Au: Christmas isn't too far away so I jumped ahead with a little festive cheer featuring a song. I'm not religious but this is set in a church. Happy Fluffember too, it's been great.

Set for Fluffember 2021 and it was close to Christmas.

International Rescue was not political, nor did they have views on religion or anything of the sort. But if there was one thing that they were, it was charitable. This year, Lady Penelope had promised her local church that the Tracy family would make an appearance as a chance for the village to thank them for the work they had done in the year around the world and the UK.

It was the 22nd of December, and the church had decided to hold an early carol concert in addition to their Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. The Tracy family had landed that morning to stay at Penelope's manor, and Gordon had been especially excited about staying there due to it being his first time inside the house without either smelling like a polecat or for a stopover on the driveway after a mission. However, since landing, his brothers had teased him endlessly after finding the drain he had explored a couple of years ago where he had met said polecat.

Penelope led the family through into the main lounge which was decorated for Christmas and gestured for them to get comfortable as she sat down on the sofa. Bertie scampered happily over to Alan as soon as he got settled and she smiled.

"Thank you for agreeing to do this," she remarked graciously.

Jeff nodded. "Not at all, Lady Penelope. We make sure to do something like this every year, and it's nice to be doing it somewhere we know."

"That's why I suggested it. I hope you don't mind going formal?"

"People say we look our best when dressed up," Virgil smirked. "Although it's not everyone's 'cup of tea'. Is it, Gordon?"

Gordon wrapped his middle finger around his mug aiming it in Virgil's direction and smiled sweetly. "This I don't mind."

Virgil laughed. "That's the Christmas spirit!"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my duty as hostess," Penelope smiled. "Parker, I think we should serve some drinks wouldn't you agree?"

Parker bowed his head. "Yes, m'Lady."

"This calls for hot chocolate and coffee I think," she said, then looked out of the windows at the snow-covered lawn. "I bet this weather is a little different from your usual Decembers?"

"It certainly is, but we have had white Christmases in the past," Scott moved closer to the open fire then frowned as Kayo shook her head. "What?"

"It's not that cold. You've been to the arctic circle."

"That was different, we were on a mission and were wearing thermals."

Alan chuckled as Sherbet snuggled into his jumper. "So, what are we doing at the church this evening?"

Penelope smiled at him. "I believe they just want to see the team who save lives all year round, and Virgil has agreed to lead one of the carols on the organ."

Virgil paled. "It's not a proper organ, right? I don't know how to operate those."

"No," she chuckled. "It's just a keyboard."

"That's alright then, I wouldn't want to let them down."

Sally rubbed his shoulder. "You wouldn't," she said, and Virgil smiled back at her.

Parker pushed the drinks tray in and Gordon sniffed the air with a hum.

"Chocolate and coffee. That's a mix that can't go wrong," John smiled.

Penelope nodded. "Thank you, Parker. Help yourselves, everyone."

"Let's go outside and enjoy the snow," Kayo said, putting her jacket on, and she took a mug of hot chocolate off the tray. "It may be our only chance."

Scott hung back. "I'll join you in a little while."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing at all, I'll just join you later."

Kayo nodded as Virgil shrugged at her. "Alright. Come on, guys."

Scott looked out of the window at his family standing and playing in the snow, then turned away walking over to the piano in the room. He sat down on the stool and breathed in before laying a chord across the keys followed by a vocal scale. Outside the room, Parker stopped and pressed his ear up to the door with a smile.

"Ah, h'at explains h'it."

Virgil dropped a snowball down Gordon's back then grinned as Scott came outside. "Finally, bro! You've been in there for twenty minutes."

"I was making a call to someone."

"Who?"

"None of your business, Alan."

Gordon shivered. "You're going down, Virgil! I'm soaked."

"It's just water," Virgil replied crossing his arms with amusement. "You love water."

"Not icy water!"

John dodged as a snowball soared over his head. "Hey, watch it!"

Kayo wrapped her arms around Scott's waist and kissed his cheek. "You seem very distracted sweetheart?"

"Hmm? No, I'm fine. Just a little nervous about this Christmas bash."

"What's there to be nervous about? We've done public events before, like that airshow. Although, you were a little hostile towards everyone."

"The announcer was getting on my nerves," Scott shrugged.

Kayo smirked. "It was fun though, right?"

"In the end," he looked down at her with a smile and hugged her back.

Penelope approached Virgil, wary of his and Gordon's ongoing snowball fight. "Is Natasha coming later?"

"She said she would. Anything to see me play the piano apparently. And she's bringing her sister."

"That must have been a shock to find out that she had a sister?"

Virgil shook his head before changing his weight in the snow to stop his feet from getting too cold. "Not really. She was more shocked than I was, but at least it's all sorted now. Natasha got her a job in the administration side of the GDF so she wouldn't be recognised by anyone in public."

"Where are they staying?"

"They've booked a hotel for tonight, then I'm taking them back to Auckland tomorrow morning when we go home. She's spending Christmas at home."

"Sure she is?" Penelope smirked, and Virgil smiled.

"Alright. She'll be over on one of the days," he looked up as it began to snow again. "Then again, we may be extending our stay if we get snowed under."

"No complaints from me," she replied chuckling as she saw Gordon trip and fall face-first into a snowdrift.

It was late afternoon when the family got ready to leave for the concert. Everyone was dressed in their Sunday best, and Penelope smiled with appreciation as one by one they made their way downstairs to the lounge where Virgil was warming up his fingers on the piano after being the first to suit up. They had originally thought of wearing their uniforms to the service, but after Virgil had complained he couldn't play in it and Gordon stated that his one wasn't suitable for church, they had settled for formal black suits. Kayo walked into the lounge wearing an elegant black cocktail dress and smiled at Penelope who was wearing one similar but in dark blue. Virgil looked up at Scott from the piano and smiled as John nodded.

"Looking sharp, Scott."

"Thanks, Virgil, you too."

"When everyone is here, we'll make our way over. Jeff has gone to get the car out of the module apparently," Penelope said, checking the time.

Virgil nodded. "We can't really walk to the church in what we're wearing."

Jeff entered the lounge at that moment. "The car is waiting. Where's Alan?"

"On his way," Gordon piped in walking past Jeff with Grandma. "He was having trouble with his tie. It's sorted now."

"Good. We don't want to be late."

FAB1 led the way with Kayo and Grandma on board, and Jeff followed with his boys in their jeep which gripped the snow like one of their pod vehicles. The church was lit up with white fairy lights and a large pine tree in the courtyard flashed with colourful lights. They parked up and Natasha ran over to the car with her sister, Claudia. Virgil got out, caught Natasha in his arms with a smile and kissed her before saying hi to her sister.

"I can't wait for this, and neither can Claud."

"You've heard me play the piano loads of times, Nat."

"They don't count, this is in front of the public."

Virgil shook his head. "Alright, you win. Come on, let's go inside. It's freezing out here."

They walked down the aisle and Penelope showed them where they would be sitting; in the front two rows. Virgil sat on the first pew with Natasha, Claudia, Scott and Kayo with Penelope on the end and behind them the others slotted in. The service began and the priest announced that their opening carol would be 'Oh Come All Ye Faithful,' but after a speech given by Jeff Tracy.

Jeff stood up and Virgil made his way over to the electric organ as his father addressed the congregation. He spoke about International Rescue's triumphs and disasters but also how touched he was that they had been invited to the village for Christmas.

"Thank you, Mr Tracy. Now would everyone rise for our opening carol," the priest nodded to Virgil to start playing, and Natasha smiled supportively at him after spotting him gulp. He pressed down on the keys as the congregation got to their feet and began to sing with the choir.

'O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant.
O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, Born the King of Angels.'

'O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.'

Claudia nudged Natasha in her side and held her lyric book up in front of her face. "He's an amazing pianist, Nat," she whispered.

"That he is," she caught Virgil's eye and he smiled at her before looking back at the sheet music on the stand for the next verse.

Claudia lowered her voice suddenly feeling shy, and listened to the others around her. Scott's voice was the closest and behind her, she could hear John. Gordon and Alan were much quieter and she grinned putting it down to either not being allowed to belt or not wanting to sing at all. She looked back at Virgil, and the choir began the last verse very happy that the pianist was playing the descant for them.

'Sing, choirs of angels!
Sing in exultation!
Sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above!
Glory to God, glory in the highest.

O come, let us adore Him, (o come)
O come, let us adore Him, (o come)
O come, let us adore Him, (o come)
Christ the Lord!

Virgil smiled at the conductor as he released the pedal letting the organ echo around the church and left the keyboard as the priest began a short speech. He sat down beside Natasha on the pew and kissed her cheek. As he did, Natasha spotted someone in the choir suddenly looking gutted and chuckled softly resting her hand on his knee.

"That was amazing," she whispered to him and he smiled.

"Thanks, sweetheart. I'm still shaking though."

"So am I," she replied with a wink.

A couple more prayers and speeches were made by members of the congregation before the priest announced another carol was to be sung and asked for Scott to come up to the front. The family sat whispering as Scott got to his feet and even Kayo looked around at Jeff for an explanation, but he didn't have one to give. Gordon however, grabbed his phone and hit record wondering what would happen next. Scott stood in front of the choir and looked over at the pianist who nodded at him and began to play the introduction to 'Oh Holy Night,' and the eldest Tracy opened his mouth.

'O Holy Night,
The stars are brightly shining!
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!...'

Kayo felt tears escape her eyes as she gazed at her husband singing in front of the congregation and his warm blue eyes fell on her. Alan sat gobsmacked listening to his eldest brother sing, and Grandma pushed his mouth shut without breaking eye contact with her grandson on the stage. Gordon grinned broadly as he filmed him and stuck his tongue out at Jeff beside him who was shaking his head disapprovingly. Virgil wrapped his arm around Natasha looking up at Scott with admiration and John wiped a tear off his cheek as Scott hit the chorus.

'Fall on your knees.
Oh hear, the angel voices.
Oh night, divine.
Oh night, when Christ was born!
Oh night, divine!
Oh night, oh night divine.'

Scott remained on the stage to sing with the choir on the second verse, and he looked down at his family with a tiny blush as Penelope gave him the thumbs up and Jeff nodded. Gordon stopped filming and hand signalled 'I love you,' which made Scott smile. Claudia wiped tears away thinking back to how much she had hurt the family when she was working under the Hood, and she lowered her gaze to the ground suddenly feeling overwhelmed with guilt. Natasha squeezed her hand and she sniffed quietly.

"We forgive you," Virgil whispered so only she would hear and Claudia smiled back at him and Natasha.

The hymn ended and Scott shook the conductor's hand before returning to the pew where he was hugged by his family and Kayo pecked him on the lips quickly. All other congratulations would be saved for the end of the service which concluded with the carol, 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing,' and the pianist played a long outro of music signalling the end of the service. Once silent, the priest approached the Tracy family and thanked Virgil and Scott for their contributions then wished the family a Merry Christmas.

"How long have you kept that secret from us, Scott?" John asked. "We knew you could sing, but you've always kept it so private."

"I offered as part of International Rescue's involvement."

"But you hate singing in public?" Kayo frowned.

"It's Christmas, and I wanted to do something to be remembered here."

"It certainly will be. I don't know how many eyes were wet in the audience, but there were a few I can tell you that," Gordon grinned.

"You were filming me, you can't have known," Scott teased. "Oh, and I want that footage erased."

"No way! It's going on the socials."

Jeff frowned. "Hold your seahorses. It's not going anywhere near the internet, Gordon. That's not only our privacy but Scott's as well. It can, however, go into the family album."

Scott groaned. "I'd actually prefer it on social media if I had the choice to choose between those options."

Natasha laughed. "I thought that was beautiful, Scott. Virgil never told me you could sing."

"Secret pastime," he smiled then turned to Claudia. "Sorry for making you cry, Claudia."

"No, it wasn't you. I made myself cry," she sighed. "I'm just sorry for everything I did to you all under the CC. You were never our enemy and I can see now that you're just a regular family. I am so, so sorry."

Kayo nodded at Scott and he smiled at her before wrapping his arms around Claudia to her surprise. "We forgive you. And as for your tears, I consider them a compliment."

Claudia chuckled with a sniff as she tightened her hold on Scott's back. "Thanks."

And that's a wrap ;)