Chapter 6: Significant Others

February 7th, 10:32 A.M. Chicago Law Firm

Molly's new office door opened and her head shot up. Stuart walked in and she felt her heart drop a little. He gave her a smile and a wave that she returned before going back to the file in front of her. Stuart worked in Human Resources and had taken to pestering her since she had received her promotion. He would just stop in with flowers and it was really starting to grow annoying.

"Listen, Molly I was wondering if-"

"No."

"But-"

She lifted her head and met his eyes. "No. I'm not interested." He merely nodded and started for the door.

"There's not another guy is there?"

"Absolutely not," she answered and he left without another word. She scribbled notes for a minute before her eyes fell to the tray of empty cookies next to her desk. He had brought them the day she got her new office- seventeen days ago. He hadn't been by since. Not that Molly had noticed of course. She had been very busy now that she had become partner.

She almost regretted having no information about him- no number, no address, no clue what factory he worked at. What if something happened? Again she had to remind herself that she didn't care. She was better off without his annoying self in her office talking about Christmas. Now was the time to focus on work.

That didn't stop her head from shooting up when the door opened or her face from falling when it was only one of her fellow partners.

February 7th, 10:32 A.M. North Pole

Arthur had missed visiting Molly, honestly and truly he did. But he knew there wasn't a moment to slip away in the beginning of the new season. In one day he had wrapping paper approval meetings, chronicling the naughty and nice list, reindeer games, visiting the elves to keep their spirits up and promote a lucky few, and the letters were starting to pile up for him to read and respond too. He promised himself the moment he got a free moment he would be on the SPIRIT and in Chicago. He was sure she didn't care however. He was sure he had un-wrapped the present when she hugged him, but if anything she had added more paper around her since then. He had to face it, she didn't want him around. That wasn't going to stop him from trying to make her happy though. As soon as he got a free moment- not a second later.

March 9th, 10:51 P.M. Chicago Law Firm

Molly'sphone went off and she rushed to it, seeing it was a number she didn't recognize. "Arthur?" she asked, picking it up.

"No, this is Stuart. I-"she hung up. How did he even get her number? Sure he was Human Resources, but that didn't mean he could use his job to stalk her. She slammed her phone on the counter before realizing how angry she was getting over something so completely stupid. It wasn't rational at all. Then again neither was vanishing off the face of the earth for a month and nineteen days- oh my god. If she was in therapy this would probably have been labeled a break-through into why she had been so pissed at the world lately.

He had completely vanished. There was no note, no call- he could being lying in a ditch dead for all she knew. Not that she- you know what, screw that! Let's face the facts: she had cared and seen him as the only friend she had. She maybe even had come to depend on him and trust him to the point that she felt comfortable enough to let her guard down. She almost had started to believe he was different than everyone else in her life and wouldn't hurt her. Well, she certainly had a steep learning curve. So now she was angry- angry at him for becoming her friend only to dump her and herself for allowing him to that leaving an imprint on her feelings.

Arthur Christmas had gotten under her skin. She hated him for it. She hated herself for it. Why hadn't she learned her lesson by now- letting people in only hurts her? She had been starting to believe maybe just a tiny bit, but now she had accepted the truth. She was better off alone.

But she didn't want to be anymore.

March 10th 9:16 A.M. North Pole

Today was the day. Arthur had gotten all of today's items done yesterday and should be free and clear to visit Molly. Bryony knew what to do in case someone came asking for him and he had a plate of fresh gingerbread men in his hand. He felt really bad at taking this long. She was probably worried sick about him. Or maybe she had forgotten about him and moved on with her new job of being partner. She had said it would mean more work- something Arthur wasn't too fond of. Molly Scrooge did more than enough work.

"Arthur!" He froze in his spot and turned to see his mother coming out of the kitchen. "Remember to close the door! Where are you off to with those cookies?"

"I'm… a gift for Bryony and the Gift Wrap Battalion." His mother smiled.

"Oh Arthur, the elves haven't been happier since you took the job. I mean you know every one of them by name, ask about their families… you're doing an excellent job."

"Thanks Mom. Now I'd-"

"But I couldn't help but notice you've been a bit… down since we went back into production." That was his mom- she caught everything. "I think I know what this is about so I have something I want to show you. Come on, we pass the Gift Wrapping Battalion on the way."

Bryony loved the cookies and instantly caught on- Arthur saw her hide them under her workbench after they left. His mom led him into the record room and handed him a huge folder. "I think you've been lonely Arthur. So I did some digging and I think I might have found the perfect girl." His head shot up and a blush rose.

"M-Mom, I… well… I couldn't-"

"Just take a look." He looked at the folder to see the name Abby Festivus accompanied by a blonde girl with bright blue eyes smiling. He opened it to see she had sent a letter to Santa Claus every year since she was three- and she was now as old as he was. She had sent pictures of her decorated dorm and apartment, the Christmas sweaters she knitted, and even of her dog dressed as a reindeer. "She has just as much cheer and spirit as you do." Arthur had to admit he was impressed, but for some reason he couldn't put his finger on something seemed really off. He could see her as Mrs. Claus in an instant, but he couldn't picture her as his Mrs. Claus. "So, she lives in Alaska- already acclimated to cold weather! Consider maybe dropping by when you travel this Christmas. I think she could make you very happy. Can you promise your mother you'll at least think about it?"

Arthur looked at his mom's smile and smiled back. "Of course I'll think about it Mom. Anything for you." He gave her a tight hug before she left. He placed the folder next to another one and smiled as he recognized Molly on the cover. Her letter was still in his coat pocket. He should probably put it back when he got a moment.

Just then Steve poked his head in to say there was a crisis with the Naughty and Nice List. Another day went by where Arthur couldn't visit the Scrooge of Chicago- but today he realized what his mom had. He felt lonely without her.

March 17th 7:39 P.M. Chicago Law Firm

Molly packed her briefcase and sighed at the empty plate that still sat on her desk. She had been waiting, hoping all this time when it was probably as official as it could be: Arthur had deserted her. In a moment of pent-up frustration she shattered the plate against the wall. The janitor was probably going to hate her in the morning.

"Molly!" Stuart caught up to her as she exited. He never gave up, did he? "Molly-"

"I'm not interested. How many times-"

"As many as it takes until you say yes." She turned and glared at him. "I'm not going to give up on you. I'm sad and lonely and I get the feeling you're the exact same way. I'm not saying it has to be serious but I just… I need someone." She looked at him a long moment, her mind a whirl of motion. Then Molly Scrooge stepped forward and kissed Stuart from Human Resources until they both came up gasping for air.

"Let's go. I don't want to be alone either." She took his hand and led her to her car. She was better off alone. But now she didn't want to be.