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"ONWARDS AND UPWARDS!" the purple garbed Santa's helper exclaimed telepathically as she stepped out of the psychedelic mini bus. One hand on her hip and the other pointed outwards as if she was Buzz Lightyear ready to head beyond infinity.

"Mrooow" was the sole reply.

"Calling out like that doesn't work as well as if it was vocal, does it?" Zodiac scooped up her cat, Ginny, from the seat and looked up at the building her childer-Iris-lived in. She was on a mission this evening. The mystic doubted any of her charges had even considered decorating for the upcoming holidays, but that was going to change. She sat the large black cat on her shoulder and went to the side to open the cargo doors, only to be greeted by 'Ginny Jr' who had found more fun playing in the bags Zodiac had loaded into the mini bus rather than staying up front.

She snapped open a small rolling hand cart and began selecting boxes from the pile and stacking them on along with a few of the bags. Small gifts for now. The real ones were still locked away elsewhere, but an assortment of holiday decorations mainly fitting with Iris' chose 'lifestyle'. It had taken some time to track them down and, sadly, the majority of them were copies of the Victorian time period's idea of Christmas decorations but a few of them were real. She could think of no one else who would appreciate them more than her child.

Topping the pile with the bag of tinsel Ginny Jr was rapidly tangling herself up in, she locked the van and began to push the cart to the entrance of the building. Some people laughed while others looked confused at the bizarre sight working it's way to the main doors, but all were smiling. A pair held the doors for her as she nodded her thanks and headed to the elevators.

Upstairs, she approached the apartment in question, only to see a plain, undecorated door looking back at her. "Oh, I hate when I am right sometimes," she fumed as she dug into a small tool bag she had brought along. The hallway soon echoed with a hammer driving a nail in to the wood (which also served to announce her presence to those inside).

"I am the Ghost of Christmas Why Isn't This Place Decorated Yet!" she sent her thoughts directly to Iris as she hung a festive looking wreath on the nail. "Perfect! You think so?" she asked her cats.

Iris was picking up the last of the plants that Puck had been playing in when the sound of something tapping in quick succession caught her attention. She stood slowly with a quirk of her brow. She set down the plants and looked toward the door. If she had to plant marigolds in the planters then so be it. Those would keep out the albino ferret with a penchant for getting into the most unwelcome places he could possibly find. As the sound continued she stepped softly toward the door. Gingerly each sole of her leather vintage boots landed on the hard wood. That is when the questioning reached her on her lack of decor for the season.

With the reach of her cranberry velvet arm her fingers curled and her wrist turned allowing her to pull the unlocked door open quickly. Much to her surprise a wreath swung back and forth as her sire, Zodiac, was there waiting for an answer. Her cornflower blue orbs danced back and forth with the swing of the festive wreath as it slowed to a fixed position. She smiled bringing her eyes back to the woman before her.

"Because you had not yet arrived?" Iris stepped forward and reached out to give her sire and welcoming embrace. "Thank you for the first touches of decor."

She pulled back and gathered the long skirting that had formed around the back of her heels. With a few clicks of her heels on the wood she made room between her and the entry of the apartment for her welcomed visitors to enter.

"Please come in." It was a wonderful surprise indeed.

A bright smile blossomed as she returned the embrace. Once Iris had let go and invited her in properly, Zodiac glanced at her cats.

"Behave yourselves and leave the ferret ALONE!" She admonished them as she eased her hand cart into the waiting doorway. Iris had one of the few interiors she envied of those she knew. The rich woodwork and tones always gave a warm feeling to her spirit when she visited. She saw the slightly abused plants and looked at Iris. "I see your personal gardener has been at work."

The older cat walked calmly in, pausing to rub against both sets of ankles before hopping up into a open chair and posing herself. Ginny resembled a small, black Egyptian idol now waiting to be worshiped as she relaxed. The same could not be said for her child. The bag on top of the cart give a final wiggle before it slipped over the edge and fell to the floor. The kitten exploded out of the bag with long streamers of tinsel flowing behind it as its senses were assaulted by the new room full of sights and smells. One unique smell in particular was like a blaze in the animal's nose.

"Mrow," The kitten looked up to see its mother looking down at it. The tone of the meow and the look the equivalent of a human mother saying "Don't even think it" but the kitten was too wrapped up in the new smell. Boldly it dashed across the floor, only to loose its footing on the smooth polished surfaces. Sliding about until it reached a rug and then quickly dashing to where its nose was telling it the smell had went.

"So I have some surprises for you," Zodiac began to open one of the boxes she brought. "As close as I could find, and yes some of them are real. The rest are clever copies. I hope you enjoy them." she handed Iris the one box and began to pull out another one.




"Of course, a tree to hang these on would be a big help." the mystic suggested.

Iris took the box into her arms and lifted the top. Her enthusiasm for the holidays never was about the gifts but instead the cheer that it brought out in people that otherwise were less than approachable. Since things had changed so dramatically she celebrated less and less each holiday season. Not that she wasn't reminded of the holidays.

It was a busy time for her business. Happy families and tourists loved the open sleigh rides through the outskirts of Harper Rock. To be successful she catered to those who were full of enough cheer to make the average set of teeth tingle with over stimulation. At the end of the night once she was done pulling the sticky left over lollipops and wads of gum left on the antique wooden doors of her sleigh and coach she was void of the reason to celebrate. Those that she did her best to entertain on her city tours would go home and continue their merriment. She went back home and found an eternal beauty in her bond with Hagen that needed no holiday to bring it out or one single day to celebrate. Her appreciation for those she considered her 'family' was constant as was her Victorian ways.

Once the young woman closed up the offices of her business during this time of year she felt the cold reminder that the holiday and its meaning were no longer her own. As much as she felt like she was a holder of a snow globe looking in at what she could never have again she really didn't feel a loss. It did not make her sad. Nothing really had that ability anymore in her world. It was continuous, consistent and disciplined now. She thrived in it for all intents and purposes. Some likely had trouble adjusting but for her it was rather enchanting and always full of surprises.

The length of slender pale fingers wiggled into the box the young telepath held gingerly at her chest. A smile shaped from her lips and her cheeks were lifted with enthusiasm. The ornate vintage decorations sat so pristine within the white tissue paper that kept them safe from damage. Her hand reached in while her eyes darted to the movements of white fur peeking around the corner from the piano room.

“How do you keep the felines out of the tree?” Her hand was rising with the owl ornament with the hot air balloon on top. Her fingers brought it closer for inspection. Was it a hot air balloon? Her wrists twisted it back and forth so that it spun. “Yes, I do need a tree. Hmmm…” She set the ornament back down in the bottom of the box. “I guess that means we are going on a outing. I have no tree.”

With that statement Iris released the box on the ivory chaise next to her and sealed the box to protect the contents within. Puck would still likely find a way into it unless he felt he was being watched. She sighed with her hands lightly on her hips. There was a solution. Puck would be going with. Her eyes did a quick scan of the visible places to locate the tiny ball of fur that had bolted off. When they reached the impressive Ginny she smiled once again.

“The girls are welcome to stay here or come with.” She made her way to reach her jacket and hat. “There are enough trees to pick from in Canada’s woods. Perhaps we shall find a few critters to adopt living inside one. As for my resident gardener..” She clicked her tongue quickly to the roof of her mouth to call it forth. “he will be going with for the sake of all that I wish to own staying as it is.”

"Oh yay! We can grab one of your coaches and do the whole 'dashing through the snow' thingy!" The mystic clapped her hands and was practically bouncing in delight. "Ginny never bothers my trees. She usually gives them a look and a sniff, looks at me as if she is saying 'seen better' then lays down under them. Now little Miss Thing there might be a different story." Zodiac pointed to the black kitten that was trying to get a good sniff of Puck as she followed the ferret around the room. Feline curiosity now in overdrive over the new element suddenly in her world.

"Okay, tell you what. Ginny can come, but I think Junior there probably be better off at home. I can just see me trying to find her as she is following a fae around in the dark. We need some rope, couple lanterns and axes, cause we not gonna play the Griswold Lampoon Vacation 'Dad, did you bring a saw?' bit. So I will pop back to my place, grab some gear and drop off the little fuzzball and I will meet you at your stable."

A quick hug and kiss to her child, and the gypsy grabbed her fur children and headed out.

***

Twenty minutes later, she walked up to the Voiture et Livraison followed by the larger cat. 'Ginny Jr' protested being left behind, but better the little engine of curious destruction be doing her thing in Zodiac's place rather than Iris'. A coil of rope and a pair of axes were strapped over one shoulder and her guitar, which she grabbed on a lark, over the other. A pair of lanterns swung in her grip. The only change to her gaudy attire was a pair of more deep snow friendly boots.

"It's me," she called out to her childer's thoughts as the pair tripped the sensor as they entered the stable. She liked coming here. The girl adored horses (although the idea of getting on one and actually riding was something she kept putting off) and since learning some new skills they were no longer skittish around her when she was near. "Also got some treats for your friends for the trip. Hey guys!" she smiled as she saw the animals. "Yep, the crazy purple lady with the apples is here-you lucky horseys you."

Iris barely released Zodiac from the brief parting embrace and the woman was already gone. With a turn of her heels her body pivoted back to face her open apartment. It could use a few festive touches for the season. She quickly bundled up and found Puck trying to make a run for the small space beneath the burgundy velvet reading chair by the bookcases. A gloved hand curled around the tubular white pelt and stuffed the squirming warm creature into its usual bedding of choice. The lavender satchel bounced once then a slow settling of the animal within predictably took place. She would allow sleep to keep the albino ferret instead of taking it along.

Once Iris was satisfied the pet would stay put her fingers buttoned up the charcoal peplum jacket that would provide a barrier to the elements as if she needed it. She certainly didn't but it was unusual to see anyone out without the usual attire on a winter night. A slight shifting back and forth of her complimenting vintage hat meant she was comfortable and ready for the adventure ahead.

Arriving outside Iris was soon finding Zodiac in her thoughts. Her sire was to be in for a surprise as she evidently was not within the walls where she was. It was hard to surprise the woman who could read a mind as clearly as if it was her own. A slow smile formed and her brilliant blue orbs sparkled as she finished the last steps in making sure the black sleigh decorated with pine and holly swags was ready.

"I am outside waiting and ready. Have the blankets and the horses ready. You should be able to see us from the front doors." Her mind returned with a request for the woman to venture back down and across the street where she would greet her.

Last checks on the reigns, trace and girth strap proved they were nice and tight when she tugged at each. Her gloved hands stroked the withers of the majestic pair of Friesian horses then ended the approving touch with a firm pat to each beautiful beast. Last minute lighting of the gas lamps positioned at the front and back posts of the four seat touring bobsleigh signaled that all was ready. Now only thing left was the arrival of her passengers. Zodiac and Ginny were likely on their way down from the office but where was the other one? She sighed and decided if the woman could arrive anywhere in the blink of an eye then she should already be hopping into one of the roomy red velvet seats.

"Abelle. Can you please hurry? Everything is ready and Zo is on her way down from the office. Hard to arrive late to a sleigh ride already in motion." Her thoughts called to the killer she shared a sire with.