“Silver! Lily!” Clara’s voice was brimming with mischief. “Come down here right now.”

“What is it, Clara?” asked Rosie.

“You’ll see,” said Clara.

Silver and Lily came down to the great room in their pyjamas, while Squeakie slept soundly in her cot.

“Tink’s not here, is she?” asked Silver.

“Nope, not yet, and let’s stop talking about when she’ll come and what she’ll bring. Let’s celebrate being here together with each other. If she arrives tomorrow it will be lovely to see her. And if she doesn’t—”

“If she doesn’t?” said Silver, her face falling.

“If she doesn’t,” said Clara firmly, “then we will send her our love and promise to come visit her in Neverland next year.”

“We’d go to Neverland?” said Rosie.

“Why not?” said Lily. “I wonder what exactly those Lost Boys are like.”

“We’ll go together and see Tink next year and bring Christmas to her. By next year I should have just about enough magic to get us there.”

“Maybe Queen Mab will send us in her Royal Balloon!” said Silver.

“You’re right!” said Clara. “But why are we talking about next Christmas, when it’s practically Christmas right now? We’ve got some presents to open!”

“Are you sure Tink won’t mind?” asked Silver.

“I’m quite sure,” said Clara. “Tink may get distracted and not do everything quite as she hopes to, but I know for a fact she would not want Christmas to be spoiled for us.”

“Let’s take a vote. All in favour of opening one present right now, say ‘aye’!”

“Aye!” said Rosie, Clara and Silver.

“Yi-yi!” said Squeak.

“All opposed, say ‘nay’!” said Lily.

No one said nay, but Ginger said Mew which made them all laugh.

“Then let’s begin!” said Lily.

They gathered their small pile of presents around them. In the light of the fire, it looked like a treasure trove.

“Let’s go oldest to youngest this time,” said Silver. “I want to save mine for last.”

Rosie handed Clara a package. “I was your Secret Fairy,” she said. “I wrapped it in a tea-towel, see?

“Ooh, I love it, Rosie,” said Clara.

“It’s part of your present,” said Rosie.

Clara secretly hoped that Rosie’s entire Secret Fairy gift was not going to be about drying dishes, but she didn’t say anything in case that’s what Rosie had chosen for her.

When she opened up the tea towel, she could hardly believe her eyes.

“It’s the shawl I wanted, from the Cobweb sisters! Oh Rosie, how did you do that? It cost far more than three polished stones.”

“The Cobwebs were kind,” said Rosie. “They gave me the pattern and I crocheted it myself. Don’t look too closely!” She did not say that she had been up hours every night since the Christmas Fair finishing the shawl for Clara. Her reward was the happiness on Clara’s face.

Clara wrapped the shawl around her slender shoulders. Its warm turquoises and corals set off her dark skin and dark eyes.

“You should wear that at the next Valentine’s Games!” said Silver. “Rowan won’t be able to take his eyes off you!”

“He already has trouble doing that,” said Lily.

Clara’s cheeks flushed. “How about you, Rosie? Here’s one for you! I was your Secret Fairy.”

Rosie looked at the tiny package in front of her.

“Three stones are not a whole lot to work with,” said Clara.

“Oh, I love tiny packages, you know that Clara,” said Rosie. “I just like to take my time.” She gave her big sister a hug then unwrapped the little box to find the sweet shell earrings inside.

“This was just what I’d hoped for,” she said. “How did you know?”

“I wanted to get you coral, but the mermaids wouldn’t help me,” said Clara. “I had to make these myself, so if they’re a little clumsy, you’ll know why.”

“I think they’re lovely,” said Rosie, slipping the earrings on. “I wouldn’t have wanted coral, anyway.” That was only a little bit of a fib. “These suit me perfectly.” She gave Clara a hug. Her big sister loved her so much.

“I know I said I’d go last but can I go next?” asked Silver. “I can’t wait any more!”

“Of course you can go next,” said Clara. A tree branch rattled against the windowpane. “Just listen to that wind.”

“I know. It’s really howling,” said Rosie. “It almost sounds like a cat or bird or—”

“No one would be out on a night like this, Rosie,” said Clara.

Lily handed Silver her present. “It’s not much,” said Lily. “But I hope you like it.”

“This paper is amazing!” said Silver. “It’s practically a present itself.”

“I designed it myself,” said Lily. “It’s part of my line.”

“Let’s see what’s inside,” said Silver. She peeked into the package. “Oh! It’s laces for my fairy running shoes!” she said. “I love these, I love these,” she sang. “They are perfect colours and just what I wanted. I’m going to put them on right now!” She flew over to the entrance hall and fetched her running shoes. The new laces were laced up in no time. “These look great!” said Silver, admiring them on her feet. “Thank you Lily. Merry Christmas!”

Lily began to feel a little bit better about the presents her sisters were getting for Christmas. Maybe Silver, too, had picked out the perfect present at the Christmas Fair. There were so many things that could have been perfect for me, she thought.

“Open yours, Lily!” said Silver. “Open yours!”

Lily tore through the wrapping paper, which had been clumsily put on by Silver. “It’s just what you wanted, isn’t it? You said, you said!”

Lily’s face fell. It was the second-hand green-and-orange bandanna. The one she had been making fun of with Avery at the Stitch sisters’ stand.

“You really thought I’d like this?” said Lily. She was close to tears.

“At first I didn’t really believe that you and Avery would even notice such a thing, but then you talked about it so much I knew you really meant it,” Silver said. She was so happy with her gift that she didn’t notice Lily’s eyes were glistening. “You’re so good at accessorising, Lily. I know you’ll make this look fabulous somehow.” She gave Lily a big hug. “I’m so happy I could get you exactly what you wanted for Christmas!”

Lily gave Silver a hug back. “Merry Christmas, Silver,” said Lily softly.

Clara saw Lily brush away a tear and her heart melted. She whispered something to Silver, who whispered to Rosie, who nodded.

“What is it?” asked Lily.

“Wait there just one minute …” said Silver. She flew over to the stack of Christmas decorations laid out for Tinker Bell and pulled something out from the bottom. “It’s the second part of your present,” said Silver, her face shining. “We’re giving you the Christmas tree skirt, Lily!”

“But that belongs to everyone,” said Lily.

“Not now!” said Clara.

“Try it on, Lily,” said Rosie.

“Really?” asked Lily.

“Yes please!” said her sisters.

Lily whipped the golden Christmas tree skirt around her waist. She tied a bow at the back. The golden fabric glowed in the firelight and caught the light in Lily’s long hair.

The sisters had seen that tree skirt around the Christmas tree for years, but on Lily it took on new life.

“You’re gorgeous!” said Clara simply.

“Oh thank you!” cried Lily. “Thank you all!”

The four Fairy Bell sisters sat in the glow of the dying fire. There was no tree, only a few gifts, no Christmas feast and Tink had not come. And yet, this was the best Christmas they had ever had.

“Shall we get ready for bed now?” asked Clara. “Tomorrow’s Christmas Day. We’ll visit everyone in the fairy village—”

“And we’ll feast at Queen Mab’s palace,” said Silver.

“And we’ll help Squeakie open all her presents, when she wakes up bright and early. Won’t we Squeak?”

The sisters got up to look into Squeak’s fairy cot.

“She must have been awfully tired. I haven’t heard a peep from her for ages,” said Clara.

“Are you asleep, Squeak? asked Rosie softly. “Or are you—”

Rosie let out a gasp.

“Oh no! Oh no!” she cried. “Squeak’s gone!”