Nick

"Yes. I know. I know Mitch." I frowned, making my way to the empty parking lot in the distance. "Have the plans for the expansions ready on Friday. We need to start production as soon as possible. Christmas is only 11 months away and you know it's our busiest time of the year" I lectured him. Mitch crunched in a few numbers before humming in agreement.

"Yes I'll have them ready. You still need to get the permits." He said, still crunching his calculations.

"Yea I got it Mitch" I sighed, starting the engine of my car so I could leave the lot. Mitch was just one of the many suppliers we employed at the Pole.
I had just finished a meeting with Mattel at their downtown Manhattan office. We decided to meet again so we could work out the details of the Wynter doll along with a few other toys in production.

I hadn't even had the chance to unlock my car door before Mitch called me with details of the blueprints for the expansion.

"Okay. Talk to you later" I nodded, hanging up the phone. I pushed my head to the back of my seat out yawned out of fatigue. I was beyond stressed and tired. Plans and figures for the upcoming Christmas season flashed in my mind. If I wasn't stressed about one thing, it was another.

I glanced down at my watch to take note of the time.

"10:45pm"

Man...it was late. I knew I had to check up on Wynter once I returned to the Pole. I still couldn't believe she agreed to take off two weeks to help me. I knew I was a thorn in her side but she had really saved my butt and for that I was thankful.

I should get her something?
Maybe a nice perfume set or a makeup kit? I wasn't good at sentimental things like this...
I could get Kringle to shop on behalf of me.

I turned on the radio, tuning into some late night news. After a few minutes, I finally pull up to the gates of the Pole and turn into the barn that housed the cars and sleighs.

I make my way to the palace and venture to Wynter's room, knocking on her door to see if she was awake. "Wynter?
Wynter?"

No answer.
I turn the knob to enter but don't see her in her bed? Why wasn't she in here?

I pace over to Drew's room but he wasn't in there either.
I wondered where she could be?

——

I knew I had to head back to the warehouse and find Kringle. She was in charge of Wynter and thus, she would know about her warabouts.

I decided to make a quick stop to pick up some scrolls and prints from the office but was surprised to see her on the floor, nuzzled against the warmth of the fire. Jingles rested beside her, her head was rested against his stomach.

I guess Jingles really took a liking to her. It was strange since Jingles never liked new people all that much.

I made sure to watch her peaceful figure as she slept. Her previously slicked hair was as as wild and free as the snowstorms of the North Pole. It looked like a curly bundle of soft snow. I made my way across the room to meet her and bent over her figure, running a finger through her messy hair, swirling a small piece between fingers in admiration.

She was...beautiful.

I reached over still body, pushing the books that  rested on her lap to the floor before nudging Jingles to wake up.

"Jingles, wake up" I whispered. He sighed heavily before blinking awake and looking up at me.

He whinnied excitedly before licking my cheek.

"Shhhh don't wake up Wynter" I warned him. He nodded and remained still. I bent a knee, covering her with the blankets before lifting her into my arms. She was so light but warm, life a wooly blanket.

Jingles bent low so I could put her on his back and travel back to the palace.

——

She still clung onto me as I placed her onto her bed.

The bright light of the moon reflected against her dark skin as she rested a head on her pillow.
There was a peaceful silence on her features, as if she was dreaming of a world where all her wishes would come true.

Just as I was about to separate from her, she clung onto my neck, nuzzling her cheek against my chest in comfort.

"F**k Wynter" I cursed beneath a desperate breath, gently pushing a palm through her hair. Any other day I would have stayed beside her...I would have even taken relish in her warmth but I had a meeting in the early morning.

I knew she had packed Mr. Snuggles somewhere.
I snapped and he shot up from her bag.
I let it flot over to me before pushing it between her arms.
I pull her wool blanket and cover her with another thicker sheet before kissing her forehand.

"Good night." I whispered before finally taking my leave.

—-

Wynter

I feel a soft feather against my nose and shoo it away. I twist to sleep once more but again, I feel the soft bristle of its end against my cheek.

What in the world!
I open my eyes, forcing my vision to adjust before taking in the room to pinpoint the disturbance.

"Drew!" I fumed, hitting his chest as I see him with a feather on a string. He laughed mischievously and placed the feather on my head, pulling out a chair to sit.

"How did I get back here?
Wait, what's are you doing in here? Why did you wake me up?"

"Nick said to make sure you're reading the scrolls and to also keep an eye on you" he warned.

"And why couldn't Nick tell me....
Working—-"

Drew and I both said at the same time.

I gather my knees and sit up, looking out the window into the distance.
I hated that Nick worked all the time. I knew he was Santa and had to work non stop, 24/7 but even Santa deserved a break. I had taken off two weeks to spend time with him but we had barely seen each other since the first day I arrived.

"Don't look too sad. Nick likes working. I think he enjoys this Santa thing more than he lets on"

I nodded and stared into Drew's soft blue eyes. I couldn't imagine working as much as Nick.
But when I really thought about it...maybe I was the female version of Nick?
Working long hours, stressing over deadlines and palettes. But being a go getter made me the success I was today.

Maybe Nick had the same mindset?

"So what's on the agenda today Princess?" Drew teased, flipping a snow globe between his palms.

Before I could speak, I get a text from Elizabeth.
"Wynter! We have an SOS! Are you free? I need to call you!" She texted. Before I could even respond she rang.

"What's up Liz?"

Wynter! The palettes! I know I said I wouldn't bother you but they need you to approve the checks. You have to sign off on the shipment before they mass produce but my signature didn't match yours so they didn't allow the transaction to go through. They need your signature to physically match."

"Shoot" I cursed closing my eyes in frustration. "Okay. Okay Liz. Im coming. I'll be there soon. Just...wait for me" I announced before hanging up.

"Work?" Drew smiled knowingly.

"Yea." I nodded running to the bathroom to freshen up. "Drew you think you could take me back to my part of earth?"

"No way Wynter!
Nick said you gotta stay here for the whole two weeks or it's my butt"

"But Drewwwww this is an emergency! I need to sign off for the shipment. I mean how come Nick gets to fly wherever he pleases but I can't. I'm a business woman too!"

"I mean you make some valid points." He hummed, walking behind me as I fixed my hair in the mirror.

"Pleaseee. Come on Drew. I talked my company into being the top make up brand in all 50 states and Hawaii. I can talk my way into you" I warned him, biting the end of my golden pin before pushing it between my curls.

"What do you want?
I'll give you an iou? A makeover?"

He pondered but nodded his head.

"Sushi" he said.

"Sushi?" I teased him, turning around to meet his eyes. "As in the fish? With rice and seaweed"

"Yes! I've always wanted to taste it but never had the chance to."

"Fine. I'll take you to the best sushi spot in San Francisco, my treat." That was way easier than I expected? I was happy that was all it took to bribe Drew. It was almost too easy.

Author Note

Happy early New Years in advance!!!