Back? # **Chapter Title** *Timestamp* *Music: Magic - Lindsey Stirling ft. David Archuleta* Mercury awoke in the cold dead heart of the night, pulse pounding through his ribcage. When Nikolas’ sleigh crashed, the travellers’ luggage crashed with it. And that luggage contained unwrapped presents meant to go under the tree that morning. Carefully slipping from beneath a sleeping Astral’s arm wrapped lovingly around his waist, he crept out of his girlfriend’s bedroom. Once he escaped, she was still snoring like a chainsaw, so he figured he was in the clear. He tiptoed past Sydney and Clara’s rooms and silently cursed himself once he stepped on a creaky floorboard near the guest room currently occupied by Nuro and Burgundy. Fortunately, they were out cold. Spencer, Mirina, and Pyx had returned to their homes for the night for a few hours of sleep before the next morning’s gift exchange. Willow was resting at Jinx’s lab as an extra precaution in case her condition took a turn for the worse. The only other guest at the Autumns’ house was Fileran, but that man could sleep through the apocalypse if left alone. Finally, Mercury made it to the living room. As soon as he gingerly opened the door and peered through the darkness, he gave a deep sigh of relief. Nikolas was right: he had nothing to fear after all. The Paladin had kept his word and taken care of everything. The gifts were impeccably wrapped and organized on the heirloom crocheted tree skirt, and every suitcase was present and accounted for in the dining room. Sitting on the table was the enchanted sphere of ice, now mounted to a polished wooden pedestal. Its surface was buffed to a mirrorlike shine, with miniature figurines of the heroes nestled inside. The orb glowed with a cool, gentle light, granting the sculpture an air of beauty and power. There was a note on the coffee table between the globe and the now-empty plate of cookies the heroes had ‘left out for Santa.’ Mercury grinned. The trophy was a perfect tribute to the night, one he was sure the friends would treasure forever. He was excited for the others to discover it. But, it could wait until morning. He settled back to sleep for the rest of this silent night, knowing everything was calm and right once more.