Chapter Text
“This was an amazing Christmas Eve, everyone!” Mirabelle was beyond happy to celebrate the holidays with her adoptive parents and their extended family. Hanukkah was as joyful and rambunctious a time, although it wasn't celebrated too much as Operation Strikeback occured right in the middle of the Jewish Octave. But Esther Zordenoff was more than determined to help make up for that, as she would help cook Christmas dinner. In fact, her famous latkes went great with the chicken tarragon cream soup!
Of course, the great Weihnachtsmitternacht — Christmas Midnight — was celebrated in the Chapel at the Korinn house. Jean-Maríe officiated and preached the tradition Midnight Mass, and had Johannes assist him as part of her clerical training. He made sure to bring some relics and the necessary vessels to celebrate Mass with, as he remembered that the Holy Sacrifice hadn't been celebrated before prior to this. A phone call to the Bishop of Gibraltar would be made sometime after the Christmas Octave to remedy this.
But now everyone had returned to the Spacelab for the night, the Christmas tree was up and decorated before dinner, and it was definitely time for bed. And while everyone else was joyfully exhausted, the Soldiers Girl was too elated to be tired. It amused Falk and Geneviève, as the three changed into pajamas and called it a night at 12:44am Christmas morning.
“I wonder if we'll get a visit from the Sugarplum Fairy?” the kid asked her adoptive parents.
Falk blinked and smiled curiously. “Sugarplum Fairy? Don't you mean Sinterklasse?”
Geneviève chuckled with a glance to him, “Darling, didn't Saint Nicholas Day happen earlier this month?”
“Well yes Gen” the Advisor replied. “But maybe Bella is more awaiting his visit tonight instead of the 5th.” He then smiled at the Soldier Girl; “Of course I could be wrong!” Mirabelle confirmed that with an excited nod of her head.
“So, what about the Sugarplum Fairy?” the Scourge asked the girl. “What makes her far more to look forward to than Santa?” Geneviève was familiar with the character from the many times she would watch the ballet that was ‘The Nutcracker,’ and the original story itself was one of her favorites since she was Mirabelle's age (if not younger). So it struck her curious as to why the girl would anticipate this particular character... not that it was a bad thing! It wasn't — but it certainly wasn't something that both Scourge and Advisor expected.
Mirabelle looked at the ceiling of the room the three shared for the night, smiling wistfully. “Because I met her once as a child and she told me she protects the hopes and dreams of little kids like me. But she only visits at Christmas Eve and sprinkles a bit of stardust on children's presents. That's how I know she made her visit.”
Falk's face lit up. “You met the Sugarplum Fairy!?” he gasped.
Geneviève grinned excitedly. “What was she like, Baby Bella?”
“She was beautiful, Gen!” the Soldier Girl replied, smiling at the French woman. “She sparkled like snowflakes at dawn, in gold and pink and purple! And she was incredibly sweet and kind. Maybe she'll remember me and find me here instead of New York.”
“I bet she will, Bella — you're such a precious girl that I doubt she'd ever forget you!” Geneviève gave the girl a little kiss to her forehead. “And I'm sure she'd love for you to get to sleep soon so she can come over!”
Mirabelle nodded. “Yeah, you're right” she said, before blinking as she would feel something soft and light hop over her back and on her arm. She turned her head to see a gray plush bunny dressed in a red soldier uniform.
“Hello, brave little girl!” Falk faked a voice to make the bunny "talk." Geneviève watched on in wonder as the bunny "talked" to Mirabelle, “My name is Bun-Bun!”
The Soldier Girl smiled at the bunny. “Hello Bun-Bun, I'm Mirabelle!” She then giggled as the bunny happily plopped on her upper arm.
“And now, she's your Bun-Bun!” Falk then told the girl, smiling as he made the bunny give her nose kisses on the cheek.
Mirabelle giggled at the bunny kisses, before smiling at him. “Really? She's my Bun-Bun?!”
“Mhm!” He smiled warmly at the girl. “She was my Bun-Bun when I was your age, and now I'm giving her to you so she can be your Bun-Bun.”
The girl's eyes lit up in joy as she hugged the bunny and Falk. “Awww!! Thank you, Falk!!”
The Advisor kissed her forehead. “You're so very welcome, Mira. Happy Christmas!” Geneviève hugged the both of them, as the kid was sandwiched in hugs from both adults.
Falk gave the girl one more forehead kiss. “Now, Gen's right, you should get to sleep so the Sugarplum Fairy can make her quick visit! And Bun-Bun will help keep the watch over us.” He then smiled at Geneviève as the kid snuggled up with him hugging the bunny. “Good night, Gen” he said, leaning to kiss her.
“Good night, Falk” the Scourge replied as she leaned for the good night kiss. She then smiled at the girl, “Sleep tight, Baby Belle.”
“See you in the morning, Mira” Falk whispered to the kid.
“Nighty night Falk, nighty night Gen” Mirabelle answered sleepily, happily hugging her new plush friend as she would soon fall asleep, her two loving guardians joining her in the sleep before the breaking of day.