Morgan was hiding under the kitchen table when he came inside the house.
His footsteps were heavy and the kitchen seemed to shake with every step of his shoes. For a moment, he made Morgan forget the presence of so many strangers all over the house.
He was big and tall... And hairy.
Her eyes grew wide in recognition.
Morgan stuck the juice pop in her mouth, clenched her teeth so that it wouldn't fall out, and then quietly crawled halfway out from under the table to confirm her suspicions.
The hairy giant was grumbling, opening the refrigerator and the cupboards.
"Where does he keep it?" he muttered.
Morgan took the juice pop out of her mouth and asked, "Keep what?"
The hairy giant whirled around, his eyes scanning the room for the source of the voice.
He probably couldn't see her with such a big belly blocking his view of the floor.
Morgan decided to crawl out fully. She stood and the hairy giant regarded her with an inquisitive glance.
Morgan stared at him too.
"You must be Starksdottir." When not grumbling his voice boomed.
"You Santa?" Morgan asked, eyes resting on the beard and trailing down to his belly.
"What's a Santa?"
"He's round and hairy and flies around and gives gifts to good children but not to naughty ones."
Hairy Man considered that and then shrugged, "I fly around and destroy naughty people with my hammer and axe."
Morgan nodded approvingly. "Then you are Santa. 'Cause daddy says Santa has a workshop too and I know there's a hammer and axe in there."
Santa hummed and then he hungrily eyed the juice pop in Morgan's hand.
"What's that?"
"A juice pop."
"Do you have any more?"
Morgan nodded and then walked over to the refrigerator. The freezer was way too high for her to reach. Daddy usually carried her. So, she turned back to Santa and raised her arms at him.
Santa looked at her, crouched and then brought his hands over to her hands in a high-five.
Morgan giggled. "No! Not a high-five! Carry me!"
"Oh! Why didn't you say so?" Santa lifted her up easily and settled her in one arm.
Then Morgan pulled the freezer door open. "What color you want?"
"What color's good?"
"Red is strawberry and that's my favorite."
"I'll have that one then."
Morgan took out the red juice pop and Santa swung the freezer door closed.
He set her over the surface of the table and Morgan handed him the pop.
"You have to cut out the top to open it," she told him.
Santa grinned, said, "No need" and simply pulled it off.
Morgan's eyes widened. "You're strong!"
"I am," Santa agreed shamelessly. "You will grow to be one too if you eat what I eat."
"What do you eat?"
"Pop tarts, beer, Cheez Whiz—"
Morgan brightened. "I like Cheez Whiz too!"
"Then you're on your way, little one."
Santa stuck the juice pop in his mouth and made an approving sound. "I like this. It's sweet. And cold."
Morgan smiled, her feet swinging as they dangled off the table.
"What were you doing under the table?"
Morgan shyly lowered her eyes. "Hiding."
"Why were you hiding? Was someone coming after you?"
She shook her head sadly. "No. I'm shy."
Santa's mismatched eyes grew distant and wistful. "My brother was shy too. Always hid behind Mother's skirts or hid in the shadows... Or behind a glamour."
Morgan looked up. If Santa had a shy brother maybe he and Morgan could play together. "Where is he?" She looked around. Maybe he was better at hiding than Morgan was.
"He's dead."
Wasn't that what they said about Daddy too?
She took one of Santa's hands in her little ones. "My Daddy's dead too. Maybe they're playing together."
Santa began to laugh. "Oh, you're father won't like that. Loki can be very mischievous. But perhaps Stark's afterlife might not be so boring with Loki for company."
Morgan put her the juice pop down on the table. "Done!"
Santa quickly finished his too and put it right next to hers.
"What do we eat next?" he asked excitedly, rubbing his hands together.
Morgan pursed her lips in thought. "Cheeseburgers?"
The mere mention of cheese got Santa's attention. "Is that like Cheez Whiz?"
Morgan giggled but shook her head. "It's bread and cheese and patty. Burger King is my favorite."
Santa straightened up and lifted Morgan again. "Then you must introduce me to the Burger King. He and I might get along. I am a King, you know." He began to walk out the kitchen. "Though not for much longer. I am thinking of passing the crown and making my friend Queen."
"Like Mommy?"
"I didn't know your mother was a Queen. No wonder your father listened to her." Santa stepped out to the front porch and seeing the people gathered there who had begun to stare at the unexpected duo, Morgan immediately hid her face in the crook of Santa's neck.
Santa simply ignored the staring faces and went on his way, sauntering over the lawn.
"Your hair smells bad."
"That, my lady, is called beer. You should try it. I guarantee you'll grow."
"Where do you think you're taking her?"
Santa halted and Morgan resurfaced out from the tangled mess of hair and made a small wave at Happy.
"We are off to see the Burger King to get a Cheez Whiz burger and a beer."
Morgan nodded happily and it must have been the toothy grin she wore that made Happy relent.
"Get in the car. I'll drive."
"But Santa can fly!" argued Morgan. "Can we fly, Santa?"
Happy frowned. "Santa?"
"He has a hammer and an axe!"
Happy's eyes widened. "Oh, no, no, no. You will not be taking her flying anywhere especially not with your current alcohol level. I'm driving. Get in the car."
"He's not very happy, is he?" Santa whispered to Morgan as they followed the man. "We should give him a different name. Or a beer. Yeah, let's get him a beer."
Morgan nodded in agreement. She wouldn't mind trying a beer. Maybe she'll be as strong as Santa.