On the morning of Christmas Eve, Holly packed up her car. She set her phone up, with directions to her destination. She thought about stopping by the bakery but decided against it. Things didn’t need to be more awkward than they already were.

As Holly drove, she put on the radio. Every single station was either playing Christmas songs or songs for people nursing a broken heart. Holly turned on her own music — some goofy show tunes — and sang along, trying to cheer herself up.

“Wake up,” said a voice. “It’s nearly noon.”

“Wh-what?” asked Rowan, rubbing his eyes. “Oh, shit.” Rowan had gone for a run with his bear around Camp Kringle and hadn’t gotten in ‘til the early morning.

“Yeah, exactly,” said Krampus. “We gotta get North, and fast. There’re new uniforms this year. You’re getting suited up when we get there.”

“Got it,” said Rowan, getting up from his bed. “I just need to shower and eat something.”

“We’re leaving now,” said Krampus. “We can get breakfast at The Workshop.”

“There’s something I need to do before I leave,” said Rowan.

“It’s going to have to wait,” said Krampus. “The Ride might start at night, but it takes all day to prep.”

“But, Holly,” started Rowan.

“Did you handle things with her last night?” asked Krampus.

“No,” said Rowan.

“What magically changed during the last time you saw her and now?” asked Krampus. “Nothing. So don’t worry, kid — she’ll probably be here tomorrow. Heck, you might even see her at The North Pole tonight if she hitches a ride with Avery to the big party. Speaking of The North Pole, here.” Krampus took the snow globe out of his pocket. Rowan sighted the familiar reindeer. He wondered if Krampus would give him one last romp with his bear after The Ride, before his bear was taken away from him, forever.

Rowan put his hand on the globe. When he’d first come to The Wreath, he’d been excited to do The Ride. It’s all he’d been able to think about – until he met Holly, and rushed things because he hadn’t taken the time he’d spent at Camp Kringle during November as a time of reflection. He’d made an avoidable mistake. The question was, could he fix it in time for Christmas, and make his own Christmas miracle?

Rowan felt the familiar exchange of power. His bear romped into the snow globe and Cupid’s primal power swelled in Rowan’s mere human form. Rowan swore he smelled freshly cut pine – although that may’ve just been the fact he was on a frikkin’ Christmas tree farm. He could practically taste hot coffee and Christmas cookies, but the only thing Rowan wanted to taste was Holly’s kisses on Christmas Day.

Holly drove and drove and drove some more. The same album looped over again for the third time. She took a break to grab ‘brunch’ at a fast food restaurant and then hit the road again. She didn’t need to keep her car warm. After all, she was wearing one of her classic Christmas sweaters, the one Christmassy thing that wasn’t depressing her every time she looked at it.

Rowan was outfitted for The Ride, but his belly wasn’t full. It grumbled as he walked through the halls with Krampus.

“The cafeteria’s this way,” said Krampus. “Can’t stand the food, though. Not my type of fare.”

“It’s bad?” asked Rowan.

“Depends on who you ask,” said Krampus, shrugging his shoulders, before opening a door.

Inside was a scene unlike any Rowan had ever seen.

The ‘cafeteria’ had long tables. Each table was loaded with all sorts of Christmas fare, from roast goose that looked like it could’ve come straight out of a French kitchen to meatloaf that smelled like a good ol’ fashioned Midwestern kitchen. There was a separate area for beverages and pastries. Rowan didn’t have to guess who was in charge of pastries.

Rowan made a beeline to Avery, who was sitting at a table with two familiar faces — Pandora and Jack.

“Holly,” said Rowan. “Is she here?”

“No, sorry,” said Avery. “She’s not coming tonight.”

“Fuck,” cursed Rowan.

“Merry Christmas to you too, Rowan!” said Pandora. She clapped her hands, and a present appeared in between them. She passed the present box to Rowan.

“What’s this?” asked Rowan.

“A present,” said Pandora. “Open it!”

“It’s not time to open gifts,” said Rowan.

“You open gifts on Christmas, right?” asked Pandora. “Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, what’s the difference?”

“You’re the one whose dad is Santa Claus, so I guess you’d know best,” said Rowan. He opened the red and green plaid paper. Inside, there was a cardboard box. He opened it. Inside, there was a red velvet box, shaped like a heart.

“No,” said Rowan. “What the fuck?”

Rowan pulled the box out and opened it. Inside what was he suspected was inside…and the ring was labeled, ‘For Holly.’

“I can’t catch a fucking break,” said Rowan. “Only thing that’s missing is her. Pandora, how did you know I needed one of these…albeit to propose to a girl that won’t have me?”

“I don’t know shit,” said Pandora. “My gift is gifting — stuff you want, stuff you need, or, ideally, like in your case, both. I don’t control the gift — just my gift.”

“I think I follow,” said Rowan.

“Hey,” said Avery. “In the spirit of gifts, here.” Avery pulled out a cooler that she’d stashed underneath the table. She passed it to Krampus.

“What’s this?” asked Krampus.

“Well, I know how much you hate Christmas dinner with your friends, so I decided to make it a little more bearable for you,” said Avery. “And…I guess a little less bearable for me, given I’m within burping distance of you.”

Krampus opened up the cooler.

“No way,” said Krampus, pulling out containers. “Kæstur hákarl?” He opened the container, and the scent of ammonia filled the room.

“What did you fill that with, Avery, cleaning products?” asked Pandora.

“That’s fermented shark,” said Jack, to which he received an incredulous look from Rowan and Pandora. “What? My dad’s got a bunch of ice elementals from Iceland. It ain’t half bad — if you give it a chance.”

“Is that true?” asked Pandora.

“You better your ass it’s true,” said Avery. “Why do you think I had to talk to Boreas so much? Get my basement at the bakery cleared out? I made this myself — and I now have some ammonia stained clothing to prove it.”

“That’s what you were doing with Boreas?” asked Krampus.

“Yeah — what did you think?” asked Avery. “Did you think we were dating or something? Or that I was really planning some party for him? You know Boreas wouldn’t throw a party! Not to save his life – no offense, Jack.”

“None taken,” said Jack. “You’re just telling it like it is.”

“Never mind. Thanks,” said Krampus. “This is great, Avery. If it tastes half as good as it smells, it’ll be amazing.”

“Come here,” said Avery, pulling Krampus in and giving him a one-sided hug that made Krampus blush.

Holly finally pulled into the familiar gravel driveway. She hadn’t even gotten to the porch before she was assaulted with a barrage of hugs.

“Holly,” said a deep voice. “You’re crazy to drive here in one straight shot.”

“I got that crazy from you, dad,” said Holly, returning her dad’s full bear hug.

“Dear, come here,” said a sweet voice, pulling Holly in close.

“Grandma Luna,” said Holly, surprised. “I didn’t know you were coming up for Christmas!” Holly pulled in her beefy grandma for a hug. Her Texan grandma loved beer and steak more than the average frat boy, and it showed.

“I just landed a few hours ago,” said Grandma Luna. “Once I heard you were coming home for the holidays, well, let’s just say my frequent flier miles were put to good use! After all, now I can give you this early.”

Grandma Luna pulled a big gift bag off of the porch bench and passed it to Holly.

Holly pulled the single item wrapped in tissue paper out of the bag. She unfolded the paper and revealed the item inside, examining it from neck to hem, from wrist cuff to wrist cuff, front and back.

“This might be the best one yet,” said Holly. “I love it, Grandma Luna.” Holly took off her sweater and put it in the bag. She put on the brand-new Christmas sweater, which had a series of brown bears on it as well as one word that Holly couldn’t quite make out.

The rest of the family — Holly’s mom, her cousins, her aunts, and uncles who had all come over to welcome her — gave her hugs. Holly’s new sweater was quickly warmed up with some good ol’ fashioned love from her family, but her heart remained broken — warm, but broken, like an apple pie, fresh out of the oven, that had been dropped on the floor.

“On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer, on Vixen!” roared Santana. “On Comet, on Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen!”

The eight reindeer took to the air. Rowan was paired with Comet, who was being ‘played’ by an ice elemental who wasn’t talkative. Rowan followed after Vixen. Dasher and Dancer led the sleigh, while Rowan was really just there to supply extra horsepower — err, reindeer-power.

“Faster!” called Santana. “I know you have it in you!” Santana cracked his whip in the air. Its sharp sound sliced through the air.

The Ride was simple — Santana would direct the sleigh to various points around the world. At those points, Santana would disembark, deliver presents to people in the area, and move on to the next house. Various forms of magic kept Santana and the reindeer concealed when Santana wanted to be hidden.

Back at Santana’s Workshop, a bevy of Christmas elves acted as traffic control and also guided the individual reindeer and let them know whether to speed up or slow down.

At the end of the day, Santana’s word and will was what the reindeer were to follow — but every time the elves back at base told the reindeer to take a turn slow, or to be careful, Santana rushed the reindeer.

Rowan had practiced flying — even practiced dragging Krampus’ armchair through the air. Krampus had assured him that he was ready for The Ride, that Santana would only expect so much, but as Santana landed the sleigh somewhere in Estonia, Rowan already felt his muscular reindeer legs starting to cramp up.

Holly sat out on the back porch with her mug of hot apple cider. She lazily swirled the cinnamon stick and looked up at the twinkling stars in the sky, reminded of the time she’d spent with Rowan on the Christmas trail — ironic, as she’d come out to the porch to get away from hearing her cousins talk about love and relationships.

“Mind if I join you, doll?” asked a warm voice. Holly turned. Her grandma was in the doorway.

“Not at all,” said Holly. She moved over so her grandma could sit with her on the swinging porch bench. Holly’s grandma sat down and wrapped the two of them up in a warm throw blanket.

“All that talk about boys getting to your head?” asked Grandma Luna.

“You could say that,” said Holly.

“So it’s not,” said Grandma Luna, sipping her cider, which Holly was sure she’d added some applejack to. “All that talk about love, it’s gotten to your heart.”

“How’d you guess?” asked Holly.

“A grandma has her way of knowing,” said Grandma Luna. “So, who is he? And heck, where is he, so I can clock whoever it is that dared to break my granddaughter’s heart right in the jaw?’

“He’s just some guy,” said Holly.

“Now, now, that thirty-year-old cashier at the grocery store who flirts with me is just ‘some guy,’” said Grandma Luna. “Who is he?”

“His name’s Rowan,” said Holly. “He’s a shifter, and his mark, well, it didn’t…you know.”

“I see,” said Grandma Luna. “You know what? Fuck Fate.”

“Grandma Luna!” hissed Holly. “I don’t think anyone wants their little one rushing home with some brand-new curse words in their Christmas stocking!”

“You know, just because I’m a grandma, that doesn’t mean I wasn’t once your age,” said Grandma Luna. “I’ve seen a lot of things, Holly, things that would have a woman believing in Fate — and things that would make her think Fate is just a fairy tale, like Santa Claus and the flying reindeer.” Grandma Luna pointed at the sweater.

“Those are reindeer?” asked Holly.

“They don’t look it?” asked Grandma Luna.

“Well, where are the antlers?” asked Holly. “I thought these were bears!”

“Well, heck, I must’ve forgotten to stitch those in after,” said Grandma Luna, snapping her fingers. “We’ll just have to play pretend. At least the word on your chest is spelled right, ain’t it? N-a-u, g-h, t-y?”

“It says Naughty?” asked Holly. “Why?”

“Well, remember what I told you about fairy tales?” said Grandma Luna. “I got this friend. What a dear. But bless her heart. The poor thing just can’t tell us the truth about how she met her man — a bear shifter, one of them werebears or whatnot. Her name’s Barbara Ann, and her husband’s name is Nick.”

“What does she say?” asked Holly.

“Now, it’s the darnedest thing,” said Grandma Luna. “She told all of us she fell in love in December. But, this is a Christmas love story, and you don’t want to hear one of those, now, do you?”

“You said it’s a fiction, so I suppose it can’t hurt,” said Holly. “It’s just a fairy tale, right?”

“Well, I’ll stop if you ask me to,” assured Grandma Luna. “Anywho. This poor, poor thing…insists that when she met her man, he was a reindeer shifter — not a bear, but a reindeer. It was only after claiming her that he was able to be a bear again and keep his shift forever. She says he was working for Santa Claus, of all people, as one of his eight flying reindeer!”

“What about his mate mark?” asked Holly.

“Well, see, that’s the funniest thing — he had a different mark,” said Grandma Luna. “It wasn’t his normal mate mark, at least, not at first. No. At first, he had one word on his chest, in bright red — the word ‘Naughty,,’ and he did something good, and it changed to say ‘Nice’ in bright green. Now, ain’t that just the silliest story you’ve ever heard? Poor dear’s been telling it since we were all in our forties, so I know it’s not from dementia. I wish she just told us the truth — that she’d met the man through a matchmaker, or her parents, or heck, in the woods for some casual sex!”

“Your friend told you this story?” asked Holly. “Word for word, she told you all that?”

“Yes,” said Grandma Luna. “I may have great life advice, but I can’t spin a tale like that. Takes real talent, if I say so myself, a talent I don’t have. Why?”

“Grandma Luna…I have a heck of a story to tell you,” said Holly.

“Is it about that boy, that bad boy?” asked Grandma Luna.

“Yes, and it starts with…a Christmas tree,” said Holly.

Rowan felt like he was full of energy. He could make it back to The Wreath, see Holly, and explain everything.

But then, Santana started flying the sleigh back North, and Rowan realized that sailing over the calm Pacific Ocean was one thing, but sailing over the icier Arctic Ocean was another.

Still, Rowan managed to fly through the icy winds.

Unfortunately, the same could not be said about the two reindeer at the very front of the sleigh. The ice elemental that was wielding the power of Dasher shifted back into his human form and started to fall.

“Down, now,” ordered Santana. “Don’t panic. We just need to fall faster than him.”

Santana navigated the sleigh using his reins. He positioned himself so the sleigh was underneath the falling ice elemental, who, in his shock, had turned back into his shift — a penguin.

“Santana, we got trouble,” said the ice elemental playing the part of Vixen — positioned behind Dancer.

Dancer had also shifted back into his human form. Santana’s sleigh was now closer to the sea because they’d dove to catch Dasher.

“Forward, down, at one-o-clock,” ordered Santana.

“But we have to go back for him,” said Prancer.

“Don’t make me repeat myself,” growled Santana.

Santana landed the sled on an ice floe. The six remaining reindeer watched as Santana dove into the water. Within three minutes, Santana crawled out of the water, on to the ice floe, with an icy penguin in one arm. The other, he used to leverage himself on to the ice floe.

That’s when the water rose and started to break. Out of the depths came something big and white. At first, Rowan thought it was another ice floe. Then, it opened its mouth, showing teeth.

Santana felt the motion of the ocean. He tossed the penguin into the sleigh, where the other penguin was. He turned and kicked the orca right in the snout. The orca didn’t go down right away, so Santana had to punch it with his now free hand. He stunned the killer whale. Santana quickly got back in the sleigh. He stuffed the penguins into his toy sack.

“In the air, now,” ordered Santana. The reindeer rose in the air, trying to keep calm. Now that Dasher and Dancer were out of commission, that left Prancer and Vixen to lead the sleigh, with Comet and Rowan, a.k.a. Cupid, right behind them. The sleigh rose into the air. The ice floe cracked beneath the sleigh. The ice floe split right in two just as the sleigh flew up into the air, out of the reach of the killer whale.

“Holy shit,” cursed Rowan. “That was…something else. Are Dasher and Dancer alright?” Rowan’s words came out as a series of sounds that sounded like a duck pummeling a goose in an underground Las Vegas fight club while getting egged on by high-rolling elephants. In Cupid’s form, Rowan had on a headset — typical microphone and headphone type of gadget. His words weren’t translated for Santana, or for Krampus, who was on the other end of the line. No — Santa Claus and his Christmas demon just straight up spoke fluent reindeer. Of course, they replied to Rowan in English. Although Rowan could ‘speak’ reindeer, he couldn’t understand it.

“They will be,” said Santana. “Sent’m back through the sack.”

“What?” asked Rowan.

“The sack works both ways,” said Santana. “The elves can toss toys into it from their end, and I can send stuff back to The Workshop from my sack. Boreas is going to tan my hide for getting those two knocked out.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” insisted Rowan.

“I should’ve realized they needed a break,” said Santana. “I did things too quickly. Rushed things. Won’t be a mistake I make again. Right now, what I need is for the six of you to take things slow. I’d rather get back to The North Pole by New Year’s Eve than have all that happen again.

“…So that’s it,” said Holly. “That’s the whole story. What do you think?”

“I’ll say this — the skeptic in me is, well, skeptical,” admitted Grandma Luna, raising her eyebrow as she took a sip of her cider. “There’s a lot of reasonable explanations for the events you explained. Maybe he didn’t fly during that fight — maybe he just jumped, really, really high. Maybe that was his real mate mark — the word ‘Naughty.’ Maybe he’s one of those rare folks that can shift into two animals — and that’s why he turned into a reindeer and into a bear. Here’s what I can’t figure out — what’s in your heart. Do you love him?”

“Do I what?” asked Holly with a laugh.

“Do you love him?” asked Grandma Luna.

“I can’t,” said Holly. “Not after he called me ugly.”

“And you heard him say that?” asked Grandma Luna. “Word for word?”

“There was no mistaking it for anything other than what it was, and what it was, well, it was cruel,” said Holly.

“Grandma, Grandma,” called a voice. One of Holly’s younger cousins, a little boy named Peter, waddled out of the house. He had a mug of hot cocoa with extra mini marshmallows.

“Well, hello, dear,” said Grandma Luna. “How can I help you?”

“I was wondering if you wanted to hear the song I practiced in school,” said Peter.

“What song?” asked Holly.

“The Twelve Days of Christmas!” said Peter.

“Well, I’m sure we have time for a few verses,” said Holly. “Why don’t you sit down next to us and we can all sing it together?”

Holly and Grandma Luna moved so Peter could sit between them. The elementary school-aged child broke out into song, and the trio sang up to the part about ‘six swans a-swimmin’’ when Peter pointed.

“Look!” shouted Peter, nearly dropping his mug of cocoa as he stood up quickly. “Look over there!”

“What is it, dear?” asked Grandma Luna.

“I just saw Santa and his reindeer!”

“You did, now, did you?” asked Grandma Luna, shooting Holly a wink.

“They flew right past the moon, but, they’re gone now,” said Peter. “Gosh. I never thought I’d get to see Santa! Do you think that means I stayed up too late and…?”

Peter leaned in to whisper to Holly and Grandma Luna.

“Do you think that means I’m on The Naughty List no?” asked Peter worriedly.

“Of course not,” said Grandma Luna with a laugh. “There’ll be a bundle of presents under that tree with your name on’m.”

“Phew,” said Peter. “Holly, you believe me, don’t you? I know you’re a big kid, but…you believe that reindeer can fly, right?”

“That I do,” admitted Holly. The real question wasn’t whether they could fly — it was whether they could love.

Rowan hit the ground at The North Pole, hard. He shifted into his human form before he collapsed. His ass hit the tarmac, and he curled his head behind his knees.

“Rowan?” called a familiar deep voice. “Boy, can you hear me?”

“Yes,” mumbled Rowan.

“That was a rough ride,” said Krampus, putting his hand on Rowan’s shoulders. “Let’s get you inside, get something warm in your stomach.”

“Okay,” said Rowan, getting up from the tarmac. His own human legs felt unfamiliar to him. He’d only ever used them in a few states in his own country. His reindeer legs — Cupid’s legs — had taken him around the entire world. These no longer felt like his own legs.

Krampus put an arm around Rowan. Someone put another arm around Rowan — it was Santana.

“Let’s get the boy inside,” said Santana, looking over Rowan. “I don’t suppose his woman’s here?”

Krampus didn’t answer Santana. He just shook his head.

“Holly…” croaked Rowan.

“Save your energy,” ordered Santana.

The next twenty minutes were a blur. Rowan was taken inside to a medical wing. Doctors attached gadgets to him and had him drink up hot cocoa — for the electrolytes. Rowan was too tired to protest that hot cocoa probably didn’t have much in the way of electrolytes, but soon enough, he started to feel better.

“He’s all clear,” said the Christmas elf doctor, whose pointed ears and striped shoes showed his heritage. “One heck of a ride — one for the history books. I’m surprised a human could handle it.”

“I trained him well,” said Krampus, slapping Rowan on the back. “But…keeping his cool? He sure as shit didn’t get that from my hot-headed demon ass. You did good, kid. Real good.”

“Holly,” repeated Rowan. “Where is she?”

“Uh…probably back at The Wreath,” said Krampus. “I don’t know. She didn’t come up here with Avery.”

“I need to go see her,” said Rowan.

“Right now, what you need is rest,” said Krampus. “And…you’re not getting it at my piece of shit cabin.”

“What do you mean?” asked Rowan.

Krampus took his chain off his neck and threw it in the air. The familiar portal formed but it opened onto an unfamiliar destination that was even cheerier and Christmassier than Santana’s office. Inside, there was a living room with big fluffy green pillows and red cable knit blankets and a roaring fire. Sitting on the sofa was a curvy figure in a Christmas sweater, back turned to Rowan.

“Holly!” shouted Rowan, rushing through the portal.

“Huh?” asked the figure, turning. Rowan’s heart sank. It wasn’t Holly. It was her boss, Avery. They were both curvy, so, from the back, Rowan had confused one for the other.

Krampus walked through the portal and closed it behind him.

“Avery…sorry to impose, but, can the boy stay here tonight?” asked Rowan.

“You think I’d let him sleep at your place after the ride he had? Come,” said Avery. “This way.”

Avery got up from the couch and led Rowan to a guest bedroom.

“How did you get down here so quickly?” asked Rowan.

“Same way as you. Krampus made me a portal while you were getting checked out by the doctors,” said Avery. “Pajamas in all sizes are in the dresser. Spares of all types of clothes too, including, yes, skivvies. There’s a hamper there you can use. The bathroom is through that door. Any questions?”

Rowan had miscalculated his energy levels. Maybe it was because he’d spent so much energy in his adrenaline rush from the hospital bed through the portal into Avery’s house in hopes of seeing Holly. Maybe it was because of the complications that had happened on The Ride. Either way, he had only had the strength to ask one question, and he’d misspent the power on a silly question. Before he could ask Avery where Holly was, Rowan blacked out.