Author's Note : For you that read this I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I know this year have been trying for many, but hopefully this little story will help when it comes to some Christmas spirit.

I was a bit unsure on how to do this, but I choose to make small chapters instead of a long text, I hope you enjoy it !

Author's Note 2 : Big Thanks to my beta Ima1 for helping me out with this one! I hope you have a merry Christmas :o)

Warning: Mention of domestic abuse ( or rather after effect of it.)

Letters for Santa

The First Christmas

Regina Mills looked over her work load before making a call. A voice at the other end picked up saying, "The US Mail, how may I help?"

"Hi Archie, have the letters for Santa been sent up to the North Pole yet, so they will get there in time?" she wondered.

"Yes, but there are a couple of letters I am not sure what to do with, Ma'am, shall I send them over to you?" he wondered calmly.

"Please do, and make sure I have them before I leave today, I will be here until six," she answered calmly.

"Will do, Ma'am," he said and hang up. She made a mental note to call back in the morning if one of her many employees didn't stop by, then overlooked her work schedule making sure she was on track.

It was about a couple of hours later that there was a knock on the door of the Post Mistress general. She had insisted on being called that early on being a man instead of a woman it simply didn't feel right being called Post Master. She told them to enter, seeing a postman with a Santa hat beaming at her. He was holding a big envelope in his hands. Slowly, he treaded closer, playing it on her desk.

"It is the doubtful ones this year, where the envelopes are torn or something else has gone wrong," he told her.

"Thank you, Killian, I will make sure they get delivered in time. Let me know if there comes anyone after as there is still some days left we can send the letters up to the office at the pole," she said with a smile.

"Of course, Ma'am," he said and vanished out the door. She slowly opened them, carefully taking out the torn envelopes and made sure they got new ones before putting them aside, when one of the letters caught her eye. Having delivered a Christmas present or more from Santa over the years, figuring that if she could help one soul making Christmas just a bit better, she started to read.

Dear Santa.

I am not sure this letter reaches you in time, but I hope so. My name is Henry and I am about seven years, and my wish this year it isn't for me. It's for my mom.

You see she is really good all year and she doesn't ask for anything. We live with daddy, but I don't want to live here no more. Daddy is not a nice guy and he hurts her, bad. We can't leave really, because he always finds us. I know it is a big ask, and I will stay behind if needed, but please help mom as I want her to be happy. And safe if only for one Christmas.

We live at 23 Oakwood lane. It is a very big house with lot of decorations and all. I hope you can help and also, she likes teddy bears and bear claws.

From Henry

Regina took a deep breath knowing this was a sincere and simple wish. Still, the measures had to be taken for the small family to be safe. She dialed a number, hearing a female voice say, "Hi Regina, now is not a good time."

"I know, Elsa, but I need a huge favor. It is a surprise Christmas present for a young boy," she said.

"Tell me and I will try to fix it, I won't make any promises though," said the woman on the other end.

"At 23 Oakwood lane there lives a young boy, he wishes for her mother to be safe and happy for Christmas. Daddy dearest isn't a nice man. Keep an eye on it for me and let me know what happens, I will try to see if I can find an apartment for them in the meantime," she said, making a mental note to do so.

"Yes, yes of course. Thank you for letting me know," said the other woman and hung up.

Regina sighed as she looked at the letter again, thinking that the other woman did love bears. Maybe she should get a gift for her or something that showed them that their new home came from Santa. Maybe a special one that most didn't have. She smiled as she knew just which one and called her father, knowing if anyone could fix it is was him. Her family did after all own a big toy store chain and from time to time they did make toy requests. Sometimes and older client came and wanted a particular doll, car, bear or something else for their grandchild. She smiled by the thought of this woman getting a bear and a safe home, hoping she would enjoy it along with her son.

Henry Swan shivered as he walked into the new apartment. It wasn't as big as the house he had spent his first living years in, but it looked cozy. The fire was lit in the fireplace and on the living room table was a basket with bear claws. His heart made a leap as he walked towards the couch.

"Henry, please take your shoes off please," his mother, Emma, reminded him. She was still talking to the two women that saved them.

He nodded and got them off, placing them neatly by the door. Slowly he walked back in, noticing two blankets over the armrest on one of the sides. One was purple with teddy bears, and the other white with different kinds of cars. The teddy bear one was no doubt for his mom.

"Mom, look at this," he said to get her attention.

"What is it, Henry?" she wondered, looking at him with calm eyes. To the degree she could as one of her eyes were swollen and could hardly open at all. It was what was visible of her injuries, she also had two broken ribs and massive bruises along her abdomen region. She knew the officers that got them out of their home most likely had managed in the nick of time. How they managed to get there so fast she didn't even know, she just knew that her husband Peter Darkcrow was in jail and would not be allowed anywhere near them and that they were now in their new apartment. Courtesy of the social service it would seem, but Emma had a feeling it was more behind it.

"Santa read my letter, it is bear claws for you here and a blanket with bears on. Wait, something is missing," he said and run off to check the bedrooms. He could easily see that one was designed for him with cars and a cool Minecraft poster on the wall, along with some books. The sheets on the bed were in Super Mario pattern, and on the bed a fluffy white teddy bear in a Santa costume. Next to it was a note saying, "Dear Henry, I hope I managed to help you and your mom just a little. My little elves tell me you have been a good by. Let me know next year if your mom had a happy this Christmas, alright. Sincerely Santa."

A squeal as he ran into the room next to his. It had a king-size bed, the covers were those with superheroes, but was otherwise generic in a light shade of purple and the regular furniture to be found in a bedroom: a nightstand on each side of the bed, a dresser at one wall, and three closets next to each. It wasn't what struck Henry though, it was what was sitting on the bed.

Walking closer he saw two teddy bears. One brown and fuzzy one with a red bow, clearly meant for cuddles, and one that looked slightly older. It had light brown fur, a royal cape, a crown, and across its shoulder hung a ribbon with some medals Henry was sure was the real deal. It also had a crown on the top of its head. Next to him was a soft swan also with a crown on the top of its head.

He looked at them with astonishment, as the royal bear clearly had to be expensive, he had never seen anything like it in his life. It had to be one of a kind.

He startled ,hearing his mother's voice behind him. "Henry, what is the matter?"

"He got you bears, mom, look at them!" his voice was shivering now. Tears in his eyes of happiness.

Emma walked closer to the bed looking at the two bears, tears in her eyes also now. She didn't know who did this, got her this place as the social worker that got them here said it was from the state. Still the bear claws and these bears right there showed that someone care and she knew it couldn't be Santa. Whoever made this gesture truly cared about her, about them, and that warmed her heart. That a stranger would go through this trouble when her own husband wouldn't even care enough to keep her safe.

Curling up under the cover with the fuzzy bear that night, under the watchful eyes of king Teddy, she felt safer than she had in years. She even felt loved, and for the first time in decades a smile graced her lips as she fell asleep in her new home, knowing that the next day would be better.

Thank you so much for reading this chapter, I would love to hear your point of view :o)