DISCLAIMER: I own nothing related to the Santa Clause movies. I only own Cordelia and her parents. :P The lyrics used in this fanfic belong to their respective artists.

SUMMARY: Not much is known about Bernard's past, but what happens when a piece of it returns?

In our family portrait

We look pretty happy

Let us play pretend

Act like it comes naturally . . .

Shouts, yelling, and the slamming of doors are common sights and sounds around the home of 17-year-old Cordelia Arwyn Williams. Any visitor to the home would believe that the family was happy together, just the three of them - Cordelia and her parents. She would always hear stories about a brother (not when her parents knew she was nearby, of course) and she grew up wondering why she had never met him. Her parents, who were both successful businessmen, wanted what they thought was best for their daughter. They didn't know who she was . . . only her friends had some sort if idea.

After another shouting fest between her father and herself, she sat in the dining room. Her parents had gone out for the night; knowing them, they wouldn't be back until the early hours of the morning. She quickly sniffled, her eyes a bloodshot red. Even though she had the ability to make it seem that their almost daily arguments didn't bother her, in reality it tore her up inside. In her hand was a photo which her parents didn't realize was missing - it was taken when she was a baby. In it were her parents, her, and a little boy whom she didn't recognize offhand. Why couldn't things be like they used to? Quickly wiping the last of the tears from her eyes, she went into the kitchen with the intention to make some cocoa - her favorite drink anywhere in the world. The time of the year was perfect also - December 24th, Christmas Eve. Outside a snowfall blanketed the ground and made the world around her seem more peaceful. "If only my life could be like this," she said to no one in particular. As if someone (or something) responded then, a thump startled the teenager. She could hear footsteps coming from a room down the hall . . . the living room. Quickly gripping her cocoa in one hand and a butcher knife in the other, she quietly made her way down and stopped in front of the door. She could hear cheerful humming coming from the other side.

"Here goes nothing," she said quietly to herself before opening the door. "Hold it right there!"

The older man in the red suit turned around startled. The fearful teenager sighed out of relief that it wasn't an intruder. Yes, this man was indeed a childhood figure which somehow she knew she could trust. "Santa?"

"Merry Christmas, Cordelia."

"I'm sorry about that. I could have killed you."

"I understand," he said as he continued to lay presents out from his bag.

"Are those for . . .?"

"Your younger cousins?" he finished. "Yes. Since they will be spending Christmas Day here, their presents are also delivered here." The girl nodded and took a sip of her cocoa.

"You know what I want for Christmas, Santa?"

"What is that?"

"To get as far away from here as I can." He looked up at her in a bit of shock - she was too young to leave home (after all, Charlie had just turned 18 and left for college).

"Surely you don't mean that . . ."

"I do. My parents are wanting me to be who they are - businessfolk, attended a boarding school for my education . . . you have no idea the things I'm going through!"

Scott Calvin indeed had no other response to that. "I don't know if I can do anything about that . . ." Cordelia nodded and took another sip of her cocoa before she had an idea.

"Take me with you."

"I don't know if I can do that . . ."

"Oh, come on. It'll be fun! I'll spend time with the reindeer while you deliver presents, I'll keep you company on the rides in between . . . please, just get me as far away from here as I can." "Well . . ."

~*~*~

"Oh, thank you! I'll go get some clothes - when we get back up north, you won't even know I'm here!"

The girl turned smiling and headed out of the room, but not before Santa noticed something about her that was a bit peculiar. *Her ears have a slight point up at the top . . .* He shook it off as an odd feeling and picked up his bag.

"Meet me up on the roof," he called out when he reached the fireplace. In an instant, he was gone.

~*~*~

A sense of great exhilaration swept through Cordelia's veins as she climbed into the sleigh. Santa gave her a smile and gave the reindeer their signal to go. As they lifted up from the rooftop, the teenage girl gave a whoop of joy - she was finally going to get away from the two people who hated her most of all: her parents. She wasn't sure what exactly she would find at the North Pole, but she'd find out soon enough.

Please R & R!!!