Laura's POV

When the kids, Neil and I got home from Charlie's soccer game, everything was quiet. Charlie kept looking at Ella during dinner. I told him to stop staring at her and asked what was wrong. He told me nothing was wrong and finished eating. Then, he went upstairs and locked himself in his room for the night. Ella looked worried and asked Neil what was wrong with Charlie. He told her that he was probably upset that we had to leave early. I couldn't help that we had to leave. Neil told her that he will talk to Charlie about this after she goes to bed. I made a cup of coffee in the kitchen and sat down as I waited for Neil to talk to him about Scott.

"You know, I knew it. I knew that- that something was going on," I told Neil as he sat next to me at the dining room table. "What I can't believe is that he would go behind our backs all this time, confusing Charlie and Ella again. What are we- What are we supposed to do?"

"Well, there's one obvious alternative," Neil told me.

"What's that?"

Before Neil gave me his suggestion, we heard the kids shouting at each other.

"It's all your fault, Ella!" Charlie shouted. "You promised you wouldn't tell anyone."

"How was it my fault, Charlie? I didn't tell anyone!" Ella shouted back. "I kept my promise. You're the one who told!"

"How could I have told those kids about Dad?" Charlie argued. "I was out there playing! You were the one sitting next to him on the bench!"

"Don't yell at me! The other kids walked up to him first while I was waiting for Mommy and Neil to come!"

"I'm not yelling!"

"Yes, you are! And you're being mean, too!"

"No, I'm not!"

"Are too!"

"Charles Scott and Ella Madellaine! What is going on in here?" I asked in a stern voice.

"Charlie keeps blaming me for what happened before we left his game!" answered Ella, pointing at Charlie.

I sighed. "Charlie, why are you blaming your sister for leaving your soccer game early? You know that we left because of what is going on with your Dad."

"Mom, we know why Dad is like that," Charlie said. "He is-"

"Please, Charlie. No more of this tonight," I interrupted. "Now, both of you apologize and go to bed."

"I'm sorry I said you were mean, Charlie," Ella said. She gave her brother a hug.

"I'm sorry I blamed you, Ella." Charlie accepted her apology and hug. "And you were right, I was upset that we left early."

He whispered something into her ear, but all I heard was something about a promise. I brushed that off and took Ella to her room. Later that night, Neil and I both thought over that Scott should have his visitation rights taken away and started the paperwork the next morning after the kids left for school.

Neil's POV

Laura and I received approval for the preliminary hearing in November and it was taking place on the week before Thanksgiving. We notified Charlie and Ella's principal that they will be off from school on the 17th. We notified Scott after we received the approval and he was not happy about it. But, Laura and I both thought it was for the sake of the children. On the day of the hearing, Laura woke the kids up early and got them ready. When Judge Whelan's secretary notified him of our arrival, we sat in the waiting room until he came out of his office to receive the paperwork.

"Charlie, Ella, do you mind if I talk to you both for a minute?" Judge Whelan asked them.

"It's okay. Come on." Laura took Ella off her lap and the children walked in his office.

"We won't be long." Judge Whelan assured us.

"Are we doing the right thing, Neil?" Laura asked me.

"Something needs to shake Scott," I replied.

"Yeah, but-But to- to take away his visitation rights."

"Honey, the man is delusional," I told her.

"Okay, okay, so maybe I'm having second thoughts, kind of," Laura admitted. "I just-I mean, what was so bad about Charlie and Ella believing in Santa?"

"Well, he's a little old. Ella's still young. Oh, come on, Laura. Don't you remember when you stopped believing in Santa Claus?"

"I was Charlie's age, I guess, l-I wrote Santa a letter every week that year. Well, you know, okay, you know, maybe-Maybe not every week, but-Boy, I really wanted a "Mystery Date" game. Do you remember those?"

I shook my head.

"No. Of course you don't. You know, no one does," Laura continued. "I- I don't even think they make them any more, but-Well, anyway-Christmas morning came and-Oh, I got dozens of presents. Oh, I got everything. Except "Mystery Date."

I thought that I would tell Laura when I stopped believing in Santa Claus. "I was three, and it was an Oscar Meyer wienie whistle. Christmas came. No wienie whistle. And that's when I stopped believing.

"You were three?" my wife asked.

"Yeah."

"Oh, Neil." Laura held my hand for a minute and then we heard Scott running over to us. I still couldn't believe how he looks now. Does he still think he's Santa?

"Where are Charlie and Ella?" Scott asked us. "I want to talk to them."

"They are with the judge," Laura answered. Just then, the door opened and Ella and Charlie ran over to Scott.

"Dad!"

"It's all okay," Ella said quietly. "Charlie and I told the judge everything about you and the North Pole."

Laura and I gave our testimonies to the judge while Scott waited in the waiting room with the children after he gave his. After 10 minutes, Judge Whelan called them in to join us.

"After reviewing all of your testimonies, I've come to a very difficult decision. I'm sorry to do this in light of the holiday season, but in the best interest of the children, I'm granting the petition of Dr. and Mrs. Miller. Mr. Calvin, as of today, all of your visitation rights are suspended pending a hearing after the first of the year."

"What?!" Charlie and Ella cried together.

"No!" Ella ran over to Scott and hugged him tight. "Does this mean Charlie and I won't see you ever again?" she asked her father.

"I'm afraid so, sweetie," Scott answered, blinking back tears. "I'm so sorry. You two better go with your mom and Neil. Goodbye, Charlie. Goodbye, Ella."

"Bye, Daddy," Ella whispered as she kissed her father and gently pulled on his whiskers.

"Bye, Dad," Charlie hugged his father while he ruffled his hair.

Scott walked out of the courthouse and into his car after he said goodbye. Then, we left. It was a quiet ride home.