𝒜 𝐿𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝒞𝒽𝓇𝒾𝓈𝓉𝓂𝒶𝓈 𝑀𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸

𝐸𝓅𝒾𝓁𝑜𝑔𝓊𝑒

AN: We're at the end now!

My life was never quite the same after that Christmas Eve. No Christmas was ever as magical. Of course, reality continued. After the holidays ended, I asked Mama to enroll me in ballet classes again. I was never going to be a professional dancer, but at least I could try. I ended up flourishing. Education-wise, I finished middle school and began attending the local high school. Then it was college, then graduation. I couldn't believe how fast the time flew. I kept up ballet during this. While I did not become a dancer, I remained active in the arts. I now help sew costumes for a small community theater here in New York.

Fritz, surprisingly enough, believed our tale of the events of that Christmas Eve. He didn't even question it. We ended up growing closer after that night. What had once been a love-hate relationship transformed into an inseparable bond. We even helped each other out with school (turned out that my brother was far better at math than I was). He is now a software engineer like Papa. I'm so proud of him. Also, he recently proposed to his first-grade sweetheart. She said yes, by the way.

Mama and Papa did eventually find out the truth about Nate. Naturally, they were quite surprised. Nate and I were subjected to a barrage of questions before my parents finally believed our story. It certainly was...awkward. However, once Uncle Drosselmeyer gave his testimony, Papa ended the interrogation. I was relieved that I no longer had to make up a story.

However, my Christmas Eve adventure remained a secret to everyone outside of the family (besides Piper. I could never lie to her.). It was honestly one of the toughest things I've had to endure. But I did it. All three of us did.

As for Nate and me, we ended up attending the same high school. We remained friends during that time, although our mutual feelings never quite faded. Throughout our studies, though, we managed to visit the Land of Sweets at least once a year, usually during Christmastime. After I graduated from high school, we began dating with Uncle Drosselmeyer and my parents' approval. Four years later, on the ninth anniversary of our meeting, he proposed. It was so magical. Snow was falling, and the park was lit up with Christmas lights. I felt twelve years old again. Three months later, we got married. It was one of the best nights of my life.

Now, we have two kids, a boy and a girl. Every Christmas Eve, we recount the tale of that night so long ago. They love it.

The future remains a mystery. But what I do know is that my life will never be the same, all because of a little Christmas magic.