Disclaimer: I still own nothing.

Author's Note: This is a few one-shots I'm writing for my friends on here for Christmas. As I write them, I will put them up as chapters. This first one is for Torilei because it's the first one that came to mind. She's an awesome author and an awesome buddy, so a (very early) Merry Christmas to her. If I can't give her John Morrison in person, I'll give him to her in a story. ;) haha. Enjoy girl!

Tori walked through the crowded mall, looking through windows at last minute shoppers fighting over objects. She was already done with her shopping for the year and had stepped out for a little stroll, somehow ending up at the town mall. Music blasted in overhead speakers while men in poorly made Santa suits shook bells for the Red Cross. Promptly ignoring someone trying to lure her into their store, she took off toward the book store, deciding to see if she could pick herself up a little Christmas present.

"I deserve it," she decided happily. Just as she was about to walk into the store, she spotted the mall Santa. Oddly enough, he was alone and pulling at his beard. Must be fake, she thought, chuckling to herself.

"Young Lady," he crowed, waving his hands. "Do you have a wish for Santa?"

She looked around her, seeing no children. As far as she was concerned, she wasn't necessarily a child anymore and she had no business sitting on Santa's lap and telling her "wishes". "Uhm… me?"

"Ho, ho, ho! Of course you, my dear! You must have a Christmas Wish, don't you?"

She shrugged, laughing a little as she came closer. The man behind the beard had a bright pink nose and little framed glasses. They sure are getting into the character better than last year, she thought, smiling. Last year, the Santa was scrawny and mean, very unlike how she had pictured Santa as a child. But this man was nice and round, a proud, twinkling look in his eyes.

"I'm a bit too old to be sitting on your lap, Santa."

The man laughed. "You're never too old for Santa, Tori."

She backed up. "How do you know my name?"

"Santa knows everyone's name, Tori. It's my job." He smiled at her again, leaning forward. "Come on. Just sit on my lap. I can make any wish come true."

She thought for a moment, weighing out her options. Then she looked toward the bookstore where her crush was, loading out magazines. His name was John Morrison and he was everything she had wanted. She wasn't the type to swoon over any kind of guy. He was truly everything she wanted. Not only was he interested in books and reading like she was, he was one hell of an author too. Every time she went in there she would see him with his nose in a book, very ready to discuss it with her. He was a smart man; very nice as well. To top it all off, he was equally as gorgeous (not that it mattered if he was ugly or beautiful to her).

"Ah, you fancy young John, do you dear?"

Tori was a little worried that this Santa knew her and John's names, but she shrugged it off. "Not really."

"Oh, Tori. Don't you know that Santa can see everything? You two have wonderful conversations every time you're in that store. Why don't you ask him out ever?"

She blushed, very much embarrassed to have a stranger ask her a question like that. "Uhm… well, I don't think he's interested. At least, not in me. He's very focused in college, Santa."

"Nonsense. All you need is a little Christmas magic, dear."

Tori laughed a little, brushing her hair out of her face. "No offense, Santa, but I stopped believing in that stuff a while back. I love Christmas and all, but you know, Santa and all that stuff is for the kids, right?"

The older man's eyes twinkled again, this time mischievously. "I don't know about that, Tori. But you'd better go, the mall will be closing soon."

She nodded, realizing this. "I'd better. Thanks for the chat, Santa. Have a Merry Christmas."

Santa smiled. "Ho, ho, ho! You too, Merry Christmas!"

Tori walked into the bookstore, hearing the bells go off at her entrance. John looked up and waved, smiling warmly at her. He stepped away from his boxes of magazines, coming to give her a hug. "Hey, Tori. Haven't seen you in a few weeks."

She nodded; this was true. "Christmas has kept me busy."

"Ah," he nodded. "Have you finished your shopping?"

"Yeah." She looked around her for a moment. "Finished last week, actually."

"Good, good." It grew silent. Tori immediately racked her brain for something to say. She hated it when a conversation would lull into nothing but awkwardness. "So…"

She smiled awkwardly. He was so beautiful; in every single way. Just by the way he stood there, quietly confident. It was hard to believe he was single. Sure, he was a bit of a nerd and was constantly working on school work, but you'd think someone would have snatched him up by now.

"What are you doing for Christmas?" she blurted out, blushing madly again. It didn't make any sense to her. She didn't get this way around any of her older crushes. It was just him. John was different.

"Not much. I'm going over to my family's house in Christmas Day, but I'm spending Christmas Eve home."

"Oh, me too."

It grew silent again. Ugh, she thought. "Well, I'd better get going," she said lamely. "Hope you have a great holiday."

He followed her to the door, smiling at her. Then, out of nowhere, he pointed up, squinting at the ceiling. "Well, where did that come from? My boss didn't put that up."

She followed his gaze, seeing a piece of mistletoe tacked up near the entrance. "Wow." Then, she thought about the "Santa" outside and looked at the mistletoe again, and then she looked at John. What would it hurt? "Well, you know what they say about two people being under mistletoe…"

John smiled at her, his face twisting into a mischievous grin. "Care to remind me?"

Her heart was pounding. This couldn't be happening. "Uh… well, this." Then, bravely she stepped forward and took John's hand. When they were only inches apart, she pulled him closer and kissed him deeply on the lips. They stood like that for a moment and then broke apart.

John swallowed, running his fingers through his long, stunning hair. "Well…"

She smiled shyly. "You don't know how long I wanted to do that."

He laughed. "Then why haven't you?"

"I don't know."

He looked at her again, still smiling. "So, you said you weren't doing anything on Christmas Eve, right?"

"Right."

He ran back inside the bookstore, coming out with a piece of paper. Scrawled on it was an address. "Come here then. I could use a little company."

Tori couldn't believe it. What were the odds? Christmas magic, she thought without meaning to. "… uhm, okay. I will."

"Good." John leaned forward and hugged her. "Merry Christmas, Tori."

She walked out of the door and waved. "Merry Christmas."

And just as she got back into the center of the mall, the Santa exhibit was gone. Quickly, she ran to a security guard. "Uhm, wasn't Santa here?"

The security guard looked at her, his face contorted into confusion. "The Santa Exhibit is at the other side of the mall, Ma'am."

"But—" She shook her head, deeming herself crazy. Then, she nodded and took off, only to see a large red costume skirt right and out of sight. She chased after it, looking down the long crowded mall hallway. The only thing that was red was a Santa Hat on the floor. Tori picked it up and frowned. Inside was a note, addressed to her.

Tori,

You're never too old to believe in Christmas Magic. Merry Christmas.

A Friend

Looking around once more, she was baffled. Had that just really happened? Was everything she saw fake, or was it magic? Shaking her head, she gathered herself together and walked out of the mall, clutching her note, looking forward to Christmas Eve for the first time in years.

Awww. :) I love stories like this. I know it's a bit cliche, but leave me alone, haha. It's cute. I hoped you liked it, Tori. :D

I don't know who the next one-shot will be for, but it will be for someone. I have quite a few things in mind. Hehe.