Edit: I changed the last part a lot... I wasn't really happy with it right from the start and today I felt like writing, so I changed it a little... *wink*
Chrissy.W.x wrote:Annie and her mother were outside in the snow. They had been walking around in the park for a while, before they found a calm place to built their snowman.
Annie loved the snow. Actually it was the first time she experianced snow for real. And it seemed she couldn't get enough of it.
They had put together three balls of snow and put it each on top of the other. Now they were searching for something to make eyes, mouth and nose.
"What about this for the nose?" Annie asked, holding up a piece of a brench.
"That's perfect," her mother agreed. Then she spotted some small stones, over there where they had taken the snow for the man, and said: "And here we have eyes and mouth..."
Annie giggled happily as they went back to give Mr. Snowman a face. When it was done, they both looked at the snowy sculpture with a smile, agreeing that this was the best snowman the world had ever seen.
"C'mon, let's make a photo!" Annie exclaimed happily, her cheeks red from the cold and the excitement.
Her mother agreed, glad to see her daughter so happy after last day's events. So she took dozens of pictures while Annie was posing in front of the snowman.
Then it started to snow again, and it also became a little windy.
"I think we better go back now," the woman said.
Annie looked back at her mother with a sad expression on her face. "Noooo..." she said, "I wanna stay and make another snowman, or let's make some angels in the snow... like the did in that TV show..." And with that she let herself fall into the snow. And lying on her back she moved her arms and legs up and down to create the image of an angel in the snow....
Her mother couldn't help laughing and then with a shrug she let her self fall into the snow too, copying her daughters actions. And they both laughed happily.
Then Annie stopped and looked seriously at her mother. "Do you think real angels like the snow too?"
The smile on the woman's face immediately vanished. She had hoped her daughter could forget all that stuff, but it seems that wasn't possible. She sighed and then answered: "I'm not sure... maybe they do..."
Meanwhile on the other side of the town, Phoebe was sighing frustrated. Holding up the snowstorm globe, she exclaimed: "Ok then tell me what's wrong with that!?!"
"There is nothing wrong with that... I'm just not sure if that's the right gift for someone like Julian..." Cole explained.
Phoebe growled frustrated: "But tell me what is the right gift for him. Do you know that?"
"No I don't," Cole admited, "and actually I thought the diner would be the gift..."
Phoebe's look softened: "I see... But do you really thing that Christmas is perfect without at least one little nice gift?"
Now it was Cole who sighed. His wife was right, he knew. But still he had no idea what to give to Julian. God, he didn't even know him good enough. All he knew was that he was a witch that got demonic powers and that he was helping his former other half... That wasn't enough to find a real * gift. "Maybe we can give him something practical..." he finally suggested.
"Practical like in...?"
"I don't know... I pillow, an umbrella... I don't know Phoebe!" Cole exclaimed.
"An umbrella? Since when does it rain in the underwolrd...?"
Cole just shrugged and hoped that no one else had heard this comment...
"Wait..." Phoebe suddenly said, and idea forming in her brain.
"What?" Cole asked looking at her, knowing that look in her eyes. She had an idea, and he desperately hoped it was a good one. He hadn't the energy for another useless-gift-fight.
"Julian, is a geek right? He loves computers..." the empath said. Cole looked at her frowning, then he nodded. "So what if go back to that computer store and ask if there is anything new on the market... anything he would like to have, maybe... Something useful for him..."
Cole stared at her for a moment, then slowly, oh so slowly a smile appeared on his face, before he hugged his wife tightly so that she almost let the snowstorm globe drop and exclaimed: "Phoebe you're amazing! That's a great idea!"
Then he let go and moved towards the exit of the shop: "Come on," he said, gesturing her to follow.
"Go ahead, I'll be there in a minute!" she said. And when he left she took the snowstorm globe and went to the cashpoint to buy it, before she followed her husband to the computer store.
"Oh that smells delicious!" Angela exclaimed when Bianca pulled her into the kitchen.
Piper smiled a little embarrassed. Then she put down the spoon, whipped her hands clean on a towel and went over to hug their guest. "It's good to have you here," she said to great her.
Angela returned the hug warmly: "Yeah, I'm happy that you invited us."
Then both women noticed that Bianca was smiling in pure happiness and joy, and that she was too excited to stand still for a second. She was so glad about Pipers earlier offer and she couldn't wait to hear what Angela would say. And when the turned to her she exclaimed: "Come on Piper, ask her!!!"
Piper laughed about her daughter in law acting like a child that couldn't wait to open her gifts. It was good to see her so happy, same as Chris.
Meanwhile Angela looked at both of them confused, not understanding what was going on. How could she, she just had arrived a few moments ago.
Piper then shook her head and turned to the young woman, who was frowning by now. "Well," she started, "we don't know about your plans for tomorrow, but... the weather is so unsteady and stormy and snowy... and you have also gifts for the kids, so..."
Angela was still frowning, not understanding what Piper was talking about.
But Bianca couldn't take that beating around the bush anymore so she said: "Do you wanna stay overnight?"
Her eyes wide, and her eyebrows raised Angela asked confused: "What?"
Piper smiled at her kindly and let her to the table to sit down, while she took a seat next to her, and Bianca on the opposite side facing them. Then the oldest of the Charmed Ones explained: "We thought that when you drive home later, it'll be dangerous, because of all the snow and the darkness, and maybe the streets will be frozen... And we also thought it would be nice if you could see the kids when they open their gifts tomorrow..."
Angela was speechless. She had never ever expected such an offer. But on the other hand she felt happy about that, so she agreed: "Of course we stay if you really want us to, but only if we that really isn't a problem."
Piper smiled: "No it isn't you're welcome here... always."
Bianca jumped up from her chair again to hug her friend tightly: "Oh I'm so happy that you're staying."
"Yeah, me too but I need air..." Angela replied laughing, making Piper chuckle.
Bianca then grabbed her hand and pulled her up again: "Come on we have to tell Chris and Mike..."
Piper followed them with her eyes when she left the kitchen. She smiled, happy that they would be all together those days.
Right that moment blue orbs appeared and formed into her husband.
"Hey," she greeted him and gave him a kiss.
Leo pulled his arms around her and smiled: "I've overheard your talk... that was a great idea."
Piper grinned: "I hope so... How was it up there?"
Leo shrugged: "Nothing important, they are just a little nervous about the party, but 'm sure it'll be fun..."
Piper snuggled closer into his arms, sighing contented. "You know what?" she asked then, but answered the question right away. "We have a wonderful family..."
Leo nodded in agreement and hold her even closer: "Yes we have..."
When Michael had had entered the livingroom, Wyatt immediately had ran over to him. So Michael had taken him to his arms to say hello. Then he had greeted Victor and of course Chris, who was really happy to see him. Then Leo had been there to say that he had to go for a moment... But now he had time to tell his story to his friend, to tell bin what he found...
"So what is it?" Chris asked frowning.
Michael looked at Victor who smiled back at him and said: "I guess I'll see what Piper..."
"Oh no grandpa... you don't have to leave... I mean..." Chris turned to Michael, "or is it a secret?"
Michael laughed: "No... not really..."
Victor nodded and sat down again but was already distracted the next moment, when Wyatt came to him to show him his favorite car.
Chris and Michael sat down on the opposite site and the first one looked at his friend expectantly.
"Well... it's about Amy..." Michael said then.
Chris looked at him confused, not understanding. Who was he talking about? He doesn't know any Amy... he... 'Oh my God," he thought when he realised who he meant. "You mean..." he wanted to ask to be sure.
But Michael interrupted him: "I mean the Amy we left in the Middle Age to have a happy life with Gareth the young night she fell in love with..."
Chris just nodded: "But what? Don't tell me she's back or something..."
Michael grinned: "No, I'm sure she's dead since a pretty long time."
Now Chris looked confused at his friend again. He had no idea what his friend wanted to tell him, his words made not much sense to his brain.
"Well... I know it sounds weird," Michael went on, "but she wrote me a letter. Angela found it yesterday evening in an old book."
"A letter?" the Elder-witch asked not believing his ears.
Michael nodded: "It was somehow magical hidden - at least that's what she wrote."
Chris just nodded waiting for his friend to go on. This was all so surreal, but he believed his friend, Michael had no reason to make up such a story.
"She wrote that they managed to secretly escape the death without altering the legend, of course by magic. And when everyone thought Gareth was dead she orbed with him back to America," Michael explained, while Chris just looked at him amazed by what he was hearing from his friend. "She wrote that they finally - after some difficulties - joined a tribe of native americans who lived in the area of San Francisco. And by the time she wrote that letter, she had already two children with him, a boy and a girl. She wrote that they lived a happy life here. it seems Gareth needed some time to get used to the simple live of the tribe but then finally the felt like home here..."
"Wow," Chris muttered. He was glad to hear that they seemingly had the good life she deserved. Even if she had been working against them at first, Chris felt sympathy for her. And even if he knew not much about Gareth, he seemed to him like a very fine man. So yeah, he was happy to know that they had a good life.
"So you're not angry?" Michael asked.
"What? Why should I?"
"Well... Amy thought you'd be angry because this letter is a risk. If it had appeared in the wrong hands..."
Chris sighed. THAT was indeed true. But today was Christmas Even and he didn't feel like being angry. So he just smiled at Michael and said: "But it didn't..."
Victor who had followed their conversation partly, smiled. It was good to see Chris like this, easy with himself and the world around him, without that little wrinkle of worry between his eyes.
"Well..." Michael then started again, "I thought... maybe next year someday, we could try to find her grave... I mean she said, she wasn't sure if she would stay here forever, but... maybe she did. And there is this reservation outside and..."
Chris smiled and nodded, while Victor chuckled, but more about Wyatt then about the two adults.
Right that moment Bianca and Angela entered the room, both smiling a 1000 watt smile.
"What happened?" Michael asked frowning.
"Well... " Angela said and walked over to him to sit on his lap, "Piper invited us."
"For what?" Chris now asked.
Bianca, who sat down by Chris sighed and kissed his cheek answered: "They will stay over night. it's saver with all the snow-storm outside and this way, they'll be here when the kids open their gifts tomorrow."
Michael and Chris looked at each other, then at their wives again and then they both exclaimed: "You're kidding!"
"Nope," Angela said and gave Michael a kiss.
"Wow, that's great!" exclaimed Chris and Michael agreed.
The Elder-witch hugged his wife tightly. That were really great news. Michael and Angela were his best friends, they were almost family, and them being around on Christmas was like a great gift.
"So it seems, Piper managed to get all room occupied," Victor said chuckling, happy to see that Chris was happy. he knew what those two meant to his grandson, and he couldn't deny that he liked Michael and Angela too.
Chris then looked at his watch... They still had a lot of time before the diner, Phoebe and Cole were still somewhere at the mall and Kyle wasn't here either. He sighed, while his curiosity was getting the best out of him.
He turned to his friend and smiled: "You know... we still have some time. Do you like to have a little trip in the snow?" And when he saw Michael frowning he added: "I thought we could orb to that place you talked about, and see what we can find, what do you think?"
Angela who immediately understood shook her head: "Oh no... not today... You can't do that..."
Bianca, even she didn't know what's going on agreed: "Today is Christmas Eve, you will go nowhere, except maybe the kitchen to help you mom, understand!"
Victor couldn't help chuckling, while he observed them. He knew Chris very well, and he knew they would leave... sooner or later. But he couldn't think about this much, because Wyatt asked him to play with him, which he happily did.
Chris meanwhile looked at Michael who nodded. Of course his friend was as curious as him. Then he turned to his wife, playing the puppy-eye-card and said: "Oh come one... we still have so much time, and we'll be only an orb away..."
Julian sat in front of his computer. Distractedly he moved the courser over the screen. There was nothing going on those days. It seems even the demons took a rest during the Christmas time.
He sighed. He missed all that stuff... the singings, the tree, the gifts, his nephews and nieces... His family... Yeah he missed his family.
It was hard to be closed out by them, they just couldn't accept who he became in this past one and a half year. But there was no way back for him so he had to deal with that.
Nevertheless he cursed Zankou for what he did to him. As if it wasn't enough to be trapped in his cell for half a year, no, he had to turn him into something, which his own mother had called a monster.
He shook his head. No, he wasn't like that. He was anything else then a monster. He was still him, Julian Marsh, born and raised as a witch, as a protector of the good side. And that's what he still did, didn't he? So why couldn't his family understand?
"Are you ok?" Belthazor asked suddenly. He had stepped behind him without Julian noticing it.
"Yeah I'm fine," he replied, but his voice was a sad one.
Belthazor nodded: "If there's anything I could do, I..." He stopped, unsure what to say.
Julian looked at him with a weak smile. And he couldn't help thinking that there wasat least one person who cared about him, like his family should do... even if it was weird that this person was a demon. "No, thanks," he said then and rose, "I have to go anyway. I'm meeting the demon from the east in a couple of minutes..."
The source nodded: "Be careful."
Julian nodded. "I will," he finally replied. And then, driven by a sudden need, he hugged the demon tightly. That moment it didn't matter that Belthazor was the source of all evil, he knew he was a good person. He was his friend, and that meant so much more to him.
When he let go of him, and looked in his eyes, he saw a mixture of shock and confusen there, and he couldn't help smiling about that. The source of all evil scared by a little friendly affection - what a funny picture.
"It'll take a while, I won't be back before eleven..." he said and then shimmered away.
Belthazor watched him disappear. Then he smiled, still not really understanding what had happened, even if it had felt good to know that Julian saw a friend in him, too. And then his smile grew even wider when he thought: 'Julian will freak out when he'll be back. He will have his Christmas, the Christmas that he deserves.'





