Arthur Turner and the Elevator Of Time

Christmas

C h a p t e r T w e l v e ~ Christmas

New York was in a panic. Fire had spread from one town to the next, and too

many buildings had been destroyed.

It was not for a little while after this happened that the fire ceased.

There was much confusion at first, as to where it came from, and there was a

long search that took many months. However, though the Magician's powers

had gone, they were able to cover their tracks, so that they rested on the idea,

that it was merely a forest fire.

Many things had been ruined. The Golden Gate Bridge was burnt to the

ground. The Great Wall of China was no more. The Government of Rome

where Marion had been, was ruined, and nearly everywhere in the world, the

Nation's were divided, as if the Magician's plan had proceeded as they had

wished.

Those with Magic, who now were just as normal as anyone else, left the

island and returned to the world they once belonged in. Others remained, and

lived there with their descendants to keep the line of Magicians, as well as

they could.

The Witch, remained there as well, never explaining to anyone why the

Wizard had died, why her health had never been good until then, and why

she still struggled with weakness day by day. Eventually, her health did

improve, and she returned to her usual self, as well as was possible.

Arthur and Marion, returned back to their normal lives, despite the amount it

had changed.

Marion was fired from the bank, due to William’s unforgiving attitude

towards her not showing up on a full day of work.

He considered himself doing her a favor, offering a job to her at a Café

nearby.

Marion declined it at first, knowing Arthur could not quit either, but since she

had no other option, and William would not change his mind, she finally

accepted it reluctantly.

Arthur's life changed very little after that. He couldn't see Marion as often as

he wished, even though he did see her mostly every week.

Christmas Day came quickly.

The weather had only changed by getting even colder and Arthur, as he was

quite lonely that day, showed up at Marion's Café.

Marion had been working a couple hours, even though most people had the

day off. Besides, she did not expect Arthur to be there.

"Arthur?" Marion said, when she saw him.

Marion hadn't seen him in nearly two weeks. Seeing him there brought her

much relief after missing him hopelessly for so long.

"Uh….hi…Marion." Arthur said, walking in.

Marion was so pleased, she took off her apron, and walked to him. It was

then she saw Arthur was dressed in a black suit and a bowtie, holding a red

rose in his hands. Marion could tell, he came there to do something he was

now almost too embarrassed to do.

"What's that?" Marion laughed. "What are you wearing?"

"Uh….nothing…I just…well…it's Christmas."

Marion smiled.

"Yeah. Merry Christmas.'

Arthur felt cold inside. He was trembling all over.

"So…uh…how…how is work?" He said.

"It's been great, how about you?"

"Yeah…yeah…its…its good."

"I'm sorry I can't work there anymore. I tried-"

"No, that's fine. This is what you always wanted right?"

"Yeah." Marion hesitated.

"So uh….you know…I…Well…"

"Yes?"

"I asked the owner here and…well…they said you could..have tonight off…

if you want."

"Really? Why? Did you ask?"

"Yeah, well…you know.….I guess I just…you know.….it's always nice to

have Christmas off."

"Yeah. That is so kind of you Arthur. I don't know what to say."

"It's the least I could do, you've been a great friend." Arthur said this quite

seriously, he wanted Marion to know that she was at least his greatest friend

in all the universe. Anything else, he was to scared to say yet.

"Thank you Arthur. You too."

"So….do you have….do you have plans for tonight?"

"Uh, no. No I don't." Marion said, grabbing her coat from the hanger next to

the door.

"Oh." Arthur still, after hours of practicing hadn't found a way to say it. Even

if he had, he would never have the ability to.

"Why?"

"Oh, nothing….I can drive you home...if.. if you want?" Arthur said.

Marion smiled at him, gratefully.

"Yeah, that'd be great."

Arthur had forgotten to give her the Rose. He was presently using it as

something to clutch tightly to.

Arthur still could say nothing, so he opened the door for Marion, and after

she said thank you, he walked her to his car.

Arthur sat down at the front seat, trying to think of a way to give Marion the

rose without showing his exact reason.

“Uh….here…it's for you.." He muttered, giving her the rose.

"In case….you know…you ever get lonely…you can just remember…that…

you'll always have me…..as a friend."

Marion, just as embarrassed as Arthur, took it, and quietly thanked him, and

quickly forced her looked out the window.

Arthur and Marion sat together in the car without saying a word, as was

normal.

Mainly, because they were both so happy to be together again, that they just

wanted to sit, and enjoy every moment they could.

Arthur did not drive Marion home. He was all too worried that she would not

enjoy what he had planned, but he reminded himself of "only people in love

with the person nearest them can make the elevator move".

This kept Arthur from turning around.

Instead, he drove to his house, that was near enough to keep Arthur from

being all to anxious for too long. Marion, couldn't help but look at Arthur

when he didn't notice. She couldn't get over how handsome he looked in his

suit. And even more, his bashfulness towards her. And the rose, she clutched

it even tighter than Arthur had, and never let go.

When they arrived at his small house, Arthur got out and opened the door for

Marion and helped her out.

The front door was locked, and so Arthur, having forgotten his keys, barged

through the door.

Inside, Marion nearly cried when she saw what Arthur had done for her.

He had spent three weeks (though she didn't know that) decorating his whole

house for Christmas. Cleaning every inch, washing every corner. Buying

anything he thought Marion might enjoy.

On the ceiling he hung white Christmas lights, and after returning nearly six

that had a couple lights not working, was finally satisfied. His bed, he shoved

into his bathroom, trying to hide the fact, he slept, ate, cooked, worked, and

did everything in the same room. He also did this, so that Marion would feel

more comfortable, and have more space. He just hoped she wouldn't open

the bathroom door.

In the center of the room, was a long, wooden table Arthur had bought, with

candles on every end.

The silverware, napkins, and various dishes, he bought just for the occasion,

making everything as Christmas looking as he could.

The kitchen, he had washed nearly three times. The sink was clean as if it

had been bought yesterday, and the windows too had been cleaned.

The cupboard was hung with lights as well, and he had a wreath hanging on

the other side of the door.

His walls, he had painted white, (he had been considering it for awhile

anyway) and the fire place, now was lit up by a small fire burning in it. On

top of it, hung by a red ribbon, was a wreath.

Candles were lit by the mirror on the mantle place, red and white.

Next to the fireplace, was a Christmas tree.

It was just the perfect size. Not to big, and not too small. It was decorated

lightly, and around it, white and red lights were beaming. Beneath it, were

two neatly wrapped boxes in red wrapping paper with a leaf from a holly tree

tied carefully by a thin, red ribbon.

The room was so filled with Arthur's love for Marion, even she was so

amazed and happy and excited, she could hardly believe the could ever care

for her. Especially care for her this much.

"Merry Christmas." Arthur said.

"Merry Christmas."

Marion, though she could never believe how she was able to, took Arthur in

her arms, and hugged him.

"Thank you Arthur. It's always lonely without you."

Marion stepped back.

"Thank you." He said.

"Have a seat. You haven't had dinner yet have you?"

He said, pulling out one of the chairs at the table for her.

"No, no I haven't."

Arthur disappeared into the kitchen. He was very excited about this part. He

had worked the longest, and the hardest on it.

Arthur walked back out a moment later with a large tray, and laid it carefully

on the table. Marion looked at the tray and saw a wide variety of food.

Cheese of every kind, grapes laid neatly beside them, pepperoni pilled beside

it, pineapple slices beside that, strawberries, peaches, plums, bananas, and

blueberries.

This however, was just one tray. Arthur came back again, with an even

bigger tray, this time it had a giant chicken on the top, seasoned with the

most wonderful spices. Surrounding this humongous chicken, were two

small plates. On each one, was a small cooked potato cut slightly in the

center and filled with sour cream, a slab of butter (two for Marion's plate)

chives, a bit of salt, and ground pepper.

Three large bowls lay beside that. One of them held cream corn, the most

delicious there could ever be. Cooked carrots seasoned just as well as the

chicken, and, Marion's favorite, pomegranates.

Arthur was not done yet.

He returned lastly, with two more platters he was able to pile cleverly in his

hands.

Once on the table, Marion again was amazed by what she saw.

The one platter, was filled to the brim with the cheesiest eggs she had ever

seen. Bowls of ketchup lay there as well, and bacon filled the rest of the

empty places there. Hash browns were piled next to that.

The next, was toppled with steak. The largest you could imagine. A small

amount of juice was poured on top, and also, a giant pizza, with more cheese

than anything else was there.

Arthur finally sat down across from Marion.

"So, what do you think? If you prefer spaghetti, I could bring that one out

too."

Marion laughed, realizing next that Arthur was serious.

"Arthur, did you do all this?"

"Well…yeah…"

"Did you make it?"

"Yeah."

"Every bit of it?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry about the pizza, it's a little over cooked."

"Arthur, that is so kind of you. I can't believe you did all of this for me. I

won't be able to eat all of it."

"I know, I didn't know exactly what you would like, so I made a bunch of

different things."

Marion didn't know exactly what to say.

"Thank you, really."

"Sure." Arthur smiled.

Marion and Arthur ate for a long time. They both felt more comfortable

together than they ever could with anyone else, so they took their time.

Barely any of the food was eaten, not that that weren't hungry, there were

famished, but there was so much, no one on earth could have eaten all of it in

one sitting. (Unless of course, you had magic.)

They talked the whole time. Arthur and Marion shared their normal amount

of laughter, and were both equally blown away by how much more they

loved each other than before, even though, somehow they had never loved

each other any less.

Part of the time, Marion and Arthur finally spoke to each other about what

had happened to them when they passed through the gates.

Arthur continued to repeat his apologies to Marion, for the bruise on her

head, and Marion did the same about his glasses he loved so dearly.

When they had finished, Arthur went into the Kitchen again, and came out

with three more trays. At this, Marion could no longer believe he was able to

accomplish what he had.

Two bowls of ice cream, covered in melted chocolate, chopped up nuts,

peppermint shavings, and Oreo bits.

The next tray was full of ten kinds of cookies Arthur had made from scratch.

Lastly, it held three pies. One was a large mousse pie, a pumpkin pie, and a

chocolate cream pie.

Arthur of course, knew they would eat no more than a slice of, and be filled

by then, but he wanted to make sure Marion felt welcome enough.

In fact, all they had was one cookie, and the rest lay there pointlessly.

When they were finished, and talking had only increased, a timer from the

kitchen beeped loudly.

"One moment," Arthur said getting up.

"It's done, would you like a piece of cake?"

Arthur said, walking in the room with a small cake, already frosted with

white frosting, and decorated with Chocolate Chips on the sides.

"Arthur, I never knew you could cook."

"Yeah, I didn't either until I tried." He said, setting it down on the table, that

was just about ready to collapse beneath them.

Arthur took a small knife, and cut two pieces, putting both on separate plates.

One he gave to Marion (the best looking piece) and the other he put at his

place.

Marion took a bite. Arthur watched her face, hoping she would enjoy it.

Sadly though, whatever had gone wrong, whatever he had put or had not put

in it, made Marion spit out the first bite, making Arthur feel quite terrible for

making Marion taste something unpleasant.

"What?"

"Oh, I'm sorry." She said, not meaning to offend his hard work.

"Does it taste bad?"

"Well, it just tastes like vinegar."

Arthur blushed. He then remembered, that he had put 2 1/3 cups of vinegar

instead of 2/3, somehow mixing the two up, and now he regretted using the

unusual recipe.

The rest of the evening, went much better.

After cleaning the dishes all himself, though Marion persisted that she help,

Arthur brought two small cups of tea to Marion, as they sat down on the

couch next to the warm fire.

Marion took a small sip.

"This is delicious, what kind of tea is this?" She asked.

"Well….uhhh…its a magical herb I….. picked up…from the island."

"Oh." She replied, somehow knowing he had stolen it.

"Well," he said, trying to change the subject

"It is Christmas, here's your present." Arthur said bringing her one of the

boxes from the tree.

Marion held it with care, knowing what she held was from Arthur, therefore

it was the greatest treasure.

Marion, not being able to speak, slowly opened the box. Inside, was a ring. A

silver ring, that glistened in the firelight.

Marion's first thought, was that Arthur meant to propose.

"Arthur," she began to say.

Arthur noticed then, what she was thinking.

This however was not his intention, not now anyway.

"Oh, it's for you….I…know you like jewelry."

Marion blushed. She was almost relieved it wasn't meant for that, to keep her

from the crazy excitement it would give her.

"Oh, thank you Arthur, so much!"

"Yes."

"Now, I have something for you." She surprised Arthur by saying.

Marion searched a little while in her coat, and then pulled out a box, wrapped

closely to how Arthur's was. She gave it to Arthur, who took it as happily as

she had taken his.

Arthur opened it. It was a pare of glasses just like the ones he had owned.

"Marion, that is so kind of you." Arthur was so grateful, that he hugged her

again, just a little longer than they had before.

Arthur and Marion spent the rest of Christmas together. Marion did not

return home for many hours, and they were happy to stay like that for a long

time.

And so this part of their story comes to an end, though neither of them knew

that at that moment, a bright star fell to the earth.

~The End