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"Dad, are you home?" Noelle called through the home, she had just spent Easter with the Millers and her brother. "Ellie!" Scott cheered as he walked into the room causing Noelle's eyes to widen slightly. Scott had gained weight and grown a beard that was slowly going grey, he wore a red jacket over a grey jumper with some sweatpants. "Hey Dad, are you doing okay?" Noelle asked as she hugged her father. "I don't know," Scott whispered as he held his daughter, he wasn't sure what to make of anything but seeing one of his kids eased him.

Noelle spent the day with her father, the two ate cookies and drank milk while watching their favourite movies just pretending their lives were quiet and mundane rather than the magical truth one has accepted while the other continues to deny. Later that night, Noelle was sitting in her room with music playing softly from her radio when the familiar jingle of Bernard's presence pulled her attention to the Head Elf. "Hello Bernard," Noelle smiled sweetly at him, the exact smile that made his stomach churn pleasantly. "Hello Sweets," Bernard greeted.

"So my father's Santafication has kicked in, he is now sporting the jolly belly and the greying beard yet he still holds denial," Noelle told Bernard as she sat up, crossing her legs as Bernard sat with her. "He'll realise by Thanksgiving, I'm sure of it," Noelle assured Bernard, it was a feeling she had in the back of her mind. "Well, if you have faith in that, then I will too," Bernard assured her. The two were silent as Noelle fiddled with the sleeve of Bernard's sweater while Bernard watched her fondly, he had a new perspective on Noelle. "Do you think the Elves at the North Pole will warm up to me?" Noelle asked Bernard softly.

"Of course they will, Sweets. How could they not," Bernard exclaimed before he noticed her pensive look. "Why would you think they wouldn't?" Bernard asked her softly. "I mean, other than their past encounter with a horrible Christmas Spirit... I just don't know what I'm doing and I'm worried I might mess something up," Noelle answered him truthfully. "Any mistake is a learning curve. Besides, I'll be right by your side through all of it. Every step of the way," Bernard's voice became soft as he finished his sentence, placing his fingers on her chin to turn her head to face him.

"Are you sure you want to make that promise? You may tire of my presence," Noelle asked softly, a teasing glint in her eyes. "I could never grow tired of you, sweets," Bernard whispered as he moved his hand to brush her hair away, cupping the side of her face, grinning as she leaned into his hand. "I'm really glad that we met," Noelle muttered as she closed her eyes, Bernard's presence made her feel calm. "So am I," Bernard's response sounded close, Noelle moved to open her eyes when she felt a gentle kiss being placed on her forehead. When she opened her eyes, Bernard had disappeared.

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It was obvious to everyone that Scott's appearance was changing and it was beginning to affect his life. Noelle felt terrible when her father came home informing her that he received a call from Laura about her concerns about Charlie and his Christmas beliefs. So Noelle went with her father to the Miller home intending to talk to Charlie about the Christmas stuff. So here they were, the father and daughter duo walking into the Miller home after Laura led them inside. "Where is he?" Scott asked Laura.

"Well, he could be in his room jumping up and down on his bed, wearing a big hat and galoshes," Laura replied with a mocking tone. "I don't care what Neal's doing. Where's Charlie?" Scott questioned while Noelle bit back the laugh at her father's response to her mother. "Oh, I see, I see. Well, if you can't be Father of the Year, why not be Father Christmas, huh?" Laura asked making Noelle frown, she stormed past her mother and headed into the study where Neal and Charlie were currently talking.

"Charlie, it's just not logical. How can one man, in one night, visit all the children in the world?" Neal asked Charlie. "Not everyone celebrates Christmas," Charlie answered as Noelle stepped into the room. "And technically, Neal, it's one day. Emphasis on the existence of time zones. it's twenty-four hours to deliver presents," Noelle snarked at Neal with a slight glare. "Yeah! And I think there's some sort of time continuum that breaks down once Santa's in the sleigh," Charlie added with a smile directed at his sister, Neal frowning at the glare on Noelle's face.

"What about fireplaces? A lot of people don't have them. How does Santa visit those people?" Neal asked with certainty in his tone. "He turns into Jell-O and--" Charlie made a slurping sound "--The fireplace kind of appears and he goes through it like this." Charlie motions his hands showing Santa slipping through the thin pipes and chimneys. "What about the reindeer? Have you ever seen a reindeer fly?" Neal asked him. "Yes," Charlie and Noelle answered in unison. "Well, I haven't," Neal replied to them making Noelle roll her eyes.

"Have you ever seen a million dollars?" Charlie asked Neal. "No," Neal answered him truthfully. "Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist," Charlie expressed to Neal who was dumbfounded by the eight-year-old's response. "And besides, Christmas is magic, Neal. There doesn't always need to be a logical and "real" reason to believe," Noelle told him as Scott and Laura walked in. "Hi, Neal. Howdy, Sport," Scott greeted the two. "Hi, Dad!" Charlie greeted with a smile on his face, one that Noelle adored seeing.

"You wanna take a walk? We wanna talk to you," Scott asked Charlie while motioning to Noelle. "Sure, I'll get my coat," Charlie answered before making his way out of the room to do as he said. "Scott? Can I have a minute?" Neal asked. "Sure," Scott replied before stepping closer to the man. "I think Charlie is conflicted at the moment," Neal told Scott making Noelle scoff. "I think you're projecting..." Noelle mumbled to herself wishing she could be anywhere else -- Actually, she was wishing she was at the North Pole eating cookies with Bernard talking about anything and everything.

"Wow. Really?" Scott asked before he whistled lowly, "Boy. Hmm. Appreciate your analysis, I really do." Noelle grinned knowing her father's next words were going to be sarcastic and teasing. "Boy, you got more important things to worry about, you know. Like, where are you gonna get more sweaters after the circus pulls of town?" Scott asked sarcastically noticing Noelle's attempt to hold back her chortle. "Scott! I mean, you're not listening," Laura scolded, "We are very concerned about this." Scott furrowed his brows, "Concerned about what?" Laura wasn't sure how to respond.

"If Charlie spending time with you is the best thing for him," Neal answered him truthfully causing Noelle's eyes to widen. Don't get her wrong, she knew from the outsiders' point of view that this whole thing was strange and concerning but ultimately, Charlie was old enough to believe or not believe. And to Noelle, it almost feels like Neal and Laura had been looking for a reason to take Charlie away completely. She had heard plenty of conversations between her mother and stepfather about how 'terrible' of a father Scott was and that it may be better that he didn't see the kids considering he was 'never there anyway'.

Scott turned away from Neal and Laura, he nodded for Noelle to walk ahead of him and the two walked out of the room. After collecting Charlie, they headed to the local park where they decided to walk. "Do you think by next year I'll be big enough to drive the sleigh all by myself?" Charlie asked Scott. "No!" Scott replied. "But I've been practising," Charlie whined with a pout. "No, that's not what I'm talking about," Scott said with a sigh. "Charlie, hold on a second," Scott stopped Charlie, "We've got to talk about this Santa Claus thing." Noelle frowned as a pit formed in her stomach.

"Charlie," Noelle interrupted before kneeling to her brother, "I need you to promise Dad and me that you keep him being Santa and me being the Christmas Spirit a secret. You can't tell the world because they may become jealous or fearful. It's important to protect the magic of Christmas, right?" Charlie was silent for a moment as he thought about his sister's words. "Okay. I understand. I can keep it a secret," Charlie promised making Noelle smile. "Thanks, Charlie," Noelle hugged her brother while Scott gave her a thumbs up, the three Calvin's made their way through the park happily.

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Rosemary Speaks

Oh, the sweetness...
Any questions, suggestions or headcanons?

See you in the next chapter!