Chapter 2

It was a little after two o'clock in the morning on December 18th and Santana and Brittany were in their living room, anxiously waiting for their sled to arrive. Whitney called a few days prior to say that the sled would be there at two o'clock. They were both so excited; they could hardly sit still. Brittany kept peeking out the window, even though she knew it was unlikely that she would see the sled until it was parked in front of their house.

"What time is it?" Santana asked. She had been 'straightening up' the already clean and organized living room, trying to keep herself busy.

Brittany looked at her watch and frowned. "Two-fifteen." She said. It felt like a lot later. She couldn't believe the sled hadn't arrived yet.

"Ugh, time is moving so sloooooow!" Santana whined.

"Tell me about it." Brittany grumbled. "If we could have used my magic, we would've been there fourteen minutes ago…but I guess Santa is right. It might be too fast for you to handle, and I'd hate for you to get a severe case of motion sickness."

"Do you think I'll have any issues with the sled? You said it was going to take only ten or fifteen minutes. That's still really fast."

Brittany shook her head. "No, you should be fine. The sled is a lot smoother. It'll be just like flying in an airplane. You won't even realize how fast you're moving."

"Okay." Santana said. If Brittany wasn't worried, she wouldn't be either.

Another ten minutes passed and Brittany looked out the window again. She sighed when there was no sign of the sled.

"Maybe they got the time change confused, like your mom." Santana offered.

"I doubt it. The stable elves are better with time outside of the North Pole. They are constantly importing and exporting goods back and forth between the North Pole and the rest of the world."

"There's an import and export trade in the North Pole?" Santana asked surprised that that was even a thing. Brittany nodded. "You've told me so much about the North Pole, how have we not talked about this before?"

"I don't know." Brittany shrugged. "I guess I never really thought to bring it up. We import a lot of our food since it's hard to grow things in ice and snow, but we also export a lot of things that are made in the North Pole and sent to Santa's factories and businesses so they can be sold in the human world."

"Like what?"

"A lot of stuff actually…ornaments, bells, candy canes, wrapping paper, and a lot more. It's all small to medium sized, privately owned businesses, nothing too big that would draw a lot of attention, but you'd be surprised how many different businesses that Santa actually owns. It's how he funds everything in the North Pole."

Santana just blinked as she processed that information. "The more I learn about the North Pole and how intricate it is, the more incredible it is that it has managed to operate without being found out."

"It's the world's best kept secret that everyone knows about. Everyone knows Santa's village is in the North Pole, but most people think it's just a silly made up story, and for those that go to the North Pole, they're none the wiser because they haven't been able to outsmart Santa's decoys."

"I can't believe that I'm even being allowed to go." Santana marveled.

"You're my family now, which makes you Santa's family, and he knows how good of a person you are. He knows that you'd never betray his trust or put the village in danger. If he thought that for even a moment, he would have never turned me human to be with you."

Santana's heart swelled in her chest to hear that. She didn't know what she had done to have that kind of trust, but she was bound and determined to keep it.

Another eight minutes went by, and just as Santana thought that she and Brittany's patience had reached its limit, there was a knock on the door.

"Oh thank god." Brittany said and went over to the door, answering it right away. "Mike!" She cheered when she saw one of her best friends at the door and pulled him into a tight hug.

"Hey, Brittany." Mike said with a chuckle and returned her embrace.

"Mom didn't tell me that you were coming to get us!"

"It was a last minute change. When I overheard Puck saying that he was scheduled to pick you up, I convinced him into swapping trips with me. That's why it took me so long to get here."

"It's fine, I'm glad it was you that came to get us." She said pulling back from the embrace and motioned toward Santana. "This is my wife, Santana." She said with a smile. She still felt a tingle when she said the word 'wife'. "San, this is my friend, Mike."

"It's nice to finally meet you." Santana said shaking Mike's hand.

She had heard a lot about Mike from Brittany. They had been friends since they were kids. He had been on their wedding guest list, but when it seemed as if it would be too hard to keep the identities of over seventy elves a secret, they decided to scale back their wedding and opted to do a small destination wedding in Costa Rica with just a few close family members. In the end, Santana and Brittany were so happy that they didn't have a big wedding. A more intimate ceremony and reception was more their style anyways. It gave them more time to focus on each other and their few guests, instead of spending most of their wedding trying to mingle with everyone.

"It's nice to finally meet you too. Brittany told me a lot about you as well. For a while, I was beginning to think that she didn't know how to talk about anything else." Mike said with a chuckle.

Santana's cheeks heated up. "I hope it was all good."

"Of course it was." Brittany said wrapping her arm around Santana's waist.

"It was." Mike confirmed with a warm smile. "So shall we go?"

"Yeah, we're all ready." Brittany said pointing to her elf trunk and Santana's two suitcases stuffed with new artic clothing.

"I'll load your trunk." Mike said reaching down for Brittany's trunk and easily carrying it to the sled.

"Why doesn't he just use his magic to load it?" Santana asked as she slipped her arms into her parka. She thought it would be quicker if he just snapped his fingers.

Brittany had told her once that there was a limit to what Christmas magic could do. She couldn't move just anything with her magic, but Santana knew that their luggage wasn't too heavy, because she had seen Brittany lift the couch before, which was definitely heavier.

"We don't do everything with magic." Brittany said putting on her own coat. "Besides, someone could look out their window or drive by and see the bags levitating. The invisibility charm on the sled won't work while we're loading, so it's already going to look weird with a sled and reindeer if we're seen. It's better to not take the chance."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Sorry. I didn't think about that."

"It's okay." Brittany smiled and leaned in giving Santana a soft kiss on her lips before she zipped up Santana's parka, put on her beanie-styled hat to cover her ears, and pulled her hood up over her head. "Soon enough, you won't have to worry about things like that. Are you ready?"

Santana nodded enthusiastically. "I've been ready for this trip since I was four!"

Brittany giggled. "Then come on." She said grabbing the handles of both suitcases.

They turned off all the lights and locked the front door before walking over to the sled. Santana just stared in awe at the beautiful red sled and the two reindeer that were going to be pulling it. As a kid, she had always been interested in Santa's reindeer. She wanted to pet them, but she knew that they really shouldn't waste any more time out in the open like this. The longer they were there, the bigger the chance they would be seen. She hoped that she could spend some time with them when they arrived at the North Pole. They got into the back of the sled and pulled the thick blanket that was there over their laps as Mike loaded the bags onto to the top of the trunk and tied them down. Once he was finished, he stepped in, sitting in the front seat.

"Are you ladies ready?" He asked looking over his shoulder.

"Yep." Brittany said with a wide smile.

"Alright." He said returning the smile and turned his attention forward. He lightly flicked the reins and within seconds, they were moving forward.

Santana let out an excited squeal as they lifted off the ground. "Britt! We're flying!" She said tightening her hold on Brittany's hand. "We're really flying, in a sled, with reindeer!"

Brittany and Mike just chuckled at Santana's excitement. It was refreshing to see someone so genuinely excited about something that was so ordinary to them.

The whole way to the North Pole, Santana and Brittany looked down at the world below them. Brittany was right; it was like an airplane. They were moving quickly, but things weren't moving in a blur, and the invisibility charm created a barrier that kept the wind to a minimum so it wasn't uncomfortable. They arrived at the North Pole twelve minutes after departure, and Santana was sad that their flight was over. She would have loved for it to last a little longer.

When they landed, instead of returning to the stables, Mike drove them through the streets of the village that was already bustling to Whitney and Pierce's house. Santana sat transfixed, absorbing everything around her with eyes as wide as saucers as Brittany pointed things out to her.

"I know this is going to sound stupid, but I just noticed how everyone is dressed. I kind of expected everyone to be wearing candy cane striped stockings, green tunics, and pointy red shoes with little gold bells on the end of them, but I can clearly see that that is not the case." Santana said with a little laugh. The elves that were bustling around them were dressed in clothing similar to what she was wearing, although the color schemes of their attire would definitely be classified as Christmassy, and most of them were wearing the stocking caps that she had been expecting them to be wearing.

"Are you being stereotypical?" Brittany asked, but the tone in her voice said that she took no offense to what Santana had said.

"Probably." She said. She had asked Brittany a lot of questions about her life in the North Pole, but this was one thing she had never really thought to ask before. "Most images we humans have of Christmas elves have them dressed like that or in something similar. In movies, books, at the mall with Santa. I mean, even you were dressed that way when I got you as a toy. I honestly thought that that is what you guys wore here. It's a stereotype that seems to be perpetuated even by Santa."

Brittany nodded. "That's true, but I think that Santa likes it that way. It's a fun and festive idea, but it also keeps the mystery of what life in the North Pole is really like."

"Yeah, I guess so. Does Santa really wear a big red suit when he's delivering toys?"

"No." Brittany said and Santana's face fell.

"That's fake too?!" She cried disappointed.

"I'm just kidding." Brittany said. "He does wear the suit. He loves that thing."

Santana was relieved that that part of her childhood was not ruined. "You just like to tease me don't you?"

"Sometimes." Britany giggled.

"You better be glad I love you."

"I love you too."

By the time they arrived at the house, Santana was sure that the North Pole was the most amazing place she had ever been, and she had only been there five minutes.

They had hardly stepped out of the sled before Whitney and Pierce rushed out of their house, both talking elatedly at the same time.

Santana tried to follow what they were saying, but they were talking so quickly that she couldn't keep up. Brittany, who was more then used to her parents' excitement just giggled and said, "Whoa, slow down! One at a time."

"We're just so excited that you're really here!" Whitney cheered pulling her daughter into a tight and enthusiastic hug.

"And who is this?" Pierce asked pointing to Santana.

Santana scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. She knew Brittany's dad could be forgetful at times, but his question seemed genuine, and she wondered if he really did not know who she was. Thankfully, before anyone could respond, Pierce giggled.

"I'm just kidding. It's nice to see you Santana." He laughed, holding his arms open.

Santana just laughed and accepted his hug. "Good one, sir."

"Pierce, you leave that poor girl alone!" Whitney playfully admonished as she released her hold on Brittany. "She's probably overwhelmed and chilled to the bone. She doesn't have any time for your silly jokes."

"Actually, I'm not that cold." Santana said. Brittany had made sure the clothes that she had bought in the past week were appropriate and rated for the North Pole. And to be honest, she had been so distracted by everything else going on around her since they left Lima; she had not even noticed the temperature change.

"That's good sweetie." Whitney said and gave Santana a bouncy hug, as Brittany hugged her father.

"Where do you want the bags?" Mike asked.

"Oh, the bags!" Whitney yelped. "Pierce, go help."

"Help what?"

"Help Michael with the bags." Whiney said rolling her eyes. "Here, I'll help you, help him."

Brittany just smiled and shook her head as she watched her parents 'help' Mike. It might have been more of a help to him if they would have left him alone to do it himself, but he was too polite to decline their effort. She was happy to see that nothing with them had changed.

Once everyone was distracted with the luggage, Santana moved closer to Brittany and whispered, "Can I pet the reindeer?"

Brittany turned to look at her and she nodded. "Sure." She said taking Santana's gloved hand into her own.

They walked up to the front of the deer and Brittany went right up to them, scratching them both under their chins, while Santana stayed back a bit, watching. She was obviously very keen to touch them, but didn't know how to be around reindeer and she didn't want to do something that might startle them.

"They're very friendly. Come on." Brittany said looking over her shoulder at Santana.

Santana slowly made her way to stand beside Brittany and tentatively reached her hands out. Brittany moved her hands so she could take over. Santana smiled when she finally touched them and they didn't flinch from her. "This is so cool!" She practically squealed. After a couple of seconds, she felt bolder and moved her hands to scratch their chins. A moment later, both of the reindeer, tilted their heads so Santana could rub more of their faces.

Santana couldn't help but to oblige. She liked them so much already.

"They like you." Brittany said.

"They're just big sweet boys, aren't they?" Santana said with a giggle.

"Girls." Brittany corrected.

"Girls?! But they have antlers." Santana said in confusion.

"Girl reindeer have antlers too." Brittany simply said. "They aren't like the deer in the U.S. that you're used to."

Santana chuckled. "I think I figured that out when they flew us here."

"Fair point." Brittany said giggling as well.

Santana noticed the tags on the harnesses that the deer were wearing. "Pop and Lock…is that their names?"

Brittany nodded. "Mike loves to dance."

A few moments later, Pop nuzzled her nose into Santana cheek causing her to let out an excited yelp.

"She just wants you to give her more attention." Mike said coming from around the side of the sled. He was finished unloading their bags. "She's a big baby. She'd be content to just be petted all day."

"I think I would be content to pet her all day too." Santana said and she giggled again when Lock felt left out and nudged her cheek too

"They're both big babies." Mike said.

"Girls!" Whitney called from the house.

"We're coming." Brittany called.

"I guess we have to go." Santana said to the deer with a little pout.

"Don't worry. I'll take you over to the stables to visit them again soon." Brittany said.

"Okay." Santana said and giving Pop and Lock one more good scratch, before they thanked Mike for the ride, and promised to hang out with him soon.

Before they stepped into the warm house, they kicked the snow off their boots and hung up their parkas in the foyer before going into the living room. Santana looked around and she was surprised to see that it looked like a normal house. She wasn't sure what she was expecting an elf house to look like, but she wasn't expecting it to look so normal. The color scheme and decor was very Christmassy, red, green, and gold, and some of the pictures on the walls were moving, like in the album that Brittany had given her for Christmas two years ago, but other than that, it could have been a house in Ohio.

"We put your stuff is in your apartment, instead of your old room. We thought that it would give you two a little more privacy." Whitney said.

Before moving to be with Santana, Brittany lived in a small apartment that was above her parents' home workshop. They had built it almost eighty years ago as a place for them to tinker in their free time. At the time, Brittany was twenty-one years old and looking for more independence, so they added the apartment to the construction plans for her to live in.

"Oh good." Brittany said. She liked the idea of having more privacy with her new wife.

"I set up the fireplace. All you have to do it light it when you feel like it, and your keys are sitting on the counter." Pierce said.

"Thanks, Dad." Brittany said. She knew they would use that fire.

"Well honey, I hate it, but unfortunately, your father and I have to leave for work." Whitney said with a pout. It was Christmas week, the busiest time of the year for the North Pole, so they still had to go to work even though Santana and Brittany were visiting. "I was going to make breakfast, thinking that we could eat together before we left, but since your sled was an hour late, we don't have time to eat with you."

"It's okay, Mom. We're not really hungry right now anyways, and we have plenty of time over the next two weeks to have breakfast together." Brittany assured her.

"I know, but I hate running out on you. You just got here."

"Oh, I know what we should do…we should play hookie!" Pierce said bouncing up and down on his toes as if he just had a marvel idea.

"No, you can't do that. You'll end up on the naughty list." Brittany said playfully, but also seriously. She had never known her parents to skip out of work when they weren't legitimately sick. They loved going to work.

"She's right." Whitney said. "And if we skip work this week, Santa might not let Brittany and Santana come up again for Christmas; you wouldn't want that, would you?"

"No." Pierce shook his head vigorously, his eyes wide in fright.

"Then I guess we're off to work." Whitney sighed and she remembered the time difference when she saw Santana trying to stifle a yawn. "I'm sure you two are tired anyways and probably want to take a nap."

"Yeah, we haven't been to bed yet." Santana said, yawning again. Now that some of the adrenalin from the excitement of their flight had worn off, she was quickly getting tired. They had been up all day, and stayed up late for their flight at two o'clock, but with the delay and the time change, it was already almost nine o'clock in the morning.

"Then you better get some sleep, but don't sleep too long, you want to get acclimated to the time." Whitney suggested.

"I figured we'd nap for a couple of hours and then I'd take Santana out and show her around." Brittany said.

"Sounds good." Whitney said trying to sound happy, but Brittany could still see she was disappointed to be leaving.

"Maybe we can come by and see you and Dad at work for lunch. You can introduce Santana to your friends." Brittany said. She knew how proud her parents were of her, and they loved to brag that they had "the most beautiful human daughter-in-law." Something that none of their friends had. She was sure that her parents were just dying to show Santana off.

Both Whitney and Pierce's faces lit up. "Oh, yes, please do!" They both said at the same time.

Brittany and Santana chuckled at how excited they seemed. "Then you better go before you're late. We'll see you soon." Brittany said.

"Okay, okay. We'll definitely see you soon." Whitney said and she and Pierce gave both girls a hug and a kiss on the cheek before they put on their coats, hats, and gloves, and left for work.

"Do you want a tour of the house now, or do you want to wait until later?" Brittany offered.

"I would love a tour, but I need a nap more. I'm starting to fall asleep standing up."

"Then let's get bundled up."

"How far is your old apartment?"

"Not far at all. It's just in the back yard." Brittany said reaching for their coats hanging on hooks by the front door.

"Do we really need to put all of that back on, only to have to take everything off again? Can't we just run out there quickly?" It seemed as if it would be a lot of hassle for a few seconds.

Brittany nodded and held out Santana's coat for her to take. "Trust me, we do. If it was the summer, I'd say we could get away with it, but it's too cold and dangerous not to wear a coat outside this time of the year, even if we're only going a few yards. Safety first. Distractions and mishaps can come up at any time, and without the proper attire, exposure happens quickly. You're not used to these types of temperatures, and you don't want to find yourself in the hospital wing with hypothermia or frostbite. We've lost too many elves over the years from those kinds of unintentional and careless mistakes, so I don't want you to take that risk.

That was all Santana needed to know to be convinced. She didn't want to take that kind of risk either. She happily put on her outerwear and followed Brittany through the living room and kitchen to the back door. Santana instantly felt the temperature change when they stepped outside. She wasn't cold because of her gear, but she could feel that it was much colder outside. She thought about that as they walked the twenty or so yards to the workshop and climbed the separate, outside steps that led up to the apartment, which was thankfully as warm as the house.

"You're right, I feel the difference." Santana said.

Brittany nodded as she unzipped her coat and looked at the thermostat on the wall. "To put it into perspective, it's negative sixty degrees outside right now, and it's positive sixty-eight degrees in here…so there's almost a hundred and thirty degree temperature difference from outside to inside."

Santana's eyes nearly bugged out of head in shock. "Holy crap."

"See what I mean." Brittany said. She didn't want to scare Santana, but she wanted her to know that while the North Pole was an amazing place, it also had its dangers.

"Yes. I will always have my stuff on to go outside." Santana promised with a little nod of her head.

Brittany smiled and then kissed Santana softly on her lips. "Thank you…now; let's get out of these clothes and into bed."

"Done." Santana said with a chuckle. She was exhausted.

-()-()-()-()-

A/N: Merry Christmas to those that celebrate, and to those that don't, I hope you still have a merry day!

Thank you for reading! I know it's a busy time with the holidays, but if you get a chance, pretty please let me know what you are thinking of the story. I love getting feedback from y'all!

Again, naynay1963 is the best beta!

Disclaimer: I don't own 'Glee' or any copyrighted material or products that are mentioned in this story.