Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Kakashi sat straight up in bed with a start. He could have sworn a noise from the other room had woken him up. However Sakura continued to sleep soundly next to him. Had there really been a noise her Kunochi instincts would have kicked in and she would be as alert as he was. Had he been dreaming? He wasn't sure but he knew he wouldn't be able to get back to sleep till his curiosity was abated.

Slipping as carefully out of bed as he could Kakashi glanced at the alarm clock on his bedside table. It read twelve o clock am. It was officially December twenty fifth, Christmas morning. Come seven thirty his children would be running down the stairs to see what Santa had brought them. He smiled at that thought making his way out of his room and down the hallway.

There was a soft glow coming from the Christmas tree in the sitting room that spilled out into the hallway that lit his way. Yet before he rounded the corner a shuffling noise made Kakashi freeze in his tracks. There was someone or something in his house. Shinobi training kicking in Kakashi moved silently against the wall. Without a sound his hand slid behind a framed picture in the hallway. From a hidden nook in the wall he pulled out one of the hundreds of kunais littering his home. He waited with bated breath for the shuffling to move as close to him as possible. His keen ears picking up every creak, every breath in the whole house.

THERE! With lightning fast reflexes and precise precision, the copy ninja turned around the corner flinging the kunai right in between the man's eyes. Less than an eighth of a second later Kakashi was pinned to the floor with his arms pulled behind his back. His lone kunai embedded into the far wall. Kakashi breathed out in shock at the strong grip holding him down and in place. He was of course confused by the familiar sounding voice that chuckled above him. A voice that he was positive he had never heard before.

"You are going to have to be a lot faster than that my dear boy. Then again you have improved immensely since I saw you last." The deep voice laughed releasing his grip on the copy nin.

Kakashi staggered to his feet with less grace than he cared to admit. Turning around to face his opponent his mask less mouth dropped open in surprise as he stared at the red clad figure before him.

"Santa?" He asked incredulously.

"The one and only but you may call me Nick if you wish. It's short for Nicholas" The bearded man replied.

Kakashi shook his head "No. There's no way. You don't even exist!"

"And that is why I had to put you on the naughty list my dear boy. You seem to doubt even when you have proof right in front of you. That's also the reason I woke you up. The two of us need to have a serious talk. Lets take a seat for a moment and have some of these delicious cookies Sakura made." Nick replied moving to sit down on the couch.

Kakashi eyed him warily standing firm. "A stranger comes into my home in the middle of the night and expects me to sit down for some catching up while we eat cookies? I think I'm fine right here thanks."

"You need proof? Alright what if I tell you something that only you and I would know. Something you asked me for one Christmas that was locked away in your heart, a wish that never even left your lips?"

Kakashi simply stared at the older man doubting that anything he said would surprise him. If he could keep the guy taking though it would give him more time to analyze his opponent. He nodded.

"Thirty eight years, ten days and nine hours ago you wished that I would take your mother's sickness away and give it to you because you couldn't stand to see her in anymore pain." Nick softly spoke.

A single tear from a pain long shoved to the recesses of his heart slipped down Kakashi's face as he numbly moved to sit next to Nick on the couch.

"You stopped believing in me that year when she died a few days later." He continued gently.

Kakashi blinked multiple times in a vain attempt to keep salty tears from gathering in his eyes. Turning away he tried to wipe his tears away with the back of his hand before a white handkerchief was held in his line of vision. With a mumbled 'thanks' he used it before breathing in a shaky breath.

"You said we needed to talk." the copy nin croaked looking down at his hands.

"First I need you to know that I didn't have the power to grant your wish. Even if I did it would have gone against what your mother wished for that year as well. Your mother knew she was dying. The wish in her heart was that her son would live a long and full life. That you could find happiness, and start a family, which you have. Second as I mentioned earlier, you doubt even when the proof is right in front of you. Hatake Kakashi, you doubt yourself."

Kakashi's head snapped up in surprise "I don't know what you're-"

Nick cut him off "Your children love you yes? And you love them. You give them advice. Try to raise them right. Yet you doubt your ability to be a good father."

"I -Sakura gets the credit for that I mean..."

"Sakura is a wonderful mother don't get me wrong but you shouldn't be afraid of making the mistakes of your father. You will make your own mistakes you can be sure of that. But your kids will forgive you just as you forgave Sakumo."

"How can you be so sure?" Kakashi asked hesitantly.

Nick smiled at him "Still asking for proof I see. Well the proofs are sleeping upstairs in their beds. While dreams of sugar plums dance in their heads."

The copy ninja deadpanned "You really went there."

Nick laughed his belly shaking like a bowlful of jelly.

'Damn pome get out of my head!' Kakashi mentally scolded himself.

"I'm sorry sonny I couldn't help myself." the older man replied.

Kakashi shook his head still trying to grasp the fact that he was actually taking to the Santa Clause. Then his curiosity got the better of him.

"Hey uh Nick...how do you get around the world with a sleigh full of presents in one night?"

"Just a jutsu of mine and also with the help of my nin reindeer. I may or may not have taught the Fourth Hokage a small version of it." Nick said with a wink.

'Figures Santa is a shinobi.' Kakashi thought mentally rolling his eyes.

"Well this was a good talk we should try it again sometime, but I must get on my way. I've got a long night a head of me and the wife will be wanting me home soon."

"Time waits for no man." Kakashi quoted.

"Well it does for me but you know how wives can be if you keep them waiting."

Kakashi smiled knowing all to well.

"Oh and Kakashi, I've taken you off the naughty list."

"I thought I am the naughty list." the copy nin joked.

Nick chuckled "I'm afraid that tittle still belongs to a certain blond, knuckle headed ninja we both know. Till next time friend."

And with that Santa was gone in a flurry of sparkles and snowflakes. Kakashi shook his head with a smile before heading back to bed.

Slipping back under his covers Kakashi glanced at the alarm clock again. He wasn't that surprised when the clock still read midnight and not a minute after.

Sakura's voice was laced with sleep when she began to speak. "How was your talk with Nick?"

"Oh it was good he- wait...what? How did you-"

Sakura smiled at her husband's shock and confusion. It was a rare thing to be able to stump him.

"He came to talk with me the Christmas after the war." She replied to his unfinished questions.

Her husband smiled before pulling her towards him and settling back down into the covers with his arm around her waist.

"hmm I see."

Sakura nodded and yawned. "Well he may be able to freeze time but the morning will come faster than we think. We had better get back to sleep." She said nuzzling into his chest.

"Yes lets." Kakashi murmured letting a sudden bout of exhaustion claim him.

Konoha slept soundly that night as a shadow crossed in front of the moon. A lone voice crying out:

"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night."

A/N: I know this is a bit delayed. I just wanted to say Merry(or Happy) Christmas! Happy Holidays! Happy New Year! etc. Also this was not edited by my beta at all. The mistakes are all mine :) I was late getting this done and it would have been rude of me to make her work on Christmas :) Hope everyone is having a great day! Hope you all enjoyed this borderline crack fic.