AN: Do you know how tempted i was to celebrate christmas in the middle of July for all this christmas spirit going around! I receited the night before chirstmas to my niece who enjoyed it very much... Okay, she looked at me and stuffed my fingers into her mouth but I'm sure it made a difference. ;-) Not a very original title i know. More AN at the bottom.

Chapter 16: Christmas morning.

"Up and Adam Joanie!"

"Come on kid, it's Christmas morning, you gotta be down there with us."

"…"

"She's not moving."

"Ag, shoot it I'm going to pick her up. We don't have time for this."

Slam threw back the covers, exposing the sleeping child. Joanie muttered something unintelligible and moved away from the sudden cold breeze.

Jade laughed and threw a blanket over her. Both she and Slam were still in their pajamas.

"Sorry kid, you're not getting away from this one." She said with a laugh and Slam slipped his arms in underneath her. "Don't drop her Slam."

The boy laughed softly as he shifted Joanie into a more comfortable position. She opened her eyes sleepily and frowned.

"Le' me go." She muttered and tried to twist out of his grip.

Slam laughed. "Only if you walk yourself."

Joanie started to squirm so much that he had to put her down. Joanie sank down on the bed with a sluggish expression.

"Go walk yourself." She muttered and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes as she glanced at the clock. "It's bloody Seven o' bloody clock. What the bloody hell are doing in my room."

The two students laughed.

"Merry Christmas to you too." Jade said and pulled the kid up. "Come on, the others are waiting."

It was too early to start arguing. Joanie warped the blanket around her and followed the two out of the room not knowing, and for the moment not caring, where they were going.

The two Skydancers led her back to the common room. All of the people from the previous night were already there. The three were immediately welcomed with a mug of hot chocolate and a large gingerbread sock.

Joanie watched as everybody shared hugs too and throw with jolly Christmas wishes. One of the foreign students went round poking everybody on the shoulder whilst

"Drukkie vir jou, drukkie vir jou."

Joanie indulged the queer gesture and gave him a questioning look.

"What are you doing?" She asked surprised.

The boy grinned. "In my country," he began, "hug and poke is exactly the same word. It's a tradition in my family to go round poking each other on Christmas morning."

The image was hilarious.

Joanie giggled and smiled at Skyla who had stepped closer. She too was still in her pajamas, with a light blue robe over it.

"Just smile and nod." The woman whispered in her direction. "Merry Christmas Joanie."

The girl glanced up in her direction and gave her a sideways smile. "You too, Ma'am." She said softly. "I hope you'll have a great year."

The woman laughed and ushered her in the direction of the Christmas tree. "You can say that over New Year." She said. "Come on everybody."

The students and adults gathered around the tree to participate in the age-old tradition of exchanging gifts.

Joanie sat a little to the side, smiling as she shared the others' pleasure when they realized their families had sent their gifts to the academy.

"Yo, Joanie!" Slam yodeled at some point. "I've got something for you kid."

The girl blinked and sat up as Slam tossed a small packet in her direction. She caught the object and stared at it with curiosity.

Slam shared a mysterious smile with the group as he prompted her to open it.

"You can tear the paper." He said. "Safe perhaps for you, I don't think we'll be able to wrap anything else in it."

Joanie snorted and stuck her tongue out at him. "We'll be able to fit your brain in as well." She replied. "It's certainly… My knife!"

The last came out as an excited squeal. "I thought I had lost it!"

Slam grinned, obviously pleased with himself. "No, it dropped out of your pocket when we found you. Thought I'd give it back to you when the moment is right."

Joanie ran her fingers over the two edges before she flipped it open with the same skill Slam had shown. She checked the blade.

"You've sharpened it."

"I was bored."

They grinned at each other. Joanie dropped her head slightly to look at him through her fringe. "Thank you for keeping it." She said sincerely.

The boy waved his hand in a dismissive gesture and turned to Jade who had pushed a package under his nose.

Joanie sighed softly and closed the blade again. She glanced up at the Christmas decorations and smiled. When she noticed a tiny Santa and with his sleigh a disembodied phrase popped up in her mind.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight,
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!"

She giggled to herself and wondered where or when she had heard that. She hadn't celebrated a decent Christmas in years and Christmas tales had been few and far between.

"Glad to see you're getting into the Christmas spirit." Dame Skyla said to her left.

Joanie, still smiling to herself, turned to the woman and nodded shyly.

"With this bunch I can't really help myself." She told the woman softly. "This has been… a great time. Thank you."

The woman smiled and nodded stately. "And its been great having you here Joanie." She said sincerely. "Here, we got you this."

She held out an A4 sized package. The girl blinked and stared at it flabbergasted. When she didn't take it Dame Skyla sat a little closer and dropped it in her lap. "Presents are for opening, Christmas trees for staring." She said with a smile. "The first rule of Christmas, or so I have been told."

Joanie, her eyes wide with shock, slowly ran her hands over the package. She glanced at Dame Skyla before she slowly tore off the sticky tape and pealed away the paper.

Her heart leaped as she stared at the sketchpad with two pencils taped to the cover. Joanie's dark eyes jumped up to meet Dame Skyla's.

"I can't take this."

The woman chuckled. "Should I teach you what presents are for as well?" She queried. "Off course you can child, why not?"

Joanie swallowed, her hands shaking as she put the package down. "I didn't get you anything." She pointed out. "I… You don't even know me."

There was a desperate note in her voice.

Dame Skyla smiled and pushed the package back to Joanie. "I think I know enough." She said. "Please take it, I know you'll use it."

Joanie bit her tongue and finally nodded ever so slightly.

"Thank you." She said with genuine gratitude. Sniffing she pulled the book completely out of the wrapping and opened it on the first page.

A secret smile was passed along the group as Joanie began to draw.

AN: There was actually suppose to be more to this chapter but it's not finished yet (have a kickass lab report to write up.) So, luckily for you it can stand on its own. The misceallus events are done. Enter the rampaging storyline!
Take care now!

Alys

Oh, ps to Gem. :D you know her too well.