Sunday, December 25th
Christmas Day

"Merry Christmas, everyone!" Haru called as she walked into Mr. Nishi's living room.

A chorus of voices called "Merry Christmas, Haru!" back to her. The girl smiled as she looked at her friends sitting around the crackling fire, Mr. Shiro and Humbert holding mugs of hot cocoa while Muta and Toto lounged nearby. Out the window she could see fluffy snow gently falling. With a happy sigh Haru settled down next to Humbert while Mr. Nishi passed her a fresh mug of cocoa.

"This is really nice, thank you Mr. Nishi."

"You're quite welcome, and this is certainly a nice way to spend Christmas morning."

"We should sing Christmas carols," said Humbert suddenly. "They don't celebrate Christmas in the Cat Kingdom, there weren't any decorations or carols or anything."

"That sounds awful," said Haru. "We really should sing carols."

"How about O Tannenbaum?" Suggested Mr. Nishi.

They had just started singing when there was a knock at the door. Mr. Nishi set aside his cocoa and went to answer it, he found a cat standing on his hind legs waiting patiently on the porch. "Good morning," the cat said cheerfully. "Is this where Baron von Gikkingen and Lady Haru are staying?"

"Yes, they're here," replied Mr. Nishi.

"Excellent! I have a mess- ah! Here they are." The cat, or rather Cat, turned his attention to the two children, who were peeking at him around the door. "The Princess and General Lune explained the situation to her majesty, Queen Louise. Her majesty is so happy for everyone that she has offered the use of her sleigh for you to return home. General Lune did mention that today is a holiday of some importance to humans, correct?"

"Yes, it's Christmas!" Humbert said cheerfully. "Are you really taking us home?"

"Of course!" The Cat replied just as cheerfully. 'Princess Yuki wants you two to spend a family holiday at home, with your family. Oh, and these are for the young Baron." The Cat held out a matching coat and top hat to Humbert along with a cane, no one was sure where he had been holding the things beforehand.

"The rest of my suit!" Humbert took his things and put them on. While he did so, Haru ran and fetched her things. "Won't I freeze though?" Asked Humbert as he looked at how warmly Haru was bundled up while he was in a morning suit.

"Don't worry, the queen's sleigh is enchanted. Come along, we must get you home then."

"Goodbye, Mr. Nishi!" Haru threw her arms around the old man, who returned the hug.

"You two be good now, no more adventures."

Humbert laughed as he shook Mr. Nishi's hand. "I've had enough adventure for one lifetime."

Toto landed on Humberts shoulder while Muta wound around Haru's ankles. "Oh," said Haru with some surprise. "Are you two coming with us?"

"May as well," replied Muta with a shrug.

"We like you," said Toto affectionately. "Both of you, even if fatso here is too much of a grump to admit it."

"Alright then!" Said Haru before Muta could start another fight with Toto. "Let's get going!" Haru hefted Muta up and awkwardly carried him to the carriage while Toto hid his laughter behind a wing. Mr. Nishi stood on his doorstep and waved as the sleigh drove off.

True to the Cat's word, the sleigh was comfortably warm, the snow white furs everyone had tucked themselves into seemed more for show than necessity. Haru leaned forward to talk to the Cat driving the sleigh, "Mind if we make a few stops along the way?"

"Anything you'd like, Lady Haru. We're at your disposal today."

"Great!"

"So then the chef laid a platter with a fish this big in front of me." Humbert held his arms quite far apart.

"No, and he expected you to eat the whole thing?"

"All by myself!"

"My lord and lady, we have arrived."

"I've told you," started Haru with an exasperated sigh, "I'm not a- oh, we have?" Haru and Humbert looked around to find themselves in the courtyard of a castle with one wing caved in, to Humbert the rest looked like it was ready to crumble into rubble at any minute.

"Oh my gosh, Haru!"

"Hiromi!" Haru stood and looked ready to jump out of the sleigh, but her nimble friend had already climbed up the side and pulled Haru into a hug, which the brunette happily returned.

"Oh! And Muta's still with you." Hiromi leaned down to pat the cat, who was curled up in a fat ball next to Haru.

"And me too!"

"Hi, Toto!" Hiromi waved at the crow, who was sitting on the other side of Humbert. "And who's this?"

"Hiromi, this is Humbert. Humbert, Hiromi." Haru motioned between the two.

"Oh, she found you!" Hiromi looked Humbert over, one arm still slung casually over one of Haru's shoulders.

"Yes," replied Humbert. "And am I ever grateful. You must be the robber princess."

Hiromi burst into laughter at that, "Robber princess? That's a new one, I like it though. It's nice to finally meetcha!" Hiromi held out a hand to Humbert, which he shook. Haru positively beamed to see her friends getting along so well. "You know, Haru went to a lot of trouble to find you."

"Yes, Haru told me about everything she went through." Humbert looked over at his friend with a gentle smile on his face, "Words cannot express my gratitude."

"Then you make sure you're worthy of all that! Haru's a real sweetheart, but enough of that. Come inside! Ma's got a real Christmas dinner cooking with all the fixins!"

"I like the sound of that," said Muta as he licked his chops.

"Sorry, Hiromi," Haru said reluctantly. "We want to go home for Christmas dinner, both our parents must be so worried and lonely right now, we just stopped for a quick visit."

Muta grumbled while Toto snickered.

"Ah, I getcha. Well, come back and visit some time."

"We will. Goodbye, Hiromi!" A chorus goodbyes followed Haru's, then Hiromi climbed down from the sleigh and stood waving as they drove out of the courtyard and sped off.

"Pinafores?" Asked Humbert with his nose crinkled in disgust. "But you haven't worn those in years!"

"I know!" Haru agreed in equal disgust. Further discussion was interrupted by the sleigh coming to a halt. "Ah, we're here."

Humbert looked up to see the sleigh had stopped in the courtyard of a grand palace built out of shining white stone with banners streaming from the parapets. "Wow, this is way more impressive than the Cat Kingdom palace, it's a real castle."

Haru giggled in response, "You'll have to tell me more about it later." The pair stood up and started moving to get out of the sleigh when the courtyard was filled with noise. They looked up to see a retinue of soldiers streaming out of the palace's front doors, followed shortly by Princess Shizuku and Seiji, both smiling brightly to see their friend again.

"Haru! We were so worried when the carriage returned without you!"

"Hello Princess Shizuku, Seiji! I'm fine, and look! This is my friend Humbert!"

Humbert pulled off his hat and gave an elegant bow to the princess, "A pleasure to meet you both."

"Likewise," replied Shizuku as she dipped into a curtsey and Seiji gave a bow of his own. "Now tell us everything!"

"Ah, we heard you had returned." Everyone turned at the new voice, the flamboyant wizard and his lovely wife were just entering the courtyard from the castle.

"Howl, Sophie!" Haru smiled at them. "Thank you both so much! Thanks to you I found Humbert, and here he is!"

"Yes, here I am."

"And Muta's here too, Muta?" Haru looked around, but Muta had slithered under the pile of white furs once Sophie entered the scene. "Where'd he go?"

Toto held a wing to his beak as he laughed at the fat cat's antics. "Seems the fatso is also a coward."

A muffled "You take that back" floated up from under the furs.

"Well come inside, it's freezing out here and I want to hear all about your adventure," ordered Princess Shizuku.

"I apologize, your majesty, but we really must be going," Humbert cut in apologetically.

"Yes, we want to get home quickly. I'll write you, and we'll come visit somehow!"

"Well, if you must." Said Seiji, "I can certainly understand wanting to spend Christmas at home."

"Before you go," said the Wizard Howl. "Haru, don't you think it's about time to return that compass?" He held his hand out expectantly.

Haru dug the magical artifact out of her satchel and handed it over. "Thanks again, the compass really did lead me right to Humbert. And Sophie, thank you for enchanting my coat!"

"You're welcome dear, now you lot have a safe trip." Sophie waved at them while Howl stuffed the compass in a pocket. The group stepped back as Haru and Humbert sat back down in the sleigh. As it drove out of the courtyard Sophie held her hands to her mouth and shouted, "And tell Muta he doesn't have to worry about that diet anymore!"

The Okajima family was already piling out of their home as the sleigh pulled in front of their home. "Haru!" They called and waved as Haru waved back.

"Hello, everyone!" Haru called happily. "Look! I found Humbert!" Said boy smiled and waved as Naoko ran up to the sleigh with the rest of her family trailing behind. "Hi Naoko! Humbert, this is Naoko and the rest of her family. Mr. and Mrs. Okajima, Taeko, and Toshio."

There was a round of greetings as the rest of the family admired the enchanted sleigh. Naoko was excitedly bouncing on the balls of her feet, "How've you been? Is this the sleigh that took Humbert away? Where'd you find him, anyway?"

"Yes, this is the sleigh," said Humbert as Haru giggled. "It belongs to the Queen Louise of the Cat Kingdom, which is where Haru rescued me from."

"You can tell us all about it inside, over a cup of hot cider," laughed Taeko.

"Thank you, but we can't stay." Haru replied sadly. "We're being lent the sleigh and want to get home for Christmas dinner, our parents must miss us terribly." Older heads nodded along with Haru while Naoko just looked disappointed.

"Well, it was nice of you to stop in and let us know you're okay, then." Said Mrs. Okajima. "Give your parents our love, will you?"

"Of course! And I'll be sure to write and tell you everything that happened. And visit too, somehow."

"Make sure you do!" Naoko insisted as the family moved away from the sleigh.

"Oh! Before I forget." Haru untied the little lantern that had still been at her waist and offered it back to Mr. Okajima. "Thank you for lending me the lantern, it was really useful."

Mr. Okajima took the lantern back with a smile, "You're quite welcome. You travel safe now."

"We will, goodbye." The Okajimas all waved as they called their farewells while the sleigh pulled back onto the road and out of sight.

"Don't bother asking about Muta, he just reads the paper or eats."

"Here we are," called the driver as the sleigh came to a halt. Haru and Humbert looked up to find themselves back in Katzenburg. Every home around them was streaming golden light onto the thick layer of snow. Before them was the opening of the lane on which they both lived. Tears glimmered in the corners of Haru's eyes, she had never been so happy to see their familiar town before.

"We're really home," Humbert murmured in aw.

"Not quite yet, your homes are just up this little street. The sleigh won't fit, you see." The Cat cheerfully grinned at them over his shoulder.

"Yes, thank you. C'mon, Humbert. Let's go home" The pair quickly stood and climbed out of the sleigh. Toto looked around in curiosity from Humbert's shoulder while Muta was practically hefted over Haru's shoulder. They heard the sleigh bells tinkle as the Cat left, but all that mattered was that they were home.

It was a short walk down the lane and to their homes, but Muta still managed to complain. "Must you really carry me like this?"

"It's this or walk in the snow."

Muta grunted, but made no more complaints.

"Well, here we are." Humbert looked at his own door, the wreath he had made before this whole crazy adventure started was still hanging on his family's front door though the windows were dark. Instead they were standing on the front stoop of Haru's home, inside they could see a warm glow and hear the happy chatter of people inside. They gave each other one more smile before Humbert reached up and knocked on the door.

AN: Well, this is the end! A bit rushed, I know, but I had to fit a lot into this chapter and it's already super long. I have to say, this was an adventure for me too. Planning out a fic like this was something completely new to me, and it was a struggle but I'm so proud of myself for having made it through. I do plan on doing something like this next year, but on a much smaller scale. Honestly, I should have done it this year instead and this fic next year but when inspiration hits what can you do but run with it? Next year will be the Twelve Days of Christmas, as such instead of running from December 1st through December 25th it will run from December 14th through December 25th. I hope to see you all next year.

And I want to say thank you to everyone who left me reviews, your kind words really touched my heart and made my day during the hectic holiday season. Thank you Uncle RJ Kitten, Catsafari, James Birdsong, Tasolae, and KrisG.

And a special thanks to Catsafari, who started this wonderful Christmas tradition, whose amazing fanfics have been an inspiration, and who has been a great support from start to finish. Thank you, Catsafari, this fic is dedicated to you!