Okay. I seriously hate to say this, but this is the final chapter! I can't believe it! This went so fast! This is actually my first completed Newsies multi-chapter story! So, applause to me on that, but I didn't want this to end! This is absolutely one of my favorite stories. I hope you all liked to read it as much as I liked to write it. And thanks so much for all the support you've given me especially considering I haven't officially seen the show yet!

But I could not be more excited for this ending! As Jesse from Pitch Perfect said, "The ending's the best part" In this case, there's never been a more true statement in the history of the world. This is my favorite ending to a movie/story ever! Hope you all like it! And merry 4 days until Christmas!

A shrill voice shattered the happy moment, "I absolutely despise happy endings!"

Katherine froze at the voice. A gasp filled the air from the crowd as Jack wrapped his arms around her. He clutched her close to his chest and at that moment, she was glad for the comfort. That voice. It was the same one that sent a chill down her spine. The same one who had cast so many spells against her and Jack. She would know it anywhere. But it couldn't be. They were gone. There's no possible way that they could have come back. Her brown eyes widened as she looked up and saw the one thing she had prayed it wasn't. Primm was circling in the sky above them and on his back, now mouse-sized, were… the Delancies! Katherine couldn't believe her eyes. Last time she'd seen them, they had jumped into the sewer. How could they possibly be back? Jack tightened his grip on her slightly. She gripped the front of his shirt like it was her life line.

Suddenly, Primm swooped down towards the couple, carrying the Delancies with him. Just as Primm reached them, Jack threw her and himself to the ground, the bat barely grazing them. They heard the Delancies evil laugh as he was helping her up. He didn't know why they would think they had won. It was then that he looked at Katherine's throat. The locket was gone! His eyes darted up to the flying rodents. Dangling from Morris' grubby little paw, whipping around in the wind, was Katherine's golden heart locket! Oscar grabbed the charm out of the air. Clicking it open, golden sparkles shot out from the heart.

"No!" Katherine and Jack yelled at the same time.

"He's not gonna get away with that." Racer said through gritted teeth. Holding out his hand, the snow fairies formed a perfect snowball in his palm. He threw the snowball and it hit Primm straight in the chest. The bat froze midair and started falling to the ground.

"Primm!" Oscar shouted, shaking Primm's ears that he was using as reins.

"Primm, flap you idiot!" Morris cried as they plummeted to the ground below.

The gold sparkles landed on Katherine solely and within an instant, her form started to shimmer. "Katherine!" Jack shouted at her half-disappeared form. She was vanishing so fast, he could already see the ground behind her. He reached for her hand but all his hand met was air. It shattered his heart to watch her disappear right before his eyes without any idea how to reverse it.

"Jack." She spoke. Her doe brown eyes locked with his chocolate brown ones. She didn't want to leave him. Not after all they'd been through. It split her heart in two to see him, helpless to bring her back into the life she truly wanted to stay in.

"Katherine." He said, his voice filled with the heartbreak he was experiencing. As soon as the name left his mouth, she disappeared completely. He dropped to his knees in total and utter despair. There was one thing he never got to say to her, but all he could do was whisper it to the empty air in front of him where she had stood not a minute before, "I love you."

The grandfather clock chimed the hour, shocking Katherine awake. She slowly took in her surroundings. She was back in her living room. Back on the couch in her nightgown where she had fallen asleep. Back to her normal human height. Had the entire adventure truly been a dream? But if it was a dream, then why were the ornaments that the Delancies had broken still lying shattered on the ground? Wait. She sat up on the couch. Looking around, she couldn't see the red shirt and brunette hair she had grown to truly love. "Nutcracker?" She called, mostly to herself. She picked up the pillow. No Jack. She looked under the couch. No Jack. Tears burned at the back of her eyes. She truly had lost him for good. She would never see him again.

"It's about time you got up." Her father's voice said from the doorway. She looked up to see him sauntering into the room to check on her. He finally took notice of the broken ornaments. "Seems the mice had a party of their own last night."

"It wasn't a party! It was a war!" Katherine corrected, coming up to face Joe, eyes blazing, "The nutcracker was fighting the mouse kings! One of them shrunk me with a golden scepter!"

Joe simply scoffed at her tale. "I've never heard such a story. Even from your aunt."

"It's not a story!" Katherine insisted, "It really happened!"

Suddenly, Tommy rushed past them, calling, "Time to open presents!"

Katherine stopped him, grabbing him by the shoulders and bending down to be eye level with her younger brother. "Tommy, did you take my nutcracker?" She demanded.

Tommy eyed her curiously, almost as if she had gone off the deep end. "No. Why would I want him?" He questioned, "He's just a hunk of wood."

"You're wrong!" Katherine defended. She never wanted anyone to say that about Jack, especially after what he had proven to all of Parthenia. He didn't deserve that kind of treatment, even when he was wood. "Aunt Marie was right! He's really a king! Two evil mouse brothers were ruling his land!" She stood up again and faced her father, desperate for either one of them to believe her. "The mice had a bat who stole my locket and forced me back here!"

"What's all this foolishness?" Joe demanded. He examined Katherine, pressing the back of his hand to her forehead. "Maybe I should call for a doctor."

Just as Katherine pushed his hand from her face, she heard Aunt Marie's voice from the doorway. "And this is where I grew up." She explained to someone in the hallway.

As soon as she stepped into the room, Katherine rushed up to her, "Aunt Marie, have you seen my…" She stopped midsentence when she set eyes on the person Marie was talking to. She would know those chocolate brown eyes and that amazing smile anywhere. Jack. He walked into the room, finely dressed in a tailored suit with his hands clasped behind his back like a true gentleman. Like a true prince. Pinned to his lapel was the midnight blue flower he had given her in the valley. Knowing she looked foolish not finishing her sentence she said breathlessly, "Nutcracker."

Jack's smile grew at the sight of the auburn-haired girl who held his heart in the palm of her hand. Katherine blushed under his gaze and shyly tucked a stray lock behind her ear, smiling at the mere sight of him. She couldn't believe he was here. Standing in front of her when only a few minutes ago, she was ready to break down and sob for weeks about never seeing him again. Marie's voice broke the couple's trains of thought, "Look who I ran into while I was on my morning stroll." She placed a hand on Jack's shoulder and gestured to each of the family members in turn, "Uncle Joseph, Tommy, Katherine, this is Jack. The son of a dear friend of mine.

Jack gently took Katherine's hand in his. The familiar warmth and touch sent tingles all through Katherine's body. "It's a pleasure to… meet you." He smirked secretly at her as he dipped his head and placed a soft kiss on the back of her hand. She swore her heart sped up at the simple gesture.

"Such familiarity." Joe muttered at the couple. "In my day we would've never…"

Marie cut him off, "I've already taken the liberty of asking Jack to stay for Christmas dinner."

Joe took a sentence to recover. They had only met this man a few minutes ago and he was already invited to dinner? "But that is…"

"Wonderful idea." Katherine finished, not taking her eyes off Jack. He squeezed her hand lightly.

Marie smiled at the pair. It was only a matter of time, she thought to herself as she took in the sight of Katherine's smile and his hand locked with hers. Joe, knowing he couldn't argue with Katherine when she set her mind to something (she had gotten her stubbornness from her mother), sighed and started towards the kitchen, absent-mindedly saying, "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have the young man stay for dinner."

Knowing Katherine and Jack would want a moment alone, Marie went over and grabbed Tommy's arm. "But what about the presents?" He whined as she dragged him out of the room to give the couple their peace.

For a few moments, Katherine and Jack were silent, taking in the sight of each other. A few stray tears of joy leaked through Katherine's eyelashes and rolled down her cheeks. Jack cupped her cheek with his free hand and brushed the tears away with his thumb. He slowly leaned down and captured her lips. Her eyelids fluttered closed as she melted in his arms. He kissed her slowly and gently, with all the love and passion he knew she returned. The feeling of Jack's lips against her sent her heart racing. Both could feel the same sparks and heat that had been there when she accepted to be his queen. Reluctantly, they pulled away when air became necessary. Opening up her palm, he placed the delicate golden chain and heart in her hand.

"May I have this dance?" He asked quietly.

She smiled as he turned her around and clasped the necklace around her neck. He reached down and grasped one of her hands in his, lacing their fingers together. When she answered him, her voice was little more than a breathless whisper, "I couldn't say no to the king."

With a laugh, he used their locked hands to spin her around. Until dinner was called, they spent the rest of the evening dancing, laughing and yes, occasionally kissing. Jack couldn't begin to describe the feeling of having Katherine dancing with him again. When she disappeared right in front of him, he thought he would never see her again. But here she was. Laughing and smiling with him. Where she belonged. He would never have to live a day without seeing her beautiful features or hearing her angelic voice. She was right here, dancing her graceful ballet with him. She was home. She couldn't believe it. He was here. Twirling her around just as he did in the palace courtyards moments before asking her to stay and be his queen. She couldn't begin to describe her happiness. Dancing with Jack made Katherine feel like she was back in Parthenia. She was back in her magnificent dress and she was the Sugarplum Princess who was about to become Prince Kelly's queen again. But to her, it didn't matter if they were in a magical landscape or in her living room within earshot of her father and aunt. All that mattered was that she was in Jack's arms again. And she would never have to lose the feeling ever again.

Okay. I seriously CAN NOT get enough of that ending! I absolutely love it and for those of you who have not watched the Barbie version, you can now see why I eagerly await Christmas Eve to watch it again. That and it's Christmas Eve! Who doesn't wait for that all year long? Also, congratulations to me! I finished my first Newsies multi-chapter! *cue applause* Thank you, thank you! I'll be here all week. Anyways, I hope you all liked this story and please, please, PLEASE leave a review with your thoughts! It could be your Christmas present to me. And now...

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Quote of the Day: Christmas, my child, is love in action –Dale Evans Rogers

Song Suggestion: My Song For You –Bridgit Mendler (ft. Shane Harper)