The Santa Clause Fanfic

Thanksgiving

Throughout Thanksgiving break, Merry didn't say a word to her mother or Neil since that day in court. Of course it was rather childish, but Merry was so mad that she couldn't stand to look at them, let alone speak. Charlie was the only one she spoke to, mostly about their father and how close it was to Thanksgiving. Even now, Merry was laying on her bed, doll in her arms, waiting patiently for Bernard to bring her to the North Pole. Deep down, the place she once called home didn't feel like it anymore. A knock was heard from the door, causing Merry to quickly fix her hair to hide her ears, until Charlie enters the room with the snowglobe, flopping himself onto the bed. The teen sighed in relief and adjusted herself before laying back down on the bed next to Charlie.

"Let me guess, Mom and Neil are acting like nothing happened?" she asked
"Yeah" Charlie mumbled, "Dad didn't do anything wrong, though"
"Of course he didn't"
"It's all my fault isn't it?"
"No, Charlie" Merry turns to her stomach and pets Charlie's head, "Having Dad's visitation rights wasn't because of you"
"You're just saying that so I feel better" said Charlie, holding back his tears
"No I'm not. It's not your fault, Charlie. None of this is, it's just Dad's having a hard time figuring out who he is"
"But I know who he is"
"So do I, kiddo"

The siblings sat in silence until something amazing happened outside. Merry was the first to notice and smiled, "Charlie, look" she said, showing her little brother what's going on outside the window. Snow was falling from the night sky, which shows that the holidays are coming closer than expected. "It's snowing," said Charlie, smiling in awe. Merry smiled softly seeing her brother happy for a brief moment until Neil steps in the room, "Kids" he said, "Turkey's ready, time to eat"
The siblings glanced sadly at one another before following their step dad downstairs to have Thanksgiving dinner. Merry didn't say a word to her parents, seeing how they look happy despite everything that happened. She barely touched the food on her plate with her knife and fork, the same for Charlie.

As much as Merry wanted to lash out at her mother for what happened, she kept it to herself for the sake of Charlie being present at the table. Laura noticed this but didn't want to bring it up since she knew how angry Merry was. Neil takes his seat at the table and glances at the teen, "Why don't we talk about this behavior of yours, Merry?" he asked politely, earning an icy cold glare from the teen, which made the man stiffen, "Or not"
Merry's gaze softened once the sound of knocking was heard from the front door. The kids knew exactly who it was when Neil excused himself from the table to open the door. There Scott stood in a red and white Christmas sweater with matching winter hat and gloves. A gloomy face was shown through the white beard after what happened the day he lost the two people he cared the most.

"Hey, Neil" he said sadly, knowing well what the man in front of him was going to say.
"Scott, you're not supposed to be here" Neil warned in a calm manner. Charlie grabs the snow globe from the table, holding it tightly in his grasp. Merry gets up and picks up her little brother as they witness the scene between their dad and Neil.
"Don't make me beat you up, Neil" Scott warned
Neil chuckled with a grin on his rather punchable face, "Oh, would Santa really beat someone up?"
"I'm this close"
Neil blocks the entry way from Scott, "You still believe you're Santa?"
Scott looked unsure, "I don't know"
"What do you mean you don't know?" Charlie speaks up, "Of course, you do, Dad. How can you say that?"
Merry held Charlie tight in her arms, holding back tears seeing how hurt the boy looked. "Think of all those kids" he said
"The only kids I'm thinking about are you and your sister" said Scott
"Dad, we're fine," said Merry, "But you can't let them down. They believe in you just like me and Charlie"

Neil shook his head in disappointment, hearing his step kids saying delusional things all because of their father. "Kids, listen" he said, trying to reason with them until Charlie spoke up.
"No, you listen!" the boy yelled, "You think you know who he is. You don't!"
"Charlie" Laura speaks softly, "Honey, listen. You're confused"
"No, he isn't, mom" said Merry, "Everything Charlie said was true. The North Pole, Santa Claus, the elves, everything. I was there too, but I kept quiet in order to keep dad safe"
Neil glared down at the teen, "Merry, he's not Santa"
"He is too Santa!" Charlie cried, "The three of us went to the North Pole together. We saw it. The elves are really old even though they all look like me, but Bernard looks like Merry's age. He also called me sport, cause' he knows everything. Right, Dad?"
Scott looked uncertain as his two kids were on the verge of tears.
"Please, Dad" Merry begged
"Remember!" Charlie throws the snow globe to his father, which showed the night of Christmas Eve where he and his kids flew across the night sky on Santa's sleigh.

A smile appeared on Scott's face after looking into the snow globe, showing he finally accepted the identity of The Santa Clause. Without hesitation, Charlie and Merry run towards their father, hugging him tight as if he would disappear at any given moment. "Thank you, kids" Scott whispered, "Thank you"
"We're so proud of you" Merry responds
"I love you, Dad" whispered Charlie
The moment the kids pulled away, Scott looked up at his ex-wife asking if it was okay to say goodbye to Charlie and Merry one last time. Laura and Neil leave the room to give the three a moment to say their goodbyes and out of earshot. "So!" said Charlie, "You saw the ball come to life"
"You bet I did" said Scott, "Well, Charlie, Merry, I guess I better go"
"Don't think you're leaving alone, Dad" said Merry, pulling her hair in a ponytail to reveal her elf ears. Scott was in shock as his daughter smirked, "Binding contract. While you become Santa Claus, I become an elf"
"I'll get my stuff" said Charlie, rushing toward the steps until his father stops him.
"I think it's a much better idea if you stayed here with your mom," he said to his son.

Charlie looked up at his father with innocent eyes, saying he wanted to come with him and his sister. Suddenly, the sound of bells was heard in the air, but it wasn't from Merry's silver bell. There Bernard sat at the dining table eating a turkey leg with a napkin around his neck. The look of disappointment was shown the moment he took the first bite. "Boy, this bird is dry" he said, "Haven't you people heard about basting?"
"Bernard!" called Charlie and Merry, running toward the head elf.
Bernard smiled and ruffled the boy's head in greeting, "Hiya, sport"
"We're so glad you're here" said Merry, hugging the head elf
"Told you I'd be here, Sugarplum"
"Bernard, can I go? Please, can I go, Bernard?" asked Charlie, begging for the head elf to join him and his family.
"It's okay with me," said Bernard, glancing at the big man for approval.

To their surprise, Scott agreed and joined the three, taking both his kids' hands as they got ready to leave for the North Pole. When Merry grabs Bernard's hand, it felt like a spark went off between them. A blush crept on both the elves faces until the head elf tells her, "Remember, just like we practiced"
Merry nods and takes a deep breath, focusing on the spell with Bernard's help, teleporting the four of them from the Millers to the North Pole with ease. When Laura returned, she was shocked to see not only Scott was gone, but Charlie and Merry as well, which made her think that her ex-husband may have kidnaped her children.