and Richard, the humans running this way and that. Gaining speed Balto and Kaltag exchanged grins as they chased the boys down an alley between shops. In a brown streak Balto ran past the boys into the alley. Reaching the middle of the alley the boys grinned, they had outrun their chasers. Suddenly they heard a low snarl, ahead of them stood Balto, behind them stood Kaltag. They were trapped. Both boys stood still, seconds later both dogs jumped on them, covering their faces with licks.

“You win,” Richard laughed struggling to his feet.

“You both are smart dogs to pull that stunt,” Harvey replied pushing Kaltag off him.

“Come on we need to get back,” Richard said grinning.

     Arriving back at their friends they found that a snowball fight had broken out amongst the children with the dogs helping the teams by pushing members of the opposing team into the snow. The humans could “defend” themselves against the dogs by covering them in snow. It was all innocent fun no one minded getting pushed or snow on them. As he pushed Anna to the floor Balto caught sight of Jenna wresting with Harvey both exchanged a grin, at last Balto as one of gang.  

      Fairytale Ending 

        Exactly a month had passed since Balto had brought the medicine to Nome. Balto walked through the streets of Nome, greeting friends as he went, walking tall in the sunlight not slinking in the shadows. Reaching the hospital he stopped, turning right down a side street where it was possible to look into the main rooms of the hospital. On a barrel looking through the window of Dr Welch’s office sat Jenna, her gaze fixed on the scene inside. Looking into a pool of ice Balto tried to flatten is fur, taking a deep breath before he spoke.

   “Jenna I was wondering if you would like to join me diner at the Arctic Flower Hotel, perhaps chase a few sticks by moonlight?”

 “Oh hi Balto,” Jenna replied turning around. “I would love to join you for dinner.”

“Fantastic,” Balto replied jumping up next to her. “So it looks like Rosie is fine.”

“It does,” Jenna replied.

    Inside the hospital Rosie jumped off the bed in Dr Welch’s surgery, choosing a red strawberry flavoured lollypop from a tin on his deck. Shaking Dr Welch’s hand Arthur smiled as he, Violet and Rosie felt the room. Jumping down from the barrels Balto and Jenna raced to the front of the hospital to meet them. Seeing the family Jenna nuzzled Rosie while Balto jumped up at Arthur, sending him to the floor.

“Whoa boy less power next time,” Arthur chuckled climbing to his feet.

“Hi Jenna hi Balto,” Rosie said stroking both of them. “Dr Welch’s says I’m fully well now just like I was before. No more trips back to the hospital.”

“I am so pleased,” Jenna replied with relief.

“That’s great Rosie,” Balto said licking her face.

“Rosie come on time to go, Grandma is expecting us,” Arthur said looking between his daughter, Balto and Jenna. “At times I swear Balto and Jenna understand you.”

“They do Daddy bye Balto. Jenna you cannot come today I am sorry.”

“That is alright your Grandpa is unwell, I will see you later,” Jenna replied as Rosie left.

“At last Rosie if fully healthy, so about tonight I’ll pick you up at eight?” Balto asked.

“Eight would be perfect,” Jenna replied as Balto walked off his head held high.

      Watching him play baseball with a group of boys, Jenna smiled to herself, happy that she did not have to hide her feelings for Balto. Walking through Nome, Jenna thought about her handsome wolf and how much things had changed.

“Angel in disguise
Stories in his eyes
Love for every true heart that it sees.

Was it just a lucky day
That he turned to look my way
Or is it Heaven right before my very eyes?” Jenna sang looking up at the church. 

“He showed me all new things
The shimmer of moonbeams
I was blind, but now he's helped me see.

I was lost but now I'm found
His happiness surrounds
And now I find that my dreams can come true.

Cause I'm gonna love you for the rest of my life
I'm holding you safe here in this heart of mine
I can't live without you cause my soul would die
You know I'm telling the truth, I'll spend the rest of my life loving you.

It didn't start this way
It happened just one day
You smiled at me and I saw you, differently.”

     Jenna’s thoughts drifted back to her first meeting with Balto when they had been pups and the friendship that had begun that day. With Rosie they pair had played in the snow. Her mind then drifted to the adventures she, Steel and Balto had experienced as pups. Then her mind shifted to the day she realized she had fallen in love with him.

“Now I'm a tremble just to be
A part of you as we
Begin a life that's sure to never end.

Cause I'm gonna love you for the rest of my life
I'm holding you safe here in this heart of mine
I can't live without you cause my soul would die
You know I'm telling the truth, I'll spend the rest of my life loving you,” Jenna sang watching Balto from a distance .

               Gazing out from his boat that night Balto thought about his feelings for Jenna and how happy he was. Seeing him Boris put a wing round his shoulder.

  “So then Kiddo, are you ready for tonight?”

“I am Boris I’m going to ask her to be my mate. I know it’s soon but I love and she loves me.”

  “It is about time you and she were together. I have seen how happy you have been with her. You and she have been friends since you came to Nome.”

 “Thanks Boris for everything I mean it, you’ve helped me a lot.”

   “Kiddo you are family to me,” Boris replied rubbing Balto’s head. “Besides, someone has to keep you from trouble!”

  “Thanks for that. Jenna told me how you brought her know back, she said you took good care of her.”

  “You charged with me her safety, you undertook that wild goose chase for her after all.”

  “For her and Rosie, Rosie was the real reason I undertook it. I couldn’t have let her die, she saw me for who rather then what I was. She’s almost family.”

  “Rosie is a sweet kid with a heart of gold and Jenna…..” Boris smiled causing Balto to blush.

  “You know Boris you would make a great dad, you ever going to find a girl?” Balto grinned at the looking Boris’s face.

  “Watch your fast mouth Kiddo. I did have one once before I met you but then….”

“Boris what is it, what happened?” Balto asked in surprise.

   “She died in that blizzard the night before we met. I was knocked unconscious, when I awoke she was barely alive, she died in my wings. Maybe one day I will find love again.”

  “Boris, why didn’t you tell me years ago?” Balto asked in surprise. “I’ve known you all this time yet whenever I’ve asked before you’ve avoided the question.”

“I wanted to put the past to rest Kiddo. What happened hurt me deeply,” Boris sight sadly at the memories. “Then I found you. You needed someone to take care of you. I decided to start again to leave my former life and morn in peaceful solitude. I am happy here in Nome with you, raising you helped me to heal. Now you have found your place I am proud of you.”

  “You gave up a lot for me. Thanks Boris for everything I mean it,” Balto replied putting a paw around Boris.

“Go on meet Jenna. I am happy fine the past is the past.”

      Looking at Boris one last time Balto ran into town, from the boat Boris watched him glad that his adopted son had found his place. Reaching Rosie’s house Balto let out a howl, moments later Jenna walked out of the front door.  

  “Balto it is great to see you,” Jenna said shyly.

“Wow Jenna you look amazing, is that a new your collar” Balto asked, looking at a white leather collar hanging around her neck. .

  “Oh Rosie got it for me for Christmas.”

  “It looks beautiful on you the contract with your red fur.”

   “Thank you Balto, you look well groomed.”

  “I had a helping paw from Aurora,” Balto replied blushing a little. “Are you ready to depart Madam?”

“I am good Sir, where are we going?”

   “The Arctic Flower Hotel,” Balto replied silkily as they walked through town.

“Impressive that you managed to reserve a table there, you have more connections then I realized,” Jenna replied flicking her tail at him.

“Well being the town hero does have benefits. When the maître heard I wanted to book a table he made sure to reserve the best in the house.”

“How thoughtful of him, are you trying to impress me?”

“Of course I am. I do not wish for us to be seen, tonight is for us alone. We are going to walk across the roves of