Nicholas' Promise (A Christmas Tale, The Third) free porn video

Nicholas's promise (A Christmas tale the third) Chapter 1 Tyler Tyler Monroe was what could easily be described by the casual observer as a thug, a vandal and, at present, a borderline criminal. He was the scourge of the neighbourhood and had been throughout his teen years. His neighbours were nervous of him, and his friends, as he terrorised the local estate with his gang. Tyler, who would be twenty on his next birthday, it seemed was now destined for a life of petty crime and thuggery. But all with Tyler was not as it seemed, although he hid it well, very well. It was mid-summer, but this evening was cool and damp with a persistent and unpleasant drizzle. Tyler and his gang were getting up to their usual nonsense of vandalism and disruption on the high street when they came across an old tramp in a doorway covered with layers of newspaper and cardboard boxes, he was asleep and apparently suffering from the effects of the damp and cheap cider. Tyler's friends started to remove the old tramps coverings taking the cardboard and newspapers from him and throwing the pieces into the street until the old man woke. Tyler laughed and jeered but did not physically assist in the humiliation of the old man. "Please why do you do this?" asked the confused old tramp. "Listen to the fucking old bastard," said Davey, Tyler's friend. "Cos we can you stupid fuck," added Baz, Tyler's other friend. "Leave me be please, for I have nothing." "You're going to have less soon mate," Stated Jimmy as he took the half-finished bargain plastic bottle of cider from the old man's side, shook it up loosened the cap and drenched the old man in his own alcohol. A couple of minutes later Tyler and his friends ran to the end of the high street after breaking one of the recently replaced panes of glass in the bus shelter. "That was fucking awesome. Wanna go to the park?" All but one of the gang said yes. "Sorry, promised the old man I'd be home before ten, you know what he's like." The gang all nodded at Tyler as they knew exactly what his father was like and were eternally grateful that he wasn't theirs. "Kay see ya tomorrow then." As soon as Tyler was out of view of his gang he backtracked along the high street and eventually found the old tramp rooting around in some bins by the betting shop, Tyler coughed to get the old man's attention then took off his waterproof coat and offered it to him, "Please just leave me alone," said the old man. Tyler held out his coat a little further. "Please mister just take it; I hate it anyway. It'll keep you dry and warm tonight." The old man hesitantly took the offered coat. Tyler then turned and as he did he deliberately dropped a five-pound note on the soaking ground as he walked away. The old man observed Tyler with bright alert eyes as he walked away from him and as he stood erect his eye glinted. "Soon Tyler soon," he said before his entire body was engulfed in a swirling mass of ice particles and he vanished. That evening on finding that Tyler had been robbed of his new jacket his father took his belt to his son and whipped him with it as he had done many, many times over the years, Tyler said nothing as his father took out his rage on his bare back. After his lashing Tyler said nothing and went up to his room locking the door behind himself then went over to the corner of his room where he lifted the carpet up revealing a loose floorboard, Tyler removed the board and reached into the hole the missing board had created and pulled out an old plastic carrier bag. Tyler took the carrier bag to his bed reached into it and pulled out a very worn old teddy bear with two mismatched eyes and a threadbare pink ribbon around its neck which he held to his chest as he curled up on his bed and wept silently. Over the next few months Tyler found solace in smoking weed with his gang as it made his life at home not quite bearable but he found he just didn't care what happened to himself at the hands of his father when stoned. It was around the start of December that something strange happened in Tyler's life, he found every single pair of shoes he owned full of individually wrapped sweets. "Whoa what the hell was I on last night?" he asked to himself as he tipped the confectionery from his trainers. Tyler then continued his day by wasting his precious life as he had done almost every day since leaving school. Chapter 2 Lucinda Lucinda Denwick was a bright little girl; she was seven and a half years old and loved her life. unfortunately she also had an undiagnosed weakness in one of the artery's within her brain a weakness that pulsed and grew with every day, stretching the walls of the artery until one morning at the local park whilst she was playing with her parent's Labrador Barnaby and was throwing it it's ball, she suddenly fell to her knees. Poor Lucy's face contorted uncontrollably and as she looked up at her parents she managed to say "Mumeee," Before collapsing face first into the muddy grass of the playing field. The Artery had finally burst causing blood to leak into her skull and in turn start to cause catastrophic damage to the sensitive structures within. Seven hours and one emergency surgery later Lars and Tamara Denwick stood by their daughters bedside they were both in shock, Lucinda's body was lying on its back there was a tube down her throat, breathing for her and she was hooked up to numerous machines, her head was heavily bandaged and she was as white as a ghost. This was very curious to Lucinda herself who liked to be called Lucy as she found herself looking at her own unconscious body lying on the bed and at both of her parents who were holding each other with her father trying to console her weeping mum. "Mummy, Daddy I'm here why can't you see me?" she asked more out of confusion than panic. After a while Lucy left the room her parents were in to try and find someone that could help her, bumping almost immediately into a huge mountain of a man just outside in the corridor. "Helloo," said the giant man who appeared to be wearing a kilt. "Hello mister can you help me please? I don't know what's happening." But before the giant man could respond both Lucy and the giant man were enveloped in a weird indoor snow storm. As the unusual blizzard cleared another person had joined the pair he touched the giant man on the chest and he froze as though he'd become a statue, the new man was quite elderly and looked somewhat like a tramp with a large bushy beard, he was dressed in furs and smiled at Lucy. "He didn't harm you did he?" asked the old man with concern. "N,no he just said hello to me, who are you?" The old man smiled. "My name is Nicholas but you Lucy, you can call me Nick if you'd like." Lucy started to cry. "Please don't cry for no one here will harm you." "But I'm here and I'm in there and my mummy and daddy can't hear me and it's all really scary and..." Nick took Lucy's hand and guided her back towards the room her body was currently residing but before he could enter it a young woman exited another small room on the other side of the wide corridor. She looked over at the hulking man who was still motionless as though frozen. "Geoff?" she asked of the large man but got no reply, the young woman then turned to Nick and raised her arms and in doing so a small ball of white light with very bright orbiting tendrils started to form between her palms. "I don't know who you are but release the spirit of the little girl as her time has come." Nicholas watched as the small white ball quickly formed into a controlled mass of energetic plasma and just as the young woman was getting ready to release it the old man snapped his fingers causing the ball to dissipate instantly. "Enough I have come here to enlist your help and not fight, Magdalene, a cup of tea perhaps?" Magdalene or Maggie as she preferred to be called was stunned, 'was this the entity she'd been asked to watch out for?' she wondered, it was certainly an immensely powerful being. Nick crouched down to Lucy. "Would you like something to drink and possibly a little cake? You are a clever girl and have probably already worked out that you are very very unwell haven't you?" Lucy nodded at Nick. "Am I dead?" she asked worriedly. "No not yet Lucy as there are machines keeping your body alive but your spirit has already left your body, that's why you can see yourself in the bed." "Can you put me back then?" The old man frowned a little. "That's why we need to talk Lucy, I was hoping that we could have our talk over some fizzy pop and maybe a cake or two in the restaurant." Lucy looked over into the room where her parents and her body was. "Will I still be there when I get back?" Nick laughed. "Oh Lucy, yes you will I promise you." He then turned to Maggie. "Is the Golem yours?" "Yes he's called Geoff, he's my friend could you release him for me please?" "Ooooohhhhhhrggggggghhh," said Geoff as he regained control of his body. Nick walked with Lucy over to the hulking figure. "I feel I must apologise to you sir, for I thought you meant Lucy harm." Geoff bowed to Nick in acknowledgement and forced a smile. "I love the kilt by the way it is such a nice touch." Lucy, Nick, Maggie and Geoff then walked from the corridor up to the next floor where the hospital's restaurant was. Chapter 3 Lucy's dilemma Nick sat opposite Lucy whilst Maggie sat next to her, Maggie was a witch, a young and very powerful witch, she'd been summoned to the hospital earlier that day by the council to meet with the entity that called himself Nicholas. Geoff was now looking out of the windows of the restaurant at the birds sheltering on the high ledges of the buildings opposite. Lucy was drinking Dandelion and burdock from her glass and eating a cake without even wondering how she was still able to. Nicholas smiled at Lucy all the time knowing with sadness that her fate was out of his hands as it had already been determined by a much higher power than himself. Lucy seemed to somehow sense Nicholas's sadness and after taking a final sip of her drink asked, "I'm not going to be returning to my body am I?" "No Lucinda you're not, I'm so sorry," said Nicholas as he bowed his head, Maggie sat quietly as the entity called Nicholas talked with the little girl. "So have you come to take me to heaven then?" "No my child but I do have a request to make of you." "Oh?" "Lucinda ever since your birth you have brought Joy to both of your parents, two people that until they fell in love were drifting aimlessly through life, the happiest day of each of their lives being the day of your birth." "But won't me dying spoil that Mr Nick?" "It could yes." "Then couldn't you just let me go back to my own body then, I won't tell I promise." "I wish I could Lucinda but your fate was decided long ago, soon you will bring happiness to another childless couple and this time you will lead a long and very happy life." Lucy looked into the old man's eyes and somehow just knew that he was telling her the truth. "What is your request then Mr Nick?" "I would like you to help me save someone Lucinda but in order to save them I need your permission to use your old body?" "My body? But it's broken, I heard the Doctor saying that my brain was badly damaged due to a burst pipe or something." "That is where Magdalene can help me, you see she's a witch, a very powerful witch and a healer, I'm hoping that she can heal your old brain so it can accept a new spirit." "I'm not sure I want somebody else living in my old body Mr Nick." "I understand Lucinda I truly do but before you make your final decision may I take you on a journey?" "Will I be able to come back here afterwards to say goodbye to mummy and daddy?" Nick smiled at Lucy. "I'll even take you to say goodbye to Barnaby if you would like?" Lucy dropped down from her seat and offered Nick her hand. "Okay then Mr Nick let's go." Nick took Lucy's hand, turned to Maggie. "Magdalene until I return you must prevent the doctors from terminating Lucinda's body." Maggie looked up at the old man smiled and nodded, she sensed nothing malevolent about this entity so was happy to comply, within seconds Nick and Lucy had vanished leaving a light dusting of snow on the restaurant tables. "Come on Geoff we have work to do," said Maggie to her Golem as she headed to the exit door. Chapter 4 Lucy's journey Nick and Lucy appeared out of nowhere just outside of the main entrance to an old Hospital. It was snowing heavily. "Those car's look really old Nick," said Lucy in confusion as she noticed the older style cars driving slowly through the slush on the road. "We've travelled back in time Lucinda as I'd like to show you something." Nick and Lucy walked hand in hand into the hospital and the pair negotiated through its corridors completely unnoticed by the staff and patients until they entered the maternity ward. As they entered the ward they continued along the beds until Nicholas stopped at the third bed on the right, in the bed was a young woman, she looked tired but was smiling at the tiny newly born child tightly wrapped in a cotton blanket in her arms. "Have you decided what baby is going to be called Mrs Monroe?" asked the midwife. "Tyler we thought Tyler if he was a boy and if he'd been a girl we were going to call her Danielle." "Will your husband be visiting you later Mrs Monroe?" "I hope so but he doesn't like hospitals and he's really busy you see." "I see," said the nurse unconvincingly. Lucy turned to Nick and pulled on his sleeve. "Did the baby's daddy not see him being born Nick?" "No but not because he was nasty or anything like that, he was frightened." "Frightened?" "Yes Lucy frightened, Tyler's daddy really doesn't like hospitals you see, he thinks of them as places that you go to die." "So where is he now then?" "In the pub drinking with his friends." Lucy walked up to the little baby who was still coated in vernix and a little blood from his birth, his eyes were tightly closed, he looked to Lucy's eyes to be just perfect. Nicholas stood by Lucy's side. "He's perfect isn't he?" Lucy nodded as Nick took her hand once more and guided her from the ward, vanishing as they went through the double doors. When they reappeared a small boy was sitting on a bed he was very upset about something. "Is that Tyler Nick?" "Yes." "Why is he so upset?" But before Nicholas could answer Tyler's mum came into the room, she was wearing jeans and a teeshirt, she sat on the bed with Tyler and asked, "Is teddy poorly again?" The little boy with tears streaming down his face nodded. "Oh we can't have that can we now let me see if I can make it better." The young woman took the teddy off the bed and noticed with a smile that one of its eyes had become detached and was now missing. "I see what the problem is with Mr Teddy. Just give me a moment." Tyler's mum hopped off the bed and left the room returning a few seconds later with a small sewing kit a piece of pink ribbon and a replacement eye she'd just cut from one of her own old teddies. "Now let me see," said Tylers mum as she set about affixing the new eye to the Tyler's beloved teddy bear. Soon the teddy was repaired and now sported a pink ribbon around his neck. "There you go dear as good as new." Tyler took his teddy looked at it to check that he was all better and then hugged his mum tightly. "Mummeee," he said as she stroked his hair. Lucy's next stop was not quite so pleasant, she found herself in the kitchen of a small house, Tyler's mum was a little older and wearing an apron over her skirt and blouse, she was trying to complete the family's evening meal, she looked very tired and quite pale, there was a man sitting at a table drinking a cup of tea and reading the evening paper, Lucy and Nicholas observed unseen. "He wants a what?" "An action man dear." They're very popular. "An action man isn't that a doll?" "No dear it's a soldier you can get different uniforms for and..." "My son wants to play dress up with a doll, are you kidding me?" "But dear a lot of the children at playgroup have them and I thought it would be nice to get him one for Christmas." "Well he's not getting one, get him a car or a construction kit, get him something manly." "Yes dear." "So when will tea be ready I've been in for nearly fifteen minutes and I have darts in an hour it's the semi's." "Just coming now dear I've done mince and dumplings, I hope that is okay?" "S'pose, where's the brat?" "Tyler's in his room, could you get him for me please whilst I dish up?" Tyler's father reluctantly got up from his chair and left the kitchen whilst his mother dished up their evening meal. When little Tyler entered the kitchen it was obvious that he'd been crying. "Why is Tyler crying Mr Nick?" asked Lucy. "Little Tyler is crying because his father has just told him that he's not going to get what he wants for Christmas and has locked away all of his soft toys." Lucy frowned at the old man. "That's cruel." "It is isn't it, come this way." Nicholas and Lucy left the kitchen and Nicholas quickly found where Tyler's soft toys had been hidden." "I think Lucy that we should liberate at least one for Tyler don't you?" Lucy smiled and nodded up at Nick. "The teddy, pick the teddy the one with the different coloured eyes and the pink bow around its neck Mr Nick I think he likes that one," Nicholas reached up and took the small teddy bear from the cupboard that they had been locked in and placed it where Nicholas knew Tyler's father would never look but Tyler would find easily. "At least he will have something to hug now when he's upset Mr Nick won't he?" "He will Lucy, now we are going to go a little further forward." To Lucy it seemed that they had just walked back into the kitchen of the Monroe household but the scene was now completely different Tyler was now older and was dressed in school uniform, he hugged his mum and she kissed him on the cheek before leaving via the back door to meet with another boy of his age and his mother. Tyler's mother waved as he left and then she went over to one of the seats by the table and slumped down into it. "Tyler's mum looks exhausted?" "She is Lucy, she's actually very poorly but hasn't told anyone yet as she doesn't want to worry them." Lucy and Nicholas stood still as the world fast forwarded around them. It then slowed and into view came Tyler he was sitting at the kitchen table and was concentrating hard writing very slowly a note with a pencil, he then folded the note and went into the living room where he threw it into the old coal fire that was burning away fiercely, the paper however did not burn and flew straight up the chimney. "What was on the note Nick?" asked Lucy. Nicholas took out the note from his own pocket and passed it to Lucy who unfolded it and read. 'Dear Santa, this year I don't want any presents for me so instead could you ask God to make my mummy better for me please cos she is very poorly in hospitl. Love Tyler.' "Oh Mr Nick. did Tyler's mummy get better?" Nick crouched down so that he could look Lucy in the eyes. "I'm afraid not Lucy, it was her time you see? she died on Christmas day morning, that was the very last time Tyler asked for anything for Christmas." Lucy was now close to tears and clung to Nicks thick fur skins as he explained. "I couldn't do anything for him at that time Lucy as the time was not right but I promised that one day, if I could I would. If I could help him before it was too late and his spirit was damaged forever." The world around Lucy and Nicholas once again started to fast forward with the days flashing by and outside the living room window the seasons changing rapidly. "Tyler took his mum's death very badly Lucy, but for his father it was far worse as without his wife to guide him from his more self- destructive tendencies he became lost, lost in the world with a young son to look after and due to his own upbringing with precious few skills with which to achieve it." "Was Tyler's father a bad man Nick." "No he isn't, Lucy he provided for his son but lacked empathy for his son's own pain at the loss of his mother." The world slowed down once more and Lucy could hear shouting coming from the kitchen, so she left Nicholas's side to investigate. When Lucy arrived in the kitchen Tyler was trying without success to explain something to his father who it appeared had just come home from work. "I'm not interested Tyler, you do your chores before you do your homework," Tyler's father stated whilst pointing at several unwashed dishes stacked up by the sink." "But dad, I was just finishing off my homework I'll do the dishes next." Tyler's dad looked confused for a second or two then grabbed the work book Tyler was writing in and ripped it into several pieces. "There all done, now you can do the dishes." Tyler looked up at his father and without thinking of the repercussions of his actions shouted, "I HATE YOU." Tyler's father looked the young lad in the eyes whilst he undid the buckle of his belt and pulled the leather strap until it smoothly ran through the fabric hoops on the waistline of his jeans, he then folded the belt in two and said quietly. "Come here son." Tyler looked at his father in shock and at that moment Nick placed his hand on Lucy's shoulder and with it time started to advance swiftly once more. "You don't need to see what happens next Lucy, but Tyler was off school for several days following his father's beating." When the world came into clear view once more Lucy and Nick were in a park and near to the old bandstand was a much older Tyler and three other youths, they were trying to wrench painted wooden slats from a seat. "Is Tyler a vandal now?" asked Lucy. "It would appear so wouldn't it?" Lucy watched with disgust as the gang vandalised the seat. "But sometimes people act against their nature when with others, not an hour ago when Tyler was without his friends he helped a young pregnant woman to her car with her shopping before going to the library to try in vain to catch up with his school work, I need to show you something else Lucy, something I am trying desperately to avoid happening." The world once more became a blur and when it cleared Lucy found herself to be in a courtroom almost exactly like the ones she'd seen on the TV. "Why are we here Nick?" "Because Tyler has been accused of a most terrible crime Lucy." "Is he guilty?" "Sadly yes but it was an accident he killed his father whilst trying to defend himself." "But does it have to be this way?" "No Lucy It doesn't there are other futures for Tyler but most are just as bleak." "May I see them please?" "Of course but you will need to be brave for me." "I'll try." The world once again changed and soon Nicholas and Lucy were outside in the cold once more it was sleeting and the road was wet. Suddenly a small car screeched around a corner and pulled up next to Lucy and Nick. Three people, two teenage girls and a boy exited the car with haste. "Quickly into the lanes I'm so sorry about this, it was just meant to be a bit of fun, I'll Keep the police busy while you get away." It was Tyler, he pulled the door shut and screeched away. "Tyler stole a car this afternoon, he was trying to impress a young girl, fortunately she and her friend will learn from their mistake unfortunately for Tyler he will learn just too late." Lucy watched as three police cars sped past her and a few seconds later watched as Tyler who was now coming towards them lost control of his car, hit the curb bounced across the road and into a large concrete partition, the small car crumpled against the immoveable object Lucy looked away. "That was horrible Nick, why did you show me that?" "These events have not as yet happened child, they are only possible futures, in this future Tyler survives, but is paralysed from the neck down, he'll never walk again, in another he crashes into a bus stop and injures several people." Lucy looked up to Nick. "Are there no happy futures for him Nick?" "Without our intervention no, his spirit is scarred now, it would take a lot of time and patience to heal it now oh and a lot of love." "Is that why you want to use my old body Nick?" "It is yes." "Nick?" "You do know that I'm a girl don't you?" "Yes Lucy." "And that Tyler is a boy?" "Yes Lucy." "Won't Tyler just feel wrong if he's inside my body won't it make him really angry?" "Initially possibly but what Tyler does not yet know and would have found out for himself eventually is that he was always destined to become a female albeit a surgically created one. If he'd survived his teenage years unscathed that is." "Are you sure Nick?" "Yes I can show you if you wish?" "No, I believe you," Lucy looked up at Nicholas and took his hand "I think we may need to return now Nick," Nicholas looked at Lucy and noticed a faint glow emanating from her body, he realised that her time with him was now almost up. "If I let Tyler have my body will he look after it?" "Yes Lucy I believe he will." "And will he stop being naughty?" Nicholas nodded. "Your mummy and daddy will guide him Lucy." "Will they know it's not me anymore?" "They will know that the poorly little girl that regains consciousness is different from the one that they knew before but they will attribute it to her injury. They will however love her no less than they loved you Lucy." "Thank you for being honest with me Nick, may I meet Tyler before I go please?" "Of course my child but first would you like to visit Barnaby, he's confused and worried that he's done something wrong?" Lucy smiled and nodded. Snow started to swirl from the ground around Nicholas and Lucy and became thicker and thicker as it rose from the ground until the rapidly rotating tornado of snow completely engulfed them and as it dissipated Lucy and Nick had gone. Chapter 5 New arrival "Multiple injuries, Probable C1 and C2 dislocation, has a GCS of three, we had to intubate at the scene..." The air ambulance trauma doctor continued with his assessment of his patient as he handed over to the emergency medical staff in the trauma area of the hospital. "Hello I'm Lucy," said a voice from apparently nowhere. "Uh?" "Are you Tyler?" "Yes, but-" "Take my hand Tyler please and keep your eyes closed." Tyler felt a small warm hand in his. "That's it now sit up, but don't open your eyes just yet." Tyler sat up. "Okay now swing your legs over to the left and hop off the bed." Tyler did as he was requested but as he landed opened his eyes and looked to his right. "Oh god is that me?" he said of the crumpled lump of torn flesh and blood lying on the bed being worked on by several medical staff. "I'm afraid it is Tyler you crashed the car you and your friends stole." "Oh god, oh god, oh god, what a mess, am I dead?" "No you are not but you are very poorly indeed." "But I will be okay won't I?" "That really depends on you Tyler." Lucy tugged at Tyler's hand and he found himself obediently following her. "Why are you glowing Lucy are you a ghost or an angel or something?" asked Tyler as they exited the trauma area and found a seat. Lucy took the neatly folded piece of paper that Nicholas had given her from her pocket and passed it to Tyler. "Do you remember this?" Tyler took the paper unfolded it and read it, he sat silently for several moments before feeling long dormant and suppressed emotions reappear, tears started to run down his cheeks. "How did you get this? I don't understand." "Neither do I really Tyler but your letter was received and believe that you are being offered one final chance at life, a clean start and I think that you should take it." "A final chance?" "Yes a second chance a chance to become who you always wanted to be." Tyler's face hardened. "I've had loads of second chances Lucy but nothing ever changes for me, I always seem to screw up." As Tyler was speaking to his right he noticed a very large mountain of a man enter the waiting area he was wearing a kilt and the top of a suit but it was who was walking with him caused every single one of the defences he'd built up over the years to crumble. "Mummy?" he asked, his voice squeaking with emotion. The woman smiled and walked towards him. "Hello my beautiful little boy." Tyler got up from his seat and held his mother tightly taking in her scent as he did, he felt like a small child again and was overcome with emotion at seeing his mother once more. "I'm so sorry I can't stay for long Tyler but you need to make a decision soon before time runs out for you." "Decision mum?" asked Tyler who was still hugging his mother. "Yes you can return to your own body, your old life and face the repercussions of your actions from this evening, or you can embark on a whole new adventure with new parents who both love you dearly." "I, I don't know." "Would you like my advice Tyler?" "Yes, yes mummy I would." "Take Lucy's offer, she's very generously offered you her old body." Tyler turned to Lucy who had her hands clasped together at her chest and was looking to Tyler hopefully. "You would give me your body?" "Yes Tyler I would and I do it willingly." Tyler's mum spoke again. "It won't be easy at first though, as you will need to become a whole new person but you will have two brand new and loving parents to guide you on your new journey." Tyler let go of his mum and embraced the little girl. "I accept, I have no idea how or why you are doing this for me but I accept, thank you, thank you so much, I won't let you down Lucy I promise." "Good boy, I knew that you would make the right decision," said Tyler's mum. "Mummy likes it when we touch and rub noses Tyler," said Lucy as she took Tyler's mum's hand. "Mum no you're not going already are you?" asked Tyler, Tyler's mum smiled sadly at her son. "I'm afraid so but be brave for me as you will always be in my thoughts." "And mine," added Lucy. Lucy and Tyler's mum became transparent and as they faded Tyler's mum said, "Geoffrey will guide you now Tyler, I love you and always will my beautiful boy." Tyler who was now weeping felt a large cold hand gently engulf his, he looked up to see the kilted giant smiling down at him and offering him a handkerchief with his other hand which he gratefully accepted. "Pleez come," said the giant man in a very gravelly voice. "I like your kilt. Geoffrey," said Tyler as he walked out of the casualty department with the giant man. "Mmmmmm," replied the Golem. In Lucy's room, Maggie had been busy since Nicholas had left her just over an hour ago, the empty shell that was once a bubbly adventurous little girl now lay on the bed her body had several tubes entering it at various convenient points and a machine was doing her breathing for her. Apart from several autonomic functions there was no appreciable brain activity in the body, essentially it was now an empty vessel. There were two reasons that Maggie had been chosen this evening the first being that despite her apparent youth she was an accomplished healer and the second being that someone had to prevent other non-desirable entities from entering and poisoning the delicate empty vessel that lay on the bed completely defenceless. It wasn't long after Nick and Lucy had left on their journey that Maggie had entered Lucy's room Lucy's parents were with doctors in an adjoining room discussing her options of which there was really only one. Geoffrey stood guard completely unnoticed and prepared to dispose of any dark entities that could have attacked his friend Maggie or Lucy's body whilst they were vulnerable, Maggie went over to the bedside and touched Lucy's forehead, Maggie was instantly able to see Lucy's brain and interact with it on a cellular level. 'Oh goddess, this is a mess, so much tissue damage and bruising,' she said to herself as she surveyed in her own mind the damage to Lucy's prefrontal and premotor cortex, she then found the repair that the surgeon had made to the damaged blood vessel. 'Oh this will not do at all,' said Maggie to herself as her mind woke and guided long dormant stem cells back to work. Before long new neurons and glia were forming on a scaffold filling in and recreating the massive matrix of cells that had been damaged by the pressure from Lucy's bleed and cell necrosis from lack of oxygen. 'Hmm motor neuron's linking up nicely and ooh nearly missed that.' Maggie directed some of the rapidly multiplying workforce of stem cells to her visual cortex and sensory association areas. 'Memory has suffered quite severe damage but there are still some memories here that's good, it'll give Tyler a head start if he chooses to inhabit Lucy's body, hmm she's going to have to relearn how to read though.' Maggie looked back to the troublesome blood vessel that had caused so much heartache to the Denwick family, it was completely repaired now so Maggie dissolved the recently added stent and clip, she then set about repairing and re-bonding Lucy's skull leaving the skin above to heal naturally so as not to spook the medical staff too much. Maggie felt herself tiring as she finally pulled from Lucy's body stopping only to correct a couple of dozen defective and troublesome base pairs as she did. Geoffrey supported Maggie for a few seconds as her strength returned. "Nneed to go now Maggee," said the hulking Golem to his friend. "Okay Geoff, I'll be all right now," stated Maggie as the colour quickly returned to her cheeks. As Geoffrey left the room Nicholas appeared. "Have you completed your work Magdalene?" he asked of the recovering witch. "Yes her brain has been restored, she will need to relearn a few things but, with time, she'll recover fully." "Thank you." Nick paused and looked directly at her lower stomach, "the child within you?" "Yes?" asked Maggie cautiously. "It was conceived by a soulless union was it not?" "Yes?" "And yet a spirit now resides within the growing foetus?" "Yes it is the spirit of a very good friend of mine, she was called Diana the body she inhabited could no longer sustain her so I offered myself as the vessel of her rebirth." "Hmm." Nick came over to Maggie and moved his hand towards Maggie's stomach. "May I?" he asked. Maggie nodded nervously. "The child within is innocent but the spirit within still harbours a deep and hidden darkness from her past." Nick touched Maggie's stomach and she felt it becoming warm as Nicholas pulled a thin strand of what looked like a long black oily hair through her blouse. He held the hair up to his face and blew on it, causing it to vanish immediately. "Thank you for your help tonight I could not have done it without you or your friend." "Geoffrey?" "Yes oh and when he next replenishes suggest to him to use a finer grade of sand or even soft fine clay, you also may want to help to re sculpt." "Err okay," answered Maggie not understanding what he meant. "We should be leaving now Magdalene, as Lucy's parents are about to return," Both Maggie and Nicholas stood back from Lucy's bed and stood out of the way completely unnoticed by Lucy's now grieving parents and the two doctors they'd been talking with in the next room. Just after her parents had returned to their daughters body Lucy and Tyler's mum appeared in the room Lucy hugged her mum tightly and then her father and tearfully said goodbye to them both before walking slowly towards the outside wall but fading away just before reaching it. Maggie and Nicholas stood silently observing as Lucy's mother and father said their final goodbyes to Lucy's body whilst the doctors prepared to terminate her life support. It was several minutes later that Geoffrey appeared with a very nervous looking Tyler he looked over at Lucy's parents who were both distraught and comforting each other as the doctors started the procedures that would remove life support from their daughter's body. "Will they be my new parents?" "Yes Tyler your new father is called Lars and your new mum is called Tamara," answered Maggie. Tyler looked at the couple, Tamara was in floods of tears and Lars was consoling her as best he could. Tyler watched his prospective parents and felt a lump in his throat, he decided there and then that he would go through with it even though he was absolutely terrified. "I don't know what to do, what do I do?" asked Tyler nervously. "Just go to Lucy's body and touch it and a new and exciting journey will then begin for you." Tyler let go of Geoffrey's hand and went over to Lucy's body. "Oh she was really pretty wasn't she?" said Tyler as he touched her pale hand and in an instant his entire spectral form appeared to be sucked into the motionless body as though by a giant unseen vacuum cleaner. Suddenly the screens on the monitors in Lucy's room started to register a change in heart rate and a massive surge in electrical activity within the young girls brain, the two doctors attending rushed over to their monitoring equipment completely flummoxed as to what had just occurred. Nick and Maggie walked out of the room along with Geoffrey, completely unnoticed by the medical staff or by Lucy's bemused parents. The very second that Tyler entered Lucy's body three floors below in critical care section of the A and E unit, Tyler's heart stopped beating and five minutes later he was pronounced dead by one of the doctors that had been fighting to save his life. Tyler's father was sitting in the waiting room, irritatedly waiting to hear how bad his son's injuries were when a stout man with an unkempt beard wearing animal skins approached him but to Tyler's father however all he could see was a doctor dressed in surgical scrubs and covered in blood, "Mr Monroe?" "Yes, my son Tyler is he going to be okay?" Nicholas touched the man on his shoulder "Celebrate your son's life Mr Monroe." Tyler's father looked blankly at Nicholas. "It is not yet too late for you, so forget your own childhood traumas and learn to live, learn to move forward." Tyler's father was still standing and looking into space when several minutes late he was approached by a nurse and a grim-faced senior registrar. Chapter 6 Acceptance "Eqipin fangn glibmove," heard Tyler/Lucy as he slowly regained consciousness and started to gag on something. "Losear trigh t fgt it." "Lusea cn yoo ear." This was ridiculous these people were speaking gibberish thought Tyler/Lucy to himself as he felt something being dragged from his throat. "Lucy theasier noow." Tyler/Lucy started to cough and felt his body being raised he also could smell a scent that was both foreign and familiar at the same time. "Mermee?" "Lucy ow Lucy," said a comforting but very emotional voice Tyler/Lucy wondered if the "ow" he'd just heard was in fact an "oh," were the words being jumbled up by him in his own mind? So over the next few hour's he listened carefully to what was being said in his room and attempted to correct the information that his new and recently repaired mind was getting wrong until he could understand simple phrases, he/ she still had very little control over her body however and kept making involuntary twitches occasionally. "It's only to be expected I'm afraid Mrs flagnarb as her brain was badly traditional," heard Tyler/Lucy. 'Traditional? Surely not, damaged maybe broken? Traumatised, yes that makes sense.' Tyler/Lucy smiled inwardly at his success. "Look at Lucy, she's smiling doctor." Tyler/Lucy felt a very large warm hand take his, it felt wonderful he attempted to squeeze the hand holding his but couldn't as the recently repaired connections within her brain just didn't yet know what to link to. It took Lucy/Tyler nearly three days to work out how to flutter and then open her eyelids only to be disappointed at the inrush of incomprehensible colours and patterns being received. She soon recovered from her disappointment however and started to reason that she was somewhat like a newly born baby and that a lot of things would no longer make sense to her, but that she already had a head start as she had at least some memories of how the outside world worked and of the real Lucy's past life. One morning as Lucy/Tyler was being moved she noticed something that she thought she recognised, she concentrated really hard and slowly the form of a small Teddy bear came briefly into view it was quite old and had two mismatched eyes of different colours and an old bow made of pink ribbon around its neck, it was her teddy bear from home, her original home. "Tuudeeee," said Lucy/Tyler and then more urgently. "Tedeee," Lucy/Tyler heard the woman who she now knew to be her mother saying. "I think Lucy is asking for that grubby looking Teddy on the windowsill." "Yerse Teddee." Lucy/Tyler smiled and watched as a shape crossed her vision and a few seconds later she felt the soft bear being placed into her arms. "Mmmmm, thnk yoo," sighed Lucy/Tyler. Later that very day Lucy/Tyler after concentrating very hard managed to get her eyes to finally focus on the world around her and that evening even managed to see albeit a little blurred her new mummy when she kissed her on the forehead as she was leaving to go home. "Mummee?" "Yes Lucy?" asked Tamara. "Luv yoo." "Oh and I love you too precious." She then touched noses with Lucy causing a tiny little static shock to jump between the young girl and her mother. Lucy found herself giggling involuntarily. "Oh I've missed your giggles so much Lucy." Lucy's mum then hugged her daughter before leaving for the evening. As Lucy lay propped up in her bed still feeling warmth inside from her mother's hug, she felt nothing but love for her new mum and even though she knew that she was really just an imposter in the young girl's body she resolved that she was going to try to be the best daughter she possibly could be. The new Lucy improved rapidly over the next few days to the amazement of the medical staff and with the help of Viv, her physiotherapist, her brain quickly remade connections and re-established communication to her muscles nerves and limbs and was soon moving them again though in a very uncoordinated manner. One afternoon, about a week before Christmas Lars, Lucy's father, entered her room. Lucy was sitting up in bed and trying to re learn the alphabet from the App on a tablet propped up before her. "Hello Daddy," said Lucy brightly if a little slowly. Lucy's room was now adorned with many get well cards from her friends and relatives and some of her own things from home to help with her memory, she was also wearing a pair of pyjamas from her home and the old Teddy from her other life was sitting by her side. "Hello pumpkin are you up for some visitors today?" he asked as he kissed her cheek. "Visitors?" she enquired. "Yes some of your friends from school, I've told them that you may not recognise them and that your memory isn't too good, but they've been pestering me for the last few days to come and see you," Lucy looked at her father with a mixture of excitement and fear. "Is, Is Anja there and, and Sue oh and er F, F..." "Fiona? hello Lucy," said a young girl who looked to be the same age as her entered the room with two other girls, Lucy smiled broadly at the three girls and instinctively knew that they were her friends, she absent mindedly tucked her hair behind her ear exposing the large irregular scar on the side of her head and the recently shaved patch of skin that was now covered in thick stubble. "Oooh is that where they operated on you?" asked Anja as she kicked off her shoes and jumped onto Lucy's bed. "Yea want a look?" asked Lucy proudly. The other two girls also kicked off their shoes and joined Lucy on her bed, within minutes they were laughing and giggling together. Lucy's father Lars looked on from the background at his daughter as she re engaged with her friends whilst hugging her teddy to her chest, he felt a tear start to form so he turned and left Lucy for a few moments to her happiness, walked across the corridor and into the visitors toilet where he found a cubicle and started to cry tears of relief, his daughter was going to be okay now. The days and days of worrying had taken their toll on Lars, he'd had to be strong for his wife and his family whilst he was also worried sick for his beautiful daughter who was fighting for her own life but now she was recovering, he would allow himself a little emotion. When Lars had recovered enough he left the cubicle and bumped into an old man almost knocking him over. "I'm so sorry sir I didn't see you, are you okay?" The old man smiled at Lars. "I'm fine young man but you look like you've had some bad news?" The old man took out a silk handkerchief and passed it to Lars who gratefully accepted it and started to clear the tears from his eyes. "Thank you, it wasn't bad news sir, just relief. My daughter has been very ill you see." "Oh I see and now she's recovering you have allowed yourself a little emotion?" Lars nodded. "Take my advice young man, holding strong emotions like grief or worry within yourself is self-destructive for they will grow like a disease." "Thank you sir, I think you may be right about that." "Is that your little girl laughing with her friends just over the corridor?" "It is, her friends have been pestering my wife to come and visit, she finally relented." "And your wife, she is here too?" "No, she's feeling a little under the weather today so I volunteered." "Oh I hope she gets well soon." "I don't think it's serious sir." "Nicholas." "Sorry Nicholas, Tamara probably just ate something that disagreed with her, I woke to her being sick this morning." Nicholas smiled warmly at Lars who was now washing his face. "Maybe your daughter will soon have a brother or sister to play with then," Lars looked up at the old man. "Oh but that's impossible you see Tamara can't have any more children the doctors told us that it was virtually impossible for her to conceive naturally, Lucy was actually an IVF baby." Lars offered the old man his handkerchief back but the old man just shook his head." "No you keep it, I've a feeling you may be needing it again soon." Lars didn't even notice the old man leave. Chapter 7 Barnaby Tyler who was now getting used to being Lucy was now actively allowing her old memories to merge with Lucy's, it was a little difficult sometimes but she was now forcing herself to be exactly what she appeared to be, a seven and a half year old girl and she was loving every second of her new life and was looking forward to when the doctors would let her go home. Lucy was sitting by her bed in her nightie her bare legs were dangling over its edge, she was humming to herself as she brushed her hair she turned as the door opened to her room, Lucy smiled broadly. "Mummy, I wasn't expecting you till later." Lucy's mum smiled at her daughter, she was carrying a carrier bag. "I've just been shopping Lucy and thought you'd like to see what I've been buying?" "Oooohhh." "The doctors have said if you keep improving you may be able to come home for Christmas so I bought you a new party dress just in case, want to see it?" Lucy nodded enthusiastically. Tamara pulled a beautiful dress out of the carried bag it sparkled in the light of the room, Lucy's face beamed as she took the dress from her mother and offered it up to her nightie and smoothed the fabric against her skin. "Oh mummy it's wonderful I love it thank you so much." Tamara smiled. "I've been really naughty and bought you a pair of sparkly tights and a pair of shoes, oh and a silk vest for underneath too." Lucy offered her arms to her mother and then hugged her tightly. "Thank you mummy, thank you so much I love them." Lucy held her mum for ages until her mum said. "The doctors say that you can get dressed if you want today and if you would like I can wheel you down to the Cafe for pop and cakes?" For Lucy it was both a strange and familiar experience getting dressed, she loved the dark red tights her mum helped her ease up her legs and the little tartan skirt, her vest and tee-shirt was a struggle as she did not yet have the coordination to pull them over her head, Lucy's hair was put into a ponytail and a little pink hairgrip held hair over her slowly disappearing bald patch. "Do you need me to carry you over to your wheelchair?" asked Tamara. "No just steady me please." Tamara held her daughters hands and steadied her as she took several faltering steps towards her wheelchair. "It's getting easier mummy, but I still have to think a lot to do it." Tamara kissed her daughter on the cheek and they gently rubbed noses causing Lucy to giggle at the sensation. "I'll drive," said Tamara as she wheeled her daughter out of the room and past the nurse station. Lucy really loved being out of her room and also found herself loving her new mum's company as she ate a huge chocolate chip muffin and drank fizzy pop through a straw. "I was wondering Lucy if you would like to have your ears pierced as part of your Christmas present, I've noticed that a lot of your friends now have studs in." "Will I be able to wear earrings just like yours mummy?" asked Lucy pointing at the small pearl and diamond earrings that Tamara was sporting dangling from her own ears. "Not at first as your ears will need to heal around the posts but eventually yes, I'll even let you have these ones to wear if you like." Lucy touched the earrings hanging from her mums ears. "Do they feel funny mummy?" "Not anymore, I've been wearing earrings for so long now that I think it would feel wrong if they weren't there." "Will they make me look really pretty just like you?" Tamara blushed a little. "I actually think that the prettiest person here Lucy is you." She then leant towards her pale weak daughter and kissed her on the cheek. "Oh before I forget you have another get well card." "Oh, who from?" "Barnaby." Lucy looked confused for a second and then smiled. "Silly mummy Dogs can't send cards." "Oh but he did Lucy look" Tamara passed Lucy a shop bought get well card and passed it over to her, as Lucy opened the card her mum continued. "Barnaby lies by your bed every night Lucy I think he's keeping guard over it for you, he even sits by the front door as though waiting for you to come home from school and he put his dirty paw on the card for you, he really misses you Lucy as do we all," Lucy opened the card and as she noticed the smudged paw print she felt tears start to run down her face. Lucy continued to improve and on Christmas eve afternoon was finally taken from the hospital by ambulance back to her home. Barnaby the dog was a little confused when he first met the new Lucy but quickly sensed that she was still quite unwell, Lucy did not want to go straight up to bed so the ambulance men placed her on the sofa in the living room before wishing her a merry Christmas and leaving her with her mum. Lucy held her Teddy's paw tightly as she took in the foreign and yet somehow very familiar surroundings of her home. Tamara fussed around Lucy making her comfortable whilst Barnaby the dog sat quietly and watched. "Hello Barnaby," said Lucy, the dogs ears immediately pricked up and his tail started to wag as he cautiously approached the young girl who he knew was somehow different to the little girl he used to play catch with. Barnaby however didn't care and nuzzled himself into her side and allowed Lucy to stroke his fur. He knew that something was different about his friend but not quite what but she was back and he liked being with her and would protect her as he had before she fell down. Lucy's journey from hospital had tired her and she fell asleep soon after her arrival and woke to find herself in a very comfortable bed, she was warm and could hear the ticking of her wall clock along with the intermittent whimpers of Barnaby who she assumed to be lying on the floor near to her bed Lucy stretched her arms out of the bed and yawned feeling the thin fabric of her night dress slide down her arms as it did, she shuffled herself up the bed into a seated position and looked over at the window, it was starting to get light outside, a hairy face appeared at the side of the bed with its tongue hanging out. "Merry Christmas Barnaby." Lucy patted the bed and the dog leapt up onto it licking Lucy's face as she laughed and tickled her lovely pet. "I wonder what's down there boy," said Lucy to Barnaby almost as if he understood what she was saying, he looked to the foot of the bed and noticed a large stocking filled with gifts, he took the ribbon holding the stocking to the bedpost in his teeth and then hauled the bulging stocking up the bed towards Lucy. "Good boy, you are a clever dog aren't you?" Lucy then noticed that the first present in the stocking was labelled 'Barnaby.' "This is for you boy, you wanna open it?" The Labrador looked confused for a second before Lucy took a corner of the wrapping and tore it revealing under it Barnaby's favourite dog treats, he then held the present down with his paw whilst removing the wrapping with his teeth. When Lucy's mum appeared sometime later, Lucy was lying on her front on the bed. She was propping her body up on her elbows and she was reading an annual she'd just unwrapped, Barnaby was lying beside her playing with the wrapping up paper. "Merry Christmas Lucy and how are you feeling today?" "Much better mummy, thank you, are we getting up now?" "Yes, I'll just get your dressing gown and I'll help you down stairs," But before Tamara had even moved Barnaby had leapt down from the bed, grabbed Lucy's gown from the chair and was dragging it across the room towards Lucy. "Oh thank you Barnaby who's a good dog then?" Lucy donned her gown and slipped her slippers onto her feet then slowly stood and whilst being supported by her mum went down stairs. Just before lunch as Lucy sat on her mum's bed dressed in her new dress and sparkly tights she watched her mum putting on her makeup whilst looking at her own feet that currently had her mum's far too large heels on them. "Mummy?" "Yes Kitten?" "What does make up feel like?" Tamara turned to her daughter with her mascara brush still in hand. "Would you like to try a little?" "Yes please?" "Okay stay very still." Tamara held her daughter's head and gently stroked her eyelashes until they had the barest of coating. "Ooh I can feel it do I look as pretty as you now?" "Oh Lucy you are far prettier than me, would you like me to line your eyes too just like mine?" "Yes please and will you colour my eyes too?" "No I think eye shadow would be too much, you can have a little lipstick though and I'll paint your nails for you if you want?" Lucy sat patiently whilst her mum lined her eyes with a pencil all the while the new little girl was merging with the remnants of the original Lucy's personality creating a new person entirely. "There, all finished. You look gorgeous." Lucy looked into the mirror on her mother's dressing table and smiled, she could even see the little gold studs in her ears from her visit to the hospital salon, Lucy turned and hugged her mummy tightly. "I love you too Lucy," said Tamara as she hugged her still frail daughter back. After a very filling Christmas dinner Lucy helped her father do a jigsaw he seemed in a very good mood. They were joined by Tamara who placed a tray of nibbles on the table and then curled up against her husband. "Lucy we both have something to tell you?" "Oh?" Tamara was now holding her husband Lars hand tightly. "Next year you might be getting a little brother or sister." "But mummy I thought you said that you couldn't have any more children?" "That's what we were told princess but the doctor has confirmed it I'm going to have a baby." Lucy looked at her mummy's eyes, they were glistening, she smiled at her mummy and said. "I hope it's a sister, err or a little brother that would be cool too." Lucy moved over and hugged both of her parents and in her mind thought 'I'm going to be the best big sister ever." Chapter 8 An invitation accepted Whilst Lucy lay snuggled against her new parents and Tyler's father attempted to celebrate his first Christmas alone, Nicholas appears outside of what appears to be a tiny old terraced cottage by a small river in a semi hidden dene, he instantly senses the cottages hesitation to allow him access, but it reluctantly does, Nicholas opens the small wooden gate and walks along the crooked garden path, he stops at the door and hesitates a little before knocking three times. The door is opened by Geoffrey who is wearing an elf hat, he bows to Nicholas as he enters the cottage, Maggie comes out from the kitchen area to greet Nicholas, she seems surprised to see him but also really pleased he'd taken her up on her offer. "Nick, you came?" "Yes I thought that I would take you up on your kind offer, I hope I'm not intruding?" "No, no we have plenty of food-" An older woman then enters from the kitchen Area she is wearing a festive jumper under her apron and looks very surprised to see her visitor. "Nick may I introduce Martha this is her home." Nicholas bows to his host and from out of nowhere produces a bottle of fine wine. "I'm sorry it's not much but I rarely get invited for meals I'm a bit out of practice." Martha curtsies to Nicholas and takes the offered bottle from him. "Th, Thank you for honouring our home," she says nervously. "And a wonderful home it is too, may I sit?" It didn't take long before Martha's nervousness receded and she started to enjoy the company of Nicholas who was the perfect guest. Later that day as Nicholas was leaving the surprisingly spacious cottage he gave Maggie a small wrapped gift. "This is for your daughter to keep her company whilst she sleeps." "Thank you Nick." "It has been a pleasure, thank you all for a wonderful meal and Merry Christmas." Geoffrey, Maggie and Martha stood at the door to the cottage as Nicholas walked down the short path and just before he reached the gate he vanished in a swirl of white leaving a thick covering of snow across the entire front garden of the cottage. "Byee," said a smiling Geoffrey who was still waving. Chapter 9 A new life Lucy worked really hard every day with her physiotherapist and her mum and within two weeks had discarded the walking frame the hospital had supplied and with a great deal of encouragement from her parents and Barnaby was soon taking him for short walks, Lucy quickly relearned how to read and by early spring was once again attending school and working hard to catch up on her education. Lucy's friends called on her almost every day and soon she was enjoying the occasional sleep over and loving every moment of her second chance. In the early summer Lucy was enjoying a day at the local park, she was wearing her favourite pinafore dress with pale blue tee-shirt, her mum was sitting on a park bench gently stroking her growing bump and watching her daughter who was throwing Barnaby's ball and Barnaby who was bounding over the grass to retrieve it and return it when she noticed her daughter stop and watch an older man as he walked along one of the winding paths through the flower beds, the man stopped at one of the park benches and sat down. Lucy noticed the man and was staring at him because she thought she recognised him from somewhere but couldn't quite place from where. "Lucy," shouted her mother, "Barnaby is waiting for his ball." Lucy realised that she was staring and took the ball from Barnaby's mouth, Barnaby wagged his tail excitedly as Lucy threw the ball as hard as she could and watched as the dog ran off in search of it in the long grass by the old paddling pool. Tyler's father sat quietly in the park occasionally reaching for a sweet from the packet in his jacket pocket as he took in the sun and listened to the birds and the children playing, he read his paper and his mood was quite good. It had now been some months since he'd finally plucked up the courage to visit his local doctor and had been referred for grief counselling, the counselling was not however for his son or indeed for his wife it was for his own mother that had died when he was only seven years old. Over the following weeks many years of pent up anger and frustration had been released allowing him finally to start to grieve not only for his own mothers death but that of his wife and only son. Tyler's father was by no means cured yet but he had now finally lost a majority of the anger and resentment that had so blighted his own life for many years and was now ready to try and start afresh. Lucy was waiting eagerly to receive the now soggy tennis ball from Barnaby who was bounding at speed towards her across the playing field when the world around her seemed to slow to a stop, Lucy looked at the curious sight of Barnaby caught in mid-air. "Hello Tyler," said a voice to her side, Lucy almost didn't recognise her old name, she turned to see an old bearded man in completely inappropriate clothing for the season smiling at her "Oh hello, who are you?" "My name is Nicholas we met briefly once." "We have?" "Yes but that is not why I am visiting you now." "Oh." "Do you not recognise your old father over there on the bench?" Lucy looked over at the man she'd ben staring at only moments earlier and as she did the memories came flooding back to her, she frowned. "He looks so different, almost happy." "Your father has changed a lot Lucy, but it took the death of his only son for him to finally seek the help he needed, he has you to thank for his recovery." "Me?" "Yes, I read your letter." "But that was for my mummy not my dad." "It was a letter asking for help Lucy, a completely selfless letter, I couldn't help your mother as it was her time but I could help both you and your father, unfortunately it took longer than I expected for all of the circumstances to be perfect before I could act." "How did you know? how did you know that Lucy's body was the correct one for me?" "I sensed it child, nothing more than that." Nicholas took Lucy's hand. "Look over at your father, look at his face and try to imagine what he's feeling." Lucy looked at her or rather Tyler's father and found that she could sense his emotions, he was happy, no not happy he was still sad but he had hope now he was now looking forward to his future and not constantly back at his past. "Has he forgotten me Nicholas?" "No, he'll never forget who you were Lucy but he now thinks of you fondly and visits your grave and your mums regularly and also the grave of his own mother too." "I think that I still love him Nicholas, but not in the same way as I love my new mummy and daddy." "The memory of your old life will soon fade child as your new life takes over, I do however need to ask one favour of you though before I leave you." "Oh?" "You have a friend she's called Fiona." Lucy smiled at her best friends name being mentioned. "At some point in the future she will need a good and loyal friend, please be her friend even though she may seem ungrateful and become hurtful towards you." "I will Nicholas I promise." Nicholas kissed Lucy on the cheek and the world restarted. There panting by her side was Barnaby, he brushed up against the skirt of her dress to get her attention. "Oh sorry boy." Lucy then heard her mum shout, "Lucy do you fancy an ice cream?" Her face lit up and she skipped over to where her mummy was sitting. Lucy held her mother's hand and they both headed over to the ice cream van with a slightly disappointed dog walking by their side still carrying the drool covered ball gently between his teeth. Lucy and her mum both sat together a couple of minutes later licking their respective ice creams Lucy occasionally breaking pieces of her cornet off and feeding them to Barnaby, Lucy was just finishing her treat when she noticed a casually dressed middle aged woman walking towards where her old father was sitting, she slowed and stopped and when he noticed her he got up from his seat kissed her on the lips hugged her and they walked off together hand in hand, Lucy smiled and wiped a tear away with the back of her free hand, she was happy for him and wished him well. Merry Christmas I hope that you enjoyed this year's Christmas short story, will Nicholas return next year for another adventure? ©Kyorii 2018