Finally it was Christmas Eve and as soon as I woke up I was busy preparing for tonight. I had a whole evening planned. First would be caroling, so I could drop off everyone's presents, then we would have dinner and I would put Clark to bed as Matt helped me set the presents under the tree.
I put on my new red dress after showering and tied my hair up in a braid and practically danced through the kitchen. Grammie came in, "Well looks like someone has their Christmas spirit."
I chuckled, "Exactly. Today is going to be great. It has to be. So, what do you want for breakfast? I can make anything."
"Just some french toast will be fine dear."
"Coming right up," I answered tightening my apron.
Grammie sat down, "So what's on the agenda for today?"
"Well, I don't really have much planned until this afternoon, but I'd like to start caroling around five o'clock, so we can be back here for dinner at six. I invited Matt over since this is his first Christmas alone. I want Clark in bed by eight so he can be asleep by nine, so we can set the presents under the tree and get a couple hours of sleep before Clark inevitably wakes everyone up at the crack of dawn to open presents."
"So you don't have anything planned until five?"
"Nope." Suddenly my cellphone rang and I answered it, continuing to make the french toast, "You have reached Tabitha Fell's phone, however today she would like to be addressed as The Christmas Spirit. How may I make your day more delightful?"
I heard Elena chuckle into the receiver, "Well Christmas Spirit, I was wondering if you wanted to come to the park with Clark around 11? Bonnie is going to be living with her aunt a while longer and I want us to spend some quality time with her. Just the four of us and Clark. We can make snowmen and snow angels, maybe even have a snowball fight. Are you interested?"
"Most definitely, but I will have to ask my parents and grandparents if they have things they want to do with Clark today. I'll call you right back, okay?"
"Okay, bye!"
"Bye." I hung up and turned to Grammie, "Well, I now have plans for this afternoon, but it's more of a girls thing. Elena wants her, Caroline, and I to spend some quality time with Bonnie before she heads back with her aunt at eleven. I want to take Clark, but I don't know how much fun he'll have being pummeled by snowballs?"
Grammie chuckled, "Don't worry, we'll take Clark over to your parent's house. Let him spend some time with his grandparents and us with our kids."
I finished the french toast and set the plate down in front of her, kissing her cheek, "Thank you, Grammie."
She took my hand, "Of course, dear. I know how difficult your life has been, juggling multiple jobs and school, multiple community activities, and your social life with friends. You're not an adult yet. You're still a kid and you can be a little selfish every once in a while. Despite what you may think your duties are, I want you to make the most of your time right now. You can worry about being a mother after you graduate, okay?"
I nodded, "Okay, Grammie."
I gave her a hug and chuckled as Pappy walked in, "Well good morning, how are my two favorite women?"
"Wonderful, Pappy. What do you want for breakfast?"
"Just some eggs and bacon will be fine, Tabby. Thank you."
I walked into the kitchen and looked back to see my grandparents kiss and begin chatting with one another. I smiled at the scene as they held hands and I caught myself wishing that I had that. Someone to love me and only me just as much as I loved them. Someone to spend my entire life with. Share memories with. Grow old with. That would be my ultimate Christmas wish.
I made Pappy's breakfast and Clark finally woke up as I ran through how the day would go. I also called Elena back and told her that I would be coming, but not Clark. As 10:30 rolled around, I put on warm pants under my dress and headed to the park with Bonnie's gift in the passenger's seat.
I arrived at the park and was tackled by Caroline into the snow. I laughed, pushing her gently off, "Easy Care you're gonna crush Bonnie's gift."
I stood up and walked over to the recipient, "In case I don't see you tonight, when I'm caroling, I brought you your gift. If you open it before tomorrow morning, I will know."
Bonnie chuckled, taking the little box in my hand, wrapping her arms around me, "Thank you."
Caroline smirked as Bonnie stepped back, "Where's my gift, Christmas Spirit?"
I looked at Elena, "You told them?"
She shrugged apologetically, "What? I thought it was cute."
I rolled my eyes, "Whatever, so I think we should start by building snowmen that look like us and stand them next to each other. I want to make personalized Christmas cards for next year."
Bonnie nodded, "That sounds like a wonderful idea."
After building the 'snowwomen' as Caroline pointed out, since they were modeled after us, and making snow angels with many pictures in between, there was an epic snowball fight with me and Caroline versus Bonnie and Elena. Caroline and I eventually won although I suspected Bonnie was cheating considering both Caroline and I slipped and tripped more than one would expect on snowy ground. I noticed how upset she was after the snowball fight and I pulled her aside, "Hey, are you okay?"
She nodded, but I could see the tears in her eyes, "Yeah."
She turned away and I grabbed her, "No Bonnie, tell me."
She sighed, "It feels wrong."
"What does?"
"Using magic. It feels wrong using magic now that she's not here."
I wrapped her in a hug, "I know, Bonnie, but you know that Grams would want you to keep practicing and learn control. Whether it feels wrong or not, you can't change the fact that you are a witch. If you try to bury that part of you, it'll only hurt more down the road. Embrace who you are." I drew away and looked Bonnie in the eye, "Keep practicing for her. Allow your magic to symbolize that she's still with you every time you use it. Turn it into a good thing to make her proud."
Bonnie nodded, giving me a small smile, "Thank you, for everything. You are always there for everyone. The best present you could ever give anyone is never changing who you are."
Apparently Elena and Caroline were listening in and Elena agreed, "She's right, you know. You're practically a superhero with all you do."
Caroline drew us into a group hug, "I want us to stay like this forever. Let's promise right now that no matter what the future brings, we will always be friends."
I pressed my forehead to the blonde's, "I promise to always be her for you guys, because you guys are always there for me."
Bonnie went next, "I promise to protect you and to cherish our memories together. No matter how far away I am. I will just be a phone call away."
Caroline smiled, "I promise to be there for you, and I know I'm a pain with my attitude, but despite that you guys have never left my side."
Elena sighed going last, "I promise to be here for you guys as well. Because you are more than just my friends, you are my family."
With one last group hug we dispersed and I drove to the Donovan house. I knocked on the door and rang the doorbell, hearing nothing inside. I knocked again, "Matt?!" I grabbed the key and let myself in, "Matt? It's Tabitha, I'm here to pick you up!"
I walked into the living room to see Matt sitting away from me with big headphones on, looking down at his lap. I came up behind him and peered over to see him holding a picture of him, Vicki, and his mom smiling with Santa. I remember that day, six years ago, because my family was next in line to take a picture.
I sighed, tapping Matt's shoulder. He jerked in surprise and took off his headphones, "Tabs, sorry, I didn't hear you."
His eyes were puffy and red, and I sat next to him wrapping my arms around him, "Hey, it's okay. You know I'm not gonna judge you. Let it out big guy."
Matt cried for a little bit longer, "I'm sorry. It's just, I miss my family. I don't want to be alone."
I kissed his forehead as he cried against my chest, "I know. I got you. I'm here. You don't have to apologize." He got done crying and I brought him some water from the kitchen, "Here, drink this. I want you're voice nice and smooth for caroling. If you're still up for it. I mean, I understand if you want to stay here."
He chuckled, "No Tabs, I want to come with you. I want to spend Christmas with you and Clark. You're the only family I have left here."
I held out my hand and smiled at him, "Good, because I need help putting presents under the tree once Clark goes to sleep. And you need to look charming when we get to the Forbes Residence. You are going to impress Caroline with your singing and present."
He smirked, blushing a bit, "Did you know Caroline and I would get together?"
I shrugged, "No, but I may have nudged you two, once or twice."
I was so happy when he laughed as we walked outside in the cold air, "You are truly something Tabitha Fell."
I got in the driver's seat of my car as Matt got in the passenger's, "Well, I am one of a kind."
Caroling with Clark and the family went off smoothly as we dropped of gifts and sang. Stefan and Damon even started recording. Dinner was uneventful as Clark chatted nonstop with Matt as my parents asked me about how I made such wonderful dishes.
After changing into pajamas Clark finally conked out at 8:50 and after placing him in bed, Matt and I quickly set presents under the tree before hurrying to bed to get some much needed sleep ourselves.