"Oh, what joyful times!" Your mother beamed as she helped your father place together the fake plastic Christmas tree.

"Yes indeed my dear." Your father replied. "Shouldn't you be checking on the roast?" Questioned the man of the house.

"Oh! Yes, thank you sweetie." Your mother then quickly scurried off into the kitchen to save what the Christmas dinner.

"Dad, what time is everyone getting here?" Your brother, Lucas, asked. He was currently on the floor with crossed legs, setting up his polished toy soldiers for a tiny battle.

As your father finished up the tree. You came into the room, carrying two boxes of Christmas ornaments. "They should be here any minute." Your father went out of the room as you unboxed the Christmas package to set the coloured balls upon the plastic, green tree.

"Big sister, can I do the tree with you too?" Lucas asked. Lucas was never, ever, nice to you. Today was the only exception, since it was Christmas. Although, you wished he was nice all the time, then you wouldn't have so many bruises from sibling arguments.

"Sure. Could help me do up the tinsel?" You replied, taking out the gold and silver shiny tinsel, ready to hand it to him.

"Yup!" Lucas stood up and dropped his toy soldiers. Stepping over to you and grabbing on side of the gold tinsel. He already understood what to do. He ran around the Christmas tree, lifting the tinsel from the floor all the way up to the middle as you made sure that the tinsel didn't fall of the tree. The two of you continued this for the silver tinsel.

"Now for the ornaments!" You smiled, placing you hands on your hips.

"Here." Lucas picked up the ornaments box and took off the lid, lifting it up for you to place up the decorations.

~~~~~~~

After some time, you both had finished the tree and the last piece was a fairy, wearing a sugar plum coloured dress. Her hair was (H/C) and wrapped up into two neat buns, she held a small wand with a star at the end, she looked rather cute.

"Will you be able to reach the top?" Lucas questioned, remembering past Christmas'.

"Mhm." You nodded, lifting up your hand, stepping on your tippy toes and reaching for the very top of the Christmas tree, to place the fairy on top.

You were just tall enough to reach the top, and thank goodness for that, and just in the nick of time too! Because there was a knock on the door, meaning that the family members have started to arrived.

You grinned, all the aunties, uncles, grandpas, grandmas, cousins and step family were going to be able to see the good work you and Lucas did on the tree.

Although you loved your family very much, there was one person in particular who you couldn't wait to see. Grandpa (GP/N). He was a toy maker and always brought the best gifts for you and Lucas. It was very thrilling to try and figure out what gifts he would bring you this time. Most of the time, it would be something you never knew you wanted until you had it.

As the family members packed into your home, you scanned the crowed for your Grandfather. Cousins that were around your age would ask for you to come and sit with them at the dinner table, you hesitantly said yes. It was a shame you hadn't found your old man before dinner, you would have loved to eat dinner with your new doll, well.. if that is if what he got you was a doll.

"(Y/N), are you alright? You haven't touched you roast chicken." Your cousin asked, nudging your side gently.

"Huh? Oh yeah. Sorry, I was thinking of some gifts I could be getting this Christmas." You shrugged and began to cut the food on the pale white plate.

"Well, you'll just have to wait and see what I got you!" (C/N) grinned.

"Ah. Yes, I can't wait to give you your gifts too, I hope you all like them." You smiled, trying to avoid the fact that they never exactly get you what you want, or something you would use from them. You scanned the dinner table for your Grandfather. You hoped that he had come this Christmas. 

Just then, you saw the next best thing, your grandmother. You looked to your sides, your cousin was talking to Lucas. So maybe if you just slipped away, no one would notice? You took one last bite of the amazing food and then pushed you're chair back. You hopped off the chair and scattered over to your grandmother. She sat at the table, talking to one of your aunts. You tapped her gently on the shoulder.

"Grandmother?" You asked, in a small and innocent voice. She turned away from the aunt to face you.

"Oh, (Y/N). Is there something you want dear?" She asked with her old and cute granny smile.

You placed your hands behind you back and smiled shyly. "Where is grandpa (GP/N)?"

"He's been sitting on the couch dear, he has been handing out gifts to your cousins and brother." She shifted her gaze towards the living room and so did you. You turned your head back to her quickly and flashed a bright smile at your female elder.

"Thank you grandma!" You gave her a small hug and then waved as you skipped to the living room.

"And here are some ballet slippers for you.." The old man handed blue and purple slippers to a young girl who giggled with glee once she received them. She ran off to show her mother what she had gotten for Christmas while still holding her childish laughter.

You slowly stepped up to your grandfather, whom only had one box left. It was a light (F/C) with a dark (F/C) bow on top. You fiddled with your thumbs. "Merry Christmas grandpa." You shyly smiled up at him.

"Ah! (Y/N), come and sit next to me. I have your gift right here waiting for you." He shot you friendly smile and pat the couch beside him.

You sat down beside him. "Can I guess what you got me?" You asked, wanting to know if what you had in mind was correct or not.

"Try your hardest." He nodded.

"A doll?"

"No."

"Money?"

"No."

"What about a dress?"

"Not even close." He smiled a little, holding in a chuckle.

You guessed on, but after at least five wrong answers. He stopped you. "How about you just open your gift and find out." He handed the neatly wrapped box over to you. You sighed shakily, this was so exciting! You carefully took off the bow and opened it. You peaked inside and gasped. It wasn't a doll, or a money, or a dress. It was a nutcracker. Well, at least that's what he looked like. He had pale peach skin with polished hazel eyes and black hair that was shaped in the form of two horns. His suit was a bright cherry red and it had gold strings holding the wooden jacket closed. On his head was a red captain hat the sat on the side of his head in between his horns, the red colour of the hat matched his vest. His pants were black and went down down until they reached his shiny red boots. Your heart jumped at the sight of the very adorable toy.

"Oh grandpa.." you brushed you hand across his side until it came to a small point which almost cut your ring finger, he had a sharp golden sword with a silver blade. "He looks marvellous." You smiled gently down at the wooden boy.

"I'm glad you like him. But I need to tell you a little secret about him.." Your grandpa was going to open his mouth but then your younger brother cut him off before he could tell you the not-so-small detail.

"Hey! He's a soldier! He should be in my army!" Lucas grabbed onto the leg part of the toy and started to tug, you tried to pull the wooden boy back.

"Lucas no!" You yelped, and held tighter onto the toy but it was too late, a little 'snap' noise was heard. That's when you looked straight down at the damage. The lower leg had broken off. You began to feel hot tears form in your eyes, making it hard to see.

Lucas staggered back. "I'm sorry big sister.." He frowned, seeing you cry on Christmas wasn't exactly his ideal picture of not being a burden on you for a day.

You sniffed and cleared the tear build up by blinking. One tear landed in the chest of the wooden doll. "Don't worry dear, I'll fix him right up." Your grandpa smiled his warm smile and took a small bottle of glue from his blazer. "Pass me the leg, Lucas." Your grandpa ordered a slightly stern voice.

Lucas nodded and opened his small hand, passing on the snapped leg. Your grandpa took it gently, as to not break it more and then it already was. He put his hand out for you to give him the other part. You hesitantly gave it to him. Lucas stepped back, he'd better get out of here while he still can. "Will he be alright?" You asked, trying not to cry anymore than you were.

"Yes, He will look at as good as new." Your grandfather patted you on the head and then carefully coated the two pieces, he firmly stuck them together again and held it in place for a small while. He was right, the nutcracker did look as good as new.

You hugged him and took the nutcracker back and held him close to your chest. "I wont ever let anything happen to him ever again!" You smiled slightly, still getting a little misty in the eyes.

"I think you'll find, he will be the one protecting you." Your grandpa winked at you, giving you a small pat on the back. "Go have fun." He smiled.

"Thank you!" You rubbed your eyes and ran off to show everyone your amazing new friend. You checked his leg every few seconds to make sure it hadn't broken off.

~~~~~

A few hours after the party, everyone had gone home. The only others left were your mothers sister and her husband. They were staying the night. Your father was entertaining what was left of the guests. Your mother had been washing the dishes. Lucas had gone to sleep and you where left with packing up his toys. You crossed your legs and packed up the small figurines.

"Lucas you're so mes-" Your own sentence was cut off by a small yawn. "Messy." You put the last soldier in the box it came from and pushed it away from you. You turned over and faced the couch. Seeing you had missed a soldier on it, you let out a small groan while getting up with nutcracker in hand and walked over to the couch. You sat down on the couch and picked up the plastic toy, you then looked over to the box, it was way too far from you. It was three metres away! Too far for your liking. You threw the toy over to the box, it made a smack noise as it hit the box. You laid down on the couch. Your bedroom was too far away as well, so the couch will do for tonight.

You curled up on the couch, facing the ceiling with the nutcracker held tenderly close to your upper chest. His arm was lightly placed around your chest. It was almost as if he was delicately hugging you back...