Merry and Bright
I do not own the Mortal Instruments in any way.
Annabelle hated Christmas. She loved the snow and how the nights were quiet in the Institute, but come Christmas Eve or Day, she locked herself in her room. She hated that the Lightwood's still had their family.
It wasn't fair.
The only other orphan in the Institute was Jace, but he might as well be a Lightwood.
"Where's Annabelle, this evening?" Magnus asked.
"In her room like every year", Alec told him, "She hates Christmas".
"You mean she hates us", Isabelle said.
"Now Isabelle, you know that's not true", Maryse said.
"She just hates how she doesn't have any family", Jace explained, "She's the last of the Baldarelli's".
"Well the line is probably going to die out with her with how anti-social she is", Isabelle said.
Annabelle, who had been listening out in the foyer, had heard enough and went back to her room.
The Lightwood's and Magnus heard a door slam.
"I think she might have heard you", Magnus said.
"Jace, why don't you go check on her?" Robert suggested.
Jace got up, putting her present in his pocket. He made his way to her room. He could hear her crying. "Annabelle?" Jace asked.
"Go away, Jace", she said.
"No. I'm not leaving until you open the door and I'm willing to stand here all night", Jace told her.
Annabelle sighed and got up. She opened the door and said, "What do you want Jace?"
"Come with me", he said holding out his hand.
"You're not going to take to some dark corridor in the Institute and kill me are you?" Annabelle asked him.
"Now why would I do that?" he asked.
Annabelle placed her hand in his and Jace led her up to the roof.
It was snowing.
Annabelle always thought New York was at its most beautiful when it was snowing. "So, why'd you bring me up here?" Annabelle asked him.
"To give you your present", Jace said.
Annabelle froze. "You got me a present?" Annabelle asked.
No one ever gave her presents. Not even on her birthday.
Jace took a small box out of his pocket and handed it to her.
She cautiously took it from him and opened it.
In the box sat a witch light.
"I figured I owed you after I lost your other one", he said.
"It's fine, Jace. You didn't have to get me a new one", she told him.
"I know, but I felt so bad, because your parents gave you that one", Jace said.
Annabelle felt a pang of hurt. Her parents were still a sore subject for her, even after 7 years.
"You're not the only one to lose your parents", Jace told her.
"Please don't do this, Jace", she said, "I really don't want to talk about this".
"It's okay to miss them", Jace said, "I barely knew my parents and I miss them. It's normal".
"Thanks for the witch light, Jace", Annabelle said, starting to retreat back to her room.
"Hey Annabelle", Jace said, "Merry Christmas".
"Merry Christmas Jace", Annabelle said disappearing down the hallway.
The next morning, everyone gathered around the Christmas tree.
"So do you think Miss I-hate-Christmas is going to come out of her room?" Isabelle asked.
Alec elbowed his sister and she looked up.
Annabelle was standing at the entrance to the living room. She cleared her throat and said, "Merry Christmas".
Jace smiled.
"I…don't have anything to give you guys", she said.
"That's quite alright, dear", Maryse said, "Come in".
Annabelle took a seat next to Jace, who wrapped an arm around her back.
"What made you change your mind?" Jace asked her.
"You did", she told him, smiling.