Chapter 7: Letters to Santa

April 28th 3:49 P.M. North Pole

Steve could tell something was off with Arthur. Usually he lived and breathed for his duties during the year- giving every activity all the cheer and happiness he possessed. That hadn't really changed but Steve could look at him and just tell something was bothering him. And despite what their mother persisted about solving the problem, Steve just felt it was something else. Arthur had no interest in this Abby Festivus even though his parents pushed and prodded him relentlessly.

So Steve dropped by Arthur's old office in the mail room where he was busy scribbling out a reply. He had insisted on answering as many letters as he could himself. That was Arthur though. He tapped him on the shoulder and watched as his brother whirled around surprised, sending letters flying all over the floor. "You left the door open so I just walked-"

"No, no it's fine. You just scared me. What are you doing here Steve?" Steve helped him pick up the scattered letters and looked at his brother for a long moment.

"I was hoping you could tell me the real reason you haven't been your usual self recently." Arthur just looked at him and Steve sighed. His brother always had this tendency to put everyone on planet earth before himself and push his stuff to the wayside so as not to bother anyone. "It's funny, actually, I was running some diagnostics on the SPIRIT and she's accumulated quite a few miles for one trip to Chicago." Arthur went white. "And I really didn't see an awful lot of you in January. And come to think of it a lot of cookies you baked just… went missing. I can put it all together Arthur."

"Molly needed a friend. She has no one Steve- no family or friends. All she does is work and I… I was just trying to be there for her and make her happy again. She deserves to be happy. And I know I was jeopardizing everything by going, but I couldn't just leave her after I'd met her. She needed me." So there it was. Steve could see it clear as day even though he was pretty sure his brother still thought he was extending only friendship. "I haven't visited her since January and I'm worried she thinks I abandoned her which I sort of did."

Now Steve looked at his brother and knew there was two ways he could steer this conversation. He could do what he should and tell Arthur to let her go and not break the rules anymore, risking everything and everyone. Or he could indulge him. The answer seemed obvious. But weighing on his mind was how much he had failed Arthur in the past from mocking who he was and simply not believing in him. He had been so caught up in his ego he hadn't believed in his own brother who was probably Steve's greatest inspiration now. And he knew Arthur had received that from everybody in the North Pole, but he didn't judge them or hold a grudge at all. That was just Arthur. Steve knew in that moment he just had to believe and do what was best for Arthur instead of what he himself wanted.

"Then I'll re-schedule things so you have tonight off. We can't possibly have her thinking that, especially when I know quite the opposite is true." Arthur looked at him very puzzled. "Just make sure you're careful about things. I trust your ability to handle that though." He started for the door but stopped himself. "One more thing, don't let Mom and Dad force you into anything."

"They're not. Abby seems very nice and they-"

"But it's not about them. This is about you. This is the decision to do what you want on more than any other. It can be Abby or it could be someone completely… opposite for example. What matters is that she's everything you want not everything needed for the North Pole." Someone like Molly maybe Steve couldn't help but think. It was obvious how Arthur felt about her, why he was so reluctant about Abby. He at least had to give his brother a chance to find out.

"Steve, this is breaking so many rules. Why-"

"Arthur, you make everybody happy. Now it's my turn to do the same for you because you deserve it more than anyone." And with that Arthur hugged him before taking off at a run leaving the doors ahead wide open of course.

April 28th 8:38 P.M. Chicago Apartment

Molly picked up her cell phone as "Last Christmas" blared- she really needed to change that ringtone. "Hey, Stuart. So I'm all ready for you to come over tonight. I've got wine in fancy glasses, I'm wearing a very revealing-"

"Molly, I'm going to be really late tonight. I'm stuck at work tonight. I know you'll understand. You shouldn't even wait up for me. You have to get to court early tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah. It's fine. I completely understand. I'll see you in the morning. I love you."

"I love you too. Bye." Click. Molly sighed and dumped the glasses down the sink. She had been trying to make everything special since it had seemed to hit a brick wall since… well actually since their relationship had begun. He practically lived at her apartment but it was as if it was all so disconnected and just didn't work. He'd told her he loved her at dinner one night and she'd said the same back because… it was social convention? She didn't know. Something felt off and since this was the guy she was pretty much going to be spending the rest of her life with since she had nobody else she had to adjust.

Then she heard knocking on her door. Oh, so he had been kidding with her! He was trying to surprise her! Okay, she could work with this. She poured two more glasses and made sure her red silk nightgown looked alright before leaning against the frame and opening the door.

It wasn't Stuart. It was Arthur.

April 28th 8:55 P.M. Chicago Apartment Doorway

Arthur knocked a few times against the door and smiled, tray of gingerbread cookies in his hand. Steve was the best big brother anybody could have! He was letting Arthur break the rules and fix things because he was so great. So when the door opened he has the biggest grin on his face. He was going to see Molly again!

She was leaning against the door in what was probably the shortest nightgown he'd ever seen. To say the moment wasn't what he expected was an understatement. Her face promptly fell and she let out a cry. Arthur clamped his hands over his eyes, dropping the cookies. "Oh my God! What are you doing here?" He tried to step forward only to run into the doorframe and fall to the ground. "Oh my God!" He heard her run to her bedroom and return a moment later. "Get up, you klutz. You can open your eyes."

He did and saw she was now in a big fluffy blue bathrobe. He let out a sigh as the blush faded. She had an ice-bag in her hand. "Are you okay? I…" then the frown appeared. Arthur had seen the mock frowns enough to know this was the real deal.

"I know. I know it's been way too long, but I was busy at work and I tried to visit-"the ice-bag promptly knocked him in the eye. She tried to slam the door closed but he wormed his way in. Just hear me out-"

"No! No I won't! It's been three months!" She threw two glasses down the sink. "Three months without a word from you! Then you think you can just come over one night un-announced when I was supposed to have a guest over! Who does that?" Arthur ducked as a plate nearly hit his head.

She was mad. She was beyond mad. He saw through the layers- she was hurt. He'd hurt her. "I am so sorry. I never wanted to-"

"Abandon me? Well, you did! Like everyone else in the world! Now, get lost and never come to my apartment again." Angry tears squeezed out of her narrowed eyes as she pointed for the door, her tone final.

"I can explain!" he begged.

"Okay, go." She stared at him, arms folded, as he fumbled over words trying to come up with something that would work. After a long minute she gave a smirk. "I thought so." She gestured to a folder on the table. "Now, I have work to do." She walked to the door and held it open. "Get out Arthur. Get out and never come back."

He stared at her and realized what he was about to do. It was his only chance. He couldn't lose her like this. "It's Arthur Christmas actually."

"Very funny. Take your stupid cheer and-"

"I live at the North Pole. That's the factory, the family business. You see I'm… I'm Santa Claus. I couldn't tell you because of all these rules but that's why I was in the lights. I fell delivering gifts. I had January off but there's just so much for Santa to do I… I couldn't sneak away. And I felt awful about it every moment of every day." He looked at her but didn't receive a facial expression.

"You miserable excuse for a human being! That's it! Either you are the biggest jerk who ever graced the face of the earth or you're just some delusional serial killer."

"My reindeer and sled are out back."

"Get out or I'm calling not only the cops but my boyfriend." Boyfriend? Things had changed a lot.

He knew he had nothing else. He couldn't convince her. Resigned, he put his hands in his pockets only to feel a piece of paper. His face lit up as he pulled it out and unfolded it. "'Dear Santa, It has been a pretty hard year for Michael and I.'" He continued frantically- hoping this would finally put all the puzzle pieces together for her. She had to know the truth.

April 28th 9:07 P.M. Chicago Apartment

"'She doesn't like us and smells funny. Michael says we can't go home though because of what happened. But I know you can get us home. You can do anything. I believe in you Santa. Molly Scrooge P.S. If I get a second wish, change my last name. I get picked on a lot for it.'" She knew those words. She had written those words and stuffed them in an envelope to be sent to the North Pole. How… how was this happening? It… he was being sincere. Oh my God, he was being sincere!

Her hand flew over her mouth as he placed the letter on top of her papers. There was no doubt about it- that was her letter. "You wrote me this when you were seven." She felt her head shake. "I'm Arthur Christmas." She felt wobbly. "I'm Santa Claus."

It made sense. It all fit together… all the mysteries and secrets and why he had seemingly dropped off the face of the earth. It couldn't possibly be but it had to be. "Why… why did you-"

"You needed me. I was hoping I could be your friend and make you happy- maybe even make you believe again. But work caught up with me and I hurt you. I never meant to do that." There was a huge gaping silence as Molly felt everything literally vanish from inside her. She was looking at Santa Claus.

Finally, the words came. "Get out."

"Molly-"

"I heard you loud and clear. I just… I need some process time. This- this is a lot okay?" He nodded at her. "Just… I need time. Please leave and give me a few…" A few what? Days? Months? Years? He apparently had time since he was Santa Claus! Oh, this couldn't be happening.

Arthur merely nodded and exited. She closed the door firmly behind him and watched from her window moments later as a reindeer pulled him off in a sleigh. That was just the nail in the coffin. She looked at the note and slammed the folder closed, grabbing the chair for balance as she began to hyper-ventilate. Arthur Christmas. Arthur… Christmas…