Hi there! I know I should be working on some other stories but I wanted to get this back up and running for Christmas (yes I know, it's only November but shush). So I've re-done this chapter and will be doing the others too. Please enjoy.

Chapter One: Scrooge

'Twas the night before Christmas and alone in the town, a young boy was standing with his face in a frown. With his hands in his pockets and snow in his hair, he stood wondering why he was wasting his time there. He found it slightly amusing to think that while everyone else was eating their dinners and being merry, he was stood on the corner of Goldenrod with his hands in his pocket. He gazed up at the sky waiting for something to happen. Really, he had no idea why he was waiting on the lonely street corner in the middle of a snow storm but he was. It was one of those things, he decided.

Christmas was a time for family and friends, merriment and love but not for a sixteen year old boy named Paul. Christmas had always been the busiest day of the year for his family what with all the running around and the festivities. Christmas was the reason his parents ended up getting divorced and Christmas what drove his dad to drink and drive himself to death during the holiday season quite a few years back. However, despite all this, Paul never found he really hated Christmas in fact it was his favourite holiday - apart from one aspect of it: the waiting for far too busy family members.

Paul sighed loudly, folding his arms across his chest in annoyance. Why was he being kept waiting so long? Why couldn't he had been told to go and wait in a warmer place where there was a large fire in the corner or where the smell of nutmeg and cinnamon hung in the air while people laughed and chatted. Instead Paul was left waiting in the cold, feeling the chill slowly eat away at the tips of his fingers and toes.

A flurry of laughter made him glance down the empty street to find the last people on the planet he wanted to see, especially in his current mood. There was a group of six people trudging through the thick blanket of fresh snow towards him, all of them wrapped up in heavy coats, hats and scarves. Their leader, a goofy boy wearing a baseball cap over his messy black hair turned round, locking eyes with Paul.

"Hey, it's Paul," Ash said brightly. The ebony haired Pokémon trainer pointed straight at Paul causing his group of friends to also look at him. Before anyone could speak, Ash was rushing up to Paul's side, determination written across his face until he held a threatening fist to his chin. "Hey, I want a rematch."

"You beat me last time I battled you," Paul said. "Remember? Moron?"

Ash stared blankly at Paul for a moment or two until Paul rolled his eyes and clicked his tongue.

"You really are dense," he muttered.

"Ash, leave him alone," Paul heard Dawn tell him. There was a loud thwack noise and Ash crumpled to the floor, holding his head in pain. Paul smirked with amusement as he turned to look at Dawn. She was holding a mallet (where she'd got it from he didn't know) in her gloved hands, looking very annoyed at Ash. She turned to Paul offering him a smile. "Sorry about that."

"It's nothing really," Paul replied. Paul watched as Dawn handed the mallet back to a ginger haired girl who looked very familiar. After a few seconds of wondering where he had seen her before he realised that she was Misty, the Cerulean Gym Leader from Kanto. He had battled her sisters before but had never had the pleasure of facing her. Beside Misty stood Brock, the breeder or whatever he was who was friends with both Ash and Dawn. Paul and Brock gave each other a brief nod of welcome but neither tried to speak to the other. Paul continued to follow the group round. Just behind Brock there was a green haired boy who made Paul flinch in recognition. The pair regarded each other oddly for a few seconds before the green haired boy jumped backwards, pointing wildly at Paul.

"It's you!" he yelled.

"Yeah it's me," Paul replied, standing up straight. His facial expression lightened into a mocking sort of grin as he faced the green haired teen. "Long time no see, Drewy-Bear."

"I told you," Drew said, clenching his fist tightly and raising it to face level as he closed his eyes. He glared at Paul then pointed at him menacingly. "Don't call me Drewy-Bear!"

"Whatever," Paul said, amusement biting at his tone. All of a sudden Drew seemed to forget his anger, his hand falling limply to his side.

"Hold on," he said. "I thought you were in Sinnoh."

"Obviously not," Paul replied. Paul turned to look at the final member of the group, a brunette who was stood next to Drew. Paul had never seen her before and she seemed highly confused as to who Paul was.

"He's my cousin," Drew explained to his friends moodily. "My stupid younger cousin who does nothing but mock me."

"No way! How is that possible?" Ash asked. He looked between the cousins confused at the different in eye and hair colour as well as their personalities. "You look nothing like each other!"

"So what are you doing here?" Dawn asked Paul, blatantly ignoring Ash.

"Waiting for my grandfather," Paul replied with a shrug as he turned to face her. "But the old geezer's never on time."

"Would you like us to wait with you? It's a little bad to leave people on their own on Christmas Eve," Brock asked.

"But I'm hungry," the brunette girl moaned loudly. "Can't we go inside and get some food?"

"I'll be fine on my own," Paul told Brock. "In fact, I would prefer if you would go and enjoy yourself."

"If you're sure," Misty said. "Well, we'll be in the Pokémon Centre if you'd like to join us later."

"Thank you for the invitation," Paul replied politely. Maybe he would go along just to annoy his cousin and Ash. Beside Ash, Dawn shuffled her bag from off her shoulders. She rummaged through the bag until she produced two presents, both wrapped in red paper and with green ribbon. She thrust them into Paul's arms.

"For you and Reggie," Dawn explained, her cheeks turning pink. "Merry Christmas, Paul."

"Thanks," Paul muttered. He looked down at the presents, noticing that Reggie's was larger and heavier than his was but he didn't really care. He would have to get her one back, he decided, but he had time to do that later. The gang began to shift towards the Pokémon Centre, calling good bye and Merry Christmas to Paul as they went. Dawn waited behind for a few seconds.

"So… see you later?" Dawn asked. Paul paused wondering why she wanted him to see her later but he nodded to her. She instantly brightened up. "Great."

"Thank you for the presents," Paul told her.

"You're welcome," Dawn smiled. "And don't worry about getting me one back."

"I'll get you one back," Paul replied, smirking. "It's only good manners to."

"If you say so," Dawn giggled before rushing off to join her friends. Paul smirked after her. When she was out of view he shrugged his bag off of his shoulders so he could put the gifts somewhere safe. Then he returned to his waiting game. Geez, sometimes he really hated waiting for Santa…

Sometime later Misty nudged Dawn as the blunette stared out of the large window. Snow was falling much heavier now and she was beginning to get worried about Paul. He still hadn't shown up like he said he would. Dawn had been in this sort of mood since leaving Paul earlier and it hadn't gone unnoticed by Misty.

"Sitting there like that isn't going to make him arrive you know, Dawn," Misty told her. Dawn sighed loudly.

"What's the deal with you and that guy anyway?" Drew asked, having also noticed Dawn's behaviour over the past two hours. He waited, genuinely interested in what Dawn was going to say.

"He's pretty hot," the brunette, May, exclaimed suddenly when Dawn bit her lip. "I mean those dark eyes, that hair. Wow, he's mega nice! Dawn you should ask him out!"

"What?" Dawn and Ash yelled loudly. Dawn went deep pink in embarrassment while Ash got to his feet, slamming his hands on the table so he could leer at May for the suggestion.

"He's my rival!" Ash snapped at her. "She can't date him, that's not allowed!"

"Hey!" Dawn shouted, forgetting her embarrassment. "I can date who I want!"

"Both of you calm down," Misty sighed. Brock merely chuckled as Dawn and Ash glared daggers at each other.

"W-what do you mean 'he's pretty hot' and 'he's mega nice'?" Drew squeaked at May. May looked sort of confused for a few seconds until she giggled.

"I'm saying that if Dawn's not going to ask him out, I will," May replied with a shrug.

"But he's a jerk!" Drew told her.

"He's not that bad," Dawn said, turning to look out of the window once again. "I think he gets better on acquaintance."

"But he still abuses his Pokémon," Ash muttered under his breath.

"That's all in the past," Brock said. "Christmas is all about new beginnings and making new friends."

"Really?" Misty inquired. "I thought that was New Years."

"Christmas is about friends and family," May corrected Brock with a wave of her finger. "And holding out the hand of kindness to people who may not be as well off as we are."

"Amen to that," Misty agreed.

"Is that why you invited Paul?" Ash asked Misty.

"Yup," Misty said happily. Ash didn't seem sold by this but Misty giggled not long after, adding: "That and Dawn is totally in love with him."

"Misty!" Dawn squealed, turning bright red. The group laughed loudly at Dawn, all apart from Ash who seemed rather annoyed by this. Misty gave him a nudge to get him to lighten up about it. Dawn blushed for the length of the laughter, then she turned her attention back to the window. She stared out of it for a long while, waiting patiently for Paul but as the minutes ticked by she felt as though Paul was not going to show at all. She let out a defeated sigh.

"I give up," she muttered. "He's not coming."

"It is getting late," Brock agreed after consulting his watch. "We should think about going to bed soon."

"I'm telling you! It fell out of the sky! A big red sleigh!" a man yelled from over by the reception causing all of the teens to look round to see what the commotion was about.

"Stantler are running wild around the city! They knocked out my Vapoureon!" the man went on.

"Stantler?" Drew muttered. "I wonder how they got here."

"From the route probably," Brock said. "They're common just outside Goldenrod."

As Brock finished his sentence there was a loud commotion as several Stantler ran past the windows. Drew got out of his chair so he could get a better look.

"Wow," he said. "That's very odd."

"We should go and help round them up," Ash exclaimed, looking triumphant as he stood up.

"And leave the warmth?" May moaned.

"Let's go," Dawn said determinedly. She eyed the window cautiously wondering if Paul was alright. Of course he would be fine since he had much stronger Pokémon than she did but what if he was caught off guard and now he was hurt?

"If you say so," Misty agreed. "Let's help out."

"Be careful," Brock said. "Those Stantler may be injured and confused."

"Right," the others said.

Dawn stumbled through the snow having lost sight of Misty a few streets back. She wasn't too worried about the fact she was now alone with nothing but Piplup by her side. He was strong enough to help her out if she needed help. Carefully she trod on, not wanting to slip up in the snow.

"Here, here Stantler," she called. "Come out wherever you are."

She stumbled on an invisible piece of ice and fell onto the cold pavement.

"Ow," she moaned as she sat up on her knees. She rubbed her head and looked around. It was only when she looked up that she realised she had come face to face with a Stantler.

The Stantler reared up on its back legs, ready to stomp on Dawn. Piplup seemed to have vanished into thin air. Where was he? Why wasn't he helping her? Dawn closed her eyes tightly, waiting for the blow. However, there was the sound of a hand bell from behind Dawn. Stantler seemed to calm down instantly, slowing into a trot and walking round Dawn. Dawn opened one eye and followed the wild Pokémon round until the Stantler came to a boy: Paul.

He reached out a hand and stroked the Stantler calmly on the forehead.

"Donner," he said softly. "There's no need for panic."

"Ler," the Stantler replied with a nod. Paul pulled a Pokéball from his pocket, returning the Stantler. When he placed the ball back in his pocket, Paul began to walk towards Dawn.

"Are you alright?" he asked her.

"Yeah," she replied, suddenly embarrassed. "Thanks for the help."

"You spooked her," Paul commented. "She doesn't like girls."

"Sorry," Dawn found herself saying.

"It's nothing for you to apologise for," Paul said. He held out his hand for her to take. Slowly she reached for it was helped to her feet in seconds. She dusted the wet slush off her clothes then looked up at Paul. She bet she looked like a right mess in front of him now but Paul didn't seem to care. "Let's go back to the Pokémon Centre. I need to see to my Grandfather."

"Oh, he's arrived?" Dawn asked. Paul smirked at her with some sort of irony she didn't seem to grasp.

"Oh yes," Paul replied. "These Stantler are his. Now let's go."

"OK."

They walked in silence towards the Pokémon Centre. Paul was checking some Pokéballs in his hands to make sure he had all nine. Yup, they were all accounted for apart from Blitzen who was already at the Pokémon Centre. When he shoved the balls into his pocket he looked over at Dawn.

"Sorry, I didn't catch you at the Pokémon Centre earlier," he said. "But you know family. Always late and then they stir up trouble."

"It's no problem," Dawn replied. "At least you were there to help me out."

"Is it wise to walk around a big city at night on your own?" Paul asked her sharply. "You should be thankful you were only attacked by a Stantler and nothing worse."

"I was with Piplup and Misty," Dawn snapped in her defence. There was a pause where Paul stared at her, not quite believing her. "But I lost them."

"If it happens again, get out another Pokémon," Paul told her. Dawn nodded slowly feeling a little stupid. Paul was right after all, she could have been attacked by something else. They resumed walking in silence until they got to the Pokémon Centre. Paul guided Dawn towards his Grandfather who was sat near the fire with one of his Stantler sat beside his seat.

Dawn tilted her head to the side as she looked Paul's grandfather up and down. He was a tall but fat man with a long white beard and small circular glasses. He was wearing an all red suit with white fur along the cuffs and collar. On his left foot was a big black tie up boot while his right one was bare but for a bandage.

"I've got your Pokémon, old man," Paul told his Grandfather roughly..

"Ah, thanks," the man replied with a cheery smile. He turned to beam at Paul. "That's my boy."

Paul sighed loudly at the old man before turning to Dawn.

"This is Troublesome," Paul went on. "She almost got trampled on by Donner."

"Oh I do apologise," the old man said, turning to Dawn. "She doesn't like girls."

"Paul said that already," Dawn said nervously.

"What an odd nickname," the man went on. "Troublesome? Paul, why such a strange choice for a nickname?"

"Because she is troublesome," Paul replied. "Not as bad as you, I'll admit. I doubt anyone can be as bad as you, old man."

"Oh shush," the man said. "Come sit with me, Dawn, while Paul checks my Pokémon in with Nurse Joy."

"Sure, get me to do all the work," Paul muttered as he turned round.

"Wait," Dawn spluttered as Paul walked towards the main desk. She looked wildly around for a few seconds before she stared at the old man. "How did you know my name?"

"I know everyone's name, dear," he replied. "My name is Nikolas, Nick for short."

"Oh, hello Nick," Dawn said as she sat down next to the old man. She eyed the Stantler on the other side of the old man carefully as it looked up at her.

"This is Blitzen," Nick explained. "My number one Stantler."

"Oh, I see," Dawn muttered. She glanced over at Paul as he returned to them.

"Your Pokémon are being check over," Paul told his grandfather. He sat down on the sofa opposite Dawn, leaning forwards slightly so he could hear the two better. Dawn glanced around noting for the first time that there was a fire lit to her left in a stone fireplace. A small coffee table was between Paul and herself. The whole thing was cosy and nice. "So why did you want to talk to me tonight?"

"Oh that," Nick grumbled, looking sort of annoyed. Dawn smiled as she recognised the family resemblance. "Always right onto business with you, isn't it?"

"Just get on with it," Paul snapped. Dawn let out a sigh at the way Paul talked to his family. Apparently Paul treated everyone the same no matter who they were. Nick, on the other hand, laughed merrily.

"I'm taking a vacation," Nick announced. "And I want you to run things for a year for me."

"Why me?" Paul asked.

"Why not you?"

"Because I'm sixteen, that's why."

"Ah, you're practically a man."

"Why not pick on Reggie?"

"Reggie can't organise toffee."

"It's too much hard work for me to do by myself," Paul moaned grumpily. "You can't expect me to do it all on my own, can you?"

"Oh no," Nick said. Paul stared at his grandfather oddly, waiting for more information but Nick turned to Dawn. "Ask your friends to help you too. Dawn, would you like to help Paul?"

"Don't drag her into this, old man," Paul said before Dawn could speak. "She doesn't even know what she's been dragged into. And she's not even a proper… friend."

"Oh… you haven't told your friends who I am?" Nick asked.

"I don't really tell anyone anything," Paul replied. "I don't have many people I consider friends."

"That I can see," Nick commented, stroking his beard thoughtfully. Dawn glanced at Nick with a smile on her face before her eyes darted to Paul as he replied to this.

"Says you, Old Man," Paul snapped. "Name five people who you see regularly who are not family or your employees."

"Well… there's…" Nick thought for a minute. "And then there's…"

"See," Paul said, leaning back into the sofa with a smirk on his face. "There's only Gramps and Mum who put up with you."

"I resent that," Nick snapped. The pair's argument was cut off as Dawn began laughing loudly. Nick seemed confused. "What's wrong?"

"You two are definitely related," Dawn giggled. "It's so funny."

Nick blinked a few times as Dawn hugged her ribs. Blitzen cocked his head towards Dawn, his eyes wide. The Stantler and old man glanced at each other before they turned to Paul.

"Marry her," Nick said. This time it was Paul's time to blink at his grandfather. He was about to tell his grandfather to stuff it when the Pokémon Centre doors slid open.

"Dawn! There you are!"

May and Misty raced towards the sofa where Dawn was still giggling at Nick and Paul. Her laughter stopped when Misty and May got to her.

"Sorry, I got lost," Dawn said.

"Lup!" Piplup cried as he jumped up into Dawn's arms. She hugged her faithful Pokémon tightly and softly apologised for making him worry.

"Hey," Ash said as he came closer to the sofa. He pointed at Nick. "He looks just like Santa!"

The teens, including Paul and Dawn turned to look at Nick who had returned to stroking his beard.

"Shush, Ash," Misty hissed.

"He does," May agreed. "Look at him."

"How do you do?" Drew asked, stepping forwards to introduce himself, "I'm-"

"Drew Hayden," Nick said, "And you're Misty Waterflower, Ash Ketchum, Brock Harrison and May Maple. Nice to see you all."

There was a weird pause as everyone froze to look at each other in shock. They all thought one thing: How did he know that? Dawn glanced across at Paul to see he was glaring across at his grandfather.

"You realise you come across as a stalker when you do that?" Paul asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Do I?" Nick said, appalled at the suggestion.

"It is a little creepy," Dawn agreed. Nick looked between the pair before he cupped his lips so that Dawn couldn't see him mouthing 'marry her' to Paul. Paul responded by kicking the table into Nick's good knee.

"Who is this guy?" May asked as Nick rubbed his knee and snapped at Paul for hurting him.

"He's Paul's grandfather," Dawn replied. "He says his name is Nick."

"The one he was waiting for earlier," Misty asked. Dawn nodded.

"Hey I know," Nick said brightly. "Seeing as you don't have any friends, I'll make you some new ones."

He turned to face the group of teens, beaming at them.

"Would you all like to help Paul for a year? He's going to take over my job so I can have a vacation," He said to them. "I've been doing my job for so long now I can't remember the last time I took a break, plus the wife keeps moaning."

"Well… we don't know Paul that well," Misty said, rubbing her head nervously as she looked at the others for support. They seemed to have backed off a little, even May who didn't know Paul that well.

"What do you do?" Dawn asked, leaning into Nick for more information.

"He's Santa," Paul replied dryly.

"We can see he is," Ash snapped. "But that's not an all year job."

"No," Paul corrected Ash. "He is the real Santa. My grandfather is St Nikolas, Father Christmas, Santa Claus, whatever you call him."

"Yup, that's me," Nick said happily.

"And now he wants a holiday," Paul continued. "This can't be good."

"Not for you, it's not!" Nick laughed.

I hope this is infinitely better than before. I don't tend to do this but when I re-read this I thought it was horrible. Anyway, enjoy!

RSx