Author's Notes: I do not own Once Upon A Time. Merry Christmas or Happy Doctor Who Day! There was a request that we wanted some more Toddler! Beatrice. Please let me know what you think and happy reading!


1999

"Is it my turn yet?"

Belle looked down and smiled. "Not yet, baby. All those people are in line ahead of us. All of these children want to talk to Santa Claus."

Gold rolled his eyes. Belle had spent the past few days heightening Beatrice's anticipation of this curious ritual. For a Land Without Magic, they were so eager to believe it existed. Beatrice was to meet Santa Claus- in reality he had been Eidelweiss' brewer - and convey to him all her wishes. That was why they were waiting in line at Al's Toy Barn with the rest of town, it seemed. As Beatrice's father, he was then expected to fulfill the said wishes himself and let the fat man in the suit have all the credit.

Belle was, of course, taken with the prospect. She and Merlin had outlined plans involving some sort of ruse with cookies and milk and carrots.

He could, of course, just choose not to partake in the ritual, but Belle and her father had assured him that certainly was not an option as it would surely make her a social outcast. Merlin also seemed convinced that the Dark Princess needed to believe in something because imagination was a quality sincerely lacking in Storybrooke.

"Daddy, do you know Santa?"

Gold looked down.

"I'm afraid I haven't had the pleasure."

"Doesn't he pay you?"

Belle chimed in. "Santa lives at the North Pole, remember? Daddy doesn't own that."

"Oh, right," said Beatrice, holding their hands as they shuffled forward.

Finally, the moment arrived when it was Beatrice's turn. She was a bit nervous when finally faced with the reality of the endeavor and Belle had to coax her up. After she listed what she wanted, the whole process finally concluded.

"Daddy, do you think Santa will come?," Beatrice asked looking uncertain.

"Of course he will," answered Belle. "He said he would."


Christmas Eve

Gold sat on the bed and wondered why he couldn't just go to sleep.

"She's not going to wake up," said Gold.

Belle stood by the door, straining to hear the room next door.

"I want to be sure, Rumple. She can't see it's us."

Belle cracked open the door. She motioned for Gold to follow her as if they were escaping a prison guard. He got up and she turned.

"You can't use the cane!," she hissed.

"What?," asked Gold.

"You know she has a sixth sense when it comes to the cane!"

Gold had to admit Belle was right. When he got up in the middle of the night for one reason or another, Beatrice did have the habit of finding him in every corner of the house.

"Here, walk with me," Belle said quickly, motioning for him to lean on her which was not altogether unpleasant.

They slipped down the hall. Belle cracked open the door to Beatrice's room. The three year old was curled up in her blanket clutching her lamb.

Belle quietly shut the door and they made their way down the staircase. The Christmas tree was in the living room, set just in front of the window. Gold sat on the end of the sofa.

"Okay," said Belle, "I'm going to run to the cellar and get the gifts. You work on the milk and cookies and make it look like the reindeer ate the carrots."

"How would the reindeer get in the house?"

Belle threw back one of his own hand gestures at him. "Magic."

He rolled his eyes as Belle covered her mouth to stifle her giggle. She threw her arms around him and kissed him.

"I'm sorry, it's just so funny to hear you talk about this."

"Mm-hmm, why don't you get those presents?"

She kissed him again and scurried off. Gold went to work on the milk and cookies and carrots.

Belle took several trips to get everything from the cellar. The first was for the pink tricycle they had bought her. The next was for an absurdly sized teddy bear that Belle had decided Beatrice had to have. The third was for several large shopping bags that Belle had put the gift-wrapped presents in. She gave him a bag of trinkets and candies to put in the stocking. Belle artfully arranged them and flipped on the Christmas lights.

"How does it look?," asked Belle. She turned to him. "It doesn't quite look magical, does it?"

Gold shrugged.

"Well, don't you have any ideas?"

"Why would I have ideas?"

"Because you're supposed to be a sorcerer."

"Supposed to be? I recall an ogre problem a young maiden needed help with. However did that end?"

Belle shook her head. "It just seems like something's missing."

He gave her a peck on the cheek. "It looks beautiful. Come on. Let's go to bed."


Christmas Day

"It's Christmas! Christmas!"

Beatrice's herald was the only warning Gold and Belle had before their daughter launched herself into their bed.

Gold looked. "Beatrice, it's five. It's too early."

"But it's Christmas!" She crawled over to bed. "Mommy, it's Christmas."

Belle had the nerve to still be groggy. "Tell Daddy."

Beatrice padded back. "Daddy. It's Christmas."

"Too early," he said, closing his eyes.

This was when Beatrice decided chest compressions were necessary.

"Alright, we're getting up..."

Belle got up and found the camera then they headed downstairs. Beatrice rushed in ahead and Gold was surprised by the pitch of her squeals of delight.

"A bike!," she said, rushing towards the tricycle with the big bow. "A teddy!"

She threw her arms around the toy, not reaching by a long shot.

She then caught sight of the empty plate and glass. Beatrice gasped.

"Look! Santa had my cookies!"

"Wow," said Belle.

"Look, Daddy! The reindeer ate my carrots!," she said pointing at the leftover greens.

"Yes," said Gold. "They must have been very hungry flying so far."

Belle looked at him with a surprised smile. Beatrice scurried back to her bear.

Gold sat in an armchair facing the tree. Belle sat on the arm.

"Someone's changing his attitude..." said Belle.

He motioned at Beatrice as she rummaged through the gifts.

"Does that look magical enough for you now?," he asked.

Belle considered the view and smiled back at him.

"Yes. Yes, it does."

They kissed and turned back to their daughter who still had not opened anything, content to stare at the shiny paper.

Belle laughed. "Beatrice, sweetheart, you can actually open the presents now."

"Oh," said Beatrice as if this were a new idea. "Okay."