Disclaimer" I don't own any of teh Charmed Characters, They are the property of Aaron Spelling and Constance Burge. I have just been borrowing tehm since 2000 for your reading enjoyment...
Ok been on a bit of a Christmas binge here...This is one of my favourite Christmas fics, along with I'll be Home for Christmas, that I wrote. I hope you enjoy as much as I did writing it. And the question as you read, and as you get to the and will always be...Do you Believe?
"Augh. I am never going to get this all done in time." Phoebe cursed herself.
"Phoebe? You ok?"
"Hi Les, and yes, I'm just frustrated. I have three exams on Friday that I haven't even started to study for them. Piper is short staff over the holidays and she asked me to fill in, and I haven't even started my shopping yet. Not to mention, other chaotic things that seem to happen in my life on a constant basis."
"Why don't you tell Piper that you can't help her out?"
"Lesley you don't have sister's do you?"
"No, I have brothers, and they have to be worse."
Chuckling slightly, "Some how I doubt it. I can't let her down Les."
"So what are you going to do?"
"I don't know. Look I gotta go, I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Sure Phoebe. Good luck." Lesley called out to friend she watched her disappear amongst the cars.
As Phoebe ran up the steps to the Manor she was silently hoping that her sisters weren't home. She had to study for her exams and she knew that with the start of a headache, she wouldn't get much done before she had to go to P3. Why did I always leave the holiday stuff to last minute? It's not like Inever know Christmas was coming. You get 364 days to prepare for it. Tossing her book bag on the table, "Prue? Piper?"
"Kitchen Phoebs."
Making her way to the sound of her sisters' voice, Phoebe was soon drawn more by the smell that emanated from the kitchen instead of who was there.
"Hmmm is that shortbread I smell?" Phoebe asked, though already knowing the answer as she reached over the counter and took a fresh one off the tray.
"Yes, and don't you even think about eating them all now. There for Christmas." Piper looked over and glared at her younger sister knowing what she was like with Christmas baking
"Um, Piper. It's December 10th already. It is Christmas." Phoebe explained to her sister as she ate the cookie and went for another one, only to have Piper swat her hand away.
"You know what I mean smart ass." She gave her sister a look as she chagned the subject, "So how was your day?"
"Long and boring. I have to study for some exams, so if you need me I'll be upstairs." Phoebe reached over and quickly grabbed two more cookies before leaving the kitchen.
"Phoebe Halliwell. You stay away from those cookies." Piper called out to her sister as she laughed and shoke her head at her baby sister. There was something about Christmas that always seemed to bring the kid out in all of them, but especially Phoebe. Her mind drifted to a Christmas long ago.
--- ----
"I'm telling you Prue, she's start to figure it out." Piper stated as she paced her sisters' room.
"No way Piper. I didn't figure it out till I was nine almost ten. And I seem to recall you being about the same." Prue rationalized, as she remained sitting on her bed
"Yeah well that was only last year Prue."
"Piper she's seven years old. There's no way."
"Prue I heard her and her Bonnie talking on the steps the other day. She asked Bonnie if she ever thought about Santa, and how he does all that in one day, and about his reindeer."
"What did Bonnie say?"
"She said that he does it with magic. But I saw the look on Phoebes face Prue. She wasn't quick to believe her."
"So you think that Phoebe no longer believes in Santa Claus?" Prue asked seeing now why PIper was concerned
"Yes. I think so."
Prue sat there thinking a few moments; "Ok we don't say anything. And we do everything to make her realize that he does exist. I will not have my seven-year-old sister no longer believing in Santa. That's to young. She needs that to hold on to."
"Ok, but when the time comes. You tell her." Piper said as she started for her sisters door
Piper remembered that day as if it was last Christmas. They had tried everything they could think of to get Phoebe to hold on to the innocents of Christmas, but in the end they had failed. Christmas Eve that same year Phoebe asked them the one question they had dreaded. "Is there really a Santa Claus?"
"Piper? You home?"
"Kitchen Prue." Piper called back drawn out of her memory.
"Hmmm shortbread. My favorite." She reached over for one only to receive a swat for her sister.
"Not you too. Now git." Piper smiled up at her sister.
"Phoebes home already." Prue smiled knowing that Phoebe had already stolen some of Pipers cookies.
"Yes and she has already stole three. She's upstairs in her room studying." Piper replied to Prue though starting to turn back to the next batch of cookies.
"Ok. Well we're all still heading to P3 tonight right?"
"Yeah I guess. She never said anything about not. Just that she had to study."
"Ok. Well I'm upstairs if you need me." She said as she reached over and grabbed two cookies before running for cover as she saw Piper throw the dishcloth at her.
"You're just as bad as Phoebe." She hollered out to her sister as she watched her leave the room. She smiled to herself knowing what both her sisters were like with her cookies.
"Love you." Prue called back and she went up the steps.
"Come on Phoebe we're going to be late." Prue called up the stairs for her sister.
"I'm coming Prue relax." Phoebe answered as she walked down the stairs.
"Ok you were the one that said you would help out Piper this week." Prue answered as she tossed her sister her jacket
"I know. It wasn't my fault I fell asleep." she protested
"True. Why did you anyway full asleep anyway? You don't usually zonk out like that when you're studying; unless." Prue paused and looked at her sister. "Phoebe you're not getting sick are you?"
"Don't be ridiculous Prue." She answered as she pulled her coat around her. "It's Christmas. There are rules about things like that you know?"
"Phoebe." Prue looked at her sternly.
"Prue I'm fine, now come on lets go help Piper." She said, as she walked out the front door, leaving a curious yet worried big sister, just inside the front door.
He watched them from across the bar. He watched everyone in the place, as they laughed and carried on. What was it about this Christmas that made everyone so happy all the time? He had been watching the Charmed Ones for some time now, and knew what each one of their weakness and strengths were. And who had what power. In turn giving him the knowledge of which one to get rid of first.
--- ----
"Behind you Prue." Phoebe called out over the music as she scooted in behind her sister. "It's crazy tonight. What's going on?"
"Its called Christmas Phoebe."
"Haha. I mean it's Wednesday night. If you walked in here you would think it was Friday or something."
"We'll didn't you say last night that a lot of the classes were almost done? Maybe this is just the students letting off winter steam before finals." Piper tried to rationalize why it was busier then usual for a Wednesday.
"Or. Its shoppers after shopping and dinner." Prue put in.
"Who cares anyway Phoebe? The more people here is good for business." Piper said as she handed Phoebe another tray full of drinks. "Now here, go serve, be perky."
"Hey I'm always perky." Phoebe smiled back at her sisters as she took the tray and made her way around the bar.
---
He stayed in the shadows and waited for his time to strike. He had continued to watch throughout the night, waiting patiently. Unlike those before him he would wait his time. He knew that tonight though would be his night, every thing in the air just felt right to him. Tonight he would start the destruction of the Charmed Ones.
---
The night was more of a success then the three sisters could have imagined. As they sat around the table in their alcove looking over the nights mess.
"We are never going to get out of here tonight." Phoebe whined as she rested her head on Prues shoulder.
"You're right Phoebe, but we will get out of here this morning. Come on, the faster we clean this mess up the faster we can go home." Piper said as she grabbed Phoebe and Prue by the hands and pulled them up.
"Ok. But I'm sleeping all day tomorrow." Phoebe whined again as she made her way across the room to clean off the tables.
"Piper." Prue looked after Phoebe sister as she walked away
"I know Prue, she's pushing herself to hard. Come on lets clean up so we can all go home." Piper said as she gave Prues hand a reassuring squeeze letting her big sister know that she was worried too.
They both knew that Phoebe had a tendency to push herself when she made up her mind to do something. The only thing was, whenever she did she had a tendency to fall hard when she stopped. And the last thing the older two Halliwells wanted was for their baby sister, the one that had always had a certain magic at Christmas, was to fall at Christmas.
---
He had walked around to the back of the club knowing that one of them would come out and be free for the taking. He just hoped it was the one he really wanted.
---
Grabbing the trash bag she opened the door to the alley.
"Augh! Why is it I always get the dirty jobs?" she asked no one but herself as she made her way to the trashcan. The night December air chilled against her skin as she tossed the bag up to the bin and in.
When she turned around she was not prepared for what stood before here. The man was tall and skinny, with jet-black hair. His face was sunken as the cheekbones protruded beneath his skin. Though showing no signs of gray, she could tell that he was extremely old. And the look in his eyes sent shivers down her back. It was pure evil, not to mention cold.
"Who are you?" fearing she already knew the answer. For being one of the most powerful witches the world has ever seen, the site of a warlock before her was no surprise.
"That is not important, but I will tell you this much. I am the one that is going to send you on a little trip. And don't worry, it won't be there." indicating to the ground with his eyes. The meaning not escaping her. "Not yet anyway. Where you are going is much colder." He smiled at her with pure evil in his eyes before he waved his hand past her and she was gone. Turning with satisfaction he made his way inside the club. "Now for your sisters."
Seeing the figure behind her she turned thinking it was her sister.
"Oh sorry we're closed."
"I know. I just wanted to show you something." He said as he waved his hand in front of himself, producing a snow globe before her. "I have something you want. You have something I want. Care to trade?" he laughed evilly knowing that they would do anything for each other.
"What do you want?" she snapped.
"What you we all want? Your powers."
Calling her sister to her they both starred at the picture together and as it tore at both their hearts.
"Prue? Piper? Where are you? Where am I?" Phoebe called out from within the globe, as she pulled her arms around her to stop the cold from getting to her.
Prue and Piper watched helplessly as their sister was trapped somewhere in the snow, no coat and no way of getting home.