Sofia and Amber like to watch James when he writes, and sing with him when he writes to music. But sometimes he wants to work on something for them, but they know enough to pretend to be surprised! Little does James know that his simple writing session turns into a family sing-along. Even Queen Melinda joins them, to make the sing-along even more special. Roland's joke is from the holiday movie Elf. George Strait's music is not mine.

Amber was walking down the hall when she heard the opening notes of a Wassalia song. "It can't be," she mused as she heard James singing to himself. She moved closer to his door, which was wide open, so she could easily hear the song, which sounded very familiar to her. She hadn't heard it in so long, and she wanted to make sure she was right. "Please let it be what I think it is!" she murmured.

"Amber, what's going on?" Sofia's voice cut into her thoughts.

"Sofia, come here! Don't you hear it?" Amber asked, motioning her over.

Sofia stopped next to Amber, and as she listened, she smiled when she heard James start singing a very pretty song.

Tricycles, bicycles
Candy canes and candlelight
Tryin' to stay awake all night
To catch a glimpse of Santa's reindeer

"That's pretty," Sofia smiled.

"Yes it is," Amber smiled. "Follow me, Sofia."

"Follow the music?" Sofia giggled, "That sounds like something we'd do on a vacation, following the music and letting it lead us to a new adventure!"

"We'll have to tell Daddy that the next time we go somewhere in the Cloud Coaster!" Amber laughed with her as they followed the song to James' door, which was wide open. "We don't need a map, just go where the music leads us!"

They peeked in and heard James continue the song, Mama bakin', sister makin'
Angels in the fallin' snow
Now it seems so long ago
I wish they all were here

"I like that," Sofia smiled.

"Mother used to sing this when James and I were younger," Amber remembered. "She sang this every night during the Wassalia season. She even sang it at a party one year."

As she gave her a hug, Sofia smiled as they watched James working on something in his room. He was even using his Scout Sprite, Jazzy Gingerberg, as a writing consultant as he looked over at her from her spot that day on his desk.

At the same time, Roland and Miranda came up just as James started the chorus.

We'd have an old time Christmas
An old time Christmas
Just like the ones from yesterday
We'd leave the world behind us
Let the spirit find us
And have an old time Christmas
For old time's sake

"That's pretty," Miranda smiled, "I remember Queen Melinda sang that once during a Wassalia party a few years ago."

"Oh, yes," Roland smiled as he put an arm around her. "She even sang that to James to help him rest the first time he got sick from Pelicant Eggshell Powder when he was a child, and it's been a favorite Wassalia lullaby for him and Amber ever since."

James looked up as he heard Roland join him.

Friends singin', bells ringin'
Snowman standing in the yard
It's a living Christmas card
Captured in our hearts forever

"Your mother always loved this song," he smiled as he sat next to him on the bed and picked up one of James' 'writing associates' to help him with his story.

"She'd be proud that you're continuing her tradition of singing this," Miranda agreed, sitting on his other side and smiling at the little plush dog.

As he accepted a hug from her, James smiled at Little Rex as he joined in, Friends scatter, it's won't matter
The magic never melts away
It only takes a Christmas Day
To make it reappear

"Indeed I am. That's my boy," they heard a new voice behind them.

"Mom!" James smiled as Queen Melinda appeared next to him.

"Mother!" Amber smiled as she hugged her.

"Queen Melinda," Sofia smiled.

"It's good to see you again, Melinda," Miranda smiled.

"Indeed it is," Roland agreed.

"Hello, everyone, and you too, Jazzy," Melinda smiled, giving James' Scout Sprite, who was wearing a blue and green plaid skirt that day, a little wave. "I heard one of my favorite Wassalia tunes, and I just had to come hear it again."

"I think we all know the answer to this, but do you want to sing with me?" James asked.

"I'd love to," Melinda smiled. "And is Jazzy helping you with a story?"

"Yes she is, and I'll let Little Rex help me too," James smiled. "It's Jazzy's first time helping me, and she's given me some really good ideas!" He whispered to her, "Sof and Amber are going to love this when I make copies of it for them! I even put their Scout Sprites in it, along with Jazzy!"

"Your secret's safe with me," Melinda whispered back.

"I like to whisper too," Roland whispered behind them.

"Oh, Rollie," Miranda smirked.

"He did that every year when Amber and James were little and wanted to confide their Wassalia secrets to me, or any other secrets they had," Melinda chuckled. "Even when Jazzy was here and they whispered to her, he'd sneak up behind them and do that!"

She put an arm around James and reached out to Amber as she sang with them, We'd have an old time Christmas
An old time Christmas
Just like the ones from yesterday
We'd leave the world behind us
Let the spirit find us
And have an old time Christmas
For old time's sake

Melinda waved everyone in so they could finish the song together.

"I know I sound like James when I say this, but I love this song," Amber smiled.

Melinda hugged her as everyone finished the song together, So leave the world behind you
Let the spirit find you
And have an old time Christmas
For old time's sake

"We should sing this at the Wassalia party," Sofia suggested as Miranda hugged her.

"That's a wonderful idea, Sofia," Miranda smiled.

"And maybe our Scout Sprites could join us too," Amber agreed, thinking of Snowflake Twinkleton, the Scout Sprite she had recently adopted and who was in Roland's study that day, and of Sofia's Scout Sprite, Sparks Billingham, who was on her throne.

"If they all appear in the ballroom, then yes, I think they'd love that," Miranda smiled.

"Scout Sprites do love music!" James grinned.

"Even they know that music makes everything better," Melinda smiled.