Staying in Switzerland (Hetalia One-Shots)

Santa Claus

    Finland glanced up at the coffee maker. The pot was almost full of the dark brew and Finland sighed in anticipation of his third cup. He leaned against the counter, holding his empty mug in one hand and his phone in the other.
    He didn’t hear or see her until she was right next to him.

      "Hi."

      He looked away from his phone and smiled down at Sarah, Alice’s youngest daughter.
    “Hi there,” he said. She grabbed the sleeve of his blue sweater and tugged on it repeatedly. Finland put his mug on the counter and then knelt down so he was eye to eye level with her. But then she push him back gently so he was forced to sit down. He laughed slightly.
    “What are you—?”
    But then she plopped down on his lap and looked up at him, folding her hands together.
    “Can I have a sparkly pink bike for Christmas? Please?” she asked, staring into his eyes.
    Finland’s mouth dropped open but he quickly slammed it shut. He put his arm around her waist and looked into her dark green eyes.
    “Shouldn’t you, ah, ask your mom or dad about that?” he questioned, hesitantly.
    She couldn’t possible know—
    “But you’re Santa!” she giggled, adorably. “You can have your elves make it for me!”
    Finland stared at her in astonishment.
    “H-how do you know who I am?” he asked.
    “I watch you put presents under our tree,” she said with an innocent smile. “Evan and Tia always fall asleep. But not me! I stay up and see you, but you don’t see me. I keep very quiet. And I told them that I saw you, but they don’t believe me.” She stuck out her big lip. But her pouty face was quickly replaced with another smile. “When I saw you here, I was so happy! But Dani didn’t let me talk to you because she said you were busy. Are you busy? Are you busy making toys?”
    Finland couldn’t help but smile at her. He petted her dark hair and she closed her eyes and leaned against his hand, affectionately.
    “Listen, Sarah,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “You know what a secret is, don’t you?”
    “Yes,” she said, solemnly.
    “Well, nobody can know that I am Santa Claus. It has to be a secret, okay? Do you think you can keep it a secret?”
    Sarah nodded, solemnly.
    “I will, Santa. I won’t tell anyone.”
    “Good. And I will get you that pink bike for Christmas, but only if you keep being the good little girl I know you are!” he exclaimed. She nodded eagerly. Finland laughed and then stood, lifting her up and then swinging her up onto his shoulders. She squealed with excitement and grabbed two fistfuls of his hair, holding on with a death grip.
    “Does Dani know where you are, Sarah?” Finland asked, holding onto her ankles.
    “No…” Sarah mumbled.
    “Uh oh.”
    “I’m sorry, Santa. I’ll try to be good. I just wanted to see you!”
    Finland chuckled as he walked toward the doorway.
    “It’s okay. Where is she?”
    But then a figure went running past the door. There was the sound of skidding sneakers and then the woman walked back and stood in the doorway, slightly out of breath.
    “Sarah! There you are!” Dani exclaimed, walking into the room. Finland released one of Sarah’s feet to wave at Dani.
    “Sorry about that, Mister… Tino, isn’t it?” Dani said as Finland stopped before her.
    “Yes, or Finland, whichever you prefer,” he said.
    “Oh! Cool,” Dani said, smiling at him. But then she raised her eyes to look at Sarah and placed her hands on her hips.
    “You can’t just run off like that! You gave me a heart attack!” she exclaimed.
    “Sorry, but I wanted to talk to Santa!” Sarah said, patting Finland’s forehead. Finland squinted his eyes and grinned.
    “Santa?” Dani said, raising her eyebrows at him. But then two people walked into the doorway behind her and she turned around to look at the new comers.
    “Oh, hi Dani,” Mary greeted with a smile, “Hey Finland, and—“
    “Hi Elsa!” Sarah exclaimed, “Santa, Santa, let me down!”
    Finland lifted Sarah off his shoulders and set her on the ground. She ran over to Mary, her arms outstretched. Mary leaned down and hugged her, meanwhile her fiance was already over by the coffee pot, running a hand through his hair sleepily as he poured two cups of coffee for them.
    “Can you do the magic again? Please?” Sarah begged, pulling Mary down onto her knees. Mary giggled.
    “I don’t think we should do that inside, sweets.”
    “Awww, but I wanted to see some magic,” she whined.
    “Maybe Lukas will do some for you.”
    Sarah and Mary looked at Lukas simultaneously. He shook his head.
    “Aw, come on, Lukas…!”
    “Pwease, Lukas?”
    “Nei,” he said, shaking his head again. But then Mary stood and walked over to him. She touched his coffee mug and a moment later it was beginning to ice over.
    “How vould you like to see some magic, Sarah?” Lukas exclaimed quickly, turning toward the little girl and pulling his mug away from Mary. Sarah cheered and Norway went with Mary and sat down next to her. Finland chuckled as Lukas sipped nonchalantly at his half-frozen coffee before setting it down on the ground next to him. He rubbed his hands together.
    “So… you’re actually Santa?” Dani asked. Finland looked at her, and hesitated, glancing back at the threesome on the floor. Sarah goggled at the sparks of light dancing above Norway’s fingers.
    “Nothing would surprise me at this point,” Dani commented with a lighthearted laugh.
    “Yes, I am,” Finland said with a nod.
    “Really? Hm. Well, if you are Santa, what did Sarah and Even write to you last year?” Dani said, crossing her arms. Finland took a deep breath, easily recalling the letters.
    “Sarah asked for a princess dress and a princess puzzle, and Evan asked for the next book in his favorite series and…” he hesitated. He looked away from her.
    “And?” Dani prompted.
    “And for his mom to come home,” Finland finished in a whisper.
    They were both silent for a time. Sarah and Mary giggled and Finland was surprised to hear Norway chuckle quietly.
    “What do you do when… when you get a letter that you can’t answer?” Dani asked, crossing her arms.
    Finland sighed and then met her gaze.
    “Sorry, I’m sorry,” she whispered shaking her head, “I shouldn’t have—“
    “I keep them.”
    She blinked multiple times and then cocked her head to the side.
    “Keep them?”
    “Yes.”
    “The letters?”
    “Yes, the ones with requests I can’t fulfill, like sick friends, dying grandmothers, missing parents… I keep them.”
    “Why, if I may pry?” Dani said, gently.
    Finland hummed a sigh, looking at Sarah, who smiled happily.

    “To remind myself to not just do good to others one night a year, but whenever I can,” he took a deep breath and forced a smile. “You never know what someone may be going through or how your kindness will affect them.”
    Dani held her hand out to him. Finland glanced at it and then back at her face before taking it. She shook, heartily.
    “That is exactly what I would expect Santa to do,” she said, sincerely. “Thank you for everything. I admire you so much, Santa Claus.”
    “Dani! Dani! Look at what Lukas taught me! Look what I can do!”
    Dani squeezed Finland’s hand before releasing it and then turned toward her charge.
    “What, Sarah?” she said with enthusiasm.
    “Look, Santa!” Sarah exclaimed. Finland nodded and stepped closer to her. She held out her fist, frowning as she focused. Slowly, she unfurled her fingers and multi colored wisps of light danced in the air over her hand. A smile lit up her face and Norway and Mary applauded.
    “Wow, Sarah, that’s amazing!” Dani gasped. Sarah looked at him, expectantly, and Finland smiled.
    “Yes, Sarah, that is absolutely amazing!”