Thanks to everyone as always who is following, reviewing and supporting my story. I do appreciate it and I hope to get this finished by New Year!
As always I would like to thank dcj for looking this over.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas.
Happy Holidays,
Sairs
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A Christmas Promise
Chapter 20
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Andy opened her eyes slowly; the bright patch of sunlight peeking through the drapes caused her to close her eyes quickly, her face scrunching with pain. Her head hurt, it felt like there were an army of toy soldiers marching on her temple. Slowly she raised her fingertips to her forehead hoping that their circular motions would relieve the tension and pain.
When the pounding on her head had slightly subsided she attempted to swallow she grimaced at the pain that radiated under her ears and down her throat. The sudden movement caused her headache to pound again.
She sighed, it was December 21st and she couldn't be ill for Christmas.
"Andy?" Sam's voice called from the hallway.
"Morning," Andy replied, but it didn't sound like morning, more like a grumble.
Slowly the door to her bedroom opened and Sam poked his head around the door, "Andy?" He waited a moment and then walked over to her, studying her carefully. "You don't look so good."
Andy grimaced, the movement causing her head to ache, "Thank you," she croaked.
Tenderly he reached forward and placed his hand on her forehead, "You're running a temperature."
Andy sniffed her response.
"I think you've caught a cold," he pointed out, moving his hand to her cheeks. "I think you've earned a day of rest in bed."
"But…" Andy sputtered as her nose began to tickle.
"I know you wanted to go caroling with Sandy and Beth, but trust me you don't have the voice for it. If you want to be well for Christmas you're going to have to stay put."
"But they need the extra voice…" She croaked.
Sam shook his head, "They'll be fine without you and they managed last year." He watched as a smile crossed Andy's face. "No, McNally."
"Please," She croaked.
"I do not carol sing. I do not sing, period," he pointed out.
"It's for the children," she replied, grabbing his hand with hers she squeezed gently.
He shook his head determinedly, but as he met her warm eyes, he felt his resolve melt, "You owe me, McNally," he replied, brushing his thumb over the back of her hand.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, but I will be thinking of a way for you to pay me back," his eyebrows wiggled as he spoke.
She giggled, but suddenly stopped mid giggle when her head hurt, "Don't make me laugh," she explained, "Everything hurts."
He leaned forward and dropped a kiss on her forehead, "I promise to try and not make you laugh. Do you feel like some oatmeal for breakfast?"
She thought about it for a moment, then slowly nodded, "Thank you."
"Rest. I'll be back shortly with your breakfast," Sam replied as he quietly walked out of the room.
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"Atchoo!" The sound of the sneeze came from under the fluffy cover of Daisy's cloud.
"Are you okay?" Molly asked as she sat up on her cloud and glanced over at her friend, whose disheveled head appeared from underneath the blanket.
"I… I… have… a… cold! Atchoo!" Daisy replied as small pink feathers floated into the air with the force of her sneeze.
"It must have been your assignment to the South Pole," Molly replied before she dived into her cloud looking for something.
"You cannot catch a cold from being in the cold," Daisy replied sullenly, rubbing at her forehead with her hand.
Molly poked her head out of her cloud triumphantly a steaming mug in her hand, "It was just a suggestion. Perhaps one of the penguins decided to share their germs," she pointed out as she floated over to her friend. When she was within touching distance she handed over the mug to her friend. "Drink this; it will make you feel better."
Daisy took the mug and cautiously sniffed the contents, "What is it?" she muttered.
Molly beamed, "My Grandmother's special recipe."
"Recipe for what?"
"Her special cold remedy. You drink that and your sniffles will be a distant memory."
"Are you sure it's just my sniffles that'll be a distant memory, it doesn't smell good."
"It doesn't matter what it smells like, it's whether it will make you better. Stop being a baby and drink," Molly instructed.
Daisy pouted before taking a deep breath and sipping at the drink. She wrinkled her nose as she took the first sip of the drink. After a few seconds she took another sip, "That's not so bad," she replied before she happily drank the remaining liquid.
"Just give it a few hours and you'll be singing from the chandeliers," Molly quipped.
Daisy glared at her friend, "I have never sung from the chandeliers and I don't intend on starting now!"
Molly grinned, "What about Christmas five years ago?"
"What about Christmas five years ago?"
"Didn't you enjoy the Christmas punch a little too much at Mother Nature's Christmas Eve party?"
Daisy stared at her friend, "You weren't even at that party. You wouldn't know what happened."
Molly smiled, "I might not have been there in person, but I know people who were and you were the talk of the fairy world. It was one event where I wasn't the one to cause the disturbance, much to my mother's delight."
Daisy poked out her tongue quickly at her friend, "I didn't know that Giles had added his own fiery fairy brew to the punch! It tasted of Christmas and it was so delicious…" she shrugged her shoulders, "I didn't realize I was in such a state until much… much… later!"
"The local Fairy Fire House was not impressed being called out to rescue a fairy entangled in the chandelier. Apparently it took almost an hour to untangle you from the fairy lights."
"So I might not have your resume in causing as many disasters, but at least when I do, I do it right." She grinned, "There was a very cute Firefairy who rescued me that night." She sighed, "We spent several evenings over the Christmas period together. But it fizzled out in the new year."
"Shame it didn't last, I could just imagine you talking about how you met, it would be hilarious. And having a Firefairy as a close friend could be very handy."
"Especially when you need to rescue your cloud jumping friend," Daisy replied sweetly.
"I get it," Molly replied, "Discussion over. I won't mention your punch incident if you restrain yourself from referring to my cloud hopping disasters."
"I'm sure I can manage," Daisy wiggled, "Wow! That drink really worked, my head's stopped aching and my throat feels normal again."
"Told you it was good stuff. No side effects?"
"None that I can feel at the moment."
"Good. Now where's Andy this morning? I've only seen Sam."
"Perhaps she's decided to get a lie in."
"Or maybe you've been sharing your fairy germs. You were pretty close to her yesterday."
Daisy straightened her back indignantly, "I did not sneeze over Andy! I managed to poke my head in my cloud just in time."
Molly chuckled, "Whatever! Let's go and see what's happening."
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Sam slowly opened the door to Andy's room; she appeared to be sleeping as he quietly approached her with a bowl of steaming oatmeal and a cup of hot lemon.
As he lowered the tray onto the bedside table, Andy's eyes opened, "Sam?" she croaked.
"Hey, Sleepyhead, how're you feeling?"
She shifted gently in her bed and winced at the movements, "As if an army of toy soldiers are holding a parade in my head."
He leaned forward and helped her into a sitting position, placing two large fluffy pillows behind her head to support her, "Better?"
"I'd be much better if the soldiers stopped," she whined.
"There's not much I can do about the soldiers, but the oatmeal and hot lemon might help," he offered her the mug of steaming liquid.
She sniffed before she cautiously sipped the liquid.
"I haven't poisoned it, McNally," he teased gently as he watched her drink.
"I was expecting it to taste so much worse than it actually does."
"Old family recipe, Mom used to make me and Sarah drink it all the time when we had colds, it worked for us, so I thought it would work for you."
She smiled, "Thank you."
"You're welcome." He shifted uneasily from foot to foot by her bed. "Where were you carolling with Sandy and Beth?"
"At the shelter. We were meeting at two. You don't have to go, you know."
"I wouldn't want to let you down. Although I'm not going to sing. I'm going for moral support. Also I can keep an eye on the operation."
Andy shook her head, "I'm pretty sure, just like you are there's nothing illegal happening across the street. Spreading seasonal joy, yes, but no illegal activities."
Sam shrugged his shoulders, "I agree. Although I don't think Boyd is going to be happy. He's wasted his resources on an elf chase!"
Andy chuckled and instantly regretted the movement as her head pounded.
"Sorry," Sam said sheepishly as he noticed her face contort with pain.
"It wasn't your fault; it's the person who shared their germs with me!"
"Well I'm sure they're suffering too."
"That's not much consolation; you're not the one with the rotten headache and with a nose that will give Rudolph a run for his money."
"Your nose is not red," Sam replied, trying not to laugh at the chagrined look on Andy's face.
Andy poked out her tongue briefly before speaking, "Yet. But by the time this cold's done with me I'm sure I'll have a nose that could lead Santa on his merry way Christmas Eve."
Sam shook his head, "You rest and I'll get ready to support the neighbourhood with their carol singing efforts."
"Sam…"Andy whined, smiling at him.
Sam recognised the look, she was after something, "What?"
"Did I mention that you have to go festively dressed?" She spoke quickly merging the words together, hoping that Sam wouldn't get too upset with her. After all it wasn't her fault that she was laid up in bed with a cold, she would much rather have been out singing.
Sam's eyebrow rose and his tone was harsher than when he'd last spoken, "No you did not mention festive clothing."
"Well, it's just that Sandy, Beth and the others dress festively. I was going to go as an elf…" She glanced at the closet, "My costume is in there."
His glare harshened, "I am not wearing a costume. I am going to support the neighbourhood, but I repeat, I am not dressing up."
Andy nodded.
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Sam looked at his reflection in the mirror; he couldn't believe that he'd been talked into wearing the costume. Although he thought ruefully he hadn't really stood a chance when he had opened the door and found Beth standing on the doorstep armed with a large laundry bag.
He had tried to explain that Andy hadn't been well, but she'd let herself in and explained that Andy had called and explained the situation. She appreciated Will's offer to stand in and she had just the perfect outfit that her Nick usually wore, but as he was busy working, he wouldn't be needing it this afternoon.
His face must have been a picture when he'd unzipped the bag and found a Santa suit. He had tried to protest, but he found as he looked at Beth's smile and glinting blue eyes he couldn't do anything other than agree.
He shook his head as he looked at his reflection; at least he wasn't expected to sing. Beth had suggested as he was wearing the Santa suit, he could hand out the gifts to the children. He had agreed, how difficult could it be to hand out gifts, he wondered.
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Molly giggled as Sam studied himself in the mirror. "Beth's brilliant!"
"What?" Daisy asked sleepily from her cloud.
"Beth is brilliant! Look she's lent Sam one of Nick's old Santa outfits so that he can hand out gifts to the children at the shelter."
Daisy opened her eyes and looked at Sam who certainly made a good looking Santa. "I guess he's joined the season spirit. Where's Andy?"
Molly rolled her eyes, "You shared your germs and she is asleep just like you were. I suggest you stay here and keep Andy company and I'll go with Sam to the shelter. We do not need you sharing your germs with anyone else. We do not need a fairy flu epidemic."
"It's just a cold!" Daisy reiterated before inhaling deeply trying to control the tickle that was furiously encouraging her nose to sneeze.
"A cold you've shared with Andy and I hasten to add she doesn't look too well. I think I need to drop a little bit of Grandma's remedy in her next cup of hot lemon."
Daisy paled at the thought, "I'm not sure, Molly. You know it works on fairies, well almost works, you do not know what side effects Grandma's recipe will have on humans."
Molly thought for a moment, "You have a point. Maybe just one drop will help."
"Molly," Daisy warned.
"What harm can one drop do?"
"I'm sure we shouldn't risk it."
"Well you're too ill to really have a vote. Sleep, relax, let Grandma's recipe work and I'll see you after the carols."
"Molly."
"What?"
"Be careful. You know children can sometimes see fairies. I don't want you going home stuck in the sticky pocket of a child who thinks they've really found treasure."
Molly pouted, "I have no intention of falling into the hands of a child. I have my reputation to uphold."
"Exactly. Your reputation is hardly stellar."
"I'll see you later. Hopefully you'll have regained your Christmas cheer." Molly disappeared in a sparkling cloud of fairy dust.
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Andy opened her eyes and automatically rubbed at them with her fingertips, she couldn't believe what she was seeing, "Santa?" she asked, thinking that she was feeling worse than she thought.
Sam chuckled, "No, Andy."
"Sam?" she asked confusion evident in her voice.
"Yep, Samuel Swarek at your service."
"But why are you wearing a Santa outfit?"
"Because that is what Beth insists I'm wearing to the shelter. My role for the afternoon is to hand out gifts."
"I guess it's better than singing."
"It is for the children, we wouldn't want them being put off Christmas for life," he leaned forward and brushed Andy's hair from her face, testing her temperature with his fingers. "You're a little cooler than earlier, the hot lemon must be working."
"Mmm," Andy replied enjoying the feel of Sam's touch on her forehead.
"Are you going to be okay whilst I'm gone?"
"I have my cell phone, I have tissues and I have my bed. I'm going to be fine. Now you go and rock those children's world with your present giving."
Sam smiled, "Call me if you need me."
"You're my speed dial number one."
He leaned forward and placed a kiss on her forehead, "I'll see you later."
"See you later, Santa."
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Sam leaned against the doorframe after he had closed it behind him. That had been two of the longest hours of his life, but he couldn't say he hadn't enjoyed every moment of it. Regaining his composure he headed up the stairs to check on Andy.
Quietly he opened the door and couldn't help but smile as Andy was fast asleep, her head poking out from underneath the duvet, her hair spread haphazardly around her head. He tiptoed over to her and gently rested the back of his hand on her forehead, her fever had finally broken.
"Hey," she said quietly from the bed.
"Hey, how're you feeling?"
"More human," she replied. "How's Santa?"
"Exhausted. I didn't realise giving children presents could be so tiring."
Andy giggled and shifted in the bed so she could sit up. "Why don't you go and get changed Santa and you can tell me all about it."
Sam grinned, "I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere."
Andy shook her head, "I don't think I have the strength to venture from my bed."
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"Daisy!" Molly called from her cloud, examining her friend's empty vessel. "Daisy!" her tone became more concerned as her friend didn't respond.
"What?" Daisy finally replied as she appeared from the cloud, her hair dishevelled and her nose bright red.
Molly swallowed as she tried to control the giggle that was attempting to escape from her throat.
"What?"
Molly shook her head, "Did Santa ask for any help this year?"
Daisy looked at Molly a look of complete confusion on her face, "What?"
Molly clicked her fingers and her mirror appeared from inside her cloud, "Take a look and you'll see what I mean."
The mirror hovered in front of Daisy and she studied her appearance, "Oh!"
"Ah… Yes… Sorry!"
"What do you mean, sorry?" Daisy glared at her friend.
"Did I not mention that Grandma's cold remedy has an occasional side effect."
"No. You did not!" Daisy's voice rose with her agitation.
"It wears off. I promise."
"How long?"
"A day, maybe two!"
"Two days! Two days! Two days!" Daisy shouted as she bounced up and down on the cloud.
"Careful!" Molly called but it was too late, Daisy bounced off her cloud and somersaulted towards the ground. "Don't panic!" Molly yelled as she began evasive manoeuvres, "I'll save you!"
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