Hey, this is a story about Katie McGrath's film A Princess for Christmas. It was an idea that was brilliantly thought up by my sister.
Summary: Morgana has been left the legal guardians of two grieving children. She's lost her job and her car is broken. Surely there's got to be some good around the corner. It is Christmas after all. So when she's visited by a mysterious butler one night, it seems that it can and it has gotten worse. Her dead brother-in-law's family want them over for Christmas. Great! But will Morgana find the happy ending she has been yearning for? G/M A/M and slight Morguase and Elyan - purely because it works out for the story.
Once upon a time in a land called Buffalo, there lived a little girl named Morgana Le Fay. Who dreamt of travelling to far away places where people sang for a lark and danced on a whim. Where houses were filled with organs and music boxes, mechanical dolls and cuckoo clocks. But alas, not all tales can happy endings. Morgana has grown up and she still has her dreams.
Unfortunately, she's still in Buffalo.
The door bell rung, signalling a customer coming in from the snow. "I'll get it" she said to her boss in the antique's shop. "Hi, can I help you?" she greeted the woman coming in. "Yes I'm looking for a present for my daughter" the customer said. "Okay, what are her interests?" Morgana asked. "Well…" the customer started.
Elsewhere, the nanny, who was called Mrs Kelly, was doing the crosswords while a little girl with blonde curly hair was making peanut and jelly sandwiches. "Maddie, are you making a mess?" Mrs Kelly called, hearing noises in the kitchen. "No, I'm just making a snack" Maddie replied, watching the jam drip down the cupboard.
Mrs Kelly sighed, leaning back in her chair. She noticed some super glue next to her cup. "Strange. Milo!" she called out. Elsewhere in the house, Maddie was putting her sticky clothes into the washing machine, pouring in too much detergent. "Milo" Mrs Kelly said, knocking on his door. There was no reply.
Milo was no where near her to hear that. He was in the video store downtown. "Kasakwanski's Ninja Massacre" the brown haired, brown eyed boy breathed in appreciation. "Hey Milo, what's up?" Zoe greeted, coming round the aisle. Milo groaned inwardly, this girl was stalking him!
"Zoe, what are you doing here?" he asked. "I'm your neighbour, this is my video store too" she smiled. She was pretty and had dark brown hair and light blue eyes. "Quit following me!" he snapped.
"You know that game is rated 17+" Zoe stated, looking at the game in his hand. "Tell me something I don't know" he rolled his eyes. "That dude will never let you buy it" Zoe shook her head, looking at the member of staff on the till. "Just have to borrow it then" Milo whispered, keeping his voice down.
"Hey! Did you two find what you were looking for?" the attendant shouted at them. "Yeah" Milo replied. He made sure the attendant wasn't looking before stuffing the game into his coat. "I'm out of here" Milo grinned, walking out the door. It started to beep, signalling something was stolen.
"Come on, lets go!" Milo cried, as he and Zoe ran from the shop. "He's coming" Zoe shouted, as they raced down the street. "Lets split up!" Milo suggested, running down the left street, Zoe running the opposite way. All the while the attendant was chasing them.
"Perfect, how did you manage that so quickly?" the customer asked. "Oh I have a 7 year old. And a teenage boy" Morgana smiled. "Stepchildren?" the customer stated. "No, I'm their Aunt and legal guardian. But I have a wonderful nanny who keeps everything under control" Morgana assured, slight smirk coming onto her face.
Mrs Kelly came into the wash room and screamed. The whole room was covered in soap coming from the washing machine. She ran to turn it off but slipped in the bubbles. Just then, Maddie came into the doorway and gaped. "Mrs Kelly?" she called into the room. Mrs Kelly sat up, covered from head to toe in bubbles.
"Hey I just sold that limited edition music box" Morgana beamed, going over to her boss, Troy. "Morgana, we need to talk" he sighed, indicating the chair in front of him. "As I'm sure you know, business has been slow lately" Troy started. "I can do better" she promised. "You've been wonderful. I can only imagine how difficult this year has been for you. Loosing your sister and brother-in-law last Christmas" Troy shook his head.
"We're getting through it" Morgana nodded, her mind flashing back to Morguase and Elyan. "There's no easy way to say this. I can't afford to keep you on. In fact if business doesn't turn around I may have to close the store" Troy informed her. "Troy, please" she begged, eyes widening. "I'm sorry Morgana, you're the best sales girl I've ever had. I'll call around and see if I can get you a job anywhere" Troy assured. "Thanks" Morgana breathed, looking to the floor. She needed this job.
Milo ran into his garden, hurrying up the stairs. "Milo! Open this door. We have an emergency!" Maddie cried, banging on her big brother's door. Milo pulled it open after climbing up the steps and into his window. "You left the house. I'm telling" she smirked, in a way that all little sisters could. "One word and Dolly Dinkle looses her head. Got it?" Milo snapped. Maddie nodded, clutching her doll tighter. "Good" Milo smiled, ripping his scarf off.
Morgana snarled as she knocked over the bins in front of the house. "MILO! You've left the bins on the driveway again" Morgana shouted, coming into the house. She was greeted by a stressed out looking Mrs Kelly. "I can't take this anymore" she cried. "He's a murderer!" Maddie yelled, holding up her headless dolly. "You asked for it!" Milo retorted.
"Okay, what happened?" Morgana demanded. "Aunt Morgana, Milo killed my dolly" Maddie said. "And he snuck out again" Mrs Kelly announced. "You snuck out?" Morgana glowered at her nephew. "Wait until you see the laundry room" Mrs Kelly sighed.
"Mrs Kelly I am so sorry" Morgana apologised. Mrs Kelly huffed, turning around to reveal soap suds still on her back. She grabbed her bag, but it wouldn't come off the chair. Milo started to laugh and Maddie giggled. "Milo did you glue her bag?" Morgana gasped.
Eventually Mrs Kelly got it off. "That's it. I quit!" Mrs Kelly announced. Morgana's eyes widened in panic. "No you can't, I need you" Morgana pleaded. "What you need is a SWAT team" she retorted. "Wait!" Morgana sighed. "One more thing, check your post again" Mrs Kelly rolled her eyes.
Morgana sat them at the table and looked at the game she had found in Milo's room. "Contains violence, crude humour, blood oh and suggestive themes!" Morgana read out, glaring at the boy across from her. "Milo you're grounded for 2 weeks" Morgana shook her head. "No I'm not!" Milo protested. "Yes you are. And don't talk back to me!" Morgana shouted.
"But it's Christmas vacation" he complained. "And no TV" she added. "What! That's bull…" he growled before stopping. "Don't even say it!" Morgana warned. "Better be careful Milo, or Santa won't put anything in your stocking" Maddie grinned. "Who cares! Everyone knows there's no Santa" Milo snapped. Maddie gasped, staring at her brother. "How can you say that? Of course there's a Santa Claus" Morgana soothed her tearful niece. "This is the lamest Christmas ever" he breathed, storming out the room.
"Milo!" Morgana called, going to the kitchen door. She sighed, going over to her niece and pulling her into her lap. "Don't cry" she whispered. "Milo said there's no Santa" Maddie pouted. "Honey, he didn't mean it. Just because it's us 3 doesn't mean there's no Santa Claus. You just have to believe" Morgana comforted. "I believe" Maddie nodded. "Me too sweetie. Me too" Morgana smiled, holding her niece close to her.
Morgana knocked on Milo's door, she pushed it open to reveal him lying on his bed. "I know you're really mad at me. But crushing your little sister's dreams is a terrible way to start Christmas" Morgana shook her head, coming to sit by him. "Sorry" Milo mumbled.
"Me and Maddie are going to get a tree tomorrow. Do you want to come?" she asked. "I just wish Christmas was over. All it makes me think of is losing mom and dad" Milo gulped, turning over and plugging his headphones in. Morgana sighed, resting a hand on his back before the doorbell went.
Morgana pulled open the front door to reveal a gentlemen in a suit coat and carrying an umbrella. "Good evening. I'm Paisley Winterbottom" he introduced. However he looked at Maddie who had came to the front door. "You must be Miss Maddie. I work for your grandfather" Paisley told her. "I have a grandfather?" Maddie breathed. "Of course you do" Paisley smiled.
"Maddie, Mr Paisley and I need to have an adult conversation" Morgana declared, clearing her throat. Maddie pouted and stormed off into the house. Great she just hated those! "I just need 5 minutes of your time" Paisley assured. Morgana's jaw tightened but she let him in.
"I don't know what you're doing. But Grandpa Pendragon's name has not been mentioned since he cut off his son for marrying my sister!" Morgana snapped. "Yes that was very unfortunate" Paisley agreed, becoming uncomfortable. "Unfortunate? Did you ever meet my sister?" Morgana glared. "I'm sorry to say I did not" Paisley shook his head. "Well she was a magnificent person. And that pompous pot of a family didn't deserve her!" Morgana snapped.
"If I may be so bold, they are not just any family. Their grandfather happens to be a Duke" Paisley said, affronted. "Well whoopee for him! What's your title?" she demanded. "I am the butler" Paisley informed her. "Really? I thought butlers were extinct" Morgana raised an eyebrow, shocked. "Oh no, we've made a comeback. has 3" Paisley shook her head.
Just then Milo walked in, Maddie followed closely behind him. "Master Milo!" Paisley breathed. "Who is he?" Milo demanded, turning towards his aunt. "Paisley Winterbottom" Maddie announced. "And I'm here to invite all three of you to Castlebury Hall" Paisley smiled. "Where's that?" Milo wondered. "A stone throw away from Liechtenstein" Paisley told him.
"It doesn't matter. We're not going" Morgana said firmly. "Why not?" Maddie frowned. "One I have a job" she stated. "But your former employer relieved you of that responsibility" Paisley reminded Morgana. "No way! You got fired!" Milo chuckled. Morgana clenched her fist and bit her cheek to stop from shouting. "Your airline tickets will be arriving this evening and I have a cheque that will cover your travel expenses" Paisley mumbled, giving her the cheque.
It was for £12,000. "Whoa!" Milo breathed, staring at the amount. "We don't accept charity handouts from guilty family members" Morgana growled. "But I was told not to return to Castlebury without you" Paisley frowned. "Well you'll have to move to Buffalo" Morgana shrugged, showing him the door. "He can stay with us" Maddie added. "No he can't" Milo shook his head.
"There's something you need to know. The Duke isn't well and he'd love to see his grandchildren before he… you know. Oh dear I've said it" Paisley sighed, as he stood on the doorstep. "I'm very sorry to hear that. I'll think about it" Morgana told him. Paisley held out the cheque. "No thank you" Morgana shook her head. "I'll hang onto it then. Goodnight Miss Le Fay" Paisley nodded as she closed the door behind him.
Morgana frowned, sitting watching the telly late at night. She reached for the picture of her and Morguase. She started to cry, remembering all the things that Morguase had taught her over the years. "We miss you sis" she whimpered. "I'm trying really hard with the kids but… Milo seems so angry all the time. Maddie needs constant supervision" Morgana chuckled.
"Now the nanny has quit, the car is broken and I've lost my job. I'm in big trouble" she admitted, tears pouring down her face. "I just wish you were here to tell me what to do" she sobbed, shaking her head. She wiped the tears away, scared one of the kids would hear her.
Suddenly there was a noise from the front door. She went over to find the tickets had came through the door. Was this her sister trying to tell her something? "Alright, I'll do it" Morgana breathed, staring at the tickets in her hand.