Clara was disappearing, becoming more and more transparent. Eric tried to reach for her, but his hand only phased through hers. She looked upon his terrified face, tears streaming down as he and everyone else vanished.

When Clara awoke, she felt a little hazy, as if her head was lighter than air and her body being lifted along with it. She sat up and looked around her. She was back in her Uncle Drosselmeyers' living room, lying on the couch.

"I'm back?" she asked being confused by her own question.

Back from where?

For a moment or two, she sat there trying to remember.

A mouse, a nutcracker, and…sadness? Well, that didn't help much. Perhaps it was just a dream? It seemed to the most logical explanation, but why didn't that put her worries to ease?

Then the clock chimed nine. Clara turned towards it, eyeing the owl above.

"Everyone ought to be up by now." she thought. As if right on cue, Fritz appeared right next to her, causing her to jump. With a look of impatience, he said,

"Finally, you're up. Now I can open my presents." He proceeded to walk towards the tree and reached for a neatly wrapped box. It took a moment for Clara to realize what day it was.

Christmas. It's Christmas. Already?

"You almost had me worried there. Thought I was going to have to wait until after lunch for presents." said Fritz, as he carelessly tore of the wrapping.

He was acting normally, by Christmas standards anyway, but it still wouldn't hurt to be sure.

"Hey, Fritz? Did you see or hear any mice last night?" she asked. He turned to look at her and made a teasing face.

"Is that why you woke so late? Cause of small, scary mice?" he teased.

"Wha-n-no! I just was wondering." she said flustered. Fritz snickered.

"Besides, my soldiers would make due of them, no problem. Oh, and your nutcracker too, I guess." A heavy sadness loomed over Clara.

It wasn't just mice. Her nutcracker was involved too. But with what? she thought as her frustration grew.

"Where is he?" she asked impatiently.

"Who?" Fritz asked, not pay attention.

"My nutcracker!" she cried as she frantically searched the livingroom.

"What's all the ruckus?" asked a new voice. Both children turned their gaze to the door. It was their Uncle Drosselmeyer, still tired from the party last night. Right behind him was Aunt Marie, wide awake as ever. Clara's face tinted red at the commotion she caused.

"Clara is just being a scaredy rat." Fritz joked.

"I am no- wait, what?"

"Well see, I was going to say scaredy CAT, but a cat wouldn't be scared of mice." he explained.

Changing it to rat doesn't make it any better.

"In any case," her uncle yawned, "if there is a mice problem, we could always call a professional to take care of it." Clara was about to say more, but her uncle motioned that it would be discussed later.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to prepare in greeting our guests." *yawn* "And some tea." He mumbled.

"Of course, dear brother. Must not keep them waiting." she teased only to be met with a grumble from him.

"As for you Fritz," she said firmly. He froze halfway through the door.

"Y-yes, Aunt Marie?"

"I want you to go wash up and stay out of the candy jar until after the guests' our introduced. After that, you can pace yourself through the spoils." she said winking. Fritz nodded, understanding her implication, and bolted down the hallway.

Now that they were alone, Clara's mind resumed to her nutcracker.

Where could he be? I left him right next to the couch. She then felt her aunt's hand on her shoulder.

"Lose something, dear?" she asked warmly. Clara sighed.

"I can't find the nutcracker you gave me. And-" And what? That I need to find him and that I'll feel like my questions will be answered if I do?

She stared at her aunt, trying to come up with the right words, but none seemed to fit, much less make sense. Her aunt placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Where ever he is, I'm sure we'll find him. But, for now, there's someone I want you meet." she said smiling. Reluctantly, Clara followed.

When they reached the foyer, the guests had already begun to arrive and making themselves at home. Aunt Marie told her to wait at the entrance to the hallway until she returned. The place had begun to fill up, which made it rather difficult to keep track of everyone. With all her focus on them, the sudden tap on her shoulder made her jump.

Cannot catch a break with that.

She turned her gaze and time came to a halt. It was a young man with a kind face, something awfully familiar about him. By the look on his face, wide-eyed and youthful, there was a sense of familiarity, and it appeared that he felt the same about her. The two were quiet for a moment, neither knowing where to begin.

He broke the silence first.

"I…know you…somehow." he said sounding confused, yet relieved. Clara only nodded in response as she waited for him to say more. When he said nothing, he blushed out of embarrassment.

"S-sorry, I know that sounded weird, but…I'm just so glad you're safe." he said smiling awkwardly. "I mean, I realize that also sounded weird, but I just-" "Know that I know you." she finished. He returned his gaze back to her.

"Y-yes." There was obviously a lot to talk about. Exactly what was a different matter.

"Ah, Clara!" exclaimed Aunt Marie cheerfully.

"I see you've already met Eric. He's the son of dear friend of mine." she explained.

"It's a pleasure to…meet you." said Eric politely, giving a bow

"Likewise." Clara replied, returning with a curtsy.

"Oh dear, did I interrupted something?" she teased. Both of them blushed. Aunt Marie started chuckling.

"Now, now dears. it's Christmas. Hardly a reason to be so formal with your peers." she stated. "Now Clara, I've invited Eric to spend dinner with us after all the other guests have left."

"Is Uncle okay with-" Clara started.

"Don't about my brother. I'll take care of it. Now run along. Perhaps give him a tour of the place." she suggested winking.

"A-aunt Marie!" Clara blurted embarrassed. Eric only shifted his feet. And with that, Aunt Marie returned her focus to the guests.

"I'm sorry about my aunt. She can be a bit… much sometimes."

"I like her." Eric blurted. "I mean she seems fun, especially at parties." He pointed to her retelling her travels to the other guests. Clara relaxed at his comments.

"I know, isn't she amazing? Just wait until dinner. That's when she tells the best stories." She said excited.

"Guess I'll have to take your giddiness for it. Unless you're easily pleased." He joked. Clara raised her chin and put on her "serious" face. In an imitation of her uncle, she stated.

"Perish the thought. I'd like to believe I have relatively high standards. For without reasonable standards, we'd be without structure." Eric chuckled heartily. His laughter spread to Clara, and for a moment everything made sense.