Part Three

Present Time…

The harsh wind parted his fur and bit at his skin, causing him to tremble violently. He pulled his coat tighter around his small frame, trying to block the cold. His ears flat against his head as he pushed on through the snow. He tried to not think about the cold, but it was hard to do.

As he gathered the branches and whatnot, Beary couldn't feel his toes or his fingers, and it wasn't long before he fell against a tree, shaking violently. He just wanted to sleep. Already, he could feel his mind slipping away, but he somehow managed to hold onto one thought, and that was Jewel freezing to death.

Being careful to not drop anything, he forced himself to his feet and trudged on, hoping to find the shelter.

Little did he know that he was walking away from the shelter, not towards it.

.~*The Country Bears*~.

Six hours earlier…

Jade wandered about the Hall, curious about the place she had heard so much about from Beary and Jewel. Jewel tagged alone, eager to show off her weekend home. As soon as Beary returned inside, he had joined her and Jade; by the time, so had Ray.

None of them noticed the auburn bear that was following them, nor the black bear that watched them from the balcony.

Beary was explaining the one-string thang to Jade, with Jewel adding in a couple comments every so often.

"Okay, okay… but how can one string make music? Wouldn't it just be the same note over and over again?" Jade questioned, skeptical.

"No!" Jewel butted in. "It makes all sorts of sounds! It all depends on how it is played!"

Behind them, Ray smirked as he listened.

Zeb grinned a little as he let his presence known. "My ol' fiddle sounds purty good when she's played."

Both cubs blink and look behind them.

Jade smirked. "That's not what I heard. Heard you played rather rough at the bar."

"Well, I… I…"

Ray grinned, and the cubs laughed.

"Oh, she got you good," Beary chuckled.

Zeb was embarrassed as he shuffled his feet.

Jewel hugged her uncle. "Aww, don't be like that, Uncle Zeb."

"Hey, I'm all right, lil Trix," he smiled at her.

"Hey, back off my Gem," Beary playfully growled.

Jewel backed away from Zeb and gave her boyfriend a kiss on the cheek. "Meh, I can be both," she teased.

Jade's paw hit her head, and Ray shook his head, muttering something about "damn cubs".

"Kids," Zeb complained, still smiling.

"I told Jade everything that happened during my little… er…" Beary broke off.

"Field trip that you took without me?" Jewel glared.

Beary scratched the back of his head. "Heh, heh… yeah…"

The she-cub rolled her eyes and looked at Zeb. "So, why're you following us?"

Jade, meanwhile, looked around and spotted the black bear up in the balcony. She could feel his gaze upon her. They locked eyes for a moment before she looked away quickly.

On the balcony, Ted watched with a slight smile as the she-bear turned away from him.

"Well, I… I… uh… saw this pretty sweet she-bear and, uh…" Zeb tried to explain.

Jade's eyes widened slightly—she had usually never gotten the attention because of her persona.

"Jade? Really?" Beary blinked and glanced at Jewel. "I thought…"

"Jade was interested in Ted?" Jewel finished.

The black she-bear's eyes widened. "Why you little…"

Both cubs squealed and ran off, Jade chasing them.

Ray's eyes narrow and he glares at Zeb as he crosses his arms. "Oh, really… Just how are you going to take care of her?"

"Well, I… Uh, I'd make sure she…"

The army sergeant waited, tapping his foot impatiently.

Up in the balcony, Ted thought over what Beary and Jewel had said. Did Jade really like him? Why would she like him when she already had a big, strapping, handsome mate? So preoccupied with his thoughts, he never heard the questions Ray was asking Zeb.

"And, ya see, I'd…" Once again, the fiddler shuffled his feet and scratched the back of his neck nervously.

"Mhm…" It was obvious that the sergeant was not impressed, but he did want Jade to have some fun over Christmas break, so he smirks evilly as he turns and walks away.

Zeb let out the breath he wasn't aware he had been holding. "Well… That was fun."

Ted was still thinking about Jade as he watched her chase Beary and Jewel around the Hall.

Jade chased the two misfits up the stairs to the balcony, them laughing loudly, and she didn't even see the black bear.

Both cubs smirk and dodge around Ted; Beary grabbed Ted's arm and pulled him in the way of the oncoming Jade.

Not expecting this, the she-bear couldn't stop as she crashed into the adult male.

"You wanna watch where you're goin'?" Ted growled as he got up, not helping her.

Jade's eyes widened as she helped herself stand. "Watch where I'm going? You're one to talk, moving in front of me!"

"Hey, don't blame me just because you're clumsy."

"I'm clumsy? Look who's talking!" she growled.

"You ran into me!"

"You stepped out in front of me!"

Beary and Jewel laughed as they watched them from the other end of the balcony.

Ted whipped around and stares at the cubs. "And just what are you laughin' at?"

Both cubs yelped and dashed off.

"Oh, don't going blaming a couple of cubs for your stupidity!"

"Oh, callin' me stupid, that's real nice coming from the one who ran into me!"

Jade growled again. "Just who do you think you are?"

Ray, along with most everyone else that was in the Hall—excluding Henry, Allison, Norbert, Dex, and Roxi [who were all outside, the humans talking about Dex and Roxi's engagement]—stood on the stage to watch the showdown between the black bears.

"I'm the bear that deserves an apology from the clumsy she-bear that ran into me!"

"I think not!"

"Oh, I think so! Take some responsibility for yourself!"

"Oh, I'm more responsible than you are! At least I don't spy on people! Yes, I saw you looking, you big oaf!"

"Why you!" Ted growled.

Jade smirked and began to stalk away. "Stubborn egotistical jackass."

"Stupid she-bear thinks she knows everythin'."

"What did you just say?" Jade snarled, whipping around.

"You heard me!"

"Warum du dumme Hurensohn!" she growled in German.

"That's cheatin'! Speak English, damn it!"

Once again, she muttered something in German.

Beary and Jewel finally came closer to the adult bears. "Hey, Ted? Jade?" Jewel questioned, grinning.

Jade glanced at them. "What?" Ted asked.

Beary pointed to an object that was hanging above the arguing bears. "Not gonna break tradition, are ya?"

"Oh, they can't do that… They would have bad luck forever!" Jewel grinned, earning a snicker from Beary.

"Oh, hell no!" Jade growled upon seeing the mistletoe.

"You've got to be kiddin'! Not gonna happen!"

"Nuh-uh!" Jade shook her head.

"But you have to! It's tradition!" Beary argued.

"Hey, you're the ones that chose to argue beneath mistletoe," Jewel pointed out, earning a couple snickers from the crowd on the stage.

Ted glared at the cubs. "You two planned this!"

Innocently, the cubs spoke. "Who? Us? We're completely innocent…"

"Not a chance in hell!" Jade groaned. "When I get ahold of you two…"

"I second that," Ted agreed.

"Nuh-uh. You have to kiss him first," Beary winked.

Jade grimaced.

Ted sighed and shrugged. "It'd shut them up…"

"No it wouldn't," Jade frowned. "They'd just keep teasing us about it."

"Never!" Beary grinned, fingering the camera in his pocket.

"Like we're goin' to trust you two?" Ted said sarcastically.

"Of course! We're cubs! What's not to trust?" Jewel asked.

"The fact that you two are at the head of any mischief goin' on around this place?" Ted questioned.

"Us? Aww, you know we would never!" Beary complained before muttering something about Big Al helping them sometimes.

Jade rolled her eyes and looked at Ted. "Well, since you won't do it, and I have to get going…" She grabbed the front of his sweater and pulled him close, her lips locking with his.

Beary pulled out his camera, snapped a picture, and ran off with Jewel, laughing.

Catcalls echoed across the Hall from the stage.

Ted stammered with his words, because his body is being flooding with all kinds of weird feelings that he doesn't know how to handle. "That…"

Jade had no idea what to say to him, shocked; there had been a spark between them. She just stared into his amber eyes, not blinking. She turns her head, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Uh… I… I have to go." She turned the rest of the way and began to dash off, only to stop when he pulled her back into his arms.

"No, wait," Ted whispered, kissing her once again.

She immediately fell into it.

Beary and Jewel were on the stairs, laughing and taking more pictures.

"Hey! Save some for us!" Zeb called.

Ted was quite enjoying himself as he kisses her, sighing deeply as his arms wrap around her. He didn't hear the others laughing at him from onstage, too lost in his feelings.

Jade decided to be a smartass and she "accidently" steps on Ted's foot.

Ted yelped and growled. "Damn it, woman!"

"Happy time's over," she grinned, pulling away now that she was free.

On stage, Ray growled at the sight of his daughter kissing the older bear. "Yeah, Papa bear isn't enjoying this too much…"

"Evil person," Ted glared.

Beary was laughing too hard as he moved down the stairs, trying to get a better picture. So, of course, he didn't pay attention to the next step and went flaying, taking Jewel down with him as he tumbles down the stairs.

They lay stunned at the bottom of the steps.

"You two cubs okay?" Ray questioned, getting off the stage and moving closer.

Beary started laughing. "That was soooooooo worth it."

Jewel sat up and smacked his arm, only causing him to laugh harder as she growled. "Ow… Speak for yourself."

Jade looked over the railing at the two cubs. "Dorks."

Jewel smirked. "Of course. And we got an awesome picture of you and Ted. Muahahahaha."

Beary was still laughing.

"All of which will be destroyed!" Jade growled playfully.

Beary jumped up and took off, desperate to protect his camera and awesome pictures. "NEVER! MUAHAHAHAHA!" And, just like that, he was gone.

Jewel blinked and looked up at her friend. "Jade, did you give him Monster again?"

"Monster?" Ted questioned, curious.

"Not this time," Jade replied. "Though, I might need one soon."

"He was real thirty, so I gave him a drink… Didn't know it would make him like that," Zeb stated, scratching the back of his head.

Ted groaned. "Didn't we learn that lesson a long time ago?" He thought back to the last time the cub had had an energy drink.

"Guess I forgot…"

The black bear wiggled his foot, grimacing. "Damn it, that hurt…"

Jewel, shaking her head, groaned. "Ow… When I get ahold of him…"

Jade glanced at the male beside her. "Baby."

Ted just glared at her.

Onstage, Fred laughed. "Ahh, young love."

"FRED!" Ted shouted, running down the stairs and gave chase to his brother.

Zeb, meanwhile, walked up the stairs and approached Jade. "Uh… I was wonderin'… whether you'd like to… come out for a drink or somethin'?"

"Hm… I suppose. When and where?" Jade replied, watching the black bear still. The feeling of his lips upon hers was still fresh in his mind.

"Um… The Honey Bee? Next… uh… Thursday?"

"Sure. Nine o'clock, all right?"

He blinked, surprised that she had agreed to go with him.

Still dizzy, Jewel approached Ray. "Wanna continue the tour?"

"Why are all these bears hitting on my daughter?" Ray asked, glancing at her.

"Probably because she's the first she-bear they've seen apart from my mom, Aunt Tasha, and me." She grinned. "And they know I'm already taken."

"I am not amused by this… I'd rather her go out with that idiot," he motioned at Ted, "not a former drunk."

"But… Zeb's doing better…" She blinked. "Wait, how do you know about Zeb being a former drunk?"

"Doesn't matter to me… they are all waaaayyyy too old for her." He looked at her again.

"Hm… They are…" She glances around. "BEARY TAYLOR! STOP RUNNING AROUND!"

Beary had run onto the stage, and crashed into Ray, just mere moments after Jewel had yelled at him. "Hhihihihihihihihihihiiiiiiiii!"

"I follow music too, honey." Ray barely moved a muscle when the cub crashed into him. "And Jade doesn't even like country music. You know that."

Jewel watched Beary bounce around before shaking her head. "Hm… Good point." Her eyes widened. "You're a Bears fan, too? Awesome. And we know Jade's not. We had to introduce her to the band a loooonnnnggg time ago."

"And she still isn't a fan…"

"So! I'm hungry," Jade grinned, changing the subject.

Beary, meanwhile, found himself fascinated poking Ray's arm.

Jordan broke away from his parents and ran up to Jade, screaming about food. "FOOD!"

James grimaced. "Jade…"

Tasha started laughing. Erin cooed in her mother's arms, cause Tasha to grin. "Time for someone to have her food," the mother spoke up. "James! Your turn to feed!"

"Jordy! Wanna get food?" Jade grinned.

Jordan leapt into Jade's arms. "Yay!" He kissed her cheek.

Jade snuggled the cub. "I hope one day I have cubs just like you, little bear."

Zeb smiled. "You'd be a great mother."

"Wuv you, Aunty Jade!" Jordan giggled.

Jewel continued to shake her head as Beary went on poking Ray in the arm.

"Beary," Ray growled. "Zeb's calling you."

"LIES!" Beary shouted.

Zeb laughed. "Beary, I'd stop if I were you."

Jewel rolled her eyes. "Oh, Beary… Come on, we have stuff to do.

The hyperactive cub glanced at her for a moment, but he was having too much fun. "Nononononononononononononono."

"He just called you, go," Ray growled again, getting annoyed.

Henry wandered in just then, blinking as Fred narrowly misses running into him as Ted chases him. "What on earth…" He glanced at the stage and sighed. "Beary, leave Ray alone!"

Beary giggled insanely.

"Oh, good, the father's here," Ray sighed.

"Of course I'm here." Henry glared at Ray. "Beary, come here."

Hearing his father, Beary abandoned the army sergeant and tackled his father. "Hiya!"

"Oof!" Henry cried out as he went down. He was flat on his back, Beary sitting on top of him, speaking so fast that the elder bear couldn't understand a word his son was saying.

Jewel glanced at Ray. "Gonna help him?"

"Nope," Ray chuckled.

"Well… that's rude."

Jade laughed. "All right, let's get some food!"

"Sure," Zeb agreed.

Ted growled as he finally caught his brother and pinned Fred's arms behind his back. "HA! GOTCHA!" he shouted.

"Ah!" Fred struggled.

"Muahaha. You asked for it. Now! Let's settle upon an agreement! You and Zeb cook dinner for everyone and the rest of us sit back and laugh as you make a mess in the kitchen," Ted smirked.

"You're just jealous that I can cook," Fred countered.

"Hey! I can cook!"

"I've never made a mess… I'm just…" Zeb broke off.

"Clumsy?" Ted suggested.

Zeb didn't answer as he shuffled his feet. He had never been good in the kitchen. Quietly, he followed Fred into Henry's kitchen.

"Well, we are hungry, right, Jordy?" Jade asked, laughing.

Jordan nodded eagerly. "Yeah, yeah, yeah!" He blinked. "Ewin eat, too?"

Ted, offended by his brother's announcement that he couldn't cook, followed the duo. "I'll help, too."

At that moment, Beary passed out on top of his father, his legs remaining upon his father's belly, and his back on the ground as he snored loudly.

"Gah. Help!" Henry called out softly.

Jewel rolled her eyes and watched as her aunt stalked up towards Jade and Jordan; her uncle James was feeding Erin. She didn't pay much attention to them as she helped move Beary away from Henry…

.~*The Country Bears*~.

Present Time…

Where was it? Why hadn't he reached it yet? What was going on?

Beary was still shaking violently as he trudged along, the sticks now inside his jacket so that he could put his paws in his pockets. He couldn't even feel his feet anymore, and by that time, he collapsed, no longer having the strength to move.

Beary…

He heard a soft voice on the wind, but was convinced it was nothing. He reached out with one paw and tried to push himself up, only to fail. 'Jewel… I'm sorry…'

Beary… Get up…

The young male slowly lifted his head and blinked when he spotted a soft golden light illuminating the figure of a floating light brown she-bear with a white face and forest green eyes. A pair of white wings poked out of her back and a smile graced her lips as she approached him. She wore a flowing white gown.

Beary… You must return to Jewel… Do not give up.

"I-It's s-s-so c-co-cold…" he stammered.

I know, baby, I know. That's why you must keep moving. If you stay still, you'll freeze to death, and then what will happen to Jewel? If you die, she will die.

"B-bu-but I… d-do-don't k-know the… the w-w-way…"

I will lead you, but you must get back up!

He wanted to laugh at her words. There was no way he could get up—he had already tried! "M-Mama…"

Beary Henry Taylor, you get yourself up and get back to that girl! She needs you!

'Jewel needs me…' he silently reminded himself. 'I can't let her down… not when I got her into this mess…' Gathering his strength, he slowly began to push himself up and carefully stood on wobbly legs. Immediately, he felt a paw upon his shoulder, steadying him. Gradually, he began walking.

It seemed to take ages to walk through the snow drifts, but with his ghostly mother's help, he managed to make it back to the shelter.

He fell to his knees outside the entrance, shaking again, and wanted to collapse in a heap, but was held up by Helen. Beary turned his head upwards and looked at his mother, blinking as her form became more solid and the glow disappeared. "M-Mama…?"

As Helen became more concrete in form, her wings disappeared and her feet touched the ground. Her white clothing changed into a long red overcoat with white fur trimming. Her long brunette hair flowed down to her waist in a braid and a smile graced her lips before she suddenly frowned and shivered. "Forgot how cold winter was. Brr…"

Beary's eyelids drooped as he shivered violently.

Helen kneeled beside him and rubbed his shoulders. "Don't give up, sweetheart."

A whimper from inside the shelter caused him to lift his head. "J-Jewel…" He crawled forward into the shelter and approached the trembling figure. He barely had any strength to move as he collapsed beside her, cold and exhausted.

"Beary!" Helen cried, getting down on her knees, wanting to help her cub.

"Helen, I'll take care of this," a voice behind her spoke up.

Helen glanced behind her and spotted a tall grizzly wearing a blue plaid shirt and jeans. He had a red scarf wrapped around his neck. His green eyes sparkled. "Ah, there you are, Jess," she smirked.

Jesse Falco grinned as he knelt beside the she-bear. "I'm more used to survival skills. I'll stay here and take care of them."

"Can't we just take them with us?"

"You know as well as I do that that is not our assignment, Helen," a feminine voice spoke up.

Helen smiled broadly at the voice of her friend, Cassandra "Cass" Falco, Jesse's mother. She turned and looked at the small black she-bear, who had short, black hair that was tied back in a ponytail and green eyes. She wore a pair of bell-bottom jeans, a red and green tie-dye shirt, and a suede vest.

"Cass!"

"Of course it's me, Helen. Who else did you expect?" The she-bear shivered slightly; like Helen, she had forgotten how cold winter could be. "Remember, we're supposed to bring our families back together, and having them come out and find these two is the only solution to the problem. Jess can stay here and watch over them until we get back."

Jesse nodded.

Helen glanced into the shelter, and then at her friend. "All right… But let's hurry, yes?"

Cass grinned. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

Jesse watched the two she-bears turn and leave, before he crawled into the shelter. "Now… Beary, is it?"

The young male nodded slowly, shaking like crazy.

"Here, let me start the fire for you." Jesse quickly maneuvered the young bear and grabbed the firewood from within Beary's jacket. He then cleared a space a little ways away from Beary and Jewel's feet, and Jewel's blanket, and began to set up the sticks. It wasn't long before he had a fire started.

Once done, he crawled out of the shelter and began patching the holes, leaving one for the smoke to escape through. After finishing, he went back into the makeshift tent and moved Beary closer to Jewel, making sure both cubs were under the blankets they had brought.

Beary scooted as close to Jewel's naked body as he could, desperate for warmth as he continued to shake.

Jesse watched them, not sure what to think, as they held onto each other. 'He did well in finding this place and getting his friend stripped and under the blankets. Now… Now we can only wait for the others to arrive.' He crossed his legs and tended the fire, watching to make sure no embers lit the blanket on fire. He could only hope that the other bears weren't too late.