Cookie Breaks
Molly had taken to spending most of her day wandering the factory floor and checking in with all the elves as they went about their work. The elves still hadn't taken a real shine to her- being cautious of her presence. She couldn't blame them of course. One flight of fancy that sent her packing up to leave would cause this whole place to go nuclear. But she was getting really sick and frustrated of having to prove herself time and time again as someone Arthur deserved. She had enough trouble proving it to herself- she didn't need everyone else to add to that.
Bryony was always willing to talk with her though. And it was one particular March day that she was visiting her only elf friend that she had noticed it. "Excuse me a moment, dear," Bryony had said. She had then left her station to walk over to an elf that looked slightly behind and held her hand out. The elf took a long moment before looking down and placing half of a chocolate chip cookie in her hand. She then said a few words before depositing it in the trash can and returning to Molly.
"What was that about?"
"We can't have food on the floor. Imagine all the ways it could tarnish that paper. How would you feel if there were chocolate smears on your Christmas gift?" Molly merely looked at her. "It's also a factory rule. We have lunch and then get off around dinner. In the meantime no food is allowed."
"Wait a second. So you don't get like a cookie break or something like that in-between? That's against all sorts of union rules!"
"We were around way before the unions, Molly. We've had this for centuries and rules are very hard to change around here."
"Well, it's not right that you guys don't get a break. Do you have a copy of the rules or something?" Bryony pulled one out of her desk and Molly spent the rest of the time examining it. It had been a while since she got to use her lawyer brain and it felt nice to be back in her old groove. Maybe she could help these elves out. They were obviously desperate if they were sneaking in chocolate chip cookies.
A change in the rules was pretty complicated though. First, the Christmas family sans the Santa had a vote and the majority had to agree to the change. Then it had to be taken to the current Santa who had to approve it. That part would be easy. But a majority vote meant three of four of the Christmases had to be on her side. That meant she needed to get either Mr. or Mrs. Christmas.
She met with Bryony the next day. "Okay, so Steve is easy enough. We just have to present him with statistics about productivity and how much more efficient we'll be even if we cut a half hour out every workday. Can you get a numbers elf- like Peter- on that? I know it'd be better if you asked as Head Elf since everyone hates me."
"They don't…hate you- they hate what you could do. You just have to show them your positives outweigh your negatives. This is a good way to start. I'll do it though."
"Alright, Grandsanta is all about tradition but I think we could sway him easily enough since this isn't technology related. I'll go visit him in the stables before dinner- when he's at his cheeriest. Arthur shouldn't be an issue either since it'll make all of you so happy. You and I will approach him together and if worse comes to worse I bat my eyes-"
"I get the feeling you're skipping ahead. You need a majority. Grandsanta and Steve aren't enough. You need either Mr. of Mrs. Christmas." Molly let out a groan. "You said things have been better since January!"
"I know! But that doesn't mean they'll actually agree with me! Just give me a bit to figure them out. Also, let's not bother Arthur about this until it's time for his approval. The last thing he needs to worry about is what we're up to."
The meeting with Grandsanta went much better than she hoped. He had honestly liked her even after the whole Thanksgiving incident- said she reminded him of his wife. He agreed with her about how things had become so different in terms of the number of elves and promised she would have his vote since she was so passionate about this.
Steve was also onboard after a short presentation Bryony and Molly chased him down for- using signs as he walked and attempted to do his job. He did comment offhand later that he had brought up the subject to Mr. and Mrs. Claus but they didn't seem as apt- and that was even without knowing her involvement.
Molly spent days with Bryony trying to come up with a good enough pitch that could get the two on her side. Arthur seemed to take notice of how busy she was but she had merely told him she found a project- which was true. It was about a week later that she was stopped by an elf in the hall.
"Is it true? Is it true you're trying to get the rules changed for us?"
"Of course it is. You guys work so hard to make so many people have a magical Christmas that I know you deserve to have at least a couple of minutes for a cookie or a cup of cocoa. And I am not stopping until I see this through!"
The elf smiled. "Let me know if you need any help Molly. You've got me on you team." Molly couldn't help but smile. This was the first time any elf other than Bryony had used her name.
"That's good to hear…"
"Bernard." And as it walked away it hit her. The Christmases may be able to argue her down or hold her back, but they couldn't stop the force of all the elves if they teamed up. She took off for Bryony's office.
"A letter writing campaign! We get everyone to send letters for a week- assign days- and send it to the Christmases. If everyone stands together we stand at least a shot!"
"Or they could get mad and go to Arthur about how you're causing mischief and put him in a tough spot. That's the exact opposite of our plan."
"We have to try Bryony. These guys know about what we're doing now. We can't- I'm not going to let anyone down again. If they go to Arthur I'll back off and try something else. I… I want to be able to make people happy too."
"Then let's get circulating. We've got letters to plan."
The elves seemed very much onboard with the plan as long as they didn't get in trouble (Molly promised to take all responsibility) and Arthur wasn't pestered by it since a malfunction with the Naughty and Nice List had him busier than usual (Molly would back off the second he was involved). Bryony didn't even have to come with her to some of the departments- they seemed receptive to her plan even if it was just her pitching it. Maybe she had a place here after all.
The week went without a hitch with at least a thousand letters getting mailed over every day. As far as Molly knew Mr. and Mrs. Christmas didn't bring it up to Arthur- not that they had time to. The List debacle meant he wasn't at dinner. Even she didn't get to see him much with how busy she was.
Friday after dinner she and Bryony did their pitch with to the gathered Christmases. They had everything- charts and graphs from Peter, live action demonstrations and testimonies by Bernard and some of his friends, and an argument of modern day laws she herself presented with her lawyer gusto. Everyone left but her as the family took their vote.
They were all waiting for her when she emerged from the dining room. "Four for four!" The room burst out into cheers. "When Arthur gets a free moment I will talk to him."
That free moment came Sunday when she found him in his old office looking at letters. The others has asked to go with her- do the pitch again—but she knew this one had to be just her.
"Hey, stranger." He turned and let out a tired smile. She took a seat across from him and took his hand as he opened his mouth. "I know what the next words out of your mouth are going to be, but they're not necessary. You have nothing to be sorry for. I've been keeping myself entertained."
He smiled a real smile at her. "I love you."
"I love you too, very much," she answered, kissing his forehead. She then noticed the letter pinned on a place of prominence of the wall.
"I look at it whenever I need a smile. It helps me when things get a little stressful- not that I don't love it! I do with absolutely all my heart! Being Santa-"
"Trust me, Arthur. I know. And as much as I know you're trying to escape business, I have something I want to discuss with you." He gave her a nod and she pulled out the doctrine for a rule change she had put together. "It's a proposal for cookie breaks once a day for the elves. I got the four votes from the Christmas family and now I just need your approval. I'm sure I don't have to tell you how happy it'd make them. And they do work awfully hard."
"Oh, I know that. I've been trying to get that rule changed for years. You actually got my mom and dad to agree to this? And Steve?" She let out a nod proudly and he pulled out a pen. He looked at her as he signed it. "You're pretty amazing, you know that."
"I'm just trying to be like you. It gave me something to do and it helped me get familiar with a lot of the elves. And I think your parents might hold a little more respect for me." He handed her the paper. "Thank you, Mr. Claus."
"You know, if you become-"
"When I become Mrs. Claus. I know we haven't really… but I'd like for it be a when."
"I would like that too. You're going to be the most active Mrs. Claus yet."
"I can't let those years of law school just fall apart and go to waste. I put up a good argument." She went to get up but stopped herself. "You want me to sit here with you for while, keep you company. I know letter writing is your thing, but-"
"Of course you can stay. I'll even let you write one. Believe it or not, I enjoy spending time with you."
"I'm glad." She kissed him before opening an envelope and reading, one hand in his. Neither noticed all the elves peeking in through the door. Sure, Molly had been there for them, but more importantly she was there for him.
The next week cookie breaks became official and the elves received from two-thirty to three off to have a snack or simply get a break. Molly was greeted with hugs and smiles whenever she walked the factory floor- and that seemed to make Arthur smile more as well.
"So, it looks like she's going to be our new Mrs. Claus," Peter commented.
"I hope so," Bryony added.
"Well… that means she becomes a Christmas. Then we only have to get her to convince Grandsanta and Steve for things to go through." Bryony shot him a look. "I'm just observing."
"I like her. She's a Claus who understands clauses," Bernard joked. The elves would approach Molly over the years many times for different projects. But she had a very important one at this moment- being the second person at the North Pole to know the name of every elf.
