O' Christmas Tree

Chapter 14- Family

After a while, we were led into a seating area. We realized we were having dinner with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

"Wow. This is dinner?" Kate asked, clearly amazed by the setting.

"Prepared by the North Pole's executive chef, Mrs. Claus," Santa said proudly.

"Well, a little something I whipped up last minute. Okay, let's sit down," Mrs. Claus decided.

"You're over here, girls," Santa said, pointing to the two seats next to each other.

"I don't know, Mrs. Claus. My Dad's really strict about me eating my protein and vegetables before I have dessert," Jack said uncertainly.

"Well, as he should be, but this isn't dessert," Mrs. Claus said.

"It's not?" Jack asked.

I smiled, realizing what she did. "There's nutritional foods laced into the desserts."

"Smart you are, (Y/n) (L/n)," Mrs. Claus smiled at me. "Everything on this table is super healthy for you."

"How is it possible?" Kate asked.

"Yeah, even the smartest scientists in America can't figure out how to lace broccoli into sweet treats," I agreed.

"Well, I've created some new recipes. Recipes that make all the food you hate look and taste like all the food you love," Mrs. Claus explained.

"Absolutely brilliant," I admired.

"Would you like some broccoli?" Mrs. Claus asked, presenting a cake.

Jack and I politely took a slice, and I bit into it. It didn't taste like broccoli at all. It was almost velvety.

"This is the most delicious thing I've ever tasted!" Jack said excitedly.

"All right!" Mrs. Claus cheered.

"Well, now, don't miss the lima beans and carrots," Santa reminded us.

"Wow!" Kate said.

"So... I've been thinking... about how you got here. All this business about (Y/n)'s father and coming through a wormhole," Santa started.

"It's true. It was just like on your sleigh," Kate confirmed.

"Only, instead of a sleigh, it was a golf cart," Jack added.

"And I swear it was my father, Santa. I know I wasn't hallucinating. He had on the same fingerless gloves I had on. The ones that he gave me as a kid." I frowned.

"Nick?" Mrs. Claus called. "I have a feeling this has something to do with Kate and (Y/n) being True Believers."

"Yeah, what if it means we're supposed to live here with you guys in the North Pole?" Kate said excitedly.

Santa coughed in surprise. "Excuse me?"

"Come on, Santa. We already speak Elvish, we've been on the big ride, and I could bring a fresh perspective to a whole operation," Kate listed.

"When did this turn into a job interview?" Santa joked, making me giggle.

"Please, Santa. Anything would be better than going home to my mom and her boyfriend." Kate rolled her eyes.

"I'm sitting right here, you know," Jack said.

"And Kate, I'm half-elf. I would love to stay here, Santa, don't get me wrong, but we have lives back at home too. We belong in Massachusetts," I argued.

"You're just saying that 'cause you're getting married to my brother," Kate said.

"No, that's not the only thing. Another thing is that you guys are the only family I've ever had," I retorted.

"You have your mother," Kate snapped.

"She hasn't spoken to me since October, and my dad left when I was six. What about me makes you think that I have a good family, because without you and Teddy, I have close to nothing," I said.

"You know we can both understand you, right?" Santa asked in English.

I looked down at my food, realizing that Santa had understood me. "I haven't had a good meal in twelve years, and I haven't had a meal with my mother in two. I've always had them in my room, or she was in her room and I was downstairs."

Mrs. Claus got up from her seat, walking over to me and hugging me tightly. I hugged her back. She was a motherly woman. She looked at me, studying me for a moment.

"You have us, (Y/n)," Mrs. Claus reasoned.

"Yeah. You have my family, too. And now that you're engaged to my brother, I have a feeling you'll have a lot more cheerful meals from now on," Kate agreed.

"Thanks, Kate," I smiled.