It was Christmas Eve and Gabby was filled with excitement, and not just because Santa was bringing her presents tonight.

"Gabby, will you stop bouncing around its distracting!" exclaimed Miranda.

She and AJ were sat in his bed trying to wrap up their mama's Christmas present. Gabby had been dancing around in happy circles for about ten minute singing a made-up song about it almost being Christmas.

"Yeah, why don't you come and help us with the sticking?" AJ suggested. He hadn't minded Gabby's bouncing. It was nice to see her happy, but he could see it was bothering Miranda; and she was getting a little grumpy these days because she was sad.

"But mama's going to the ball tonight and she'll be beautiful!" cried Gabby, not wanting to stop her little dance. "I talked to Mommy Angel and she said mama'd be the most beautiful princess there!"

Miranda pulled a face, she didn't like it when Gabby played pretend with mommy's memory.

"You heard her yesterday!" Miranda snapped, a little harsher than she intended. "Marissa doesn't want to go to the Ball!"

That stopped Gabby's happy little dance.

"But she has to go!" Gabby exclaimed.

AJ gave his soon-to-be little sister a grin, to try and keep her happy.

"I think she just wants to spend Christmas Eve with us!"

Gabby shook her head.

"But Mommy Angel said she has to go!" Gabby exclaimed.

"Will you just stop it with all this Mommy Angel!" Miranda screamed in an outburst of anger. "There is no Mommy Angel!"

And with that she tore out of the room in tears.

Gabby looked like she was about to cry too.

"There is too a Mommy Angel." Gabby sobbed." And she said mama had to go to the Ball."

AJ got off the bed and gave Gabby a hug.

"It's okay, she didn't mean it." he said. "But you can't make mom go to the Ball if she doesn't want to. You're not a fairy godmother"

"But Mommy Angel said…" Gabby muttered through her sniffles.

…

Marissa had been in the office wrapping a few last minute Christmas presents for under the tree when Miranda burst in in tears.

"Oh, what happened!" she exclaimed, quickly hiding the gifts under the wrapping paper.

"I yelled at Gabby." Miranda sobbed and ran over for a hug.

"Well, that's nothing to cry about." Marissa said, as she wrapped her arms around her. "Just go back and say you're sorry."

Miranda then murmured something into Marissa's shoulder she didn't quite hear.

"Sorry, what was that?" she whispered, pulling out of the hug and grabbing tissues from the box in the side to wipe Miranda's face.

"I told her mommy wasn't an angel." Miranda mumbled through her tears.

"Oh, but you know that's just harmless game. It just means she doesn't miss her mommy so much."

"I know." said Miranda in a pathetic little voice.

And then she started crying again.

"Oh, shhh…shhh." exclaimed Marissa pulling her into a hug again.

"I've been trying so hard to be good." Miranda sobbed.

"You are good." Marissa said. "You are the sweetest, most helpful little girl I know."

"But I yelled at my sister… and it's Christmas Eve!"

Marissa frowned, not following the logic.

"Why would that make you cry?"

Miranda took deep breath and blew her nose.

"I know Santa might not really be real, but if he is I wanted to be good so I could get my Christmas wish."

"What's your Christmas wish?"

"I can't say." Miranda said looking down at her shoes.

"Yes you c…" began Marissa, and then she understood. "Did you wish for you mommy to come home?" she asked.

Miranda nodded and then burst into tears.

Marissa sighed and kissed her brow.

She didn't say out loud that was her wish too.

…

AJ's words about a fairy godmother gave Gabby an idea. She left him to stomp off to the play closet, pulling off her skirt and jersey as she went. Then she opened up the dressing up chest.

Five minutes later Gabby emerged, dressed in her pink fairy gown with wings and armed with her golden fairy wand with matching tiara.

"Now I'm a Fairy Godmother!" she exclaimed to AJ before heading off to make wishes come true.

First she needed help from a grown-up.

…

Reese was in the den with Maggie, flicking through cookery books to find a gingerbread recipe, with the aim to make a gingerbread house later with the kids.

Gabby walked in wearing her fairy finery and marched up to Reese.

"Momma Reese, I need your help!" she said.

Reese put her book aside.

"Of course, little fairy, what do you need."

Gabby crossed her arms and pouted.

"I'm not a fairy, I'm a fairy godmother." she said.

"Of course you are." Reese said quickly. "So what help do you need?"

Happy with the apology Gabby gave Reese a smile.

"I need your help to get mama to the ball."

"But does your mama want to go?"

"She has to go!" exclaimed Gabby crossing her arms again; it looked like a tantrum was brewing.

"So what do you need?" Maggie asked, swooping to Reese's aid.

Gabby looked to Maggie now too.

She held up her hand and started counting on her fingers.

"Well she has a dress." she said folding down a finger, "But she needs a carriage." She looked hopefully to Reese. "Do we have a pumpkin?" She counted down more fingers. "And then I need a frog… and mice…"

Maggie laughed, as Reese biting her lip to stop her own laughter at Gabby's cuteness.

"Why don't I organise the transport." Reese suggested. "You should probably talk to your mama first though. Find out if she really does want to go to the ball."

"Of course she does." said Gabby skipping off. "I'm going to tell her now."

…

Marissa was taking Miranda to find Gabby so she could make her apology. The older child was very nervous about how her sister would take it and she clearly felt really bad.

Gabby came dancing up in her tutu.

"Hi sweetie." said Marissa giving the little girl a grin, "Miranda has something to say to you."

She pushed the older girl forward as Miranda was currently clinging forlornly to her side.

Gabby danced on the spot impatiently.

"I have something to say to you too." she said.

Miranda stepped up to her little sister.

"I'm sorry I shouted at you." she said, waiting for reproach.

"Okay." said Gabby simply, giving her sister a smile. She had forgotten the moment already. She turned back to Marissa. "Can I tell you my thing now?"

"Okay?" said Marissa intrigued.

Gabby took a deep breath and then waved her wand.

"Mama, you shall go to the ball!" she announced grandly.

"Oh… sweetie." began Marissa. She hadn't been sure what to do about the Ball invitation and was choosing to ignore it. But faced with Gabby's eyes being so big and bright she didn't know how to respond.

Gabby grabbed Marissa hand and led her towards the stairs.

"Come and put your pretty dress on." Gabby insisted. "Moma Reese is finding you a carriage and Mommy's Angel told me you were going to be the prettiest princess there."

Gabby then stopped and grabbed Miranda's hand too.

"Come on M'anda, you help too."

…

Between them, Gabby and Miranda lifted Marissa burgundy dress from the closet and laid it on the bed.

"It's so pretty." Miranda said touching the folds of the fabric. "And you look so pretty in it."

Marissa took a seat beside Miranda on the bed while Gabby disappeared into the closet to find her shoes.

"So do you think I should go to this Ball?" Marissa asked.

"I think so." said Miranda. "If it's for mommy, I think you should go."

Marissa smiled and gave the girl a kiss.

"Maybe you're right." said Marissa, finally making the decision. "I could go for a few hours and be back in time to help you put the cookies and milk out for Santa."

…

And so it was at five o'clock that Marissa was stood at the door in her formal gown waiting for the car that was going to take her to the Miranda Centre Ball.

Reese, Maggie and the kids came out to wave her off. Behind them in the hall, unheard, the phone rang.

…