Andrea V. Haag
copyright November 1999

  On a cold and starry evening, the eve of the Winter Solstice. The Halliwell Mansion looks warm and inviting to the passerby, decorated with Christmas lights hanging that was hanging off the eaves.

     Inside the mansion, while listening to Christmas music that was playing on the radio, Piper was lounging on the couch flipping threw some old photos of the girls from past Christmases, that she had dug up to bring a little of that magic one feels around Christmas. She was all alone in the living room, since Phoebe was one of those late holiday shoppers trying to find the right gifts to give. And Piper could hear Prue humming upstairs, in her bed room while wrapping gifts she had bought the week before.

  Next to the couch where Piper lounged, stood the Christmas tree, that the sisters had lovingly put up the night before. Piper was relaxing, since she just finished baking holiday sweets to pass out to the neighbors and a very special treat for Dan, before he flies back to New England, with Jenny, so that she can spend time with her parents. Piper just couldn't help but remember the fun times they had during the Holidays with Mom and Grams. She felt a little sad that Phoebe didn't get more
chances to spend time with Mom, but Piper thought, she was going to make this a time to remember for Phoebe and Prue. And one way is to cook up a storm, of all their Holiday favorites!

  In the meantime, upstairs, Prue was busy singing out loud, her favorite Christmas tunes playing on the radio, while wrapping the gifts she bought.

"I hope Pheebs loves what I got her this year!" Prue saying to herself, as she put the final touch on the laptop she picked out for Phoebe.

"Now she doesn't have to always borrow mine."

Noticing the clock in the corner, which said 9:00pm, she had to giggle to herself.

"Pheebs always had a hard time buying gifts for everyone, other than herself that is. She always buys things she likes, so she can borrow them later. Oh well, hope she's back soon."

   Just as Piper was putting down her glass of wine, she hears a noise, which seems to be coming from the chimney.

"I guess bats have nested in our flue for the night" she thought. "Guess I'll have to call an exterminator in the morning, so we can use the fireplace for Christmas."

As she resumes her contemplation over the old photographs, she hears a louder noise emanating from the fireplace, and notices black ash falling onto the stone floor. Then just as she starts to raise, an elderly gentleman dressed in a brown tweed jacket, blinks before her. Piper lets loose a nervous shriek and brings her hands up, stopping time. Everything in the room around her freezes, except the man in front of her. He stands there chuckling and says; Piper, calm down, I'll explain everything, and no, I'm not a warlock or demon, he says just as Piper was thinking the same thought. "But I
do possess magical powers of goodness, not unlike you and your sisters."

Piper just stands there, staring at him, unable to move, almost looking like she froze herself in the process.

"But how...who are...why..." as the words stumble from her lips in bewilderment and fear.

"I explain all, once you resume time again." he said.

Piper flicks her hands starting time once again and the mystery guest motions her to sit down. At this point Piper doesn't know if she should yell out for Prue for help or listen to what this man was going to tell her.

Piper thinks; "Somehow I don't feel threatened by this man....why?"

Then the man looks at her and gives her a warm smile, almost looking like he heard what she was thinking.

"Piper, I have no intentions of harming you or your sisters. What I have to tell you might be a little difficult for you to believe, but believe you must. First of all let me introduce myself to you, that is, if you haven't already guessed who I am, my name is Nickolaus."

A look of shock and bewilderment crosses Piper's face.

"But I thought..... she didn't have a chance to finish the sentence as Nickolaus said; "That I was a myth told to little boys and girls around Christmas time? Well, if you believe in Witches and Demons then I guess we're not myths."

She just looked at him shaking her head up and down in agreement.

"Let me explain then" Nickolaus says, as he gets comfortable in the chair across from Piper. 

"First off, I'm not a myth, only children have the ability to see me, since they believe with innocent hearts. As you grow older you tend to loose that innocence and the special meaning of Christmas. I am a being of magic, but not that of those, you and your sisters have run across. Yes, I know all the good you Halliwell sisters have done."

"But how? Are you a Whitelighter too?" asks Piper.

Nickolaus gives out another chuckle; "No, Piper, I am a spirit of magic that was created over time by love and compassion. I am born pure of heart to see all that is done upon this earth."

"But I saw you blink, and warlocks blink." Piper responds.

"Yes, I have that ability, as well as many others." With a twinkle in his eyes, Nickolaus freezes time, except Piper, all is quiet, even Prue upstairs can't be heard anymore. The world is quiet.

"I have the ability to freeze time and space so that I'm able to get my work done. Remember I have only one night to get out all those toys to children. I all so have the ability to move objects, not unlike your sister Prue's power, which helps in getting the presents under the tree. And blinking helps me to get down the chimney."

At this point, Piper had so many questions racing in her head.

"Why not use the front door?" she asks.

"Well several reasons, one because they are locked and locked doors are not inviting, such as a chimney. Same with a heart that is closed to me and doesn't believe, which I dare not enter."

As if in a daydream, a song comes into Piper's mind; He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when your awake, he knows when you've been bad or good so be good for goodness sake. It was then that Nickolaus gives out a roar of laughter that made you feel all good inside, and looks at Piper with warm and loving eyes, as if to acknowledge to what she had thought. She looks at him thinking if he heard what she had thought.

"Yes, Piper, I have that ability too...

"Oh my god, then it is true... that reindeers fly!" she asks.

"No, dear sweet Piper, not everything written about me is true, some are truly myths. Just know this, that I'm a spirit of the season to bring joy into everyone's hearts that is opened. I share the feeling of giving. The gifts I bring to children is only a fraction of what I do....and no, before you say what your thinking....there are no toy making elves at the North Pole....another myth."

   At this point, Piper realizes an important question not asked.

"So, Nickolaus, why are you here, and why visit me? It can't be for my cooking." she says as she gives out a small laugh.

"Well, I wouldn't mind if you left out some home-baked Sugar cookies of yours and a glass of milk for me!"

"You got it, Santa....err aah Nickolaus!"

"Piper, Santa is fine too, since I go by many names. But I'm here to give you a special gift. One that you wished for and heard by me." Nickolaus said.

"Oh? Piper asked confused at to what she had wished for.

"Yes, you secretly wished to get a little of that magic of Christmas back into your lives." He says as he looks down at the old photographs of past Christmases lying on the table.

Piper nods, as a little tear rolls down her cheek.

"But how? You can't bring back Grams or Mom...can you?"

"No, he says, but I can give you the ability to see what your sisters truly desire as a gift this year. This will be my gift to you."

Before she had a chance to say anything, Nickolaus made a slight wave of his hand and magically disappeared, as he had arrived from the living room, in an instant. Falling backwards onto the couch, Piper smiles, and then notices time once again has resumed. Prue could be heard singing holiday tunes as she is descending the staircase. It was also at that point that Phoebe walked though the front door, loaded with gifts from her shopping escapade. As she sets them down, she and Prue converged into the living room, where Piper was seated on the couch staring into space, with one
of the biggest smiles on her face. Prue and Phoebe look at each other in confusion and amazement, then asked;
"Is there something going on or wrong, Piper? " Prue asked as she noticed the old photos lying on the table.

"What's up? Did Dan give you his Christmas present early? Phoebe asked, smiling with a gleam in her eyes.

"Nothing, just soaking in the magic of the season and realizing what perfect gifts I can get you guys." Piper says not wanting to tell her sisters about the mystery guest tonight.

Phoebe laughs, as she says "A cute guy would be perfect for me!"

"And I don't need anything Piper, Prue says, I have my sisters close-by and that's all I need or could ask for." She says going for a hug from both sisters.




     Several days later...Christmas Eve, the Halliwell sisters gather around the Christmas tree looking at all the wonderful gifts amassed there.

"So can we open them now? Phoebe asks longingly.

"Yes, Prue can we?" Piper chimes in.

"But then we'll have nothing to open in the morning." Prue said.

   Phoebe and Piper looked at each other, then to Prue.

"Oh no... it looks like I'm out voted again, Prue replies.

   Both of Prue's sisters shake their heads in unison. Laughingly, Prue agrees. Piper was the last to give her gifts to her sisters. Phoebe, impatient to wait, opens her gift first. She lifts the lid of the small velvet box, looks in and freezes, then looks up at Piper with tearful eyes.

"How did you know? I didn't tell anyone what I truly wanted. As she said bending over to give Piper the biggest hug ever.

   Anxious, Prue starts tearing at her gift. She also fell silent, as she sees what's inside, just staring at the object in her red velvet box.

"Piper....." is all Prue had said, not knowing what else to say, at that moment.

   She too, began to hug Piper joyfully thanking her for the gift she received.

"But how did you know? Piper, you didn't by any chance cast a spell from the Book of Shadows, did you? Prue asked.

"No Prue, I wouldn't do that! But I did get a little help from Santa. Piper said smiling, at her little inside joke.

"Yeah, sure Piper, Santa Claus? Phoebe said laughing. "And did Rudolph and the other reindeer help as well?"

"Phoebe there is no such thing as Rudolph and Santa's other reindeer. Piper confidently said." I use to believe, but then I guess we all forget to believe when we grow older, but I realized a few days ago that anything is possible. Piper explained lovingly to her sisters.

   Phoebe gave out a yawn.

"Well, its been fun but I'm getting a little sleepy. Thanks for the wonderful gift I got! Phoebe said as she started heading up the stairs.

   With that Phoebe's sisters started to head after her, up the stairs.

"Oh Wait! Exclaimed Piper, rushing back down the stairs into the kitchen.

"What's now, did you forget to turn something off in the kitchen? Prue asked.

"No, just forgot to leave something out for a friend. Piper replied.

  As Piper returned to the Living room, she was carrying a plate full of her homemade cookies and a glass of milk. Setting them on the table next to the fireplace.

"Piper, you can't really believe Santa will eat those? Phoebe said laughing.

"Yes, Pheebs I do!" she replied back to her sister.

  Piper headed back up the stairs passing her sisters that stood there watching with shocked looks.

"What do you think got into her? Phoebe asked Prue.

   Prue could only shrug her shoulders and say, "Christmas?"


   Close to morning, but still dark out, a noise is heard, coming from the living room, Piper gets up and checks on Prue and Phoebe, but they were still sound asleep in bed. As Piper heads downstairs, she sees Nickolaus seated in the same chair as the last time they met but was now eating Piper's homemade cookies and drinking milk, getting crumbs caught in his beard and down his shirt.

"Nickolaus, I wanted to thank you for the joy you gave my sisters!" Piper said in a somewhat hushed voice.

Nickolaus laughed, oblivious to Piper's sisters sleeping upstairs. "I only helped a little. The gift was yours to give and share."

Prue and Phoebe both awoke upon hearing the laughter and voices coming from downstairs. Creeping down the stairs, Prue and Phoebe cautiously entered the living room, but upon entering, stopped in their tracks. There, seated across from Piper sat and an elderly gentleman with a white beard dressed in a brown tweed jacket.

"No, it can't be.... Prue whispered to Phoebe.

 Phoebe just stood there mesmerized by silence and shock in realizing who it might be, that could be seated across from Piper. Nickolaus and Piper looked up at them and smiled, and in unison with Nickolaus, just said "Believe".
After the initial shock of meeting such a mythical person, Piper's sisters sat down next to her on the couch with many questions on their mind.

" So, Nick, what brings you back here.... other than my cookies, that is. Piper asked with a twinkle in her eye, resuming the chat they had before Piper's sisters interrupted

"They are good, aren't they!" Phoebe chimed in.

"Well, I never can get enough of these cookies Piper, but the real reason I'm back is, because of gifts forgotten by the passage of time and never received." Nickolaus said.

"Umm, Santa, oh err Nickolaus, Prue stammered not knowing exactly what to call him.

"Yes Prue? And its anything you like, or feel comfortable in calling me. I go by many names, said Nickolaus smiling.

"Who's gifts and why come to us?" Prue asked unaware of any forgotten gifts.

  Getting over the initial shock of finding out that there truly was a Santa Claus, Phoebe asks "So you want us to go out and play Santa's little helpers?" As she lets out a chuckles.

"No Pheebs, just delivering a few gifts that was hidden and forgotten and then lost by your Mother."

Confused and shocked the sisters asked, "how... why ?"

But before he could answer he waved his hand, Nickolaus, also known as Santa, magically holds a medium sized box in his hands, the paper had long turned a yellowish shade, with age. This he hands to Prue.

"And so sweet ladies I must go. Remember, magic is only what you believe in your hearts, and love is truly the gift given to others. Thank you Piper for the milk and cookies and the hospitality shown to me earlier."

Both Prue and Phoebe looked at Piper with questions.

"I'll tell you later... Piper said.

   With that, he got up, smiled, and brought his finger to his nose and blinked away laughing.  Tearing open the package, Prue found three smaller separate gifts inside, each with their names on them. Also included was a card.

Prue, reading the card out loud which said; "It is in giving this gift to my dear ones that I give a little part of myself to you. Remember me always. Merry
Christmas my little Angels. Love Mom."

   There wasn't a dry eye in that room this Christmas morning. Each sister opened their gifts instantly and with anticipation at what they will find.

Prue, her gift opened first found inside the box a gold heart locket with Patty's picture on one side and herself, but a much younger version.

Silently looking up, Prue said "Thanks Mom, I love you!"

  Piper carefully lifted her gift out of the box and slipped it onto her finger. For it was a gold ring with a heart shaped garnet stone embedded in the center. She found engraving on the inside of the band and she read it quietly, "From the Heart, Mom." Quietly grasping her hand to her heart, she
said "Always Mom."

   Phoebe, seeing the reactions of her sisters as they opened their gifts, quickly tore open hers. Pausing to look at it in the box, not wanting to break it, she gingerly lifted out a gold bracelet engraved with a heart in the center and three small garnet stones inside the heart. It also, had writing on the inside.
It said, " Always Believe, Love Mom."

The silence was only broken by a voice that exclaimed, "Merry Christmas to all, and especially the Charmed Ones!"

They rushed to the window trying to get a glimpse of him before he went away but all they found in their amazement, it was snowing and the scene before their eyes was a winter white Christmas scene. It was snowing heavily, and surprisingly in San Francisco!  One word was heard from Phoebe's lips in front of the window "believe".
Hugging each other, Phoebe, lying her head on Prue's shoulder, Piper holding tightly on Prue's other side they say together, Thanks Santa! And Merry Christmas!"

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