Chapter 3: "To the North Pole of Course…"

Olivia and her team arrived at the train station. As the exited their cars they could hear music playing out the station. The conductor was singing the "Hot Chocolate" song to the children. From what Olivia had heard about this trip, they would receiving some of the train as well. As they continued to walk towards the station, she took Harrison's arm. She noticed they were Christmas decorations everywhere. Everything looked so pretty.

As they stood around inside the station watching everyone noticed that all the children had their pajamas on. It was quiet an adorable sight to see. Plus some of the adults too.

"Wow, maybe we should have came in our pajamas." Quinn said.

"Ah no" said Harrison "I would not want all of Washington to see me running around in what I sleep in."

"Oh why's that Harrison?" Said Abby "Do you sleep in footed pajamas too or just your boxers?"

Olivia was holding back a huge laugh because by the look Harrison just gave anyone, she could only imagine what he had at home.

"Yah know ladies, that is for me to know and you to NEVER find out." Harrison said back.

As they continued to walk around the station there was table with The Polar Express souvenirs on it. Olivia walked over to it and decided to purchase two of the glass ornaments, and a small white teddy bear. This Polar Express bear would be her bear for this year. It was small, white, with blue paws, with the P.E. emblem engraved on one of its feet. She picked him up, hugged it, and placed it in the bag the clerk had given her.

6:30: ALL ABOARD!

Finally the clock chimed 6:30. The conductor came inside and told everyone to line up and show himself, and the "elves" their tickets so everyone could board the train. When Olivia and her team showed him their tickets, he raised his eyebrows.

"Oh Miss Pope, we've been expecting you. Please follow this elf and they will show you to the car on the train you will be riding on with your staff." The conductor told her.

Olivia, Abby, Huck, Harrison and Quinn just looked at each other. They nodded and followed the "elf" to the last car in the train. When they reached it, another conductor, (yes two) came down the steps. He was over 6 feet tall, with a black "conductor" suit, like the one inside. It was not until everyone got a good look at him did they realize who he was.

"Oh my god!" Abby said. "Is that who I think it is?"

"Ah yes it is Ab's." Said Olivia. She could not believe that it was none other than Tom Hanks! Holy Mother of God.

Tom Hanks voiced five of the voices on in the Polar Express, He played the young boys father, the conductor, Santa, the strange ghost that road on top of the train, and he was the narrator.

Everyone just stood there with their mouths open looking at one another.

He then said some of the most famous lines from the story.

"All Aboard! Well are you coming?' The "conductor" asked Olivia and her team.

"Where?" Olivia said back to him without missing a beat.

"Why, to the North Pole of course. This is the Polar Express." Mr. Hanks said back to Olivia and her team who all were standing there shocked.

"Mr. Hanks, wow, it's a pleasure to meet you." Olivia said shaking his hand.

"Miss Pope, I've heard of you. The pleasure is mine. Now can you show me your tickets so I can help you board the train."

"But my I ask, how did you get here? Why are you here?"

"Let's just say Miss Pope. I know a guy, that knows a guy, that I owed a favor too." Mr. Hanks answered her back.

"Um, okay. You're not telling me anything are you?"

"Nope you're just going to have to wait a bit longer for that I am afraid."

Olivia then handed him her tickets, and her staff did the same. Mr. Hanks then outstretched his hand and helped each of them board the last car on the train.

/

Once inside the train car, and everyone got over their initial shock, they had a chance to take in their surroundings. The car had red velvet couches all the entire length facing inwards. There was a small table in the middle that had some bottles of water, milk, and cookies on it, with a place for the hot chocolate to be placed once the ride started.

There was garland around all the windows, with Christmas window clings in all the windows. In the corner of the room, a small Christmas tree was there. It had elves, red flowers, and other ornaments on it. There were no presents yet because "Santa" had not arrived. From what she heard, he came aboard the train once they reached the "North Pole."

Olivia and her staff took their seats on the couches when they heard Tom Hanks say his famous lines outside their car again. They wondered who would be riding on his car with them. It was awfully big just for just the five of them. Olivia looked up and had another surprise.

"Cyrus, James, what the….What are YOU doing here?" Olivia asked walking over to them giving each man a huge hug and kiss. Her staff was really beginning to wonder what the heck was going on now.

"The tickets were delivered to the White House this morning Liv. Two genuine tickets to ride for tonight. James and I didn't really have plans, till these tickets came."

"Do you know who sent them to you?" Olivia asked.

"No, they just came in my personal mail." Cyrus said.

"Cy, you don't think, Fi- the President did this do you?" Olivia asked giving him a questioning look.

"He didn't tell me anything Liv. You know he tells me everything." Cy answered her with a smirk.

"Cy how is he?" She only asked because her staff was on the other side of the room talking to James.

"He's okay Liv. It's been hard on him since you walked out of his life again. He's been struggling and not sleeping much. He finally asked the doc for some medication to help him sleep and it seems to be working. He knows I see you once a week and I know he wants to ask how you are. I just tell him you're fine and busy with new clients. I see him watching you on the news, and looking out the window a lot. You are ALWAYS with him still. I know that is not going to change. I don't think it ever will."

"Cy, I.." she stopped herself for a moment, "can you tell him for me that I'm okay. That he's with me in my heart always. That I miss him too and to continue to be the man I voted for. I believe in him and I am proud of everything he's accomplished thus far. He needs to know that I regret walking away from him every day and will regret it for the rest of my life." Olivia was holding the tears in. Her staff could tell she was becoming upset.

"Sure Liv, I'll tell him. If it helps, he's not mad at you anymore. He gets why you did what you did for him. He was upset for a while at you but he's not anymore. I think he's made peace with the situation for now. But don't be shocked that once he's out of office he comes for you with a vengeance."

"I know he will. It wouldn't be him, if he didn't. Thanks Cy. Where is he anyway? Did he know you and James were coming tonight?"

"No, he had already left for Santa Barbara before these arrived. He left yesterday morning. Mellie and the kids left a few days before. I've only talked to him once this morning and the tickets didn't arrive till this afternoon."

"Why do you ask?"

"We are just all trying to figure out who sent these tickets that's all. For you both to be here too, it's very strange."

"Well I know you have some high profile cases Liv. Someone just wanted to do something nice for you. James and I being here, I am thinking it was his parents. His Dad hates me of course, but his mom knows how much we both love trains. Me more so, but this is a perfect way to spend Christmas Eve. I get to spend it with my husband and "work wife."

"Oh Cyrus you're getting soft in your old age?"

"Nope only when it comes to you." Cyrus reached over and placed his arm around her back and kissed her forhead. They both then walked over and joined her staff.

/

Cyrus, James, and Olivia were catching up with everyone, eating cookies, when they heard the conductor (Tom Hanks) outside the train say his famous lines again. They all looked up and had another surprise….

Abby screeched. "OH MY GOD! STEPHEN, GEORGIA! What are you doing here? How did you get here? Oh my goodness, it's so good to see you guys." Abby ran over to them hugging them both.

Then Harrison, Quinn, and Olivia walked over to them. Stephen and Georgia hugged everyone and Stephen saved his best hug for Olivia. They shook hands with Cyrus and James.

"It's good to see you Liv. I've missed you." Stephen told her.

"I've missed you to. How did you get here? What are you doing here? Not that I am complaining but wow…" Her mind was racing now.

"These tickets showed up the other day. No note just these tickets. Georgia and I already had plans to come down this way to see her family so it was no big deal."

"You mean you weren't going to tell me you were going to be in town."

"Oh no Liv, you know better than that. We were going to surprise you at your house with coffee and presents tomorrow morning."

"You're too much. But I am happy you're here."

"Me too honey. Me too. Do you think these are from HIM?"

"No. Cy told me he's been struggling and he's forgiven me for walking out on him again, but I don't why he would do this? Plus he's in Santa Barbara with the kids, and you know who."

"Then who do you think sent these to all of us Liv? Come on. Look at everyone that is here? Everyone here means something to you. There an important part of your life."

"Maybe so, and that's true. I just a client we helped save that's all. Maybe it's the DC madam. You know how much she appreciated what we did for her. Or maybe Senator Reston. Hell I don't know."

"I don't know Liv. But whomever did this, sure knows how to make this night special for all of us. To get us all together like this is the best. If you ever find out please let all of us know. I want to thank them." Said Stephen.

"Oh come on Stevie. You'll know I'll have Huck look into this later. But tonight I am not a fixer, no one's a lawyer, a reporter, or chief of staff. Tonight we are just the best of friends going on a ride to the North Pole."

"Hey Liv," Said Quinn. "Do you think they'll give us a bell? That happens in the movie right and book."

"Probably. It's an important part of the story. As long as you believe the bell will always ring for you. I am sure if we do get one, it won't be till we reach the North Pole and Santa, whomever he is." Olivia said to her.

"Geez Liv, we have Tom Hanks on the conductor. Whomever is playing Santa must be good." James spoke up finally.

"I bet you it's like Patrick Dempsey, Eric Dane, or Tony Goldwyn. Or maybe he's an older James Bond type. Sean Connery would be HOT as hell." Said Abby.

"Oh Abby, you and you're McDreamy and McSteamy fettish. OH I love all those choices. I am getting excited just thinking about it now." Said Olivia.

"As long as Santa is HOT and I get to sit in his lap." Said Abby with her voice squeaking.

Stephen, Huck, Harrison and Cyrus just shook their heads in disbelief all this hot guy talk.

"OH God Abby!" Olivia said.

All this point everyone just broke out into a huge laugh. It was the first time Olivia laughed this hard in months. For the first time in such a long time she felt happy. Once everyone calmed down from the possibility of who Santa was going to be, "the conductor" came onto the train and told them they were about to start on their journey to the North Pole. Mr. Hanks asked to see their tickets again and punched one hole in them as the train left the station. Another whole punch would be given to everyone once they reached the North Pole.

Olivia had not been this happy in so long. She had all the people most precious to her with her tonight. It was truly the best Christmas she had since the one with Fitz so long ago. Maybe she thought, after the first of the year, she would try to see him again. Even though it would be a bad idea, sometimes you just have to forget following your gut and follow your heart. The good thing was that both her heart and gut right now wanted the same thing…to see Fitz.

/

Okay my Christmas Pumpkins, there's the next chapter. As I finished this chapter The Polar Express started on the TV. How cute is that? ;-)

I am hoping you like who the "conductor" turned out to be. A reviewer asked me if it was going to be Tom, Fitz's agent. And that gave me the idea of using Tom Hanks. He was the voice of the conductor in the movie, so it was perfect. So "Jetes" thanks for the idea. If it wasn't for you..I wouldn't have thought of using "Tom." Just not the Tom u where thinking of. You rock the house girl!

I am hoping to get the next chapter up tonight but since it's Christmas Eve I have to make sure everything is ready for Santa. My little elves are anxiously awaiting his arrival tonight.

Thank you to all of you who believe in my writing. That makes my writing worth wild.

Don't get off the train yet, everyone seeing Santa is next.

Leave me goodies cuz you may see Santa sooner if you do...;-)

Peace, Luv and Holiday Pumpkins

Me's