"Mommy, are you sure Santa Claus knows we're going to be at Grandma's?" Skyler asked.

"I'm positive," she said. "He always knows where you are and he can go everywhere. Now come help me out and sit on the suitcase, so I can snap it shut."

Skyler did. "He's not everywhere. He's not allowed to be at school. We didn't even have a Christmas party."

"Yes, you did. It was just called a winter festival party. Just like you're on Christmas break even though it's called Winter break."

"That's silly. Why can't they just call it what it is?"

"Because adults are silly sometimes."

"I'll carry the suitcase to the living room, Mommy. I'm strong."

"I know you are. Did Bobby like his Superman cape?"

"Yep. Even though Superman is his favorite superhero, I think he's still sad that he didn't get to see Spider-Man when he saved me."

"I can imagine. Is he going to get to spend Christmas with his parents?"

"No, he's spending it with Berry and Eliza, but his parents are sending him a big box of presents."

"That's a shame. I wonder why they can't be around him?"

The phone rang.

"I'll get it!" Skyler said. "Hello...Yeah, she's right here. Daddy's putting stuff in the car…School's fine but ever since I got kidnapped, it's like I'm famous or something. Mrs. Byrd, the secretary, had to find another job. Daddy didn't think I should go back to school, but Mommy said you can't let something scare you into not leading a normal life…Yeah, I think so too. Here she is, Uncle Perry…Merry Christmas."

Skyler picked up his toy airplane and zoomed and dipped with it until his mom got off the phone. "What did Uncle Perry want?"

"Just to wish us a Merry Christmas. He said when we get back, we should swing by to pick up our presents. I have a feeling he'll want your daddy and me to pick up a little work too. The presents are just bribes to get us over there."

"I'm glad Uncle Perry is giving us more presents. I like presents."

"I would've never guessed."

"It's too bad that everyone we love can't get together and have one big Christmas, especially with the General."

"We had Thanksgiving with him. Although between you and me, I'd rather have been at Grandma's. He won't be lonely. He's going to spend it with Aunt Lucy."

"I wish Aunt Lucy was going to be with us too. She's funny."

"Yep, she's more fun than a barrel full of monkeys."

"Maybe that's what she got me for Christmas!"

"Maybe," she laughed.

His dad came through the door and gathered up the rest of the suitcases. "Okay gang, let's hit the road."

---

Skyler was glad when they finally pulled up at Grandma's house. It was decorated so nicely like it always was on Christmas. At night the colorful lights would twinkle and light up the darkness. The pine tree and wreaths were real, making the house smell wonderfully woodsy. The best smell came from the kitchen, however, where his grandma was making all kinds of tasty treats. She was the best cook in the world. Under the trees were presents that overflowed and spread all over the floor. Grandma had waited on him to help string the popcorn, his favorite part of decorating.

The grownups talked for a little bit and then they put on a Christmas Eve marathon of Christmas cartoons. It didn't seem very long before it was completely dark outside and time to get into bed.

"Daddy, can't I just stay up 5 more minutes?"

"You can but the quicker you get into bed, the quicker Santa Claus comes," his dad told him.

Skyler didn't need to be told twice. He was going to be sleeping on an air mattress in his Grandma's room. He raced for the bedroom. He must have been tired because it all went by in a blur. The next thing he knew he heard the footsteps of 3 adults coming up the stairs.

His mom smiled. "Looks like you got an early Christmas present. Super speed."

"It's one more thing you'll have to be careful of around other people," his dad warned.

"He knows that," his grandma said. "Let the boy get some sleep. He's got a big job tomorrow, unwrapping all that stuff."

They turned to leave.

"Don't forget to put out milk and cookies for Santa," Skyler reminded them.

"We did," his grandma said.

"And carrots for the reindeer."

His mom laughed. "You're very thoughtful. I guess they do work pretty hard, pulling around old St. Nick all night."

They shut the door. Skyler practiced super speed for a few minutes and then he shut his eyes to dream of sugar plums.

---

Skyler woke up to the sound of commotion outside his room. It was still dark outside. Maybe it was Santa Claus. Grandma wasn't in bed. Her blankets were messed up, showing she had been in bed. She probably wanted to see Santa Claus too.

When he went out into the hall, his parents were up and awake. His mom looked very uncomfortable.

"Skyler, go back to bed," his grandma said.

But Skyler couldn't. He knew something was wrong.

"I'll fly her to the hospital, Mom. It'll be faster," his dad said.

He scooped her up and flew out the window with her. He could've sworn he heard his mom scream.

"What's the matter, Grandma?"

"The baby decided to come a little early."

"Is it Christmas yet?"

"It's 1:33. I guess it is."

"That's so cool! The baby picked the same birthday as baby Jesus."

His grandma laughed very softly, "I guess it did."

She hugged him, but he could tell she was still upset about something. She went downstairs to sit by the phone.

"You go back to bed, dear," she said when he followed her.

He climbed into her lap. "I'd rather stay down here with you."

She didn't protest any further.

He must have dozed off because the next thing he knew the phone was ringing and his grandma answered it. There was a little light outside, but the sun hadn't finished coming up.

"Hello…Thank God, I've been up praying all night…That's wonderful. Have you thought of a name yet…Yeah, I guess it is rather short notice. Skyler and I will be over right away…No, stay there with Lois and the baby. I can drive. Bye, I love you, sweetheart."

"The baby came?" Skyler wanted to know.

"Yes, you have a little sister."

"I guess I can live with that. I can teach her how to like football and hot wheels and—"

"Sweetie, I have to explain something to you before we go see her."

"What, Grandma?"

"Your sister's going to be very tiny. It'll be a while before you can hold her."

"That's okay. I can just talk to her. She'll know me because I talked to her a lot while she was in Mommy's tummy, but sometimes she kicked. I think she was trying to kick me on purpose."

"She's going to have a tough time until she gets up to a normal newborn's size. She'll be hooked up to machines and things and in the end, God might decide He wants her back in heaven with Him."

"I'm not worried. God'll take care of her. They have the same birthday you know."

She smiled.

"I bet I know why she decided to come early," Skyler said.

"Why?"

"She didn't want to miss Christmas."

"Probably so."

"I bet Santa Claus didn't know she was coming either, just like us. She doesn't have anything for Christmas."

"We'll pick her something up at the hospital gift shop."

---

A little while later, they came into the hospital room, where his parents were. They'd brought a little Christmas tree to set on the table. He had picked out a teddy bear for his sister and his grandma had gotten a preemie outfit.

His grandma kissed his parents on their cheeks.

"Just wait until you see her," his dad said. "She can fit on the palm of your hand and she's got the greenest eyes you've ever seen. I don't know what color her hair's going to be. She's bald."

"Smallville!" his mom exclaimed.

"Well, she is. It's kind of ironic that one of your children was born in Smallville, Kansas."

"Tell me about it," she sighed. "The poor thing."

"There's nothing wrong with Smallville and the hospital is one of the top 100 in the world."

"It has to be," his mom replied. "It stays so busy. It's a home away from home."

"You guys must be in a good mood to banter like this," his grandma remarked. She knew that must mean good news or they would be too worried to joke.

"We are," his mom replied. "The baby is completely developed and functioning like a normal newborn and get this, they couldn't get any needles to go in. She's already developing powers."

"This town is so used to strange things," his dad told them, "they didn't give it a second thought. We're lucky we had her here and not in Metropolis."

"The only sign that she's a preemie is her size," his mom said. "She'll be discharged in 3 days like any other baby."

"It's a Christmas miracle," his grandma said with tears of joy.

"Yes, it is," his dad said happily. "She's a little Christmas angel. We thought of a name. Noel, which means Christmas and Marie, which is a form of Mary."

"Noel Marie Kent. I like it. It's the best Christmas gift we could have gotten. It almost makes you wonder what the point is of opening the rest of the gifts."

Skyler's mouth dropped open.

"I said almost," his grandma assured him and his parents laughed. "Let's go have a peek at Noel and then we'll see if we can bring the presents to the hospital and have Christmas here."

Skyler had a feeling that even though the way Christmas happened was unplanned and a little scary, it was the best Christmas they'd ever had.

TBC