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Fine, then. I stared right back at the dancer who was far too good-looking for his own good. He didn't even have a dancer's build. His thighs were muscled under the blue tights, but not in the lithe way of a danseur. His physique was bulky and strong like someone who worked ridiculously hard for a living. Almost like a real soldier might.

When Marea finished her performance, she and the soldier stepped to the side and the final box rolled forward. Louisa as the ballerina doll would be inside and this one, I simply couldn't watch. "Excuse me, Fritz. I need to freshen up before we give out the presents."

He smirked at me but stepped a few inches to the side to let me by. There wasn't even close to enough room for my head, much less my hips to get through, especially not in this dress. I rolled my eyes at him and gave him a little shove. Butthead. He was already mesmerized by Louisa.

I picked my way around the other people watching and was met at the edge of the great room by Drosselmeyer. I hadn't even noticed he'd excused himself from the festivities too. He never was much of a crowds person anyway. He clearly preferred children to adults anyway. But even then, he did his duties, showing his face about town, in his business, and then mostly kept to himself in his studio where he drafted his stories, made his toys, and kept to himself.

I'd spent many an hour there fascinated with the pretty toys and gears and springs. Drosselmeyer's workshop always had a special magical feel about it. It was the stories he told us about the enchanted Winter Realm and the adventures of the fairies who lived there that kept me coming back for more. Even before I wanted to be a ballerina, I'd spent hours pretending to be a dancing fairy soldier girl.

Drosselmeyer waved me over. There was no avoiding him this time. I felt bad for even wanting to. I sucked in a slow calming breath, put on a smile, and joined him near the grandfather clock on the opposite side of the Christmas tree and the performers.

The show was almost done anyway, the harlequin, columbine, soldier, and Vivandiere were already back in their boxes. In a few minutes we'd do presents for the children, so it wasn't like we had much time anyway. Although, after that came the engagement announcement, which of course meant a lifetime together.

But not yet.

"ClaraMarie, your dress is quite perfect, and I'm glad to see you're wearing your mother's necklace. Although I worry you'll be cold." Drosselmeyer touched the sleeve of my gown, rubbing the lace between his fingers.

I gently pulled away. Someday I would have to submit to his touch, but not tonight. Not yet. "With so many people here tonight, the rooms are pretty warm."

"Ah, yes. Well, still. Be sure to keep a cloak handy. Now, I'm glad we have a moment together. I've got a special present for you this year." He pulled the blue-wrapped box I'd seen earlier out from behind his back, though I wasn't sure where he's been hiding it.

"Thank you." I took the gift and was more excited to open it than I let on. I wasn't a silly little girl who played with dolls anymore, and the shape of the box indicated that would be exactly what was inside. "You really didn't have to. You've done so much for the family already."

"Have I? Hmm. I feel as though there is much left to do. As though I haven't nearly prepared you enough." He glanced over at Fritz who was no longer watching Louisa dance but narrowing his eyes at the two of us. Probably just jealous because he hadn't gotten his gift yet.

I lifted the paper from the box, where one corner was already a bit torn. Instead of a pretty doll, I was met with the sparkling blue eyes, rosy cheeks, and red coat of the soldier. "Oh, Drosselmeyer. What a beautiful nutcracker."

I didn't say the words because they were what was expected, but in true awe of both the clear craftsmanship of the toy and because it bore an uncanny resemblance to the man who'd played the dancing soldier. I lifted the nutcracker out of the box and got that same strange tingling in my chest and belly as before.

"Oh, is that what's in the box. Hmm. I'm glad you like him. He took long enough about finding his way to you."

I must have stared into the toy’s eyes for far longer than I realized, because the next thing I knew, Fritz was grabbing it out of my hands. "Clara's a bit old for dolls, don't you think, Herr Drosselmeyer?"

"No more than you, young Friedrich." He handed a smaller, flat box over to Fritz and gave me a little wink.

"Silly," Fritz said but ripped the paper off anyway. He popped the top off the paper box and found a pair of silvery cufflinks, shaped like miniature Christmas trees, dotted with tiny gemstones as baubles. "Thank you."

Fritz was an ass more often than not, but he did have enough manners to thank someone for what was clearly an expensive gift. Drosselmeyer knew exactly how to please a spoiled brat.

"Now, ClaraMarie, put your dolly on the shelf and let us attend to the guests. It's time for the gifts to be given out." He grabbed the nutcracker from me, but I'd been prepared for his little snatch and grab and held tight. I should have just given him what he wanted. In the tussle, Fritz half got it away from me. We fumbled the toy and it fell to the ground with a crack.

"Oh no. Fritz, why did you have to go and do that?" I bent and carefully picked the nutcracker up. His right arm was cracked at the elbow, destroying Drosselmeyer's fine work.

"It's only a toy, Clara. Grow up." Fritz didn't give me or his mess a second glance and marched back to the tree and the guests.

Drosselmeyer tsked and pulled a handkerchief from his jacket. He gently wrapped it around the nutcracker's arm and over his shoulder just as if he was creating a sling for a real soldier. "He'll need to heal before going back to the Winter Realm."

I cradled the nutcracker in my arm. "I used to love those stories. But I supposed Fritz is right. It is time I grew up. Time to stop playing with dolls and believing in fairy stories."

"Ah, but the stories are real, and time is a funny thing, but so are irritating brothers. Don't pay too much attention to either."

The stories are real. What a strange thing to say. "I'm not a child any longer. If we are to be married, you mustn't treat me like one."

Drosselmeyer smiled down at me and it was neither patronizing nor romantic. "Right you are, ClaraMarie. Forgive me. But I have never lied to you, nor will I. The stories are real, and you'll do well to remember them. You'll need everything I've taught you soon."

What in the world? For a quick flash, I wondered and worried if maybe Herr Drosselmeyer was also developing dementia. Was that to be my lot in life? To take care of two old men. Was he even older than my father? He was certainly much older than me, but he'd seemed ageless to me even as a child.

I opened my mouth to ask him, but Fritz's voice rang out through the room. "Attention everyone, honored guests and children. It's time for the presents."

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