A/N: Written for Obviously Insane's Ipod challenge. Enjoy drabble one!

One: Joyful, Joyful by Kristin Chenoweth

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee
God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flow'rs before Thee
Opening to the sun above
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
Drive the dark of doubt away
Giver of immortal gladness
Fill us with the light of day

All Thy works with joy surround Thee
Earth and heav'n reflect Thy rays
Stars and angels sing around Thee
Center of unbroken praise
Field and forest, vale and mountain
Flow'ry meadow, flashing sea
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee

Thou art giving and forgiving
Ever blessing, ever blessed
Wellspring of the joy of living
Ocean depth of happy rest
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother
All who live in love are Thine
Teach us how to love each other
Lift us to the joy divine

Amber had not gone to church in almost ten years.

She vaguely recalled making her first communion in second grade, her dress frilly and white and beautiful and her white patent leather shoes clicking on the tile floor of the aisle as she walked up to the altar. When her father was sent to jail six months later, Velma dragged her out of the church on Sunday, signed her up for dance lessons, and that was that.

Now, at eighteen, the Christmas lights twinkling outside and the snow falling in heavy, thick flakes around her, she noticed the church on the corner. The lights were on, she could see through the window, and she found herself wandering up the steps and peering in the frosted glass. She could see the choir up at the altar, their red robes shining in the candlelight as they sang in harmony.



Maybe, she thought, she could repent her sins. Get away from the vicious, hurtful person she had become and was ashamed to be. But she didn't know how, didn't know what she could do to make up for all of the pain she had caused people in the past few years. How could she make up for all the insults and all of the glares and public humiliation?

She found herself opening the heavy wooden door and tiptoeing inside, scanning the pews. The church was absolutely packed, full of people who had come for the annual Christmas Eve service. Penny Pingleton and her ultra-religious mother were sitting in one of the first rows. She could spot Link and his family in the middle, and was partially glad that he hadn't seen her. A row behind Link was Seaweed, Inez and Maybelle, and she felt even more guilty for what she'd done. She decided that maybe she could just sneak into one of the back rows and no one would notice she had arrived.

The congregation was now singing along, and she slithered into the back pew quickly to avoid being noticed. She glanced to her right to see who was sitting next to her and spotted Tracy Turnblad, alongside her mother and father, singing out of the hymnal.

Amber froze. This was not at all what she'd planned. She wasn't a churchgoing person in the first place, and the person she was most sorry to was sitting right next to her. She couldn't possibly ask God to forgive her if Tracy hadn't, could she?

She was trying to figure out a way to sneak back out when she felt a hand tap at her shoulder. Tracy flashed her a smile and held out her hymnal, pointing to the line they were on. Amber managed to smile back, relief flooding her.

She debated. What if her mother saw her here, sitting with the Turnblads? It was unlikely, she reasoned, as Velma had gone to spend Christmas Eve with her new boyfriend, leaving Amber home alone with reheated soup and a weak, tiny Christmas tree.

She scooted over to read the book Tracy held out to share with her, singing along. She scanned her eyes over the congregation, her eyes landing briefly on Seaweed, Maybelle, Inez, Link, and Penny, and she let her voice echo in the church, sending mental apologies to each one as she felt herself being forgiven.

Mortals, join the mighty chorus
Which the morning stars began
Love devine is reigning o'er us
Binding all within its span
Ever singing, march we onward
Victors in the midst of strife
Joyful music leads us onward
In the triumph song of life

Joyful joyful Lord of life.