Chapter 13: Christmas Eve

December 24th 9:43 P.M. North Pole

Arthur looked in the mirror. Not much had changed since last year. The suit was still a little big on him and there wasn't a beard in sight. He placed the hat on his head and let out a deep sigh. Tonight was the big night. By tomorrow morning he was going to have a girl. His parents were beyond delighted; his mom insisting it was the best choice.

The take-off went on without a hitch, Steve directing from mission control. They were leaving early to beat the weather which seemed to be just on the horizon. He heard mumbling over the intercom about a reindeer being missing, but he hadn't had the heart to care. It was somehow solved and Bryony took her seat next to them as they left the hangar.

The ship stopped and he noticed Bryony ready her harness. "We're making a special stop," she said. He nodded as he was lowered in front of a house that was all too familiar to him. Bryony landed a moment later next to him, arms full of gifts. "Do you remember this place?"

"How could I not?" he answered, a smile appearing on his face for the first time in a month. "How old is she now?"

"She's twelve-wrote you a letter just the same as every other year. She wants a very special gift this year: for her baby brother to have a magical first Christmas." Arthur broke into a broad grin.

"I think we can make that happen." The two entered the house and Bryony handed him the gifts as he stuck them under the tree. When they were finished he silently crept up the stairs to see a much older Gwen asleep in her bed just like five years before. He had been so wrapped up in his own things that he had forgotten his job: to make Christmas special for every child. If anyone believed in him they did. And maybe that was all they needed.

He hugged Bryony as soon as they were back in the EVIE. "Thank you."

"Sometimes we all need a little reminder," she answered. "Shall we go to the next town and start making Christmas bright?"

"Let's go!" Arthur exclaimed, his purpose renewed and Christmas spirit just as present as before. Seeing Gwen made him happy. He could be happy. He would be happy. And now he had an entire world to make happy.

December 24th 10:19 P.M. Chicago Law Firm

Molly looked at the clock on her phone and sighed. Any minute now she was expecting the other law firm to call so she could accept the job. Maybe a change of scenery would help things along. Meanwhile, she was in a stuffy conference room with her partners who were keeping a watchful eye on her. The orders were clear- she didn't get to go home until she finished the case. So Molly plugged away, a big stack of folders of previous cases next to her. Frustrated, she pulled one from the middle of the stack and flipped it open. This had to be from at least half a year ago.

Suddenly, her phone started blaring. She swore she had it on vibrate. Everyone looked at her annoyed as she reached to answer it, but something stopped her. For the first time she actually listened to the lyrics of the song. Last Christmas I gave you my heart, but the very next day you gave it away. This year to save me from tears I'll give it to someone special. Someone special… one cleared his throat. She picked the phone up as she turned the documents pages.

And there it was right where she had left it. She looked down at the letter she had composed when she was just seven years old. Her eyes darted over it as a voice droned in her ear and her partners merely glared. He insists it's pointless to write to you since you're not real but I know he has to be wrong. She had been right. She had been more right as a seven year old. You can do anything. He could. He really could because he had the biggest heart Molly had ever witnessed. And finally she read it. I believe in you Santa. And it hit her right then and there why her heart was so empty. She had lied. She believed. She believed she loved Arthur Christmas with all her heart and she believed she had made a horrible wrong decision. But most of all she believed she could change her future because deep down she loved Christmas. And this year she was going to give her heart to someone special!

Molly Scrooge realized suddenly what her brother was talking about. No more blaming her name. No more blaiming her past. No more blaming Christmas. She had to grow up too. She had to stop letting this 'tragic past' keep her from what she wanted. She had to stop being scared of what could happen because she could end up with a happy life. She needed to get over herself.

"Forget it," she said to the voice in her ear and hung up the phone. She rose to her feet, sticking the letter in her coat pocket and putting her hat on.

"Where are you going?"

"I, gentlemen, am going to live at the North Pole. So I quit! I hate this job. I hate all of you. I hate Chicago. So I am going to the North Pole to find Santa Claus and beg on my hands and knees for him to take me back because I love Christmas. I do. I love Christmas. Don't let the last name Scrooge confuse you, because Scrooge I am not anymore! Or maybe I am, just at the end of the story. Anyway, I am going to the North Pole somehow to find Santa Claus because not only do I believe in him, I love him. I'm in love with Santa Claus! Isn't that great? Best part, he loves me too! I don't know how, but he does! And he wants me happy, so I am going to go be happy with Santa Claus. I am going to hug him and kiss him and do other stuff I shouldn't mention in front of my bosses. But hey! You're not my bosses anymore. Let's just say I'm going to show him a Merry Christmas! So have a good night!" She proceeded for the door. "Merry Christmas to you all! God bless us everyone!" She took a bow and then took off at a run. There was no time to lose.

December 24th 11:14 P.M.

Here they were: Alaska. Arthur went to rise but Bryony stopped him. "It's a pretty small town. I'm sure the elves have this one."

"Bryony-"

"I'm not going to let you do it, Arthur. You're rushing into this because of what happened with Molly. But this is a mistake that I won't let you make because this one you can never take back. This is the one you have to live with forever."

"Please step aside."

"Okay, only if you can look me in the eye and tell me two things. Can you be happy with Abby Festivus?"

Arthur sighed. "I believe I can be happy with her." She sized him up for a moment.

"Unfortunately, you pass that one but this is the more important. Do you still love Molly?" He stared at her for a long time trying to come up with words when he merely fell back into his chair.

"Of course I still love her," he heard himself admit. Bryony nodded in satisfaction.

"You need time. There's always next Christmas if you still want her in another year. But you need to recover first because you deserve happiness just as much as anyone else- maybe even more so."

He smiled. "Well, we'll do that then. Let's go deliver some more presents!"

December 24th 11:55 P.M. Chicago Apartment

"Molly, you can't be serious. Even if I bought this, which I don't by the way, you seriously think with the things you said he'll just forgive you?" Michael had been in disbelief when she burst through the door and claimed she had to go be with Santa Claus. She knew Steve would be pretty angry at her just telling someone- or a whole boardroom- but it had to be done.

Molly ran around her room like a crazy person throwing everything essential in a suitcase as she took a sip of her hot chocolate. She glanced down at her feet which were now adorned with the slippers Arthur had given her. She smiled just looking at them. God, how had she been so stupid and actually turned him down? Was she that petrified at being happy? She knew in her head what the obvious answer was, but that had changed. Arthur had shown her the true truth. She could be happy with him. She could get the happily ever after. Her life could be a romantic comedy and now was the time to rush to the airport before he got on the plane- figuratively of course. She was getting a happy ending.

"He has too."

"Why?"

"Because we belong together. Trust me, I'm terrified of going back there. I said some pretty mean things-"

"I sounds like you were a complete b-"

"I was! Okay! But I have to go back. He might not forgive me. I'm acknowledging it could happen. But if I don't try I'm going to spend the rest of my life wishing that moment had never happened but never having tried to fix it. So you can either go back home or you can come with me."

As she put on her coat and hat the obvious finally hit her as the adrenaline ran out: she had no clue how to get there. She couldn't call him. She couldn't just walk there. Michael had pulled on his coat and hat as well. "I'm not saying I believe you, but I'm not letting you run off when you're obviously having a psychotic episode."

She only had one choice. Molly climbed onto the roof with the full intention of camping out until the EVIE came, Michael right behind her. She'd find him or an elf somehow and get on the ship. From there it would be downhill. She sat on the ledge and just watched the night sky for any sign. She tried her best not to look down or she might just give up and she wasn't about to do that.

"Molly-"

"He'll come."

"It's been-"

"He'll come!"

Suddenly, a blur sent her tumbling off as it collided with her back. She screamed as she fell towards the pavement from a good four stories- squeezing her eyes shut. "MOLLY!" she heard Michael cry. He reached for her hand, but it was too late. Suddenly, she landed on something furry and warm who lowered her to the ground. It nuzzled her face and she instantly knew, eyes flying open.

"B-Bambi!" Sure enough, the reindeer stood before her. She tackled him in a tight hug. "I don't know how you knew buddy, but I'm so glad you came. Is Arthur here?" He just looked at her and she noticed he had no harness. "Oh no, you ran away to come to me." He nuzzled her hand. "You're a rogue reindeer." It didn't look like she was going to have a cozy ride. "Well, beggars can't be choosers I suppose." She took a deep breath and climbed onto his back. "Alright, can you take me back to the North Pole please?" He took off at a run and launched towards the sky. She just prayed he had enough of the Potash whatever it was to keep them up otherwise this was going to be a short flight.

Michael just stared as B-Bambi landed on the top of the building. "Come on, can't leave me to have a psychotic break all on my own," she smiled. He tentatively approached the reindeer and hopped onto it back behind her.

"This reindeer is going to take us to Santa Claus, isn't he? As in we're actually going to see Santa Claus."

"He prefers Arthur. And yes, we are." B-Bambi took off at a run and they were airborne again- shooting through the night sky. "Somehow I told you so doesn't seem to cover it!" she shouted behind her. She then noted how high they were.

Molly intended to spend all of this flight with her eyes shut tight, arms pinned around B-Bambi's neck.

She did.

December 25th 4:32 A.M. North Pole

Steve had his eyes on the monitor of outside as the blizzard whipped around sending snow and hail everywhere. The EVIE was probably going to come out of this with quite a few dents, but as long as she made it home that was okay.

Bryony had called in to tell him everything went well. Arthur was back to his almost usual self and there was no one named Abby Festivus aboard. In fact, he had a perfect run this year- not a single accident or clumsy incident. Steve was beyond proud of his brother at that moment.

"They're coming in!" an elf shouted from the back. Steve returned his attention to the monitor to see the EVIE holding steady as she pulled into the hangar. Everyone burst into applause as it landed. Steve however couldn't help but note the door to the SPIRIT was open.

"Patch me through to Bryony," he ordered.

"Yes sir," Peter said, typing away at his HOHO. "I've got her."

"Put her up on screen." Steve nodded and a moment later Bryony occupied the huge screen before all the elves. "Bryony, what-"

"It was the storm sir. One of the elves, they fell through a drop ring about half a mile back. Arthur… he…" Steve frowned. He had an idea of what Arthur did- what Arthur would do.

"Bryony, I need you to talk to me."

"He ran out before I could stop him and took off with two reindeer in the SPIRIT. We haven't seen them since. Sir, it's really bad out there."

Steve nodded, his mind already going. The screen returned to one of the storm. "I want every surveillance camera up there in case someone spots them. Everyone keep an eye out. Peter, what's the temperature?"

"It's about negative twelve sir with wind speed."

"Blast! That doesn't give him a lot of time."

"I see something," an elf shouted, pointing. Sure enough, dark blobs were visible in one of the cameras.

"Send out a crew. They might need help." A group of elves ran out to the blobs as a voice crinkled over the intercom.

"Sir, it's only the reindeer- both of them. The sleigh is nowhere in sight and now devoid of mode of transportation."