"Oh, I am so excited that you're headlining channel four's holiday spectacular," Karen said as she walked with Liv and Frankie to where the stage was being set up and decorated. "Partly because it's great for the town, but mostly because I'd already told the committee you'd say yes."

"I mean, how can I say no?" Liv said. "This is where it all began eight years ago."

"Oh, my little baby's first time out on stage singing her heart out," Karen said, reminising.

"Crazy that we didn't know each other then, huh?" Frankie said to Liv.

"I totally forget that I haven't known you more than a few months," Liv laughed.

"I still remember how you wowed the crowd with Frosty the Snowman," Karen said, bringing the two back to the conversation. "And White Christmas. And Little Drummer Boy. By the time you'd finished O Little Town of Bethlehem, I felt like I'd walked there myself."

"I never wanted it to end."

"And it almost didn't."

"Liv Rooney?" They heard the excited voice of a young girl ask. "Hi. I'm Jenny Keene."

"Hi," Liv smiled. "You are the adorable little girl that I get to share the stage with this christmas eve. I watched your audition tape, and you have some serious pipes, young lady. It feels so good to be talented, doesn't it?"

"I wouldn't know," Frankie sighed. Without even looking at her, Liv reached back and slapped Frankie's arm.

"I want to be just like you when I grow up," Jenny grinned up at Liv.

"Well, you are certainly on the right track," Liv told her. "Eight years ago, I was you. I was a starry-eyed little girl, excited to make her first tv appearance. I mean, after this show, my life changed forever."

"It's true. Without it, Liv never would have been cast in a local commercial as Mandy, the singing muffler," Karen added.

"Mandy says your muffler is a-okay," Liv sang.

"We still get a discount."

"But I didn't really have anyone to guide me, so I wanted to be that for you. You know, this industry can get kinda tough, and it's good to have a mentor."

"I can't believe Liv Rooney's going to be my celebrity mentor," Jenny said.

"Oh, stop. Celebrity mentor?" Liv said. "You don't have to say that... I mean, you definitely can. I'm not gonna stop you."

***

Frankie sat on the stairs at the Rooney house as Liv rehearsed with Jenny, Karen behind them playing her flute.

"Jenny, that was so great!" Liv said, pushing her mother away when they'd finished singing.

"That means everything coming from you, Liv!" Jenny grinned up at her.

"Well between this duet and Liv's solo, this is going to be the best tree lighting ceremony ever," Karen gushed.

"Oh, thank you, Mrs. Rooney, for your wonderful flute playing. It's like listening to beauty share a hug with grace."

"Well, thank you, Jenny. You know I was a bit of a triple threat in high school myself. Flute, baton twirling, and flag spinning. Pep squad in the house! Well, I'm gonna go check on dinner. Now, you girls keep practicing. You sound great."

"Aww. Everyone sounds great when they're singing with Liv," Jenny said.

Frankie got up from her place on the stairs and wandered over to Livs side. She smirked at the girl beside her, knowing she was loving this girl singing her praises.

When Karen walked away, Jenny turned towards Liv and Frankie and said, "Because you sounds like a dying walrus."

Liv laughed and said, "You are just too sweet. Wait, what?"

"Listen up, Blondie. I'm making changes starting with this stupid outfit. I'm the star of the show. I should have the cool dress!"

"Woah," Frankie muttered, staring at Jenny with wide eyes.

"Um..." Liv chuckled awkwardly. "I'm pretty sure I'm the star of the show. I am the one lighting the tree, oh, and also I'm the one who had her own hit tv show."

"If you try to steal my spotlight, I will chew you up and spit you out," Jenny said before turning towards Karen with an innocent grin when she walked back in the room. "Mrs. Rooney, could you drive me home? I promised mommy I'd read to grandpa tonight."

"Oh, you are just too good to be true," Karen grinned. "Sure, I was just gonna get some things for dinner. Let's go."

"Not before I get a hug from Liv!" Jenny pulled Liv into a hug. "Watch your back."

***

"Good evening, Stevens Point! And welcome to the Channel Four tree lighting holiday spectacular. Brought to you by Greensteins Bagels. Your schmear for Christmas cheer," Johnny Nimbus, their local weatherman, announced as he walked onto the small, decorated stage. Frankie watched from the audience, a bit nervous for Liv's performance. She was nervous about how the whole Jenny situation was going to be handled. "Hey, everybody, I'm Johnny Nimbus. The only weatherman guaranteeing you a white Christmas. That's right. No other channel is predicting snow. Why you gotta hate Channel Eight? Cue my snow." Everybody began to cheer until they gave up from the lack of snow that was predicted to fall.

"All right, it's coming, folks. Don't worry about it. But, hey, right now, I want you to give it up for hometown sweetheart Liv Rooney and newcomer Jenny Keene."

Frankie found herself cheering the loudest as Liv appeared out of a gift box and started to sing Up on the Housetop. Frankie would never admit just how much stronger the butterflies in her stomach got when she saw Liv in that outfit, not even years later when Liv was hers.

"Oh, god," muttered Frankie when Jenny popped out of the box in a similar outfit as Liv instead of the reindeer costume. It was clear she was trying to push her way to the front to try and get her 15 minutes of fame. She only got more concered when Liv hip bumped the little girl to the side. The whole routine ended with Liv putting Jenny in a chimney and Jenny still popping out and feigning the cute, little girl look for the audience.

***

"I don't know when you and Jenny worked out that comedy routine, but it was hysterical," Karen said when Liv met her, Frankie, and Maddie behind the stage.

"No, that wasn't planned. She was trying to destroy me," Liv told her.

"Come on, Liv," Maddie snorted. "That sweet little girl was not trying to destroy you."

"Did you all not just see the candy cane beat down? She was doing absolutely everything she could to make me look bad."

"Give her a break, Liv. Do you not remember how you were at her age?" Maddie asked.

"Do tell," Frankie smirked. "I'm very curious."

"I was not a monster like that," Liv defended. Karen and Maddie were quick to make up excuses and run away.

"Well, I, for one, believe you," Frankie said, wrapping her arm around Liv's shoulders. "However, that was extremely entertaining." Liv glared at her and pushed her away lightly. She started to walk away as Frankie shouted after her. "Oh, come on! It's true!"

***

"'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the park there are a bunch of people saying 'Hey, Johnny, why's that tree still dark?' All right, Folks. Well, before our big show-stopping solo, Liv Rooney has the honor of lighting that tree. So, let's get her out here, huh?" Johnny Nimbus said.

"Thank you, Johnny," Liv said with a grin as she walked on stage, sparkly mic in hand. "Lighting this tree is a great honor, but it is one that I would like to pass on to the young and very talented Jenny Keene. This is her moment." Frankie smiled. Liv was growing as a person right before her eyes and, damn, did it make it that much harder not to fall harder in love."

"Merry Christmas, Stevens Point," Jenny grinned, snatching the mic from Liv. She walked over to the candy cane button and hit it with her palm, lighting up the beautiful tree that Maddie and Pete had been responsible for.

It was all going great till the lights started to glow a blinding light. Eventually, it short circuted everything in that park and they were thrust into darkness.

"Well, it looks like little Jenny Keene just ruined Christmas," Johnny said, looking down at the little girl. "Christmas tree down. Christmas tree down!"

"Liv Rooney, you set me up!" Jenny shouted. "She ruined my big moment. I hate this town, and everyone in it!"

"And that, ladies and gentlemen, was little Jenny Keene's impression of Ebenezor Scrooge. Oh, what a talented little actress, am I right? So that's probably it for the show," Liv said. "Merry Christmas?"

***

Everyone had believed that the show was ruined until Maddie and Pete brought out candles for the audience, they just needed a Liv Rooney performance.

"Frankie!" Maddie shouted, running up to the girl in the audience. "You know how to play guitar, right?"

"Uh, yeah?" Frankie replied. It was something her and her father had bonded over.

"Good. Get on that stage," Maddie said, thrusting an acoustic guitar in Frankies arms.

***

"Oh, the weather outside is frightful

But the fire is so delightful

And since we've not place to go

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow"

Liv sang as Frankie sat on stage, following her on guitar. She let out a little laugh as Karen Rooney popped out of a fake chimney to play her flute.

"Oh, it doesn't show signs of stopping

And I've bought some corn for popping

The lights are turned way down low

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow"

"The fire is slowly dying

And, my dear, we're still goodbye-ing

But as long as you love me so

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow"

Liv smiled brightly as Frankie joined in with her. The girl sitting on stage with her was just full of surprises and, boy, did she love it. Liv was quick to wrap her in a hug when she had placed the guitar down.

Frankie let out a giggle as they parted their hug when it started pouring rain. She lifted her jacket to shield herself and Liv as the two ran off stage, hands grasped tightly together.

more liv and frankie tension...