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Noelle and Charlie were smiling and shouting in glee as the reindeers pulled the sleigh through the sky while Scott had climbed into the front seat. It wasn't long till they landed on a roof that wasn't their own, Noelle and Charlie turned to their father with expectant expressions. "Well, we made go time. Now what do we do?" Scott asked them. "Get the bag of toys!" Noelle answered him. "And do what?" Scott asked his daughter with raised brows. "Go down the chimney!" Charlie told him like it was the most obvious option he had. "Down the chimney? You want me to take the toys down the chimney into a strangers house in my underwear?" Scott asked incredulously.

"No. You got to put the suit on first," Charlie told him as Noelle leaned forward and ruffled her brother's hair. "You know what we're gonna do... we're gonna get out of here because this whole thing is stupid!" Scott exclaimed to his children. "How come everything we want to do is stupid?! You never do anything we ask nor do you spend time with us!" Noelle snapped, her usual joy was gone and it was a sight not many saw, nor was it a sight Charlie or Scott liked to see. "I didn't say that, Ellie. I..." Scott trailed off seeing the sadness in his children's eyes.

Scott let out an annoyed grunt, "Freezing my nubs off out here... And you want me to get into a Santa costume. This is great... a Santa costume. Oh, this thing. You never know where it's been. A thousand malls." Noelle giggled as her father rambled passionately about his situation. "Well, I hope you're happy, Comet. Hope you're happy," Scott said towards the reindeer leading the sleigh. "Someone has a favourite," Noelle whispered to her brother who smiled and turned to her, "Don't you favour Dasher already?" Noelle held her finger to her lips with a cheeky wink that makes Charlie grin.

"But most of all, I hope the guy that lives here is a talior!" Scott shouted as he pulled on the waistline of the pants revealing how baggy they were. "Nice coat," Scott complimented as he pulled on the Santa coat. "Well, how do I look? Nice?" Scott asked his children. "You forgot the sash," Noelle said as she held it out to him. "You're right. This completes the ensemble," Scott replied sarcastically as he tied the sash around him completing the outfit. "All right. Got my boots. Now I've got this suit on. How am I supposed to know what to leave?" Scott asked, Noelle shrugged cluelessly.

"Maybe there's a list," Charlie suggested with a smile. "A list. How silly of me. Of course there's a list," Scott said mockingly before reaching for the bag. The moment he held it, the bag floated up carrying Scott towards the chimney, he magically seemed to liquefy into the small chimney before disappearing from Noelle and Charlie's sight. "Do you think he's okay?" Charlie asked Noelle who smiled softly at her brother, climbing over to sit in the middle of the seat. "I know he is. Trust me, he'll be fine and maybe, we'll see the North Pole," Noelle told her little brother who grinned excitedly about that.

It wasn't long till their father appeared out of the chimney the same way he had gone in, both Calvins turned to him with wide eyes. "How'd you do that? What'd it feel like, Dad?" Charlie asked him. "It felt like America's Most Wanted," Scott exclaimed to his children as he floated towards the sleigh. "Now pull me in quick! We gotta get out of here," Scott told them, the two reached for their fathers feet and pulled him into the sleigh before allowing him to sit down with them. "Thanks. We gotta go home. How do you start this thing?" Scott pondered before pulling the reigns, the reindeer moving off of the roof.

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The night was spent visiting homes to deliever presents until they were all done, Noelle settled into the back seat with a sigh as she closed her eyes. "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!" Scott exclaimed into the rising sun, "When I wake up, I'm getting a CAT scan." Noelle giggled at his words before peeking an eye open to see a present sitting on the floor, she tilted her head before reaching down and picking it up to see her own name written on the card. "Huh? A present for me..." Noelle whispered before she opened it to reveal a beautiful necklace shaped like a snowflake.

"Oh wow..." Noelle breathed out before she clipped it on, the snowflake sat nicely just below her collarbone and seemed to sparkle for a moment before settling. She leaned back again and felt Charlie climb over and into her arms, the two fell asleep leaving Scott awake and processing the night's adventure slowly. His thoughts were broken when he realised that they were not heading back to their home but were currently flying over what seemed like some icy desert. Charlie and Noelle were awoken by the reindeers coming to a stop on the icy ground before Noelle heard a voice.

"See you later, Noel," Dasher spoke with a slight bow before he and the other reindeers scurried off into the distance. Noelle was wide eyed as Charlie leaned forward, "Is this okay, Dad?" Charlie asked. "No, it's not okay!" Scott exclaimed when a boy walked out from behind the ice though Noelle's ears twitched hearing a soft choir in the wind, "In the silence of the night. When the snow..." Scott tried to gain the attention of the boy while Noelle looked around for the singing, she locked eyes with the boy who seemed to flush pink before he continued pressing buttons, the ground rocked slightly before it began descending.

"You can see a magic light. And hear the ring of Christmas bells. Can you hear me? Though the night seems long and dark. It is the earth..." The singing continued to take Noelle's attention away from whatever was happening until it faded out with final words, "So close your eyes and come with me. The Christmas bells will bring you home. And now with song we fill the night, while magic dances in the light, to wish you noe and all the year, the joy that comes with Christmas cheer. Hear our voices fill the air, to drive the winter's cold away, and so our hearts with all will share, the love that comes with Christmas day." Noelle let out a soft breath remembering her grandmother singing those same words when she was young.

"Where are all the grown-ups?" Scott questioned with concern. "This is so cool!" Charlie cheered happily. "Stay here," Scott told his children sternly before he climbed out of the sleigh and towards one of the people walking around. "Hey, kid, kid, kid, who's in charge here?" Scott asked. "You are. And I'm not a kid. I've got poiny shoes that are older than you. I'm an elf," The she-elf informed him. Noelle looked around at the elves in wonder, she wanted to see the workshop. Her eyes landed on a taller Elf leaning against a candy cane pillar with his arms crossed, she admired him for a moment before looking away.

"You guys, or you girls... Who gives the orders? Who's your boss?" Scott questioned her. "You are," She replied with a huff. "No, no, no. Who's the head elf?" Scott asked her next. "You are!" She exclaimed. "Hey! Who's causing all the trouble around here?" The taller elf questioned as he approached the two. "He is," The she-elf said at the same time Scott said, "She is." Both were pointing at one another in a childish fashion. "Excuse me, are we on a coffee break?" The taller elf asked the girl. "We don't drink coffee," She replied to him blandly. "Then I guess the break is over. Back to work. Thanks," The taller elf ordered.

Noelle and Charlie shared a glance before Noelle's eyes landed back on the taller elf, he seemed stressed out and exhausted to her. "Take it easy on her, will ya?" Scott told the taller elf before asking, "Who are you?" The tall elf looked up at him, "I'm Bernard. Nice to meet ya, Santa." Noelle sighed as she climbed out of the sleigh, she reached up and helped Charlie out before taking his hand in her own. The elves around them looked at her in awe and slight worry, she could tell they seemed spooked by something. "I'm not Santa!" She heard her father yell, she lead Charlie towards him and the elf who were walking away.

"I've had a rough night. There's been dogs barking, guns going off. Look, my back's killing me. Have you ever tried to shove a sea kayak down a chimney? I'm tired of this small talk," Scott expressed to Bernard tiredly. "Hmm. The other Santa disappeared, right?" Bernard asked as he kept walking, Scott following him with the two Calvin kids following a pace behind them. "Wait a minute. Hey! I know where this is going. It wasn't my fault. The other guy fell. It was an accident. I've got homeowner's insurance and a good attorney. Not as good as my ex wife's, but let's not open up that wound," Scott rambled to the Elf.

"How did you know the other guy was gone?" Scott asked Bernard once he stopped him. "Can I get you a drink?" Bernard asked Scott. "No, I don't want a drink," Scott answered him. "I'm thirsty, and hungry, too," Charlie spoke up once he and Noelle had reached them. "Kids, I thought I told you to stay in the sleigh," Scott softly scolded the two. "We wanted to see more of the North Pole," Noelle spoke softly, she frowned slightly. "Who are they?" Bernard asked Scott though his hesitant gaze was focused on Noelle. "This is my son, Charlie and my daughter, Noelle," Scott introduced, "I'm sorry. Kids, this is--"

"Bernard," Bernard spoke up prompting Scott to repeat it. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Bernard," Noelle greeted softly as she held out her hand, he took it in his own. "Hi, Bernard," Charlie greeted, Noelle and Bernard let go of each others hands. "Hiya, Sport," Bernard greeted Charlie with a smile. "Hey, Dad, he called me Sport just like you," Charlie told Scott with a grin. "Wonderful," Scott said sarcastically recieving a nudge from Noelle who frowned at his attitude. "Hey, you know what? I got something for you," Bernard told Charlie before reaching into his bag.

"Okay, now hold out your hand, all right?" Bernard asked as he pulled out a snow globe, "Now, be very careful. This us very old, just like me. Shake it up, Charlie." Charlie did what Bernard told him, both Charlie and Noelle watched as the overhead image of their home appeared showing the reindeers and sleigh flying by. "Wow," Charlie breathed out while Noelle smiled at the sight. "Why don't you hold onto it for me for a while? It might come in handy," Bernard told Charlie. "Thanks. Thanks a lot. I promise I'll take real good care of it," Charlie promised. "Make sure you do," Bernard told him before locking eyes with Noelle who smiled at him with a twinkle in her eyes.

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Rosemary Speaks

They've met... but why are the elves hesitant around Noelle? Guess you'll have to find out next time!

See you in the next chapter!