"Shhh, gimme a minute," said Molly, forcing a grin to cover the tense feeling in her gut. They were perched precariously on a treetop, overlooking the bustling street below. The tantalizing hum of the approaching children's party climaxed in, "Fish and Chips. Fish and Chips." "The beat must really be grabbing the kids," chuckled Bill in soft delicious tones as he carefully balanced a small and seemingly harmless box. "They are going to clutter the treasure trove." Molly's eyes sparkled like fireflies, her heightened anticipation contrasting the hushed stillness that paired with the precipitous jutting of branches beneath their feet. "You're right, it should be extra juicy. Let's put those gifts to good use, Bill." Bill pursed his lips, then slowly nodded. "Yeah, it's going to feel like winning a golden Christmas egg…a tangible reward, after all we've been through." As shadows lengthened and the evergreen silhouettes loosened their grasp on the snow-laced terrain, clumsy laughter and silly song replaced the cacophonous rhythm. The children had unknowingly sealed their own fate, as the earth down below trembled with the stepped-up jingling of bells that also marked their time to prevail. They were determined. They would take it all - of this, they were sure.