A/N: Hi.

So, since people have asked about the reason Jack smells like peppermint, I've included the answer in this chapter. :D

December 3rd

Tinsel

"Argh!"

Jack didn't know why he bothered.

Phil caught him every time.

There was just that…feeling that he got when he tried to break into the workshop.

It was pure fun.

That was why he was in this situation.

He struggled to free his arms from the annoying silver and red that had wrapped around him.

Turning to find Phil holding the ends of the decorations, Jack narrowed his eyes,

"Tinsel, really? C'mon!"

The yeti gave a laugh, and apparently couldn't stop. Sighing, the winter spirit tried once again to get out of the stuff, unsuccessfully. Finally calming down a bit, Phil helped Jack out of the wrappings, but before he could even try to get away, the yeti slung him over his shoulder, grasping his staff in large hands.

"Hey!" Jack's annoyed exclamation was ignored – like always.

Phil strolled down the hall, dodging hectic yetis all around. The sight of Jack in the situation he was in – again - was enough to make some of the stressed yetis smile. They had long since grown used to the sight and admittedly, many enjoyed seeing the usually moody Phil, laughing and having a good time fulfilling his job.

Jack heaved another sigh, propping his elbows up on Phil's back so that he wasn't hanging upside down. As he watched the steady stream of toys and things zoom past in busy yetis' hands, he was reminded that it was almost Christmas. Really, he'd almost forgotten. Having nothing to do on the holiday, except spread snow, would do that to a person.

As his ride came to a stop, Jack was surprised to find that they weren't at the front door.

"Hey, where are we?" Phil garbled out a response that Jack didn't really understand. After all the years trying to get inside the workshop, he'd picked up a few words of the yetish language, but not enough to be fluent in it.

The yeti walked into the room he'd paused at, easily dumping Jack gently on the floor.

"What's this?" Jack looked wide-eyed at the couch and coffee table in front of him.

"Yarda lumkad hmgran."

Recognizing the word "hungry," Jack noticed the food on the table.

"This is for me?"

"Yurka."

"Cool! Thanks Phil!"

Settling themselves down, the two snacked on the cookies and bread that Phil had cooked for this very reason.

Happily, the duo tried to chat, though whether or not it was successful was debatable.

Slowly, the conversation died out, and Phil searched his brain for something to say. Blurting out, he asked a question he'd long wondered about,

"Wryta da yarda silka ika punamuanta?"

"Uh, what? Come again."

More slowly this time, he repeated himself, "Wryta da yarda silka ika punamuanta?"

Frowning a bit, Jack muttered to himself, "Wryta… that's what… da is do..."

It took a few repetitions, hand signals, and frustrated grunts before Jack finally got it.

"OH! Why do you smell like peppermint? Right?"

Phil nodded, happy that Jack had finally gotten it.

Cocking his head, the winter spirit questioned, "Do I really?"

Again, the yeti nodded, a bit embarrassed about the question now.

"Uhm… I dunno… "

Phil chewed a cookie as Jack wracked his brain for a reason.

It was almost a full minute before the teen figured it out.

"OH! I got it! There are a bunch of plants in my woods that smell like candy canes! I bet they're peppermint plants! They smell really good…"

Nodding in agreement, Phil smiled at Jack's excitement.

The two finished up the platter of treats, and Jack kicked his staff up off of the floor where it lay. Moving to the window, he smirked at the yeti,

"Don't be thinking that you bribed me into not breaking into the workshop, I'll be back soon!"

Laughing echoed in Jack's ears as he flew away.

He smiled.

Maybe tinsel wasn't that bad.