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Bernard and Curtis stood in front of Toy Santa who was practising his ho ho ho's in front of his own reflection. "I am Santa Claus!" Toy Santa spoke with a chuckle, "Boo!" He laughed while Bernard looked to Curtis, "Yeah. No, no, I think this is gonna work. Good -- Good job, Curtis." The younger Elf looked up at Bernard with a slight glare, "Would it kill you to give a wholehearted compliment?" Bernard rolled his eyes, "I always do!" Curtis shook his head, "To someone other than Noelle or Nicholas." Bernard waved Curtis off. "Santa? I need you to look at this," Curtis spoke as he held out The Santa Handbook. "All right!" Toy Santa replied, he leaned over to glance at the book, "Nice!"

"No, I mean, I need you to read it," Curtis corrected. "Well, let's try to be more specific, shall we?" Toy Santa replied to Curtis as he took the book, "Ha-ha! I'll take a look at it over at my desk." Bernard furrowed his brows, "How does he know where it is?" Curtis grinned with pride, "I programmed him that way. He has most of Santa's memories." Curtis and Bernard approached Toy Santa who now sat comfortably at Santa's desk with the book laying in front of him. "Ok, we need you to study everything that's in that book because it is the key to being Santa," Curtis instructed Toy Santa. "Right! I'll memorise everything in the book. I'll follow all the rules. 'Cause rules are very important!" Toy Santa assured them.

Abby walked into the office carrying a tray with a mug and teapot, she smiled politely as she reached the desk. "Hi, Santa," Abby greeted with her usual cheery smile. "Uh... Hi," Toy Santa replied glancing at Curtis for his cues. "Oh, you look..." Abby trailed off as she looked at Santa. "Like he got a good night's sleep," Bernard covered with a fake smile on his face. "Like you got a very good night's sleep," Abby said with a grin. "How about a nice chocolatey cocoa?" Abby asked as she poured it from the teapot into the mug, "Careful, it's hot." Toy Santa nodded, "Of course it is." The three Elves watched as Toy Santa finished the drink quickly.

"Whoo! That's delicious! I like cocoa!" Toy Santa cheered, "Cocoa's superior refreshment! Get me some more cocoa!" Abby was positively beaming at Toy Santa, "Right away, Santa." Abby took the tray and headed out of the office while Curtis grinned, Bernard still felt uneasy about all of this. The door opened to reveal Noelle carrying Nicholas, the young boy looked up at Toy Santa and gasped before turning his head into Noelle's neck. "Nik?" Noelle whispered as she stopped, Bernard looked from his son's reaction to Toy Santa, his unease worsening at the knowledge his own son didn't like the Toy Santa. "We're heading home," Noelle told Bernard who nodded, "I'll be home soon." She blew him a kiss before leaving.

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M

eanwhile, back in Chicago at the Millers new residence, Scott Calvin stood in their kitchen talking to Neal and Laura. "Let me get this straight. You were de-Santified?" Laura questioned her ex-husbanf, "And you only have twenty-seven days to find a wife or you're out?" Scott nodded, "Yeah." Laura frowned, "What are you gonna do? We dated for three years before you got up the courage to propose." Neal looked up at Scott, "That's a pretty serious commitment issues, isn't it?" Scott glared over at Neal, "Yes, Sigmund. I was afraid I'd mess it up the first time. I'm more afraid now." Charlie, who had been in the kitchen spoke, "Dad, you can't give up."

"There's never been a better Santa," Charlie added. "I appreciate that. Maybe it's for the best, if I had spent more time with you, you'd spend less time in the spray paint industry," Scott told his son. "Don't do that to yourself. You have been a great dad. I mean, look at Noelle, she's a mom and happy in love," Laura replied to her ex-husband, "And being Santa has made you an even better man." Neal cleared his throat, "I'm gonna go out on an emotional limb." Scott turned to the man, "Don't make me cry." Neal smiled softly, "Believe it or not, you have a great capacity for love. I know you can find someone wonderful to spend the rest of your life with." Admittedly, Scott appreciated Neal's words.

Until he continued, "Don't let the fact that you have no time, no prospects and a paralysing fear of intimacy get you down." Scott nodded with a hum, "Have you ever helped anyone? Ever?" Laura interrupted the two men, "You know what I'm gonna do? I am gonna look through my phone book and see who's still single out there and not too bitter." Charlie spoke up, "There's divorced moms at school who'll go out with anybody." Scott sent him a look before he replied, "As promising as this sounds, I don't need help with this area. Your old man was a high-school legend. A double letterman, I had a mustang."

Charlie shook his head feeling like he heard too much while Scott continued, "So as far as dating goes, I think if anybody can stir up the old mojo, it would be moi. Come on! I don't think there's a woman out there that doesn't want a piece of this." Little steps heading into the kitchen caught everyone's attention, Lucy entered with a grin on her face. "Hi, mom!" Lucy greeted as Scott smiled, "Lucy!" The girl grinned at the sight of Scott, "Uncle Scott!" Scott picked her up into his arms, "How's my little sweet pea? Ohh! I haven't seen you in a long time. Tell me what's been happenin'?" Lucy was beaming at she replied, "I learned to swim underwater. And I'm not afraid anymore!"

"That's amazing!" Scott cheered back to her,  "Maybe we'll have to go to the mall and... get some ice cream!" Lucy nodded happily at that. "Plenty of women at the mall," Charlie commented to his father. "Charlie!" Scott replied to him with a warning tone. "Where's Noey?" Lucy asked looking around hoping to see the woman. "Noey had to stay back home with her son and partner," Laura answered her daughter. "Will she be visiting for Christmas?" Lucy asked with hopeful eyes. "I'm sure she will, Lucy," Charlie replied to his little sister, Scott took notice of the look on Charlie's face and decided he'd drag Noelle to the Miller home if he had too; Charlie missed his big sister more than he was willing to admit.

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Curtis and Bernard walked with Toy Santa towards the Workshop to keep up appearances during their busy time. "Santa, look forward and put on a smiley face," Curtis instructed, "Say hello to your Elves." Toy Santa smiled unnaturally wide as he cheered out, "Ho, ho, ho! You're doing a wonderful job!" Estel approached Toy Santa holding a toy car in his hand, "Santa, when you said the bigger wheels, is this what you meant?" Toy Santa glanced over before grinning, "Ho, ho, ho! You're doing a wonderful job!" Estel looked at Santa confused before stepping away, he wasn't stupid and now he knew what Noelle meant when she said Curtis had a plan.

"You're doing great. Dial down the ho-ho-ho's, but otherwise you're gold," Curtis told Toy Santa. Curtis and Bernard followed behind Santa as he greeted Elves and read from the Handbook in his hands. "Why don't you say it? "You were right, Curtis. I was wrong."," Curtis teased Bernard who smiled softly. "Ok, ok, I admit it. They're happy. They're working hard. Everything's going to be fine," Bernard replied to Curtis who was positively beaming at Bernard's praise. "This book is very interesting reading. There's a lot of rules they're not following," Toy Santa expressed to the two Head Elves. "That's what I've been saying all along!" Curtis exclaimed.

"Things have gotten a little too sloppy around here. Yes! Sloppiness means mistakes. Mistakes aren't a good thing!" Toy Santa informed Curtis and Bernard. "I might have to make some changes here," Toy Santa added with determination in his eyes, Bernard looked torn while Curtis was eager to hear more. "What do you have in mind?" Curtis asked. "Let me show you. There's many things. Look here..." Toy Santa said as Bernard stepped away, he was beginning to think maybe this wasn't such a good idea and he hoped that Toy Santa didn't put the pieces together and learn the true rule in regards to his fiance and son.

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Rosemary Speaks

Uh-oh, looks like Noelle and Nicholas aren't so safe. What could Bernard be hiding?

Not too long and this book will be finished,
How are y'all feeling about that?

Any questions or suggestions?

See you in the next chapter!