica asked, speaking for the first time since they had arrived to meet the youngest angel.

Tesss shook her head.

"Well, angel girl, some people get so wrapped up in the present giving part of the Holiday, they can't remember the true meaning of Christmas."

Beside Tess on her left, Gloria let out a small giggle.

"What's so funny, little angel?" Tess asked, narrowing her eyes. "This assignment is anything but a laughing matter. If anything, it's going to take five or more angels to complete it. And if it doesn't go the way the Father has intended it to, it could mess four lives up."

Gloria nodded.

"It's not that." She said, trying to contain her giggles. "It's just that was a good pun."

"What?" Tess asked, irritation in her voice as well as her eyes.

Monica, who had caught on to what Gloria was getting at, nodded her head in agreement.

"My little one is right, Tess. "All wrapped up"? That is a pun and a good one at that." She let a small laugh escape her own lips.

Tess smiled, although the smile didn't last long.

"All right you two, it's time to get serious." Tess told them, getting back down to business.

Monica sobered up almost immediately, but Gloria took a few more minutes.

"Gloria?" Tess warned, giving her a look.

Monica eyed Gloria and gave her a look that clearly stated to please settle down.

Gloria did so, obeying Monica without question.

"I'm sorry." Gloria apologized turning to Tess.

"It's all right, little angel. I know you find joy in the simplest things and that's a blessing from the Father. But there is a time for fun and a time to work. And this is a time to work."

Gloria nodded.

"It's all right, Gloria." Monica told her, seeing a frown cross her charge's face. "Tess wasn't trying to be mean. But we do need to get down to work now, okay?" With that, Monica wrapped a loving arm around the youngest angel.

Tess rolled her eyes. She knew Monica and Gloria were close, but sometimes, Monica was too overprotective of the youngest member of their family.

Tess gave Gloria a half smile before turning her attention back to the subject at hand.

"As I was saying, some people are too focused on giving materialistic gifts, they forget what giving the right gift can do. The power of love it can send out is amazing."

Gloria nodded. She understood what Tess was saying.

"Who's going to show Jerry the joy of giving the gift of love?"

"You are." Tess told her. "You're going to be their nanny."

Gloria gave Tess a confused look. The elder angel pointed to the little girl and slightly older boy standing with the man Tess had called Jerry.

The little girl had blond hair and blue eyes. Her eyes were a sky blue, not an ocean blue like Celine's. She was carrying a teddy bear in her arms. The bear was brown with a Santa hat on its head.

"Aw, she's so cute!" Gloria gushed, referring to the little girl.

"Yes, she is. Her name is Brooke. She has the right idea of what Christmas is all about. Her brother, Caleb, also knows what the true meaning of Christmas is. But sadly, their next door neighbor has forgotten."

"So my job is to remind him?" Gloria asked, trying to figure out what she was supposed to do.

Tess shook her head.

"No. That sweet baby," she pointed to Caleb, "is going to do that. You're job is to help Jerry to get ready to receive the reminder."

"So Brooke and Caleb aren't his children?" Monica asked, a wee bit confused herself.

Tess shook her head.

"No. Caleb and Brooke are just his neighbors. Jerry does have a daughter though. Her name is Serenity and she is eight years old. She's also a part of this assignment as well. As for Brooke and Caleb, Jerry watches them upon occasion for their mother, Kristen Kissenger. Kristen isn't doing so well. She…well…she has had a bad heart for a while now and…" Tess's voice trailed off as Andrew joined them. "Where have you been, baby?" She asked, turning to Andrew.

Andrew sighed.

"I was with Kristen." Andrew told her. He then looked at Gloria and Monica. He offered them a weak smile, but it faded quickly.

Gloria shook her head as she tried to fight back tears.

"No, no. OH my! Don't' tell me those children are going to lose their…They can't!"

"I'm afraid so, little angel." Tess said, shaking her head in despair. "I'm afraid so. But we can't think about that right now. We need to focus on those children and Jerry. It's going to take a few angels to make sure that this is Kristen's best Christmas ever." With that, Tess took Gloria into her arms and gave her a much needed hug.

Monica also had a few tears in her eyes as she stared at the children and the man who looked so unhappy. This wasn't how Christmas was supposed to be.

But as Monica continued to observe the children, along with the adult who accompanied them, the Irish angel reminded herself that God had everything undercontrol. And as long as Monica prayed and handed it all over to the Father, everything would work out according to His plan. The only question was, how much time did they have to make this Christmas miracle come true?