Nick walked through the mall. He was the son of Santa Claus and he was sent back to look for a wife so he could take over for his father as Santa as he was set to retire. It has always been his dream of taking over for his father. He loved his life at the North Pole and he loved his parents more than anything in the world. He would not trade his life for anything. He was thinking when he bumped into someone.

        “Oh gosh, I’m so sorry,” Nick said.

        “It’s okay, I wasn’t paying attention,” the girl said. He looked at her and he saw she was beautiful.

        “I should have been,” Nick said.

        “It’s okay, really, I’m fine, my name is Bri,” she said.

        “I’m Nick,” Nick said shaking her hand. He felt his hand tingle at the touch of her hand in his and he realized she was the one for him. His mother had told him that he had a special gift. He would find the perfect girl for him when his hand tingled at the touch of her skin.

        “You okay?” Bri asked.

        “Yeah, I’m fine, um, would you like to grab a bite to eat sometime?” Nick asked.

        “I would but I’m late to meet my boyfriend, I’m sorry, I got to get going, bye,” Bri said. She walked away. Nick’s heart sank at finding out that she was taken. He walked to the food court and got something to eat and sat down at a corner table and got out his cell phone and called his mother.

        “Hi Mom,” Nick said.

        “Hi honey, you okay,” Mrs. Claus said.

        “Mom, I found her, my hand tingled when I shook her hand,” Nick said.

        “That’s great, honey, what is her name,” Mrs. Claus said.   

        “Bri, but she’s got a boyfriend,” Nick said. He looked up and saw Bri walk into the food court with a guy.

        “Oh honey,” Mrs. Claus said.

        “She was the one, I know it, but she’s with someone else, I failed, Mom,” Nick said.

        “Honey, just be patient, maybe something will happen,” Mrs. Claus said.

        “Maybe, looks like they are arguing,” Nick said as he watched Bri argue with her boyfriend. He watched as the guy said something and walked off.

        “I think they just broke up, the guy just left,” Nick said.

        “Make your move, honey,” Mrs. Claus said.

        “Mom, you know I’m not like that, I’m not going to do that, I’m going to give her time,” Nick said. He saw Bri getting her food.  He looked at his food and he felt her eyes on him.

        “What does Dad say about this,” Nick said as Bri walked towards him.

        “Honey, he is on your side no matter what, we both love you,” Mrs. Claus said.

        “And I love you guys, too, Mom, I better go, I will call you guys later, bye,” Nick said.

        “Bye honey,” Mrs. Claus said. Nick hung up the phone.

        “Can I join you?” Bri asked.

        “Sure,” Nick said. She sat down with her tray.

        “My boyfriend and I just broke up, he met someone else,” Bri said.

        “I’m sorry,” Nick said.

        “It’s okay, I realized that I didn’t feel the same way about him anymore,” Bri said.

        “I see,” Nick said.

        “Are you seeing anybody?” Bri asked.

        “Nope, I’ve been too busy,” Nick said.

        “What do you do?” Bri asked.

        “I make toys,” Nick said.

        “So you are a toymaker?” Bri said.

        “Yeah,” Nick said.

A week later, they had grown closer and were dating. They were out on a date and were walking along the beach. They were holding hands.

        “I really like being with you, Nick,” Bri said.

        “And I really like being with you,” Nick said.

        “Will you be my guy?” Bri asked.

        “Only if you be my girl,” Nick said.

        “That would be a yes,” Bri said.

        “And yes for me,” Nick said. They kissed softly which turned passionate. She pulled back and looked at him.

        “Nick,” Bri said.

        “Bri,” Nick said.

        “There is a lady staring at us there,” Bri said. Nick looked and saw his mother.

        “That’s my mom,” Nick said as Mrs. Claus walked up to them. Nick hugged her.

        “Mom, what are you doing here,” Nick said.

        “I was looking for you, you need to come home, now,” Mrs. Claus said.

        “What’s wrong,” Nick said.

        “It’s your father, honey, he needs you,” Mrs. Claus said.

        “Mom, this is Bri,” Nick said. They shook hands.

        “She comes, too,” Mrs Claus said.

        “Mom,” Nick said.

        “Honey, she should know the truth,” Mrs. Claus said.

        “What’s going on,” Bri said.

        “Nothing, it’s nothing, Mom, not now,” Nick said.

        “Nick, she should be told,” Mrs. Claus said.

        “Mom,” Nick said.

        “What is going on,” Bri said.

        “Maybe it will be best if she is shown the truth,” Mrs. Claus said. She took Bri’s hand and led her off. Nick sighed and followed. They went to the North Pole. They arrived and Bri looked around.

        “Oh god,” Bri said softly.

        “Welcome to the North Pole,” Mrs. Claus said.

        “It’s real,” Bri said.

        “Yes, it is,” Mrs. Claus said.

        “Oh my gosh, you are Mrs. Claus and you are married to Santa, which means Nick is the son of Santa,” Bri said. She looked at Nick.

        “Yes, he is,” Mrs. Claus said. Bernard came up to them.

        “This is Bernard, he is the head elf and Santa’s right hand man,” Mrs. Claus said.

        “Is this her?” Bernard said.

        “She’s the one,” Mrs. Claus said.

        “What is going on,” Bri said.

        “Santa is retiring, and Nick is taking his place, and he can’t do it without finding a wife,” Mrs. Claus said.

        “So you were meaning to bump into me,” Bri said.

        “Not exactly, it was by chance he bumped into you, Nick has a special gift, he knew you were the one for him, when you guys first met, you guys shook hands, right,” Bernard said.

        “Yes,” Bri said.

        “When your hand touched his, his hand tingled, telling him you were the one,” Bernard said.

        “I am not sure about this,” Bri said.

        “I’m going to see Dad,” Nick said. He went to see his father. Mrs. Claus went with him and left Bernard with Bri.  Nick sat down by his father’s bed.

        “Dad,” Nick said.

        “Nick, my son,” Santa said.

        “Mom said you needed me,” Nick said.

        “My time has come to an end,” Santa said.

        “What,” Nick said.

        “My son, I am dying, I won’t make it to Christmas, you will need to take over as soon as you get married, you have until Thanksgiving night,” Santa said.      

        “Dad,” Nick said.

        “Son, you have to or there won’t be any Christmas,” Santa said. Nick looked at his mother. She nodded.

        “Dad,” Nick said.

        “I should rest now,” Santa said. Nick went outside and leaned on the railing. Bri came up to him.

        “Nick,” Bri said.

        “My father is dying, Bri, he won’t make to Christmas,” Nick said. Mrs. Claus came out and stood with them.

        “What does this mean,” Bri said.

        “That means there won’t be any Christmas this year if I don’t get married by Thanksgiving night,” Nick said. He walked down the stairs. Bri looked at Mrs. Claus.

        “I don’t understand,” Bri said.

        “When Santa dies and Nick doesn’t get married by Thanksgiving night, all this and Christmas will disappear forever,” Mrs. Claus said.

        “Oh no,” Bri said. She ran after Nick.

        “Nick, wait,” Bri said.

        “What, I know it is all too soon, that we just met, I know, I get it,” Nick said.

        “Nick, stop,” Bri said. He stopped and looked at her.

        “What,” Nick said. She pulled him close and kissed him deeply. He held her close. He pulled away and rested his forehead against hers.

        “Let’s do it, Nick, let’s get married and save Christmas, you are the one for me like I’m the one for you,” Bri said. He kissed her deeply.

        “Are you sure about this, you would have to leave your life behind and be up here,” Nick said.

        “My life is wherever you are,” Bri said.

        “Your family?” Nick asked.

        “My parents passed away three years ago in a car wreck, I was their only child,” Bri said.

        “I’m sorry,” Nick said.

        “Thank you, now let’s get moving,” Bri said. They went and told his mom and Bernard. They went to his father and Santa woke up.

        “Dad, this is Bri, we are getting married,” Nick said.

        “Bri, you take great care of my son and be a mother figure to all the elves,” Santa said.

        “I will, Santa, I promise,” Bri said.

        “Dad, I love you,” Nick said. Santa took his hand.

        “I love you, too, son,” Santa said. Nick’s mother came in.

        “Jane,” Santa said. Mrs. Claus sat down on the bed beside him. Nick stood with Bri and held her close. Bri held him close and rested her head on his shoulder.

        “After I’m gone, I want you to be here for our son, and help Bri,” Santa said. Jane took his hand.

        “I promise,” Jane said. Santa looked at her and smiled and he looked at Nick and Bri and closed his eyes.