(A/N): Hi, everyone, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I'm just going to make this one-shot story into separate chapters, and then give you readers a sequel to this story based on the last chapter as a way of a gift to you guys. Excelsior!.

Chapter One (Traditional Proposal)


Arthur looked at himself in the mirror to check to see if he was properly dressed before taking the sky to deliver all the presents to the little boys and girls from around the world. It has been two years since his father passed the mantle of being Santa Claus to him, after himself, his father, Grandsanta, and his older brother Steve along with the wrapping expert elf, Bryony, delivered the present to a child that they accidentally forgot to come to her house. That memory was something that Arthur will never forget in his life after the crazy one-night adventure with his grandpa and his old school sleigh. But now, he has a new issue that he needed to handle before Christmas is over in which was to give his special Christmas present to his best friend since childhood. And that person just happens to be both his assistant and vice president of the packing pacific division, Bryony.
Yes, the female elf that Arthur has been friends with is the one that he wanted to give his gift to in which is none other than popping the question. Arthur looked down and reached into his right red coat pocket and pulled out a small red box with a green bow on top with a tag that said, "To Bryony." He wanted to propose to Bryony, and make her become his Mrs. Claus after he discovered that he was indeed in love with the former present wrapper doing their time growing up together. Bryony is Arthur's most trusted friend and classmate during their time in school at the north pole, and even when to holiday prom in their high school years. They were considered the strange and odd pair by all of the elves including Steve, but the two did not pay them any attention since they were good friends as Arthur now sees Bryony as more than his best friend and just being his wife.
"Will she even say yes?.", Arthur asked himself, feeling anxious about the outcome of asking the girl of his dreams to marry him.
The thoughts of worry and doubts begin creeping into his mind when visiting the north poles jewelry store and getting a custom-made ring for his beloved elf wife. Why, just the thought of thinking about putting Bryony in a scary situation with every elf waiting for her answer including his family, and might just run away from the scene and later on send in her notice of being his assistant. Arthur felt cold chills running down his whole body and just have to grab his cup of hot chocolate from the coffee table to take a few sips. Looking at himself real good in the mirror with the ring box still in his hand as he wanted to do the Claus tradition that his father, and his father, did before him when it comes down to proposing to their future wives. And that was proposing on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. If Arthur can not do it on any of those days then he has to wait to try again next year in which the young adult did not want to wait for another 365 days.
"No, Bryony will say yes. I just know it. Just need to propose after finishing delivering the presents.", Arthur said to himself, smiling before putting the box back into his pocket.
"Are you ready, Arthur?.", came a familiar voice.
Hearing a cute giggle that went along with the sweet angelic voice in his personal opinion.
Arthur turned around to find Bryony standing at the door in her old green camouflage outfit with both the black boots and black fingerless gloves. She is supposed to wear her all purple camouflage outfit since she claimed the ladder, but like every christmas, she wears her old wrapping uniform for both a reminder. One, is for the time helping to deliver the gift to a child that was missed by accident. Two, it was her first job as a present wrapper that she fell in love with and took great dedication in her old occupation. The beautiful she-elf who had grown her hair back that was now touching her shoulder pads smiling up at him with tinkles in her eyes. Arthur looked down at the girl of his dreams as he did not realize that he was staring at her for so long, due to being mesmerized by her gorgeous feminine beauty.
"Um, Arthur?. are you feeling okay?.", asked Bryony, looking very worried about her only childhood best friend.
Arthur quickly shook his head and broke his stare and said with a slightly nervous chuckle, "Oh, yes, I'm quite fine Bryony. I was up reading the last few letters to double-check that we give those kids the right gifts, instead of taking the time to sleep in for the last few free hours we got before taking off."
"Oh, is that all?.", Bryony grinned at Arthur, "Well, I am not surprised to hear that. Your Santa Claus and so that is part of the whole gig!."
"Right!.", said Arthur, grabbing his hat off the coffee table before heading out with the elf while closing the door behind him and walked the halls, "Is the S-1 ready for take-off?."
"Oh, yes, it is all charged up and loaded with a bunch of gifts for tonight. The ship is only missing just the two of us, Arthur.", informed Bryony, before humming Jingle Bells.
"Outstanding!. This is going to be another successful night, Bryony, I just know it.", said an enthusiastic Arthur, right before smelling Bryony's sweet lovely perfume that he always loves.
The sweet smell of fresh peppermint and cinnamon fragrance that Bryony always put on herself as is both her favorite type of sprinkles on her pastry treats and the type of flavor she uses in her hot chocolate. Those are some of the things that Arthur loved about his best friend. The two pair made their way to the elevator to reach the modern super sleigh the quickest as they were swarmed by billions and billions of elves, who were cheering and wishing them a safe flight including Steve through Arthur's commlink. Once hopping on board the S-1, Arthur took his usual special seat in which is the big red jolly electronic chair while Bryony stood right beside him as always. Monitoring the wrapping department's progress to see that every gift is in order in each stop, state, and country in order to prevent the "Missed A Child" accident.
The night went smoothly with the first few stops with Arthur doing his job as Santa Claus by actually doing his fair share of the labor, by putting presents underneath the tree. Eating the cookies and drinking the milk that the children would leave him and even eat the carrots for the reindeer's, in which they were retired from sleigh ride action. As time went on through the night, Arthur sat down in his chair both watching and staring at Bryony who was all over the command controls like a shiny diamond. He wanted to propose to her right then and there but remembered that he wanted to be the most romantic thing possible.
"As soon as we're done for the year, I'll finally propose to her in my room where we always celebrate christmas. And that is right after I have family time with my family.", said Arthur, in deep thoughts to himself without realizing that Bryony was talking to him.
"Arthur?!. Arthur?!. Hey, Arthur?!.", yelled Bryony, in great worry and irritation.
"Huh?!.", Arthur looked down to see Bryony with her left hand on her hip and was tapping her right foot, "Oh, Bryony, I did not see you there."
Bryony raised her brow and looked at Arthur with a little bit tipped off facial expression and said, "What in the name of Frosty-The-Snowman did you mean by "I did not see you there?"."
Arthur swallowed his spit before biting his tongue and looked scared at the she-elf. He should have known better when it comes down to Bryony. For one is never eat her sweats without her permission. Two is to never question her way of wrapping gifts. Three is to never talk down to her. And most of all, number four. Never use "short" related terms when talking to her for those who are not an elf. At this point, Arthur can not make the effort to explain his accidental offensive insult to the love of his life. Bryony who was still in her same pouty position was waiting for Arthur's explanation as she knows this isn't like her best friend to say such things to her. As a matter of fact, Bryony did recall noticing how her best friend was acting since day one of December. With the nervous laughter and the blushing when she gets closer to him, and most of all the endless constant stare. This worried the poor she-elf so much that she had to wrap everything in sight in the north pole that wasn't toys, with the side of worry eating at the buffet restaurant.
"Well, it's better here than now.", Arthur rises from his seat before motioning Bryony to follow him to the back.
From there, the two were in the medium-sized break room where no elf was there thus, giving Arthur the perfect chance to pop that question. As for Bryony, this will give her a great chance to finally know what is going on with her best friend and hope that it is nothing tragic. Feeling able to put up or shut up, The young man reached into his coat pocket and then bend down on one knee to look at Bryony face to face before handing the gift to her. Bryony looked at the small box before looking back at her best friend with wonder.
"First off, I want to say Merry Christmas, Bryony. And I want to ask you something." begin Arthur.
Bryony looked at Arthur and said, "What is the question, Arthur?. And Merry Christmas to you as well.
Taking a breather before gathering his confidence, Arthur looked at his hopefully soon bride-to-be and said with passion, "Bryony you've been my childhood best friend and classmate for years. We've been through a lot together way before the incident two years ago and we're still doing so in the present time. And over the years my heart sings to you and it won't stop until it has its duet. Ever since I took the mantle as Santa Claus, I know that the rules specifically say that I can not do my job and run the entire north pole without a Mrs. Claus. What I am trying to say Bryony is that will you marry me?. Will you be my Mrs. Claus to be?."
"This is it. There is no turning back from this one.", thought Arthur.
Those words strike Bryony like lighting as she never expected something like this to happen to her. The idea of herself being the new Mrs. Claus was never been a thought let alone making her the very first she-elf to be one. Before answering Arthur's question, she looked at her present before unwrapping it and then gasped at the sight of what was inside. The engagement ring itself is shaped into a mistletoe with blue, red, and light green diamonds in the center. The entire ring was of pure metal dipped in fresh shiny green paint that sparkled like Bryony's eyes do. All those sweet precious memories of them being friends begin to pour inside her head as the two knew that they have each other's backs. This made Bryony even happier when now realizing that it was love at first sight and blossomed into what it is now.
"Yes. Yes, Arthur, I will marry you and become your Mrs. Claus!.", said Bryony, immediately jumping up into his arms.
"Yes!. Oh, I love you Bryony. You're going to be the greatest Mrs. Claus ever!.", said an overjoyed Arthur.
With this, the two touched each other's lips and kissed with great holly jolly passion. Not ever wanting to separate their kiss as the two wanted to tell each other how much they love one another. But unfortunately, it was cut short due to the two having no oxygen and rounded up collapsing to the floor. Both Arthur and Bryony took deep breaths and tried to control their breathing before beginning to laugh, and started cuddling on the floor. Not caring if the floor is cold and germy. Once they resumed back to work and finished up for the knight, both Arthur, and Bryony announced their engagement to everyone during the celebration of a job well done tonight, and gain response of cheers from all the elves. But more importantly, Arthur's family was the happiest one of them all as they went to congratulate and welcome Bryony to the Claus Family.
And after dinner, the two newlyweds were introduced to the wedding planning and preparation by Arthur's mom, while Steve begins to send invitations to everyone they know for the wedding let alone being his baby brother's best man. Arthur and Bryony agreed to have their wedding to be held on New Year's Eve and go on their honeymoon once the new year begins, as it is both romantic and holiday cherry. Their lives were finally complete.