Belle's POV 

Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year. With all the lights, snow, magic, and Santa Claus. I couldn't be more grateful. If only my parents could get along though. My parents Scott and Laura have been divorced for the past five years. I was twelve and my little brother Charlie was three years old when it happened. Once the divorce was finalized I made a promise to Charlie to make him happy and let him believe in magic for as long as I can.

Oh, by the way, my name is Belle Calvin. I'm 17 years old. My birthday is the 4th of July, and this Christmas will change everything.  

It's Christmas Eve at my dad's house where I'm baking cookies for Santa and Charlie so they can both enjoy. As I finished the batch I turned off the oven and let the cookies cool off I heard the doorbell and opened the door to see my mom and Charlie. 

" Hi, mom. Hi Charlie!" 

" Hi, Belle!" Charlie said as I gave him a big hug, 

" I just made a batch of cookies, why don't you head over to the family room and I'll make us some hot chocolate." 

"Okay, sis." Charlie heads over to the family as I look back at Mom. 

" It's good to see you, sweetheart. Where's your dad?" 

" He's fifteen minutes away. Do you want to come inside instead of waiting in the car?" 

" That's alright. You spend time with Charlie." 

" Okay, Mom. Oh, and when Dad gets home please don't fight. I don't want Charlie to be sad on Christmas Eve." 

" I know Belle, it hasn't been easy for you to try to help everyone get along. It's not fair for you to take all of that responsibility." 

" Yes, but I chose it because I love you all so much. You may not get along, but I just want us to have a good time at Christmas, that's all I ask." 

" Of course, sweetie." 

"Thank you. Alright well, I'm gonna keep an eye on Charlie as we wait for Dad. Tell Neal I said hi please." 

" I will." Mom said as she headed back to the car I closed the door and walked over to Charlie looking at the tree. 

" There are not a lot of presents under the tree." 

" Don't worry Charlie. Santa will come here tonight and give you lots of presents when you open them tomorrow morning." I set up a small plate of cookies and started to make 2 hot chocolates for us. 

" I don't think I believe in Santa anymore. A bunch of kids at school told me that there is no such thing as Santa Claus." I come over to Charlie's side and kneel to his height. 

" Oh Charlie, why didn't you tell me sooner? I could've talked to you about it." 

" I didn't want to bother you. Besides I talked to Neal about it." 

" Neal? I don't think it's best to talk about things to him." I was not pleased with Neal trying to talk my little brother into being an adult instead of being a kid.  

" Why not? He's a doctor?" 

" Neal is a different kind of doctor, that doesn't want you to be an adult than being a child." 

" You think it's okay to believe in magic and Santa?" 

" well of course. I still believe. Neal and Mom may not approve because they want me to grow up and not be happy, but I want to be happy and that's why you and Christmas make me very happy. It hasn't been easy growing up with two different parents for the both of us, but that doesn't mean I don't worry about you, Charlie." 

" I'm sorry for worrying you, sis." Charlie hugs me as I hug him back. 

" Don't be Charlie, it's part of my job to worry about you. Now let's..." 

I heard the door opening to hear our parents talking to each other and not in a good way. They were talking about Charlie believing in Santa and how my mom is worried I'm too old for fairy tales. It hurts so much when our parents fight. No matter how hard I try for my parents to get along nothing ever works and promises always break. I didn't even realize  I was crying after I blocked out the conversation. 

" Why do you always fight?! You always fight. You even make Belle cry." Charlie spoke up for both of us, and I was speechless. 

" No sweetie, we're not fighting." Mom said. 

" It's your mom singing." Dad tries to joke it off. 

" Dad this isn't funny. Why can't you guys get along just for one day out of the whole year for us? Is it really that hard for the both of you?" I tell both of them as I can feel my heart breaking and I didn't want to do this in front of Charlie. 

" I'm sorry Belle, this isn't how I promised you." Mom said as I crossed my arms as I wanted to try to believe my Mom. " I should get going." 

Charlie comes over to Mom and hugs her. " Do have to stay?" 

" Hey, it's going to be okay. You, your sister, and your dad are going to have a great Christmas together." Mom wasn't wrong about that and I'll keep trying to make Charlie happy. 

" She's right Charlie, dad and I will make Christmas dinner, once we finish dinner we'll have some hot chocolate and cookies, and to finish off I'll read you "The Night Before Christmas" How's that sound?" I said to Charlie as I came to his side. 

Charlie nodded his head and then looked over to Mom. " Be here early?  

" I will sweetie. I love you." Mom kisses Charlie's cheek. 

" I love you too." 

Mom and I hug for a moment. Things are hard growing up with divorced parents but I love my parents very much. " I love you, Belle." 

" I love you too, mom." I watch Mom leave the house and get inside Neal's car to his parent's house. 

" Four hours?" I heard Dad looking at the cookbook about how long it's going to take to cook a turkey. 

This is going to be a long night. 

After a couple of hours trying to cook a Christmas Eve dinner, Dad and I pretty much burned everything so it was best for the three of us to go out to eat. The only place that was the best to eat was Denny's. 

" I don't want to eat here." Charlie said as he complained. 

" Charlie I know this is not the ideal dinner for tonight, but I don't want you starving. Please." I tell Charlie the truth and he finally gets out of the car and I walk by his side into the restaurant.

The three of us went inside the restaurant and went to the back where all the other single fathers and their kids. Judy the waitress sat us at a table and sat down while we looked over our menus. I looked around and noticed a boy with elf ears to see if it could cheer Charlie up. 

" Hey Charlie look over..." I noticed the boy was gone in a flash. 

" What? I don't see anything." Charlie looked around and I was surprised to see the boy disappear so fast. 

" Nothing, never mind." Was it possible I saw what I think I saw? 

" So what will you have? Coffee?" Judy asked us.

" No thank you, I'll have a glass of your eggnog." Dad asked as I thought the drink was gross.

" I don't like eggnog." Glad Charlie agrees with me on that. 

" Me neither." 

" We're out actually." Judy said dully. 

"Coffee, decafe." 

" I'll have chocolate milk please." 

"We're out." Judy said again and I feel bad for Charlie as this Christmas Eve is not going as well as I hope, but the night is still young. 

"Plain milk is fine."

" Make it two please." I said as I couldn't help but think if I actually saw an elf. I even noticed the sparkles on his cheeks, but maybe it was best to enjoy time with my family right now.