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This year, Santa was a cat.

Not that you could tell. Underneath the bushy white beard and wig, the red hat pulled firmly over his pointed ears, black boots, white gloves over his paws, and a big red coat (stuffed with a pillow; Santa isn't known for being skinny, after all). Even his tail was awkwardly shoved down his pant leg, something that the effeminate blue-haired 'elf' had snickered at.

'What's so funny?' 'Santa' asked, while the sheppy giggled softly at him.

'Oh, I dunno...' Bolt reached over and squeezed the outline of Jasper's tail through his black pants, laughing harder. 'Is that your tail or are you just happy to see me?'

Jasper growled playfully and cuffed Bolt, who carried on giggling and making off-colour jokes.

'Do you want me to sit on your lap, Santa? I promise I've been a good boy...' he said with a wink.

'It doesn't seem like you're being much of one right now...'

'Oh no, are you going to have to spank me? With..*snrrrk* with a candy cane?'

Jasper kept his face deadpan as Bolt giggled furiously, waiting for the perfect moment until, with an almighty /smack/, his paw hit the pup's bottom through his candy-cane striped trousers, making him yelp.

'AH!' Bolt whined softly, rubbing his bottom and giving Jasper a pouty look.

'That's what I thought, little pup. Now go get the toys out of the back and help me put them in this sack. The mall's opening in 20 minutes and there'll be hundreds of kids here soon,' Jasper ordered, giving Bolt a tiny squeeze to show him he was still loved.

The sheppy scampered off, huffing a little. Sitting still with a bunch of snotty kids didn't sound like his idea of fun, but Jasper had wanted to do something nice for other people for Christmas. At least he'd get to do some photography, even if it was essentially the same shot over...and over...and over...

He found the presents, sorted into gender neutral, boys' and girls' presents...He grabbed an armload of toys from the bags, making sure to choose a roughly equal amount from each, and headed back out to Jasper, who was sat on his chair, looking every bit like Old Saint Nick.

'Ho ho ho! MEERRRRYY Christmas!' he boomed at Bolt, who rolled his eyes but couldn't stop a tiny smirk appearing on his face. 'You got girls' ones too?' he asked, in his normal voice.

'Yeah, and the uh, the ones that are for anybody to take...uh, kids I mean,'

'I forgot about those, good puppy, you'll get a treat after this if you keep this up,' Jasper said with a smile, as he took some of the presents from Bolt, lowering them into the open sack at his feet. Bolt leaned down and helped, rearranging them to show off as many different colours as possible, until the sack was filled and as 'pretty' as he could make it.

'Done?' Jasper teased.

'Yeah, now we just have to make sure your stink doesn't scare the kids off,'

Jasper sighed softly and was about to reprimand Bolt again when he heard the shutters over the mall doors start to lift, and hurried footsteps approached the little 'grotto' they were sitting in.

'Ah! Sorry I'm late!' flustered the second elf as she arrived, a ginger tabby that neither of the boys had met before, but had been told would be arriving. 'I'm Cinnamon. I mean, not really, but, that's my 'elf' name. I thought it was good to uh, you know, really get into the role...I mean, I could have picked Ginger, that's Christmassy, but I mean, it's a bit obvious...Uh...you are?'

Jasper and Bolt shared a look, and then Jasper cleared his throat.

'Uhm...I'm J-'

Bolt nudged him, the corners of his mouth turned up in a cheeky smile.

'Uh, I mean...Why, I'm Santa Claus, of course! Ho ho ho!' He even shook his false belly as he laughed, winking at 'Cinnamon'.

'O...oh! Hahah! Of course you are...and you?'

'Bolt.'

'Like...like thunderbolt?'

'I guess so... it's my real name, sorry. I haven't really got a Christmas one.'

Cinnamon looked briefly irritated and then beamed. 'Alright then, in that case, you can be 'Tinsel'. Sound good?'

'Isn't that a bit girly?'

'Perfect for you then, Bo- Tinsel,' rumbled Jasper behind his fake beard. 'Yeah, that sounds good. Thanks Cinnamon.'

'No problem...I'll go open us up then. I'll start sending the kids in soon. Bye Santa. Byyyye Tinsel!'

With a giggle, she slipped back outside. Bolt turned to Jasper now they were alone, an eyebrow raised as he spoke.

'Tinsel, really?'

'What's the matter? Too girly for you, huh?'

'Actually, I was just thinking it's not quite FABULOUS enough for hot stuff like me...' he flipped his blue headfur slightly, grinning.

'How about 'Baubles', then?'

'Ugh. I'll be good...'

Bolt got up and stood behind the camera opposite Jasper's seat, adjusting it slightly, as they waited for the first kid to arrive.

'Got film in that?' Jasper asked as he tried to work on sitting in the most Santa-ly way possible.

'Yeah I filled this digital camera with film. I just blew that shit UP with film!' he said, snickering again.

'Oh my God, rude much?'

'Only to you, Ja-...D.../Santa/,' he wagged his tail sincerely and smiled at the cat, before going back to the camera. 'Cinnamon's out there, and some other guy's working the photo stand thing. I guess they must make back a good amount to be able to give out all these presents...'

'Hardly high quality, are they, though?'

'The photos or the presents?'

'Both, if you're in charge of them.'

Bolt faked a look of hurt. 'Wow! MEEEEEAAAN. Hmmf,'

'Kidding, silly pup. You know I love you and your ph-'

He was interrupted by the sound of a little bell jingling. Neither of them had noticed the noise outside gradually building to a dull roar, children eager to see Father Christmas dragging their parents to the colourful, candy-cane covered structure in the centre of the mall. And now one of them was being let in, a little girl in a purple coat, holding her Daddy's hand as she shyly approached 'Santa'.

Jasper glanced at Bolt, who shrugged.

'Hi sweetie,' he said softly, as the little ferret shuffled closer, with Daddy's encouragement.

'It's alright, Annie, go sit on Santa's lap, I'm right here...sorry, she's a little bit shy,'

'That's okay!' both Jasper and Bolt said simultaneously, as Annie started to smile a little.

Slowly but surely, she shuffled over, and then raised her arms up to Jasper, giggling a little as he scooped her up and sat her on his lap.

'Now then,' he began, in his most Santa-ish voice. 'What do you want for Christmas, Annie?'

'A puppy!'

'An Xbox 360!'

'A bike!'

'A little brother...'

'Lots an' lots an' lots an' lots of candy!'

There were many answers to Santa's question, but some were more heart-warming than others. Bolt watched misty-eyed as a scruffy-looking Jack Russell said confidently all he wanted was for his big sister to get better and come home from hospital, and while three little kittens mewled simultaneously that they wanted Daddy to come home from the army and spend Christmas with them.

Some children wanted things that were clearly ridiculous. One boy asked for a dragon, another for a flamethrower-sword-javelin, something that Jasper really, REALLY hoped didn't exist. Everyone got a present though, and Bolt happily snapped photo after photo, smiling as children climbed all over his Da-...uh, Santa.

He bit his lip softly. He wasn't...jealous, was he? Of course not. Ridiculous. Besides, Jasper was his, he knew that.

He kept taking pictures as children filed through, hands working each time to make sure the shot was just right. He was determined to make this absolutely perfect for the kids and their families, getting as into it, if not more, as Jasper had been from the beginning.

As a brother and sister who squabbled constantly while Santa spoke to them were escorted out by their mum, who flashed apologetic smiles at both boys, Bolt heard a voice he'd recognize anywhere.

'And THEN Mama, I wanna go to the icecream place, okay? The one with ALL the sprinkles an' marshmallows, cuz I wan' that, an' cuz, um cuz I said so, okays?'

Yep, definitely. There was no question that he could hear Charlie, the border collie girl who was Lewney's niece. Well, that wasn't really fair, she was quite good fun in her own right, if a bit bossy. He definitely loved that little pup, and her smaller, shyer cousin.

The bell rang again, and a little girl who was chattering endlessly at a harried-looking Mummy panda, who held her hand and that of an unsteady toddler, a purple puppy that Bolt instantly recognized as Dana. He d'awwed mentally as she struggled to stay upright, her little legs wobbling in the most baby-ish way. Charlie stopped talking for a moment, head whipping around to focus on the elf behind the camera.

'BOOOOOLT!' she squealed, breaking free of Mama Yuri's hand, running towards the older boy and wrapping her arms eagerly around his waist, tail wagging furiously. 'Bolt Bolt Bolt BOLT!'

'Hey sweetie,' he said, smiling a little as he leaned down to cuddle her back, waving to Dana as he did so, who giggled and waved clumsily back.

'Mama, this is Bolt! He's the bes', he's super cool and he drives fast cars, and...and look Mama, he's being a 'tographer jus' like you!'

'Uh, not as good as you, ma'am,' he said, blushing.

'Awww, I'm glad we saw one of your friends here, sweetie. Hi Bolt, I'm Charlie's mummy. I didn't know you knew Santa!' she said, with a wink, as the bundle of border collie attached itself to /her/ waist now, nuzzling and happily mumbling 'Mummymummymummymamamummy' over and over.

'Oh, me and Bolt are very good friends, ho ho ho!' said Jasper, making Charlie turn again, and eagerly squeal as she remembered why they came.

'SANTA!' she cried, rushing over and scrambling to sit on his lap, Dana trying to copy her. When the toddler couldn't quite manage, Mama Yuri sighed affectionately and lifted her up onto the cat's lap, who gave both girls a gentle squeeze. 'Wow Bolt, you're SO cool!' Charlie gushed, as she wriggled into place. 'I can't wait to tell everyone you know SANTA!'

The adults all giggled softly, and then Jasper cleared his throat. 'Alright then, what do you two girls want?'

He looked expectantly at Dana, who said nothing, even as she played with his beard, looking at it curiously.

'Oh, my cuzzin dun say much. She's just a tiny baby,' Charlie told him. 'Isn't that right, Dana?'

Dana nodded earnestly. 'Jus' a tiny baby, yuh!'

'But but but! I know what we both want!'

'Oh? What's that?' Jasper asked with amusement.

'Duuuurrr! A PONY!'

'Yuh! Poniiieess!' Dana burbled, making the 's' in ponies turn into a 'zzzzz'.

'We want a REAL pony, with pretty hair and pretty eyes and magic and it can fly! Like in My Little Pony! From EQUESTRIA!'

'Magics! 'QUESTRIA!' repeated Dana, giggling at the funny words.

Jasper looked skeptical...

'Uh, I don't know if Santa can fit a pony...a magical, flying pony... on his sleigh-'

'DUUHHHHH!' said Charlie, looking as if Jasper had said something absolutely ridiculous. 'That's what Mama says! But she doesn't realise tha' if it can FLY, he doesn't need to! He can jus' let the pony fly alongside him!'

'Fwwwwyyy poooooonies!'

Both Jasper and Bolt were silent for a moment, sharing expressions of bemusement. Bolt shrugged back from behind the camera, adjusting it slightly, as Mama Yuri gave the tiniest snort of amusement as Dana pulled Jasper's beard down slightly, neither of the cubs noticing, fortunately.

'Well, um...Santa will see what he can do...' said Jasper, haltingly, as he readjusted his beard. 'But for now, here's a little something for both of you.'

He handed them both a present wrapped in pink paper from the pile...and then, seeing Charlie's mild disdain, replaced it with one wrapped in red paper with Christmas trees on.

'Alright then girls...Look at Bolt over there and say 'Candy Canes!' on three,' Jasper nudged Dana so she was looking at the camera, while Charlie sat up as straight as possible and tried to hold a big smile in preparation for their photo.

Bolt waved at titchy Dana to attract her attention, and soon she was watching him, little mouth hanging open as the dog prepared the shot.

'Okay, ready!'

'You heard him girls...three, two, one...Candy Canes!'

'Caaaanddee Caaaaanes!'

'...C...Canny Cays!'

!FLASH!

'Come see Santa any time, girls!' called Bolt as the trio left, one border collie bouncing alongside the pushchair that Mama Yuri was wheeling along, chattering animatedly to her baby cousin inside, who gave small sleepy nods, trying to fight the urge to fall fast asleep. Mama Yuri herself had bought 3 large prints of the photo and fancy frames to put them in; one for Lewney, one for her and her wife, and one for her in laws. And then a spare copy. Just in case.

As Bolt watched them disappear into the throng of shoppers, he gave a weary little sigh. He hoped it was getting later by now, and maybe soon they'd be done here. Frankly, he wanted to get home and have a nice cocktail, maybe one of the ones out of Jasper's fancy book. He took a deep breath of the air outside the grotto, licking his lips slightly. One of the shops nearby was cooking gingerbread. He whined at having to go back in for another...however many hours they'd be working for.

'Get your butt back in here, Tinsel,' Jasper growled playfully, pulling on Bolt's fluffy tail, having walked up behind him from his chair.

'Uggh...effort...' Bolt groaned. As he walked back inside behind Jasper, he thought vaguely about going home early...and then dismissed the thought as he saw the still-massive queue of children.

As much as he'd enjoyed seeing the pups a moment ago, he had to admit that the day was dragging on a bit. The busy-ness and general din of the shopping mall made his head throb, and his tail was looking WAY less pristine than it had when he'd brushed it this morning. The temperature fluctuated from 'a-little-too-hot' (with the warm bodies filling the small space of the grotto), and 'rump-freezingly-cold' (with the near-constant opening and closing of the mall doors a few feet away). And the kids...most were lovely...but some of them, even the lovely ones, talked in shrill voices, or started crying, or tried to wipe their nose on his Da-...on Jasper's coat.

It just seemed a tiny bit unfair to Bolt, that he was left standing there in the alternating too-hot/too-coldness, watching hundreds of kids swarming all over his cat, and-

'What's up, pup?'

Jasper's question made Bolt jump, and he hesitatingly answered.

'N...nothing. I mean, I'm just really worn out from today, I kinda just want to go home,'

'Ah,' Jasper nodded as he took his seat again, adjusting his beard. 'I know what you mean. Still. Few more hours, it'll be over. Be a good boy and wait until then, hmm?'

Bolt simultaneously felt a blush on his cheeks and a flutter in his chest and at Jasper's use of the word 'good boy'. He also felt the tiniest hint of...something...at Jasper not realizing he was...he was...

The little bell rang, and a trio of bouncing rabbit siblings hopped in.

...That he was DEFINITELY NOT JEALOUS AT ALL NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT NOPE.

Bolt set his jaw, and went back to work.