Vincent-McWilliams: A Christmas Carol

Chapter One: Visitors

Pippa and Maddie walked in, slamming the door behind them. This startled Selena, making her knock over papers and an ink well. Selena welcomed them back before trying to ask them something. Pippa told Selena that the cost of the spilled ink would be taken out of her pay. Maddie told Selena to get on with her work as she and her sister didn't want to be disturbed for the rest of the day. As the two walked into their office, they saw Chewy and their Nephews already there.

"We win!" Loki said smiling

"How in the world did you...?"

"Well, Chewy knows a shortcut, don't you, boy?" Chase said interrupting Maddie and smiling down at Chewy.

Chewy barked in response.

"Very well, let's get this over with then, shall we?" Pippa asked already knowing the routine, "How does it go again? Oh, yes, yes, the question. 'Auties, won't you join us for Christmas dinner tomorrow?'"

Maddie spoke up, "The answer, 'No, boys, we will not. Christmas is a humbug. Pippa and I despise it and all it stands for.' The same answer to the same question you ask us every year."

"We have no time to be merry. Just because Maddie's grandmother and my stepmother are dead doesn't mean we have no business to attend to. Quite the opposite. Kimberly McWilliams and Rachel Murton died seven years ago this very night, leaving us nothing but business."

Chewy whined.

"Oh, yes, and you," Maddie said remembering that Rachel gave Pippa the small dog

"Oh, come now, Aunties. Hela and I would just love to have you," Chase said

"Hela? Who's Hela?" Maddie asked

"You know, Hela, his wife," Loki said, "And my husband, Mobius, would love you two to come over."

"She and Mobuis were disappointed you two couldn't attend the wedding, and simply can't wait to meet you. So at least visit us this evening. Some friends and I are gathering to toast the season."

"Good day, boys," Pippa said having enough.

Pippa sat down at her desk opposite Maddie who had already sat down at hers.

"Aunties, we're all the family you have. Why does it have to be this way?" Loki said, "I think my Mother and Chase's Father would have been so disappointed that you and I spend every Christmas apart."

Loki accidentally put his hand on a scale, making everything on it go flying. He took his hand off as everything went into chaos.

Pippa groaned, her patience running thin, "Loki, life is full of disappointments. One such disappointment came on the glorious Christmas Day that you and Chase stumbled into this world."

"The very same Christmas Day your mother, my beloved sister, left it," Maddie added

"And your father died from illness when the stress became too much to look after you," Pippa told Chase.

"We will not be joining you for Christmas dinner," Maddie continued, "nor any other celebration of this wretched season. Now, please leave before I say something you will regret."

Loki and Chase made their way out while Chewy growled at the two girls. Chase opened the door, letting in a gust of wind that whispered the girl's names again, making a candle on Pippa's desk turn blue before back to its original color. Before they left, Chase and Loki told the two that their offer still stands and that they were always welcome. The two ignored them, just wanting them to leave. So, after bidding Selena a Merry Christmas, the two left.

After they did, Selena looked outside to see her two children arriving outside. So, Selena walked into Maddie and Pippa's office explaining that it was time to go home while asking for her wages. Maddie gave Selena her fifteen shillings but took five for the ink she spilled and the day off for Christmas Day. Selena was always paid a very little amount but she knew it was better than nothing.