Nina sat next to Snow Miser on a bench in front of Santa and Mrs. Claus's house. The night air was crisp and cold, and there wasn't even one star in the dark sky.

Snow put his arm around Nina, who looked distracted. "So, sugarplum, what did you want to talk about, or did you just want a little space?"

Nina sat, shaking a little. Fearing she would upset her fiance, she told him with difficulty, "Snow Miser, we need to put our wedding plans on hold until we find Santa."

"I couldn't agree with you more," Snow immediately said.

Nina sighed, relieved by his reaction. "It just wouldn't feel right to move ahead with them while he's gone."

"I understand. We'll focus on getting him home. We have plenty of time to get married."

"Thank you. It means a lot to me that we're on the same page."

"Of course. This is important and definitely can't wait."

They were quiet for a long time. Nina looked up at the sky. Finally, she broke the silence. "What if-"

At that moment, the front doors opened. Tingler came out, holding a tray with three mugs of hot cocoa on it. "Hey, guys."

"Hey," both Snow Miser and Nina said. They moved over so Tingler had room to sit by them.

Tingler handed them both a cup of cocoa. "Heat Miser and Melvin made this. They're still working on the meal, and some of the elves are pitching in. I thought you two would want something sweet to drink."

The couple thanked him. Snow Miser noticed that his cocoa had a couple of ice cubes in it and was cold. "Thanks for the ice, Tingler."

"You're very welcome."

Tingler sat next to Nina, who was in the middle. While the men drank their cocoa, Nina just stared at her cup. "Is it alright?" Tingler asked.

"Yeah," Nina replied. "I just have so much on my mind right now." She took a sip.

"What were you going to say earlier?" Snow asked.

"I'm scared we're not going to find Santa," Nina said. "I mean, we've been looking for days and have had plenty of help, and we still haven't been able to find him. What if he doesn't come back?" A tear fell into her mug.

Snow Miser put his arm around her, while Tingler gently laid his hand on her wrist. "Honey, we're not going to give up," Snow assured her. "We're going to do whatever it takes to bring him home."

Tingler nodded, agreeing. "You have to have faith that he will be found, safe and unharmed. Everyone believes in your ability, especially us."

"He's right. If anyone can lead a search party to find THE Santa Claus, it's you."

Nina smiled at them, then sighed. "Thank you, guys. I just wish he was here right now and all this was over."

"The storm will quiet soon enough," Tingler told her in his soft voice. He gave her wrist a gentle squeeze. "It can't last forever, you know. Sooner or later, Santa will come back, and I believe you'll be the one to bring him home."

"You know what? You're right." Nina nodded, becoming determined. "Focusing on fear isn't going to help me lead the search party. I just need to think about how we're going to move forward."

"I could ask the animals in the area if they saw him," Tingler stated. "They may know the direction he went."

"That's a great idea. We need all the help we can get," said Nina.

"For right now, why don't we take a breather?" Snow Miser suggested. "It'll clear your head. I mean, even Mrs. Claus is resting."

Nina took a deep breath, inhaling the cold night air and the scent of hot chocolate. For the first time since Santa's disappearance, her thoughts were in the present. She closed her eyes and listened to the muffled chatter coming from inside the house, and she began smelling food.

"We should go back inside; dinner is probably almost done," Nina told Snow Miser and Tingler.

As the three got up off the bench, Tingler asked, "Would you two mind if...if I asked for a hug?"

"Not at all! You don't have to ask!" Snow replied, cheerfully. He wrapped his arms around the Sound Imp, and Nina joined in.

Nina said, "We love hugs, and we could use a lot of them right now."

"I agree," Tingler said, relaxing in the hug.

As soon as Snow Miser, Nina, and Tingler reentered the house and went into the living room, Melvin came in and announced that dinner was ready.

The kitchen and the dining room became abuzz with activity. People were going to and from each room, setting the table and carrying out dishes and arranging the food on the long table. Everyone took their seats and began helping themselves to the lavish meal.

As the large group ate, they began complimenting Heat Miser on the food. Mother Nature was the first one to speak. "Heat Miser, you did a simply fantastic job on this meal! I never knew you were such a good cook!"

"Thank you, Mother," Heat said. He seemed genuinely surprised by her praise.

"You really went all out with it," Snow said, nudging him.

"Yeah, well, it's the least I could do."

"I appreciate the help," Mrs. Claus said. "You didn't have to go out of your way so much, though."

"What, this?" Heat Miser asked, his cheeks turning pink. "I just whipped up a few things. It was no big deal."

"I wouldn't call all this 'no big deal'," Snow Miser chuckled, motioning to the spread. "You made enough food for a party. You'd be a great chef."

"Well, I..."

Melvin squeezed Heat's hand below the table. "Everything is wonderful, just like you."

Heat blushed. "Thank you, everybody."

Nina watched the interaction, smiling, then looked around at everyone eating. When she saw the empty chair at the head of the table, she got a sinking feeling in her stomach. She was fairly quiet throughout the rest of the meal.

After dinner, everyone cleaned up, then started going home. Nina was still washing the dishes in the kitchen when Mrs. Claus came in. "Go home and rest, dear. I'll finish this up."

"It's okay; I can do it."

Mrs. Claus put the stack of dishes she was carrying on the counter. She turned the sink off and gently turned Nina toward her. "Nina, I appreciate all you've been doing, but I can handle this, and I don't just mean the dishes. I've been through and seen a lot in my time."

"Yeah, but...your husband is missing. I can only imagine how you're feeling right now."

"I am worried about him, but I know everything will turn out alright in the end. It always has."

"At least let me help you with some of these."

"If you insist, but then you're going right home."

"Yes, ma'am."

The two women washed dishes. "That was a nice dinner," Mrs. Claus said.

"It was. I just wish Santa had been here to enjoy it." Nina momentarily stopped drying a plate. "I miss him; he's like a father to me. I consider you two another set of parents."

Mrs. Claus dried her hands and hugged Nina. "It means a lot to me to hear you say that. Santa and I love you very much. Don't you ever doubt that."

Nina pulled away, nodding. Then, she asked, "You said the last place you saw him was the bedroom?"

"Yes."

"Do you mind if I look in there? There may be some clues where he went."

"I don't see why not. Go ahead."

Nina went upstairs to Santa's and Mrs. Claus's room. Like the rest of the house, it was tidy. Nina looked around the room and only found one thing out of place. A blue and white striped nightcap was on the floor by the bed. When she picked it up, she immediately saw a vision of someone grabbing Santa and disappearing with him.

Nina's face turned pale, and she dropped the nightcap on the floor.