"Daddy, Papa, we have to talk." Six year old Lucy said seriously as she came into the kitchen. Kurt and Blaine looked up from their breakfast at their daughter.
"Sure honey, is everything okay?" Blaine asked. Lucy took a seat and crossed her hands on the table.
"I need you to be straight with me." Lucy said.
"Okay…" Kurt said hesitantly, trying not to laugh and his daughter's seriousness.
"Is Santa Claus real?" she asked. Blaine and Kurt looked at one another. They thought they had more time to deal with this one. Lucy was only six years old. The magic of Christmas was supposed to last longer than that.
"Of course, he's real honey." Blaine said.
"Let's think realistically Daddy," Lucy began. "It is impossible for one man to be able to deliver presents to every kid in the world in just one night. You and Papa can't even get through a list of errands in a day."
"But sweetie, Santa is magic." Kurt told her. "That's how he does it."
"Well, how does Santa know exactly what each kid wants?" Lucy asked. "It would take one man way too long to sort through that mail and write down every single thing. And it's not like kids are sending letters all throughout the year. They all wait to the last minute and send it in November or December. That only gives Santa two months to make all the toys. "
"He has a whole group of elves who sort the mail for him." Blaine said jumping in. "And they're hard workers, so the toys get made really quickly."
"Okay, well…" Lucy started. "If the polar ice caps are melting, how is Santa's workshop not flooding?" Kurt and Blaine couldn't hold their laughter this time. What kid asked questions like that? "Guys! Global warming is not funny!"
"No sweetie, of course it's not." Kurt said, still trying to compose himself. "Santa is a pretty smart guy. I'm sure he's developed some kind of waterproof raft that his house can be on. I'm sure it's kinda like a boat."
"Nice try, Papa." Lucy said sadly. "But I'm six now and I'm not that gullible. There is no Santa Claus." she added before walking sadly to her room. Kurt and Blaine were left in the kitchen, shocked at the conversation they had just had.
"This is so sad." Kurt said. "She's only six. She should still believe in Santa."
"I know. She's our last one and I thought we had more time." Blaine replied. "And when did she learn about global warming?"
"I don't even know…" Kurt told his husband. "I just wish there was something that we could do to make her believe, even if it's okay for a few more years."
"Me too." Blaine replied sadly. Standing in the hallway, Charlie had heard everything that her father's were saying. She agreed. Lucy was too young to not believe in Santa. Sometimes she wished that she could go back to before she knew the truth and the magic of Christmas was ruined for her. She decided in that moment that she would do whatever it took to make Lucy believe again.
The next day, she gathered Penny, Caleb and Andrew together in the living room. "You all know why I gathered you here."
"Actually, we don't." Caleb said jutting in. "You threw a shoe at me and told me to get in the living room."
"Well maybe if you would stop interrupting me you'd know why you were here." Charlie shot back. "Just because we're twins doesn't mean you know exactly what I'm thinking."
"I don't think that was ever true for us." Caleb muttered.
"Anyway, Charlie why are we here?" Penny asked.
"It has come to my attention that Lucy does not believe in Santa Claus anymore." Charlie began.
"Finally." Andrew muttered. "We can stop with that lie."
"Are you kidding me? She's way too little to not believe." Charlie said.
"I was seven when I found out." Andrew replied.
"You were the one that ruined it for me." Caleb added.
"Well...then I want to repay my debt to the world by making my little sister believe in Santa again." Charlie replied. "Can you all just please work with me?"
"Come on guys, it's for Lucy." Penny said jumping in. Caleb and Andrew shrugged their shoulders and both said, "fine."
"What did you have in mind?" Caleb asked.
"I have the perfect plan." Charlie replied. When Christmas Eve came, Charlie waited until Kurt and Blaine had put the presents under the tree and went to bed. Then her plan was set into motion. She went into Lucy's bedroom and shook her little sister.
"What?" Lucy groaned as she burrowed further under her covers.
"You have to come with me. I heard something in the living room." Charlie said.
"So wake up Daddy and Papa. What am I going to do against a burglar?" the little girl groaned.
"Will you just come with me?" Charlie retorted as she picked her little sister up and settled her on her hip. She walked down the hallway and went towards the living room. Just as they got around the corner, Charlie stopped quickly and hid behind the wall. "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" she asked.
"Is that-?" Lucy began "Is that Santa?" she asked in disbelief. The two watched as Santa put presents under the tree. Then he began looking around. "Oh no! We didn't leave any milk or cookies!" Lucy fidgeted from her sister's grasp and ran into the kitchen. She grabbed two cookies and a glass and filled it with milk. "How do we get it to him without him seeing us?" she asked.
"Leave it to me, little sis." Charlie replied. She took the plate and glass and crept her way into the living room. She set the milk and cookies on the end table and then quickly retreated to their cover behind the wall.
"Good job! He didn't even see you." Lucy whispered. The two girls watched as Santa turned around and found the milk and cookies. When Santa was finished with his snack, he walked towards the door and looked around one last time before he left. Then from outside, they heard the sounds of sleigh bells and a voice yelled "On Dasher, On Dancer, On Prancer and Vixen. On Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen!"
"Oh my goodness!" Lucy squealed. "That was really Santa! I can't believe it! I have to tell Daddy and Papa!" she said before she got up and began running down the hallway. "Daddy! Papa! Santa was here! He was really here!" she yelled. Charlie smiled at the sight of her sister. Then, she crept outside and opened the door.
"The coast is clear." She said. Just outside the front window was Penny and Andrew who both held sleigh bells in their hands. Caleb was dressed in a Santa suit that Charlie had borrowed from a friend who got a job working as Santa in a mall. "She bought it." Charlie told her siblings. "Great job bro, very convincing Santa act." she said to Caleb and extended him a high five. "The part about the reindeer was a nice touch."
"Well, I figured if you're gonna do something, do it right." Caleb replied. "Now, let's go to bed. I'm sure Lucy's gonna get us all up by five tomorrow to open presents."
"I second that." Penny agreed.
"Ditto." Andrew added. With that, all the Anderson-Hummel children went back into the house and went to sleep. Visions of sugar plums didn't dance in their heads that night, but for Lucy, the magic of Christmas was very much alive and that's what was important.