Summary: A small collection of Jess' younger years. How he became the rebelling bad boy we all know and love.

Disclaimer: Don't own


Jingling Bells In New York


The small room was dark and quiet. There was a single boy perched upon an old desk, his fingertips pressed against the frozen glass of his bedroom window. Many stories below, the streets were empty; with the exception of a few lonesome cars passing by now and then, or a swaying drunk hopelessly wondering the sidewalks. Now, to any New Yorker, the streets mirrored any other dull night. But to Jess, the streets tonight were magical. Because tonight, he was waiting for his favorite person in the world to arrive with jingling bells on his shiny red sleigh. Tonight, all his Christmas wishes would come true.

Jess pulled his hands away from the window, creating small clear dots on the fogged up glass, and grasped the crumpled piece of paper beside him. He clutched it tight in his little hands; and he waited.

Whilst many kids would send their Christmas wish lists off to the North Pole, Jess was determined to deliver his himself. And whilst Jess' list was much shorter than that of the average four year old, he had wanted it to come true more than anything. So much, that he had followed his mother around the apartment all week offering her his toys to play with to help cheer her up. He just knew that if he could get his mom to smile, he would be good enough for Santa. And then when Samuel, the slightly older boy down the hall had told Jess he would be on the naughty list if he didn't do exactly what he told him to, Jess had ended up forfeiting his small, but entire toy collection, along with the blueberry muffins his uncle had sent up. So if there was anything Jess Mariano was sure of, it was that Santa would be paying him a visit tonight.

Jess let out a wide yawn and rested his head against the windowsill. He hoped that Santa didn't have far to come. But he would wait forever if he had to.

Sirens were now echoing from a distance, but the only sound the hopeful little boy could hear was the jingling of Santa's bells. Santa was coming, wasn't he?

It was nearing morning, and the cold was enough to make him shiver. But he waited with the list held tightly to his chest, more determined than ever.

Jess Mariano only had one wish this Christmas;

Dear Santa, please bring Daddy home to me and Mommy.

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AN: What did you think? Like it? Hate it? Please review! I have the next chapter writen, and will post quickly if I get enough reviews. :)