Nick

I took her to a place, sometime in her past. She was in a packed car with both her parents, smiling and laughing while they all sang some merry tunes. She had a black pair of ears on and a little bag packed with goodies.

Wynter clutched onto my hand as the car turned onto the busy highway. Just as they merged onto the highway, a 16 wheeler swerved out of control and into their lane.

"NOO!" she screamed, running to aide the people in the wreck. I held her waist tight as she tried to pull away from me. I made the memory disappear just before she could see the gore of the scene. She jumped and rested her head against my chest as she heard the distant echos of the collision. Just as quickly as it happened, I take her over to the man who crashed the truck and reversed time to see what would have happened if the crash hadn't happened. He instead hit her as she crossed the street to meet her parents at a distant rest stop.

"So it would have been me or.. my parents." she cursed.

I nodded and took her to the future in a world where she didn't exist.

"Your parents divorced. They never had another child. The sadness they felt from losing you...they couldn't bare it again." I admitted.

She nodded, still holding my hand and rested her head against my arm, shielding her face away from the images. "Take me back" she whispered, begging to return to the present. I transported her back to her home and let her go as she turned to face the warmth of the fire.

"Your wish... was that you could see a world where your parents were alive. You saw what happened." I warned her, trying to make her be careful of what she wished for. She wiped away the tears that formed on her cheeks and turned to retreat to her room.

"Wynter" I whispered, trying to find the words to say. She continued to ignore me but stumbled to the stairs with regret. I pulled her into my arms and hugged her, letting my warmth soothe her restless spirits. I knew she needed it more than she would like to pretend. It was only until the sun rose that I let her go; she had fallen asleep in my arms.

"Nick! Where are you my bro!" my brother texted; "dad came to your room and saw you missing"

"I'm on my way. Tell him to chill" I texted him back. I looked into her face as she rested and carried her up to her room, throwing a blanket over her body before leaving.

—

"Your finally back" my brother yawners, forcing me to smell his armpits.

"Get off" I cursed, pushing him against the wall.

"Where have you been? Sleeping with humans" he cheesed, going into his bathroom to groom.

"Now what kind of man would I be if I told you about my escapades" I teased, washing my face in the adjacent sink.

"Nicholas! Where have you been!" my mother came into the bathroom, pulling me into her reach, "come quickly! The council of spirits are here for breakfast!"

I had no time to sleep as my mother pulled me in to join her and my father for breakfast.

"Son...you know why we have brought you here for breakfast" my father wiped his mouth clean.

"No..I do not" I play dumb, shifting my fork against my plate of food. I couldn't help but think of Wynter and the state I had left her in. I hoped she was okay....

"Because..." my mother pauses, trying to find the words to say.

"Because?" I repeated after them, impatient to here their news. My dad and mom looked at each other and pulled a roll from the bowl.

"Well..you are turning 24 soon." once council member announced, cleaning his throat

"And" I snapped impatiently.

"You know the law states that you must be engaged by the age of 24. You need to find a Mrs. Clause" another council member blurted.

"What!?" I frowned, choking over my juice.

"Son... it is something every clause man must do. If not, your powers will be transfered over to the next clause man until you find one. It's in the rules"

"Hey! I'll be Santa next!" my brother chimed, entering into the dinning room.

"Hush Lewis" my father snapped, signaling him to sit. I couldn't help but chuckle as he ruined the atmosphere of seriousness.

"Have we ever thought of....I don't know... changing the rules?" I demand.

"These rules have been put into practice for centuries Nicholas. Just because you do not find favor with them does not mean we will change them" the eldest council member shrugged.

"You have until the end of this year to find her son."

"That's in 6 days. You can't be serious!" I fumed.

"Come council men! I must show you the new addition to the castle" my father ignores me and escorted the men to the west wing. My mother stood to leave my brother and I alone in the empty halls

"Mr and Mrs. Clause! Ahhh! sounds nice doesn't it?" my brother sang as he leaned across his chair in jest.

"Shut up." I frowned and stood to leave, taking a plate of cookies from the middle.

"You could have married Samantha and you wouldn't be in this mess brother" Lewis chimed.

"Mrs. Ice queen doesn't sound to nice when you are destined to marry now does it brother?" I admired.

"What about the ice princess?" he suggested, following after me as I ventured to my room.

"Boring to look at, even more boring to talk to"

"What about Elsa?" he smiled. I turned to face him and sent daggers into his soul. "Don't even finish your sentence" I snapped, looking at him with disgust. I entered into my room and pulled off my black hoodie and rings.

"Every queen refuses to give up there title be Mrs clause because no one wants to be a brainless robot who sits back and relaxes; forced to help the human race. Hell, I don't even want to!" I frowned, "dad forced me to do this job because I was the oldest"

Lewis jumped onto my bed and searched my pillows for any secrets.  "Well....you have a no humans clause but maybe—-" he began to suggest his plan.

"No way!" I snapped, hindering from finishing his words.

"But Nick! You have 6 days! Not only that but your birthday is coming up. You have to bring someone so the council won't be on your butt" he sighed, finding the bottle of whiskey I had hidden beneath my sheets.

I hummed and thought of Wynter and the favor she owed me. Maybe she would be willing to do it as a favor?

No...
She would never do it unless I forced her.

Maybe it was time I cashed in on that IOU.

——

AN:
Hope you readers don't get annoyed with the cliche falling in love/sibling rivalry/ coming of age romance novel.