I present my adaptation of the Australian Nokia 6110 ad. Not as good if you haven't seen the original, of course.

Chapter Six - Exchange

He turned off into a quiet cul-de-sac, and parked the sleigh at the top of the street. He stepped out and straightened his jacket, checking his hair in the reflection from one of the glass horses. Straight in and out, he told himself. No distractions. No delays. No… wasting time. He looked along the street, at the house he was about to visit. All of the curtains on the top storey windows were still drawn; hopefully that meant the family was still asleep.

He set off down the street. Nobody was out walking here at least, though he suspected that in this neighbourhood nobody would pay him much attention. People would be more interested in their own business. He stopped for a moment, bent down and fished a few small stone fragments from the pavers under the slush-covered street.

Quickly checking to see that he was still not being watched, he crossed the lawn speckled with snowmelt, and found the side entrance of the house. Easing the side gate open, he sidled through and carefully shut it behind him.

-----

Kitty woke up, blinking her eyes. She rolled over slowly and looked at her clock, then slumped back beneath her quilt, sleepily wondering what had woken her so early. Curling into a ball, she buried her head in a pillow and tried to go back to sleep.

Something hard tapped against her window. Kitty’s eyes snapped open, and she sat up, rubbing her hair. Tap, tap. Gathering the quilt around her like a robe, she shuffled to the window and cautiously drew back the curtains. There was nothing there. Maybe a bird had hit the window, or maybe it had been the sound of icicles breaking from the roof. She looked down, and suddenly was wide awake.

Dean was standing in the garden, grinning up at her! Kitty’s heart felt like it leapt into her throat. He waved when he saw her, then pointed at the door. Kitty dropped the quilt and padded as silently as she could down stairs to the kitchen, where she carefully unlocked the back door and ushered Dean inside, locking the door again behind him.

She stood back, and looked Dean up and down, trying to hide her excitement. Tall as he was, he stood a full head above her, his broad shoulders and his height making him look incredibly manly. He was grinning his boyish grin, which always disarmed her in an instant.

"You’re early," she said tenderly, wrapping her arms around his chest and looking up into his dark eyes. She resisted the urge just to kiss him there and then.

"Can’t be that early, if you’re awake," he replied quietly, and looked around the kitchen. "Should we go up to your room?"

Kitty nodded, and took his hand, practically dragging him up the stairs. She turned and put a finger to his lips as she passed her parents’ bedroom, pointing at the door. Dean nodded mutely and followed her to the end of the hall, and into her room.

"So," Dean said, noticing the quilt as Kitty closed the door behind them, "you sleep on the floor now? That’s a new one for you."

"Oh ha ha." Kitty sat back down at the head of her bed, crossing her legs. "And what is Junior Claus doing here so early? Christmas is over, school’s not back yet; you should still be in bed." She arched an eyebrow.

Dean reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a square, paper-wrapped bundle, which he passed to Kitty. "Straight to business then," she said calmly.

"I can’t stay long. They’re expecting me at the factory soon."

"Honestly," Kitty drawled, turning the package over in her hands, "why do you keep working there? It takes up so much of your time; you almost never come out with us anymore, even when you’re staying with your dad."

Dean shrugged and sat down next to her. Kitty shifted closer to him. "I’m good at it," he said simply.

"Yeah, well, you’re good at lots of things." She slid the package under her pillows, and casually placed her hand on Dean’s leg.

Dean nodded at the pillows. "Aren’t you going to check that?"

Kitty smiled, shuffling closer to him. "I trust you," she said sweetly, and leaned in toward him and kissed him on the cheek. "Why not stay here, just for a little while?"

He faced her, so that their noses were almost touching. "The last time I stayed here ‘just for a little while,’ " he said softly, "I ended up three hours late getting home."

Kitty managed to grab Dean’s hand as he stood up. "And was that such a bad thing? Mum and dad won’t be awake for hours yet," she said, looking up at him. "Can’t the elves manage without you?"

Dean took her hands, and placed them in her lap. "The chief of staff will want to know why I’m late. She’s not someone you want to cross. Look, I should go." He headed for the door.

"So lie."

Dean hesitated, his hand on the doorknob.

"Come on, you can afford not to be on time for once in your life. It won’t hurt." Kitty watched as Dean sighed, shaking his head.

"Oh what the hell," he said, turning back to her.