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Ivy has one simple rule. No dates until after Christmas. She had long since decided that being single at Christmas was a fate worse than being single on Valentine's Day. Every Christmas function she went to, somebody had a nephew, a cousin or a brother she just had to meet as if she had time for first dates in December. Who has time to date in December? She has nieces and nephews to spoil, not to mention gifts for the rest of her family. She also has at least one event a week leading up to Christmas. How could anyone think a new relationship in December was a good idea? So why had she been so foolish as to give her plus one invite to work’s Ugly Christmas Sweater Party to her closest friend at the office? Maybe she blindly thought her friend who had only been married for two years had remembered the struggle of being single at Christmas time. Leaning against the wall nursing a cup of warm punch, proves Ivy had never been more wrong. “There you are, Ivy!” Becca rushes over to her, dragging who Ivy assumes is her brother over. “This is my brother Chris! He's in town doing temp work until February and I think the two of you will totally hit it off! So Chris you're going to take care of my best friend tonight because all these games are partnered up and you're technically speaking, her date!” Before Ivy can agree or argue, Becca walks back to Harvey who shrugs and mouths an apology.  Ivy stands there dumbfounded, she’s been tricked and she knows it. “Hi, I'm Ivy.” She smiles. “Please tell me that Becky didn't lead you to believe that I was in on this whole thing. And that I think this is a first date.”  Chris laughs. “Ah, so you weren't here last year?”  “No, I started in March. This is my first Christmas party.” Ivy sips her punch. “Ah, yeah see, Beck does this every year, she gets a single girl to agree to let me be their date and attempts to get me to fall in love and stay in the city. Instead of doing temp work and leaving at the end of February.” He shrugs, taking a sip of his punch. “She does this every year and you keep coming? Ivy raises her eyebrow.  “Food’s fantastic, music's good. And hey, I usually get to meet a pretty girl in the process.” He winks, and Ivy will not blush for a man she met less than ten minutes ago! “But seriously, who has time to date in December?” “Thank you!” Ivy huffs. “They just don't get it. They want us to be happy and in love.” Chris laughs, “Yeah, but hey, we can at least humour them, right?” Ivy gives him a look, “Come on, you gotta admit, it would be fun to make her think she is so smart and was right about us.”  “I mean, maybe a little bit.” She fidgets with her cup. “Alright! To having the time of our lives!” Chris offers her cheers. “And at the night's end, I will walk you to your car. And if I've impressed you with my competitive edge and Christmas knowledge, we'll do some Christmas shopping later in the week, and if we can get through our shopping lists in a reasonable time frame, we’ll get hot cocoa!” He leads her over to where the party games are happening.  “Oh, already coming up with a first date idea?” Ivy smirks.  Chris holds his hands up in surrender, “No, no. It's practical Christmas shopping with the girl my sister is going to try and set me up with so I might as well get ahead of it.” He winks. “After all, you can't tell me you're already done.” Ivy had to admit, this guy is smooth and definitely Becca's brother. The two of them were cut from the same cloth. “Well, no.”  “So we might as well do it together? It gets everyone off our backs and you have a free date to use for all of December's events.” he gives a mock bow. Ivy giggles, “Do you do this every year? You seem be having a lot of fun.”  “Not every year, but with Becs having my niece, she is determined to get me to stay after my temp contract is done, so if I keep hanging out with you.” He says in a teasing tone.  “You won’t have to go on any other dates?” Ivy offers.  “Yep, it’s purely selfish.” he jokes, as they find a spot in the growing circle. “Alright, if we do well at these games, I’ll take part in your plan.” Ivy challenges.  To Ivy’s surprise, she and Chris thought a lot alike, they kill it at Christmas Heads Up. Thanks to Chris's impressive Christmas Carol knowledge, they win Christmas Carol Trivia. Due to Ivy's years as a mall gift wrapper, Ivy’s impressive speed wrapping skills, so they claim the prizes for the fastest and best-looking gift. They walk out of that party with the most prizes Ivy has ever won at an event.  “May I walk you to your car? I would hate for my lovely lady companion to slip and hurt herself on the ice and those shoes do not look ice safe.” He offers her his arm. “You may, but only because I'm parked right next to your sister who I assume you drove with.” She takes his arm and almost slips, he smiles but says nothing of it.  “Correct, so did I win the shopping excursion?” He guides her around ice patches.  “Smart move, not calling it a date.” She counters. “Come on, there must be a day when you get off early this week, and you were planning on going shopping. It's the second week of December. There's no way you're leaving it till the last minute.” He grins.  She caves, “Wednesday, Central Mall, Three pm. Meet at the door or I’ll start without you and good luck finding me in the mall.”  “Perfect. I’ll be there with my shopping list in tow. And if we conquer our shopping lists in under two hours or less, I will treat you to hot chocolate. And maybe if you're having such a great time, I can convince you to go to dinner with me.” He stops next to her car. “You think you’re smooth. I'll give you that Mr. Chris Kringle.” She smirks as she unlocks her car, and he opens the door before she can. She gets in without arguing. “Ooh, nicknames, I like it. I’ll come up with one for you by Wednesday. I’ll see you again, Ivy.” He closed her door and waved for his brother-in-law to unlock their car. Ivy isn't sure if it’s the cold or if she is actually blushing. She can’t be, there is no way. This man she'd met a mere two hours ago made her blush. This is not a Christmas movie, this is not how the real world works. But Wednesday came and at three o'clock, she pulls into the mall parking lot and he was standing by the main entrance, “Ready to shop till we drop Lady Noel?” “You know just because I called you Chris Kringle does not mean you need to find me a nickname.” She rolls her eyes, as they walk in. “I like to keep people on their toes.” He shrugs and pulls out his list. To Chris's credit Ivy finds his shopping strategy impressive. He shops with a plan, he has a list, a strategy and it works pretty well with the way that she shops. They make it through the lists in record time. He even had tips for the gifts she wasn’t sure about, “Does he use this brand already?” He holds up the tool she was thinking about getting for her brother-in-law. “I honestly don't know. I just know that he needed this particular tool and nobody was gonna buy it for him.” She shrugs, staring at the shelf of tools. “Well, this brand is more reliable and it's actually cheaper. So I would buy it. And if he prefers the other model, then cool, get a gift receipt and you can pay him the difference between the two tools.”  “I can see the logic.” She takes the cheaper tool hoping for the best.  Next, when at the bookstore, she grabs the newest book by her little sister's favourite author, “Um, is she a big reader?” Chris stops her.  “Oh yeah, the biggest!” She laughs thinking of her sister disappearing into a book on Christmas Day.  “I’d get her the hardcover. Any reader unless they explicitly say they prefer paperbacks, would always prefer the hardcover. And besides you saved money and your brother-in-law's gift you can splurge for your sister.” “Alright, fair enough. Other than picking up my parents' spa day gift card, I’m done, you?” Ivy starts to walk towards the till. “Uh, other than I don't have a gift for Bec. Everything on her list connected to the baby, but I mean, she deserves to have a gift, just for her, don't you think?” He shrugs. “Absolutely. Here.” Ivy hands him a book from her small pile. “She kept talking about this journal, we’ll stop by the stationary store before we get that hot chocolate you promised. And I’ll get her a spa afternoon, and Auntie Ivy will babysit.” “Oh, smart. She gets a break and you get an afternoon with an adorable baby! Thank you for the idea.” They pay and walk out of the store, “And you're saying I earned a cup of hot chocolate with you.” He teases. She rolls her eyes, “Don’t push your luck, Chris Kringle.” She leads the way to the coffee shop. Ivy kinda hated to admit it, but Chris is fun. She’s enjoying spending time with him, maybe she could see him again - for a strictly practical reason. “Hey, you said  that if you kept seeing me it would keep Becca off your back?” He smirks and nods, “I, um - I need a date for a church Christmas event. Otherwise, I will be set up by at least four different ladies in my church.”  “You got it, name the time and place I’ll be there with bells on.” She starts.  She cuts him off, “Please no bells.” They both laugh, “Thank you! I'll tell the ladies at Bible study I'm bringing a date this year, saving me from grandsons and nephews and brothers visiting town.”  He picks up the mugs, signalling the end of their time together, “Hey, I temporarily move here - I'm not just visiting. I'll be here, well after December.”   She watches him take the mugs to the bin, “You're right. You will.” Ivy smiles, and this time the hint of blush is real, and could not be blamed on any cold.

Gracie huffs as she takes in her new placement on the Christmas tree. As a hand-stitched angel ornament made with care for the little girl of this family, she resented being on the bottom of the tree. For the last four years, no matter where the little girl places her on the tree after the kids go to bed the mother of the family rearranges the tree and Gracie ends up back here. The mom mutters something about “Soft ornaments belong where small hands and animals could reach.” So what, she protects the more delicate ornaments?  She was an angel after all, shouldn't she be allowed to be near the top of the tree? Wasn't that where angels belong? Despite her grumbling, there wasn't much she could do. She just hung there.  Thanks to the cat's occasional nuzzling and her attempts not to react she was closer to the edge of the branch than she would like. As presents were piled under the tree she, like last year fell off the tree, trapped behind a present. She lies stuck on the ground, the only to be found once Christmas is long gone like always.  But this year the children seemed more interested in what was under the tree, “Izzy look this one is for you!” Gracie hears the older brothers call to their little sister.  Gracie listens as the kids giggle and shuffle presents around and Gracie can see past the presents for the first time in weeks. Gracie wishes she could move or talk to get little Izzy’s attention but that would break the rules so she stayed still. “Do you know what it is?” Izzy shakes her presents.  “No idea” One of her brothers teases, “It’s not like I was with mom when she bought it.”  “Hey now, no spoilers for Christmas!” the oldest brother reminds the middle brother and shoos him away. “What do you think it is Izzy?”  Gracie listens as the little girl comes up with crazy ideas of what her mother might have bought her. But before she put the present back, “Hey! What’s that?” Chubby little figures reached under the tree and grabbed hold of Gracie,  “My angel fell!”  “Oh, that's too bad Izzy, here I’ll help you put it back on the tree.” Her brother offered.  “It’s an angel shouldn’t we put it higher on the tree?” Izzy reaches up.  Her brother shakes his head, “I don’t know kid, Mom says the soft ornaments belong on the bottom of the tree.”  “Because of me and the cat… I know, I know. But it’s an angel.” She huffs.  “Do you really wanna mess with mom’s perfect tree?” Her brother teases.  “Good point, but I’m taking my angel to my room!” Izzy cups Gracie in her hands and darts down the hall.  Izzy carries her newfound treasure into her room and carefully hangs Gracie on her bedpost. “There! That’s where you belong!” Well, Gracie wasn't so sure, “Angels belong up on the trees.” She speaks without thinking.  “What was that?” Izzy stares at her. Gracie froze, careful not to make any more noise, “You talked! I heard you!”  “No, you didn't.” Gracie mumbles.  “You did it again!” Izzy picks Gracie up again, “Do all ornaments talk?” No use fighting it now, “Well, not all ornaments,” she explains, “Just ones that are made with love and care.”  “Grandma made you for me, and she loves me! She tells me I’m her special little girl!”  Izzy jumps up and down. “And her love for you made me talk,” Gracie explains while being jostled around.  Izzy paused “Do you want to be in here?” “I'd rather be on the top of the tree.” Gracie sighs.  “We already have a big angel on top of the tree.” Izzy shugs as if that somehow fixes it. “Well, I know, but I wish I could be closer to her. I'm an angel. Isn't that where we belong?” Gracie exclaims. “Well, I don't know.” Izzy shrugs. “I think so. Can you help me?” Gracie pleads.  “Well, I don't know. You've heard what Paul said, what if Mom gets mad that I moved an ornament and I can't reach the top of the tree…” Izzy paces around her room. “What if I just threw you up on the tree?”  “That sounds painful.” Gracie cringes, picturing herself falling the tree again. “You're right. Hold on, stay there.” Izzy puts Gracie back on her bedpost and grabs a book that Gracie couldn’t quite make out.  Soon Izzy was back, dragging her Paul into her room. “Will you read me the Christmas story?”  “Again? Seriously, you heard it on Sunday, and you had mom read it to you last night.” Paul sits on her bedroom floor, “Isn’t there another book you want to read?”  “No, I want this one. Please!!” She looks at him with big pleading, eyes.  Paul rolls his eyes and takes the books, “Alright fine you win.” Izzy beams and sits next to him.  Gracie listens, she tries to figure out how this story was supposed to help her get up on the tree. She hears about an angel telling a young girl she was gonna be a mother, and an angel telling the girl’s soon-to-be husband not to leave her. Then she hears how the couple had to walk to Bethlehem even though the baby was due soon. Gracie wasn’t sure she understood, how does this connect to the gifts and the tree she sees every year?  Then the night, the little baby was born angels filled the sky sharing good news for all people, that this baby had come to save the world. Gracie began to wonder, but Izzy voiced her thoughts.  “Is that when we put an angel on top of the tree? Because they shared the good news” She interrupts Paul.  “I guess so.” Paul shrugs, “I don't see why not. They came to tell us about Jesus, who loves us and saved us.” “He came as a baby. Just like us! We learned that in Sunday school!” Izzy smiles proud she remembers. “Yep, and when he grew up he made a big difference for the whole world.” He ruffles her hair, “And when you're a bit bigger you’ll learn more about that change.”  “Thank you for reading to me but I’ve got something to do now.” She shoos Paul away.  Laughing he makes his way out of the room, “You’ll never make sense to me, Izzy. But happy to help with whatever that was.” “See angels are special. And that's why you go on the top of the tree.” Izzy collected Gracie in her hands and headed to the kitchen, “Mommy I want to move an ornament!” “Which one do you want to move my dear?” Her mom turns to face her daughter.  “I want to put the angel Grandma made me near the top of the tree because that's where Angels belong!” She stands up tall.  Her mom looks like she might argue about moving the ornament, but her husband looks up from the table, “I think that's a great idea honey! Here, I’ll help you!”  “Yay! Izzy leads her parents to the living room.  “But babe, the tree…”  “Can look chaotic my love, the kids don't care about perfect trees.” He picks Izzy up.  “Ya, you’re right. Boys! Come move a few ornaments around on the tree!” The boys come running and the family rearranges the tree. “There you go, right where you belong.” Izzy winked at Gracie.  Izzy never told anyone about Gracie talking to her and never heard Gracie talk again but every year that little hand-stitched angel sat near the top of the tree and made sure her kids knew why angels belonged there.

Susie's quilt frame is as constant as a piece of furniture in her living room. Every quilt she'd ever made had spent time there. Each quilt is worked on as she watches TV, listens to her grandchildren play or simply enjoys a quiet night as her husband reads a book a few feet away.  Each quilt, is a piece of art, weaving in stories and memories in each unique pattern. Starting with baby blankets, every newborn is wrapped in a quilt made with love and ends with quilts made to protect the new couple from cold nights. She made quilts for graduation, with pieces of fabric from different points in their life. She’d even made a quilt after a great tragedy to share with someone she'd never met. Each one, unique and special. Susie takes time with her quilts, they are not to be rushed. After all, there's nothing more special than a Grammy quilt. Or at least that's what her grandchildren say. People asked her to pay her for her quilts but her quilts were always gifts, and she couldn’t afford to charge for them. It’s her favourite pastime, her favourite hobby. She takes time to plan each one out. Inevitably, when mistakes are made, she finds a way to make it work. She'd laugh and claim,  “I never said, I was good at math.”  She takes time to teach your granddaughters who took an interest in this skill set of hers. Her daughter claims “This trait must have skipped a generation.”  Eventually one or two of her grandkids came to her with well-loved quilts. If the quilts are doomed, and if making a new one simply wasn't a good enough option. She would find a way to use the old quilt in the new one. Not wanting any memory to feel insignificant.  She’d even restored a quilt or two for a friend, copying someone else’s style to help keep their memory alive.  After all those memories could not be lost.  In her cozy, little sewing room scraps of quilts gone by were everywhere. She cuts them into smaller squares to make a patchwork quilt.  She can’t help but remember all the memories of quilts and clothes made in this room from slings for a broken arm to matching dresses and matching quilts to help ease moving into big girl rooms. Quilts made for weddings, babies, and graduation, it has all happened here. Her little room feels warm and safe. She tucks away pieces of her grandchildren's lives, fabric from her children's days gone by.  She smiles and runs her hand over the fabric, “Someday, if my memory goes, I hope you'll hold all my memories for me.” Pulling the thread creating another pattern in and around the squares, “Pass them on to the kids.” Pausing her stitches she pulls out her phone and flips through her photos; photos of each kid receiving their quilts. “I hope they know, just how much love I stitched in.”

“So I discovered something about myself.” Arthur sits across from his best friend Bethany, fiddling with his wristwatch.  “Oh?” She looks up from her book, her blue eyes sparkling like sapphires in the warm light of the coffee shop. “You know there are like 100 ways this conversion could go, with an opening line like that.” She scrunches her nose the way she always did when giving him a hard time. Gosh has she always looked this cute? He clears his throat, “Fair point. I think it’s a good discovery.”  “Will I think so?” She sets her book down.  “I hope so?” He takes a breath, “You know how after my last break up, I said no girl ever felt quite right?’  “I do remember that. Did you figure out why?” She leans forward, he can almost see constellations in her freckles.  “I think it’s cuz–none of them are you.” He gives her a sheepish smile.  She immediately leans back and looks out the window, his heart sinks,  “You’re three years too late.”  “Late?!” His voice is loud enough several other guests look over at them. He shrinks down. “Late? What do you mean late?” “Art, come on, I was in love  with you in high school.” She puts air quotes around the word love.  “You– you never said anything.” he hold his hands out confused.  She sits up straight, “You know how you had Phys Ed right before our science class?” He nods, “I always had your favourite granola bar in my bag because you were always hungry. I don’t eat granola bars, I bought them for you.”  “But you did stuff like that for Jacob too.” his mind is racing, she had liked him when they were in high school. Had she moved on?  “You had English right after, whenever you had a presentation, I always had gum for you because it calmed your nerves. I had braces until weeks before we graduated.” She closes her book, clearly whatever assignment she had brought with her was no longer important.  “Well–those are just nice things you do for people. You were–are always so kind.” He starts, and she holds her hand up.  “I memorized how you liked your coffee so that if you texted me that the carpool would be rushed, I could make it for you. Two sugars, even though you claimed to like your coffee black. But your mom would always steal a sip or two of both you and your dad's coffee, and she hated the bitter taste. You always said when you didn’t live with her you drink it black, but you can’t because it reminds you of home.” She let out a sigh. “Why didn’t you tell me directly? How was I supposed to pick up these little things?” He stares in disbelief.   “You either had a girlfriend, recovering from said girlfriend or were hopelessly invested in another girl. Life isn’t a romcom or TV show where you confess you’re feelings and everything magically everything works out for you. I wasn’t going to try to break your relationship up or take advantage of your heartbreak. I figured if you wanted me, you’d notice me as more than just one of the guys.” She shrugs.  “Well, I know now, can’t we try now?” He extends his hand to her. “No.” with one word his heart felt like it shattered. “Art, I can’t. After we graduated, I moved on, happy to be your friend and support you from a distance.”  “But Beth– Is there someone else?” That had to be the reason.  Bethany, shakes her head, “No, but I’m happy alone. I get to have all kinds of adventures, meet all kinds of people and do whatever I want. I’m happy.”  “But we could find happiness together.” He offers. “Maybe.” She shrugs, “Or we’d be miserable and we’d come to hate each other and lose one of our long-standing friendships.” She puts her book in her bag, “I don’t resent you for not noticing me – anymore. I used to, but I let it go. We’re in college, Art, we have a lifetime to find and fall in love. There is no deadline.” “So you are saying there is a chance?” He can feel the hope rise in his chest.  She stands, slinging her bag effortlessly over her shoulder, “Don’t hold your breath Art. Maybe there was a reason our feelings were like ships passing in the night. I’ll see you on Christmas break okay?” And with that, she walks out of the coffee shop, taking his heart with him.  Three years later Coffee in hand, Arthur scans the coffee shop, he doesn’t see anyone that reminds him of Bethany, but she still could be here. If he remembers right, she had dropped out of college and had been travelling and writing for the last two years, so they really hadn’t been home at the same time, he sat in their spot facing the door. She’d asked to meet up, she wouldn’t bail on him. Sure, the last time they’d met here was– awkward. But they had both been at Jacobs's wedding and that had been fine– they’d even shared a dance.  He pulls out his phone to text her when a motorbike parks in front of the shop, and the passenger hops off–it can’t be. Bethany takes off her helmet and shakes out her hair. She looks so different, her hair is pink, and in a pixie cut. The driver lifts her hand to his helmet as if to kiss it. She waves and watches him take off.  When Bethany walks in, Arthur waves. She joins him after getting her own coffee, “Hey, long time no see stranger.” She sets her helmet on the seat beside her.  “No kidding. I thought you said motorcycles were death traps.” He points to the helmet.  She shrugs, “Depends on who driving” Her smile gives her away, and he notices the ring on her finger. “Are congratulations in order?” He smirks and she happily shows off her ring.  “He asked me last weekend, and no we have no plans yet, it’s been a whirlwind of a week” She looks down at her ring.  “I’m happy for you, Bethany. You look really happy.” He pulls out his phone to show her the ring he bought for his girlfriend. “It should arrive in a few weeks.”  “Oh, it's gorgeous!” Bethany looks at him, “I bet she’ll love it.”  “I hope so. Not that I’m worried she’ll say no.” He puts his phone down on the table. “Looks like we found a place to dock.”  Bethany smiles, “Yeah, looks like we did.”

Lindsey felt her life had become dull. When was the last time she felt the thrill of anything? Every day was the same, wake up, go for a walk, eat breakfast, work, lunch more work, supper, attempt one of her many hobbies bed, repeat, over and over. Sure she and her roommate did fun things on the weekend, but even that felt dull now. Was this just adulthood? Would life always be this grey? What happened to the colour of childhood? The spark of teenagehood? Surely she couldn't have spent the last two decades, wanting to grow up just for her to see grey! She'd done what everyone said, she went to school, got the job, the apartment, everything was safe, and sure was it boring! She wanted to get her colour back. But she drew a blank, what could she do? She was an adult now, she could do anything she wanted, and maybe that was the problem. There was nothing risky in doing whatever she wanted, no risk no reward. So she'd create her own risk... She would sneak out and watch the sunrise! She always wanted to try that as a teen. She would see if she could sneak out without her roommate finding out. This was her most ridiculous idea. But why not? Who was it going to hurt? Friday night came and to her surprise, her roommate passed out during the movie. Rather than risking it, Lindsey paused the movie and headed to bed. Setting her alarm for some ridiculous hour. To her surprise, she got up with ease. She found' her comfiest sweater, and carefully slipped out of her room. The apartment was still dark, except for the glow of the TV, her roommate hadn't woken up. This added a level of difficulty. Lindsey listened – her roommate was snoring, good she was still in deep sleep, slowly moving across the living room, before Lindsey made it to the entryway, "I'd better steal a blanket." she whispered. Carefully she made her way to the basket, grabbed her favourite one and made her way quietly to the coat closet. She tip-toed around all the shoes trying not to trip she made it out the door. Walking through the quiet apartment building she could feel her excitement growing. She raced to her car in the cold, she should have used her command start, cranking the heat she headed out. Soon she pulled into the parking lot of her favourite coffee shop, she didn't even know they were open this early. She got a hot chocolate and a fresh donut. She headed to her favourite spot by the river and sat on the hood of her car and watched the sun come up. She inhaled deeply and watched as the sky filled with colours and suddenly the world no longer felt so dull. She sat there till her body went stiff. She climbed back into her car and headed home. When she walked in the door she smelled bacon, "Where were you? I woke up on the couch and the house was too quiet." Her roommate offered her a plate. "I went out!' she smirked, "Don't worry about it."

Jenny Jetson had made quite a name for herself as a crime fighter, even as a teen she'd fought some crazy scientist dudes. But now she was in her early 30’s. She was still a crime frighten only now she worked as an officer no more crazy stunts or gadgets made by a 15-year-old wiz kid or with her now husband at her side. She had two children who knew nothing of her teenage crime-fighting days. But that didn't mean the town forgot or her 13-year-old niece. So when the invite to be in the town's annual parade came up again her niece would not let her say no. "Come on Auntie Jenny! Your kids should know that their mom is a hero!" "So is their father." Jenny reminds her. "Yes, babe, but unlike you, I have let the town honour my crime-frightening days. You always avoid them, " her husband teases as he heads back to the office. "Gee why would a young mom want to avoid being the center of attention when one of her villains was never found? I can't have him find my kids because I'm dressing up as my teenage crime fighter." She huffs and gets ready to toss the invite. "Auntie wait." Halley grabs the invite. "So don't go as your teenage self. Let's get you an updated look! You're still a crime fighter after all. And if that villain is dumb enough to show up at the parade he'll see you still strong and ready to fight.'" "You really want me to do this huh?" Jenny sits next to her. "Well, duh, you like the coolest relative I have, and Mom won't let me give her a new makeover, so why not on my superhero Aunt?" Halley rolls her eyes as if it is the most obvious thing. "I'm not a superhero," Jenny whispers. "I always thought you were,” Halley says in that trying-to-still-be-cool teenage way. "Fine, I will," Jenny admits defeat. Hallye jumps for joy and with the kids loaded into the van they head to the mall. Halley looked at photos of her once teenage Aunt. "Cargo pants and a crop top really Auntie?" "Hey it was the style back then!" she said defensively. "Still no cargo pants or crop tops," Halley says with a hint of disgust. “I've had two babies sure then. No arguments here. Though cargo shorts would be great with the kids now." She starts to joke. "Oh my gosh no-” Halley rushes out. "You need something sporty. But age appropriate.” Soon they pull into the mall, and Halley leads Jenny to stores she’s never been in before. She tries on clothes she would never even take into a dressing room. Some of it made her feel amazing and others reminded her of all her teenage anxiety about her looks. Eventually, Halley finds the perfect outfit that blends Jenny's old look and what was hip and cool, and when Jenny makes that joke Halley just rolls her eyes. "Just because you are my coolest aunt doesn’t make everything you do cool." They finished their mall trip with ice cream. "You're going to look so cool in the parade. I'm gonna get my friends to make signs and we're gonna cheer so loud." Halley beams as she helps Jenny load the kids into the care. Jenny smiles and glances in the review mirror, her two young kids nod off blissfully unaware in the backseat. A small pit grew in her storage what if she was making a mistake? The feeling of unease never went away. On the day parade, she waves from the float while her children play safely with her family, ideally lost in the shuffle. They are safe or they are supposed to be. An explosion went off, and everyone went for cover. Jenny attempts to get off the float and help when she hears "Mommy! "Her son cries out, she sees both her son and daughter being lifted into an all too familiar flying pod. "Dr. Grason!" her teenage self would have shot a grappling gun and flown through the air to follow him. But she wasn't her teenage crime-fighting self, she was a mom and she knew something Dr. Garson didn't, she had trackers on her kids. "Catch me if you can miss all that!" He cackles and takes off. She leaps the rest of the way off the float and finds her husband, "The taker is working right?" He nods, watching the dot moves on the scream." "I'm sorry the kids were in the group but he grabbed them while the explosion went off I couldn't get to them fast enough." "Love, he planned this, don't blame yourself.” Jenny looks at Halley "Looks like the look gets a test run."

Madeline sat in the tower waiting. How had the wizard noticed he'd grabbed the wrong girl? It had been years. Surely at this point, the king had found his real daughter. Had she not been worth saving? How foolish had she been to swap places with the princess like this was some kind of fairytale?  She missed her family, her friends, and the village. As she leaned against the stone of the window frame one face entered her mind, Ralph. The boy her mother had called her childhood sweetheart.  He was brave and kind and when she was younger she'd believed he would come to save her but she was older now.  She'd tried to free herself from the tower but it seemed to be designed to keep her there. She'd thought because she wasn't the princess it would let her go. But no she was trapped – possibly forever. Would she die here? Would her parents die not knowing she was alive this whole time? She didn't even know how far she was from the village.  Sure she had everything she needed, the magical tower gave her food, water, clothes that always fit and even things to keep her entertained. She didn’t even need to clean but she was lonely, and she wasn't free.  Madeline watched the sun come up and sat at the window until the sun reached its highest point in the sky, "Time for a meal." She sighed and turned to see what the tower offered her today but before she could slide off her window seat something appeared on the horizon.  She squinted, there was a rider! She quickly pulled the pillowcase off one of the one too many pillows on the bed and waved it out the window, hoping to catch his attention. The dot on the horizon kept getting bigger.  Her heart raced, could it be? As the dot got closer she saw them, "Look out !" she shouted as jagged rocks jutted out from the ground. She watched the horse and rider weave through the new obstacles. He made it through the rocks and as he passed the last one a great chasm opened and flooded with water, the horse reered up and panicked.  The rider quickly jumped off the horse and calmed the animal. Looking around he tied the horse to one of the jutted-out rocks. She couldn't hear him but it seemed he calmed his animal companion. How was he going to get across the new mont around her tower? Surely he wasn't going to swim across – was he? Who knows what was in there?  He walked along the bank as if he was looking for something. Then he tossed some stones and a few of them landed in the water, but some floated in the air, he walked across a magical bridge "My Fair Lady?" He called from below.  "Yes Brave knight?" she squinted to get a better look at him.  "Do you know what I might face as I climb up your tower?" He unsheathed his sword.  "No, I've never been able to make it past the floor below me." She paused – "Please be safe."  “I will move with hast it to save you at once my lady!" And with that, he was off.  She opened the trapped door and listened for any sound, "Hello? Is everything okay down there?"  "Keep talking! It's a maze down here!" He called out his voice sounding very familiar. She quickly grabbed a book from her shelf and started reading out loud. Eventually, she heard his steps. "I can hear you!" she called out.  "I think I can see the light of your room!" His voice sounded close. Madeline kept reading until she saw his face," Raluphy?" "I knew I'd find you, Maddie!" His smile still had the same boyish charm she remembered.  "You saved me," she whispered.  "I became a knight so I could save you. I wasn't going to let the king forget you." He stepped closer.  "I thought everyone forgot about me." She reached out and took his hand.  He kissed her hand, "Shh say nothing more of that, your parents will be thrilled you’re back and the king owes you a great debt." He rushed and picked her up and thrilled her around. "Let's get you home."  Taking her hand he let her through the towers whose magic seemed to fade. The chasm closed and the horse and rider were reunited, "Let's get Madeline home, old boy." "I can't wait to see what adventures I can find." She takes in a deep breath of fresh free air.  "I'll come with you if you'll let me." Ralph offered her a hand up the on his horse. "I think I'd like that." Madeline took his hand and climbed up on the horse, ready to go home.

Victoria stands on the edge of the tournament hall. Her mom is rambling on about finding a seat and looking forward to watching her compete. “Yeah, yeah, mom. I gotta go! Coach isn't going to be happy if I’m late!” Victoria runs off, hearing her mom chuckle making some comment about being in such a rush. “Hey, kiddo! Perfect you’re early, I’ve got some bad news.” Her coach sets his bag down and sits down so they are closer to the same height. “What is it?” Her heart races. “They added a new round of competition - An Improv Round.” He pauses. Victoria interrupts, “Oh no big deal couch, Becca and I do improv all the time.” “No, they're going to pull names from a hat. You could be paired with anyone here. They want to test your ability to think on the spot.” He shrugs, “It shouldn’t affect your scores too much, but if you and your partner fail to make a routine both teams will lose points. So play nice.” He gives her a look. “Hey! I’m always nice!” She throws her hands up. “Always…” Her coach raises an eyebrow. “If I get paired with someone from Stormdale I’ll be as nice as they are.” She huffed, “As if dancing with elements was hard enough, sure add in new improv partners.” She chuckles and stretches. Soon the competition starts, and she only half watches the other competitors, the last thing she needs is for someone to get in her head. To an outsider, she’s watching everyone, but in her mind, she’s playing through her routine, sometimes she matches hers to the beat of the current dancer's music other times it’s as if she is not in her body and she is watching herself dance. She only leaves this zone to watch her teammate's routine. Eventually they call her number. She stands on the edge of the mat, and all four elements; fire, water, wind and earth, sit on their pedestals waiting for her to tell the ref which two she’s chosen for this dance. After seven years of competing, many of the other veteran dancers know what she’ll choose. She points to earth and fire - a difficult pairing but she loves the challenge. Soon her music starts. She dances, weaving the fire and earth together to create little statues around the mat. Each one is higher than the last. As the music builds, she jumps and leaps up on each statue. Making it atop her highest stature just as the song ends. She smiles and waves until the runners take their scorecards, then she uses the water element to help her get down. Then with a snap of her fingers, everything vanishes. Her coach beams with pride, “You get better every time you perform, if you keep at it, you could get a scholarship to one of the magic schools. I’m sure you’ll medal in your age group.” “I hope so. I’m not sure we could afford it otherwise.” She joins her team in watching the other performances. She watches the girls in the age group above her, none of them used the elements she did, would she stand out when she moved up? Soon the regular competition was over and it was time for this freestyle improv round. Pairs start being announced, and Victoria listened, “Victoria Evans from Whistle Brooke and Avery Gladice from Stormdale” Avery from Stormdale? Who was that? Victoria couldn’t remember who she was. Her coach gives a look, she smiles promising to be nice. Soon a first-year performer was standing in front of her. “‘Hi! I’m Avery!” The young girl waved. “Hello! Ready to dance?” Victoria led her to their practice area. “My favourites are earth and fire, I was preparing to perform while your group was on the mat. First years only have one element right? So what's yours?” “Water!” She did some funky hip-hop moves and the water flowed around her. “That's a cool trick! We should definitely use that!” Soon Victoria and Avery had a routine. They combined Avery’s hip-hop water moves with Victoria's way of making statutes to create a fun flow. While they didn’t place in the top three, they did have fun. Victoria saw a lot of herself in Avery and from then on, until Victoria graduated she looked for Avery at every meet. Giving her pointers when she could, and ironically enough a magic school in Stormdale offered Victoria a full-ride scholarship to join their college dance team. When Victoria could, she would stop by the local teams practise and help out Avery with her skills and create a bond that would outlast their time on the dance mat.

Ellie sat in the old chair in her Granny's room, a well-worn book in her lap, she'd read and reread this book hundreds of times. Her Granny lay in bed, eyes closed, but still awake, Ellie could tell because her fingers still tapped along her hand. Ellie always visited alone on Tuesday afternoons, while her boys were at school, and her husband was at work. “Ready for another story Granny?" She nodded slowly with a small smile on her face. Ellie started, “Once upon a time, in a land not so much unlike yours and mine, there lived a girl who believed in fairies. She would spend her days hunting for them in the flower garden, deep in the forest and even near the pond. The world felt so magical to her that she couldn't believe there wasn't something to it. Her mother would laugh and shake her head at the silly girl, "Just remember darlin, should you ever meet a fairy, always have a gift for them they are sneaky little things.” "Oh, no Mama, fairies are the kindest, nicest and prettiest mythical creatures of all! They are always helpful! And we made them a home in the garden! You'll see, they'll help us.” She just knew it. "I don't know who fairy lore you've been reading but sure it's right." Her mother shakes her head and keeps preparing supper. The girl watches out the window as if the fairies could come out from anywhere. “Winter is coming Mama, soon the snow fairies will be here soon, I'll need to make sure the fairy house has supplies for the spring fairies." She swings her legs on the stool as she plans. “Oh and what do the spring fairies need for their winter rest?" She teases as she plates food for the family. “In the house, pieces of fabric for extra blankets, a tea light candle would probably last a long time for the fairies and keep them plenty toasty, and they're magical so they won't need a match to light it. Oh! And can you buy the fairy food again this year and we can sprinkle it near the fairy house again?” The little girl ran to the table. "Of course, darlin'. I'll add it to the grocery list." Her mother kissed the top of her head, a smile hidden from her daughter's gaze. As the weather got colder, the little girl collected small scraps of fabric and found a small tea-light candle in the junk drawer. Soon the little fairy house was ready for the snow. Together she and her mother make a fairy feeder. And she was happy to see that every morning more of the feed was gone, “See Mama, the fairies know we are helping them!" “You might be onto something, darlin’." Her mother smiled, and if the girl were paying attention, she would notice a secret hiding in her mother's eyes. Then one night, as the first heavy snow fell, the little girl’s mother woke her, “Come quick!" They raced to the kitchen window that overlooked the garden, "Look!” She points to the garden where the garden, the little house stood, “Mama! The candle! They lit the candle! We have spring fairies taking their winter rest in our garden!” She shook with excitement! "And the winter fairies are putting on a show before the spring fairies take their rest. Would you like to stay up a little bit and have some hot chocolate and watch the snow fairies dance?" Her mother strokes her hair. “Can we make a little bit of popcorn too?" She looks at her mother with eyes full of wonder. "Of course darlin'." The two sat and enjoyed their late-night treat and show. Over the winter the little girl found gifts in her boots, mittens, inside a coat pocket and sometimes under her pillow. Sometimes it was small pocket change or small candies, and little drawings of flowers to remind her of spring. “Mama look! Another gift!” "I guess the winter fairies wanted to thank you for taking good care of their spring friends. And for the help you are to them." She poked the girl's nose causing her to giggle. "I hope the spring fairies are staying warm under the snow." The little girl looked out over the garden where the little house was hidden under the deep snow. “I'm sure they are safe and warm, blissfully sleeping through winter. I kinda wish I could join them!" Her mother laughed as she and her daughter bundled up for another day in the cold. “I bet the kid fairies get bored sleeping all winter! Maybe that's why we have some really nice days in the winter!” The little girl spoke like she had all the answers. “You just might be onto something there darlin." Her mom took her hand and together they looked for winter fairies hiding in the snow and frost. For a few more years the little girl believed in fairies and the magic they gave the world. But as all little girls do, she grew up, and soon stopped looking for fairies because she knew the real magic came from a mother who cared an awful lot." Ellie softly closed the book and glanced at her Granny who stared at her, “That was a lovely little story dear. Where did you find it?" Ellie smiled, “I brought it from home, it's one of my very favourite books, it's a collection of stories from my very favourite author.” "And who might that be dear?” Her Granny slowly sat, reaching for her granddaughter's hand. "Victoria Ellie James.” Ellie smiled softly. "That's my name, isn't it?” Her Granny looked at her, and Ellie nodded, "I wrote that?” She pointed to the book. Ellie nods again, “And so much more, I have a whole shelf of your books." "I can hardly hold a pen and sign my name anymore, and you're telling me I used to write stories? And I've forgotten them?" Granny shook her head, "Well, I suppose if I can rediscover them with you, it's not so bad.” She pats Ellie's hand. “Did I write this story for you?" Ellie loved reminding her of this story, “For me and mom, you wrote it for my first Mother's day, to remind mom and me about the power of a mother's magic.” She closed her eyes and nodded, as if she was remembering the moment, "You will keep reintroducing me to the worlds I used to create, won't you?” Ellie squeezed her hand, “Always."

Ivy watched as a younger version of her ran off into the distance, she finally felt at peace. She had become the person that would have helped her as a child. She felt amazing. She went to bed that night feeling like she could do anything.  Then the morning hit and hit hard. She groaned as the sun lit her room and her alarm blared, “No…” She mumbled as she hit soon. After twenty minutes she finally committed to getting up. She got dressed and walked into her bathroom to put on some makeup.  “Since when do we dress like Mom?” Ivy jumped and in the mirror, she saw a version of her teenself.  “What? Really? I just helped child me, can’t I get a break?” She yelled up at the roof.  Teen Ivy rolled her eyes, “Dramitc much?” Ivy couldn’t help but cringe a bit at this version of herself, sure child her had been cute and a little sad but she could see the good it did her adult self. But why on earth did she have to deal with this version of her? “But like seriously why are dressed like Mom? She is such a buzz kill.”  “Hey, Mom worked hard so we could do all the things we wanted.” Ivy continued to work on her makeup. “And I happen to like this outfit. It makes me feel professional. People take me seriously when I dress like this.” Ivy smiles at herself and grabs her bag. “Well come on, we’ve got to get to work.”  Teen Ivy rolled her eyes again, Ivy made a mental note to apologize to her mother because man was that annoying. “So you still dress for others?” Ivy momentarily paused, had she done that in the past… no she hadn’t… right? “No, this is just the dress code for my office.” Teen Ivy raised an eyebrow and slumped into a seat in the car. “Music?”  “Of course, and you know I think still have that playlist we made!” A quick search on her phone and found the list she now called her angst list. The two girls sang at the top of their lungs. Then they were at the office, “Are you following me around today?”  Teen Ivy huffed, “Not sure what else I’d do.” Ivey said nothing and led her to her office. “Oh, you have like a legit office. What do we even do?”  Ivy chuckled, “I was wondering when you’d ask me that. I do graphic design for a big marketing company.”   “So… so Mom and Dad let us do art?” Teen Ivy sloched into on of the chairs.  “It took some convincing but yeah, eventually they came around to the idea.” She shrugged, she hardly remembered that Mom and Dad hadn’t wanted her to do this. “They even bought us a new laptop for college.” She pointed to a photo on the wall for her graduation, both her parents beaming.  “D-do they brag about us to their friends like they did for Tony?” Teen Ivy glanced at the photo and crossed her arms.  Ivy paused, they had always bragged about her big brother's accomplishments more than hers when they were teens - hadn’t they? Well, Tony had struggled more in school, but it came easier to her, it’s why they wanted her to do something ‘more than art’ they saw her potential. Tony needed the encouragement, but she didn’t. But it would have been nice… Ivy felt her heart sink, and then she looked up at the photo, “All the time.”  “As they should!” Teen Ivy snapped and pulled out headphones and shut her older self out.  “I guess we are done talking.” Ivy shrugged and got to work.  As lunch approached, her boss knocked on the door, “Ivy? A minute of your time?”  “You couldn’t have picked a better time boss, I was just getting ready to hit pause on this sample for that makeup company. Come in.”  “Thank you.” He pulled out an envelope. “Remember that hair care company you did the last-minute design overhaul for?”  Ivy chuckled, “How could I forget, it caused me so much stress I didn’t sleep for like forty-eight hours. What about it?”  “They sent you a bonus thank-you gift, it’s a voucher for the Le Fancie. I can make some calls and get you a reservation, think you and your boyfriend can be available this Friday?” He slid the envelope across the desk.  “Woah, he’s been saving to take me there for months! Yea! We’ll make Friday work. Thank you, sir!” She beams and picks up her phone to call Kent.  Teen Ivy watched her with wide eyes as she filled Kent in on what happened.  “Are you sure? You can keep saving that money for another date, I don’t need a new dress.”  “Darling, how often do we get to go somewhere that nice? Let me spoil you and go get a new dress. I already sent the money over, please go get yourself something nice.” He tried to do his best rich man accent.  Which only made Ivy laugh, “Fine but you had better where that suit we got tailored last month.” She teased.  “Deal. Enjoy your lunch break darling!” He hung up.  “We have a boyfriend?! How did you not lead with that?” teen Ivy yelled, “What’s he like? What music does he play? Is he hopelessly romantic? How often does he buy flowers? Do Mom and Dad know?”  Ivy couldn’t help but bend over in laughter, “Slow down, girl. Here, you can look at some of the photos.” Teen Ivy snapped the phone out of her hand so quickly. “He buys me flowers every so often.  He is romantic in his own way. He’s not a musician-” She mumbled, “Not making that mistake twice.” then cleared her throat, “And of course, Mom and Dad know about him. Dad introduced us.” Teen Ivy immediately handed back the phone. “Oh. So he’s lame then?”  “No! He’s wonderful!” Ivy didn’t remember disliking her parents this much as a teen, but she couldn’t even ask teen Ivy more questions, cuz she’d shut down again.  So Ivy made it through the workday. And she led her teen self back to the car. “Do you wanna go dress shopping? We have a few hours till the mall closes.”  “Sure whatever.” Teen Ivy let out a huff. So they drove to the mall and Ivy walked to her current favourite store, “Really you shop here?” Teen Ivy deadbanded.  “Hey, I am this store's target demographic now you know.” Ivy walked in. Teen Ivy sulking behind. “Hey Melisha! Can you get a change room ready for me? Kent gave me money for a new dress.”  “Of course Miss! We just put out the new dresses for the season, I would even buy some of those.” The teenager who ran was working the till chuckled.  “You are on a first-name basis with the employees?”  teen Ivy rolled her eyes. “She does great work and she came to the office for an experience day so she’s easy to remember.” Ivy started looking through the dresses. “Let me know if you see anything I should try on.  They looked through the dresses, and nothing really stood out the them, then teen Ivy picked up one, “I’d wear this one.” It was dark blue and had a light shimmer.  “It looks familiar…” Ivy felt the fabric, “Oh it’s shockingly soft. I think it's the only one worth trying on.” Once she was looking in the mirror she loved it. “Oh, it’s so perfect.”  “Woah. It’s amazing.” Teen Ivy seemed to be whipping tears away. “I should send Mom a picture. She’ll love it!” Ivy snapped a photo and sent it to her mom, asking for her thoughts.  “Why do you care what they think so much? They can’t give us the time of day before! They don’t care!” Teen Ivy’s anger seemed to radiate off her.  “Woah.” Ivy watched as her teen self fell to the ground. “Melisha, hold this dress for me alright? I’ll come pick it up another day, something came up and I need to go.” Ivy quickly changed and raced her and her teenage self home.  Once they were in the safety of her room, Ivy pulled out an old scrapbook. “Look through it.”  Teen Ivy looked at the photos. “What is this? We didn’t make this.”  “No, but Mom did, dad even added some notes to it. It was a grad gift.” Ivy knelt in front of the girl, “Look I know it feels like Mom and Dad didn’t care back then, but they did. They just had a lot going on.” teen Ivy rolled her eyes, and Ivy set a hand on the girl's knee, “But that doesn’t make the pain you feel any less real. You are allowed to feel alone and forgotten.”  ‘I just wanted someone to see how hurt I was!” the teen's voice was dry and horse. “I know. I know.” Ivy spoke softly. “They should have seen the hurt, and they didn’t.” She hugged the girl. “You know something tho?”  “What?” Teen Ivy sniffled.  “They apologize for all of it. And they become our biggest and loudest fans. They share every design we work on, it’s actually kind of embarrassing.” Ivy giggled, “I had a breakdown after an award show and…” Ivy stopped as she looked down at the page the teen had stopped on, “It’s the dress.”  Teen Ivy looked down, “Oh wow! It looks so much like the one in the store.”  “I wore that dress all the time, well after the award show I didn’t wear it again. It hurt too much, I think I still have it in storage.” Ivy felt a familiar hurt well up.  Teen Ivy put her hand on Ivy’s hand. “Maybe it’s time for new memories?”  “I think so.” Ivy smiled as her phone buzzed and her mom’s praises for the new dress came pouring in, “See I told you still embarrassing.” The two girls simply giggled.