Haileys eyes shot open. With the vigor of her youth, she sprang out of bed and onto the carpeted floor, and took a deep breath. She could feel it in the air: this was a special day, unlike the full moon, Friday the thirteenth or even Halloween. Those were youkai days after all, while this day was for everybody. Even in this den of youkai, the feelings of togetherness and goodwill had seeped into the very walls. Perhaps even here more than most.

But now was not the time to revel, for there was work to be done for the little Youkai. Hailey picked up the clothes she had laid out the night before and dressed herself with vigour.

Dressed in green and crimson, and adorned with white fluff and pom poms. Hailey flew from her room with joyful strides, passing a thoroughly amused Sakuya, whose headdress had been replaced by a festive red cap with a single white pom pom.

"My, is it time to start already?" Sakuya asked, checking her silver watch against the hall clock. She corrected the one in her hand, and went to wake up her mistress.

Hailey on the other hand, was already tearing down the steps into the basement and into the labyrinthine corridors, taking every turn with practiced ease until she arrived at the imposing oak doors of Flandre's room.

Hailey kicked them open with nary a care and charged into the room. With a running jump, she booted off the coffin lid and landed astride the sleeping vampire within.

Then suddenly remembering who she is waking up, started shaking her very gently.

"Flandre… wake up Flan." Hailey whispered at the sleeping vampire.

"Hmmm... Hailey?" Flandre mumbled, her eyes opening a fraction.

"It's time to wake up Flan." Hailey said, shaking her more.

"Wha time is it?" Flandre murmured.

"Eight in the morning." Hailey said.

"Too Early," Whined Flandre, shutting her eyes. "Go away."

"Flandre, have you forgotten what day it is today?"

"Wha…" Flandre mumbled, opening her eyes again

"Yesterday was Christmas Eve Flandre," Hailey sang. "That would make today…"

"Christmas…" Flandre said, her eyes opening wider, before she smiled as bright as the sun and cheered. "It's Christmas!"

Hailey laughed. "Of course it is silly." Reaching down she helped Flandre up and ran her over to the dresser. "Come on Let's get you dressed."

With practiced ease, Hailey stripped Flandre out of her nightgown, and into a deep crimson fleecy Parka-dress combination, as well as Elbow length woolen gloves, thick black tights, and a balaclava that covered her whole face bar eyes. To finish the ensemble, Flandre pulled on some large Snow boots.

Without further ado, Hailey and Flandre, the latter feeling far more awake, charged out the basement laughing and cheering.

In one of the many corridors of the manner, they passed Sakuya yet again, this time accompanied by a rather sleepy looking Remilia.

Remilia watched the pair hare past her, and stifled a yawn. "Why on earth must Christmas be celebrated during the day?"

"It would be less of a problem if you went to bed earlier like you told Flandre." Sakuya observed.

"I'm not some child that needs to be sent to bed," Remilia said, trying to rub the sleep from her eyes.

"Oh course you're not Mistress," Sakuya said.

Remilia glared at Sakuya. "You know, I can recognize patronising when I hear it."

"Of course you can Mistress," Sakuya said.

Remilia couldn't help but pout. "Go and see to your duties, and do something about that disrespectful tone."

"Of Course Mistress," said Sakuya, allowing herself a smile, before walking leisurely away.

Remilia stalked off to the library, "Stupid sassy Sakuya," she mumbled irritably.

There was a shutter sound.

Remilia turned to see Sakuya with a camera.

"Wha-Hey!" Remilia cried out indignantly.

"Sorry Mistress, it's just so rare to see you with your guard down, I couldn't resist." Sakuya said, walking off again.

Remilia sagged. "Bloody Christmas." She muttered.

It was hard being a dignified vampire when no one in your household took you seriously anymore.

After pulling Flandres hood up and slapping a pair of wraparound sunglasses on her, Hailey and Flandre pushed open the door, Flandre squinting at the bright white snow, even through the tinted lenses.

"You ok Flan? You feel anything burning?" Hailey asked as she stepped out into the snow.

"I'm fine, just a little bright." Flandre said following her out, even as her eyes adjusted, Hailey's red and green dress stood out like a sore thumb.

"Alright then… Welcome to your outside day!" Hailey announced gleefully, throwing her hands in the air.

"Hooray!" Flan cheered, mimicking Hailey.

"Good morning girls," Meiling said, stepping out from around a pile of snow.

"Morning!" Hailey and Flandre said, stomping through the deep snow to give her a hug.

Meiling hugged the both of them before lifting them onto her shoulders and continuing her walk. "So What's on the itinerary today."

"Itini- Iitina-" Flandre puzzled out the word.

"It means what we plan to do today." Hailey said. "We haven't really planned anything this year, we are just gonna do stuff until Remilia calls us in for presents and lunch."

"So a whole buncha nothing huh?" Meiling said. "Want some help?"

"The more the merrier," Hailey giggled. "Shame Remi's so grouchy in the morning."

"Yeah, mornings don't really agree with the Mistress. She's not bursting with youthful energy like you two are."

"It would be nice if she did though…" Flandre said, wistfully.

Hailey and Meiling shared a glance. Before Hailey spoke. "I'll tell you what, after lunch, and Remilia has a chance to wake up, I'm sure she will be happy to have a roll about in the snow with us."

"You think?" Flandre said, "She hates snow though."

"Maybe," Hailey admitted, before leaning over Meilings head to rub Flans hooded head, "But she loooves her sister!"

"Hehe." Flandre giggled.

Hailey then hopped off Meilings shoulder, and stomped off into the snow. "Now come on, we got lots of nothing to do!"

"Yeah!" Flandre cheered, launching after her. "Let's make snow devils!"

Meiling chuckled and followed after them.

What followed was hours of making snowmen…

"Look, look! It's a snow Meiling!"

"Not yet it's not, help me put these on her chest-"

"Hailey!"

Snowball fights…

"Taaaake, this!"

"WaitFlanthatstoobi-"

*FWUMP*

"...I'll get the shovel."

High speed Meiling powered sledding…

"Hold on tight girls!"

"Haha! Faster Meiling, Faster!"

"Woo!"

And finally making snow castles, when Sakuya stepped out of the door.

She regarded the Frankenstein Snow castle, clearly made by three different people with varying talent in building.

"Hey Sakuya," Meiling said, as she used a garden trowel to gently sculpt the crenellations on a tower. "Is it lunch time already?"

"Indeed, The Mistress requests you gather in the dining room, and after we will adjourn to the library for the giving of gifts." Sakuya said.

Hailey gently backed out of the tunnel she had been digging into the front wall and stood up, "Alrighty! Come on Flan, time for food and presents."

"But I'm not finished!" Flandre said, turning around, and accidently demolishing with her wing, what could have been called a tower if you were feeling generous, that she had up until then been building. "Aww, not again." she moaned, looking at the pile of snow at her feet.

"Hey, don't worry about it, we can always finish up after." Hailey said, taking her hand. "Come on, let's not keep Remi waiting.

"Allright" Flandre said, but she was clearly getting excited.

Hailey led Flandre back into the house, with Sakuya and Meiling following behind.

Christmas Lunch came and went, and soon enough the various members of the Scarlet household, including all six fairy maids, all collected in the Libraries central Atrium, which had been decorated with a colossal five story pine tree, fully decked out in hundreds of meters of lights and tinsel, and over a thousand ornaments and baubles. right at the top was a gently shining star.

At the base was a deceptively large mound of wrapped gifts, which they all sat around in the various couches and armchairs that had been erected in the shade of the massive pine. Remilia and Hailey sat at either end of the couch, with Flandre sitting between them. Patchouli and Meiling sat in their own armchairs, Sakuya stood by the present pile, and the fairies were sitting wherever they felt like, some even hanging in little hammocks on the tree itself, almost becoming living ornaments.

"Well now, I think it's time to start handing out the presents," Sakuya said. "Mistress Flandre, could you help me pass them about?"

"Yes Sakuya!" Flandre said eagerly, hopping up and standing in front of Sakuya, expectantly.

"Now this one is for… Meiling, from Remilia," Sakuya said, handing Flandre the package.

Flandre eagerly took it and ran over to Meiling, handing her the gift. "Here!"

"Thank you Flan," Meiling said. "And Thank you Remilia." She unwrapped it to reveal a large dragon statuette made of Jade. "Wow, this is super pretty."

"It's nothing special," Remilia said, looking a little pink, "I wasn't sure what to get you this year, but I saw that in an antique shop and I thought of you."

"I love it Remilia, don't worry about it," Meiling said, holding the dragon up to examine it. "I think I'll put it on my dresser."

"Alright, next we have… Remilia, from Hailey."

Remilia groaned slightly as Flandre hurried over with her gift. "Lets see what you got me this year Hailey."

Hailey pouted. "Aww come on, my presents aren't that bad."

"Let me be the judge of that..." Remilia said, taking the gift and gently unwrapping it. "Hmm? A train set? Why, this is more than I was expec- glow in the dark stickers, really?" Remilia's pleasant surprise turned into a deadpan when she lifted the sheet of stickers taped to the side of the box.

"Just a reminder to lighten up," Hailey said, grinning. Patchouli snorted, and Remilia groaned.

"Of course, why did I expect otherwise. Honestly, why must you insist on always giving me toys and jokes. Very bad jokes I might add."

"Because someone needs to remind you to have fun. Otherwise you get all snooty and aristocratty."

"I think the term you are looking for is 'dignified'." Remilia said irritably.

"Does that mean you don't want the train set?" Hailey asked.

"Now I never said that…" mumbled Remilia. "... thank you, I suppose."

"You're welcome Remi," Hailey giggled.

"Alright, next is-" Sakuya said, lowering the camera and turning back to the present pile. But Flandre interrupted her. "Ohh, ohh! Can I give my gifts out!?"

Sakuya smiled. "Of course you can Flandre."

Flandre quickly ran to the side, and picked up a box full of small, inexpertly, yet lovingly wrapped objects and took it to the center of the group, and started handing them out delicately to their intended recipients. Even the Fairies got one each.

"I made all these myself, come on open them!" Flandre said happily.

Each person unwrapped their gifts, only to find a delicate, handmade snowglobe, made of variously shaped jars, each with a little toy in each and filled with glitter.

"Wow, you really made these all by yourself?" Hailey said, shaking the tiny jar and watching the glitter float around.

"Well, Meiling helped" Flandre admitted. "But it was mostly me! I swear."

Remilia set hers aside, stood up, embraced Flandre. "Thank you Flandre... words cannot express how proud I am of you."

"Hehe, Thankyou sis." Flandre said, returning the hug.

Hailey contemplated joining, but decided this was a sister moment, and simply shook her snowglobe again.

After thank yous were given, and snowglobes shook, presents were resumed, each party eventually gaining their own pile of gifts.

Sakuya's pile was the most modest, mostly consisting of various different sorts of knives, ranging from high class yet practical kitchen knives, to ornate silver daggers, and a cute hand-knitted ocean blue sweater from Meiling. Patchouli of course gave her books.

Meilings collection got some saplings for her garden from Sakuya, some old looking scrolls from Patchouli, and a collection of video cassettes of fighting anime from Hailey. The Fairies also seemed to have come together to make a bright green sweater for her, which was about two sizes too big, but she wore it anyway.

Patchouli got as she gave, which was mostly an excessive amount of books, in addition to her Meiling sweater, which was of course a shade of purple, this year Lilac.

Considering her ego, Remilia's pile was also fairly modest, comprising a deep crimson, bat patterned Meiling sweater, some suspect novels from Patchouli, and a box of homemade, suspiciously red sweets from Sakuya. And this suited her fine, for this was not her day after all, but her sisters.

Hailey on the other hand, got a fair bit more, from both in the house and outside it. She had received several dresses from Remilia (goth loli, of course), a couple of books sat in a pile, a combination of interesting magical books from Patchouli, and some quirky novels from Ran. Chen had given her a dog eared headband for hers and everyone else's amusement, and Yukari had given her a box of various anime figurines. She had also received some games from Sophie, as well as a small note reminding Hailey to set up a meeting for her with Remilia at some point, and a well meaning, but ultimately misguided guide to magical haircare from Lily. Haileys Sweater stood out as being the most odd, being bright orange, and with the symbol for the turtle hermit school printed on the back, which Hailey absolutely loved.

Flandre gained the most, as everyone seemed to give her more than one gift. From Remilia she was given a giant person sized teddy bear, two new dresses, and a big box of duplo. Meiling had given her two homemade plush rabbits, and a bat patterned sweater with inverted colours to Remilias. Patchouli gave her a small stack of picture books as was her custom, as well as a children's novel, which she said she could 'work up to'. Sakuya's gift was a box of handmade cookies and several jigsaw puzzles. And this is not even covering the pile of bizzare toys that the fairies had gifted her, which they had probably either shoplifted or bought by someone else for them to give to Flandre, as Remilia didn't pay them.

And she hadn't even got Haileys gift yet.

"Huh?" exclaimed Flandre looking down at the proffered box, it was an ornate wooden box with intricate rose gold floral inlays. A single red ribbon was tied over the lid

"Come on, it's my gift to you. Take it!" Hailey said enthusiastically.

While Flandre took the incredibly pretty box from her hands reverently, Sakuya rose her eyebrow. "I don't recall seeing that under the tree, it's not even wrapped."

"I didn't think I should, it almost seems like a crime to wrap such a nice box in gaudy wrapping paper, even the ribbon felt kinda off," Hailey said, rubbing the back of her neck. "And I didn't put it under the tree cuz I wanted to save the best for last."

"Well look who's feeling confident," Remilia teased. She had a hunch of what was in the box though, after all, get a gift from a dollmaker and there are only so many things it can be.

Pulling the ribbon off, Flandre set the box down, and opened it, and she gasped. As gently as she could, she lifted out a beautifully made doll.

It was also strikingly familiar.

"Hailey, is that a doll of you?" Remilia said, in disbelief.

It was indeed a Doll of Hailey, everything from her mint green dress, to her messy ponytail, from her scar to her glasses, down to the tiniest detail it was unmistakably Hailey Potter. Alice had outdone herself.

Remilia wasn't sure whether she was awed more by the craftsmanship, or the sheer audacity.

"You see Flandre," said Hailey, ignoring Remilia's judgmental glare, "With me attending school for the next six and a half years, we won't get to see each other as often as we used to, and I know you've been getting lonely. So I thought I would give you your own substitute me! This way, even when I'm not here, you don't have to feel lonely."

"Wow~" Flandre said, looking down at the doll, enchanted by its sheer beauty.

"And that's not all!" Hailey said. "Why don't you try giving it a hug?"

Flandre did just that, and as she held the doll close to her, it leaned up to her ear, and whispered into her ear, so softly, that only she could hear.

Flandre stiffened, before she gently put the doll, back down, and hugged Hailey for real.

"Thank you." she said softly.

"Aww don't mention it, I couldn't just leave you to be lonely after all." Hailey said, returning the hug.

"Is it really ok for me to have something this nice though?" Flandre said, with a tingle of uncertainty. "What if-"

Hailey hushed her. "Now Flandre, would you hurt me?"

Flandre eyes bugged. "NO! I swear I would never-"

"Then what's there to worry about?" Hailey said. "I trust you. I know you would never hurt me, that's why I can trust you with this doll."

Flandre looked at Hailey, before hugging her even harder.

Hailey tried her best to ignore her crushed ribs, as it would spoil the moment.

From the sidelines Meiling chuckled. "You gotta hand it to Hailey, that was one hell of a gift."

Even Remilia had gone from judgemental disbelief to quiet resignation. "Yes, Only Hailey could come up with a gift so thoughtful and heartwarming, yet so completely and utterly narcissistic."

After Flandre had calmed down Remilia spoke up again. "Well I suppose that's everything then…"

"Not Quite," Sakuya said, pulling out from behind a chair, a plain brown parcel. "In today's mail, there was a parcel addressed to Hailey, it came by owl and has no sender. I had Patchouli check it over to see if it was safe, but it lacked any meaningful kind of magical signature. Nevertheless, I think Hailey should take it anyway, as it might be a present from someone especially paranoid. And if it does turn out to be dangerous, I'm sure all of us together will be able to deal with it effectively, I only brought it out now, so it wouldn't potentially ruin the mood."

"Ohh how exciting!" Remilia said, clapping her hands excitedly "A mysterious package of unidentifiable origin, go on Hailey, open it."

"You don't gotta tell me twice," Hailey said, taking the parcel and ripping it open, spilling its contents on the floor, a cloak of liquid like fabric, and a small note.

"A cloak?" Hailey said, picking up the note first, and read it aloud. "Your father left this in my possession before he died. It is time it was returned to you. Use it well. A very merry christmas to you."

"Oh, how mysterious." Remilia said, who seemed to be enjoying this. "Whatever could it be?"

"An Invisibility cloak," Patchouli said, who had stood up, and had picked it up off the floor to examine it. "A very rare one if it did indeed belong to her father, they don't usually last that long these days." She ran a thumb across the material. "This is no ordinary material either, might even be death's mantle."

"Woah... can I try it?" hailey asked.

"Patchouli tossed it over her head. "Don't see why not, it's yours after all."

There was a gasp from Flandre as the oversized cloak instantly covered Haileys tiny frame, rendering her invisible.

"My, that is quite the airloom," Remilia said. "It is said that you can hide from death with that cloak."

"Utter nonsense mind you," Patchouli added. "Death is not something you can hide from, it comes to you when your time has arrived, no sooner or later, it is not the shinigami's duty to see you personally dead, but only to ferry you across the river when that time comes."

"Spoilsport," Remilia said, dryly.

"Nevertheless, that is an artifact of considerable value and use," Patchouli said, to the spot where she hoped Hailey was still standing. "It renders you immune to any kind of visual or magical detection. Mind you, it won't stop you from being heard or smelt or other types of more mundane detection, like thermal imaging, so keep that in mind."

"Patchy, she's standing behind you," came Remilia's amused response.

"Of course she is." Patchouli sighed in resignation.

There was a giggle, then a "ah!" followed by a soft thud, and an "OOF"

Patchouli sighed again. "Please try and avoid tripping on the irreplaceable magical artifact."

Hailey's response was to grumble and throw the cloak off her, before gathering it up and folding it in her hands, and adding it to her pile.

"Well, that was a good addition to the festivities," Remilia said, clapping her hands with a sense of finality. "I suppose all that's left on the itinerary is christmas dinner." Remilia gave a dainty yawn, "Seeing as how that's several hours away, I think I'll go have a little na-"

"Hey sis. Come play with us!" Flandre said, cutting off her chance of escape. "Please, it will be fun I swear."

"Eh, what? Well… You see, big sister is feeling rather tired…" Remilia tried, but in the face of her sister's puppy dog eyes, both her charisma and her excuses seemed to abandon her.

"I'll be out there in a minute Flandre. I just need to get dressed," Remilia said in sullen resignation.

"Yay!" Flandre cheered, "Thanks a lot sis!"

Flandre ran out, followed by an equally enthusiastic Hailey, and a considerably less Enthusiastic Remilia.

"The things I do for a Merry Christmas…" muttered Remilia.

Chapter Notes:

Christmas at last, Flandre's big day!

There is a lot going on here that has gone unsaid, I wonder if any of you can unpack the deeper meanings here?

Or don't, and just enjoy seasonal fluffiness, that's good too.

I bet none of you saw that doll coming though :P