Author's Note: Christmas Omake; as with Halloween, not canon (yet). Sorry I couldn't get this out sooner.
Author's Update: Chapter 70 is the canon version of events, you can skip this version if you want to save time and avoid spoilers.

Beyond the Outer Gates Lies...A Silent Night?

"That was a wonderful meal, Harry," Reya said gratefully.

"I did not appreciate the way the waiter treated us," Sona glanced back at the restaurant sharply.

"We are kind of an unusual group," I reminded her.

"He was probably just jealous to see Harry-chan with four beautiful, affectionate girls," Serafall said brightly, slowing a bit to brush her backside against me.

"Maybe he missed his own lover," Reya suggested kindly, "it is Christmas Eve."

"They always act like that here," Tsubasa explained with an amused smile, "Harry called it a high society tsundere café."

We walked in silence for a few minutes, the four young women huddled close to me for reasons that were not limited to the cold, December air.

"Are we really going to do this?" Sona finally said softly.

"I promise no funny stuff," I said. Then I fixed the shortest of the girls with a mock stern stare, "And so does Serafall, right?"

"Mahou Shoujo's honor," she nodded broadly, and held her left hand up. Though instead of the scout's three fingered salute, she did Spock's spread finger salute. I chuckled once, but then sobered.

"Tsubasa's parents are out of town for the week," I said, "And I don't want to spend another Christmas morning alone. Sorry, I know that's not how Japan does Christmas, and I didn't think until just now to ask how or if Devils celebrate it in the Underworld. But I'm still an American boy at heart. And in America, we spend Christmas day with the people we love."

I received four happy smiles, and they all snuggled in even closer. Enough that we were less walking close for physical and emotional warmth, and more hugging as we shuffling down the street awkwardly. Then I felt a hand on my back sliding down.

"Okay," I shrugged them away lightly, "No funny stuff."

"But Harry, it's cold outside," Tsubasa sang.

They all laughed, and we resumed our walk

The girls were nestled, all snug in my beds, while visions of… well, I wasn't sure, but it probably wasn't sugar plums, given the fact it was 2014... danced in their heads. Sona and Serafall in my master suite, one keeping the other's vow concrete. And Tsubasa and Reya tucked in the room for my guests, I reminded myself not to think of their chests.

Okay, enough of that. You happy, Lash?

"It will do, my host."

Anyway, once I was reasonably sure they were all asleep, I extracted the four wrapped packages from under the bed in my lab, where I was spending the night. Pulling on a robe, I snuck as quietly as I could up the stairs. But as I reached the landing, I heard the creak of floorboards out in the living room. The guest room door was still closed, and craning my head around, I saw the master bedroom was also still sealed. It didn't mean one of them hadn't snuck out, but I also knew my house pretty will at this point. None of the girls were heavy enough to produce that kind of squeak from the carpeted hardwood.

I shifted the gifts into my left arm, and lifted my right hand into position, focusing on the bracelet on my right wrist.

"Don't worry, Harry," a steady, deep voice emerged from my living room, loud enough that I could easily hear it, yet somehow I thought that the girls would not have heard, had they been awake. And whoever he was said it in English.

"But please do hurry, I am on a schedule," my intruder requested. I probed my wards and alarms, finding them all intact. That did not help my peace of mind.

"Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden," he called out sternly, like a lecturing parent, "It is not too late for me to change my list."

No way. My arm dropped and I almost ran into the living room. Someone was sitting in my recliner, illuminated by the lights of my modest tree, which I had definitely turned off when we went to bed.

Fat, white beard, dressed in red trimmed in white. Passed through my wards on Christmas Eve night like they were not there. And he knew my true name, something no-one from Bizzaro World should know. Munching on one of my poor attempts at Christmas cookies. There was only one natural conclusion.

"Santa?" I asked cautiously. He smiled broadly, and I felt completely at ease.

"Hello, Harry," he said looking amused.

"Are you…"

"I am indeed Santa Claus. But no, I am not Odin. That is the Santa Claus from your universe."

"You know?" I said incredulously.

"Indeed," he nodded, "On Christmas, some miracles can transcend all borders. And I know the names of every person on Earth, whether they believe or not, whether they are Human, Devil, or Fallen. Which is how I have these for you."

Out of thin air, two envelopes appeared in his gloved hand. I put the gifts I was carrying under the tree, and he handed them to me.

It had been almost three years. Three years for me to forget, three years for them to change. But I would recognize those handwritings in any universe.

"Maggie, Sophie… How?"

But Santa just smiled kindly, and I remembered what he had just said. I tore open the letters and read them quickly. Tears formed in my eyes, and I felt Lash tampering with my memory, so the letters would remain as sharp as if I had Seen them. Then, with a pulse of magic, I turned them both into ash.

"So, if you can do this…"

"I'm sorry, Harry," Santa looked genuinely sad, "I cannot take you back. No matter how much you and they may wish for it. My powers have limits."

"That's fine," I said, wiping my eyes.

"But if there was something smaller, and inanimate," he prompted knowingly, "My counterpart could deliver something like that…"

"Really?"

He nodded.

"Silencio," I hissed as I sprinted back to the stairs. It wasn't a real spell, but at this point my will and the sympathetic nature was enough to make it work. I went up to the master suite two steps at a time. I slid into my room and tiptoed to my dresser even though I wasn't making any noise. I opened the top dresser, and took out two long slender boxes. I wasn't sure why I had bought them. I knew they would never be delivered. But when I saw them, they fit so perfectly that I had not been able to stop myself.

Each box contained a charm bracelet; they were not enchanted, but the charms and the gemstones of each matched one of my respective daughters' likes.

Barely ten seconds later, I was back in the living room, extending the boxes to Santa.

"They aren't wrapped…" I said apologetically. But Kringle, if he went by that name here, gestured, and the two gifts were instantly concealed in paper that matched the four gifts under my tree, and tags that had the right name to go with each bracelet. But there was no 'from', and the writing was not mine.

"Well, I best be going," he said, "I still have almost a half a billion more stops to make tonight. And not even twenty-one hours to do it."

"Good night, Harry," he said.

"Thank you, San…"

I woke up in my temporary bed. I channeled power into my pentacle, throwing off enough light to see the clock in my lab. It was just after two AM, an hour and a half later than it should have been. I didn't remember getting into bed or falling asleep.

"That was no dream, my host," Lash said.

"I know," I said softly, "And I can confirm that in the morning. But before that, I have work to do."

A scuffle and loud giggling above me woke me. Another glow, and my clock revealed it was just after six in the morning. I quickly slipped on my robe, and hurried across the basement. I hoped Sona was also up, to keep the rest of the girls in line. I clomped deliberately up to the main level, so if they were peeking, they would have a chance to lay off.

"He's coming," I heard Reya hiss. I strode into the living room, and found all four of them seated on my two couches; Sona and Tsubasa on the couch the faced the back of the house, and thus me, and Serafall and Reya on the couch that faced the front of the house, twisted around so they could look at me, too.

"Merry Christmas, Harry Dresden," they sang at once, Sona looking mildly embarrassed to be participating but the other three ladies just looking happy.

"I should never have told you about those specials," I said in mock dismay. I glanced at the tree, and noticed there were substantially more presents than the four I had placed there last night. Almost three times more, to be precise.

"So, are we going to open?" Tsubasa asked anxiously.

"Are you sure you aren't American," I countered, "And you know, five years old?"

She stuck her tongue out at me. And the others looked like they were eager, too.

"Fine," I smiled, "Let me get a cup of coffee first."

By the time I returned to the living room with my java, someone had distributed the gifts. Each young woman had two gifts on her lap, while there were three on my recliner. I moved them to the side table so I could sit, and then back to my own lap so I could put the half empty mug down.

One of the gifts, from Sona and Serafall by the tag, was the size and shape of a department store clothing box, but much heavier. The second gift was from Tsubasa and Reya, and was a very familiar shape. The third was a small cube, and as for who it was from…

"Really, Harry-chan," Serafall gave me a sardonic grin, "A present from Santa?"

She lifted her second box, 'To: Serafall Leviathan From: Santa Claus'.

"He was really here last night," I told her with a shrug, showing her my last present had the same giver and the same handwriting, "Unless you are saying I gave myself a present, labeled it from Santa, and faked a different handwriting."

"I have never heard of Santa Claus delivering gifts to Devils," Sona frowned.

"Well, you have been very good this year," I told them.

"Maybe he just didn't want us to get jealous of Harry," Reya suggested thoughtfully.

"Either way, you have them," I insisted, "so might as well open them. Reya, you go first."

"Okay?" she seemed surprised. She opened the package from Santa, revealing a hardcover book she and I both recognized.

"It is a first edition of 'Furies of Calderon'," she told us, "autographed by both Jim Butcher and Steve Stone, with a certificate of authenticity."

I chuckled in spite of myself. They all looked at me.

"It's nothing," I said, "Just a jolly old elf playing tricks."

They still looked confused, and so I said, "Open mine."

She opened the smaller package, and gasped slightly. She showed the other girls the bronze bookmark, etched with a picture of a unicorn and a dragon.

"It is beautiful, Harry," she told me, "Thank you."

"It's a bit more than that," I said, "Look at the back."

She turned it over, and was surprised to see a small magical circle inscribed in the back.

"Put it in the book, and charge the spell," I explained. She followed my directions, and the book vanished. Her eyes widened. She did it again and the book returned.

"It's even still at the same spot," she exclaimed.

"It wouldn't be much of a bookmark otherwise," I said, "It can only hold one book at a time. But I thought it would make it easier to carry around whatever book you are reading."

"Oh, Harry," she choked up a little, "Thank you, so much."

She stood up, and leaned over to give me a hug. I returned it as best I could with my lap full.

"Okay, Tsubasa next," I said as Reya returned to her seat.

The Rook tore into Kringle's gift, and quickly showed off a copy of Dynasty Warriors 8: Empires. My lips twitched up again, and Tsubasa gave me a knowing look.

"So what did Harry get me that links to Santa's present?" she asked. Serafall nodded her understanding.

"Find out," I suggested.

She removed the paper, opened the box, and dumped out a PS4 controller into her hand. Unlike me, the Yura family had the newer Sony console. She gave me a light frown.

"Not new?" she asked in confusion.

"No, it's new. But I couldn't put the circles on it while it was in the box," I explained. She turned it over, and saw the three magical seals carved on the bottom.

"The one on the left increases the signal, so it will work further from the game, even through some walls. The one on the right charges it, so you don't have to plug it in or worry about it running out in the middle of a game. And the one in the middle reinforces it, so that a Rook can play a button masher game without worrying about breaking it."

"You think you are pretty clever, don't you," she smirked at me. And then darted over to give me a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you, Harry."

"You're welcome, both of you," I told her and Reya, "And that makes it Sona's turn."

"But you are younger than me, Harry" the Kaichou countered.

"You noticed that?" I asked redundantly, "But I'm calling host's rights and going last."

"Alright," she agreed.

Like her Peers, she opened Santa's present first. It was a silk, button down shirt, with an elaborate celtic knot on the left breast.

I guess it fit with my gift, more or less.

Then she opened my gift. Under the paper was a shoe box. She looked at me in confusion. I give her my best neutral look. She opened the shoe box, and inside was a much smaller box. Her eyes expanded slightly, as she opened the ring case. The band was a familiar braid of three strands of silver.

"I know you wanted a copy of my shield bracelet," I said, "but I hope this will do. It is a force ring 3.0. Each strand absorbs kinetic energy as you move. So you probably should wear it on your right hand, since you move your dominant hand more. And this the second one with my most recent upgrade. It can still fire the energy saves up off as a blast, but it can also form it into a temporary shield and or a softer pushing effect. Unfortunately, whichever one you use, it still uses the entire charge, so you have to start over."

She slipped it on to the ring finger of her right hand. It fit perfectly.

"Thank you, Harry," she said softly.

"Kaichou got jewelry," Tsubasa whispered loudly to Reya.

"Yeah, I would have given her something more personal," I said, "But it was hard to find something in my price range she doesn't already have. It was better than what Lash suggested."

Tsubasa gave me her fake pout for a minute more, but Reya and Serafall just smiled.

"Wait for your birthday," I advised the Rook, "And I guess that makes it Levi-tan's turn."

Serafall's gift from Santa was a replica of Sailor Moon's transformation locket, at least according to the box. At least it was a high dollar cosplay version, rather than a cheap toy.

Then she opened my present, and spun the wand out into her hand. It was a variant of Miracle Levi-tan's weapon. She also looked at me questioningly.

"I know, you probably have as many of those as you need," I told her, "But Ise told me about those cheap props from your show. And Sona told me the one you use in combat is an affectation made from your power. This one is real, it is solid enough to block a sword. And it should also act as a focus for your ice magic. Though we might need to tune it a little to work for you."

"It's not quite the same, either," she looked at it closely.

"Lash wanted it to be unique, and thought the TV version was a bit overdone, so we came up with a new version," I explained, slightly anxious.

"It's great," she said, "When I get my upgrade next season, I can start using this. Thanks, Harry-chan!"

"Now you, Harry," Tsubasa insisted, even as Serafall pranced over to hug me, too.

"Okay," I agreed. I took the package from Santa first. Inside the square box were two glass jars filled with a glimmering silver sand.

"Pixie dust," I noted, "I guess he would know I was out of it again. So, next is Reya and Tsubasa's gift."

I knew it had to be a game or movie by the shape and feel of the package. Sure enough, it was the new Lord of the Rings game, Shadows of Mordor. It was a fitting choice from the two of them.

"Thanks, you two," I told them, "It was a good thing, I didn't have a chance to get this."

"Then we would have had to go for plan B," Tsubasa countered saucily.

"Okaaaay," I said dubiously, "Last but not least."

I ripped off the wrapping, and found exactly the kind of box I had been expecting. But inside the box was a thick tome, Introduction to Translocation.

"We had to do it," Levi-tan said, "We were all getting sick of Harry complaining about not being able to teleport like we Devils can."

"I believe you are ready for this," Sona said, "even as an introduction, these techniques are more advanced than the intermediate level spells of most other schools of magic. But you have come very far since we started, and were an expert in your type of magic to begin with. That said, I still recommend you work with myself, Reya, or onee-san to begin with."

"Sounds fine to me," I said, holding the book and the game tightly, "Thank you all again."

"So, time for breakfast?" Serafall asked.

"Actually," I smiled, "I have one more gift for all of you. But it isn't something physical, so I will just have to tell you about it."

The ladies looked at me in anticipation.

"So, there was another reason I wanted everyone to stay the night," I began, "Last night, while you were all asleep, I was able to attune my defenses to each of you. All of you can now enter without my permission, or maybe I should say you have permanent permission. You should also be able to teleport in or out of here. You can't invite someone else in. And if you try to teleport anyone in except yourself, each other, or me, that other person will probably not be happy with the results. If they survive."

They all looked stunned, but Serafall's expression was quickly turning Dangerous.

"If you start abusing it, I can still revoke the permission," I told her quickly, and also glanced at Tsubasa, "really quickly and easily. But I know I can trust you,"

Serafall gave me a fake pout, and said, "If you put it like that… And here I was thinking I could randomly teleport into your bed every once in a while."

"As long as it is just to cuddle or sleep, once in a while might not be too bad."

All of their jaws dropped. Then a second later, I found myself buried under a mass of hugs.

"Merry Christmas, Harry," Sona, who was closest to my face, whispered happily.