I left a note on Nicks's door explaining that I'd be not coming to the Pole for several nights. I'd be stuck with my brother and his family. I would not be able to make it in case something happened or they got suspicious that I was in my room a lot or not in it at all. I could just see Olivia following me into my room just to see that I wasn't in there. Maybe she'd be committed into a mental asylum, a sister-in-law can only hope right? Tim and Benny were nice enough to drop me off at the airport. They even told me that they would pick me up when I came home. I was going to take a snowglobe, but Olivia had told me she'd reserved me some tickets so she could pick me up from the airport on her way home from work. Just what I wanted to be hounded the entire car ride home.
"Will I get eggs for Easter?" Benny asked. He's been scared since he stole the Guardians that he'd never get anything. Not completely untrue, but I doubt they'd remember much when they're busy with all the children.
"As long as you believe you will." I told him with a final ruffle of his hair. "Now don't be too mean to Tim otherwise you'll be in trouble with the big guy alright?"
"I promise."
Olivia had to die, okay not die; I wouldn't want Jamie and Sophie to be motherless, but she really needed to back off. I cannot tell you how many times she's asked about my 'love life'. I did tell her I was seeing someone she wanted ever single detail. Eventually I caved and I told her just about everything that North and I have done together. Of course I left out parts of the story like him being Santa Claus. She thought it was romantic and he sounded a bit old for me.
"I get he's a little bit older, but I really like him." I told her and by a little bit I mean about 400 years give or take.
"I'm just concerned…what if he has a life back in Russia? What if he has a family? And you're just his mistress?"
I laughed a polite laugh, but I was really close to just bust out laughing. I would not be able to stop. Olivia would look at me like I was crazy. Olivia took me to pick up Sophie from daycare. Let me tell you she was wearing a bunny costume and she was rambling on how Bunny was going to show up and how she met him once. Olivia told her that I wouldn't want to hear about her story. I said it was okay and I wanted to know about Sophie's adventure with the Easter Bunny. It was good to encourage Sophie's belief in the Guardians. I didn't want her to stop her believing.
"Mommy story time tomorrow," Sophie reminded her mother. Olivia did not look thrilled. It was more like she'd completely forgotten about it.
"Sophie…"
"Would you be disappointed if I told your class a story instead?" I asked. I stepped in to be the hero! Maybe I could be an actual superhero, that'd be cool. Ellie Bennett by day….no idea what my supername would be.
"Aunt Ellie story?"
"Yes."
I'd tell them a magical story about two children that find an elf under a Christmas tree, or maybe a story about children that meet the Easter Bunny. There were so many different stories to choose from, but so little time. One thing was for sure, this was going to be a better vacation then the last one. Now all I had to do was make sure that Olivia didn't tell my mother about being in a relationship.
"Eloise!" Thankfully that was not mom. That was Mike, who was basically a younger male version of our mother. You'd think that I'd be just like our mother, but no. He never liked the possibility of me having a boyfriend. I don't really know what it is with him, but he wants to meet Nick. When I went to surprise Jamie at his bus stop, Mike came home and Olivia told him everything.
"We're going to have a talk after dinner." Mike told me. "I want to meet this Nick person." Jamie looked up from his homework then. "Olivia told me that you and Nick have been dating since Christmas."
"It hasn't been that long." I tried to convince him otherwise. Really it was more like January something and now it was April so really it hasn't been that long. A little over three months sounds about right, but then there was the kiss. Where we dating then? Were we not? Ugh, I feel like a teenager sometimes when I'm not able to tell.
"Aunt Ellie?" Jamie asked. I snapped out of my thoughts. "Can you help me with my math?"
"Sure, kiddo." I sat down next to him and looked at the paper just to see that it was completely finished and nothing was wrong. "What's this really about?"
"Who's Nick?" Jamie asked.
I sighed. "You know him as Santa." I whispered the word 'Santa' in his ear.
"REAL-" I covered his mouth with my hand.
"Don't shout." I hissed. "Yes him, and before you ask. I don't know if I love him." For some reason saying 'don't' and 'love him' in the same sentence really hurt my heart. It was almost like the cramps you get in your side from running for a long time or even being tickled. I just I really really really like Nick. I'm just not sure if I can love him.
"How can you not know?" Never have I heard more innocently naive words. It was easy how I'd not know right? I mean there's the immortality thing and Guardian thing. Plus, he's Santa Claus. How could I ever compete with that? Millions of children depended on him every year. How would he ever have time for me? Yet, he made my heart flutter with his smile. His laugh made me want to join in. He never lost his sense of wonder he always saw things the same way a child would.
"Dinner!" Olivia called. Oh thank the heavens! I needed to get out of this situation.
I truly was scolded by my big brother. He demanded he meet this 'Nick'. He wanted it to be through a webcam chat, in person, or something where he could see the guy. I was considering asking Tim to be Nick's stand-in. Mike and Olivia decided to take Abby for a walk. I decided it was about time for me to head to bed. That's when I heard something.
"Really? He's gonna do that Jack?"
"Do what?" I opened the door to Jamie's room and saw Jack Frost with my nephew.
"Nothing." Both boys said quickly. I eyed both of them. I felt like Jamie was up to something. He had the exact same look that Mike used to have when he and I were planning something.
"Alright. Jamie you better be asleep before your parents get back."
"Okay."
A/N: Woo another chapter. I must have gotten a muse for Easter. Anyway, What do ya think? Tell me in a review. Or just plain review cause I like reviews and more reviews makes more happiness. More happiness means quicker chapter releases. Quicker chapter releases means you get to know more about Ellie's adventure quicker! So it's a win-win!