Nina headed to Santa and Mrs. Claus's house. After she landed, she knocked on the front door, then heard Mrs. Claus's voice a short distance away call out, "Over by the stables."
Nina followed Mrs. Claus's voice to the stables, where she was feeding the reindeer. Mrs. Claus put down the bucket she was carrying and hugged Nina. "It's good to see you, Nina! How was your trip?"
"Long," Nina answered, cheerfully but wearily.
"Well, I want to hear all about it. Santa is in his workshop, but he'll take a break and see you, too. Let me finish feeding the reindeer, then we can go get Santa and talk inside."
"May I help?" Nina asked.
"Certainly. There's another bucket hanging up, and the feed is in the container next to it."
Nina filled the bucket with food and fed some of the reindeer. One of them seemed intrigued by her and sniffed her. "Dancer seems to like you. Try feeding him out of your hand," Mrs. Claus told her.
Nina put some feed in her hand and held it out to Dancer, who ate it. Nina smiled. "They're all so beautiful," she said.
"Yes. They are graceful creatures and do a good job pulling Santa's sleigh. We'll have babies before too long, come this spring."
Nina nodded, a bit uncomfortable, and pet Dancer's head. "I made it there and back alright with hardly any problems," she said.
"Good. I'm glad to hear it," Mrs. Claus stated.
They finished feeding the reindeer and went inside the workshop, where Santa was watching the elves make toys and talking to one of the supervisors. When he saw Nina, he excused himself and greeted her, wrapping her in a hug. Nina was surprised but happily accepted the gesture. "Nina! Glad you're back! How was the trip home?"
"Santa, I told Nina to tell us all about it when we go inside the house," said Mrs. Claus. "I made us some cookies."
Santa told the elves to go on break, then he, Mrs. Claus, and Nina went inside the house.
Santa and Nina sat down while Mrs. Claus got a tray of cookies and hot chocolate. The three of them ate, then Nina told them about her trip home.
"...and now, I'm back," Nina stated before taking a bite of a sugar cookie. "For how long, I don't know."
"It sounds like you had a life-altering journey," Santa stated. "Are you feeling better?"
Nina nodded, not nearly as cheerful as she had been before. "Much. However, I don't feel completely...whole. I feel like I'm still missing something."
"What do you think it is?" Mrs. Claus asked.
"I'm not sure."
"Give it time. You're still young; you'll figure it out, eventually," Santa said.
Nina was comforted by these words, though she felt no less confused than before. "I didn't see Jingle and Jangle in the workshop," Nina mentioned, changing the subject.
"Oh, they're off running some errands," Mrs. Claus told her. "Santa and I have started up a charity to deliver care packages to needy people around the world. Jingle and Jangle are doing some shopping for us and getting the supplies we need."
"That's very noble of you," Nina told them, interested.
Santa's eyes suddenly lit up. "I just got an idea. Nina, if you'd like, you can deliver some of the packages once in awhile in your plane. We could pay you for fuel and your time."
Nina pondered on this for a moment before responding, "That's a good idea. May I think about it?"
"Of course. We're just in the beginning stages of it. It will be a small charity, to start out with, but hopefully we can expand it, later. You have time to consider it."
"Thank you." She paused. "May I ask you both something?"
"Of course," Mrs. Claus told her, refilling everyone's cups with hot chocolate.
"How long have you two been together?"
They smiled at each other. "Quite a while," Santa chuckled.
"Do you mind if I ask how you met?"
"I wanted to give children toys in a place called Sombertown," Santa told Nina. "At that time, toys were illegal there."
"I was a teacher in Sombertown," Mrs. Claus added, sitting down by Santa. "Santa gave me a china doll. I still have her. Would you like to see it?"
"I'd love to," Nina replied.
Mrs. Claus left the room and came back holding an old-looking but well-preserved doll. It had orange, curly hair, blue eyes, and a pink dress. She handed the doll to Nina, who held it, carefully. "She's very cute," Nina said in awe. She couldn't believe she was looking at a piece of the couple's history. "How did you know you were in love?" Nina asked, softly.
"Well, it didn't happen immediately; it took a little time to grow, like a flower," Santa replied.
Mrs. Claus held her husband's hand. "I fell in love with Santa because of his kindness and generosity. We knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. It hasn't always been easy, but it was worth it. "
Santa kissed his wife's hand. "Our wedding day was magical. We got married on Christmas Eve in a forest, surrounded by friends and family. It couldn't have been any better."
Nina handed the doll back to Mrs. Claus and smiled at the couple with admiration. Her heart suddenly ached with a dull pain, and she instinctively touched the chain around her neck. She wanted a love like theirs, one that lasted through time. Maybe...maybe that's why she felt incomplete. One of puzzles pieces in her life was missing, and she was denying herself what she really desired because of fear. Perhaps she could have what Santa and Mrs. Claus had, but she would never know if she didn't tell Snow Miser her feelings.
Nina sat, quietly, millions of thoughts running through her head, then, she got up. "I should be going now. I...I have something I need to do."
"Where are you staying?"
"Snow Miser's. Thank you for the hot chocolate and cookies. I'll consider the offer about making the deliveries."
As she left, they told her, "Have a safe trip. Stop by again soon."
"I will." With that, she got in her plane and took off. She waved at the couple once she was in the sky, then flew away.
