Love at the North Pole - (Steve Claus x Fem Reader)

Part 2: The missed child

All of you were inside the Claus household ready for a Christmas dinner.

The family sat around the table, the festive decorations doing their best to brighten the strained atmosphere. Despite the holiday cheer shimmering in every corner, an air of tension hung over the gathering like a snowcloud, waiting to burst.

Arthur cracked open a firecracker and read off the little piece of paper that fell out, trying to lighten the mood. "What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations?" He paused dramatically. "Tinselitis!" His nasally laugh broke the silence, but only Mrs. Claus and you chuckled softly in return.

Arthur beamed, unfazed. "Isn't this the best part of Christmas?"

Mrs. Claus gave a warm smile, her voice soothing. "It certainly is, Arthur. The whole family together." She turned to Santa. "How about a toast, Malcolm?"

Santa adjusted in his chair and raised his glass with a hearty grin. "Well, here's to me doing an even better job next year!"

"To next year," the family echoed, their voices not quite in unison.

Arthur piped up, his tone earnest. "But you're already perfect, Dad."

Grandsanta scoffed, clearly not amused by the sentiment. "Ha! That turkey did more than him."

Everyone's attention turned to Grandsanta, whose false teeth flew out of his mouth and splattered into the gravy, sending some of it onto Steve. His face tightened in irritation as he wiped the gravy off his face, the mood turning colder. You exchanged a brief glance with Steve, offering a sympathetic smile, but he barely noticed, his frustration simmering just below the surface.
"You wouldn't understand, Father," Steve muttered, his voice sharp.
Santa, unable to resist, smirked. "I've rather moved things on since your day, eh, Steve?"
Grandsanta ignored him, his tone dismissive. "Forget Techno Tommy. He's tex'in' on his calculator after another job."
Steve straightened up in his seat, his voice defensive. "It's a handheld operational and Homing organizer. The HOHO 3000. I'm enacting mission closure."
"Ha! Aren't you the fancy nancy?" Grandsanta laughed. "Doesn't matter what you come up with. You may be next in line, but you'll never get to be Santa unless you knock him off."

Arthur, sensing things were starting to spiral, pulled a board game from under the table, trying to redirect the energy. "I've got you all a present! After all the hard work, I thought we could all use some Christmas fun!"

But as soon as the game was laid out, the bickering started. You watched in silence as Steve and Santa both reached for the Santa game piece.
"I'm Santa!" Steve declared, grabbing the piece first.
"No, no, I'm Santa," Santa retorted, pulling it out of Steve's hand with a slight sneer.



Steve scowled, voice tight. "You just took the piece out of my hand."
"Well, I am actually Santa," Santa said with a grin, clearly enjoying himself. "So I think I should have it."
"Exactly. The non-executive figurehead," Steve muttered, his frustration obvious.

Grandsanta, always one to stir the pot, added, "Means a fatty with a beard who fits the suit."

Arthur, trying to keep the peace, gestured to the other game pieces. "The other pieces are good too. Or I could make extra Santas for everyone."
Santa, grinning mischievously, teased, "Why don't you be the candle, Steve? All those bright ideas, eh?"

Steve's patience was clearly wearing thin. "Fine. I'm the candle. Arthur's the turkey, Y/N can be the reindeer... and you, Father, are, of course, Santa. Grandsanta, you can be this charming relic." Steve said," Pick up the piece, dropping it in front of Grandsanta.