eyes.

Balto: Oh, you always do that. C'mon I need your help. Ok, fine I'll see you at home.

    Balto continued to walk home, hoping to see Seph at the boat when he got there.

_

    When Balto got back to the boat, to his surprize, he saw Seph on the side of the boat, watching him as he walked. It's about time. Balto thought.

Balto: I was wondering when you were going to get here.

Seph: Oh, you know me by now. I never come exactly when you want me here. Angels can be fashionably late too.

    Balto walked up the plank towads the the deck, where Seph waited to greet. When he got there, they gave each other a friendly hug.

Seph: Merry Christmas, brother.

Balto: Merry Christmas to you too.

    Boris still had the mop in his hand and was on the other side of the boat.

Boris: It's about time, you lousy goose. 

Balto: Look who's talking, Boris. Besides I wouldn't be able to swob the deck. I don't have free hands like yours.

Boris: Wings! Wings!

Balto: Oh, what ever.

    Seph looked at Balto as he turned back around to him. He noticed that he had a certain look on his face.

Seph: You look troubled, Balto. What is it?

Balto: I need to to talk to you.

_
 

    Balto and Seph took a walk around the open space towards the forest. Seph was the best person to talk to about this kind of thing, Balto thought. He always gave good advice.

Seph: So what has been troubling you, brother? 

Balto: Well, you know about Steel.

Seph: Yes. what about him. Is he having trouble?

Balto: Yes. With Princess.

Seph: Ah. A girlfriend of his, right.

Balto: Yes. They got into an argument about feelings. And they split up for a while. Now, he isn't even really my friend, but I can't help that what he is going through is bothering me. Before I knew about this, I had everything put together. But even since I heard about it, I started to worry, alot. Not exactly about him, but everything else.

Seph: So, you believe that Steel being alone is effecting how you are taking everything.

Balto: Yes. Exactly. But I don't get it.

Seph: Maybe you really are worried about him more than anything else. You just don't know it.

Balto: I don't know. I talked to Jenna about it. She said that maybe deep down I feel sorry for him.

Seph: That's exactly what it is, Balto. You can't get a hold of yourself because you know someone is having trouble.

Balto: So what do I do?

Seph: You talk to him. Help him with his problems.

Balto: I'm not sure if I can do that. I mean, we aren't enemies any more for sure, but we haven't really had any friendly conversations yet.

Seph: Then this is your opportunity. Get to know him.

    Balto gave a heavy sigh. He didn't really know if talking to Steel was the best thing to do. What would he say? What would Steel say? It would be weird for both of them, he thought. But Seph was an angel, so ten times out of ten, he was always right. The only way Balto was going to set things right with Steel is if they talk. And what better time to talk than when one is having trouble.

Balto: How come every time I call for help, you give a solution that involves me doing something that I don't want to do.

    Seph started to laugh.

Seph: You just don't get it, do you brother.

    Balto smiled.

Balto: No I guess not.

Seph: Trust me, it will be fine. Just talk to him. You are no longer enemies, so what can it hurt?

Balto: Perhaps you're right.

Seph: I am.

    Seph gave a friendly laugh, to let Balto know he was joking.

Seph: Just be a friend about it, Balto. That's all it takes.

Balto: Thank you... brother.

Seph: You're more than welcome. Now go ahead and take care of your business. And let me do the other stuff for you.

Balto: Alright. Wish me luck.

Seph: You have all of the luck in the world already. You'll do fine. I'll see you back at the boat.

Balto: See you then.

    Balto knew where to find Steel. He is always in the retired parts of the town whenever he is not at Princess's master's house. He knew a particular spot where he would be. The factory.

_ 

 It was about noonwhen Balto bean to walk to he factory, where he knew Steel was hiding. Balto had been thinking about what he was going to say, but he kept changing his thoughts as he went along. Since he couldn't really make up his mind, it looked like he would have to wing it, and hope it comes out right along the way. Balto was a little nervous. He had never really spoken to Steel in a friendly tone before, or at least no times that he could remember. But he knew that he would have to take it easy, since Steel was having trouble.
    When Balto came around the corer, he saw the factory not very far away. Balto took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Balto: Here we go.

    When Balto approached the factory, the door was cracked open a little. He could see the orange light coming from inside. He quietly slid his muzzle through the crack. He could smell Steel, heavily. He then poked his head all the way through and looked around the room. He saw Steel lying down in the far corner to the left. He was fast asleep. He looked so peaceful. He didn't look like the mean, self absorbed dog that teased Balto. He just looked like a regular dog.
    Balto began to slowly and quietly walk inside, with the door sliding against his side. He then walked up to Steel as he slept. He could hear his steady breaths going in and out.
    When Balto got about half way to Steel, his eyes opened. Oh, no. He thought. I woke him up. Steel rose his head tiredly and looked at who was standing a few feet in front of him. His vision cleared quickly, and he saw that it was Balto.

Steel: Balto?

Balto: Hello, Steel.

    What is he doing here? Steel asked himself.

Balto: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. Perhaps I should be going.

Steel: No. It's alright.

    Steel stood up then yawned and stretched.

Steel: What is it?

Balto: I need to talk to you.

Steel: You do?

Balto: Yeah.

            Balto had never wanted to talk to Steel willingly. This surprised Steel.  

Balto: I heard that you have been having some trouble with, um... Princess.

    Steel really didn't want to talk about Princess at the moment. But maybe this was his only opportunity to really set things right with Balto.

Steel: Yeah. We got into an argument. 

Balto: I heard.

Steel: Well, we’re just taking a break.

Balto: What happened?

Steel: She assumed that I still like Jenna. And I told her that I would never do something like that to her. She knows me.

            Steel started to talk in an angry tone.

Balto: Why did she think you still liked Jenna?

Steel: She saw me talking with her. She wasn’t with you at the time and I didn’t feel like getting you. I’m sorry, Balto.

Balto: It’s alright. What did you talk to her about?

Steel: I wanted to apologize to her about being a jerk and being mean to you.

            Wow. Balto thought. He really wanted to apologize?

Steel: Princess saw me talking with her and she thought I still liked her.

Balto: Well, this may sound weird, but ever since I heard that you have been having trouble with her, I kept loosing it. I wasn't able to keep myself calm or unworried. Maybe it's because of knowing that someone is alone on Christmas.

Steel: Really?

Balto: Yeah. Maybe you should apologize.

Steel: I’m not apologizing to her. I tried to tell her that I liked her and not Jenna, but she wouldn’t listen. I didn’t do anything wrong. So why apologize.

            Steel turned around and laid down, lying his head on his paws. Balto realized that Steel didn’t really have anything to apologize for, but maybe he should talk to her, and let her know how much she means to him.

Balto: Well, maybe you haven’t done anything wrong, Steel. But maybe you should talk to her.

Steel: About what.

Balto: How you feel about her.

Steel: She knows how I feel about her.  

Balto: Do you love her?

            Steel knew he loved Princess, more than anything else in the world. But did he have the strength to say it? There was a long pause, and then Steel finally spoke.

Steel: Yes… Yes, I do.

Balto: Have you told her that.

            Steel never did tell Princess that he loved her. And he was a bit ashamed of it.

Steel: No. I haven’t

Balto: Then tell her that. Tell her how much she means to you.

Steel: I don’t know.

            Steel didn’t think that it was going to help any, but maybe Balto was right. Maybe what she needed was to know that he loved her.

Balto: I need to go. Just think about it steel. Think about what I said.

            Balto then turned around and started