It was another Christmas Eve, Arthur Christmas's second as Santa Claus in fact. They were in Green River, Wyoming at the moment. Arthur and Bryony, his main helper, were taking care of one home when Arthur accidentally tripped on a roller skate and hit the burglar alarm. It went off.

"I'm really starting to get tired of these things." Arthur groaned.

"Santa, we'd better go. We'll come back for the other houses once things have cooled off." Bryony said.

"Right-" Arthur was cut off as he heard the people upstairs getting up. "No time for the chimney."

With that, Arthur and Bryony ran out the front door. Unfortunately there were cops nearby.

"Halt!" One cop said.

"Oh perfect." Bryony muttered dryly.

Arthur quickly picked up Bryony and ran away. After all if he got arrested then Christmas really would be ruined for the kids they hadn't delivered to yet. Fortunately, due to his long legs, he was able to get far ahead of the cops. Arthur then turned a corner...and nearly bum ped into a woman. She stared at him and Bryony, and then smiled as if she recognized him.

"Quick, take your coat off and put this one on." The woman took a newly bought coat out of the bag she had been carrying. "Jump in here." She then said to Bryony.

Confused, but not knowing what else to do, Arthur switched coats with the woman and Bryony hid herself in her bag. The woman then snatched Arthur's hat and stuffed it in her bag, and gestured for Arthur to turn around. At that point the cops caught up. Bryony quickly took Arthur's arm.

"Oh Belinda." The second cop panted. "Have you seen a guy run past here? He was wearing a red coat and hat, must think he's Santa Claus or something." He then chuckled.

"I did, he ran past me and turned left at the corner." Belinda pointed.

"Thanks." The first cop said. "Say, why are you out this late?"

"Last-second Christmas shopping." Belinda explained. "Managed to find the coat dad wanted, though had some trouble. I figured that I wouldn't be able to find parking so my friend and I took the bus to the stores, but it took so long to find the coat that we missed the last bus back and had to walk home."

"This far?" The second cop was surprised.

"Well not entirely, we did stop for dinner along the way." Belinda shrugged. "Now if you'll excuse us we'd would like to get home, we're pretty tired."

"Sure, and thanks again." The first cop said as he and his partner ran past Belinda and Arthur.

"Thank you." Arthur said with relief once the cops were out of sight.

"No problem Santa." Belinda smiled.

Arthur looked stunned. Bryony popped her head out of the bag also stunned.

"How did you know?" Arthur asked.

"I saw it in your eyes" Belinda shrugged. "Here, you'd better put your coat and hat back on, you still have presents to deliver."

Arthur traded coats again and put his hat back on. Bryony hopped out of the bag as he did so. The three of them then started walking around the corner.

"I'm surprised you were able to accept his being Santa." Bryony spoke up.

"Oh I'm very open-minded. No one has really proven that Santa doesn't exist so I decided to continue believing just in case." Belinda smiled. "It's more fun anyway. Besides, I've always believed in what you stood for: peace and goodwill. Why not believe in you as well?"

"So, you recognized me through my eyes?" Arthur was still confused.

"Yeah, you may not have the belly or beard but you still have the Christmas spirit." Belinda stopped in front of a door and took her key out. "This is my place, I'd invite you both in but I know how busy you are this time of year."

"Oh it's okay, we're ahead of schedule this year." Arthur shrugged. "Still, we should be getting back soon."

Belinda unlocked the door and opened it. She then turned on the hall light.

"Just let me wrap my dad's present and get your snack out, I'll be going to bed soon anyway." She went inside.

Arthur and Bryony followed her in. Instantly a little pug ran over yipping excitedly.

"Yes Pogo, I'm home." Belinda grinned. "These two are friends of mine so be nice."

Pogo sniffed Arthur and Bryony and yipped happily. He then leaned onto Bryony and licked her face.

"Well, it's better than being growled at." Bryony chuckled.

Belinda took the coat she had bought for her father and started to wrap it. Belinda neatly cut some wrapping paper, got out some ribbon, and wrapped the package almost as well as an elf.

"Say, you're pretty good." Bryony was impressed.

"I've had a lot of practice." Belinda shrugged.

She then placed the package under the tree and went into the kitchen to get some cookies and milk. She first brought out the cookies and then went back and brought out a couple glasses of milk.

"Since there aren't any kids living here I know you don't have anything to drop off, but here's a snack anyway." Belinda grinned. "I haven't been able to do this for years."

"Really?" Arthur accepted a cookie and glass of milk; Bryony took a cookie too.

"Yeah I know Santa only delivers to kids so I figured he'd never stop here unless I adopted a kid or something." Belinda explained. "But it's okay, I don't need presents to have a good Christmas."

Arthur and Bryony then took a good look around the place. There was a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, garlands, candles, a Christmas tablecloth, and even some stuffed animals around the place.

"Wow, you really are a kid on the inside aren't you?" Arthur smiled.

"Uh-huh." Belinda smiled. "So, forgive me for asking but I was wondering what happened to your beard and belly."

"Oh they haven't come in yet, Santa Claus is just a title passed down through the family." Arthur shrugged. "I became Santa about a couple years ago."

"Oh, so your dad was the last Santa?" Belinda guessed.

"That's right. My older brother Steve was supposed to be the next Santa but dad saw that I had more Christmas Spirit in me and made me Santa instead." Arthur nodded.

"I hope Steve was okay with that." Belinda said concernedly.

"He was a little disappointed but he got over it quickly." Arthur smiled. "Well it was nice chatting with you but we'd better get back to work."

"Of course, I'll leave the rest of the snack here in case you want some more." Belinda nodded. "I'd better get to bed anyway. I hope we can see each other again soon though."

"Sure, Santas always get January off so I'll be able to visit a few times next month." Arthur nodded. "See you next year Belinda."

"Sure thing Santa." Belinda smiled.

She then got ready for bed and fell asleep. Arthur and Bryony headed back into the EVIE.

"Are you two okay, we were worried ever since we heard the alarms." Steve said.

"Yeah, we almost got caught but this woman named Belinda realized who I was and pretended that I was a friend of hers to save me." Arthur nodded.

"A woman knew you were Santa? As in an adult woman?" Steve was surprised.

"She said that she saw the Christmas Spirit in Arthur's eyes." Bryony explained. "Plus she's remained open-minded all these years about Santa Claus since no one has officially proven that he doesn't exist."

"Well, that's because he does exist." Steve shrugged. "But anyway I'm glad things worked out. We'd better finish delivering those presents now."

"Of course...and next year I'd like to add Belinda to the list." Arthur said.

"Sure thing, but you'll have to get her last name first."

"Oh...that's right I didn't tell her my first name either." Arthur remembered. "Oh well we didn't have much time anyway, and I said I'd visit her again in January. We can exchange letters in the meantime."

The rest of Christmas Eve went without a hitch. Christmas Day was fun too, especially since Steve and Grandsanta gave up arguing about technology and old fashioned ways ever since Arthur was made Santa.