Mariana lifted her head from the remote in her hand, and looked across from her out the darkened window. Pushing herself off the couch, she stepped over the carpeted floor and bent down, peering outside at the snow-covered ground and trees, merely seeing how the world looked that Christmas Eve. Standing up, she yanked the curtains closed and turned back, hitting Power on the television to shut it off, followed by Power on the radio to turn it on. Taking her seat once more on the couch, she laid her head back, and simply listened as the radio station played one Christmas song after another. By the time the fourth song began, she gripped the radio’s remote tightly in her fingers and his Scan, going to another station, going through them until, fed up, she shut the radio off altogether, and laid back on the couch.

“Stupid holiday. It just has to ruin my stations,” she muttered to herself. Folding the pillow up beneath her head, Mariana shut her eyes, and just listened to her own breathing. The faint lights off her Christmas tree flickered in the dark, and she wished her cousin hadn’t talked her into putting it up. She laid in the silence for a good while, before finally climbing off the couch once more, walking over to shut the light off on the tree. There was no point to having it on - no one else lived in that house, no one was there to place presents beneath the silly fiber-optic tree. Her fingers reached out to hit the switch, but she paused when she heard the floor creak behind her. Eyes wide, she spun around, expecting to see someone there ready to pounce, but instead, she saw...nothing.

Frowning, she took a step over, peeking behind the couch, and started for the kitchen, just to be sure. Glancing over her shoulder, she spun back and pointed.

“HEY!” she hollered. There was a shaded man hunched over her tree, but at her exclamation, he jumped, and looked back at her. Silently thanking her mother for her sense of keeping her wits about her, Mariana stepped closer, hand still outstretched.

“...Santa?” she asked softly, confused. He peered out at her through the thick bushels of white, curled hair, and a smile formed inside that beard that she hadn’t seen in years.

“Of course. Who’d you think I was?” he asked, nodding his head. She shook her head, rubbing at her eyes.

“Oh, I did fall asleep...You aren’t real. I found that out years ago...” she said, pushing her fingers through her hair. Santa turned his attention back to the back he’d dropped by the tree, and removed a few well-wrapped boxes, placing them neatly beneath the tree.

“If I was not real, I wouldn’t be leaving gifts here that you’ll open in the morning,” he pointed out, lifting the bag and draping it over his shoulder. She frowned, lowering her hands, and glanced at the tree. “No cookies and milk this year?” he asked, looking at her over the brim of his glasses. Jumping, Mariana moved quickly to the kitchen, returning with a few cookies.

“Um...this is all I have...but...I think it’ll be okay,” she shrugged. This is a dream...it has to be she thought, but I’ll just go along as though...as though it were realSanta smiled, placing the bag on the ground, and stepped over, taking the cookies.

Mariana watched him eat a couple of the cookies, and drink the glass of milk, before looking at her once more.

“You need to go to bed, Mariana. Things will be fine when you wake up again,” he nodded. “I’ll put these back into the kitchen,” he added, gently touching her shoulder before stepping around her and walking to the kitchen.

“Alright...goodnight,” she said, moving to her door and opening it, but, glancing at his bag and unable to resist, she closed the door again and opened the bag, peeking in before climbing inside. If this is a dream, there is no harm in hiding out in his bag, she rationalized to herself, shaking her head as she closed the top again. Santa stepped out of the kitchen, pausing and looking down at the bag with a smile, before chuckling, lifting it effortlessly, and heading back up to the roof.

Before him were 9 reindeer, one pair in front of another, with one standing alone in front of them all, all harnessed and watching Santa pass them by.

“Alright, you’ve been very good,” he said, placing the bag lightly into the sleigh, and stepping back towards each of them, patting them on the head and feeding each of them a carrot before climbing back into the sleigh, picking up the reigns, and snapping them lightly, sending the reindeer off the roof, and sending them all flying into the sky. Mariana bit hard on her lip, looking around the dark sack, wondering when she was going to wake up again.

She was near asleep when she felt the bag lift up again, and heard numerous voices around her. Jerking slightly in the bag, she clutched her knees to her chest, so she didn’t wobble too much, and listened to the voices.

“Merry Christmas, Santa! How was your trip?” one little voice called.

“Merry Christmas, Sunny! It was just as good as always. All the little ones were asleep, the adults were snug in their beds, and the pets were very quiet. Even the rambunctious ones,” Santa answered with a laugh, shaking his head as he strode passed. “I think Vixen is coming down with something...will you make sure he gets plenty of rest?” he asked, pausing and turning back towards Sunny.

“Of course!” he exclaimed, hopping off with some others towards where the reindeer were. Mariana held her breath, but grunted when the bag dropped onto the cold ground. She jumped, and the top of the bag opened up, shedding light inside. Blushing profusely, she looked up at Santa and waved her hand lightly.

“Um...Hi?” Santa shook his head, but laughs, and held out his gloved hand for her.

“Come along, Mariana. You may stay a few nights, but I will have to return you home soon,” he said, smiling at her and helping her from the bag. Embarrassed, she nodded her head, and looked at him.

“Thanks, Santa...I think...” He led her out of the building they were in, and into the snow, but paused, looking at her. Mariana was hugging herself, shivering lightly. Looking over, he took her back inside, and walked away from her, crouching and speaking to one of the younger people that were hurrying about in green. Tilting her head, it took her a moment to realize that they were Santa’s Elves, and she put a hand over her eyes, sighing, and shaking her head. Why am I not waking up? she wondered, biting her lip.

“Because you aren’t dreaming,” a voice answered, and she spun about with a soft cry, staring at a young man about her height, who was smiling at her.

“What?!” she exclaimed, not realizing that she’d actually spoken her thought. He chuckled, and shrugged.

“You asked why you weren’t waking. This isn’t a dream, miss. This is really happening. You rode here in the famous Red Bag of Santa Claus, who is over there talking to Nipper to get you a coat,” he said, with a kind smile on his lips. Tilting her head and raising an eyebrow, Mariana took a step back.

“Um...Sure. I’ll believe you,” she said, hesitantly. “Who are you?” Widening his eyes, his cheeks got a little red, and he held out his hand.

“I’m Cullen,” he said, and, eyeing his hand for a moment, Mariana sighed but took it.

“Mariana,” she replied slowly, as Santa returned to Mariana’s side, draping a nice blue coat about her shoulders.

“Here, Mariana...this should keep you warm until we get to the house...”

“Did she know you knew you rode with her?” Cullen asked, releasing Mariana’s hand but motioning to her. Santa smiled, and shook her head.

“No, son...It wasn’t until I set her down here that I let her know I was aware of it.” Cullen laughed softly, but Mariana frowned.

“Why’s that so funny?” she asked, stuffing her hands into her pajama pockets. Cullen shook his head.

“Have you never heard the song? He sees you when your sleeping, he knows when your awake. He knows when you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake?” he sang, posing it for a question.

“Of course I’ve heard it.”

“Then you should know Dad just knows these things,” he said, with a chuckle, before Mariana’s cheek grew a deeper shade of red, and she lowered her head.

“Leave her be, Cullen – she’s had a long night, and I’m sure she’d appreciate a good night’s rest,” Santa stated, placing an arm around Mariana’s shoulders and leading her out into the snow, helping her across the pathway to a nice little house. Looking up, she couldn’t help but give a small smile. All the windows of the house were lit up with Christmas lights and candles on the inside, and lightly coated with snow on the outside. The shingled roof looked like that of a gingerbread house, and she had to turn to Santa, biting her lip.

“Where...am I?” With a soft laugh, he motioned around as they reached the front door.

“You, my dear...are in the North Pole.”