Usopp

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"Mama! Mama!"

Banchina quickly hid the blood stained tissue she had been coughing into underneath her bed sheets, and turned a bright smile to her young son. Despite having to care for her alone, he never looked miserable to see her, so she could never bear to look anything but happy when she saw him. The pain always lessened when he was around anyways.

"What is it Usopp?"

The young boy, childlike wonder written all over his face, dragged a chair to his mother's bedside and jumped on it, gesticulating wildly.

"I saw him! I saw Santa!"

She hid her wince with false shock as she sat up, smiling despite the pain. Encouraged by her response the young boy continued

"Uh huh, I was out on the cliffs and a saw him, a big ship sailing across the sky! And it landed on the beach and a he got out, and left all these gifts over the shore!"

"Isn't Santa meant to ride a sleigh?"

The boy stuttered, and she could see his mind making up the lie so he could continue.

"Well, yea, but he had so much to give good people all over the world; it didn't fit on a sleigh. So he upgraded to a boat. The reindeer still work for him though! I saw them hoisting the sails and steering the rudder!"

Banchina's laugh was delicate, but heartfelt. "Reindeer, in a ship's crew? How bizarre!"

"No! They were the best! Much better than the elves! Everyone knows they're too short."

"Really?" Banchina patted her bed, encouraging her son to join her. He clambered up and curled against her as she played with his long dark curls, nodding along as he continued his tale.

His hair was so much like his father's. It was this time of year the woman missed Yasopp the most; and she knew Usopp did too. That's why Banchina always tried hard to make it special for the boy. Though getting sick did throw a spanner in the works. Glancing at her excited son she tapped his nose playfully and asked

"Did you talk to him?"

Curls bounced as he shook his head in negative. "No, he was really fast. He just put the gifts down and was about to fly away so he could visit all the other children. But he saw me and waved, and smiled."

"Wow. That makes you really lucky then, Usopp."

Wide, dark eyes gazed up at her "How?"

"Well, Santa only lets the really special children see him. So for him to wave at you, that must make you extra special. Maybe it was his way of thanking you, for being so good to your mother this year."

Usopp blushed, looking down at the sheets. Sure, it had been hard helping care for mama, but seeing the smile on her face made it worthwhile. If he could keep that smile on her face then everything was worth it.

Her son's sweet embarrassment filled the ill woman with warmth. Even if they weren't able to have a proper Christmas, with her too ill to cook dinner or get up and work to earn money for gifts, he would still pretend it was the best celebration ever. The leftovers from Mairsa-san's dinner would be a feast to him, and though she'd only managed to make him a simple green catapult to replace his worn out one, she knew he'd appreciate it as if it were made of gold of jewels. Just like she intended to with the shells she knew Usopp was going to paint and say Santa left on the beach for her.

Usopp gave her a kiss on the cheek before climbing down gently and retrieving his paints, and Banchina's smile almost faltered. They both tried so hard to enjoy the season together; she just hoped she'd be around for the next one.

...