Rose sat on a chair between Bernard and Quentin, enjoying a drink. She had just told them some stories from her childhood and both had hung on her every word, especially Bernard who couldn't help but smile as she gestured with her hands. When he laughed at one particular story, she felt a blush heat her cheeks.
     "That reminds me of a story that happened here a few years ago." Quentin had said, seemingly oblivious to the looks Rose and Bernard were giving each other.
     As Quentin told his story, Rose laughed and her laughter made Bernard smile lightly. There was something about her but he just couldn't put his finger on it.
     As they kept glancing at each other, Judy came rushing to the railing. "We've got a situation. Santa's at the Millers but he's not responding."
     Immediately, a dark look clouded Rose's face as Quentin replied, "Time to deploy the ELFS."
     Bernard got up and rang a giant bell. Rose jumped up when he did. "I have to go, too! Something could have happened to my dad!"
     A sad look crossed Bernard's face but he nodded. "Go with them." He gestured to the ELFS that were heading down the hall. "Just promise me you'll be careful."
     Rose nodded. "I will, Bernard." She then leaned up and placed a quick kiss on his cheek before taking off down the hall.
     Bernard stood there, utterly bewildered as he touched the place where she'd kissed him. Quentin looked at him before a thought occurred to him. "You like her!"
     Bernard turned his gaze to Quentin. "What are you talking about?"
     "You have feelings for her." Quentin whispered, looking utterly surprised. "No one has ever made you act this strange before."
     "I don't know what I'm feeling." Bernard confessed. "But, either way, nothing can happen. She's Santa's daughter."
     With that, he sank back into his chair, sadly.
                           * * * * *
     Rose caught up to the ELFS. The leader took her hand as they flew off into the night. Mere minutes later, they were on the roof of the Millers house where Charlie was sitting alone.
     Rose landed first, being the tallest, and immediately made her way over to Charlie, wrapping him up in a hug. "Hey, lil monster!" She said, "You alright?"
     "They took dad."
     "Don't worry about it. We're gonna bust him out."
     The lead ELFS came forward and said, "Yes we are. Come on, let's go save Santa." He held a hand out to Charlie. "We find we get all better if we fly. Oh, and Charlie? Rose? Don't ever try this without ELFS supervision."
     Rose shook her head. "Trust me, after this, I'm not trying this even with ELFS supervision."
     With that, another of the ELFS took Rose's hand and, a second later, they were all in the air.
                           * * * * *
      A few minutes later, the prison guard was reading a magazine when he leaned over to find a bunch of kids standing at the desk, the oldest appearing to be a teenage girl.
     "We're here to see Santa." One of the small children said.
     "Go home kids. Visiting hours are over."
     "We're not kids and we're not visiting."
     "We're here to bust out my dad!" Charlie said.
     "Quiet down, Char." Rose whispered.
     "You're the Calvin boy!" The guard realized, grabbing up a file. "And you must be the Calvin girl!" Rose rolled her eyes. "Who're these other kids?"
     "We're your worst nightmare: elves with attitude."
     With that, the elves tied the guard up with silly string and then rushed toward the holding cell. Charlie shoved a doughnut in the guard's face and took his sister's hand as they rushed after the elves.
     "Hi, dad! Are you ok?" Charlie asked.
     "Much better now that both of you are here!" When Scott finished speaking, the elves pulled off the cell door. "Whoa! How'd you do that?"
     "Tinsel. Not just for decoration."
     Scott shrugged as the group rushed out the door. One of the other prisoners called out as they left, "Hey! Can I get some of that tinsel please?"
                          * * * * *
     A few minutes later, Scott, Rose, and Charlie were dropped off back at the Millers. Charlie said hi as they rushed through the door.
     Immediately, Laura and Neil hugged him. Rose was just behind Charlie and both Laura and Neil rushed over to hug her as well. To say she was surprised when Neil hugged her was an understatement.
     "What was that for?"
     Neil smiled. "Just because I'm not your dad doesn't mean I don't love you, Rose. We were both worried sick about you."
     "She was fine." Charlie said. "At the North Pole."
     "Charlie, not this again."
     "Actually," Rose said, "he's been telling the truth all along. I was at the North Pole and I was with the Head Elf."
     "And is he your boyfriend?" Laura asked, even though she didn't believe what her daughter said for a minute.
     Rose blushed. "No. Bernard and I... we're just friends."
     Scott cleared his throat from behind them. "I don't have much time."
     "Let's go!" Charlie said.
     "Actually," Scott said, "I think it's a much better idea if you and your sister stay here with Mom and Neil."
     "Really?"
     As Scott explained that he loved his children, giving them each a hug, but he had to take care of the rest of the children, Charlie started crying. Rose simply hugged her dad tighter.
     "What do you think, Laura? Christmas Eve, Charlie and Rose can come visit me?"
     "Oh my God!" Laura smiled. "It really is you! You really are Santa Claus!"
     "And your parents thought I'd never amount to anything." Scott joked.
     "And don't go yet. I have a gift for you!" She rushed off.
     Neil was confused. "Scott?" Scott looked at Neil who looked at Scott. Seemingly finding something there, Neil's eyes widened. "Santa?"
     At that moment, Laura came back and threw the custody papers in the fire. "From now on, I want you to be able to visit both your kids."
    "You can count on it."
    A voice sounded from behind them. "What with all this boo-hooing?" Bernard walked into the room, munching on a wrap. Neil backed away from him and into the wall. "Hey, how ya doing?"
     "Nothing, Bernard. I'm just saying goodbye to Rose and Charlie."
     "What goodbye?" Bernard asked. "Rose, you still have the necklace I gave you?"
     Rose gestured. "I never take it off."
     "Well it can also be used to see your father. Just say the name Santa and he'll come." He turned to Charlie. "And, Charlie, you still have the glass ball I gave you, right?" Charlie nodded. "Well, all ya gotta do I shake it whenever you wanna see your dad. He can come back to visit you anytime, day or night. Hey, have I ever steered you two wrong?" Both Calvin kids smiled. Bernard turned his attention to Neil. "Nice sweater. Hey, did we make this?"
      Bernard began looking for the tag on the sweater to find out. Neil managed to look super uncomfortable. "Laura, he's sucking us into his delusions! Look at the elaborate measures he's taken!" He stole Bernard's wrap.
     "Neil, it's ok. I'll explain it to you later."
     While Neil was distracted, Bernard disappeared. He turned back to where the elf was seconds ago and saw him gone. "Where'd he go?" Then he took off down the hall to look for him.
                              * * * * *
      Minutes later, Santa had taken off to finish his midnight ride. He threw down gifts for each member of his family. A gift fell down to each of them. Neil opened up a wienie whistle and began blowing on it like a dork. Laura almost cried when she got her Mystery Date game. A soccer ball landed in Charlie's hands. Finally, a box landed in Rose's. She opened it up to find a charm bracelet with a few charms on it already: a polar bear, a Santa, a star, an R, and a heart.
    With that, Santa was gone.