Chapter Seventeen: Before Midnight

Sasha's POV

Christmas Eve morning, Togo and I headed back to the workshop with a potion in hand. As long as I could turn it into a tea before sunrise and she drank it before midnight, Allie would wake up to morning human. It would be able to turn her human while being able to keep her own magical abilities if she chooses to practice magic. It would essentially make her like any other child born to a human Santa. If we had gone to Mother Nature, she would have just turned her human and split up her abilities between Heidi and I and neither of us really need more power than we already have.

"Wait out here." I told Togo when we reached the kitchen, "I'll be out as soon as I can." I then headed into the kitchen to brew the tea.

Allie's POV

Christmas Eve morning, I headed to see Quinton if there was anything left to help with on the finishing touches on the sled.

"Alessandra, good to see you." Quinton greeted, "Did the kitchen get the cookie and hot cocoa order we sent through for the sleigh?"

"Yes, it will be done today a few hours before takeoff so that they're fresh." I answered, "I'm surprised no other food orders were put through, that's not a lot to go on for that long of a trip."

"That you might want to address with Bernard, he's the one who puts in those orders."

I nodded and then changed the subject, "Is there anything I can help with around here?"

"Unless you know how to weld."

"Can't say that I do." I shrugged, "But I'll make sure that order gets into the sleigh along with something slightly more substantial." I turned on my heel and then headed down to the kitchen.

When I got to the kitchen, the counters were a mess.

"That's not how I left you last night." I commented before cleaning the kitchen, it wasn't the first time I was cleaning up someone else's mess. Sasha didn't know how to clean to save her life.

Sasha's POV

After I finished with the tea, I headed to Wrapping with Togo to get some ribbon. If this was to be her gift, it should look like one. I picked out a light green ribbon and tied it around the vile, which covered its contents. Then, we headed to Bernard's office, where Bernard and Scott were sitting discussing navigation and what to send to Norad for the Santa Tracker.

"So that's legit?" I asked Bernard, bringing notice to our appearance in the room.

"It is," Bernard answered, "We have a team of Elves who work there and run the system." He then changed the subject, "What brings you in, Sasha? I thought you were working on-"

"I have been, but I wanted to give Scott something." I held up the vial, "As promised, here is that little piece of magic you need."

Scott smiled, "You were able to do it?"

I shrugged, "What can I say? I walked the path of the Jedi and it led to what I need."

Scott laughed as I handed him the vial, "I should have known you were a Star Wars fan." He looked down at the vial, "Any specific reason for the lightsaber green?"

"Instinct."

"Instinct." Scott nodded, "Thank you for doing this." He looked down at Togo, "I see you made a friend in the meantime."

"Every magical being deserves a familiar," I looked down at Togo, "And it seemed like Togo needed someone too."

"Togo?" Scott repeated, Togo looked up at him, "That's an interesting name."

"He was named after a heroic sledding dog from Alaska."

"It's a good name." Scott replied, "Thank you for this," He referenced the vial, "I'll make sure to give it to her before I leave."

"She needs to drink it before midnight." I warned.

"She will." Scott assured.

"We'll have to find someone who can take her in."

"Let me take care of that."

I nodded, "I'll be around if you need me, we'll be heading back later tonight."

"You living there now?" Bernard asked.

"I don't know." I responded, "I'm still considering it, I might."

Allie's POV

A couple of hours before Scott's take off as Santa, we had everything together in the kitchen. The cookies, which were in a variety of five (chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, shortbread, sugar, and molasses), and hot cocoa were sent to Quinton for the cookie cocoa dispenser. A basket was also sent that contained fried chicken tenders, salami and cheese sliders, chips, popcorn (cheese and caramel), apples, celery, a container of peanut butter, and travel bottles of water and lemonade. The Christmas Eve dinner was prepared for the elves and it'll be ready by the time they get off. The kitchen elves had it more than taken care of. Knowing I wasn't needed, I headed to the stables to where the sleigh was being prepared.

"Thought you'd be in the kitchen." Scott commented as he walked over to me.

"Thought you'd be getting ready."

"Wanted to give you this first." He responded, holding up a small box with a little green ribbon and a glass object attached to it, "Everyone deserves a gift on Christmas."

"Tomorrow's Christmas." I said as he handed me the gift.

"I know." Scott replied, "I'll see you tomorrow."

I looked down at the gift and started to pull at the green ribbon. The little glass bottle slipped into my hand as the ribbon fell off the package. I held up the bottle, checking out its contents, which looked to be a liquid of some sort. I opened the package to find the doll I had been admiring before. Attached to the bottle was a little note, 'Drink before midnight.'