The curvy woman in a red hoodie peered down through the cloud bank.

“There, Pandora,” said the woman next to her, who was wearing a matching hoodie. “Can you see the glacier?”

“I see it, Befana, but I don’t see Boreas’ Workshop,” said Pandora, frowning. “Are you sure I should descend?”

“When you hit the ice, his magic will take care of the rest,” said Befana.

“Fine, fine,” said Pandora. “I knew this was a dumb idea anyway. Ugh.”

Pandora landed her crimson red SUV on the thick icy mountain in the Antarctic Ocean. Her snow tires were no match for the slick ice of the glacier, but the tire chains yielded to Befana’s will. The SUV skidded to a stop, but Pandora and Befana didn’t hit the console.

“That was a close one,” said Pandora.

“That’s why I’m here, hon,” said Befana. “Just think of it as magical driver’s ed.”

“Excuse me, you mean Driver’s Edward,” joked Pandora. “Ugh. Do you think this is…?”

“You’ve asked me that a thousand times during this ride,” said Befana. “I think it’s cute. Are you going to tell him?”

“I have to,” said Pandora, her stomach churning. “I just don’t know why doing something right makes my body feel so wrong. Ugh. Was it like this for you and my dad?”

“Your father and I waited decades to tell each other how we felt,” said Befana. “Imagine if we hadn’t — imagine the memories we could’ve made before. You’re the best stepdaughter I ever could’ve asked for.”

“And you put the evil stepmother stereotype to shame,” said Pandora.

“Well, unless someone messes with you or breaks your heart,” said Befana. “Then, your evil step-mommy can turn him into a frog. Boo!”

“But you’re a Christmas witch,” said Pandora with a frown. “Knowing you, the frog would end up caroling.”

“Darn straight it would,” said Befana.

Suddenly, the SUV started falling through the ice. The ice hadn’t cracked — the SUV just started falling through a hole in the ice that hadn’t been there a second before. Pandora toggled the moonroof and looked up. She saw that the chasm was disappearing, filling in with ice.

Pandora looked out her window and saw a giant squid.

That’s when she realized that The South Pole was very, very different than the world she was used to.

The SUV was in a tunnel made of a robust glassy material. The squid reached its tentacles around the tube, attempting to reach for the SUV, but all its suckers hit was glass. Pandora couldn’t resist pulling down one of her lower eyelids and sticking her tongue out.

“You think they’ll let me take one of those home?” mused Befana.

“I think if you told my dad you wanted a giant squid, he’d have the Christmas elves build you an aquarium by tomorrow morning, and they’d stock it full of all kinds of creepy crawlies,” said Pandora. “After all, today, you made sure his only child didn’t get lost on her first real ride on her sleigh.”

“I wouldn’t exactly call your car a ‘sleigh,’” said Befana.

“It’s an SUV – a Sleigh Utility Vehicle,” joked Pandora.

The SUV was drawn down to a large tunnel on the bottom of the sea floor. The tube was bored through the bottom of the Antarctic continent and seemed to go on forever. Suddenly, it opened back up into the ocean, into a grotto. That’s when Pandora looked forward and saw The South Pole for the first time.

Underneath Antarctica, built into the side of the southernmost continent, was a giant underwater complex, all enclosed in the odd glassy material. The big dome covering the magical city shimmered in blue and green. Every so often, pops of red flashed through the water.

“Welcome to The South Pole, kid,” said Befana. “You see why your Dad refuses to come down here?”

“Because it’s magical and awesome and way cooler than his place?” asked Pandora.

“Because it’s frikkin’ claustrophobic as heck,” said Befana. “This gives me the willies. Your dad and I — we love to fly. Being stuck under the ocean sounds like a curse to me.”

“Why is this how things are?” asked Pandora.

“Your dad never told you?” asked Befana. “Weird. Okay. I guess I should start from the beginning.”

Befana grabbed herself a bottle of water.

“I guess it all started when humans started to explore,” said Befana. “Humans think they’re the only beings that have ever explored the world. It’s small-minded — after all, birds, whales, tiny fishies in the sea, they explored the world before the humans did. There were whales in the Ancient World that saw more of the globe than humans did in the 1300s. But, I digress.”

Befana looked out the window and looked through the deep dark depths of the ocean. It reminded her of a starless sky.

“Magical beings have always existed. In fact, back in the day, humans used to believe in us way more. Beings like your dad weren’t rare at all. But, humans have a tendency to…well, not get along with things they don’t understand,” said Befana. “That’s why so many powerful beings went to places where humans wouldn’t find them. Your father’s place is hidden in plain sight — people think he’s just some sort of government contractor, which is why The North Pole has minimal cloaking devices. In fact, the only real cloaking device it has is the weather surrounding it, courtesy of Boreas ‘Old Man’ Winter.”

“Why is Boreas down here?” asked Pandora.

“Your dad and Boreas have never really gotten along. They’re both associated with winter, but they’re two very different men,” explained Befana. “Your father and I are both focused on Christmas — Christmas Day is for him, while Twelfth Night — the twelfth day after Christmas — is for me. Boreas, well, he’s the leader of the ice elementals. The humans gave him the name ‘Boreas’ at one point, ‘Old Man Winter,’ at another, so he goes by either name. Like your father, he’s known by many, many names, across many, many lands.”

“But why is he down here?” asked Pandora.

“I’m getting to that part,” said Befana, sipping at her water. “The ice elementals never wanted to interact with humans. Nothing against them, I’m sure, but the ice elementals play an essential role in nature. They wanted to be able to do their job in peace and quiet.”

“Why are they underwater?” asked Pandora.

“Good question. They weren’t before, but, humans became totes obsessed with Antarctica — don’t see why, it’s a big hunk of nothin’, but whatever,” said Befana. “It’s not like the frikkin’ Alps, where they could ski or something. Just a bunch of ice chickens — penguins — and wind. Ugh. Anyway. The humans were crowding the space up, so the ice elementals moved ‘downstairs,’ as it were.”

“So that’s why they’re down here,” said Pandora. “The South Pole is different than I thought it’d be.”

“What were you expecting? Some sort of scientific research center?” asked Befana.

“Well…yeah,” said Pandora.

“Boreas does have one of those, but, I thought you’d prefer the VIP tour,” said Befana with a wink. “By the way — the true South Pole isn’t up there. The Workshop is bored into the bedrock of Antarctica, in a ‘pizza slice’ shape, with the pole at the tip of the slice. What you see out here — that’s just the crust.”

“There’s more to this?” asked Pandora.

“This has sort of become the base of operations for all the winter-related elementals — not just ice elementals, but wind and water elementals too,” explained Befana. “They also do magical research down here. Your father’s employees are more focused on magical engineering. Boreas’s guys are more focused on the theoretical side of magic.”

“I never liked science class,” said Pandora, shaking her head. “I always preferred literature courses and stuff.”

“Ooh, don’t let your dad hear that — or Ginny,” said Befana.

“Oh, shit — I forgot, you have a more selfish reason that me for coming down to The South Pole,” said Pandora. “Your friend Ginny married Boreas like last year. She’s super nice! I met her last year, at the office party.”

“Yeah, and she’ll be coming up North this year, but, she’ll be staying with Boreas, of course,” said Befana, rolling her eyes.

“Right, it’s like, ‘if you like Boreas so much, Ginny, why don’t you marry him?’” joked Pandora.

“So sue me for wanting to have a big, fun magical gals sleepover with my best friend — and my best daughter, and the best baker I know,” said Befana. “You know Bakery wouldn’t forgive me if I forgot to invite her!”

“Did you just call Avery ‘Bakery’ on accident?” asked Pandora, raising an eyebrow. “Boreas better have some dope food, because I don’t think you should be flying on an empty stomach. I can hear your stomach growling from here!”

“You know, that…might not be my stomach,” said Befana, pointing forward.

Pandora looked. Their car had left the ice tunnel and was rising up out of the water into a grotto carved out of the very rock of Antarctica, with panes of what Pandora assumed was either ice or glass peeking out into the abyss.

A group of ice elementals was working on running an obstacle course. As Pandora’s car was magically lifted up out of the water and placed into a parking spot by one of the elementals, who was using water magic to move the SUV using magic hydraulics, she watched the spectacle. There were dozens of ice elementals running about, climbing over massive ice walls, jumping over large blocks of ice, and trying to dodge ice statues with their arms outreached like something out of Dante’s Inferno — if it had taken place underneath Antarctica.

Pandora got out of her car and tested the ground. It was made of smooth rock. After Befana got out, Pandora locked up her car and stood up on the rock, crossing her arms as she watched the ice elementals run the course.

“This is what they’re up to down here?” asked Pandora.

“Well, if your dad didn’t need the extra help, Boreas wouldn’t have to train the elementals to have them pull Santana’s sleigh,” explained Befana.

“I don’t see why my dad doesn’t just let the Christmas elves pull his sleigh,” said Pandora, shaking her head. “Avery’s got enough energy to pull the whole damn thing by herself!”

“But she’s not a shifter — and Santana needs shifters to pull his sleigh,” said Befana. “Not all elementals are shifters, just as not all shifters are elementals. But, these elementals…they’re all shifters. They can all handle the ride.”

“So you’re telling me that the fact that these guys can turn into frikkin’ penguins makes them more qualified to pull the sleigh than Avery, a woman whose coffee can power a whole town?” asked Pandora, raising a brow.

“You should know that turning into an animal takes a lot out of you, Panda Claus,” said Befana.

“How would you know?” asked Pandora, holding herself for warmth as she realized she was definitely underdressed for Ant-frikkin’-arctica. “No offense, but…you’re not exactly, you know…a shifter.”

“Let’s just say that when I was still learning my witchcraft, I accidentally turned myself into a toad more times than I’d like to admit,” said Befana. “But at least I was a cute toad! Didn’t need some kiss from your dad to turn me into a princess or something. Speaking of royalty…is that the prince of ice?” Befana pointed toward the entrance to the rest of the ice elemental kingdom, marked with two giant double doors that were starting to open.

“Oh, come on,” said Pandora, waving her hand and frowning. “Jack’s not a…”

Pandora was about to say ‘prince,’ but the words disappeared as she followed Befana’s gesture.

Walking out of the door was Boreas ‘Old Man’ Winter, ruler of the ice elementals, wearing a pair of athletic shorts and a frikkin’ tank top, even in the freezing cold. He did not exactly look like a king.

Behind him, wearing a leather blazer over a heather gray shirt with black jeans and a studded belt, was another familiar face. The shirt was thin and tight, showing off a firm, lean body. Biceps formed curves in the sleeves of the leather jacket. Thick thighs strained against the jeans.

Jack Frost didn’t have a crown, but he walked with a cocky confidence that Pandora couldn’t help but smile about. It was the kind of walk only princes and bad boys had. It was confident, mischievous, and meant nothing but trouble – just like Pandora. It was hard to believe that the two of them had grown up together, awkward and weird heirs to magical dynasties, and he’d turned into…well, someone ready to take over his father’s icy throne. Over the years, they’d gone from a mischievous pair to bad boy and bad girl. They’d stolen flying sleighs, helped demons with Christmas mischief, and of course, set up couples by placing balls of mistletoe where they were sure certain pairs would knock into them. They were the only couple that hadn’t yet kissed underneath the mistletoe. They were the mischievous matchmakers who hadn’t made the match that was staring them in the face like a candy cane peeking out of a Christmas stocking.

“Go to him,” whispered Befana, flicking her hand and causing pink petals and sparks to fly out of her fingertips and whirl around Pandora. “Follow your heart.”

“Really?” asked Pandora, raising an eyebrow. “That’s your cheesy line?”

“What? I’ve always wanted to be that friend in the romantic comedy that says that!” said Befana with a laugh. “Go! Go!”

Pandora waved at Jack. When she got his attention, and he waved back, she started walking toward him as he walked toward her.

Pandora walked quickly and nervously toward Jack, wondering how she looked, wondering if she was being awkward, how her arms were hanging by her sides.

That’s why she didn’t notice the puddle.

“Ahh!” squealed Pandora as she slipped in the puddle of water on the ground.

Before she hit the ground, she hit something firm, hard, and comforting at the same time.

It was Jack’s arms.

Jack had managed to catch Pandora after she’d started to slip, but before she fell and hit the ground. Pandora looked up into Jack’s icy blue eyes and saw her own shocked gaze.

“Hey…” said Pandora awkwardly.

“Really? All I get is a ‘hello?’” teased Jack, helping Pandora to her feet.

“W-what were you expecting?” asked Pandora nervously, feeling her cheeks redden.

“A ‘Merry Christmas,’ of course,” said Jack, waggling his eyebrows. “After all — you are Pandora Claus. Whatever would Father Christmas say if he learned that his own daughter didn’t wish people a Merry Christmas?”

“Ha-ha,” said Pandora, crossing her arms. “Well — thanks, and Merry Christmas. Are you ready to go or what?”

“Yeah, but, I gotta ask — why do you want me to go ride with you?” asked Jack.

“B-because my dad doesn’t want me riding alone, at least, not until I’ve got more hours of flying under my belt,” said Pandora. Her excuse was real, but it was an excuse, hiding the true reason behind why the heck she wanted Jack to fly with her to The North Pole.

“Huh, here I was thinking you had a crush on me or something,” said Jack. Pandora wasn’t sure if he was joking or not. The Christmas season had barely started, and he’d already manage to frustrate her.

That didn’t mean that he was wrong — about the crush. Pandora knew how she felt about Jack. Apparently, Jack had his own suspicions about those feelings. The cat was out of the bag — or Santana’s Christmas sack — and now, she knew she really had to have that awkward conversation with Jack.

Jack walked to the back of the SUV and opened the door.

“What’re you doing?” asked Befana, putting out her hand and closing the door to the SUV with magic.

Jack took his hand off the SUV. “Aren’t you riding in the front?”

“I’m riding with your dad, Jack,” said Befana. “It’s just you and Pandora riding up North together in her new sleigh.”

“Really?” asked Pandora, looking at Befana and raising her eyebrows. “You didn’t mention this before.”

“Oh, I forgot to mention that?” asked Befana, smirking. “I made sure to pack my broom in the back so that I could ‘migrate’ up north with the ice elementals. After all, being around your dad has made me curious about other kinds of magic.”

“You can ride with us if you like, but if Santana accuses me of stealing his woman…” started Boreas, crossing his arms.

“You’re lucky I don’t accuse you of stealing my man,” said Befana. “Don’t worry about having to go easy on me. I can keep up.”

“Wasn’t planning on making it easy,” said Boreas, crossing his arms and looking over his wife’s best friend. “Come on. Let me show you the shaft.”

“The what now?” asked Pandora, eyes wide.

“My dad means the shaft that leads up to the surface,” explained Jack.

“Oh, that, uh…yeah, of course, that’s what he meant,” said Pandora, cheeks burning red. “Alright. Are you ready to head North?”

“I just need to grab something from my room,” said Jack. “Wanna come with, or do you wanna wait out here?”

“I wouldn’t miss out on a chance to see more of this place,” said Pandora, following after Jack. “Wait — why the heck didn’t you just bring your things with you?”

“I wasn’t planning on leaving yet,” said Jack. “You’re early, you know.”

“I am?” asked Pandora.

“Yeah. Are you still on North Pole Time? South Pole Time is twelve hours behind North Pole Time,” explained Jack. “When it’s ‘midnight’ there, it’s ‘noon’ here.”

“That makes literally no fucking sense,” said Pandora. “Time zones are based on longitude, not latitude.”

“Have you ever known our fathers to be reasonable men?” asked Jack.

“Okay, fair point — but when you and I take over, we need to abolish that shitty system,” said Pandora.

“Of course — we’ll just switch everything over to South Pole Time,” said Jack with a grin.

“Wait — that’s not what I meant!” protested Pandora. “Why don’t we change everything to North Pole Time?”

“And now you see what they must feel like,” said Jack.

“Gosh, I hope we don’t fight as much as them when we take over,” said Pandora.

“Yeah,” said Jack. “With the way they fight, one might think they’re…husband and wife.”

“Yeah, I guess one could think that,” said Pandora awkwardly. What was Jack getting at?

“It’s a good thing they’re not married…because having you as a sister would be pretty awkward,” said Jack. “After all, you’re super cute.”

“Jack, stop teasing,” said Pandora, blushing.

“Who said I’m teasing?” asked Jack. “We’re here.” Jack opened the nondescript door to his room.

Jack’s room was nothing like Pandora’s. The room was sparse. There was a medium sized bed in the room, but the bed didn’t have a fancy frame. Underneath the bed were storage boxes. There was a big closet, full of utilitarian clothing, and a desk. On the desk, there was a journal, closed, with a pen attached to the spine of the journal.

“Wow, you have so much stuff,” said Pandora sarcastically.

“I don’t spend much time here,” said Jack. “I’m always so busy working. When I have free time, I get out of here, go to the surface, go swimming. I really just sleep here.”

Jack grabbed a prepacked duffel and carried it out of the room.

“You coming, or are you gonna read my diary?” asked Jack.

“You call it a diary, even though you’re a boy?” asked Pandora.

“It sure as shit ain’t a journal,” said Jack with a shrug. “No shame in having a diary!”

“I call mine a journal,” said Pandora. “Well, I write ‘Dear Diary,’ but I think of it as a journal. I do. Really.”

“That’s weird,” said Jack.

“You’re weird,” sassed Pandora.

“I mean, just, a journal…well, that’s like, a log for shit, right? It’s a generic term, for stuff like…scientific journals,” explained Jack. “Isn’t your ‘journal’ full of personal stuff? Making it…a diary?”

“I don’t know — wouldn’t you say that you and I have pretty unique experiences?” asked Pandora. “We’re part of these magical families, and these shenanigans happen all around us. What’s normal to you, what’s personal…it’s extraordinary to other people.”‘

“So you do want to read my diary,” teased Jack.

“That’s not what I meant,” said Pandora, blushing. “Whatever.”

They reached Pandora’s SUV. Jack tossed his duffel in the back. They waved goodbye to Boreas and Befana, who were with Ginny and the ice elementals that had been selected to go North for the season. There was no need for formal goodbyes, as they were all headed to the same place.

Jack got in the passenger seat of the SUV.

“Woah, this thing’s nice,” said Jack, looking around the vehicle.

“Well, after we stole my father’s sleigh, he promised he’d get Krampus to make me my own…and I guess ‘sleigh’ is now a generic term for ‘big flying thing,’” joked Pandora.

“Are there seat coolers in this thing?” asked Jack.

“Seat coolers? Fuck no,” said Pandora. “It’s cold enough outside.”

“Then you won’t mind if I take this off,” said Jack. He took off his leather blazer and tossed it into the back seat of the SUV.

Pandora thought he’d stop there.

Pandora was wrong.

Jack peeled off his shirt and tossed it in the back of the SUV. He had broad shoulders, firm pecs, and a manly, musky scent that reminded Pandora of a glacier mixed with the smell of her own panda bear shift.

“What?” asked Jack, meeting Pandora’s gaze. “Do you mind if I…get more comfortable?”

“Uh…sure,” said Pandora awkwardly, following Jack’s hands as they wandered down to his pants.

But, his hands didn’t go to his zipper.

They went to the bottom of his jeans. He pulled them up so he could unlace his sneakers and toss them in the back of the car.

“If your feet smell, I reserve the right to activate the spring under your seat and catapult you out of the car,” said Pandora, shaking her head.

“That’s a joke, right?” asked Jack.

“Well, Krampus made this car, so, do you want to take that gamble?” asked Pandora, raising an eyebrow.

“Fair point,” said Jack. “Shit. Krampus. Avery. All those folks. Can’t believe it’s been nearly a year since I saw everyone. Anything interesting happen while I was away?”

“Well…” started Pandora.

Pandora prattled on, recounting the drama that had gone on at The North Pole over the last year. With Befana marrying her father and moving to The North Pole, things had been more than a little interesting. Her Christmas witchcraft had turned more than a handful of elves into tiny toads…and a few into giant frogs.

While Pandora talked, the magic that ran The South Pole activated again and pulled her car through the ice tunnels under the sea. However, the exit wasn’t exactly…gentle.

“Hey, Pandora,” interrupted Jack. “As much as I want to hear about how Krampus accidentally cursed Avery’s mixers…you might want to focus on driving.”

“Doesn’t the magic take care of this?” asked Pandora light-heartedly. “I haven’t had to steer!”

“The magic only takes you in and out of The South Pole base,” explained Jack, as the car started to move quickly through the tunnels. “When you’re out of the tunnels…well, you have to control things yourself.”

As the SUV exited the vehicular tunnel, it wasn’t gently placed on an ice floe.

It shot right into the air like a breaching killer whale.

“Whoa!” shouted Pandora, steering her car so it didn’t just dive down into the ocean. She turned on the flight mechanism and rose into the air.

“Ugh, the sun,” said Jack, pulling down his visor.

“When was the last time you saw the sun?” asked Pandora, steering her car.

“Uh…maybe two months ago, during an errand,” said Jack.

“Two months ago?” asked Pandora.

“Yeah, I’ve been trying to get out more,” said Jack.

“That’s more for you?” asked Pandora.

“My dad’s constantly training me,” said Jack. “Things haven’t slowed down just because Ginny’s in his life.”

“You’re so lucky,” said Pandora, shaking her head. “I feel like my dad’s been too busy to train me. Whenever we spend time together, it’s ‘quality family time,’ but…all I can do is fly a sleigh and summon presents. Whoop-de-doo.”

“At least he got you this dope sleigh,” said Jack. “Does it teleport like his?”

“Yeah,” said Pandora.

“So why don’t you just teleport us to The North Pole?” asked Jack. “You need to get more flying hours under your belt or something?”

“Yes…but…there’s another reason I wanted to talk to you,” said Pandora. “I, uh…have something to tell you, but…I don’t know how to say it.”

“You want my stepmom’s recipe for cinnamon rolls,” joked Jack. “I knew it.”

“Ginny’s cinnamon rolls are super tasty…but, it’s something else, and, it’s kinda silly,” said Pandora. “It’d make things weird.”

“Would it make things weirder than me telling you I like you a lot, I’ve liked you a lot for years, and I think I’m in love with you?” asked Jack.

This was the part where, if Pandora had been driving her car on a road, like a normal girl on a normal road trip with a normal guy she liked, her absolutely normal car would crash into a perfectly normal tree on the side of the road.

Luckily for Pandora and Jack and the ‘sleigh,’ things were not normal in the least.

“Jack, I…I like you too, and I also think I’m…well, you know,” said Pandora.

“I know,” said Jack. “I’ve…had suspicions for a while.”

“So why didn’t you say anything?” asked Pandora, cheeks burning.

“Well, I wasn’t exactly sure until…you literally fell for me today,” teased Jack.

“The floor was slippery!” insisted Pandora.

“Uh-huh,” said Jack. “Sure it was. Just like you totally didn’t place that mistletoe over there.” Jack pointed to the mistletoe ball hanging from Pandora’s moonroof via suction cup. There were the red berries of holly and the white berries of mistletoe. There was frikkin’ pink glitter on it. Pandora shook her head. She’d made a ball of mistletoe appear when her father had danced with her now-step-mother. Now, Befana had returned the favor.

“And here I was, believing that she was just hanging up some bundle of herbs to protect me…and make my car smell better,” said Pandora, shaking her head. “That tricky witch!”

“Well, we’re under the mistletoe, Pandora,” said Jack. “You know what that means. You know all too well, don’t you?”

Pandora’s cheeks turned as bright red as the berries on the holly. “I know, Jack…I just, do you even…like, want to?”

“I don’t know, Pandora,” said Jack. “I’m shirtless, in your car. You didn’t even have to buy me dinner first. I think you know what comes next.”

“Jack, do you – “ started Pandora. “I mean, I just told you that I liked you, and you kinda made a joke, so I don’t know what to think, and, so, do you –”

“I think you don’t want to hear the answer to that question,” murmured Jack.

“Oh,” said Pandora, her heart falling.

“I think…you’d rather feel the answer,” said Jack. “And Pandora…it’s long overdue.”

Jack leaned over the center console. He looked over Pandora, the beautiful woman whose curves he’d desired since they first met. He’d kept his feelings to himself for too many years. They were older now, closer than ever before, and now that Pandora had revealed her feelings, after years of him dropping hints to her about what lay in his heart…well, it was finally time.

Every fairy tale worth reading has a good kiss – and that’s a fact.

This one didn’t end with one.

This one started with one.

Jack put a hand on Pandora’s waist and brushed the back of his hand over her thick waist. He closed his eyes and took a breath in. He opened his eyes when he felt Pandora’s hand on his chest. Pandora looked into Jack’s eyes, and Jack leaned forward. Pandora leaned in a bit, and finally, Jack put one of his hands underneath Pandora’s chins, cocked it up slightly, and brushed her lips with his.

A shiver ran down Pandora’s spine as Jack’s cold lips pressed against her warm lips. She ran warm, as a shifter, and she’d expected Jack to run cold. After all, they’d brushed hands on more than a couple occasions. She knew he ran cold. She’d expected his lips to be as cold as ice, and they were. She’d also expected his lips to be as hard as ice, and they weren’t. They were as soft as powdered snow and as sweet as powdered sugar.

Pandora leaned into the kiss. She felt Jack’s icy arms embrace her. Growing up at The North Pole, she knew that the cold could be deadly, that venturing into that cold night unprepared could lead to death. But, in Jack’s arms, she didn’t feel as if her blood would freeze. She felt as if he’d frozen time itself. She hoped the moment would never end.

However, when Pandora’s elbow flicked outward, and she accidentally hit the steering wheel, and the SUV dipped, she broke the kiss and grabbed hold of the steering wheel. Luckily, the autopilot stopped the sleigh from crashing into the frikkin’ ocean and automatically stabilized, treated the dip as mere turbulence.

“All good there, Miss Claus?” crackled a familiar female voice through the ‘radio.’

“All good,” said Pandora. “Wait…shit. Was this mic on the whole time?”

“Uh…well, I don’t want to get on The Naughty List, so I can’t lie…” started Avery. “In the future, there’s a little tab you can flick down to ensure that the comms link isn’t up.”

“Thanks, Avery,” groaned Pandora. “I’ll test that now.” Pandora saw the giant switch near the radio and pushed it down. The switch had two lights. The green light meant that the comms link was on. The red light indicated that the comms link was off. Pandora’s cheeks were as red as that red light.

Jack broke the awkward silence with a laugh and put his hands behind his head. “So…first date. You know of any nice restaurants on The North Pole?”

“No…but you know, there is this small town in Montana with a great Chinese restaurant…” started Pandora, laughing with Jack. She couldn’t believe that things had finally gone her frikkin’ way. She was going to get her fairytale romance after all, and her bad boy prince would be by her side, forever. There was nothing that could ever change that.

But there was something that could change everything.