A/N: What can I say, this is late?
Happy New Year?
"Hello young lady." The warm baritone made Audrey turn back to face the happy festivities and she looked up in awe at the bearded man before her. "Thought I'd forgotten you?"
"Well I did a little bit." Audrey admitted. "I know I don't deserve presents this year." She shrugged and pulled her thick coat around her shoulders a little tighter. Winters in Auradon were always cold but tonight the wind felt more bitter than she had ever felt before.
"That's exactly why I'm out here with you." Father Christmas came to stand beside her and look out at the twinkling lights of Auradonia.
"I don't understand?" Audrey looked up to see that Father Christmas was smiling and not frowning.
"I am here because of that thought. You understand that you shouldn't get presents this year, because of the curse you laid upon your home, your family and your friends." Santa's voice rumbled and Audrey stared hard at the church tower opposite her, determined to not cry at the gentle words she was hearing. "By that very logic I am going to offer you one small gift." He reached into his bag and held out a tiny box for her.
"It's not coal is it?" She smiled with watery eyes.
"Ah, you'll have to open it and see." She held her breath as she pulled the bow open and lifted the lid. Inside was two tiny diamond earrings, the small egg shaped stones were hanging from plain silver hooks and despite the tiny size, the significance of the gift made her tears fall freely. She knew that two years ago, she would have freaked out and thrown a tantrum at the "paltriness" of the gift, but the tiny stones meant so so much more to her now.
When she looked up to say thank you there was only a puff of gold and red dust, which soon vanished on the wind. When Audrey turned back to the social group she was amazed to see them all waiting for her, looking expectantly in her direction. At first she was hesitant, but clutching the earrings to her chest she made her way back into the room.
"Merry Christmas Audrey." Mal stepped forward and held out a present. "We know you didn't want to be here, and that the last few years have been awful for you but let's rewind that." She half shrugged and Audrey held back the initial feeling of distrust, but she took the parcel from Mal and slipping the earrings in her pocket she knelt to open the gift.
Inside was a stunning white gold tiara, with pale pink and blue stones glittering in the candlelight.
"Oh!" Audrey looked up from the gift to see Mal's anxious face.
"I told Evie what we thought we should get you, and she designed this. If you don't like it we can amend the designs." She was fiddling with the sleeve of her top and Audrey felt tears welling up in the corner of her eyes.
"I love it." She choked out, her gaze falling on Evie who looked as nervous as Mal.
"We didn't know if the design was completely you but we hoped so." She had stood beside Mal and Audrey carefully rewrapped the tiara and stood. Without thinking it through, she threw her arms around both of the girls and held them closely.
"Thank you." She choked out, and was grateful when they hugged her back. "I'm so sorry."
"That part is over and done with." Mal said softly. "Next year is a new year, and there's no better time to start again than Christmas."
"Thank you." She murmured again, picking up the tiara again and fishing the earring box back out of her pocket. "Oh they match." Audrey stared in wonder, realising the diamonds were slightly tinged pink, just the faintest shade of colour when held up to the light and she smiled around at the gathering of people.
"Will you come and sit with us properly now?" Lonnie asked, moving over on the sofa so that Audrey could join her.
"Yes, please." She murmured as she crossed the room with her gifts held tightly in her grip.
"Excellent, because I still have my present to give you, and while it can't top a tiara, I'm hoping it will make you smile." Jane beamed, diving under the tree to find her gift.
"Oh no." Carlos sighed, ducking the pillow that Jane lobbed at him before she came up trumps with a squashy present.
"Why oh no?" Doug handed Evie another glass of mulled wine before she sat down on his lap.
"You'll see." Carlos sat himself back down as Audrey delicately pulled apart the wrapping paper.
"It's a….?" She looked up at Jane's beaming face and her eyes darted to Carlos for help.
"Jane has taken up knitting, and decides everyone needs something. Luckily for you Audrey you get the first proper item, a scarf." Carlos said tactfully and Audrey pulled out the long curling up woollen scarf and smile widely back at Jane.
"It's excellent." She ran her fingers over the uneven stitching and felt the softness of the wool. "Blue and pink, just perfect." She laughed and accepted Jane's bear hug willingly.
"Unfortunately that's the only item I've managed to make, it's taken me ages. Sorry guys!" Jane apologised to the rest of the group while Audrey wound the fabric around her neck. The blonde princess looked at the mish-mash of people around her, felt her gifts in her pocket, and the scarf around her neck and felt, for a first time in a long time, that she was home.