Page 20 of Merry Cris Moose

Cris watched as Keely paced the command center, her energy palpable as she outlined her plan. The glow of purpose in her eyes was infectious, and despite the ever-present danger, he found himself caught up in her vision.

“We can do this, Cris,” she said, her hands moving animatedly as she described the toy she wanted to create. “We’ve been thinking too small. The toys I’ve been designing, they’re good, but this—this will be revolutionary. It’ll do more than spark joy; it will reignite belief. Children all over the world still want to believe in magic, but we need to give them something that brings that feeling back to life.”

“She’s not wrong, Cris,” said Tinker.

Keely paused, her breath quickening with excitement as she continued. “This toy won’t just be another gadget. It’ll be something that reaches beyond imagination—something that taps into the very essence of what Christmas is about. Joy, wonder, hope. We can build it to interact with kids on a deeper level, using magic to create personalized experiences for each child. We’ll light up their hearts, and that belief will strengthen Christmas magic.”

“We can do this,” agreed Holly.

Cris leaned against the table, arms crossed, listening intently. As much as he admired her passion, there was a flicker of concern deep in his chest. She was right, of course. The plan was brilliant, and if anyone could pull it off, it was Keely and her team.

“And you think this will work?” Cris asked, his voice quiet, though he already knew the answer.

Keely’s eyes softened as she approached him, her excitement tempered by a calm certainty. “I know it will. This toy will remind children—and adults—what it feels like to believe. It’s what we need. And it’s what Christmas needs.”

Cris reached out, taking her hand in his. Her skin was warm, her pulse steady beneath his touch, and that simple connection grounded him. “It’s risky, Keely. If this doesn’t work…”

She met his gaze, her expression steady but filled with emotion. “If it doesn’t work, we’ll find another way. But we can’tjust sit here waiting for Frost to make his next move. We need to give the world a reason to believe again.”

“Yeah,” said Holly, who had become Keely’s primary assistant and chief cheerleader. “We need to take the fight to him.”

Cris exhaled, squeezing Keely’s hand as he pulled her closer. He admired her courage, her willingness to throw herself into this fight without hesitation. She had come here, a stranger to this magical world, and now she was its best chance for survival. And that both thrilled and terrified him.

“I believe in you,” Cris murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “I always have.”

Her lips curved into a soft smile as she leaned into him, resting her head against his chest. The quiet between them stretched, the weight of the world momentarily lifting as they stood there, connected by something deeper than words.

But even as they shared this quiet moment, the danger lingered on the horizon. Cris knew Frost wouldn’t stop until he had drained the last bit of Christmas magic. The North Pole might have won today’s battle, but the war was far from over.

Keely shifted against him, pulling back slightly to look up at him. Her hand remained on his chest, her fingers tracing slow, comforting patterns over his heart. “I’m not afraid of the danger,” she whispered. “I’m afraid of not doing enough. I want to help. I need to help.”

Cris’s chest tightened, the depth of her words hitting him hard. She wasn’t just talking about the North Pole; she was talking about them, about the connection that had grown between them since the moment they met. The bond that felt as though it had been written in the stars.

“You’re already doing more than enough,” Cris said, his voice low.

Keely’s eyes flickered with emotion, her breath catching as she gazed up at him; Cris felt the world slow around them, the intensity of their connection deepening. He leaned down, capturing her lips in a soft, lingering kiss, his hands sliding to her waist, pulling her closer. The kiss was tender, a shared promise in the midst of chaos. It was a moment just for them, away from the storm that raged around them.

When they finally broke apart, Cris’s forehead rested against hers, their breaths mingling in the cold air. “I don’t know what’s going to happen next,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper, “but whatever it is, it’ll be all right as long as I have you.”

Keely smiled, her fingers brushing over his cheek. “Then everything will be all right,” she whispered softly.

Holly and Tinker groaned. “Get out,” ordered Cris with mock severity.

Later that night, Cris took Keely outside, leading her to a small, quiet clearing beyond the workshop. Above them, the sky shimmered with the breathtaking beauty of the Northern Lights, vibrant streaks of green, purple, and blue dancing across the horizon. It was a sight that had always filled Cris with awe, a reminder of the magic that pulsed through this place, through him.

Keely’s eyes widened in wonder as she gazed up at the sky, her breath visible in the cold air. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered, her voice full of reverence.

Cris smiled, watching her face light up with the same awe he felt. He had seen the Northern Lights countless times, but seeing them with her, through Keely’s eyes, made them feel new again, more magical than ever.

“It is,” Cris said, his gaze never leaving her. “But not as beautiful as you.”

Keely blushed, her eyes darting to his, and for a moment, the intensity between them flared again. There, under the glow of the Northern Lights, Cris felt the weight of his love for her. It wasn’t just attraction or chemistry—it was something more. Something timeless.

He reached for her hand, pulling her close as the lights danced above them. “No matter what happens, no matter what Frost does, I’m not letting go of you.”

Keely looked up at him, her eyes shining with unshed emotion. “I’m not letting go either, Cris.”

Standing beneath the sky painted with magic, Cris knew that whatever happened next—whatever Frost threw at them—they would face it and him and they would defeat him.

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