A Holiday to Remember Part Four – The Tree Farm Fenix Rouse
Part Four – The Tree Farm
That evening, everyone had had a grand dinner together, talking about plans for the holidays, such as sledding adventures they would have after the blizzard hopefully covered the grounds in white. They spoke of the fireworks show in Nashville on New Year's, and family activities planned around their small town. They also talked about the upcoming charity concert being held in Nashville on the twenty-seventh, with a few other bands, including Celaya, the band formed by Cady Swineburne and Jennifer Paige. Only Henry stayed silent, earning a few odd stares from questioning adults. Beary remained mostly to himself, but spoke when spoken to.
The next morning (12/23), everyone boarded either the bus [where the band (including Ted), Henry, Helen, and the Barringtons, and Roadie were] a large white group van [all the cubs with Zeb and Méngméng supervising], a second large white van [where the Falcos, Jacob, Rachel, and the Rowans were], or in Jewel's car [where Beary and Fēnglì were traveling]. The convoy drove nearly two hours to their favorite private tree farm, Riverview Tree Farm, northeast of Nashville, TN. Just outside of Nashville, Dex and Roxi were picked up and placed on the bus – the presents they brought were put in the storage compartments below the bus, along with their suitcases. The Stones, too, joined the convoy, but stayed in their own vehicle, as they were taking their tree home to Nashville.
They got to the snow-covered tree farm just in time for it to open, and were thankful to not see another car in sight, as they had requested a private reservation as they did not want their families [especially their children] to be hounded by fans or paparazzi. It was one reason why Riverview was popular among celebrities in Tennessee. Riverview didn't just sell choose-and-cut trees, but wreaths, pine garland, and other festive items. And for every tree cut, two were planted in its place.
As the bus turned down the drive to the farm, excitement grew, but not among the young cubs, whom had all fallen asleep in their seats, much to Zeb and Méngméng's amusement, who had used the blessed silence to talk about the pregnancy and plans for the larger nursery that was being added to their three-bedroom cabin.
"Sawyer and Nolan are happy sharing their bedroom – at least for now, but when they get older they'll need their own rooms, Alec," Méngméng stated as she glanced back at her darling twins asleep in their booster seats.
Zeb nodded. "I know, baby. We'll get it sorted out. After this tour, we'll draw up plans for a couple additional bedrooms. Perhaps add on a second floor? That might work out."
"I agree. A second floor would be nice, and while it's being built, we can stay at the Taylors in the larger guest bedroom, while Fēnglì stays in the lower guest bedroom so he can have some privacy. Once the flooring of the second story is done, then we can move back into the cabin, right?"
"Mhm. That's my plan, anyway. I'll get with Fred and we'll figure something out. Tennessee and Trixie might be building up their home, too. They don't know for sure yet. Ted and Jade? Who knows with them." Zeb shook his head. "I hope they can work things out."
"I'm sure they will. Jade's a hothead, but she's no fool. Especially since she has a child."
Zeb nodded again, slowing down and braking as the convoy came to the gate leading to the tree farm. He watched as Roadie leaned out of the bus driver window and pressed a few buttons – an entry code – and the gate open. One by one, all entered through the gate and down the winding path.
Méngméng spoke to her children, waking them up and telling them that they had arrived. Sawyer and Nolan's excitement got the other cubs awake, and soon the van was filled with chattering cubs.
Zeb groaned and shook his head, wishing that the silence had stayed, and parked alongside the others in the parking lot. He waited until all cars were parked and off before unlocking the doors and getting out. "Méngméng, do you need any help getting out? There's snow on the ground here, so there might be ice, since it started to snow again a little bit ago."
She smiled and nodded, and he hurried around the front of the van, unaware that there was a bit of a hill, and slipped down the slope, smacking his arm on the front of the vehicle, and ending up covered in snow with his floppy hat crushed beneath him. If that wasn't enough, there was loud laughter from everyone that had seen what had happened to the striped fiddler.
"Bàba, nǐ méishì ba?" Fēnglì called, laughing as he slid down to help his father back up and brushed him off.
"I'm fine, Fēnglì," Zeb responded, embarrassed. He put his hat back on his head and groaned as snow that had gotten caught inside dumped onto his head, earning another bout of laughter from the group.
The striped silver panda chuckled and helped his father up to level ground, digging his toe claws into the ground for grip. Once up on the actual lot, Fēnglì went to let his siblings out of the car and take them into the building restrooms.
Méngméng, once her husband was in front of her, cradled his face and kissed his lips. "Nǐ shì yīgè kě'ài de shǎguā, wǒ de ài."
"Yes, I'm an adorable fool. I know." He kissed her back and smiled before helping her out of the car. After she shut the door, he wrapped his arms around her from behind, pressed his face against her cheek, and felt for his unborn cubs, though he couldn't feel them through her jacket very well. He stood there as everyone got their own cub(s) from the van, taking them inside to use the restroom. Beary took Lyra, while his parents stood side-by-side against the bus, not talking.
Helen was deep in thought about the previous night's events, when her husband had awoken in the middle of the night from a terrible nightmare that had left him crying and shaking, whispering that he didn't want to kill him. Who was the "he" her husband had been crying about? She had tried to comfort him by turning around and holding him, but he had gotten up to pace around their room, mumbling. While she had seen that sort of behavior in him before, it had been quite a long time since it'd happened. Years.
Helen had then sat herself up, dangling her legs unsteadily off the bed, and spoke to him, asking what was wrong, but he'd ignored her, as if he couldn't hear her voice and was trapped in some far-off memory. So she had gotten up and moved over to him, shuffling her legs carefully in the dark as she hadn't wanted to trip over anything, and suddenly felt his paws on her. The next thing she had known, she was on the floor bleeding from a cut to the head and Henry was hovering over, visibly frightened as he held a cloth to her head.
Helen knew Henry had pushed her, but what still confused her to that very moment they were standing side by side looking over at the snow covered tree farm was whether or not he meant to do it.
When everyone had returned, and tools were brought, the large group began their trek through the rows of trees. The young ones raced ahead, pouncing on each other and throwing snowballs back at the group of older bears. Fēnglì joined them eagerly, and Jewel was about to do the same when she realized Beary was hanging back, walking with Lyra and her service dog, but also staying away from the other group of bears and his human family.
"What's going on? Are you okay? You've been quiet this entire trip. Not even Fēnglì could get you to talk. What's up?" she asked, reaching out and grabbing his paw.
"Nothing. I'm fine. Really. Just have a lot on my mind, that's all. Didn't get much sleep last night." Beary bit his lip, thinking back to the crash he had heard from downstairs the night before but had been too afraid to check out. He had noticed, however, the next morning that his mother had a cut just below her ear that had scabbed over and his father staying away from her and not speaking to anyone. He didn't know if his brother or sister had noticed the change in their parents or not; if they had, they kept the information to themselves.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She squeezed his paw, staring over at him.
"No, not really. Sorry, Jewel. I just... Hey, why are you holding my paw?" He raised an eyebrow and blinked.
"Oh, uh... I thought you needed some comfort so I thought it might... comfort you?" She laughed nervously and pulled away.
"I didn't say I didn't like it, you know," he murmured, glancing at her as he held out his paw to her again.
Her eyes lit up and she eagerly put her paw back. "Do you really like that?"
"Yeah... I mean, not in a romantic way. We're friends, and friends can hold paws, right?"
Her ear twitched slightly and she nodded with a silent sigh. "Yeah, friends can hold paws. Right." She squeezed his paw and smiled when he squeezed back finally. "Why don't you release Lyra to go catch up with the others? I'm sure Akela can handle taking her to the others just fine."
"Yeah, you're right." He turned to his sister and her brown male husky, named for a wolf in Lyra's favorite night story "The Jungle Book". "Akela, Lyra, go on ahead to the other cubs."
Lyra started yelling with excitement as she started running, narrowly avoiding running into a tree, but was thankfully guided by Akela, who took her on ahead to join the other cubs, leaving just the two teenagers to walk on their own between the two groups.
Beary adjusted his scarf a little and glanced at Jewel out of the corner of his eye, noting how beautiful she looked in her green jacket, black scarf, and green earmuffs. The way the snow fell on her head and she looked up at the sky with her mouth open, trying to catch snow on her tongue sent his heart a flutter. She was so beautiful and he wanted to kiss her but was too afraid to. His mind was confused and upset. He wanted to ask her out, yes, but at the same time he was afraid. Not of rejection, but of a possible break-up that would ruin their friendship. She was the only constant in his life. His only rock and anchor. He didn't know what to do. "Jewel, you're so..." He leaned close to her.
Jewel turned to look at him at the same moment and accidentally kissed him right on the lips.
"Whoo! Get some!" someone shouted from behind as they backed away from each other, shocked. The yelling continued when Jewel grabbed Beary and pulled him back in for a kiss, but died out when he pushed her back and walked away, paws in his pockets. Jewel, meanwhile, held her arms and continued her walk through the trees alone.
"Did... Did he just lead her on by holding paws, go to kiss her, and then push her away when she kissed him back?" Zeb asked, surprised. That didn't sound like something Beary would do, yet he had.
"It looked like he went to tell her something and she turned her head and accidentally kissed him," Trixie replied softly. "And then she misread his intentions and kissed him again." She glanced at her husband a moment before grabbing her younger sister's arm and hurrying over to their "shared daughter".
Tennessee, meanwhile, was ready to murder Beary for breaking his daughter's heart. Well, maybe not murder, but give him a firm talking to.
"Trixie's probably right. Beary's not a jerk," Fred spoke up, putting a paw on Tennessee's shoulder.
"Besides, he likes her," Jacob laughed. "She probably scared him. She is a fairly scary she-bear, after all. Just like her mother."
Trista nodded with agreement. "That's very true." She glanced over at her parents, surprised they weren't saying anything.
"T-They were sl-sleeping t-together e-ear-earlier," Helen spoke up finally and immediately wished she hadn't as she was met with a barrage of questions. Her ears flattened as she looked confused at all the voices.
"Leave her be," Henry growled, eyes narrow. "You all know better than to overwhelm her like that. Besides, you knew yesterday that they were together. Méngméng told you so, as I'm told."
"Rawr. Can't we be curious?" Zeb questioned.
Méngméng shook her head. "Boys, boys, behave. Leave those poor teenagers alone. They're awkward enough."
Jade laughed and nodded in agreement. She glanced at Ted for a moment but looked away the moment she realized he was staring back. She then noticed her father's angry eyes upon her mate and sighed. "Daddy, don't murder him. We're working things out."
Raymond Falco "hmphed" and walked to the other side of the group with his wife, who laughed at him.
Jade's brother, meanwhile, pounced on her, lifting her up from behind. "Gonna throw you down the hill and use you as a sled!" he cried, holding her as he ran.
"Ack! Jesse, put me down!" she screeched, letting out a whump as he did indeed throw her down a nearby small slope into a pile of snow. "I'm going to kill you!" She got up, shook herself, and chased after her brother, who had taken off on all fours.
Ted blinked a few times, surprised to see this. Usually Jade was so serious, unless in private. To see her like this was surprising to him. That, of course, didn't stop the smile from forming on his face.
Ray groaned and shook his head. "Damn cubs."
Cassandra laughed and leaned against her tall husband lovingly. "Ah, but they're our cubs, Sunshine."
"Unfortunately." His smile, however, revealed he wasn't being serious. His eyes twinkled as he watched his two "adult" cubs romping around in the snow.
Ted glanced over at him curiously, but didn't say a word. He didn't want to set off a bomb. Instead, he looked over at Dex, watching as he walked away from the group. "Where's he off to?"
"Gonna go talk to Beary," Zeb answered.
"Well, I suppose it's better that he do it rather than Tennessee." Ted shook his head. "I hope this can all be sorted out."
"Don't we all?" Fred asked, walking up to his brother and putting an arm over his shoulder. "Ya know... I could use a sled as well."
"NO!" Ted took off and Fred gave chase, leaving the others in shock and loud laughter.
Zeb groaned. "Man, if you weren't pregnant, we'd be doing the same thing!" he complained.
"Oh, like it's all my fault?" Méngméng shot him a glare. "I didn't see you complaining at the time of conceiving, Alec. In fact, you were squealing my name and trying to free yourself from the fuzzy cuffs."
Zeb sputtered and covered her mouth with his paw as he stood behind her. "Hush, ye evil woman!" he cried, looking around wildly and groaning when he realized everyone had turned their attention to him. "Um... Oh, like none of you have tried it!"
"Can't say we have," Henry laughed, coming out of his shell a little. The other couples shook their heads, except for James.
"We have, and it was delightful," James teased. "Don't tell Tasha I said that, though. She'll be fairly annoyed."
"Gah! Méngméng, don't lick me!" Zeb pulled his paw away, grossed out.
"Really? That grosses you out?" Méngméng turned around to face him, a skeptic expression on her face. "What about that time you stuck your tongue in my ear and licked my earwax?"
There was a chorus of "ews!" following her statement.
"I never did that!"
"You were fairly tired that night and for some reason thought that was my mouth," she laughed.
"Ew, ew, ew! Gross! No!"
She reached up and patted his head. "You poor thing." She snatched his hat right off his head and placed it on her own before walking off.
Zeb stared off at her, and Tennessee came to a halt beside his taller friend. "Did you really lick her earwax? Was that with the fluffy cuffs or not?"
"Shut up." Zeb hurried past him, fully aware the brown black bear was laughing at him.
Trista, Jacob, Rachel, and Kavik all laughed as well.
"I've missed being around you guys. You're all so goofy," Trista giggled. "Inappropriate, too."
"Amen to that," Jacob snorted. "Doing things we wouldn't dare."
Rachel leaned against her husband and rolled her eyes. "Here, you carry Owen." She passed the babe to him and kissed his cheek. "He wanted his daddy."
Jacob smiled and looked down at his little cub. "Such a cute little guy." He kissed his nose and beamed when Owen cooed.
Kavik laughed and put his arm around his wife's waist. "I wish we could go sledding, but I don't dare risk the little one."
"One? Kai, I told you, it's triplets."
"Oh, right. Triplets. Trip...lets..." Kavik gasped. "I'm not ready for triplets!"
"Oh, here we go." Trista laughed a little and pulled his face towards her. "You are ready, honey. Or at least you better be. Aspen will help you out, so don't worry, and I'll be there, too. One cub for each of us."
"Yeah... Yeah, that sounds like a plan." He kissed her lips and smiled. "This is why you're the smart one."
She laughed and hugged him. "Oh, I know. I'm the brains, you're the brawn, my lovely lumberjack."
"My beautiful veterinarian." He nuzzled her lovingly.
"Blech, bear love," Roxi teased. She glanced over at Allison and Norbert, smiling at the amused expressions on their faces. She looked past them towards her father, who was laughing. "See a lot of that between Tennessee and Trixie on the bus, Dad?"
"Of course. Those two are way too lovey-dovey," the long-haired man laughed.
"We are not, Roadie!" Tennessee argued, and the duo had a little playful spat, leaving Roxi to glance in the direction that her boyfriend had gone.
.~*~.
"Okay, spill. What's going on, Beary?" twenty-one-year-old Dexter Barrington asked, confused as he caught up with his brother. At twenty-one, Dex had settled into his full height of 5'11" – Beary was taller than him by an inch so far – and had matured. He kept his spiky hair, though currently had it highlighted with some blue as well as regular highlights. "What's up with you and Jewel?"
"I... She kissed me. It wasn't a playful kiss like she used to do..." Beary muttered, ears flat.
"So? Bro, she likes you. And you like her. I know you do."
"It's not that easy. I thought it was, Dex, but it's not!"
"How is it not easy? You're both into each other!"
"Because she's my constant!" Beary stopped walking, trembling. He folded his arms across his chest. "She's the only thing in my life that hasn't changed... She's always been there. Every nightmare I've had, she was ready to listen, even if I had woken her up. I could always talk to her about anything! She's my best friend, and now things are awkward between us!"
Dex stared at his brother, astonished. "I guess I keep forgetting that your life isn't constant. First you're living with Henry and Helen, then all of the sudden a madman throws you in a river and you're in the woods for a month, somehow surviving, and then you're with us for the next seven, eight years, before going back to your father. I guess you're right. Jewel is the only part of your life that's been the same."
"That's what I just said! Weren't you listening, you butt?"
Dex scowled and punched his arm. "I was reiterating, doofus."
"For who?!"
"Those who may be listening," he teased, glancing up towards the sky.
"Yeah, like we have some random people listening and watching whatever we do. This isn't a story, Dex."
"You're right. If this was a story, you and Jewel would be together by now."
Beary groaned and pushed his brother into a snow-covered tree, laughing as the upper branches dropped snow on top of him. "Oops."
"Yeah, oops!" Dex got up, brushing himself off. "Get over here!"
Beary, however, didn't feel like running around. His turned his head over to where Jewel was talking to her mother and aunt. When she turned to look his way, he quickly looked away.
Noticing this, Dex lowered his arm. "You need to talk to her. Explain things. Leaving things the way they are makes it awkward, Beary. Simple as that."
"But what if we get together but break up?! A lot of friendships are ruined that way, you know. I... I'm scared of that happening to us."
"Or it might enhance your friendship, Beary. What if you say no now, and alter a major timeline? What if the two of you were supposed to get together, get married, and have a ton of babies down the line?"
"Ew! Babies?! You're talking about us having..." His eyes widened.
Dex started laughing. "Don't pretend you haven't thought about it. It's quite fun."
"You and Roxi?"
"No, me and AJ. Yes, Roxi, you doofus!" Dex laughed. "You didn't think we'd stay inactive, did you? No, I know she's the one. That's what I've gotten her a ring for Christmas."
"A ring? That's nice."
Dex stared at his bear brother incredulously. "Uh, Beary. I'm proposing."
"Wait, what?" Beary looked over at him in surprise. "You are?!"
"Yes! Hence the ring!"
"Oh, well, congrats!"
"Don't congratulate me until she says 'yes', Beary. There's still the possibility that she'll say no."
"Yeah, but I doubt it. You guys have been together for, what, six years now?"
"Just about, yeah. And we're both graduating from the University in May, too, so that'll help."
"You do a diamond?"
"Nah, those are too mainstream. We both like Supernatural, so I thought of a Supernatural themed ring. Black band with a red ruby. Well, synthetic ruby. Can't afford a real one." He smiled. "I hope she'll like it."
"I'm sure she will, even if it's not real. Though, considering I'm the one with the Winchester Impala..."
"That's because you've got a rich grandfather who gave it to you for your birthday."
"He gave me one to work on for my fifteenth, Dex, and I fixed it up to the best of my abilities. Still has problems, though, but I'll figure it out."
"You usually do," his brother responded with a smile. "Except for this one between you and Jewel."
Beary sighed. "I know I need to talk to her, but what do I say? 'Hey, Jewel, I like you a lot, and I'm sorry for freaking out? I got hella issues and I see you as a rock instead of as a potential lover, so please don't hate me'?"
"Sounds good to me."
"Dex! No, that's nowhere near simple!"
"Sounds simple to me," he laughed. "Beary, just go talk to her, okay?"
"But, Dex..." Beary sighed, flattening his ears. "Well... I guess I could. But she'll hit me with a rock or something for what I did."
"A rock? Beary, you're ridiculous. Go talk to her before I tell her how lame you are." Dex got right behind him and began pushing, steering him in the direction of the golden teenager.
"Dex, come on! Everyone's watching! Bro, this isn't cool! No!" Beary shook his head, but didn't move away from his brother. He did want to be made to talk to Jewel. He wanted to fix things between them, but he was still afraid. What if she rejected him?
Looking towards her, he gulped when he found himself in front of her with Trixie and Tasha fixing him harsh glares.
Jewel looked at him in confusion. "Beary?"
Beary leaned back against Dex, letting out a startled cry when he disappeared from behind him and Beary fell on his butt, looking up at her.
Jewel looked back for a moment. "Mom, Aunt Tasha, can we get some time alone? I think we need to talk."
Trixie and Tasha nodded, leaving quietly, and Dex hurried behind them.
Beary watched them go and gulped again before looking at his friend. "I, um, I think we need to talk."
"I think you talked enough, so it's my turn to talk and you to listen." Jewel grabbed his paw and hauled him to his feet. "Away from the nosey adults, though." She released his paw and walked off.
Beary, not know what else to do, followed her for a good ten minutes before she finally stopped in a spot where he couldn't even see or hear the others. Was she going to eat him?! "Jewel, I..."
Turning, she put a finger on his lips. "No, Beary. It's my turn to talk. Please just shut up and listen." She took a deep breath. "Beary, I've liked you for a long time. And I don't just mean as a friend or a brother-from-another-mother type thing. Hell, I'm fairly certain I love you, and I doubt that's going to change, even if you tell me to get lost and that you just want to remain friends. You see, I've imagined a life together for us, as silly as that sounds. I just sound like another stupid girl having daydreams about a cute boy. But this isn't that, because you aren't just some cute boy; you're Beary, the strangest bear I know. Full of life and love for those you let into your heart.
"There's so many things I like, no, love about you. Your sense of style, your kind nature, your past, everything that defines you and makes you who you are. You're different from other bears; always have been. It's what drew me to you in the first place back in kindergarten. You wouldn't rough and tumble, you wouldn't climb trees. You were a major oddball and freak. Just like me. I didn't fit in, either, because I was the daughter of a famous mother and my fur was gold while everyone else had brown, black, or sometimes white. You and I have always been two peas in a pod, Beary, and I wish to continue that way, with or without your love."
She closed her eyes. "So which do you want to be? Friends or lovers?"
He was silent, mulling things over. "I have something to say, too, so it's my turn to talk and yours to listen. Ever since we met, you've been there for me. From almost every scrape, broken bone, and crazy stunt you wrangled me into, you've been there. From the running away we did, to you helping me find out my purpose and my birth family, you've been there through the changes and awkward stages – sometimes making them more awkward. You were there when I met my birth siblings. You were there when Lyra was born and Papa was absent. You've been there for me for every step of my new life as a Taylor, and to see my life as a Barrington through to the end.
"You've done so much for me that I'm scared of ever losing you. I'm scared of being in a romantic relationship with you for fear that if we should break up, you'll leave me as a lover and a friend. I would lose you forever, and that has me more scared than anything in my life."
"More scared than having a gun pointed at your head?" Jewel questioned softly.
"Exactly. And... And my nightmares, you've always been there to either help me wake from them or to talk about them, even when I don't want to. You're my confidant, my rock, my constant. I want to be with you, but I'm... I'm afraid of the future."
Jewel smiled softly and slipped her paw into his. "Then we'll face the future together, Beary. No matter how this goes on from today on out, I will be there for you. I promise."
He looked down at her, fixated on her eyes. "And I'll try my best to not freak out and have anxiety attacks about... this." He smiled. "Do you want to know what I was trying to say earlier when you accidentally kissed me?"
"I'm dying to know."
"I was trying to tell you that you're beautiful, Jewel. More beautiful than the snow falling around us, more beautiful than a sunrise or sunset. The most beautiful creature I have had the honor of knowing."
Jewel blushed and smiled. "So you're a romantic."
"I try," he teased. "But, seriously, can we start over? If... If you're willing to put up with my insecurities, then I'm willing to put up with your – Oi! No grabbing the buttocks!"
"Aw, but Beary!" Jewel laughed and pulled her paw away.
"C'mere, you," he growled, pulling her close and nuzzling her. "Such a troublemaker."
Purring, she tucked her head under his chin and smiled happily. She was proud to have worked things out between them and to have gotten her thoughts off her chest. To learn that he had simply panicked and it wasn't because he didn't like her lifted a load off her heart as well. She was glad that things hadn't become that typical cliché mess where both would be worrying for days on what the other had said. Now they could move on with their lives. Perhaps not kiss yet, but she'd catch him under a mistletoe.
"Should we go rejoin the others?"
She shook her head. "I just want to spend some time with you, Beary. Just you."
He laughed. "We'll have to rejoin them eventually, you know."
"Oh, I know, but I want to be with my boyfriend."
He blinked. "Boyfriend? Huh. Well, that means you're my g-gir-grfried."
"Grfried? Speak much?"
"Now, I mean, no, I mean yes! I speak! Gah!"
Jewel laughed. "Girlfriend, Beary. C'mon, say 'girlfriend'."
"Friend that is girl!"
"Beary!"
"Fiiiine. Girl... friend. Gurlfriend. Girlfriend!"
Giggling, she rubbed her nose under his chin teasingly. "You're such a dork."
His nose twitched and trembled. "Don't tease! Gah! That tickles!"
"Good," she whispered, letting him hold her for a few minutes, content to finally be his. "Hey, Beary?"
"Hm?" He sniffed her hair after pulling off her hat, and smiled at the scent of apple cinnamon.
"What do you think of this tree we're under?"
"Huh? Oh, uh..." He looked up, studying the large beast of a pine tree, branches gently sloping because of the snow piling on top. It was at least sixteen feet tall, if not taller, and the sun reflected off of it just enough that it sparkled and shimmered magnificently. "Beautiful."
"I think we might have found the perfect tree for the Hall. What do you think?"
"I think you're right." He gave her a playful lick before crouching down. "Let's go get the others! C'mon, I'll give you a piggyback ride!"
She grinned and hopped onto his back. "Oh, wait, hold on." She placed her hat on one of the branches so they would recognize their special tree – not that they wouldn't anyway, because all the trees around it were less than ten feet in height.
Beary stood up, paws under her knees, and supported her. "Let me know when you spot them, Jewel."
"Of course. Although, having you all to myself right now is very tempting." She gave his ear a playful nibble and rested her chin on his head, content.
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