Christmas Elf

Part 14

"Christmas, I was thinking of an idea." my lover called from the other room. Over the last five years we have grown more at ease with our schedules and odd life.

"What's that Santa?" I questioned reading over the book in my hand as I watched him work from afar.

"It's your birthday in two months. I figured if we left tonight we could surprise Holy and bring her gifts, just as we had last time, but we would have to be more quiet about it." he suggested. It was a hard topic to bring up around me, but this was the deep end part.

"No, I won't go around being secretive to see my daughter. I won't allow you to suggest that when it could endanger her more.'' I warned Nick.

"I know but it could save her?" he added.

I was tired of his hopeful banter, he knew the position I had been forced in. I was nowhere in my daughter's life, no signs, no presents, not even visits. I could not break that, he would kill her.

"Nickolas, you can go, but you dare put my name on anything and it will cost her everything, including her life." I argued. I could see my words affected him, we had this argument yearly by this point. By the time we would risk our lives for her, what would be the point, she could get hurt. I would miss a birthday in order to endanger her.

"What if it was from an old friend, Saint Nick?" He stood from his seat and walked over to me. I could see how the past five years affected him, his hair grew more grey, and his face less jolly.

"That's fine, just be home for my birthday?" I gave in. I did want my daughter to have something from me. I just wanted her safe more than anything.

The rest of that night fell into solace. An unspeakable break had happened, I lost trust that Nick would keep my girl safe. We worked on the present all the rest of the night. By early sunlight we had finished and Nick was gone, off with the snow and winds. The first Christmas.