Merry Christmas, happy holidays, etc. Here it is, the next chapter, just like I promised, she's all set to marry Norrington just like she promised and you get to die for her just like you promised, so we're all men of our word really…except that this is the wrong film, sorry. Deepest apologies, got a little carried away, I blame the alcohol I've consumed in the last few days…Anyway the point is, that this is the next chapter, as it were, ya know, for what it's worth and all that. I should probably apologise for the crappiness of this A/N, and perhaps for the weirdness of this chapter. I feel I should explain, it was Christmas Eve and my muse decided to give me a little present in the shape of this chapter-and the next-but I should warn you now…they're a little strange. So PLEASE no flames if you don't like them…. just tell me what you did like :p or don't review at all…that's all folks, enjoy the chapter, and review and let me know what you think. Merci.

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, well except the mother, everything else belongs to Robbie Rodriguez and Troublemaker studios. Not to mention the wonderfully talented Johnny Depp and cast-although they're not in this story :s

Oh yes the quote above belongs to a very wealthy fictional mouse and the associated companies. So please don't sue me, I own nothing worth having, or anything of any value…

It was Christmas Eve and an eight-year-old Sheldon was lying in bed trying to fight the sleep that was threatening to over come him. This year would be the year, he thought to himself he was going to prove that Santa doesn't exist once and for all, or…if he was wrong, apologise for his lack of belief and then inquire as to why he never got any toys, what had he done that was so naughty. He wasn't that naughty, surely, he thought there were boys in school who always called out and…and threw things, yet they ALWAYS got toys at Christmas and birthdays… That's what he'd ask Santa, why they got presents and he didn't, what had he done that was so bad.

It was four years since Sheldon's mother had died, and he still remembered it. It was a little hazy, but he still remembered the feeling when he called out to her and no one answered…the panic that he was all alone, it had crept up his spine. He pushed the memory out of his mind, "this is not the time, I'm here to speak to Santa…" maybe that's what he could ask for, his mommy back, if he got that, then he'd be good forever…that would be such a great Christmas present. Sheldon didn't really remember his father, whenever he thought about him, he always appeared as a figure covered by shadow, he could only ever make out an outline. After his mother had died they had tried to find his father so he could go live with him, but they couldn't, they never said why that was though, perhaps he's dead too Sheldon thought, anyway, whatever the reason was he had to stay with foster families, until they found him somewhere permanent to live.

His mother on the other hand, he could always remember her; the way she would pick him up and cuddle him when he cried, her smile and her sparkling eyes, and the way her soft hair would tickle his face when he rested his head on her shoulder. He remembered it all, and missed it so much; it made his heart ache with longing.

He couldn't fight it any more, he couldn't keep his eyes open for one minute longer. Every time he blinked they would stay closed for a couple of minutes before he would force himself to open them again. What time is Santa supposed to come? Midnight? Or is that just witches and ghosts? He wondered as his eyes closed for the final time.

Just as he drifted off, a flickering white light appeared at the end of his bed, at first it was about the same size as a candle flame; but it slowly grew, both in size and in brilliance, until it was about the size of a person, a woman in fact. At first the woman didn't move, she stood where she appeared looking at the sleeping child. Very slowly she walked around the bed until she was standing next to his shoulder. "Sheldon" she whispered "darling, I'm so sorry." She stroked his head, sweeping the hair away from his forehead "I'm sorry you have to be here, alone at Christmas, and don't you ever think that this is your fault, you, my darling, have done nothing wrong." She tried to fight back the tears as her poor, beautiful happy little boy, had to spend Christmas in a foster home. A single tear slid down her face as she thought about her little boy growing up without a mother, and all the things she would miss out on, his first kiss, his graduation, his wedding, his children-her grandchildren… She kissed him on the forehead, "Merry Christmas sweetie, I wish I could stay with you, but I cant I have to go" and with that she disappeared, the light faded, and everything was black again.

Sheldon awoke with a start "Mommy?" he called out, he looked around, but there was no one there. He began to sob when he realised that it must have been a dream, his mommy couldn't have been just here because she was dead. He lay back down, curled up on his side and cried himself back to sleep. Santa was completely forgotten.

And there we have it, this is for those of you who wanted to see another chapter, bet you're regretting it now, ey? I do apologise for it being so short but my damn inspiration, is telling me to take a hike, as it's a bank holiday, and it refuses to work without double pay-which I just cannot afford! I have kinda written another chapter to go after this one, and there may be another one after that. So that's 4 in total…if my muse stops being a pain in the ass and does it's job! Otherwise I'll have to trade it in-you hear that muse? I'll trade you in! Ok I'm done rambling like an idiot now, but I just have to say that the line 'Panic…it crept up my spine like the beginnings of an acid frenzy, belongs to Hunter S Thompson, and has been adapted for this fic. That's it, all I have to say, except please review…