Merry Christmas!

With Minds Wide Open

Quinn watched the reflection of the Christmas tree in the glass door as she ate her dinner. It was Christmas Eve and the twinkling lights always served to distract her from the tension.
Christmas was her favorite time of year and not just because of the piles of gifts she always received from everyone around her. It was for her first and foremost the time with everyone put up the lights and decorations and most importantly smiled all time. There was one small flaw every year though.
It was always this way, her mother would come in soon and try to convince Daria to spend the next day with them and she would refuse and once again a special day would be ruined. All because of Daria.

:God why can’t she just give us this one day without having to be difficult.: Quinn moaned inwardly.

Helen got up from the table and Quinn braced herself.

“I assume you’ll be spending tomorrow locked up in your room all day. I’ll leave your meal trays and gifts at the door.” Helen sighed.

:What?: Quinn thought. She noticed the controlled nod from Daria. That didn’t seem right to her somehow.
:Why can’t they see it. Oh god just ask, she wants to.: Quinn thought but her mind was racing. Images moved through her mind and she couldn’t focus it enough to make sense of the storm of thoughts that raged in her.

“I have a headache. I need to lay down for a little while.” Quinn said getting up from the table.

“You ok kiddo?” Jake asked with a smile that was laced with worry.

“Yah just a headache.” Quinn replied as she hurried to her room.
:What I’m I missing?: She thought as she stretched out on her bed.
Memories flooded back and she was almost overwhelmed.

:Oh god this can’t be happening.: She thought painfully as the same scene played out again and again over the years.

:8 years and I can’t remember her saying anything bad about Christmas or spending it with us. Just that one year when her and Mom had the fight.: Quinn thought in horror.

“She never just asks her. Mom always just makes the big announcement and Daria hides in her room.” Quinn said aloud.
:She never once asked.: Quinn felt her chest tighten. :It was the only time of year Daria ever acted happy.:
Scenes that suddenly made sense started playing themselves.

Daria taking a long time to find her boots in the living room on Christmas morning and other transparent attempts to rejoin them.
:Every year she tries to show that she wants to be with us. Hell she put up the tree last year and I didn’t even make the connection.: Quinn thought her despair growing.

Quinn got up from the bed and started pacing. :This isn’t happening. It can’t be.:


It was nine pm before she had calmed enough to leave her room and start down the hall.

“ ’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.” Quinn heard her sister’s quiet voice ever so softly carry into the hall.
:I used to love when she read me that, every year she would read it to me.: Quinn said moving next to Daria’s door and noticing it was cracked slightly, listened carefully.

“The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads and mama in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, had just settled down for a long winter’s nap.” Daria said quietly but her voice was filled with warmth.
Quinn backed away from the door and wiped at the wetness on her cheeks. She rushed downstairs and found her father humming peacefully in the living room.

“Daddy.” Quinn started.

“To late to try to talk me into another gift now sweetie.” Jake joked pleasantly.

“Do you know why Daria still stays in her room on Christmas?” Quinn asked.

“She said it was because it was another attempt to force cheer on people who aren’t cheerful or something. She was having a bit of a fight with your Mom.” Jake said thoughtfully.

“Ok, that was eight years ago. Why does she still do it?” Quinn pushed.

“…” Jake started then stopped. “I don’t know.” He admitted.

“I can’t remember her ever saying she didn’t want to spend Christmas with the family after that one year but still Mom just seems to assume that Daria is going to. EVERY YEAR!” Quinn’s voice got loud.

“Well wouldn’t Daria have said or done anything if she wanted to?” Jake mused.

“You mean like spending 15 minutes trying to find a book in the couch like last year. She wanted us to ask her to stay. She wants us to want her to be there.” Quinn spoke and the sadness radiated from her.

“Quinn.” Jake said looking more worried.

“I can’t stand the thought that my sister has spent the last 8 years trying to find excuses to be in the same room with us on Christmas and some stupid fight Mom had with a 9 year old has prevented it.” Quinn said angrily.

“I think we need to all sit down and talk.” Jake said in a calming tone.

“Why bother, both of them are as stubborn as rocks. I’ll be spending this Christmas with Daria. If that means upstairs in her room, I’m fine with it.” Quinn stomped out of the room.
Jake was left standing in the living room confused about what had occurred.


Quinn passed by Daria’s door and listed carefully.
“ O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, How steadfast are your branches. Your boughs are green in summer’s clime.” Daria was singing softly.

Quinn peeked through the door and covered her mouth to control the gasp.

Daria has placed a foot tall tree on the floor next to her bed and was decorating it with sad smile.

“I think this year’s tree is better than last year.” Daria said sounding like she was speaking to someone.
Quinn shifted to see through the crack if Daria had company but no one was there. That’s when she saw the pictures.

Three of them, leaning against the desk, her parents and a picture of Quinn.
“At least the lights still worked.” Daria said with a slight chuckle.

Quinn understood then and it broke her heart.

Daria leaned against her bed and she started crying. “Merry Christmas.” She said to herself as her body shook with silent sobs.

Quinn pushed open the door and entered, closing it behind her. Daria saw Quinn and wiped at her wide eyes.

“Come they told me. Pa rum pum pum pum. A new born king to see. Pa rum pum pum pum. Our finest gifts we bring. Pa rum pum pum pum.” Quinn started singing what had been her sister’s favorite carol a lifetime ago.

“To lay before the king. Pa rum pum pum pum. Rum pum pum pum rum pum pum pum. So to honor him. Pa rum pum pum pum. When we come” Daria joined in her face switching from fear to confusion but clearly needing to much to care.

“Little baby. Pa rum pum pum pum. I am a poor boy too. Pa rum pum pum pum. I have no gift to bring.” The sisters sang together as Quinn sat next to her sister.
Quinn leaned against Daria and started crying. Daria wrapped her arms around her, holding her close and they cried together.



Quinn covered Daria’s sleeping form with her blanket and crept out of the room as to not wake her. She could hear her parents still moving around downstairs as she walked down the stairs.

“Jake Daria has made it clear she doesn’t want to participate in Christmas with this family.” Helen was saying as Quinn entered the kitchen.

“Yes helping put up the decorations and the tree and buying gifts every year really says that.” Jake fired back.

“I’ll be the first one to rejoice if Daria has changed her mind but she needs to tell us.” Helen countered.

“Why? Since when does someone have to ask to be family?” Quinn asked as she moved to the table and stood with her hands flat on its surface.

“Quinn, it’s complicated but when you’re older…” Helen started and Quinn shut her down.

“I need the keys to the SUV and some money, … a lot of money.” Quinn demanded.

“What?” Helen said amused.

“I need the keys to the SUV and a lot of money.” Quinn repeated.

“I don’t know what…” Helen started.

“I NEED THE KEYS TO THE SUV AND MONEY …NOW!” Quinn raised her voice and slamming her hands onto the table with enough force to make it bounce.
Her father backed away from the fury that inscribed itself onto her face and even the unshakable Helen was reined in and Quinn heard the car keys slide across the table followed by a pile of cash topped with a credit card.

“Don’t bother waiting up.” Quinn said as she scoped up the keys and money and stomped out of the room and house.


Her parents were still up after midnight when she started carrying her purchases upstairs to Daria’s room but they didn’t disturb her efforts.


Daria woke the next morning to the smell of warm egg nog and trees before sitting up where she had fallen asleep on the floor.

“Ohhh.” She gasped at the 6 foot fully decorated tree that now sat in the middle of the room, its lights blinking and shimmering, reflecting their light against the shiny garland all through the room. Her sister slept peacefully on Daria’s bed.
There was a pile of gifts wrapped neatly in Quinn’s picture perfect style gathered under the tree.

“How?” Daria wondered in amazement.

“It’s a Christmas miracle. You aren’t allowed to ask how.” Quinn said sleepily.

“Why?” Daria said looking almost joyous.

“Because I have always had eyes but now I see.” Quinn said sliding next to her sister on the floor.

“I don’t understand.” Daria said and she smiled brightly.

:Because I was such a brat I never give a second thought about you sitting up here all alone except how it affected my Christmas.: Quinn thought.
“Sometimes you aren’t suppose to.” Quinn answered out loud.

“Merry Christmas Quinn.” Daria said warmly and her face beamed with the happiness Quinn remembered that her sister saved for this one day.

“Merry Christmas Daria.” Quinn answered and kissed Daria gently on the cheek.
They sat next to each other watching the tree enjoying the company that no Christmas could ever be complete without.

“I never met a real elf before.” Daria whispered as the lights danced in front of them.