It was the first time he'd said that aloud, and seeing their boss call out his catchphrase immediately got a big cheer from the elves.

“As I've had such a wonderful time working with you all, I now feel a strange sadness coming over me. You have all been so kind from the first moment I arrived, and I know how hard you all worked to make this

Christmas so very special. In working toward that goal, I feel that we've all become something of a family. As I go out there tonight I'LL eventually hear the chime of Christmas Eve turning to Christmas Day, and I will feel such a sweet sadness that I cannot spend that moment with all of you. For what is Christmas if we cannot spend it with the people we care about the most?"

He paused and smiled over them whilst a few teary-eyed elves took the opportunity to blow their noses on brightly coloured handkerchiefs.

"So, with that in mind I thought that the first gift I should give tonight would be my gift to you." With that, Santa raised his big arms and the stables gleamed with bright light.

Across the vast walls there sprouted a great many interwoven festive wreaths, each decorated with glittering tinsel along with gold and silver baubles. Great banners of festive ribbon spilled from the ceiling in colours of red and green. Music began to fill the large room, and a single elf was Lifted along with the ground itself to stand amidst a DJ station. He cheered gleefully and then started spinning records of Christmas classics, starting the night off with Santa Claus

Is Coming To Town.

“Enjoy yourselves! Make enough noise so I can hear you at the equator!"

Santa laughed before looking down at Callie.

He reached down to slip his hands beneath her arms and pluck her up to place her cute butt in the seat beside him. She gave a questioning Look before realising what he had planned.

"I'm coming with you!?" She left her mouth hanging open in awe.

“You certainly are. You got me into this, after all. It's only fair you pull your weight." With a sidelong glance and a little wink, Santa took the reins of the sleigh. "The time is here! The time is now! Ho, ho, ho! Now, Dasher! Now, Prancer! Now, Dancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On,

Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!"

Nothing happened. At the front of the sleigh, a certain red nosed reindeer turned his head to look back over his shoulder. His feelings clearly hurt by being left out.

Santa chuckled, raised his hand in an apology and then the music died to silence for a moment as he and the entire hall of elves burst into a song of their own.

“And Rudolph with your nose so bright! Won't you guide my sleigh tonight! ?"

The reindeer in question hopped giddily on the spot and then leapt forward with the rest of his friends to send the sleigh into motion.

Santa waved goodbye to the elves as Callie grabbed hold tight to the fine vehicle with one hand and to her hat with the other.

With the sound of bells and a whoosh of air, they bounded into the tunnel at blinding speed before bursting out into the clear night sky above.

KOK OK KOK