Chapter 3: A Visit

Christmas 6:00 P.M. North Pole

"Arthur, I think we're breaking at least seven different codes by doing this," Bryony whispered under her breath as they crept through the basement of the North Pole. "It's not like last time. It's daylight, it's a city, and she's not even a child."

"I owe it to her. I did crash land on top of her and ruin her Christmas."

"But from what you told me she already hates Christmas. This isn't going to change that. It's only going to blow our cover and Steve is not going to be very happy with us." They finally reached a door that led to the very back of the EVIE.

"If he built it he probably believed we'd use it at some point." In the cargo of the EVIE Steve had built and housed the Spirit- an exact replica of the old sleigh Arthur and Grandsanta had crashed with a few technical updates. "Now go get the reindeer, please. If we hurry we can make it back before anyone knows we're gone."

"I have a feeling with you it won't be that simple," Bryony smiled and the two laughed. She then looked at him for a long moment before nodding and taking off to fetch a few of the reindeer. She may not have completely understood his motives, but Bryony knew his heart was always in the right place. It couldn't do any real harm, could it?

Christmas 6:23 P.M. Lucky Joe's Sports Bar

Molly considered herself lucky that she found an open bar- but then again theoretically it shouldn't have been hard in as big of a city as Chicago. She convinced herself to have a few drinks to take the edge off of her buzzing mind. The case seemed to be at a grinding halt that frustrated her beyond belief. So, now she felt a completely different buzz. Apparently so much so the bartender cut her off and urged her to find a ride home because she wasn't getting her keys back anytime soon.

So Molly stumbled out into the snow and remembered she had no phone and more importantly nobody to call. Everyone was probably off with their shams of a family trying to act like they could all stand being with one another for a meal. Wow, she was bitter when she was drunk. Like even more bitter than usual.

She wasn't exactly sure how far it was before she fell into the snow. "Molly?" a voice registered in her head. She slowly turned to see one of the guys from her office helping her to her feet. "What- are you okay?" What was his name again? Sam? Stuart? "I'd better get you home." He practically started dragging her the other way.

"Wait, how do you know where I live?"

"I'm in human resources. It's my job." She was pretty sure it wasn't, but hey she was drunk. He had to guide her like a sheepdog down the sidewalk until they reached the building- at least it looked like her building. "You'd better give me your key and I'll take you inside and put you to bed." Now, in retrospect, that should have been a huge red flag. Like the size of Canada big. But of course she handed him the keys. Luckily, that's when someone spotted them from the alcove and stepped out into the light. It was him. And her entire day came screeching back.

7:28 P.M. Streets of Chicago

She hadn't been home when Arthur rang her so he had decided to wait for her to come home. It seemed polite. So Bryony was around the back trying to keep the reindeer under control and out of sight. She hadn't been so keen on the idea. "I could just go in through her window and leave it for her. No sense in waiting around." But Arthur wanted to do it in person- see her again. He hadn't exactly been able to explain why though. That was the odd part.

She came a while later with a guy and handed him some keys. She almost seemed like Grandsanta the year he decided to see how much eggnog he could chug in one sitting. When she saw him though it was like a sudden jolt echoed through her and in that moment he saw the girl he had landed on. She reclaimed her keys and the guy left giving Arthur an odd look. "What're you doing here? Shouldn't you be up on the roof or something?"

"I actually came to give you this," he smiled, holding a Bryony wrapped box out in front of him. "Merry Christmas!" She merely glared at him.

"Why would I- I don't know you!" she shouted, blowing past him and opening the door. He quickly followed after her until she reached a door and whirled around on him. "I will call the police!"

"Please, it's to make up for the phone I broke this morning. Just… please… everyone deserves to be happy on Christmas." She finally snatched the box and opened it, tossing the wrapping aside without a glance at the bow. She observed the phone a moment before looking at him again quizzically.

"Who are you? "

"I'm Arthur, remember," he said genuinely. He knew well enough that he couldn't just divulge everything to this girl. She was about to say something when her face contorted. Molly threw open her door and ran inside, Arthur following as she got sick in the sink. When she was finished she threw off her coat and hat, her red hair falling around her face. "Your hair used to be black?"

"Excuse me?"

"When you were little, your hair was black," he commented remembering the picture on the file. "I don't know why you changed it. It looked really nice." Why couldn't he get himself to stop talking? Her look was telling him this wasn't his place to step into- he'd seen it so many times before at the North Pole. "I should get home. I hope you enjoy your present." He walked towards the open door when she collapsed behind the counter.

He was beside her in an instant trying to shake her awake. She wasn't moving. Arthur clumsily dragged her towards the bedroom and pulled her up one her bed making sure to tuck her in. She probably just needed some sleep. Maybe she was sick? He couldn't just leave her then.

He opened the window and Bryony swiftly ascended. She hated the idea. So he decided to do what he had to do- get it cleared it by his brother. He pulled out his HOHO and promptly dialed Steve.

"Arthur, where are you? Why in your right mind did you take the SPIRIT and-"

"Steve, it's okay."

"You can't just vanish on Christmas. One minute Mom says you're talking to her and then-"

"Steve! I had to deliver a personal present to a friend I met in Chicago. She helped me get out of the lights."

"You were seen?"

"She has no clue. But I broke her phone and came to replace it. But now she's sick so I'm staying the night. She's got no one Steve. And I'm not alone. Bryony's here!" He could hear his brother sigh. He understood Arthur more than anyone- maybe not agreed with him- but he always understood where he was coming from. And it was usually an unselfish place.

"Keep me updated. Don't tell her anything!"

"Thank you Steve! Good night!"

"Good night Arthur. And thank you for the present. I love it."

"Ah, it was nothing." He hung up and noted Bryony was already backing out the window. At least she was here. He knew that was a major factor in convincing his brother he wouldn't get into trouble.

He peeked into her room and saw Molly sleeping peacefully. He pulled the letter out of his coat pocket. He almost couldn't find the girl who had written this letter so many years ago. There wasn't a decoration in her house, only the bare necessities and papers everywhere. It barely looked lived in.

So Arthur perched himself on the couch and for the first time in a real long time Molly Scrooge wasn't alone on Christmas.