3.
More than an hour later Neal helped finishing the decoration at the entrance when Peter finally came. He made a face like he had to break down some bad news. Neal saw him first and started to grin in malicious joy.
"Hey Peter."
"You!"
"I didn't do it." Neal replied in a reflex.
"Of course you did it. Who else should tell Elle to ask me play Santa?"
"Rebecca?"
Peter eyed him suspicious.
"You two made this up."
"We didn't."
"I don't believe you."
"Oh hun, there you are finally." Elizabeth came over and hugged Peter, "And don't accuse Neal for what ever you think he did."
"He told you they need a new Santa."
"Yes and it was my decision to ask you. It was the easiest way."
Peter shot Neal a glance that told "I am not finished yet" and followed Elizabeth to the recreation area they had built.
"How bad did he take it?" Mozzie asked from around the corner.
"Better than I thought. I think we should get dressed."
"It would. The kids are supposed to arrive in half an hour."
"Well then Mr Tinker …..."
Within five minute Neal got another dirty look. With a childish snicker he followed Mozzie to the impromptu lockers.
When they came back Rebecca waited for them also dressed up with two mugs and an excited smile.
"Isn't this great?"
"What exactly?" Neal asked.
"That we are here all together. Oh and here your hot chocolate."
"Without marshmallows?" Mozzie asked disappointed.
"This is only the one to try if it is good. When the children are here we serve them with marshmallows. And we have a lot of cake and cookies. Elle also managed to get sandwiches and coffee if you need something else. She is marvelous."
"That's true. And I heard something about hot chocolate?" Peter came over with an amused smirk on his face because of Neal's costume.
"I get you one." Rebecca left.
"You don't need to smirk, Peter."
"Oh yes I need to because I know something you don't know." Peter bounced on his heels.
"What?"
"Oh Elle had a great idea."
"I am afraid this means no good, mon frère."
"It's not like we are pulling a stunt like you two use to do."
"Just tell it, Peter."
"Diana will come."
"What?" both men shrieked.
"Please tell me you didn't spill the secret." Elizabeth gave Peter a peck on the cheeks.
"Elizabeth please tell me he makes a joke." Neal pleaded.
"I am so sorry, Neal, but we thought it would be a great idea."
"Oh it is. This is Theo's first Christmas." Mozzie told excited.
"Sometimes we could think you are his godfather or something like this." Peter stated. Neal and Mozzie just looked at each other knowingly.
"But I am deeply sorry, suit. We need to go to our stations." Mozzie left.
"Stations?"
"I'll explain it later. You can help me with the cookies." Elizabeth pulled Peter along with her.
"I hope I can taste some."
With a confused gaze Rebecca went past them armed with a tray with cookies and pieces of cake for the first children.
"What was that about?"
"Peter behaving like a kid?"
"I thought that was your part?" she shot back smiling. Neal stole a cookie and smiled at her.
"Not always."
Some minutes later the first children arrived. They did a last check up on the reading area when Rebecca got called. They turned around and a four years old little girl jumped up and down before them.
"Hi Becca, I hope to see you. Can you give Santa my letter?"
Rebecca knelt down and smiled at the little girl.
"Hey Tina, of course I will do this."
"Thank you. Is this your friend?"
Neal felt like he got analyzed by the girl.
"Yes, this is Neal. Neal meet my little friend Tina. She lives two floors under me."
He mimicked Rebecca's actions and knelt down.
"Nice to meet you, Tina."
"Do you live in our world too?"
Rebecca giggled about Neal's confusion.
"He does but sshhh. No one can know we live among you."
Tina giggled and hugged Rebecca tight.
"Becca?"
"Yes, Tina?"
"Is Neal your special friend?"
"Special friend?"
"Yes! Mommy said there are friends and a special friend you like to live with forever. Like mommy and daddy do."
"Well yes, he is what your mommy calls a special friend."
Tina let go of Rebecca and tilted her head at Neal.
"Is something wrong?" he asked carefully.
"I like you."
"You do?"
"Yes, because Becca smiles more." Tina explained with the sincerity of a four years old.
"Thanks, she makes me smile too."
"Neal?"
He chuckled about Tina's tone. It somehow reminded him of Rebecca when she wanted to ask him something important.
"Yes?"
"Do elves have babies too?"
"Uhm..." helplessly he looked at Rebecca who turned beet red and was helpless herself.
"Sometimes. You have to know elves live a long live and only a few babies are born each year because we would be too many elves soon if it would be more."
"Too much?"
"Yes, there would be too much of us." Rebecca stepped in again with a nervous edge in her tone.
"Makes sense."
Her mother yelled for Tina and she ran back to get some hot chocolate.
"Gosh, that was awkward."
"It was." Neal agreed with her.
"I expected her to ask next if we want a baby."
For a moment he looked at her puzzled.
"That would have been bad."
A little later Neal and Rebecca were surrounded by seven children and she had started to read one of the short stories about Christmas. She had Tina on her lap and he had the "honor" to have Tina's two years old little brother on his lap because he took an instant liking on Neal. The children happily munched away the cookies and listened concentrated. After the story the children went somewhere else and Neal wanted to get up for a cookie refill. When he turned he almost stumbled over a little three years old boy.
"Hey buddy, don't you want to do something different?" Neal knelt down next to him.
"No..."
"Not? Why?"
"The others will make fun of me."
"You think?"
"Yes, they always do!"
"Why?"
"Can't make things."
"You aren't good with making things? Shall I tell you a secret?"
Neal sat down again and tried to lock eyes with the little boy.
"Secret?"
"Yes, when I was little I wasn't good with those things too."
"You were?" hopefully the boy looked up.
"Yes, I swear. What's your name? I am Neal."
"Will..."
"Nice to meet you, Will. Is there something you want to do but don't dare?"
The boys gaze went over to the handcrafting station where Mozzie was helping some children to make a Christmas star out of paper as decoration.
"You want to make some decoration?"
"But I can't!"
"I bet you can. You know the elf over there is a good friend of mine. Do we want to go over and ask if he could help you?"
"I don't know..."
"Just give it a try, huh?"
"Ok..."
Will got up and immediately grabbed Neal's hand. He gave the boy a reassuring smile and together they went over to Mozzie. Neal put a hand on his friends shoulder to make himself notice.
"Moz?"
"Yes?"
"I would like you to meet my little friend Will. He would like to make paper star but sadly has two left hands."
"Hi Will, I think we can find a way for you to make something."
"Really?"
"Of course! Come and sit down next to me. First you can help me with mine. What do you think?"
"I help!" Will yelled happy and sat down on the little chair next to Mozzie. Neal knelt down again and faced the boy.
"You ok?"
"Yes."
"I can go now?"
Will nodded and looked at Mozzie expecting. With a satisfied smile Neal turned around to get the cookie refill finally to find himself nose to nose with Rebecca.
"Hi." she giggled embarrassed he caught her.
"Searching for me?" he asked and linked arms with her.
"Not really. I was curious how he reacts to Moz."
"And?"
"And I am proud of my boyfriend to handle this so clever and nice. I think Mozzie will help him to get over his insecurities. It's somehow weird he is so calm with them around."
"I know. You don't hear this from me but when it comes to children he is the first in line to help."
"I see this right now. But you are good with kids too."
"Peter would say it's because I am a Peter Pan."
"Funny pick."
"Huh?"
"Peter...Peter Pan."
Both chuckled and got ready for the next group to read.
They still waited to get a new plate when someone little bumped into Neal. Surprised he turned around.
"Got you!"
"Hey Samantha."
He looked up from her to see June coming a few steps behind her granddaughter.
"I never would have thought you would be good as elf." the elderly lady smiled and hugged him.
"You have to thank Rebecca for it."
"That's too much of an honor." Rebecca blushed.
"And you are Neal's girlfriend?" Samantha asked curious.
"That's true. Your grandma told me a lot about you."
"And Neal told me about you. You are more beautiful than he said."
Neal chuckled next to her while Rebecca tried to not blush again.
"Samantha, sweetie, do you want something?" June helped her out.
"Hot chocolate!"
"Do you want to come over with us then? It's Neal's turn to read a story."
"Yes!"
"Well I take the cookies and go over and you and Neal follow when you got your hot chocolate. Is this ok?"
"Yes, but don't start without us."
"We can't without Neal."
Rebecca got the tray and got accompanied by June.
"You are glowing, dear."
"I do what?"
"You glow. You have this happy content self satisfied glow. Did something happen?"
"Except the usual chaos?"
"Yes."
"Just proud of Neal how good he deals with this afternoon."
"He has a kind heart and even more when it comes to children. I always pictured him being a good father when it's time."
"Why?" Rebecca asked intrigued by June's statement.
"The way he acts around Samantha. And what did he do before I came?"
"He encouraged a three years old boy to try handcrafting when he thought he couldn't do this."
June simply smiled and nodded in response. Only a minute later Neal and Samantha came to them. Excited the girl took a seat between Neal and Rebecca.
