Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Author's Note: This is a take on A Christmas Carol. It is centered on Eric and involves characters from both Time Force and Wild Force. I hope you enjoy it.

Ghost of Christmas Present

Eric looked around and realized that he was back on his bed. He leaned back and closed his eyes. The quiet was nice, but only for a moment because then he realized how much he did miss Taylor. She was not fair though. How could she not realize what Christmas was? He needed to shrug off those thoughts and the pain in his chest that he hadn't felt for a few years.

Taking a deep breathe he decided that he should go ahead and try to get some sleep in before the next day. As he lay down he realized that a small part of him didn't want to work. Not sure what to do with that knowledge he was about to bury the idea when he heard a giggle.

His jaw tightened as he realized that Shayla hadn't left and was probably sitting in the chair by his bed. Sitting up he turned to snap at her but was stopped as he realized that it was not the same person. This female had bright pink hair. He stared at her for another second before replying, "Who are you?"

"Nadira. I'm the Ghost of Christmas Present! Isn't that amazing?"

"Your hair is pink."

"Isn't it gorgeous?"

She giggled again and he shook his head, "Go away, I'm going back to sleep."

Jumping up she ran over to the bed and grabbed his hand, "You can't! You have to get up; we have so much to see and so little time."

"Already saw things I don't care to remember. How about you go by yourself?"

"That wouldn't make sense. It's for you."

He rolled his eyes, "Good night." He laid back down and turned his back to her.

"Alright, fine." He felt some weight on his bed and then he heard a blasted Christmas song coming from her mouth. It was Jingle Bells and she most definitely was not being quiet.

Turning around he glared at her but she kept singing. He finally sat up, "Satisfied?"

"Not til you're out of bed."

She continued singing until he stood up. It was right at this point that he missed Shayla, at least she wasn't annoying like this. Although her annoyance was different it was less exuberant. "I'm out of bed. Now what?"

"Come!"

She grabbed his hand and before he realized it they were in the street. It was a little ways from his house and it was bustling with people. He looked at some of the different people and realized their arms were full of bags. He saw someone come out of a store with bags in their arms.
He looked over at Nadira, "They're shopping for Christmas, how is this going to help me at all?"

"Umm…" Nadira began looking around.

Shaking his head he folded his arms, "You have no idea do you?"

"That's not…ah! There he is!"

Eric followed where Nadira was pointing and saw Trip carrying a few bags out of a building himself. He rolled his eyes, "You brought me here to see one of my employees buying Christmas stuff?"

Nadira looked at Eric with a frown, "You really don't know? Alright, come on…let's follow him."

They followed Trip as he walked down the street, a couple of alleys and some more streets before emerging in what Eric recognized was the poor part of town, one in which he had been wanting to get rid of for a while. Trip opened a door and quickly stepped through.

Nadira tilted her head, "Let's go see what he's up to."

Eric wanted to say no but Nadira had already grabbed his hand and pulled him along. They soon were standing in a corner of a small room. There was a table with chairs in the middle. Off to the side he saw a woman with dark skin and hair standing over a stove. "I suppose they're making dinner, can we go?"

"Wait."

A little girl about 5 was sitting in the corner brushing a dolls' hair. When she saw Trip enter the room her eyes lit up and Eric could tell that she wanted to go to him but for some reasons she didn't get up. Trip walked over to her and knelt down in front of her, "How are you Alice? And how is Sarah?"

The little girl smiled which caused a slight smile on Eric's face. It was hard not to when you saw the happiness she had. "I'm fine Daddy. And Sarah is too!" She beamed as she hugged her doll. Eric looked closer at the doll and realized that it wasn't an actual doll, but it was made of parts that you would find around the house.

"Wonderful! Now where are your siblings?"

Alice pursed her lips, "I think they're out back."

Trip stood up and looked over at his wife, "They didn't want to bring Alice?"

The little girl tugged Trips' pants, "I wanted to wait to see you."

Trip smiled and picked up the little girl, "Well I'm quite glad to see you too. How are you feeling?"

"I already told you that I'm fine. Sarah might need a kiss though."

Eric watched as Trip first kissed the doll and then placed a tender kiss on his daughter's head. "Do you want to go and play with your brothers and sister?"

She shook her head as she wrapped her arms around his neck, "Can you tell me a story?"

It was then that Eric was drawn to the little girls' legs; they were dangling in an odd way though he couldn't figure out why. He decided he wanted to stay there for a bit longer, just to find out why.

He glanced over at Nadira who was smiling at the family, "I think it's wonderful that they have a family, don't you?"

He shrugged, "It is what it is."

"Did you want a family?"

"I don't have one."

"That's not what I asked. I wanted to know if you wanted a family."

Glaring at the spirit he spoke as calmly as he could, "I'd rather not talk right now."

Nadira pursed her lips but nodded. Eric turned his attention back to the family. Trip was now sitting at the table with Alice in his lap telling her a story about an emperor who got a bird to sing for him. Alice was hanging onto Trip's every word with a sparkle in her eyes. Although Trip didn't get much for his job he still managed to care for his family.

"Daddy!"

Trip turned and was immediately hugged by another girl who looked to be about 7. Two little boys were standing back grinning. "Rachel, Tom, Peter, how was it outside?"

"It's getting colder." The girl replied and then looked at Alice, "It's good you didn't come, you don't like the cold."

Alice smiled at her, "Thanks."

Rachel shrugged and then handed her a blue flower, "I found this growing, which was surprising, but it's like a miracle, and it made me think of you."

Alice's smile only grew. Trip's wife came up with her hand on her hip, "That was very nice Rachel. Now I'd like you three to go and get cleaned up. It's practically dinner time."

Rachel, Tom and Peter took off presumably to wash hands. Then Trip set Alice in a chair and moved over to his wife to help her out.

Eric looked over at Nadira, "What's wrong with Alice?"

Nadira didn't have a smile on her face anymore, "She has an infection that's attacking her spine and it's affecting her legs."

"Why don't they give her medicine to help out? Surely that shouldn't be a hard thing. And what kind of infection does she have?"

Nadira shrugged her shoulders, "I thought it wouldn't matter to you."

Eric stared at Alice, "No one should be forced to be like that."

It was only a few more minutes before the kids came and all of them sat down to eat, Trip being the last one to sit down. He held up his cup, "Bless Eric."

"Eric?"

Trip turned to his wife, "Of course Katie. If it were not for him we wouldn't be blessed with all this food."

"Eric is a horrible person and I hate that you have to work for him. If anything he should be working for you."

Trip leaned over and held Katie's hand, "Eric might just be having a hard time. We don't know what he's dealing with or has dealt with. I think there's good somewhere in there and he doesn't deserve anyone's hatred."

Katie shook her head, "You're too nice. I love you though."

The two leaned together and shared a kiss. It wasn't long as the boys started making noises. Trip turned back to the kids, "Right, we should eat."

Alice spoke up, "May I say the blessing?"

Katie nodded, "Yes please, go ahead."

Alice folded her arms and the rest of the family followed suit. Eric wasn't sure if they should still be there but before he could decide what to do Alice started speaking, "Thank you for all that we have. Thank you for the food, and this house and clothes. Thank you that Daddy has a job and Mommy and Daddy love us. Thank you for my brothers and sister. And thank you Daddy's boss and bless him that he can feel what I feel. Amen."

The rest of the family murmured their own amens and then they started eating.

Eric looked at Nadira, "Alice will walk again won't she?"

Nadira looked down, "I'm not able to see in the future, after all I am the Ghost of Christmas Present…but I don't think she'll be there much longer."

This Christmas could be the little girl's last Christmas, just like Lucas'. He tried to harden his heart like he had done many times before but he found that he still worried about the little girl. "I'm ready to go."

It was another minute before he felt the warmth of Trips' home disappear. He soon found himself in another place. Looking around he realized it was a party. There were people sitting around, a few were playing a game on a table, others were on the couch. He then spotted Wes.

"Is this…?"

"Christmas now. Of course."

Wes was walking in from the other room with a brunette woman by his side. They two sat in the vacant love seat. One of the others spoke up, "So no Eric today?"

Wes looked up at the clock, "I suppose not…I did invite him."

A woman then spoke, "I'm glad he's not coming. I don't like him. He's mean to everyone."

"I don't know how you stand it," was another's remark.

Wes tilted his head, "Stand what?"

"Come on Wes, how can you be friends with him?"

Eric was sure this was when he would see why Wes really kept bothering him, but the answer shocked him. Wes looked at everyone there, "He's a good guy…well…it's hidden in him, but it's there. He's just been through some hard times."

Everyone in the room got quiet before turning their attention to the fire and other topics.

Wes had a frown on his face. The brunette sitting next to him placed her hand on his arm and quietly spoke to him, "It doesn't mean he can treat others the way he does."

"I know Jen, but he really has been through a lot."

"People go through things all the time; it doesn't mean he's got it worse than anyone else."

Eric thought about what Wes and Jen had said. It was true that he had lost so much at Christmas but…thinking about Alice and how she reacted to things, it made it hard for him to think about why his was so much worse. Was it really? He had lost his brother, his Dad didn't want him, had never wanted him. He lost Taylor, though that was more his fault.

Sighing he waited for Wes to agree with Jen and write him off like everyone had, but to his surprise Wes did the opposite, "I agree, but he's still my friend and I'll stand by him."

Jen leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips, "That's one of the many, many things I love about you."

Eric swallowed and realized that Wes was his friend. Eric was the one messing things up. He shook his head. What was he going to do? Even Alice wanted him to have a chance. And here he was…his thoughts trailed off as he felt Nadira's hand on him. Soon he found himself back in his bedroom. Nadira was still standing next to him touching him.

"Is that it?"

She shook her head, "There is but one more visit you will receive tonight. And…" she glanced around the room even though it was clear it was just the two of them, "Lucas would want you to do better."

Eric's mouth dropped open, "Lucas?"

"Yes, just…he would…I know…I have to go, my time is up."

And before Eric could say another word Nadira was gone and Eric was alone and yet for the first time in a long time he didn't feel alone in his heart and that was something that he was not prepared for.