Go listen to 'All I Want for Christmas' by Mariah Carey and 'Like it's Christmas' by The Jonas Brothers to put you in the mood ;)

"He 'accidentally' cheated on me twice!" Eyebrows lift and heads turn in my direction; I'm not sure if it's because of the wide movements of my arms or just the sound of my rising voice, yet sadly, it doesn't stop any taxi, neither my mom's plea for my ex-fiancé on the other side of the line.

"Argh, I said no! Now, if you excuse me, I'm already late to my office party."

Finally, a Christmas miracle: a taxi slows down in front of me. As for my mom, all the magic of Santa wouldn't be enough.

"I know it's Christmas Eve, but it's the most important party for my career, and I'll be home before midnight – only if there's not this cheating scumbag of my ex!" I add before hanging up, earning another weird look, from the taxi driver this time.

"Ouch, some hard feelings for an ex?!" The smell of alcohol emanating from him makes me want to turn back as much as his question, yet seeing the time, I can only afford to offer him a tight smile and hold my breath.

"Nassau Street please."

"I understand why your ex left you!" He lifts up his double chin, his stuck-up manners contrasting with his inebriated state, and even more with his driving.

I'm still not breathing as the car sways dangerously fast between the lanes in the heavy traffic because I see my life unfolding at every orange traffic light but also the minutes and my promotion flying away. Why are there so many people out?!

Why does it always happen to me?! Can't I have a Christmas miracl–

My self-pitying thoughts are cut through when out of nowhere a man crosses the road.

"Stop!!"

Luckily, the driver still has some reflexes, braking abruptly, yet it isn't enough, and I rush out to the poor guy knocked down before the car has even fully stopped.

"Are you alright?"

From the mop of hair lifting and moving in every direction, he seems fine, and I'm actually as stunned as he is in front of the brown curls in the exact color of a hot chocolate you drink by the Christmas tree, soft and cozy.

"I'm fine."

Okay, my breath is more knocked out than he is when I meet his eyes. They are a blue shade I've never seen before, like the colors of a snowflake in a December night, millions of lights reflecting in them, and I'm floating with it when he dives his gaze in mine.

Yet the honks around are quick to make me crash down on reality and the busy road we're standing on.

"You shouldn't get in the middle of the traffic like that!" I pull him aside as he still isn't moving.

"I know, but Flake got scared, and I slipped in flight. Have you seen him by the way?"

"What? Who?"

"Flake, my reindeer," he replies, serious.

"Your reindeer, yeah, right!" I laugh, but it quickly fades away in front of his serious frown. "You're joking, right?"

From the crease between his eyebrows, either he's a good actor or...

"Oh no! You need to see a doctor. What's your name?"

"Nicholas, Nicholas Claus, and I don't have time. I have to help my Dad with his round!" he continues as confidently, looking around for his reindeer probably.

What a pity! He is so handsome, and because of me, he's messed up. That's why I can't have nice things, as my sister has repeated to me since that Christmas I've broken my doll's neck. Let's just hope this man can be fixed.

I grab his hand, trying to ignore the warmth spreading all over and focus on the important.

"No?! My taxi! The fucker left with my bag!" 

Now, I can officially say that my Christmas is doomed, though maybe I shouldn't talk too soon, as it's not midnight yet, and more is coming.

I try to find another taxi, but even if it's Christmas and I'm with an injured man, with no money, they have no pity. The last one even speeds up, splashing me.

"Fuck!" I stomp my foot, sensing the tears ready to mess my make-up like the dark stain on my outfit.

But they're dried before even spilling as I'm engulfed in a warm bubble, and technically, also two strong arms.

"Shh... It's okay, I'll take you there once I found Flake, you'll get your promotion."

I've almost melted in his embrace, flying in his delusion, yet the last word is bringing me back to the cold reality.

"Please, stop with your–" Reindeer! "Holy... reindeer!"

"I told you I'm not crazy!" He offers me a breath-taking smile, and I don't know what's the most surreal between this luminous grin and the reindeer with its red nose and wide antlers, but I'm awestruck in front of this out-of-this-world and cute scene as Nicholas goes petting and whispering to the animal in the middle of the New York streets.

Actually, I can't resist the urge to stroke Flake too, its soft fur and light purring reawakening the little me and making her leap with a spark of Christmas spirit I've thought extinguished.

"How about I take you to your party, Heather?" Nicholas holds out his hand, and this time, it's the big, adult me that is jumping inside.

"How do you–?"

He offers me a knowing smile.

"The son of Santa knows everything, right?" I can't believe I've said that, but it feels real when he helps me to sit on Flake's back, and the reindeer slowly starts to trot and fly.

"Flake seems to like you. Usually, he doesn't let strangers ride him."

Not reassured, I'm about to make a snide remark, yet it gets lost on my parted lips when he pulls me closer, putting my arms around his waist, and I forget about the many miles of emptiness under us. I'm flying literally and figuratively, and I feel safer than wrapped in a blanket in front of my home's fireplace.

"What do you want for Christmas?" 

I blink my eyes at his unexpected question. Okay, it isn't surprising coming from him, especially on Christmas Eve, yet it still makes my heart skip a beat.

"A promotion."

"You'll get it."

"Really?!" I ask out of breath but full of hope as I'm trusting his words.

"Yeah, you've been nice, well except that you're cursing a lot!"

Under his sparkling gaze, which must see all of me, even my naughty secrets, I can only offer a sheepish smile, and it turns into a large grin when he adds,

"I made a little detour to show you something."

I don't even question, taking the opportunity to snuggle closer, and I quickly understand as Flakes flies higher, and I lose my breath – not because of the altitude though.

The view spreading below us is dizzying as millions of lights from the city are reflecting the smaller yet as-striking ones of the infinite sky above, and there is no word to describe it, except...

"Wow! It's breathtaking!"

"Yeah, there is a lot of breathtaking things in this city," he whispers, and I swear there are more lights in his blue eyes than anywhere around us.

I forget everything around actually. I'm breathless, dazzled and hypnotized only by him, his eyes, his lips closer and closer... They're about to meet mine when a jolt breaks our daze and lands us back to reality, this time literally.

"Thanks, Flake." I hear him mutter as he pats the reindeer back and already rides down on the New York pavement, quickly offering me his hand.

"Here, you are."

I'm not as reactive, and it isn't only because it's my first reindeer ride that my feet are unsteady to come back down on the ground. I need a few more seconds to realize where we are, and just when I do, he pulls something out of his sack.

"By the way, for your party..." 

"Oh fu–" His chuckle makes me put my hand over my mouth to try to formulate something else than curse words in front of the fucking gorgeous red satin dress. "It's beautiful, thank you."

For another too brief second, our gazes meet, and I'm ready to fly again when he shakes his head.

"Um... I'll let you go, you don't want to be late."

"Yeah... and you probably have lots of work." I let go reluctantly of his hand, a shiver instantly replacing the warmth I've been starting to get used to.

"Thank you." I can't find any other word to say, or maybe I just fear a proper farewell, which is already sinking in like the cold in my bones as I walk away, and when I reach the grand glass door, my heart is frozen.

"Wait!" I turn around, but all I see is the heavy traffic that has made me seethe minutes ago, now leaving me standing here paralyzed and cold, and my whisper is surely covered by impatient honks.

 "What I want for Christmas is you."

***

"Heather, can you get the door?"

I wince at the sound of my mom's shout, sauntering downstairs with heavy steps that aren't at all in rhythm with the Christmas tunes coming from the family room.

I may be a little tired... I may have stayed awake half of the night just in case I'd see him...

I may not be in a cheery mood... even if I've got my promotion.

"It better not be this cheating rat of–" I lose my curse words and my breath when the door gives way to a pair of icy blue eyes. "Nicholas?!"

"Hi, I think there was one more thing on your list?"

"Maybe..." I nibble on the bottom of my smile as I know he's heard my wish, and maybe he can even hear the jingling of my heart.

"Well, you're on mine every day," he whispers, his blue gaze diving in mine, and when I glance up at the mistletoe above our heads, the warmth is bursting everywhere from my chest to my cheeks.

Merry Christmas everybody!!

A few questions for you guys:

Do you believe in Christmas miracles? I do, and I hope I made you believe in them too with this little story ;)

Also, have you been naughty or nice? Will Santa's Son come to punish or reward you? ;)

I hope you liked this little story inspired by the Wattpad Chicklit's Christmas Contests and Writing Prompts, let me know what you think in the comments and vote if you liked it :) This will be my little Christmas present :)