CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE:
❝Merry Christmas❞︎

SNOW WAS FALLING OUTSIDE, QUICKLY PILING UP ON THE GROUND. Harper was never a fan of snow, even as a kid she wasn't. So instead of going outside with everyone else and playing in the snow, she sat in the entrance room, sitting by the fire that was brightly shining from the fireplace. A book was sitting comfortably in her hand, ears listening to the kids that were all playing outside and even the teenagers who seemed to have converted into children at the sight of snow. Although Harper wasn't sure why it was snowing this heavy in the fall, she decided against questioning it and focused on the sound of approaching footsteps.

Arms wrapped gently around her neck, lips being pressed against her cheek before the person laid their head against Harper's. Harper couldn't help the smile that pulled on her face when Josie walked over to her, her heart swelling with happiness. Harper brought one hand up to place overtop of Josie's arm, leaning backwards into her embrace. "Whatcha readin'?" Josie hummed.

Harper kept her finger on the page as she closed the book, showing Josie the title before opening it back up. "It's really interesting so far."

"Not in the Christmas mood, huh?" Josie asked, walking around the chair and sitting down beside of Harper. Josie looked at the girl for a moment, noticing the sad look dancing in her eyes. She frowned slightly, reaching forwards and pushing a strand of Harper's hair behind her ear. "Harp, what's wrong?"

Harper smiled, shaking her head. "There's nothing wrong."

Josie rose an eyebrow at her. "Don't lie to me."

A sigh left her lips as she closed her book, turning her head to look at Josie. She shrugged nonchalantly. "Christmas was never a big thing for me as a kid. I was lucky if I got more than one present." She pushed back the hurt that started to flood her veins. "It's just never brought me happy memories, that's all."

Josie frowned deeply, heart breaking at the thought of Harper never having a good Christmas. "Harper, I'm so sorry."

Harper shrugged again, forcing a sad smile. "It's alright."

"Is it?"

Harper stared at her for a moment before quickly looking away as the tears pooled in her eyes. She wasn't going to let her childhood affect her anymore, she was stronger than that. She'd become so much more than she ever thought she was capable of. Being told you were worthless all your life put a toll on her, but coming to the school where she met Hope, where she met Josie, she'd forced herself to realize that her father was wrong. That she was in fact not worthless. She was strong for everything she'd endured. Hope had been the one to prove that to her from the first day they met.

"Hey," Josie whispered, lifting a hand and placing it on Harper's chin making the girl look at her, "I'll make it a happy one for you this year, a memorable one."

Harper smiled gently at her. "You don't have to do that, Jo."

"I want to." Josie stood up, holding out her hands for Harper to grab. "You deserve to be happy too, Harp." Harper grabbed Josie's hands and Josie pulled her up, smiling brightly at her. "I think we should start by putting up the Christmas tree."

Just like that, Harper forgot it was October. Her mind danced with excitement as the Christmas spirit took over her for the first time in her life. Putting ornaments on the tree with Josie at her side, both laughing away and dancing along to the Christmas music that played as they did it. Presents stacked up quickly under the tree, cookies, brownies, all kinds of Christmas treats collected on the table. Lights hung all around and for the first time Harper was experiencing what it was like to have a real Christmas.

Hope stood there watching her friend, seeming to be the only one not affected by the sudden Christmas spirit that's taken over everyone. And even though she desperately wanted her best friend's help, seeing her so happy made her stop in her tracks. If there was on person that deserved to have a happy Christmas―︎even if it wasn't really Christmas―︎was Harper. So instead of saying anything she just walked away in hopes of finding Lizzie.

Harper hesitantly accepted the ribbon that she was supposed to write her wish on. She held the ribbon in her hand for a moment, glancing towards Josie who was quickly scribbling down what she wanted. When Josie was finished she threw the ribbon in the fire as instructed before turning to Harper. "You know what you're wish is?"

Harper shook her head. "I already have everything I could ever want." Her eyes met Josie's as she smiled. She watched with a happy heart as Josie smiled before she pressed a kiss to Harper's lips. Harper's eyes immediately fluttered closed as she kissed her back. Josie pulled away and Harper smiled widely at her. As Josie walked away Harper turned her head to look at Hope who stood there with annoyance on her face. Immediately Harper took a pen and scribbled down her wish.

On the ribbon it read: I wish for Hope to be happy. Quickly Harper threw the ribbon into the fire. A few moments later Hope appeared, yelling for everyone's attention. The music stopped as everyone turned their heads to look at her. Hope's eyes met Harpers for a moment before she moved away from her, looking at everyone else.

Hope cleared her throat as she made her way into the middle of the floor. "I have bad news. A Krampus is headed our way." No one said anything. The silence was killed by Kaleb turning the music back on. Hope let the annoyance take over as she muttered a spell and shot her hand out making the record player spark, permanently stopping the music. She turned towards the Christmas lights, making them explode. She then turned towards the treats and quickly made them fly up as they broke apart.

This time Hope's voice was more stern. "All right! Didn't want to deploy the nuclear option, but Santa's not real. He's a myth and you're all acting like a bunch of children. So let's just put the partridge back in the pear tree and grow the hell up." Hope turned and looked at Pedro. The little boy stared at her for a moment before standing up and quickly running out.

Harper's heart broke as tears sprang to her eyes. Her jaw clenched as she quickly went after the boy, glaring at Hope as she did so before saying, "Thanks a lot." Harper quickly ran after the boy, making it to his room and gently knocking. She pushed the door open and found a crying Pedro. "Pedro?"

"Is she right?" Pedro whimpered, tears filling his eyes. "Is Santa not real?"

Harper quickly shook her head. "Don't listen to her. Santa is real." She pushed the cover back, motioning for him to crawl underneath. He did so, pulling the blanket up to his chin. Harper carefully wiped his tears away and smiled at him. "She may be right about the Krampus thing, but I promise you that when Santa comes you're going to be the first one he visits." She booped his nose earning a small giggle from the boy. "Get some rest, Pedro." She tucked the boy in before standing up and walking out of the room.

She made her way down the hallway, headed back towards the main room where everyone was gathered with weapons in their hands, Krampus standing in the middle looking at all of them. Harper made her way to the front, taking a stand beside of Josie. The sound of footsteps approaching behind her made her turn to see Pedro with a candy cane weapon in his hand. Josie quickly took it from him, shaking her head and gently pushing him behind two other students.

Krampus screeched and Kaleb sped forwards, wrapping him up in Christmas lights. Alaric then took his crossbow, shooting an arrow into his chest. "Straight in the heart." Dorian commented. "That's how you kill a Krampus. Anyone want some cocoa?"

Alaric smiled, taking the mug from his hand. "Sure, why not? It's Christmas."

Hope looked at the two in confusion. "Wait, you two are still merry. If it's dead, why hasn't this lunacy stopped?" They all turned back to where Krampus laid. In the bag beside of his body groaning and shifting could be heard. "Everyone stay back. Whatever's in that thing is coming out." It stood up, hands coming from the top and staying there as if in surrender. The bag was removed and out of it came Santa.

Harper's eyes widened in surprise. Santa held open his arms. "Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn't be merry on this special night?" Pedro poked his head around of Harper and she smiled down at him, placing an arm over his shoulders. Santa made his way towards Hope. "It's the magic of Christmas, Miss Mikaelson. It's the most wonderful time of the year."

Hope rose her eyebrows in surprise, a small smile pulling at the corners of her lips. "Santa? I can't believe you're real."

"Well, of course you can." Santa replied. "You see, my dear Hope, belief is what makes things real."

"Uh. . ." Alaric held up a hand in question.

"Yes?"

He then pointed towards Hope. "How did you know her name?"

"Because everyone was a child once, and I remember each and every one. Besides, a name like Alaric is pretty tough to forget." He then started laughing making everyone else laugh. "I must thank all of you for bringing me back. It's been hard all these years, being trapped in that awful, dark place, unable to spread joy around the world. . ." a loud screeching interrupted him. He turned around, coming face to face with Krampus, ". . . . because of you."

Krampus broke free from the Christmas lights, ripping the arrow free from his chest. "I thought I killed that damn thing!" Alaric snapped.

"I really hate Christmas." Harper sighed, shaking her head.

"Language, Dr. Saltzman." Santa reprimanded. "Don't blame yourself for missing. The Krampus' heart is very small, and this is my fight."

Hope spun the weapon that was in her hand, ready to fight only to be stopped by Alaric. "Wait, no, Hope. You heard the man. This one's personal."

Santa walked closer to Krampus. "So you thought you could steal Christmas, did you? Ho, ho, no." He punched the Krampus in the face. A fight broke out between the two and Harper had to say that it was quite entertaining. They fought back and forth and for a moment Santa was on the ground and Hope took that as an opportunity to toss him the weapon. He quickly caught it before jumping up and stabbing Krampus with it and cutting open his chest. He reached his hand inside his chest and ripping his heart out. Finally, Krampus fell backwards, dead.

"See?" Santa held up the heart. "Very small indeed."

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

AS SANTA LEFT, A SIGH FELL FROM HARPER'S LIPS. After helping to take down Christmas decorations down, Harper made her way back into her room, quickly changing into some pajamas. She put her hair into two braids before making her way out of her room in search for Josie. Making her way towards the girls room, she stopped, ears tuning in when she heard Landon's voice.

"Hey, Jo." Landon said, walking towards her. "Merry Christmas, I guess?"

"You know what's weird about Christmas?" Josie asked. "It's, um. . . the happiest and the saddest."

"Can we start with the happy? A person could not ask for a better partner, a better conscience. You're literally the best person that's ever had the poor judgement to hang out with me. I love the way you laugh. And your upside down mouth. The way your face looks when you watch movies. . ."

"You're in love with Hope." Josie cut him off.

"But that doesn't mean I regret a single second. Because you are beautiful. And special. And perfect. And doing the right thing shouldn't be this hard."

"Landon. . ." Josie whispered. "It's okay."

"You deserve someone who loves you and only you."

"And I've found that." Josie gave him a small smile. "A lot happened when you left. And, uh, Harper and I. . ."

Landon chuckled. "It took you two long enough."

Josie frowned. "You knew."

"Everyone knew." Landon told her. "I was surprised you agreed to even go out with me when it was clear how in love with Harper you were. Harper literally sat back and watched you love me with so much pain. . . it was painful to watch. She deserves everything. And so do you. You guys deserve each other."

"She really is special." Josie chuckled.

"And so are you." Landon reminded before turning on his heel and walking out of the door, going back to Hope.

Harper made her way back towards her room, reaching forwards and grabbing the picture she'd found of her mom. She smiled a sad smile. "Another sucky Christmas. Many more to come." She sat the picture back down as a knock came on her door. She looked up and smiled at Josie. "Hey." She frowned when she noticed the box in Josie's hand. "What's that?"

Josie walked over to her, sitting in front of her on the bed before handing it to her. Harper took it with confusion. "It may not be Christmas. . . but I thought I could attempt to make fake Christmas a little better." She nodded towards the present. "Open it."

"Jo, you didn't have to."

"I wanted to."

Harper smiled before opening the present. She pulled out the necklace that was inside, opening it up to reveal her and Josie on one side and her and Hope on the other. Tears immediately pooled in her eyes as she looked at her. "I. . . thank you, Josie."

"Here." She grabbed the necklace and Harper turned so that Josie could put it around her neck. When it was secured Harper turned back around to face her. "Merry Christmas, Harper."

Harper leaned forwards and pressed a kiss to Josie's lips before pulling away and softly saying back, "Merry Christmas, Josie."