Charlotte was on her knees by the Christmas tree. She looked over her shoulder to make sure nobody was around. It was a few days before Christmas but she couldn't wait. She looked at all the presents wide eyed before she picked one with her name on it. She wrapped her hands around the present and shook it next to her ear, smiling.
She looked over her shoulder again; still nobody. It was too early even for her mom to be up. She pulled her black hood over her head, like she always did when she was on a mission. She started to pick at the corners carefully, so she could re-wrap it and nobody would ever know. Except…
She squeaked as her hood left her head and she looked around to see her mom behind her.
"Caught you," Jessica smiled, "It's not Christmas yet, Charlie."
Charlotte bit her lip, "But the presents! There's so many and look, it has my name on it so it's mine!" she hugged the present to her chest tightly.
Jessica rolled her eyes, "It's yours on Christmas."
Charlotte pouted, "Pleasssse, mommy!"
Jessica chuckled, "Alright, one present," she gave in.
"Yes!" Charlotte grinned and she unwrapped the present excitedly, not bothering about being careful anymore but her face fell when she finally revealed what was beneath the paper. An empty cardboard box with "gotcha!" scrawled on it. She looked at her mom, "Mommm."
Jessica was laughing, "I know you," she winked.
Charlotte pouted, "No fair," she widened her eyes as she looked up at her mom, "That's mean."
Jessica rolled her eyes but couldn't help giving in to the look on her daughters' face. She bent down next to Charlotte and surveyed the pile of presents, picking one out and offering it.
"Okay, but you can't tell the others, okay? And why are you wearing that thing, it's not cold!" she poked at her daughters' hoodie.
"Because I'm on a mission!" Charlotte exclaimed, "I won't tell, I promise!" she grabbed the gift from her mom's hands but hesitated, "Is it a real present this time?" she asked her mom suspiciously.
Jessica chuckled, "Yes, yes it is. I promise."
Charlotte smiled, "Okay!"
She ripped the present open and beamed at the pretty new doll her mom had bought her. She wrapped her arms around her mom and burrowed into her shoulder.
"Thanks, mommy! She's so pretty! I love it."
Jessica smiled and stroked her daughters hair, "I thought you might. Now, you have to wait until Christmas to open the rest, okay?"
Charlotte nodded, "I will, promise! I'm going to go introduce her to her new family and show her her dollhouse. She'll like it there!"
"I'm sure she will," Jessica said, but Charlotte had already scampered away up the stairs with her new doll in her hands.