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Disclaimer: I don’t own them they belong to the WB”“Santa Claus is coming to town! Santa Claus is coming to town! Santa Claus is coming to Towwwwnnnn”
Prue groaned – would she ever shut up! “Piper! Pack it in will you!”
“Anna Corse is hummin to towwwww, Anna Corse is hummin to towwwww”
Prue hid her face in the cushion – now Phoebe was joining in!
“Pooooo!” Phoebe bounded into the room and bounced onto her big sisters knee.
“What Pheebes?” Prue couldn’t help but smile at the excited three year old.
Phoebe beamed back “Anna Corse is humming”
Prue felt her mouth twitch as she listened to the little girl share her knowledge, Phoebes face was serious her eyes wide.
“Santa Claus………..say Santa Claus”
Phoebe frowned “Anna Corse”
“Say Sa”
“Sa”
“ant”
“ant”
“a”
“a” Phoebe giggled as she mimicked her sister
“Now put it together say Sa ant a”
“Sa ant a” Phoebe beamed at Prue and clapped her hands
“Clever girl! Now say Claw”
“Caw”
“No …claw”
“Claw!”
“ssss”
“Sssssssss” Phoebe hissed and stuck out her tongue making her big sister laugh
“So now say clawssss”
“Clawsssss”
“Now say Santa Claus”
“Anna Corse!” Phoebe beamed proudly at her big sister “That right Poo?” Phoebe’s expression changed concerned that she’d got it wrong.
Prue giggled “Close enough!” Prue prodded her baby sister in the tummy making her giggle.
“Pheebes!” Piper bounded into the room “Come on I haven’t finished getting you ready!”
Prue frowned at the middle sister; seven year old Piper looked just as excited as the three year old.
“What are you doing to her now?” Prue raised her eyebrows at Piper as Piper let out a little giggle.
“Nothing”
“Piper!”
“Just dressing her up ready for our visit to Santa”
“Dess up!” once again Phoebes smile filled her face “Dess up! Iper?”
“Yes! Come on” Piper was beginning to get impatient.
Prue felt a sloppy kiss land on her cheek “Bye!”
Prue giggled as she felt Phoebe struggle off her knee, she listened as her little sisters ran up the stairs – she had been feeling sad a few minutes ago, this was their first Christmas without their mum but her mood changed as soon as she’d seen the excitement in her baby sisters eyes.
The eleven year old sometimes felt like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders she heard the excited screams and Pipers laughter coming from the play room, Prue grinned – her sisters were right it was time for fun. Taking the stairs two at a time she soon reached the doorway of the entrance to the room where her kid sisters were playing it took a few seconds to take in the sight before her then she began to laugh a great big loud belly laugh.
Piper started laughing she looked at her big sister who had tears running down her face she was doubled up hardly able to stand.
Phoebe grinned she liked it when people were happy “Poo! Ike my oot?”
Prue managed to compose herself “Yes Pheebes I love your suit”
Phoebe smiled first at Prue then at Piper, Piper held her hand out “Come on babe, Grams is waiting, we can go now”
Phoebe happily took the offered hand and allowed herself to be led downstairs Penny Halliwell was waiting in the lounge ready to take her grandchildren to see Father Christmas. She smiled as she saw the three girls trooping down the stairs then she let out a little laugh “Oh my! Phoebe you do look nice! Father Christmas is going to be so pleased to see you!”
Phoebe let go of Piper’s hand and ran to her grandmother “Who Arfer Sixmas?”
“Father Christmas darling”
“It’s another name for Santa Claus Pheebes”
Phoebe nodded storing away another pearl of wisdom “I is elf!”
“Yes you are darling and such a cute little elf” Penny picked up the three year old and gave her a hug – Piper had done her proud she’d dressed her little sister in the green Peter Pan playsuit and taken a red collar off one of her dresses, Phoebe was wearing her favourite red boots and Piper had topped the outfit off with the red floppy hat off her giant teddy.
Prue and Piper couldn’t help themselves every time they looked at their baby sister they fell about laughing “Pheebes what you going to do when you see Father Christmas?”
“hit on is eee”
“Then what?”
“Tell im what I want”
Prue grinned “That was clear enough! And what do you want?”
“Olly an tain”
“That’s right a dolly and train”
“Ohhh ohhh tain!” Phoebe jumped out of her grandmothers arms and ran round the room “Chooo! Chooo!”
Prue laughed as she caught her little elf and threw her into the air “Yes! A choo choo train!”
“Go now! Go now!” Phoebe tugged at her big sisters hands.
“Alright darlings, just let me get my camera,” no way was Penny going to miss this Kodak moment!
Little Phoebe could hardly keep still, she felt like she was going to burst! She was going to see Santa!
“Now are you going to be a good girl when we go in?” Prue unstrapped the little girl and lifted her out of her seat.
“Eeebee good” Phoebes face was solemn as she nodded her head.
“Good because Santa knows who’s been naughty and who’s been nice!” Piper poked the little girl in the tummy causing her to giggle.
“Go now! Go now!” each of her sisters held a hand as the little elf dragged them towards Santa’s grotto, Penny smiled as she watched them Phoebe looked so cute, everyone that saw the three girls took a double take.
Soon it was the Halliwells turn “Grams I’m too big for this, I’m not going in” Prue frowned at Penny waiting for her reaction.
“Nonsense child! You’re never to old for Santa!”
“Aww Grams!” Prue groaned “I can’t go in, what if my friends see me!”
“You’re with your little sisters Prudence, what does it matter?”
Prue shook her head it was their turn at last they were in front of the queue, Prue felt the sharp tug on her hand, then the little body hide behind her legs.
Reaching down Prue pulled the little elf out into the open “Come on baby, its our turn to see Santa!”
Phoebe frowned at her sister her eyes wide “No…s allight….hugo” Phoebe stared at the big man in the red suit – he seemed huge and his voice was so deep, she pulled away again and hid behind Prue she held on tight with both hands to one of Prue’s legs.
“Come on honey, you’ve been waiting for weeks to see him, come on just say hello”
Phoebe shook her head again “Hugo”
“I don’t want to go…not without you”
“Ho! Ho! Ho! Come on little girl, come and tell me what you want for Christmas”
“I’ll tell!”
Prue watched in amazement as the normally shy Piper ran over and sat on Father Christmas’s knee – what was this Freaky Friday! The normally vibrant toddler was still cowering behind her big sisters legs.
Prue leant down and picked the little girl up “Come on honey – look it’s alright Pipers sitting on his knee, why don’t you sit on the other one, and he’ll give you a nice present?”
Phoebe shook her head again, this time her eyes filled with tears “You say” Phoebes lip trembled.
Prue smiled at her baby girl “What? You want me to tell him about the train and the dolly?”
Phoebe stuck her thumb in her mouth and nodded.
“Go on Prue – help your little sister” Penny was smiling at the antics of her girls Piper was still sat on Father Christmas’s lap she was whispering something in his ear.
“How about I come with you? I’ll keep tight hold I promise”
“Pomissse?”
Prue nodded “Promise”
“Kay” Phoebe gave her big sister a half smile, taking no chances she grabbed even tighter onto Prue’s neck.
“Ho! Ho! Ho! And how’s my little helper? Have you been a good girl this year?” the kindly Father Christmas was used to dealing with frightened children he gave a genuine smile as Phoebe nodded her head, “Come and sit on my knee and tell me what you’d like me to bring”
Phoebe shook her head, “Sit on Poo….Poo sit there!” Phoebe pointed at Prue then at Father Christmas’s knee.
Prue groaned “No Pheebes, you sit on his knee”
“Nooo….Pooo sit”
Piper giggled amused at the predicament her big sister had found herself in
“Sit on Piper’s knee then”
“No! Pooo’s knee!”
Prue inwardly groaned – the things she did for her sisters! She just hoped and prayed that nobody she knew was near by, rather gingerly she sat down on the opposite knee to Piper with Phoebe on her lap.
Penny couldn’t help but smile as she raised her camera – this really would be a snap for the Halliwell family album!
Prue looked really uncomfortable, Piper was grinning and Phoebe was beginning to thaw.
“So what’s your name little one?”
“Eeebbe”
“Eeebbe? That’s a pretty name”
Prue and Piper both giggled they knew Santa was teasing the little elf.
“And have you been a good girl”
Phoebe looked comical; her red hat had slipped down her face her eyebrows were hiked up “Sometimes”
“Only sometimes?” Santa sounded shocked.
“Dunno when to shut up” Phoebe looked sad as she passed on this bit of information to Santa, Prue couldn’t help it she let out a loud laugh – it was something she was forever saying she hadn’t realised Phoebe had taken it in!
“Well I think that’s ok…..now what would you like for Christmas?”
“Kate’s”
Piper and Prue frowned at each other – what had happened to the dolly and the train?!
“Kate’s?” Father Christmas sounded puzzled, it took a few seconds but Piper was able to clear the confusion.
“Skates!”
Prue grinned typical! Prue and Piper both had skates and Phoebe was forever copying.
Penny groaned! She’d already got the train and doll now she’d have to rush out and get the tiny junior skates!
Prue was sat in the dining room staring at the Christmas tree, she felt the tiny knee dig into her lap, the two little hands cling on tight to her pyjama top as her little sister climbed on to her knee.
“Poo?”
“Yes honey?”
“No wan Anna Corse”
“You don’t want Santa Claus”
Phoebe shook her head – she hadn’t really got over her trauma of seeing him in the flesh – she never realised just how big he was, the deep voice had frightened her, she didn’t like the thought of him coming into her room.
“But he’ll bring your presents”
“Yeah Pheebes – he’s a good guy” Piper was grinning as she pushed herself into the chair next to Prue.
“Don’t want” Phoebe was adamant as she shook her head.
“How about he just stays downstairs?” Prue smiled at the little girl, this was such a turnaround!
Phoebe considered it for a while “Kay”
Prue watched as the thumb was thrust into the mouth and the tiny head landed on her right shoulder, Prue gently stroked the back of the fleece all in one sleep suit. Phoebe looked so cute it was red with a reindeer face on the front.
“Udddofff” Phoebe rubbed her tummy where the reindeers head was.
Piper giggled “Rudolf!”
“Said” Phoebe yawned at her sister and closed her eyes “Poo?”
Once again Prue found herself looking into the deep chocolate pools “Go to sleep baby its late”
“Poo? Mamma?” Phoebe pointed to the top of the tree.
Prue took a moment to answer “That’s an angel sweetie”
“Mamma?”
“Not Mamma honey, like Mamma”
Phoebe nodded her head “Kay….like mamma”
It wasn’t long before Prue heard the heavy breathing of her baby sister – Phoebe was fast asleep, she leant down and kissed the tiny baby’s forehead, as she moved up she met Pipers gaze.
“Prue?”
“Yes hone?”
“I didn’t tell you what I asked Santa for, if I tell you do you think it will mean I won’t get it?”
“No baby – I don’t think it makes any difference, he’s packed his sleigh now he’s on his way”
“I asked him” Piper paused and bit her bottom lip “I asked him to bring Mum back”.
Prue nodded she felt the tears sting the back of her eyes “Me too” Prue’s voice was almost a whisper.
“Do you think he will?”
Prue shook her head “No babe, I don’t think he can”
Penny Halliwell listened to her oldest grandchildren she felt the lone tear slip down her face, moving closer she gently lifted Phoebe from Prue’s caring arms.
She pushed in between the older two she felt Piper push her arm through the one that held Phoebe and snuggle in, Penny lifted her free arm and pulled Prue close, “He doesn’t need to darlings, she’s here, she’ll always be watching over you”
Prue nodded as she cuddled into her Grams “Like an angel?”
Grams nodded back “Exactly”
Prue for once took comfort she snuggled into her Grams and kissed her cheek “We’re still lucky aren’t we Grams…you know….we’ve still got each other”
Penny smiled at her oldest grandchild “We’re very lucky sweetie, and whilst it’s right to remember those who can’t be here its also right to enjoy those that can”
“I love you Grams”
“And I love you baby”
The Halliwells went to bed each of them feeling a mixture of excitement with only a tinge of sadness they knew that they already had the greatest gift of all – a warm and loving family.
THE END