For all of you that read "All I want for Christmas", I thought that I would give you the run up to that imagine and expand on how Arthur had met his lady love at the New Year celebration. And as it is coming up to that time of year again, I would like to wish you all an incredibly Happy New Year. And may it bring you all health, happiness, and love.

Corporations. Too much money and too much power, Arthur couldn't stop himself from thinking as he looked around the huge foyer of the building. He knew it was money, good money going into his pocket. But as he stood there with the others, being briefed on their duties for the evening, he couldn't help but think this was ridiculous. A bunch of adults dressed as clowns, entertaining another bunch of adults that should have better things to do. And Arthur knew that within a few hours that more than a few of the revellers would be so drunk that they would be perfectly capable of being bigger clowns than he could ever dream of being.

The job was simple enough. He and the others just had to make the employees of the firm happy for one night so that they would forget how shitty their job was the rest of the year.

Arthur never understood the fuss about New Year. Never understood the fireworks, or the over the top celebrations. To him it just meant that one crappy year was over, and another crappy year was about to start. It didn't make much difference to him. He would still be in his dingy apartment, still have to put up with Randall, Hoyt, and every other insensitive, uncaring, unfeeling, rude, and downright obnoxious person that Gotham had to offer. But he always hoped. He knew that it was stupid, but deep down in the depths of his soul, Arthur always hoped that the New Year would bring something wonderful, or more precisely, someone wonderful.

He would watch happy couples walk hand in hand down the sidewalk. Notice the old couple that would sit on the bench in the park feeding the birds together. He would see parents that held one another as he performed at their child's birthday party. And that love was something he wanted, something he craved, something that he would give anything for.

"Ok guys. You all know what you have to do. The function is on the top floor. It's gonna be a long night, but just keep them happy." A voice suddenly said. The sound bringing Arthur back to what he should be doing.

"Gary. What are we supposed to be doing?" Arthur asked the little man, knowing he hadn't heard a single word that this seemingly random guy had said.

"Basically, do what you would do for the kids. Because after a few glasses of cheap Champagne, they won't remember what we did anyway." Gary chuckled, as he, Arthur, and the others piled into the service elevator. The doors slowly opening as they reached the top floor of the building.

                                                              >>-------------------------------<<

Arthur couldn't help but chuckle to himself as he watched some of the partygoers. It hadn't even struck midnight yet, and he found that his and Gary's predictions were already proving to be right. Some woman was slumped over a sofa in the corner of the room, fast asleep, with her lipstick and mascara smeared across her face looking every inch like she had just fallen into his clown makeup. Another guy had taken off his tie and had wrapped it around his head as he played air guitar to a Bruce Springsteen song. His friend next to him banging on an invisible set of drums.

Although he could help but laugh, it wasn't those people that had held his attention. That had been saved for a beautiful woman that seemed to have sat by herself all night, with the same glass of champagne in her hand as she looked out of the large windows at the sky above. The millions of twinkling snowflakes seeming to have her under a spell. Normally, Arthur would not interfered in another person's thoughts, especially as she seemed so lost. But there was a sadness about her, a sadness that Arthur didn't think she deserved. And as he and the others had been told to keep people happy, he decided that it was only right that he should try and make her happy.

Arthur rummaged around in his pocket, pulling out one of the last modelling balloons that he had left. The experienced clown quickly inflating it, and transforming it from a simple length of rubber, into something he hoped would make her smile.

"I have something for you." Arthur said quietly, hoping that his sudden appearance wouldn't shock the woman.

"I.......beg your pardon." She asked, looking slightly shocked at Arthur as he handed her his quickly created vivid red balloon dog.

"I didn't mean to surprise you. It's just.......It's just that you looked a little sad, and I thought that you could use a friend." Arthur told her, a smile growing across his broad red lips as she took his offering, gratefully.

"Thank you. He's lovely. And red is my favourite colour." She replied with a smile. Arthur unable to take his eyes from her, despite the fact that he could feel himself begin to blush. Arthur sure that she could see the red flush despite all his thick white face paint.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you." Arthur said, as he reluctantly turned to leave.

"You don't have to go. I don't mind some company. That's if you want to stay." The woman called out, Arthur quickly turning, and taking a seat next to her.

"My name is (Y/n) by the way. And you didn't disturb me. I don't mean to be a party pooper. But unlike some of my work colleagues I have no desire to get drunk and end up regretting what I did tonight for the rest of the year." (Y/n) chuckled, as she pointed over to where the drunk woman lay, passed out.

Arthur couldn't help but continue to stare at the woman next to him. Her smile was one of the most beautiful things that he had ever seen. And she had a pair of eyes that seemed to sparkle and dance just like the bubbles in the champagne in her glass. He couldn't help but wonder why someone as beautiful as she was would be by herself. But as she carried on smiling at him, Arthur forgot any question that he might have. She was talking to him, and that was all that mattered

"I'm Carnival......well, my name is Arthur actually." Arthur told her as he peeled of his glove and held out his hand for her to shake.

"It's nice to meet you Arthur. I can't say that I have ever met a professional clown before. But I definitely work with a few amateur ones" (Y/n) chuckled, as she looked over to where the men were still rocking out to the music.

"Arthur. I..........I know that this will sound really strange. But......well, when you've finished here, you wouldn't want to take me for a walk would you? I mean you don't have to if you don't want to. But I could really do with someone sweet like you in my life right now." (Y/n) asked a stunned Arthur. His mind racing as he tried to work out whether she was serious or not.

"I.......I'd like that. Um.......I finish at 1. I'll get changed and meet you in the foyer." Arthur stammered, as he almost jumped from the seat. Nearly falling over his own feet as he made his way backwards, back towards the party.

                                                           >>-------------------------------<<

Arthur looked in the mirror, glad that he had taken a change of clothes and what he needed to take off his makeup. Splashing some water on his face, he brushed a few of the droplets though his unruly hair. Hoping beyond all hope that (Y/n) wouldn't be too disappointed when she saw the real him.

Nervously he made his way to the elevator. His heart pounding violently in his chest as slowly descended to the ground floor.

"Wow! I......wow. Arthur." (Y/n) said, seemingly shocked as Arthur stepped foot through the opening doors. Arthur getting a sinking feeling that at any moment she was going to turn and run.

"I must confess that I didn't know what to expect when those doors opened. But I have to admit that I'm not disappointed. I swear that you are as handsome as you are sweet." (Y/n) chuckled, as she carefully pushed some of Arthur's hair back behind his ear.

"So, how about taking a girl for a walk in the snow?" (Y/n) asked, as she offered Arthur her arm. Arthur eagerly taking it, before the two made their way onto the streets of Gotham.

                                                           >>-------------------------------<<

Arthur couldn't believe that this was all true. Here he was, arm in arm with a beautiful woman, walking through the snow on New Year's Day, as the lights of thousands of tiny globes lit their way. It all seemed too good to be true. In fact, he had literally pinched himself on more than one occasion as he and (Y/n) walked, just so that he could make sure that this wasn't just a wonderful dream.

They had been talking as if they had known one another for years. As if this was the most natural thing in the world. And Arthur for one, didn't want the night to end.

"You know something Arthur. While I was waiting for you to change, I made a New Year's resolution. Would you like to know what it was?" (Y/n) asked, as the pair came to a stop in front of the huge Christmas tree in the middle of town. The sounds of faint Christmas carols still drifting through the ether.

"If you want to tell me. Yeah." Arthur replied nervously. Finding himself blushing yet again as (Y/n) placed her hands on the collar of his shirt. The tips of her fingers ghosting over the skin of his neck. Her mere touch sending a wonderful feeling of happiness through his body.

"So, I promised myself that I was going to kiss the first sweet, kind and terribly handsome clown that I came across. And, as it would appear that you are the first, and only, sweet, kind and terribly handsome clown that I have ever met. I think that it is only right that I stick to my resolution. And I should kiss you." (Y/n) said, before leaning in a kissing Arthur on the lips. Arthur finding that he could do nothing more than reciprocate, as he found himself pulling her closer so that he could deepen the kiss.

"Well Arthur. I think that I am going to have to make another resolution. I think that I am going to have to make it so that I can kiss a sweet, kind and terribly handsome clown, every day." (Y/n) told him, as she again kissed Arthurs lips.

As Arthur wrapped his arms around (Y/n)'s waist, the two continuing to kiss as the snow fell around them. Arthur couldn't help but think that maybe this new year was going to be different. And that it would be a new year like no other.