“Okay.” Kit went over to the tree, took a piece of chocolate from Molly’s pile, and put it in his stocking. Before Rebecca could scold, he explained, “She took one of mine this morning.” He hurried up the stairs. “Night, Papa Bear. Night, Mom.”

“Goodnight, Kit.” Rebecca rested her head in the crook of Baloo’s arm with a contented sigh.

Baloo flipped off the lamp beside him. They sat there in comfortable silence, enjoying the lighted tree covered with mismatched ornaments. There were more on the bottom half, because the cubs had decorated that part. The faint aroma of spicy apple pie and turkey mingled with the fragrance of the pine tree. The grandfather clock slowly ticked the seconds away.

Finally, Rebecca said, “That was a memorable Christmas. Not quite what I had in mind when I was rudely awakened this morning,” a scowl briefly crossed her face before turning to a smile, “but it was fun.”

“Yeah? Did ya really have fun, boss lady?” The big bear squeezed her arm with an affectionate grin. “There’s hope for ya yet.”

“Never a dull moment with you, is there?”

“Stick with me, Becky. I’ll take ya places. Just think, sweetheart, next Christmas we’ll have another little one runnin’ around here.”

“Not exactly running. Crawling, maybe.” Rebecca rested her hands on her stomach.

The pilot put a large paw over both of hers. “How’d I get ta be such a lucky so-an’-so?”

“Stick with me, and you’ll go places, Baloo. Speaking of going places...”

Baloo groaned at the all-too-familiar gleam in her eyes. It betokened hard work, a get-rich-quick scheme, or... “Oh, no!”

“Oh, yes! Clearance sales start tomorrow bright and early.”

Baloo reminded, “But, Becky, someone’s gotta watch the kids.”

“Kit can watch Molly,” Rebecca replied calmly.

“The flour shipment?” Baloo said in desperation. He’d rather fly a cargo hold full of boa constrictors to the treacherous land of Ill Booten Gotty on the other side of the world than go shopping. That was how much he hated to shop.

“I’ll have to call the Pillsberry Dough-Boy Company and explain what happened. The only place you’ll be going tomorrow, flyboy, is with me. I need your strong arms.”

“All the better ta carry heavy packages,” Baloo grumbled under his breath. Then, he spied something out of the corner of his eye; something that he’d wanted to do all day. He grabbed her paw and pulled her to her feet. “Come here, Becky. I wanna show ya somethin’.”

Rebecca giggled as she followed him.

Baloo threw open the door. Outside, the moonlight shimmered on the waves and reflected off of the Sea Duck. The sky was spattered with millions of stars. The holiday sounds of Cape Suzette floated across the harbor. A refreshing cool-but-not-cold breeze brushed against their faces and ruffled their hair as they stood in the doorway.

Leaning against her husband with his arms securely about her waist, Rebecca said softly, “Beautiful night. What am I looking at, darling?”

Baloo pointed up. A sprig of mistletoe hung above them. He grinned knowingly down at her.

“Oh,” Rebecca murmured. A slow smile spread across her face. “I guess we have to, Baloo...tradition and all.”

After sharing a kiss, Baloo sneezed. “Ah–ah-ah-ah-choo!” He sniffled and wiped his itchy nose on his sleeve. “Still got flour up my nose.”

“God bless us, everyone,” Wildcat said sincerely as he sidled past the two bears.

Baloo and Rebecca laughed, smooched again, and went inside, shutting the door behind them with the merry tinkle of jingle bells.

The End