Thanks to all of you who reviewed Sunrise. You all rock so much. This next installation is dedicated to my dearest Ra-Ra and Destiny45. This is my Christmas story for 2005, so please enjoy. Merry Christmas all!

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In the Snow

Do you get that special feeling on the eve of December 25th? That feeling deep down that the next day will be filled with happiness, that your family and friends will surround you, and you'll feel so loved and cherished that you think you'll burst? Well, I'm sure most of you do, as do the B-Squad Cadets of the SPD Academy. All except one.

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Sky Tate's eyes flew open. His gaze travelled around his room, from Bridge's empty bed to the window with curtains pulled over it. Bridge had gone home to his family for Hanukkah. His comforter was sprawled over the bottom half of his body. Shivering slightly, he pulled it over his shoulders and closed his eyes once more.

As if he had been jolted with an electric shock, Sky sat up. Today was Christmas.

Throwing his comforter of him, his swung his legs out of bed and ran to the window. He crossed his fingers, just like he always used to when he was a child, and pulled back the curtains. A smile began to creep over his young face.

He turned and left his room. He sped up as he walked through the twisting corridors of SPD and found himself in the girls' quarters. Jack had gone to the homeless shelter to give the kids Christmas presents and Syd and gone home to spend Christmas with her mother and father. The only person left was Z.

He rapped on her door. A muffled voice answered from within.

"What is it?"

"Z, are you awake?" Sky whispered.

"I am now, thanks to you!" the voice answered. She sounded irritated.

"Can I come in?" He heard her sigh.

"I suppose," was her reply.

The door opened, and Sky stepped into the dark room.

Z was still in bed, her pillow over her head. As she heard Sky get closer, she removed it and threw it to the other side of the room. It revealed her worn face and her mop of scruffy dark hair. To Sky, she looked rather cute.

"What?" she persisted.

Sky reached for her hand, but she pulled away.

"It's Christmas, Z!"

Z shrugged. "I don't do Christmas."

Sky furrowed his eyebrows, confused. "How can you not do Christmas?" By the time he had finished his sentence, he realised he already knew the answer.

Z fell back onto her bed as Sky sat down beside her. She closed her eyes in deep thought.

"I'm sorry, Z."

"No, it's okay. I'm used to it."

Sky shook his head. "How can you be used to not having a decent Christmas?"

"I guess I've just never experienced one, at least, not that I can remember. I've always been on the streets in the cold. Jack always tried to cheer me up, but he never could," she recalled sadly.

"Why?"

A single tear crept out the corner of Z's closed eye.

"It's the anniversary of my parents' death," she said softly. Too proud to show any more emotion, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Sky placed an arm around her and pulled her close.

"Come with me," he said, "I've got something to show you." He held out his hand again, and after a moment, Z took it and he helped her up. She slid her feet into her slippers and Sky led her out of the room.

"Where are we going?" she asked curiously.

"You'll see."

He led her up a down a few flights of stairs. They ended up in the entrance hall. Z's vision suddenly went black.

"Sky! What are you doing?" His hands were over her eyes. She couldn't see a thing.

"Just hold on, will you? Now, walk forwards, a little bit further. Two steps to the left. Walk again."

Z felt a sudden chill that made her shiver.

"Are we outside?"

"Perhaps," Sky said playfully. "Right, open your eyes."

The sight was something Z had seen many times before, yet this time, she looked at it a completely different way. Snowflakes were falling from the heavens, ever so slowly, drifting to the ground. The city was covered in a thick sheet of white snow. It looked so innocent and pure. Even though it was cold, Z felt so warm inside.

"Merry Christmas, Z."

She turned to him and threw her arms around him. "Thanks, Sky."

He grinned. "God's looking down on us, you know. We're blessed."

"Yup, we sure are."

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What do you think? Good, bad? I would have posted this sooner, only I'm in a pantomime all next week and every spare moment has been spent rehearsing! Well, anyway, enough of my excuses. This will be updated again with Fairy Dance Dreams unless I can think of a better title. Toodle-oo for now! Reviews are much appreciated!