Molly adjusted her disguise, a plump sleigh haircut matched with a tiny Santa hat—silver foil underneath skipped the ginger tidbits from earlier. "Bill, this is it. The party's rehearsal today, and we'll hit during the cake cutting ceremony." Bill slipped a slim blade hidden in his cuff to fix his cufflinks, glinting under the opulent chandelier. "I second that. We should make our entry undetectable. Maybe a superhero theme? They're not expecting the Jolly Gadget Jocks." "The jokes will be on us," Molly chuckled, popping a candy into her mouth. "A mask won't fool them if I trip on my own sleigh, though." "We'll keep our feet on the line, Cap'n Molly." Bill tossed her a playful salute. "Now, snag your shoes because we'll need to make quick stealthy footsteps." Pondering over step-by-step plans, Bill tapped a blueprint of the house with his boot toe. "Stick to plan B. We circle around back. I'll distract the nanny with a staged soccer accident." Molly pulled out a tiny megaphone, hoisting it like a wand. "All bricks and no joy. And I won't have you kicking up dust validating our suntan." "Then it's settled: I'll be the ringleader dribbling away an imaginary soccer ball. You, the philanthropist muggle who just congratulates the magician on his next trick," Bill let loose with a grin. Laughing at the juxtaposition of their roles, Molly playfully clapped. "Darling thief, let nothing spoil our con. Time to test perfect our feigned innocence." As the party's ambient noise swelled—children's cheers, laughter, and a melodious Christmas carol—their cue emerged. Bill wove through the waves of toddlers, sending a little elf running with a faux bump. Molly, in her impressive diversion, snatched up a sleigh horn. "Listen, the toy trucks are our signal." Bill pressed his peek-a-boo grin in her direction. "Underneath presents the treasures whisper. Avoid the veggie platters they scream." Decorations echoed the memory of their impending treasure hunt while they synchronized their internal clocks to the children's game tunes. Entering room after room, they quickly identified the boxes marked 'A.M.A.Z.' for Animals, Mechanics, Aliens, and Zero—Molly's ultimate favorite. "We're on it," Molly whispered, after popping two magnetic car toys and an astronaut helmet onto her back. Later, during the turning skirts and giggles of costume contests, they made their comeback, exchanging silent nods. "Up yours and under the tree, partner." Molly tipped her hat to Bill. "Likewise," he grinned, shrugging as they resumed their reclaimed trophy poses. Leaving the scene with undetectable grace, they kicked off their boots in aroma-rich lilac, stashing their feathery booty. Bill tossed Molly's sleigh-hairpack into the night. "Next one, Molly. You've tickled me where it counts." With a shared shadow in the golden streetlight, they executed quiet departure. Periodic check-ins would confirm their success, with celebrations and laughter set to follow.