"What's the matter mate?" Colin asked as he approached a glum Jeffrey Wigand.

"Remember how I asked you to watch the bar so I could get ready for Wendy's arrival?" he asked in reply.

"Yeah, and you look nice mate, so what's the problem?"

"Look around you. Do you see any Wendy?" Jeffrey replied sardonically.

"Oh, yeah, sorry, I guess my mind's a bit too distracted to think logically, what with all the festivities. I'm sure she'll be right along any time now," Colin said, trying to reassure him.

"I hope you're right," was all Jeffrey said.

Colin continued on into the Tavern, where he saw Michelle waiting for him at the bar. He told her about Jeffrey sitting outside, waiting for Wendy.

"I hope she comes soon," Michelle said, "It's getting uncharacteristically cold tonight."

"Jeff! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be off with Wendy somewhere, getting in some quality time?" John Beibe asked as he patted Jeffrey on the shoulder.

Instead of replying, Jeffrey just slumped a little more and took a seat at the bar.

Colin leaned over the bar and told John that Wendy had yet to arrive.

"I only came in to get out of the snow," Jeffrey told them.

"Snow!" Colin exclaimed. "I don't think we've ever had snow at the Nest before. Hey everybody! Take a look outside. Jeffrey says it's snowing!"

Everyone in the bar crowded to the windows to get a glimpse of the winter wonderland it had turned into outside. Just then a soft jingling could be heard coming from the outside.

"What could that be?" Tina asked. "Isn't it a little early in the evening for Santa and his reindeer?"

"No, it's not Santa," said Max, "but it is a gift for someone in here," he said as he walked over to the bar, now occupied only by Jeffrey.

"Jeffrey, perhaps you would like to come and see what has arrived?"

"No thank you, Max. I think I'll just sit here with my drink. Seems like I'll be spending another Christmas alone with a bottle of bourbon," Jeffrey told him.

"You won't be alone if you go outside and see who just got here," Max said with a grin on his face.

"Jeffrey, I think you're really going to like this surprise," Laura chimed in from across the room.

"Alright, I'm coming."

Jeffrey rose up off his barstool and started walking towards the windows. When he saw what was outside his pace quickened. When he got outside a smile broke out across his face.

"Wendy!" he called out.

"Hi Jeffrey! Sorry it took me so long to get here, but as you can see, I wasn't using a conventional mode of transportation," she laughed as she climbed down off of the sleigh she had arrived in.

She walked towards the lead horse and patted his neck. Two great Shire horses were harnessed to the sleigh. She produced a carrot from her pocket and fed it to the one closest to her, while rubbing his nose. The one next to him got a sugar cube.

"Um, are you sure you're okay with those horses? Maybe I should get East to come out and helpÉ" Jeffrey questioned, but Wendy turned and smiled at him.

"They may be huge, but they're really very gentle horses. And, they need to get moving again, or they're going to have problems. Come on with you, up in the sleigh. I have a surprise!" With that, Wendy hopped up into the sleigh, and held out her hand towards Jeffrey.

"Well, if you say it's okay." Jeffrey pulled himself into the sleigh, and then wrapped a heavy blanket in the seat around Wendy and himself. With a wave to the onlookers, they were off.