"I just wish you'd come back, Bernard! I miss you! And, what with everything that is happening, I don't know what to do anymore! Everything's a mess! We need you, B! I need you!"
    Rose broke down into tears. All of a sudden, she felt a hand stroking her back. She looked up to see Bernard standing there, a small gentle smile on his face, as he began stroking her face just as gently.
    "B, you're here?"
    "I'd never leave you, Snowflake. You're my everything, my world, my life, my wife...how could I leave you?"
    "It was all my fault, B. I should've been more careful. Maybe you wouldn't have--"
    He placed a finger to her lips. "Shh! I'm here now. So don't worry."
    She nodded before launching herself into his arms. "I missed you so much."
    He chuckled. "I know. Now I need you to do me a favor and just wake up."
    "What?"
    "Wake up!"
    Rose jolted awake with a start. That dream had felt so real! It was almost as if Bernard was actually there, speaking to her. What was even going on anymore?
    She looked over to where Bernard was still laying in his coma. He looked like he could've just been sleeping. She sighed. She knew it was all her fault he was here yet she still missed him. She really could use him right about now. They all could.
    Taking a deep breath, she turned to leave when a hand suddenly reached out and grabbed her. She turned to find that Bernard was still sleeping but his hand was wrapped tightly around her wrist.
    "B?" She whispered.
    He didn't move an inch yet still his hand remained around her wrist. She couldn't believe it! He may not have woken up but he moved. That had to be a good sign!
    After a few minutes, his grip slackened and she got up from her spot on his bed and walked to the door. She stopped to see if he'd move again but he was still. Sighing, she walked out the door.
                         * * * * *
    Meanwhile, Scott got called away from the in-laws because of trouble in the workshop.
    Rose surfaced a few minutes later in time to see the giant mess in the workshop. "What in the world happened?!" She shouted, rushing to help clean up.
    "It's a great big failure in the motherboard!" Santa shouted. "We gotta reroute or shut this thing down! Somebody get some scissors over here!"
    Rose snapped up a pair of scissors and began cutting through the mess. Santa noticed trouble in another section and ran off to fix it.
                           * * * * *
    Meanwhile, Jack Frost what was doing his idea of entertaining the in-laws. After fixing something for Silvia, he began chatting with her, mostly flirting. His mind was mainly on Rose but, since she had disappeared after lunch, he had turned to putting other parts of his plan in action.
    After getting Silvia to sing a song for him, he clapped his hands in excitement, bragging to Carol about how amazing her mother was. "Would ya like to be my elf?" He asked.
    "What?"
    "You heard me."
    At that moment, the oven caught on fire and Bud rushed forward to put it out, yelling at the elves about Armageddon.
    "I'LL GET A MOP!" Jack yelled, rushing off.
    "Dad, you did great!" Carol said.
    At that moment, Laura, Neil, and Lucy came running in to greet the others.
    "Hi! You're awake!" Neil said to the in-laws.
    "Who are you?"
    "Mom and dad, this is Scott's ex-wife Laura and her husband, Neil, and their daughter, Lucy. They're here to visit for the holidays! Isn't that great?"
    "Well if you're ok with Scott being so close to his ex-wife and you don't find that incredibly threatening..." Silvia said.
    That's when Rose showed up. "Oh mom! Neil!" She ran to hug them. "Where have you been?"
    "Oh here and there." Laura said softly.
    "Mr. and Mrs. Newman, did you meet my mom and stepdad yet?"
    "We were just introduced, dear." Silvia said.
    "Why are they even here?!" Bud asked angrily.
    "If you must know, they're here for me. I am a pregnant woman with a right to see her mom and extended family if she wishes."
    "Sure, right while you flirt with your dad's workers as well, right?"
    Rose was about to make a witty retort when Scott suddenly reappeared. "Hi, gang! I'm back!" He noticed the tension in the room as well as the oven that was still smoking. "Whoa! What happened?"
     That's when Jack decided to show up, mop in hand. "Oh nothing much except you didn't tell your in-laws about your ex-wife staying over for Christmas!"
     "More secrets." Scott was saved the trip of answering by something else breaking. "Nothing works in this joint!"
     Jack added, "If you think this is bad, you should see the delivery room!"
     "What? I wanna see the delivery room!"
                             * * * * *
     "Watch it." Scott warned.
     "What is going on in here?" Rose found herself asking.
     "This is the delivery room? This is not a delivery room! This is a disaster area!" He began complaining about the size of the delivery room, adding, "You can't deliver a baby in here, let alone three!" He turned to his daughter. "Carol, you can tell me. Are you being held here against your will?"
    "No!" She protested.
    "I don't even know what to believe anymore! Rose, are you even his daughter?"
    Rose's face grew as red as her hair and she threw her step-grandfather a devil look. "I'm not even gonna dignify that with a response."
    With that, she spun on her heel and walked off. It wasn't more than a minute before she realized someone was following her. Turning around, she punched the person in the face.
    "Ow! What in the name of snowfall on Christmas Eve was that for?" Shouted Jack Frost.
     "Jack, what are you doing? I am not in the mood!"
     "Clearly." He sassed.
     "I just need a break." She said, starting to walk off.
     "Is there anything I can do to help?" He asked, innocently. "I can be very helpful." He said, leaning in to kiss her.
     Before he could, however, she pushed him away. "Stop flirting with me, Frostface! What is your problem?!"
     A sudden thought occurred to her. "I have to go!"
     Then she ran off, the same thought chasing itself inside her mind: Jack was the reason all this was happening! He had been manipulating her the whole time and she felt so stupid for falling for it!
    Now, she just had to find a way to stop him before he convinced her dad to invoke the Escape Clause!
    Jack stood where she left him, an angry look crossing his face along with the one thought he knew to be true: She knew exactly what he was doing! So he'd have to get her out the way before she stopped him!