Chapter 2:

With Martin:

He woke up hoping the storm had died down enough for him to get back to the Tortuga, but the storm continued raging. He looked in his pack for the rest of his lunch from the day before and soon found it. He ate his breakfast as he watched the storm and he realized that today was Christmas Eve! He wasn't about to let a little storm stop him from being with his brother and friend's for Christmas, so he made sure he had everything before he put the fire out and got ready to leave. Once he was ready he braced himself before he stepped outside, the cold hit him taking his breath away for a few seconds. Once he had adjusted to the cold he began walking the storm pounded against him and each step was a struggle. Unable to walk any further he sadly gave up; returned to his shelter, and stood in the entrance and for the first time in his life he found he hated nature!

Later:

The day wore on and with each passing moment Chris' heart broke a little more! As day turned to night Chris felt like a complete failure as a brother! If only he had gone with Martin he'd be with them now warm, happy, and safe! He gazed at the Christmas tree, its light's casting a beautiful, soft glow over the dark room and he hated it! Christmas was always his favourite holiday, but without his brother…it only made him feel more alone! He was so lost in his thought's he never noticed Aviva had been watching him from the doorway, until she came up to him and wrapped a blanket around his shoulders.

"You looked cold!" She said gently as he looked at her.

"Thanks!" Chris answered as he returned his gaze out the window.

"It doesn't feel like Christmas without Martin running around like a big kid!" Aviva said sighing sadly.

"He's always been like that!" Chris said smiling sadly. "When we were kids every Christmas we'd sneak downstairs and try and wait up to see Santa! I always fell asleep first, then Martin would and in the morning I'd be woken up by him. Even though we both always fell asleep and we never saw Santa we still did it every year!" Chris said.

"Have you guy's always spent Christmas together?" Aviva asked.

"Every year! There was one year though I truly believed he wouldn't be home for Christmas! When I was 10 and Martin was 14, he went away skiing with his best friend, before he left I begged him not to go it was Christmas. He told me to grow up, and he'd be back on New Year's! Christmas morning I woke up and went downstairs and Martin was waiting, he told me he got sick on the trip and had to come home early. I knew better though he seemed fine and was his usual self and I didn't care he was home for Christmas and that's all that mattered to me!" Chris said fighting his tears.

"Chris we will find him, I promise!" Aviva said gently hearing his sadness.

"I'd give anything to have him here with us! I'm scared something's happened to him and I blame myself for not going with him!"

"Chris you can't blame yourself, you didn't know this would happen!"

"No, but at least we'd be together and together we could have figured out a way to get back here!" Chris said upset.

"Chris would he want you to blame yourself?" Aviva asked gently touching his arm.

"I just want my brother home Aviva!" Chris said as the tear's he had been fighting back finally broke free, she held him she didn't speak knowing he needed a friend more than word's of comfort, a few minute's he calmed down and pulled away.

"Thanks Aviva!" Chris said quietly as he wiped away his tears.

"You're welcome CK!" She said gently.

"I just need to know he's okay!"

"Chris this is Martin we're talking about! He's probably waiting out the storm in a cave surrounded by furry, little friends!" Aviva said smiling.

"Yeah, you're right! Thanks again Aviva!" Chris said nudging her lightly. "Its late, you should go to bed!" Chris said yawning, he rubbed his hand's over his face as he sighed he was exhausted, but couldn't sleep until Martin was back with them safe, she spoke.

"You need sleep too CK!"

"I…I can't! Not until Martin's back!"

"Alright…but at least sit down before you fall down?" Aviva asked.

"Okay, deal! Merry Christmas Aviva!" Chris said hugging her.

"Merry Christmas Chris!" She said as she left.

Once alone he brought a chair over, put it in front of the window before he sat down, and covered up as he starred out at the storm. He sighed shakily as the wind picked up shaking the window, his tear's fell silently as he spoke.

"Merry Christmas Martin!"

With Martin:

He stood at the entrance starring out at the storm that had picked up again. He kicked at a rock sending it flying out into the storm; he had tried to leave off and on throughout the day, but had to return to the cave every time unable to see where he was going. The last time he had tried he made it the furthest he ever had, and thought maybe he'd make it, but ended up having to go back when the wind picked up. That had been three hour's ago and he was so frustrated and angry he had been pacing the cave talking out loud to himself for the last half hour! He had even tried his Creature pod trying to make any kind of contact with his brother, knowing Chris was probably going crazy not knowing where he was! He sat down next to the fire feeling defeated, he hated not being able to be with Chris for Christmas, this would be the first one they'd ever been apart! What made it worse was that Chris didn't know he was okay, and he hated knowing how scared Chris would be right now! He took out the box and looked at it, thinking of how because of this piece of wood he was lost in a blizzard! He got so angry he almost threw it into the fire, but stopped knowing he had made it out of love for his brother! He lay down on his pack and put the box on his chest as he began to remember past Christmas' with his brother. Each memory made him smile as his tear's fell silently, he sighed shakily. He remembered how every Christmas they would drink hot chocolate while their father read 'The Night before Christmas' to them! Chris would always want to hear it again, but their father wouldn't and sent them to bed, and once in their room Martin would always read the book to Chris again! He remembered how every Christmas they'd sneak downstairs to wait for Santa, but both of them would fall asleep, Chris first then he'd fall asleep too! He got up and wrapped the box back in the cloth and put it away before wiping his tears away he stood watching the storm. He looked at his watch and realized it was almost midnight, he looked at the storm again as he sighed sadly before he spoke.

"Merry Christmas Chris!"

The Next Day/Christmas Day:

He woke still in his chair, the snow was still falling heavily as he looked out the window Christmas Day was here and Martin wasn't! He didn't want to move, he wanted to sit and cry he didn't know if he'd ever see Martin again and fear gripped his heart! The door's opened and the others came in looking like none of them had slept, Aviva and Koki looked like they had been crying, he stood wrapping the blanket around him as he spoke.

"Merry Christmas guys!"

"Merry Christmas Chris!" All three said together smiling sadly.

"Its still storming out, so I…" Chris couldn't finish as his tear's threatened to fall.

"I'll go make coffee." Jimmy said quietly.

"I'm going to have a shower." Chris said leaving the room.

"Its not Christmas without Martin!" Koki said sadly starring at the Christmas tree. "He has to be okay!" She said crying as Aviva hugged her.

"We're all scared, but we need to be there for Chris he need's us to be strong!"

"You're right Aviva. I'm going to go help Jimmy." Koki said as she left.

Aviva sighed as she went to the window and looked out at the storm and wrapped her arms around herself as she spoke quietly.

"Merry Christmas Martin!"

With Martin:

The storm continued raging as he sat by the fire, he had been up for an hour and he was cold, tired, sad and hungry! He wasn't sure how much longer he could last being stranded in a cave, but he'd keep fighting to get home to his brother! He had hoped when he woke the storm would have blown itself out, or at least died down enough so he could leave, but if anything the storm seemed to have gotten worse! To keep himself from slipping further into his depression he decided to sing Christmas carols. He began to sing out loud, his voice echoing off the cave walls and he smiled to himself and began to sing louder he didn't care there was no one else around to hear him. Awhile later after singing every Christmas carol he knew, and some he made up he felt better and was even more determined to go home despite the storm.

Later:

He must have fallen asleep, he woke up to silence. Confused he sat up and checked his watch it was 5pm, and darkness covered the land. He got up stiffly and headed for the entrance to the cave expecting to see the storm still raging…instead only a gentle snowfall fell. He rubbed his tired eye's to make sure he wasn't imaging it and when he realized it was true he became excited! He went and grabbed his headlight and stepped outside to look around, as he did he suddenly realized where he was and couldn't stop the laughter that escaped him as he realized he was only a two-hour walk south from the Tortuga! He went back inside got his thing's together and put out the fire before he left the cave.

He walked slowly the new snow making his journey home harder adding time to his already long journey. To keep his spirits up he began to once again sing Christmas carols, he was going home and nothing could stop him now! Halfway there he was passing a large snowdrift when he heard a noise, he stopped and listened he heard it again from behind him. He knew that sound; he turned slowly and came face to face with a large, angry polar bear! The bear huffed once before standing on his back paw's and roared, he was hungry and Martin was the perfect snack! He had no time to react before the bear swung a massive paw towards him catching his left arm, ripping through the fabric. Martin fell grabbing his injured arm as began crawling away, the bear roared again still on his back paw's giving Martin second's to get distance between them. He managed to make it to his feet and began running he wasn't sure where he could go in the middle of nowhere, but he had to find somewhere or he was going to be the bear's dinner! He suddenly saw some tree's ahead of him so he picked up his pace, made it to the trees ahead of the bear, and began climbing. The bear was right behind him and swung his paw again just missing Martin's leg. He kept climbing despite the pain from his arm; finally he couldn't climb any longer and sat back on the branch to see the angry bear trying to get to him. After a few minute's the bear stopped and looked behind him and spotted a seal out on the ice and decided that it would be an easier dinner than Martin and it left. Once Martin was sure it was gone he looked around and smiled realizing he was still going the right way. He carefully climbed down before he began to walk home keeping an eye out for his new friend.

With Chris:

After his shower he had once again taken up his vigil by the window, Jimmy had brought him coffee neither speaking as they starred out the window. Off and on throughout the day the other's would come and keep him company, sometimes they talked most of the time though they just sat in silence lost in their own thought's. Chris was scared they'd never find Martin, and he wasn't sure he was strong enough to carry on without him! The pain and fear took hold of every part of him, and all he wanted to do was cry, but knew he needed to be strong for the other's, but especially for Martin! Finally as darkness fell Chris watched as the storm turned into a gentle snowfall! Unsure if it was a trick his tired mind was playing on him he rubbed his eye's and happily spoke.

"It…it stopped!" Chris yelled standing, as the other's joined him.

"I'll check the area for cave's and upload them to your Creature pod!" Koki said smiling as she rushed to her computer. "It'll help in your search!"

"Thanks Koki! I'm going to grab my pack and get into my gear on, I'll be ready to go in 15 minute's!" Chris said as he quickly left the room.

He was ready to go, he just needed the map from Koki they refused to let him go without it, not wanting to lose him too and he agreed. Only now he had been waiting an hour for the map to be ready, and he was becoming impatient! Finally as the storm began to pick up again Koki came and handed him his pod as she spoke.

"Done! That'll help make your search easier and faster!" She said smiling.

"Great! Thanks Koki!" Chris said hugging her before he quickly headed for the door, she looked out the window and thought she saw something so she spoke quickly.

"Wait! There's something outside!" Koki said as Aviva and Jimmy joined her.

"Its probably just an animal! I'll contact…" Aviva cut him off.

"Wait…I see it too! Its…its not an animal! Its coming towards us!"

"I really have to go guys!" Chris pleaded. "Its just…" Jimmy cut him off.

"ITS MARTIN!" He yelled excitedly.

"What?" Chris asked rushing to the window and through the snow that fell he saw the familiar form of Martin coming towards the Tortuga. "MARTIN!" Chris yelled.

Chris raced for the front door's followed by the others; they ran outside with Chris in the lead, he called out to Martin who heard him. Martin began running too, and Chris met him halfway and he hugged him so tight both crying as they clung to each other. Neither let go for a few second's until Chris did so the other's could hug him too, only to hug him again once the other's had, Martin smiling spoke to him.

"Can't breathe bro! You're choking me!" Martin said laughing.

"Crap…sorry bro!" Chris said smiling as he let him go, he noticed Martin holding his left arm and that's when he saw the blood. "You're hurt Martin!" Chris said as he gently examined his arm. "What happened?"

"I had a little problem with a polar bear!" Martin answered wincing as he moved his arm.

"Problem?" Jimmy asked.

"Yeah, he wanted to make me his dinner!" Martin explained.

"Come on let's go inside so you can get warm!" Aviva said smiling.

An hour later Martin had had a hot shower and changed before Aviva checked his arm he required 20 stitches to fix it. After he was fixed up he sat beside Chris as they drank coffee and he told them all about his adventure. Aviva smiled as she watched the brother's laughing at something Jimmy said, then she looked at the Christmas tree, curious she looked at her watch and happily spoke to them.

"Hey! Its still Christmas!"

"She's right its only 10:45pm!" Chris said smiling. "You were here for Christmas after all Martin!"

"I haven't missed one yet…not even a blizzard could keep me away!" Martin answered.

"There's still present's to open guy's!" Jimmy said smiling as he went to the tree, Martin and Chris smiled before Martin spoke.

"After what happened I've realized the best gift we all got this year was that we were together for Christmas!" Martin said.

"I agree! No other gift can compare to that!" Chris added smiling.

"Does this mean you two want to give your gifts to me?" Jimmy asked smiling.

"Not a chance JZ! Come on Santa Jimmy hand out those gifts!" Chris said as Martin suddenly remembered his gift for Chris, he went and got it out of his pack and sat beside Chris and gave it to him.

"Merry Christmas Chris!" Martin said as Chris unwrapped it.

"Did…did you make this?" Chris asked looking at the box.

"Yeah, do you like it?" Martin asked.

"I love it Martin, thank you!" Chris said hugging him. "Wait…you got lost because of my gift didn't you?" Chris asked.

"Yeah, but it was worth it to see how much you love it!" Martin answered.

"Here MK, this is from Chris!" Aviva said smiling giving him his gift, he opened it.

"Did you make this?" Martin asked gently as he looked at the album and DVD, Chris nodded smiling. "I love it Chris, thank you!"

Awhile later after all the gift's had been opened all five of them loving their gift's, Chris stood off to the side by himself as he watched the other's laughing and singing carols. He thought about how close he came to losing Martin, and he was so grateful that he still had his brother to love! He glanced out the window at the storm that had started up again and shivered, he was brought back to reality when a hand touched his shoulder, he turned smiling to find Martin standing with him Martin spoke.

"You okay bro?" Martin asked.

"I' am now!" Chris answered. "I was just thinking of how I almost lost you!"

"It'll take more than a little blizzard to keep me from coming back to you Chris! You're my brother and nothing can keep us from each other!"

"I love you Martin!" Chris said as he hugged Martin.

"I love you too Chris!"

"Come on Kratt brother's let's sing some more carols?" Aviva said smiling.

"We're coming guys!" Martin said smiling as they rejoined them.

As they sang Chris looked at Martin who met his eye's and winked before turning his attention to the other's Chris smiled knowing that being with the other's and having Martin back really were the greatest gift's they could have received!

THE END!