December 25: I'll Be Home for Christmas

It was Christmas Day. Children were waking up early, shaking their parents awake and excitedly ripping open their gifts. But as for Sibuna, they slept soundly in their beds, lingering for as long as possible. There were no more clues or long nights so they were enjoying what time they had to sleep. However, Mara and Mick were awake, adding last minute sprinkles to cookies and queuing up the Christmas music. Trudy was preparing an enormous Christmas breakfast for everyone. But thanks to a few phone calls there were a large amount of presents under the tree.

It was a beautiful morning, the new fallen snow covered the town, fresh and powdery from yesterday's blizzard. The trees were weighed down with snow and the sun made the snow glisten and sparkle.
As Nina awoke, she felt slightly nostalgic, remembering Christmas mornings as a young child with Gran. But this time, there were no presents to be unwrapped or stockings to discover.
Mr. Black Toes was scampering around, waiting to be let out. Nina got out of her bed and opened the door for him. Then she stepped into the hallway and down the stairs, wishing that she was a child on Christmas morning once again.

But what lay under the tree was just like a traditional Christmas morning! There were presents under the tree and Christmas music playing. An empty glass and cookie crumbs were on the table. The room smelt of cinnamon rolls and sizzling sausages. Mara came out of the kitchen, brushing off sprinkles from her clothes.

"What's all this?" Nina asked, completely flabbergasted.

"This is Christmas," she grinned, "We thought you guys deserved a party considering you've been working hard, but we decided that we all needed a real Christmas."

Amber was out of her room, slipping on her robe and squealing with joy, "HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!"

One by one everyone gathered in the living room, each breathlessly taking in the decorations and feel of the house.

Joy was the last and she we still getting putting on a jacket when she spotted a balloon. She realized it was from Mick and laughed to herself as she popped it. A note waited inside for her, and she smiled as she read it.

Mick was a terrible poem writer, but it was so sweet and she shared his feelings. Then she went downstairs and decided to confront him later about it.

In the living room Mick stood in front of everyone and cleared his throat, "Er, merry Christmas mates!" he led everyone into the kitchen.

Waiting for them there were cinnamon rolls, biscuits and gravy, sausages, muffins, and hot cocoa.

Trudy smiled at the kids, "Good morning, lovelies! Who wants a Christmas breakfast before we open presets?"

"Presents?" Alfie asked, eyes widening eagerly.

"We called and asked your families to send in a Christmas present for each of you," she explained, "Now eat!"

They happily ate and discussed some of their favorite memories as a child.

After their delicious breakfast, they entered into the living room and sat around the Christmas tree. It felt like they were young again as they watched the presents with sparkling eyes.

Everyone's presents were wonderful. Nina got a time turner necklace from her Gran, Fabian got guitar picks with quotes on them, Joy got a scrapbook to put her pictures in, Mara got a set of piano books, Alfie got a Zombie Apocalypse Survival Guide, Amber got a new dress that was sparkly and pink, Patricia got a new sweater, Eddie got headphones, and Mick got a jersey with the same number as one of his favorite football players. And last of all, Mara and Joy had been working together over the holidays on a quilt for Trudy. It had the signatures of every Anubis house member on the patches and was very cute. She loved it!

So the presents were unwrapped and they all sat around the fireplace, drinking hot cocoa and listening to Christmas music.

Trudy shut the door behind her, brushing off snowflakes, "It sure is storming out there!" she slid the rubber band off the newspaper and began to read it.

"Well would you look at that!" she cried, showing everyone the front page, "It says here that the murderer has been fond…dead?"

"Huh?!" Amber exclaimed, trying to sound surprised.

"Oh my," Trudy read on, "Though he seems to have died of natural causes, the body of the murderer has been identified by the police. A medical examiner concluded that the man had a tumor in his body and it was killing him, and last night he drew his last breaths. Perhaps it was insanity, some say that he might have wanted to outlive people despite his illness, or a deranged act of violence. The bodies have also been identified, but the names will not be disclosed at this time. The man's name was…oh my goodness gracious."

"What is it?" Mara urged.

"Jason Winkler," finished Trudy, "This man wife, Kaitlin Winkler identified his body. She said that she had no idea of the crimes he'd committed but spent Christmas Eve night with her. He was acting very strange, she told us, and never quite explained where he'd been. But was gone Christmas morning and found dead in an alleyway. The police discovered his body and it was confirmed by witnesses that he was the murderer. We may never know the true story behind Jason Winkler's murders, but for now we will be thankful that he can kill no more."

Mick shook his head incredulously, "He taught us Drama. Mr. Winkler was such a great teacher though…what happened?"

Patricia shrugged, "It's a mystery."

"Well then," Trudy shut the newspaper, trying to make her voice sound cheerier, "Despite that sad…and odd note…this means you all get to be home for Christmas!"

Everybody cheered and Nina silently thanked everyone in Sibuna for not slipping up about Jason.

So everyone called their parents, gleefully telling them that they'd be home for Christmas, and the snow just kept coming down on that wonderful Christmas day.

Mick slipped his phone into his pocket, sad to leave his friends but excited to spend some time with his mother.

Joy skipped over to him, a grin spread across her face, "Hey, Mick."

He put his hands in his pocket, "Hey, Joy. Did ya get my…"

She nodded, "Sure did," Joy laughed lightly, "I thoroughly enjoyed it."

"Oh don't lie to me!" he accused, "I can't write a poem to save my life."

"Okay maybe that's true," she giggled, "But it was a romantic gesture nonetheless!"

"Romantic?"

"Mhmm," she said, twirling a stray piece of hair, "So you'll be going back to Australia soon?"

"Yeah, but my mum and I'll be staying in a hotel for a few days, we've got a bit of time to waste before our flight home."

"A bit of time? Perhaps we could…do a few more stupid things together."

"Really?" he grinned, "And once I'm gone, I think we'll still be able to be dumb together."

"How so?" she asked, eyes bright and mischievous.

"We could find a way. You've got that camera to send me pictures and I've got a laptop with a webcam…"

"That sounds reasonable. So what are you suggesting?"

"I just..that we should go on dates," he replied bluntly, "We're mates but I'd really like to be dates."

"I bet you've used that line before," she pointed a finger at him.

"Maybe so, but Joy, I like you. Plain and simple, I like you."

"I like you too, Mick," she blushed, staring up at the ceiling, "We're under the mistletoe," Joy stated.

"Oh, we are?" he looked up and smiled crookedly, "I didn't even notice."

"So what happens now?"

"I don't know, but whatever happens is going to be amazing. You know how I know that? Because I'm falling for the exactly right person this time. Kiss me?"

"Only because you asked nicely," and then she wrapped her arms around him, kissing him fiercely beneath the mistletoe. He cupped her face and they fell into the slow and prolonged beat that was kissing. It was different and fantastic, because they never knew they needed it until this very moment. When the kiss was over they both just stood in each other's arms, laughing and smiling. Then the rest of Anubis house gathered around them, hugging the new couple and congratulating them.

Joy remembered last year's party, hugging Fabian and Nina, and now she knew what it felt like. She felt just right being there in the group hug, but this time she was the center, along with Mick.

So the hug ended and little by little everyone departed in cabs, waving as they left for their respective homes.

All of the couples kissed each other, saying their goodbyes. Patricia promised she'd visit Eddie at the Sweet Residence, so that he wouldn't get too bored. Alfie promised Amber they'd have more colorful dates. Mick and Joy made plans for their first date, and it was definite, they were completely right for each other! Who would've thought that they'd be kissing and planning dates? But somehow it worked perfectly.

Fabian planted one last kiss on Nina's lips as a cab outside honked, "Have fun in America, be safe!"

"I'm safer there," she laughed, giving him a hug, "But I'm going to miss you so much!"

"Me too," he said, "This was quite possibly the strangest Christmas I've ever experience."

"No kidding," Nina agreed, "But it turned out to be pretty wonderful at the same time."

The cab driver honked, irritated at Nina's delay, "I better go," she sighed, wheeling her suitcase to the front door, "Merry...uh I mean...Happy Christmas Fabian."

"Happy Christmas, Nina," he opened the door for her, "I love you Nina, I really do."

"I love you too," and with that, she left.

As she walked to the taxi and the snowflakes clung to her clothes, she hummed a Christmas song. They would always talk about this Christmas, and would discuss how much it changed them. And it had, perhaps they'd never be the same again. But sometimes change was good, and in a way, it had brought them all closer together. She couldn't describe it to Gran, or anyone outside of Sibuna, but it would be a Christmas she'd never forget.

Because sometimes, the memories most cherished are made with those you love. Life threw strange things at you, like pain, sorrow, but along the way you'd catch laughter and happy memories. And you could make it through these trials if you had things like love and friendship.

"Through the years

We all will be together

If the fates allow," she sang as they drove.

But they would be together.

Because love and friends like hers only came once in a lifetime, and you stayed for the people you loved.

So she traveled back to America, but she wasn't going home, she was leaving home.

Anubis was her home now, because a home is not determined by the location, but by the ridiculously amazing and impossibly wonderful people that were there.

To: My Readers

From: Sarah

Happy Holidays!

And there it is, the epic (and quite short) conclusion to my House of Anubis Christmas tale. It was incredibly fun to write and I loved reading every single review! Your support means the world to me and without it this fic wouldn't be here! I can't believe it was so successful and I'm so thankful for all my readers. And what comes next? No idea! Somebody requested a sequel and I've been thinking about a possibly epilogue but I'm completely clueless as to what I would write! So send my any ideas you have and we'll just see what happens. For now, I'll slowly but surely work on He was my Cream and I was his Coffee, another adult Anubis fic, another AU that I've been considering, and whatever comes to mind! But for now I'm just going to sit back, relax, and enjoy the rest of the holiday break. Season 3 will be here soon and I'm really excited for it! So have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!