Chapter Seven

The next morning she gets a text from Mal telling her the big guys upstairs came to a decision regarding Kris and she wasn't going to like it. She let Robin rouse the boys while she dressed and stormed down to the store. She doesn't bother stopping to have his secretary announce her.

The chairman's jaw drops open as the doors swing wide and then he's sputtering, "Uh, Miss Mills, we are in a conference."

"I can't believe you're all doing this. After everything Kris has done for you - for the store. You're all just going to abandon him?" Her tone is laced with accusation and judgment.

George's face goes hard. His lips are pressed together tightly, and for a moment he looks like he is going to let her have it but thinks better of it with the others in the room. "You are entirely out of line, Miss Mills."

She walks up to his desk, between the other two top members of the board, and looks him in the eyes. She knows he is really the one she has to convince. "Have you considered what it will look like? When you have spent millions telling people that this is the store that cares. If you do this, you'll undo everything you've been working toward."

"And what will you have us do?" the man on her right asks.

"People think he's out of his mind," says the left. "That he is dangerous."

Regina looks around at all of them and briefly wonders how they all got where they were driven by self-preservation alone. "We have to change that. We have to stand with him. Challenge the rumors and force the truth. He has the best attorney in the city, and he's going to prove that Kriss is not crazy. For the sake of the whole company... I think that all of you should decide whether or not you believe in Santa Claus."

The room goes quiet and she leaves them all then. It's not until hours later, when she's putting on her coat to go to the courthouse, that Ruby comes charging into her office, cell phone in hand, and plays the video for her.

It's George standing in front of Macy's talking to the camera. "For the last ninety-nine years, Macy's has invited Santa Claus to meet and greet the children of New York City in our 34th street store. Macy's believes in Santa Claus... and we will stand by him. He has done nothing but serve the children and the families of the city and the world. We invite you to join with us and ask yourself this one simple question - Do you believe in Santa Claus?"

Regina leaves her office with a small but triumphant smile.

#

The courtroom is filling up as the clock slowly makes its way to nine. They've been there for an hour now, him and Kris going over everything that could happen and the things Robin plans on doing. Kris nods and asks questions and is mostly calm until Gold walks in.

Robin watches as Kris eyes him. "I have to confess, I'm a bit uneasy."

The side of Robin's mouth pulls up. "It'll be alright. All you have to do is tell the truth."

"Who's that character in the gray suit?"

"That's the prosecutor, Mr. Gold."

Kris leans in and asks, "Anything I should know about him?"

Robin considers this and decides to leave him with, "Only that he doesn't believe in Santa Claus."

There's a shout across the court, "All rise!" and everyone gets to their feet. Judge Perez comes out and takes his seat and with it, "You may be seated," do they take their seats.

Gold stands and says, "Your Honor, in the matter of Kris Kringle, the commitment papers are on your desk. May I call the first witness?" Judge Perez nods, and Mr. Gold looks over in their direction. "Mr. Kringle, would you please take the stand?"

Robin gives him an encouraging nod, and Kris then makes his way up to the stand.

"What is your name?" Gold asks Kris.

Robin tries not to smile as Kris gets to his feet and holds out his hand. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't introduce myself. I do beg your pardon. You're Mr. Gold, I'm Mr. Kringle. Kris Kringle."

The room bursts into laughter at the unorthodox answer making Judge Perez call out, "Order" as a warning.

"Kris Kringle," Gold repeats with disbelief in his voice.

Kris nods, doesn't pick up on the undertone in the prosecutor, and says, "It's double 'k'."

Gold pauses and looks over at Robin when he asks, "Tell me, Mr. Kringle, do you believe that you are Santa Claus?"

"Well, would I be here if I didn't?" Kris replies chuckling.

Gold's eyes move from Robin's to Kris. "Just yes or no, Mr. Kringle. Do you believe that you are Santa Claus?"

Kris holds his stare, and then after a tense few seconds answers, "Yes, of course."

"Santa Claus." Gold repeats then lifts his eyes to the judge. "The state rests, Your Honor."

Robin resists the urge to roll his eyes. What a dramatic tosser, he thinks, before he's pulled back to the here and now by the judge's voice.

"Mr. Locksley, do you wish to cross-examine the witness?"

Robin gets to his feet. "No further questions, Your Honor."

Judge Perez' eyebrows shoot up. He was expecting something more from Robin, but that's not his angle. He has something more up his sleeve.

"You may step down, Mr. Kringle."

"Oh, thank you," Kris says kindly to the judge.

As Kris makes his way back to his seat beside him, the judge asks, "Mr. Locksley, in view of your client's statement, do you still wish to offer a defense?"

"Yes, Your Honor. I should like to call my first witness." Robin smiles.

He then calls the name of a child, one who has been to see Kris many times over the last few weeks. She's perched up on the stand looking like she won the lottery.

Robin walks over to the sand and asks, "Can you tell us your name?"

"My name is Emma Noland."

"And what'd you get for Christmas last year, Emma?"

"A dollhouse and a scooter."

Robin looks out into the sea of faces in the room and spots her. Regina's there in the middle. Her eyes on him, a soft smile pulls her lips up as their eyes meet. His heart lifts at the thought that she came to support him… Kris. Either way, she's there and it's all that matters.

"And who gave you the dollhouse?" he asks, his gaze returning to little Emma.

"Him." She points a finger over at Kris.

Robin grins at her enthusiasm. "And what's his name?"

Emma sits up proudly and says, "Santa Claus."

"You're sure he's Santa Claus?" Robin asks.

Emma nods. "Yep."

"How can you be sure?" he asks her.

Her little brows draw together. "Cause he looks like Santa Claus."

Robin hums and gives her a nod, then asks, "Any other reasons?"

"He's very nice. He works at Macy's, and he's got elves!" she smiles and then adds, "And my Momma says so!"

"Well, tell me something, Emma…" Robin turns and points over at Gold. "Could he be Santa Claus?

Emma makes a face like he's offered her a particularly bad tasting piece of candy and shakes her head. "Nope."

Robin asks, "Why not?"

"Cause Santa doesn't have a grumpy face."

Robin laughs, as does the entire courtroom. Gold glares at him.

"Order," Judge Perez calls out.

"No further questions." Robin smiles and takes his seat.

The judge looks over at Gold. "Um… Mr. Gold, do you wish to cross-examine the witness?"

Gold stands and straightens his tie. "No, Your Honor. No questions."

"Your Honor... I should like to call my next witness." Robin waits. Gold's not the only one who can bring on the dramatics, and once everyone's listening… waiting, Robin says, "I'd like to call Mrs. Belle Gold to the stand."

There are collective gasps and 'Oh's' and she rises from the back of the courtroom. Judge Perez reminds everyone once again for order. Gold's gaze is locked onto him, but it doesn't bother him.

Robin gets up from his seat once again and makes his way over to the stand. "Do you have children, Mrs. Gold?"

Mrs. Gold brightens and ignores her husband. "I have two."

"How old are they?"

"Neal's seven and Gideon's two."

"Do they believe in Santa Claus?"

"I object, Your Honor," Gold says now on his feet sounding annoyed.

Judge Perez cocks his head to the side. "On what grounds, Mr. Gold?"

Gold extends a hand towards Belle. "The witness is my wife. Mr. Locksley is deliberately harassing her solely in order to embarrass me and expose private matters to the court."

"Your Honor, I'm merely attempting to establish that Mr. Gold, like so many others, has taught his children that there is a Santa Claus," Robin defends.

"Objection overruled," Perez tells him. Win, Robin thinks. "You may continue."

"Thank you, Your Honor." Robin turns his attention back to his witness and asks again, "Mrs. Gold, do your children believe in Santa Claus?"

Her smile returns. "Yes."

"Did they come to this belief naturally, or were they introduced to it by a family member?"

"By a family member."

"Yourself."

"Yes."

He turns and looks at Gold. "And your husband?"

Robin watches as she swallows then answers with a hesitant, "Yes."

"Your husband told your children that there is a Santa Claus?" Robin asks lacing his tone with as much feigned surprise as he can.

"Yes," she repeats.

"On more than one occasion?" He's digging into it now, but he has a point to make. An important one.

"Uh... yes he did."

"Mrs. Gold, have you taken your children to see a department store Santa Claus this year?"

"Yes, we have."

"Where?"

"At Macy's."

He smiles and gestures over to Kris. "So your children have met Mr. Kringle?"

"Oh, yes." She waves to him much to the chagrin of her husband.

"And they accepted him as Santa Claus?"

"They did, yes."

Robin leans against the stand. "Did the question of Mr. Kringle's authenticity arise at any time before or after your children met him?"

"Uh... yes. It was after."

"And did you deny... or confirm... that Mr. Kringle is the real Santa Claus?" Her eyes leave his and fall on her husband who is holding her gaze as passively as possible. Robin thinks if telepathy were a thing, Gold would be screaming at her right now. "You're under oath now, Mrs. Gold," Robin reminds her and snaps her from Gold's gaze.

"U-um... w-well, actually, it was my-my husband who told the boys that he's the real Santa Claus."

And that's all he needed. "No further questions, Your Honor," Robin tells him, putting his hand in his pockets, he returns to his seat. "Thank you, Mrs. Gold. Merry Christmas."

Robin can see Judge Perez biting the inside of his cheek, attempting to stow his smile when he asks, "Mr. Gold... do you wish to cross-examine... your wife?"

Gold gets to his feet. His chair scraps the marble floor in his haste, but it's drowned out by his angered response. "I object, Your Honor. This is irrelevant, immaterial, and absolutely ridiculous. Mr. Locksley is making a mockery of this court. He's not even established that there's such a person as Santa Claus…"

Robin gets to his feet. This is exactly what he needs. An opening for Gold to challenge him. To make a fool out of himself. "Your Honor, I would ask Mr. Gold if he could offer any proof that there is no Santa Claus."

Gold looks over at him. "Your Honor, I'd like a recess until tomorrow so that I might adequately prepare to meet Mr. Locksley's challenge."

"Mr. Locksley, do you have any objections?" the judge asks.

Not at all.

"No, Your Honor."

"This court stands in recess until nine tomorrow morning."

Robin watches as Gold swiftly leaves the courtroom before turning to Kris. "I knew if I got him angry enough, he'd take the offensive. There's no way in a court of law we can prove Santa Claus exists or that you're him."

Kis isn't following though. Robin can see the confusion in his eyes when he asks, "But haven't you given him the opportunity of proving that I don't exist?"

Robin nods. "I have, but he'll go too far. Our best defense is to let Gold hang himself."

"Oh." Kris' eyes widen knowingly. "Oh, I see."

"You have to promise me one thing though, Kris. It's very important that you'll speak only when I tell you to," Robin implores him. "He's going to try to upset you and you can't let him."

"You have my word," Kris tells him.

"Good."

#

Regina waits for most of the people in the room to leave before making her way further into the room. He's sitting with Kris, and though they've talked, agreed they're still together, her heart still thumps wildly in her chest as she goes to him.

His smile is there for her when she walks over to them. "I, um... I just wanted to come by and see you. See how it was going."

He looks over at Kris. "There's still a long way to go, but so far it's looking in our favor."

"I know you'll do it, Robin." His gaze returns to her. She wants to kiss him, to walk up to him and tell him how proud she is of him, but this is a courtroom and for some reason she finds her legs filled with lead.

He smirks at her nevertheless. "I have a few tricks up my sleeve."

Regina tucks her hair behind her ears. "Well, I have to go. I have to pick Henry up from school."

"How's he doing?"

"He's good." She smiles, but then it drops into a frown thinking back to the weekend and how he wanted to go see Robin but she told him he shouldn't bother him so he could prepare to help Kris. It's only been a few days, but when he's used to seeing Robin everyday… It's been rough on them all. "He misses you."

"I miss him…" Robin sighs. "I've been so busy and I'm afraid it'll be another late night or I'd stop by and see him."

Another late night of work. She wonders about Roland, about how he will have to work and take care of him and she wants to help so she asks, "Do you want me to take Roland?"

"Oh, that's all right. I don't want to bother you…" he begins.

"He's never a bother." And he isn't. She loves the little boy so much and it's been days since she's seen him. "Besides, Henry isn't the only one who misses you both."

Robin smiles. "If you're sure it's no trouble?"

"It isn't," she tells him. Somehow she finds her strength return to her and she steps over to him and places a kiss on his cheek. "I'll stop by and pick him up on my way home."

Her eyes are on Robin's before she leaves, so she misses Kris' smile.

#

Much later that night Robin receives a text from Regina. He's just finishing up some notes, had planned on going to get Roland from her, but it seems she has other plans for them.

The boys are asleep. If you want to come over and join us, I have a spot beside me in bed that misses you too.

He doesn't need any more encouragement than that. Dressing for bed, Robin locks his apartment on his way out and Regina's door as he shuts it behind him. He wonders if she's asleep when he crawls in next to her, but she slides back into his arms as soon as he's settled.

"Hold me," she tells him.

Robin drapes an arm around her and pulls her flush against his chest. He breathes her in and closes his eyes, then murmurs, "Always."