"Joey?" Serenity asked quietly.

Joey, who had just finished tucking his younger sister into bed, sat down next to her. "What is it, sis?"

"What if Santa doesn't come tonight?"

Serenity's large green eyes stared up at him. His heart melting, Joey ruffled her soft red-brown hair. "Don't worry, Serenity; Santa always comes for you. You've been a good girl all year."

"But what if he forgets?"

Joey smiled reassuringly. "He won't forget you; nobody will ever forget you."

"But just say he did!" Serenity looked genuinely worried.

"Then Santa will have me to answer to," Joey said.

Serenity sat up in bed. "But what if you can't find him?"

"Then I'll take you out and get you two presents, and they'll be twice as good as anything that Santa can ever get you."

Serenity's face lit up like a beacon. "Really?"

Joey grinned and wrapped his arms around his little sister. "Of course I would; but Santa won't forget about you, Serenity; I promise."

"Will he always come for me?"

Joey nodded. "Always."

"Even when I'm as big as you?"

"Even then."

"What about when I'm as big as Mummy?"

"I'm sure Santa will still bring you presents even then."

Joey let her go, and she settled back down into bed, her worry replaced my excitement. "I'm going to stay awake until Santa comes!"

Joey laughed and kissed her forehead. "Tell him your big brother will make sure he gives you presents every Christmas, just so he knows that forgetting you isn't an option."

Serenity nodded excitedly. "I will! Good night, Joey!"

"Night, sis." Joey gave her hand a final squeeze and got up.

"Joey?"

Joey turned to see Serenity peering at him from under the covers. "What is it. sis?"

"I love you, Joey."

Joey smiled at her. "I love you too, Serenity. Sleep tight!"

Giving her one last reassuring grin, he turned off the light, making sure to leave the hall light on and the door open, so she knew that Santa could find her.

Santa came that Christmas. And the next. He came every year until Serenity was thirteen, and her parents decided that she was too old to do it anymore.

Serenity was now twenty-seven; she had a job, she lived in a house, she paid rent.

Joey had moved away; he lived somewhere in the city. The two rarely spoke and Serenity hadn't even seen him in years.

She sighed. Christmas Eve was lonely; Serenity had no family to share it with, her workplace was closed. Even her friends were off on other arrangements.

She was standing on her balcony, looking up at the stars. How many children were already scanning the sky for Santa Clause?

Her thoughts drifted back to that night. Santa won't forget about you, Serenity; I promise.

Joey probably hadn't known the truth about Santa then either. It was silly, looking back on it now. But it was still a memory she held in her heart.

"Oh, Joey," she whispered into the dark. "It's on nights like these that I miss you most of all."

Giving another sigh, she disappeared into her house, closing the door behind her.

She slept in until eight on Christmas day; why get up early? Then she went through a leisurely breakfast before watching some T.V. It wasn't until ten o'clock when she finally ventured out the door.

Fourteen years worth of presents lay on her balcony. There were all different shapes and sizes. Each present had a different paper, but all were bright and Christmassy.

Serenity gasped. The shiny paper was almost glowing in the sun. A light dusting of snow had fallen to cover them; they seemed to sparkle.

Santa had come that Christmas.

She suddenly noticed a letter taped to one of the presents, and picked it up, unfolding it.

Your big brother told me I'd been neglecting you for a while. Here's for all the Christmases I missed.

Yours sincerely,

Santa.

Serenity smiled. "Oh, Joey. It looks like your back in town."