Epilogue
Comet
November first arrived, and our trip up was very similar to the one we’d taken with our mate almost a year before.
All the planes and sleds and snowmobiles, and while it was always cold and snowy, the North Pole at this time of year was no joke.
Storms could sweep in at any time and make travel nearly impossible.
The only time we got the quick ride home was after the holiday when there was a little magic left for the purpose. In November, it was just gearing up.
Our mate’s nerves on her first trip, facing relatively good weather, had me worried about now.
Even the plane to Canada, the big commercial jet bounced and the captain made everyone wear their seat belts at all times.
By the time we landed, I expected her to be shaken up, but she was sound asleep, one hand resting on the small bump where our child grew.
“Time to get off, mate.” I gave her shoulder a gentle shake. “Our next flight leaves in a half hour.”
She yawned and stretched. “That was fast. But I guess that means I have no time to get a cinnamon roll?”
We absolutely did not have time, but what we did have was strength of will, and while Dash and Blitz kept the gate attendant chatting, I managed to grab a six-pack of buns with extra frosting, just the way she liked them. We would do anything for our mate, including handling her cravings.
The second and third flights were also turbulent, but Aideen just relaxed through them, chatting with us and the other passengers, nibbling her cinnamon rolls and having a wonderful time.
I’d done these flights many times, and I was rattled.
But not our mate. She was so excited about seeing Mrs. Claus and the elves, and she had bags stuffed with gifts for them.
We’d for sure been matched well by Fate.
Even with all the napping, I expected her to be tired when we got to the Pole, but she bounced out of the snowmobile and into the arms of her friends and fans.
Mrs. Claus gave her the biggest hug and invited us to dinner, the elves hung on her arms, chattering away about all the things they talked about, and Aideen marched straight toward the reindeer barn.
“Aren’t you guys coming? After the storm blew us off course, I was afraid we’d be really late, so you have to get right to training. Yes?”
“We have time to take you to the house first where you can rest.” Blitz caught up to her and tried to head her off. “You can watch us train anytime.”
“Nope. I’m now. I’d never miss an opportunity to watch my beautiful males strip off their clothes and turn into gorgeous reindeer.”
She might be a happily mated female with a baby on the way, but she was still a woman with an appreciation for beauty.
Plus, this time, we’d be flying, with all the Christmas magic in effect.
If she enjoyed riding us on the ground, I couldn’t wait to take her soaring.
Our children would come with us every year and mingle with the children of other shifters, elves, and whoever else Santa deemed worthy of living here at the North Pole.
The future lay ahead of us, magical and bright.
As long as the elves never learned where the androids Santa was giving this year came from.
If they did, we’d need Mrs. Claus to help us out…
again. Luckily, she’d already declared herself fairy godmother to any babies from our union.