" Come on Vegeta!" Bulma tugged on her reluctant husband's arm. " It happens once a year! You can deal with it."

Vegeta scowled. " I still do not see why I should be taking the brat. It is your job to do these stupid things."

" It's NOT stupid!" Bulma contradicted him hotly. " It's a tradition on this planet. Just because you Saiyajins don't know to have fun--"

" Our fun consisted of conquering worlds," Vegeta growled. " Not taking pictures of children on the laps of imaginary characters--"

" Santa Clause. And don't you DARE try and convince him that Santa isn't real." Bulma's tone softened. " He's just a little boy, Vegeta. He's seen so much violence, him and Goten both. Why should we deny them a childish belief in a magical man that brings gifts and good wishes to people?"

Vegeta shuddered. " Good wishes..." The very thought was anathema to a Saiyajin.

" Please Vegeta? I would take him but I have a meeting this afternoon, and the mall will be closed by the time I'm done."

Vegeta sighed as Bulma looked at him imploringly. " Very well, woman," he agreed gruffly. " I will do you this favor."

" Thank you."


*~*~*~*~*~*~*


" Look! Look! It's Santa!" Trunks squealed excitedly as he tugged on his less-then-enthusiastic father's hand. " C'mon 'tousan!"

Vegeta allowed himself to be pulled over to where a bored-looking elf stood, snapping her gum impatiently, and sneaking glances at the clock on the wall.

" The brat will have his picture taken," he said gruffly. The elf, whose tag read Mitzy, jerked her thumb behind her.

" Back of the line. Sir," she added as an afterthought. Vegeta scowled at her dismissive tone.

" I said, my son WILL have his picture taken. And I meant NOW." A small glowing ball began to grow at the tip of his finger that he pointed at the now-pale elf.

" Err...yessir," she stammered, and waved him through. Trunks giggled as his father regally marched through the candy-cane striped archway, head held high.

As they approached the podium where Santa sat, Trunks let go of his fathers hand, raced up to the large, overly-decorative chair and threw himself into jolly St. Nick's padded belly.

" OOOF!"

" Hi Santa!" Trunks chirped.

" Hello, m'boy," poor Santa wheezed. " Have you been a good boy this year?"

" Umm...." Trunks's voice trailed off at the sudden question. " I tried to be good Santa."

Santa chuckled. " Schoolyard scraps, son?"

" Huh? You mean fights?" Trunks nodded rapidly. " Oh yeah. Lots of those."

" Good little boys shouldn't fight so much," Santa admonished gently. Trunks nodded sadly.

" I know, Santa."

Vegeta growled.

" How about you promise to talk things out a bit more instead of fighting so much? Then I can add you to my good little boys list with a gold star for effort!" Santa smiled.

Trunks blinked. " Really? Okay!"

Vegeta sighed as Trunks then launched into a long rendition of what he wanted for Christmas, adding in a nimbus cloud (because Goten had one), an eye shield (for when Gohan showed up in his dumb costume) and ear plugs.

" So I won't hear my mommy and daddy yelling," Trunks finished off his long list. Vegeta's eyes widened at the last request.

Santa patted Trunks on the head, promised he'd do his best and then smiled with Trunks for the camera. Mitzy the elf pressed the button, still nervous.

" Thanks Santa!" Trunks slid off Santa's lap and scurried towards Vegeta. Vegeta reached down to take his hand when his son snapped his fingers. " Oh! I forgot - Goten wanted me to ask Santa for something for him!"

Trunks whirled around - and stopped short, eyes wide, and mouth open. Another boy, older then Trunks, had already jumped on Santa's lap, and immediately tugged on Santa's beard.

His fake beard.

Trunks watched as the boy leaped off Santa's lap with his hairy prize, crowing with delight to his friends who were watching and cheering.

" Santa?" Trunks whispered, looking back at his father in confusion. " He's not real?"

'He's seen so much violence, him and Goten both. Why should we deny them a childish belief in a magical man that brings gifts and good wishes to people?' Bulma's words flitted through Vegeta's mind. He looked at the anguish in his son's eyes and sighed inwardly.

" Santa couldn't be here today," he said gruffly. " That man is Santa's assistant, much as a King will have another Royal fill in for him when he is unable to attend to important matters."

" Really?" Trunks said in awe. " Wow. This guy must be pretty important too!"

He scampered up to the very embarrassed Santa and placed a small hand on Santa's knee.

" It's okay," he whispered. " I know you're just filling in for Santa. My 'tousan said so."

The man playing Santa looked over to where a scowling man stood stiffly, his arms folded, tapping his foot impatiently.

" I see. Thank you young man. I'm sorry I deceived you."

" It's okay," Trunks said. " But when you give me list to Santa, can you add something for my friend Goten? He wants to know if his 'tousan can visit from heaven on Christmas."

The man's eyes softened. " I can't promise you that son." A strange light flashed in the back of his eyes, before they returned to normal. " But I'll see what I can do, okay? After all, it is the season for miracles."

" Yeah!"

*~*~*~*~*~*

Vegeta drove home, still uncomfortable about the part he had played in his son's deception. But as he drove, he looked over and saw how happy his son looked. Remembering the dejected look he'd worn when he had thought Santa was a fake, Vegeta grudgingly admitted that maybe he'd done the right thing after all. He smiled faintly.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Up in his temple, higher then any plane could fly, Mr. Popo tisked.

" You shouldn't be doing that Kami. Goku is dead after all."

" For now," Kami chuckled. " Please watch things for me Mr. Popo. I have to let Goku know he has an appointment on Christmas Day."

" I will, Kami. Just no more 'possessions' while you're gone?"

" Spoilsport."


~~OWARI~~