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“Oh, this one is awesome !” Claire said, making her way around the huge, overly decorated float at the head of the long line. Jack had taken her and Kaia to see the floats up close before the parade began; a little perk he was allowed since he was a volunteer helping organize everything. The blonde found a clear spot and hopped on.
“Claire! What are you doing?!” Jack gasped
“Chill, I’m just getting a closer look.” She grinned, mischievously and began to explore while Jack nervously checked around for any of the heads over the parade.
“Just hurry up!”
Claire rolled her eyes and agreed, then continued looking around the float. There were garland-wrapped mics set up on both sides and in the front, connected to a huge speaker in the back disguised to look like a present. There were some elf costumes laid out for the performers. Claire grabbed one and held it up to her. “This is cute!” She gushed sarcastically, then grabbed one of the Santa hats and slipped in on her head.
“Claire!” Jack hissed.
“Have yourself. Aaaaa merry little Christmassss.” She sang into one of the mics. Kaia giggled, though Jack didn’t see the humor in Claire’s performance and was fuming.
“Get. Off!”
“Oh come on, bro. Let your heart beeee light.” She continued, swaying with the lyrics. “ From noooow on our troubles will be out oooof sight!”
“Hey!” A voice boomed from the shadows, causing them all to jump. “What are you kids doing?”
“Mr. Hammonds! I told her to get off!” Jack quickly snitched, causing Claire to glare down at him.
“I’m sorry.” She finally said, pulling the hat off and laying it back with the costumes. “I was just messin’ around.”
“Ah, I don’t care. I just need you to hop on off so I can pull this one out of the line.” The man said, ushering Claire to get down.
“Why is this one coming out?” Jack asked.
“Well the singers all called in sick, and they couldn’t find anyone else to fill in.”
“Well what if we filled in for them?” Jack suggested.
“We, who?” Claire responded, before the man could.
“We, us!”
“I can’t sing?!” The blonde argued.
“Yeah I saw that.” Jack said flatly, and Claire narrowed her eyes at him. “But Kaia can. We could just sing back up.”
“Me!?” Kaia gasped. “Sing?!”
“Well, he does have a point, babe.” Claire grinned and nudged Kaia’s arm.
The man looked between the three, then cleared his throat when no one continued talking. “So… should I let them know the float is staying, or not?”
Claire and Jack turned pleading eyes to Kaia, and the girl sighed. “Fine.”
~✶~
“Still nothing.” Jody groaned, hanging up after leaving a very angry voicemail on both Claire and Kaia’s phones. “Where the hell did they go?”
Dean, Cas, and Sam all came from different directions and soon joined by Donna and Eileen, all unsuccessful in locating the missing young adults. Alex was the last to come back, walking from the direction the parade was coming from with a wide grin across her face.
“Well?” Jody said when she silently sat down. “Did you find them?”
“Oh, I found them.”
“And!?”
“You’ll see.” Alex laughed and sat back in her camping chair.
The sounds of upbeat Christmas music could be heard signaling the start of the parade. “Dammit Alex, where are they, they're gonna miss it!”
“Trust me. They aren’t missing anything.” Alex said and turned her attention to the first float as it came into view.
“Oh my god.” Dean said, trying to stifle a laugh at the sight of the three dressed as elves, wearing Santa hats while dancing and singing Run, Run, Rudolph . The group sat down and watched the float slowly drive towards them. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas began to play and the trio sat together on the front, seemingly worn out from the miles they had rode and sang already.
“Have yourself a merry little Christmas.” Kaia sang. “ Make the Yuletide gay . From now on our troubles will be miles away.” Their family watched in awe as the girl belted the tune out beautifully. “ Here we are as in olden days. Happy golden days of yore. Faithful friends who are dear to us. Gather near to us once more. Through the years we all will be together. If the fates allow. Hang a shining star upon the highest bough. And have yourself a merry little Christmas… now. ”
Cas wrapped his arm around Dean, as did Sam with Eileen. Jody and Donna smiled at the young dream walker proudly as she continued the song, and the float slowly passed by.