Sorry that these chapters are getting progressively shorter. I haven't written past this point, so I don't know if this will keep happening.

Warning: Santa Claus may or may not be real

Stay safe, please review, and enjoy reading!

...

Winter break was almost as bad as summer break. It was only two weeks long, but it was also Christmas, the season of unhealthy cookies and unnecessary singing and staying up far too late and not learning anything and, worst of all, Santa Claus.

It was also noisier than ever in the mindscape. Aeneas decorated every corner of the common room and as much of the hallway as he could get away with, Patton hung candy canes from everyone's doorknob (he put one on the floor by Janus's room) and from his glasses, Virgil helped Thomas hide the presents he got for his family and occasionally put on Christmas music, and Janus was often found reading in an oversized sweater or sarcastically singing morbid parodies of popular carols. Logan spent most of his time in his room, touching up his model; Saturn's rings wouldn't stay in place, the asteroid belt kept on crumbling and spreading out, the moon's orbit constantly changed shape, Pluto had a tendency to bump into the ceiling—there was lots of work to do.

But he couldn't negotiate for missing Christmas Eve dinner, so he gathered with the other four around the table. Patton and Aeneas provided most of the conversation, with the other two throwing in odd comments and remarks. Logan took it all in. It was interesting to observe the group dynamic, and how it was impacted by the holiday circumstances.

Someone had talked Virgil into wearing a Santa hat, so of course the conversation turned to that before long. "Virge, you're stealing Santa's style," Aeneas commented. "What if Santa gets upset that everyone is copying him?"

"I think Santa would be honored to be such a role model," Patton said, beaming at Virgil. Virgil just glared at both of them and kept eating.

"Yeah, but that's Santa's thing. That would be like someone in a Where's Waldo? book wearing a red and white striped shirt."

"It doesn't matter, though," Logan put in. "Santa Claus isn't real."

For the first time since winter break had begun, the mindscape was dead silent.

Aeneas blinked slowly. "Of course Santa Claus is real."

"No, he isn't. The North Pole is to cold for anyone to live there. It would be impossible to travel the world and stop at every house in one night, too. Besides, reindeer don't fly, and if any of them had a glowing nose, it would probably be from radiation poisoning or some other deadly condition. And elves don't exist, either." Logan took another bite. He wasn't sure why this bothered them so much.

Aeneas scoffed. "Then where do all the presents come from?"

"Mom and Dad, of course."

Virgil was clinging to his hat. "They get us all that and we don't even thank them? What if they hate us?"

"But Santa gives to everyone, he's so nice," Patton stammered.

Aeneas's skeptical expression dropped away. "But he's my hero."

"Does that mean Mom and Dad eat the cookies?"

"We have to do something to make it up to them before they disown us!"

"Do our brothers know?"

"Mom and Dad wouldn't lie to us like that!"

"Does that mean unicorns don't exist either?"

"What if—"

Janus snapped his fingers.

The kitchen went silent again. Logan's hand had flown over his mouth; the same had happened to the others, except for Janus, who smiled benevolently. "Of course Santa Claus is real."

He lowered his hand.

Patton was grinning again. Virgil's eyeshadow lightened. Aeneas sighed in relief and began describing his day in the Imagination, where he'd gone on a holiday-themed adventure.

Logan stared at Janus. He wasn't looking, his attention fixed on Aeneas.

But when his eyes slid over to meet his, they narrowed.

"What was that?"

Janus didn't stop as he strode down the hallway to his door. Logan didn't stop either. He stuck his foot in the doorway before Janus could lock him out. "Janus, answer me."

"Fine, I'm not stopping you!"

Logan entered and slammed the door behind him. "What was that?" he repeated, louder this time.

"I'm not sure what you're referring to—"

"Falsehood," Logan snapped. "At dinner, you lied to them. You told them Santa was real, but you know he isn't!"

Janus laughed. "I lied? Me? Oh no, what a horrible shock! It's not like that's part of my job or anything."

"That's not what I meant, and you know it."

"Come on, Lo, why should this time be any different?"

"Because this time, you lied to Thomas!"

Janus's fists tightened, then relaxed. He sighed. "That's part of my job, too. Thomas isn't ready for the truth. He's in first grade, Logan! First graders believe in Santa and magic and dreams come true."

"I don't."

"We're not human, Logan. We don't count. Besides, when you think about it, we're make-believe too."

Logan shook his head. "No, we're not. We're real."

Janus laughed again. It was infuriating. "Sounds like you can't handle the truth either, Logan. Well, believe what you'd like. I'm going to go watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas with the others. Feel free to join us, if the heartwarming message isn't too sickening. Oh," he paused before exiting, "before you leave, come here."

Reluctantly, Logan stepped further inside. "What is it?"

"I… may have stolen some fudge from the kitchen. And Thomas might have too, but between you and me?" Janus leaned in and whispered in Logan's ear, "It's not like Santa needs it."

Logan gritted his teeth as Janus removed his hat, revealing a small plate of fudge. "No, thank you. Sugar is unhealthy when consumed in large quantities, and knowing Patton, there'll be plenty more sweets tonight."

Janus rattled the plate. "Live a little. I dare you."

Logan turned on his heel. "I'd hate to miss family night." He reached for the doorknob.

"Falsehood."

He glanced over his shoulder. Janus crossed his arms. His hat was back on, but the fudge sat on his desk. The rest of his outfit had changed, too; he wore Logan's black top, pants, and glasses, but his tie was golden. Logan stiffened. "I beg your pardon?"

"You've missed every family night for the past five weeks." Janus's outfit changed back into his regular one, with his gray shirt and black cape. "You know what, don't even bother showing up tonight."

"Janus, I—"

Janus pushed past him and left. The moment the door closed behind him, Logan was transported back into his own room; Denial's function had certain perks when it came to privacy.

Don't even bother showing up.

Janus couldn't have been serious. Sure, Christmas was frivolous and over-commercialized, but it wasn't something Logan could just miss. He'd be there, he'd prove that he—

A crack above him interrupted his train of thought.

Logan looked up just in time to see Pluto collide with Neptune. They both veered off course into Uranus, then Saturn, then Jupiter, and on and on and on until it was one giant heaping wreck on his floor.

Logan closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He snapped the mess out of existence and started over.

Forget family night; he had to get this model right.