Nick

Wynter lounged in my bed as I came in. I stripped, from my black tuxedo, , fishing for my signature Santa costume. She watched me carefully, biting the inside of her cheek before looking out my window.

"Don't think about it Wyn"

"I'm not thinking about it" she tries to laugh it off but nervousness filled her chuckle.

"Wyn I know when you're lying." I put the top half of the jacket on before walking over to the bed. I pull her into my chest, grabbing her jaw and forcing her to face me. "Don't worry about the deadlines or the rules or the magic or my parents. Don't pay attention to any of that."

"Nick you know about my mom and dad.. I never had a family growing up so... I thought I could marry into one that.. would love me and ..." her voice trails off, tears now filled her cheeks.

"And who says you didn't have a family?
You have Drew. He loves you.
You have Jingles and Ivy and all the other reindeer.
And the elves! They still have to meet you" I kiss her lips, trying to pacify her tears. "And you have me. And I love you?
I'm family? Right?"

"But your mom...she looked so disappointed?" She sighs.

"My mom loves you..." Even she couldn't believe my lie.

"She doesn't. Not anymore, now that she knows I'm a human."

"So what if she dies? My dad hates me and I'm his own son? And I have magic. Human or non human, they don't care. There are no perks."

She shrugs, noting the point that was made.
She still frowns, thinking of the rules of the land.

"Why didn't you tell me Nick"

"Wynter..." I sigh, plopping in the bed beside her.

"You should have told me Nick! You made me think I was giving up my company and that was it? Santa will seize to exist because of me?"

"That's only if you don't produce a heir with the magic of Christmas"

"And what are the odds of that?" She scoffs.

"It happens Wyn. Jack Frost? Lucy Wen. The Easter bunny. They all are half spirits."

She couldn't accept my reassurance. She stood from the bed and walked to the window. "What good is marrying you if the possibility is so low? You have the title now but the legacy will cease if ..."

She hugged her shoulders, staring at the peaks of the mountains scattered across the North Pole skyline.

I walk to where she pondered our future. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pushing my lips against her throat. "Did you ever think I married you because I actually love you?"

"Eww! Never." She says, trying to find the joke within the silence.

"Wynter forget all that. You know well figure that out later. Right now, I have to deliver gifts to the children of the world." I place a warm kiss against her cheek before moving to my closet to retrieve the red pants.

She nodded still staring at the wall.I pull her lips into mine kissing them passionately. She smiled faintly before wiping my lips.

"You know, it kinda gets lonely in that big red sleigh. Just me and jingles and 7 other reindeers.... For hours upon hours...in the cold" I lay in the bed, pushing my chin against her knee.

"Hmmm...it's seems like Santa needs a little helper?"

"Hmmm, but who?" I pretend to think. I stand and pace the room.  She smiled before wrapping her arms around me.

"What about a woman named Wynter Ryder?"

"Hmmm...last time I checked, she was on the naughty list."

"I'm pretty sure Santa can take care of that?" She whispers, kissing my throat. I hold her waist tight as she continues.

"Once a name enters the naughty list, it can't be changed" I lied.

"Too bad....she would have made the best helper in the land. Plus, you can make out with Wynter if Santa ever gets board." She teased, kissing my neck lips before laying back in the bed. I pulled her into my arms, lifting her and pushing her against the wall.

She looked into my eyes, gently scanning my features. "Change of mind Santa?"

"Everyone deserves a second chance. Right?"

"Take my name off the list."

I snap, making it appear up. I show her her name and make it disappear. She giggled before nodding.

"Omg ! My first ride on thé sleigh! What do I even wear? Something hot? A bikini? No I should wear a jacket? Layers?"

I went over the closet and pass her a red and black jacket. "It adjust to the different temperatures around the earth."

She jumps excitedly and drapes it over her shoulders. "Let's go!"

——

Wynter

Drew came outside and smiled as he saw us loading the red car. "You guys make a really good looking couple."

"Thanks Drew" I smiled. He had really helped us with everything.

"Okay, Christmas is in 12 hours we got 10 hours to deliver everything" Drew had a head seat with a microphone that transmitted into the sleigh. He would act as the relay station, warning Nick of every whether condition, delays, and air traffic.

"You ready?" Nick smiles. I pulled up the blanket it and tucked it over my lap.

"Ready." Nick clicks a button on the car. It quickly transformed into the iconic red Christmas sleigh.

"Omg! Omg!" I smile, wrapping my arms around Nick's shoulder.
At the same time, the reindeer lifted us into the sky and we're off!

I'm in awe with the sights and sounds of the North Pole as we ascend into the sky. Eveything looked so different when you were above ground.

Nick hits the reigns and the reindeer bolt higher into into the air.

"I think you left something down there?" Nick points to the floor behind me. I peaked behind the seat and pulled out a small blue box.

"What is this?"
I see To:Wyn written on the tag.

"I don't know? Open it" he smiles. I gasp as I see a small golden necklace. In the center was a crystal that showed evey color in the rainbow. It was beautiful.

"Nick it's beautiful!" I smiled, pushing it against my skin to show him. He unclasped the bracket and tied it around my neck.

"It's a locket. Open it!" He smiles. I opened it and smiled seeing a picture of my parents. It was a picture of me as a toddler with my parents behind me.

"They're with you now. Wherever you go.
Even if you feel alone."

I try not to cry as I reminisce on such a thoughtful gift. He had proved it many times before this but I knew in that moment that Nick was my lifeline. My soul.
I loved him so much. I would ask for the world and he would gift me the galaxy.

"Thank you" I smile, grabbing his jaw before brushing my lips against his.

"Huh. That's weird." He says, looking down at the box. "It doesn't say from who?"

"Hmm... I guess it doesn't" I frown, looking at the empty "from" line. "I wonder who got it for me?"
Was it Jingles?"

"Maybe Drew?" Nick shrugs.

"No. I didn't tell anyone about my parents but you?" I teased.

He shrugs before looking towards the sky. "I don't know.
Must be Santa?"

The End
Copyright © 2022
An uncouthwriter original

Author Note

That's it!
That was the punch line.
Imagine spending 2 years writing 60 chapters and ending the book with "Must be Santa"

I just want to thank you all once again from the bottom of my heart for all your love and support. I'm just a girl who was tired of seeing all these movies and books with no black girl representation.

I get no funds.
I don't get a dime from doing this. (Besides the two books I put on Amazon).
I do this because of y'all and your hilarious comments!

I am so glad and humbled you readers still tune in to read my works (even if I took two years to finish a book)
Started Dec 1,2020
Ended April eleventh, 2022

Look at us!

Love y'all!

Anywhoo!! Enough mushy stuff.
Come on over to Santa Baby!

The first chapter of that book is already out and picks up immediately after this. There is no flash foward/2 years later!

See you there!