This chapter is dedicated to Bookworm Gal who asked for me to use the song "Winter Wonderland." Hope you like it!

"You balancing everything okay?" Launchpad asked, glancing up at Gos as he traced patterns into the snow.

Smoothing more snow with her gloved hands, Gos raised an eyebrow. "This isn't my first snowman."

Launchpad shook his head. "I was talking about what we were discussing before. About your life with Negaduck back." Because he knew Gos could build snowmen in her sleep. It was one of those activities she'd participated in every snowfall growing up. She'd gotten pretty good at it, too, even managing to recreate her friends and family out of the white powder.

Today it was more generic. Your typical three-circles-stacked-on-top-of-one-another snowmen. Their walk through the park to admire the big Christmas tree and buy winter delicacies from local vendors had turned into this.

To be honest, Launchpad had come for the hot chocolate from the mom and pop bakery Sieving the Dream. It redefined what hot chocolate should be.

But their walk had dissolved into snowman building when they spotted some children doing it and had decided why not?.

Gos didn't answer him right away, smoothing the midsection of their snowman before piling more snow on for the head. "It's… I have to get used to it again. If that makes sense? I was so used to traveling all the time to look for Negaduck. But now I don't have to."

"Which DW likes," Launchpad said.

Gos nodded, her fingers slowing as she rounded out the head.

"Not that he was unhappy," Launchpad said, seeing her hesitation. Wanting to put her at ease. "Just… he worries less now." He huffed out a laugh. "Least not about you traveling around to different universes. I think he'll always be worried about something. It's in his nature."

Gos smiled before looking down at Launchpad. "Do you think this was all worth it? Befriending Negaduck?"

Launchpad regarded her, dropping the stick he'd found and brushing the snow off his hands. "Do you think it was?"

She sighed, continuing to pack the snow tightly together. "Sometimes I wonder. Not about if I'd do it all over again, because I would, but I just never thought I'd ever say that I love Negaduck, you know? I mean, he's Dad's enemy. His arch-iest of arch nemeses. And I know that's worn on Dad, my befriending Negaduck. I really don't think I'd do anything different, but I wonder if Dad wishes I had."

Launchpad shook his head. "Nah. He thinks the world of you, Gos. This is just who you are. You're stubborn and don't run away from problems. DW doesn't want you to be any different." Launchpad grinned. "Even if he did get Negaduck as not-quite-an-enemy out of it."

Gos laughed, grabbing more snow and piling it on the snowman's head, shaping it like a top hat. "It is nice to not have to worry about traveling to other universes anymore."

"Sure is nice having you back for good. You and Negaduck. He's not so bad."

Gosalyn smirked and smoothed out the hat. "Don't let him hear you say that. Or Dad for that matter."

"That's why I save it for our Christmas outing."

Ever since their sleigh ride four years ago, Launchpad and Gos set aside one day of the Christmas season for one another. It was a no-holds-barred day when they could talk about anything.

Sure, throughout the year, they would still talk regularly. But there was something about their Christmastime tradition. A calm they both felt surrounded by snow, illuminated trees, and timeless carols. It was their favorite holiday.

Gos grinned and traced a face onto the snowman's head. "You're smarter than Dad gives you credit for."

Launchpad shrugged, burying his hands into his pockets and observing their handiwork. "I know that I think more highly of DW than he thinks of me, but I also know that he doesn't mean half the things he says."

Gos stepped back, tossing the stick back onto the ground, and weaving her arm through his. "We don't deserve you, Launchpad."

"That's the great thing about family. It's not about deserving, it's about deciding to stay."

Gos buried her head in Launchpad's shoulder and he leaned down, resting his head atop hers.

Their snowman was the roundest and most dapper, with the outlines of a suit and monocle drawn directly into the tightly packed snow.

Squeezing his arm, Gos glanced up. "Let's get you some hot chocolate."

"No arguments here," Launchpad said, leading her down the path toward the Sieving the Dream cart, dozens of sparkling trees lighting the path before them.