(Untitled)

[pere_noel]

It was Christmas Day, and in the world of Saint Nick, that meant only one thing: making sure that every girl and boy got their piece of holiday cheer. Nick'd been hard at work for weeks now, using his time on the island not only to acquaint himself with the people but also to craft enough gifts to ensure everyone had a happy holiday. It might not

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[the_lifemate]

The island really had everything. It had Morgan's whole family (Team Bartowski was his family), snow in December, Ellie's amazing cooking, and it even had Santa. Good Ole' Saint Nick and he looked just like he'd always imagined he would.

"In your face, Mom!" Morgan cheered to himself under his breath. "He so does exist." Still adorned in his elf outfit (it was remarkably comfortable and this was the day he was supposed to be wearing it) and quite literally jingling all the way thanks to the bells on his elf coat and little elf shoes, Morgan ran up to Father Christmas, bouncing at the jolly man's feet.

"Santa! Dude! What's up?" His eyes sparkled the way a person's should on Christmas, and hey, why not? He'd been given the best gift of all: an island full of family, friends, fictional characters, and Santa!

[pere_noel]

Nick laughed, a jolly ho-ho-ing sound, and invited the festively-dressed young man to join him. It warmed the heart to see people enjoying the day.

"Now you look like you're in the Christmas spirit!" he said. "Would you you like some milk and cookies?"

[the_lifemate]

Morgan's eyes - wide and bright on their very own - seemed to grow to Anime-like proportions and he bolted forward.

"Do I ever!" He simply could not contain himself, so excited that all he was missing was a tail to wag. "What are you doing here, Santa? Did you get pulled from the Workshop?"

[pere_noel]

"I did indeed," he said, grabbing a cookie for himself as well. He couldn't, after all, maintain his familiar shape without a steady supply. "But lucky thing that I did, or I might've missed this island in my yearly rounds. Have you been a good boy this year?"

[findaconstant]

In just two weeks, Dan has come to expect just about anything from this strange, strange island.

This?

This was not something he expected.

(And all this time, he thought dinosaurs were the last things on his mind...)

If Nick is observant (read: if he has eyes), he will notice another bearded man, staring, jaw completely unhinged. The first thought that crosses Dan's mind is oh, it's probably a resident dressed as Santa - but a tiiiiiiiiny part of him is all alight with Christmas cheer, and suddenly, he's five again.

Five, and staring.

[pere_noel]

Nick gave him just about the friendliest smile imaginable. "In the mood for some milk and cookies?" he offered, gesturing at the spread he'd laid out on the low table. "I believe there's some coffee and cider in the kitchen if that's more your speed, but please do join me here either way. It wouldn't be Christmas without the company."

[findaconstant]

Dan blinks, a bit dumbstruck.

There's no way. Really. It's impossible. There's no such thing as -

- well, it can't hurt to check, just to make sure.

"... Santa?"

[pere_noel]

Nick nodded, but added, "You can call me Nick, if you like. It's a little more informal." He patted the chair next to him. "Why don't you have a seat, young man? You look like you're about to fall over."

[ihearttomgordon]

Trisha wandered into the rec room on Christmas morning without actually realizing what day it was. When she saw Santa, the big red man, sitting in the middle of the rec room, she didn't know whether to leap for joy or to cry. She did neither, instead she stumbled into the room in overly big Red Sox pajamas and looked at Santa with all of the belief that she could muster. It was considerable despite or perhaps because of what she'd seen.

"Santa...?" she said tentatively in voice that sounded more like six instead of almost ten.

[pere_noel]

"Good morning!" said Nick, with a great ho-ho-ho of a laugh for emphasis. It was the children, after all, who he did all of this for. "And Merry Christmas! Would you like to join me for some milk and cookies?"

[ihearttomgordon]

"G-good morning," she said, eyes still wide and slightly shiny. "Merry Christmas." Her voice was quiet and hesitant but she stepped further into the room. "I thought I'm supposed to make you cookies?" she said tilting her head.

[pere_noel]

"Well, then it's lucky for both of us that someone else already made a batch," said Nick, leaning in like he was sharing a secret with her. "They're quite good. I might've already eaten a few."

[9mmshotglass]

She'd heard he was here. Of course she had. And there he was with a big bag, real as could be. Her smile was small, but there, and she looked less hollowed out than she'd been when she'd met up with Julian (he'd been insistent that if she wasn't going to talk, she ought to eat). Her dark eyes were still wide, still burned a bit as she glanced around at the decorations the milk and cookies, the very Christmas-ness of this all

[pere_noel]

"Merry Christmas!" said Nick, in a voice that rang out throughout the rec room. It was, indeed, a delight to see people come in and enjoy the work he'd put in this morning. "Milk and cookies? I only have milk, but if you'd enjoy something else I'm sure the kitchen is just full of hot drinks right now."

[9mmshotglass]

Reese offered a smile and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. Milk and cookies? Of course. What else would there be on a morning like this? She grasped at words, but for the moment, they were gone. She'd have to wait, then, and took a cookie, eyes curious as she studied him. She wasn't sure when the last time she'd had milk was, but it probably had been something like when she was twelve. Maybe. She glanced at the cookie in her palm for a moment and then carefully took a neat bite before holding up a finger and disappearing into the kitchen to get coffee.

That was better. The heat seemed to loosen her throat and ease its tightness just enough.

"Merry Christmas," she finally said, though it came out in a tight whisper, her cookie dangling from her fingers and her other hand wrapped firmly around the painted holly leaves that decorated her cup.

[pere_noel]

"This Christmas reminds me of the Christmases I enjoyed when I was a younger man," said Nick, helping himself to another cookie. "Crafting all my gifts by hand, being a part of a close community. It just makes a person feel warm inside, don't you think?"

[dillon_princess]

Lyla had slept in that day. Alright, so dragging herself out of bed and away from Chuck wasn't quite sleeping in, but she saw it as the same. Still, a warm shower and a new pair of pyjamas she'd grabbed from the clothing box and she was ready to face the day. Her first Christmas away from her family.

Seeing Nick in the rec room made her smile, still tying her hair up as she walked in, "Merry Christmas."

[pere_noel]

"Merry Christmas!" said Nick in return, a friendly smile on his face. "And it's good to see you again, Lyla. Tell me, have you been a good girl this year?"

[dillon_princess]

Her cheeks went pink at his question, thinking of that very same conversation she'd had with Chuck, albeit a much more teasing one. Somehow being asked it by santa claus was an entirely serious and sobering prospect. "I think so. Not perfect, but I've tried."

[pere_noel]

"Well, nobody's perfect," Nick said with an understanding smile. "My wife, for instance, thinks I'm entirely too fond of sweets. We all have our little failings, but that doesn't mean we're not good at heart."