”This isn’t Anaheim.”

Walt tugged the collar of his jacket tighter against his neck as soft, white snowflakes drifted across his vision. A sense of wonderment filled his mind as the confusion from the abrupt transition dissipated. One minute he was in his office at the Studio, the next he was in some kind of dark tunnel with a curtain of white in front of and behind him.

Wolf took an unobtrusive step closer to make sure Walt was all right. As far as he knew, the trips through time were now fairly painless. Before Omah had showed him a different way to travel, the swirling vortex he always used had been dizzying, disorienting, and usually ended by being unceremoniously dumped onto a cold, wet riverbank. Plus, as an added bonus, he could choose to come out the other end as a man or a full-grown wolf.

Other than his wide, wondering eyes, Walt seemed fine. He had clung to Wolf’s arm as instructed, expecting to disappear in a shining, shimmering mass of pink sparkles. Now that they were at the apparent end of the trip—or more correctly, the beginning of something spectacular—he was eager to get moving. It was getting colder by the moment.

“What gave it away, Walt? I wanted to surprise you.”

Before Walt could reply, someone riding a small scooter appeared out of the snowflakes. It was Omah, wheeling into the tunnel to greet the two men.

“What happened to your legs?” Concern overcame Walt’s eagerness as he hurried over to her.

“Oh, I’m fine, Walt. This is for you. We have a lot of walking to do and thought this would help.” Omah got off the bright red, three-wheeled mobility scooter and motioned for Walt to take the seat.

He balked. The glance he shot at Wolf was less-than-cooperative. “I’m quite capable of walking, Wolf, and you know it. I’m not an invalid yet.”

“Never said you were, Boss.” Wolf knew he had to tread carefully. “As you said, this isn’t Anaheim. Out of concern for how tired you’ve been, we thought this would help. We just wanted you to be able to see everything. That’s all. We literally have a lot of ground to cover. There’s a heated blanket to go over your legs that’s plugged into the battery of the scooter. As you already saw, it’s snowing.”

“Give it a try, Walt. It’s actually fun. If you don’t use it, I will.”

Wolf and Omah were each on the receiving end of a glare as Walt tried to keep from rubbing his hands together to warm them. “Heated blanket, huh? How come you brought me to the Arctic? What does this have to do with Disneyland?” Without waiting for an answer, he tentatively sat down on the black leather seat, still warm from Omah. The controls were simple enough to figure out as he wheeled back and forth a few times and then did a complete circle around the couple. Like a kid with a new toy, a smile overtook the frown he had been sporting. “Hey, this is kinda fun! Where’s that blanket you promised me?”

Crisis averted, Omah helped tuck the blanket around Walt’s legs. Just as the warmth started to seep into his legs, a whistle sounded above them. A familiar whistle that echoed through their arched space.

Walt let out a loud, “Ha! I know that whistle. That’s the C. K. Holliday! Thought you said this wasn’t California. So, what happened to California’s weather in the future? How’d it get messed up so badly that it’s snowing?”

“That probably is the C. K. Holliday. But, this isn’t California. Come on this way, Walt. And take that scooter off Bunny Speed.” Wolf pointed at a small, gray knob on the right side of the control panel. “Put it on Turtle. We don’t want to run all day to keep up with you.”

A crowd of people suddenly entered their tunnel and ignored the threesome as they headed toward the other end, the same one Wolf had just indicated. Walt watched them go by and could see eagerness and anticipation on each and every one of their faces. “I couldn’t understand a word any of them said,” he muttered to Omah as they followed at a more sedate pace. “Where are we?”

The snow still fell in lazy flakes as they emerged into the blue light of a winter’s afternoon. Walt was silent as he slowly looked around the panorama that had unfolded in front of him. “It’s so…so big. It’s so…so beautiful.”

The scooter inched forward as a wide-eyed Walt took in Town Square covered with an enchanting layer of snow. “Look, the horse-drawn streetcars and there’s my Omnibus!” As the first moments of surprise and delight passed, the builder in Walt took over. “I like the design of the buildings. Look how elegant City Hall is. This all seems newer than my Main Street, a little bigger with more frills, like it’s a different period in time. Hmmp, not much of a train station, though…”

As they headed down Main Street, Walt read off the names of the different buildings as he passed them. It didn’t take him long to spot another similarity. “Hey, they did the window tributes.”

As they proceeded, his voice became softer and softer. When he suddenly stopped and fell silent, Wolf came closer. “Something wrong, Walt?”

A tear slowly fell down Walt’s cheek as he looked up at one of the windows. “Must be the snow.” He swiped at the moisture as his eyes filled again. “I just saw Lilly’s Boutique and Flora’s Boutique. And, look at that window. Dr. Sherwood. He was the first person to believe in me as an artist. He commissioned a picture when I was very young. It was his horse. And there he is…there they all are…after all these years they’re still remembered.” He felt a warm hand on his shoulder.

“We remember everything, Walt.”

Walt pulled his eyes from the tribute and looked down Main Street at the tall structure that adorned every Park. Now that they were closer, it became more defined through the falling snow.

Wolf smiled over at Omah. She gave him a big grin. “That’s what we wanted you to see in the snow. Well, one of the things. Welcome to Paris, Walt.”

“Paris? France? I…I got so excited I forgot to ask. We…we made it to Paris?” There was a catch in his voice as the scooter surged toward Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant. “Lillian and I love Paris. I never imagined…”

“That’s Sleeping Beauty Castle, Walt. She’s 167 feet tall.” Omah held hands with Wolf as they approached the towering pink and blue Castle, the colors almost indistinguishable in the layers of snow. Leaning closer, she whispered into his ear. “This was a good thing to do, Wolf. I know we went back and forth about it, but, I think he’ll rest easier now. He’ll realize he does matter and will be remembered.”

Before Walt could zip through the Castle’s entry, Wolf called him back. “Hang on a minute, Speedy. There’s one last thing I want you to see before we go.”

Walt couldn’t take his eyes off the Castle. Roy, we made it to Paris! “Go? What do you mean go? We just got here. I haven’t even ridden the train yet. Do you think they’ll let me drive it?”

Wolf took a stand in front of the scooter. By the familiar gleam he could see in Walt’s eyes, he figured—correctly—that Walt would just take off. “It’s freezing, Walt, and you know it. We only brought you here in January to show you how beautiful one of the Parks looks in the snow. It isn’t something you’d ever see in California.”

“Then let me stay and enjoy it.”

Omah had to hide her grin. She, as well as Wolf, recognized Walt digging in and getting ready for battle. “Boss, we have another plan for that. Once Wolf shows you the next surprise, we’ll go…” She held up a hand when Walt was about to object again. “We’ll go to the Disneyland Hotel, set up camp, and come back tomorrow. Only it will be in April. You always said you love Paris in the spring.”

Walt took a moment to analyze the option just presented to him. “Disneyland Hotel, huh? We’ll still be here, but in the spring? And you’ll actually let me ride something?”

“Rides, yes. Drive the train, no. And, a different Disneyland Hotel.”

There was a distinct grumble when Walt heard he couldn’t drive his beloved train. A slight frown on his face, he looked away from the Castle to stare into the distance as an unpleasant realization came over him. His shoulders rose and fell in a silent sigh. “I suppose I’m not really Walt here, am I?”

Wolf nodded that he understood. At this point in time, Walt was gone. His status as a public figure was the stuff of legends, but not as the living, breathing boss. Now he was just another guest amongst the thousands. “You are to us, Boss. Come on. I want to show you something in Adventureland.”

“Do I get to ride the Jungle Cruise, Warden?”

That earned a chuckle. “No Jungle Cruise here. We’re going to Adventure Isle and you’ll see La Cabane des Robinson.”

“I understood Robinson out of that. No Jungle Cruise? Why not? Hey, what’s that ride? That’s new.”

“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril. We’ll go over there later. I wanted you to see…this.”

Past rocky outcrops and a bubbling waterfall, a lone, majestic tree rose from the lush landscaping, an active waterwheel carrying bamboo canisters of water up to the highest branches.

“I see why you wanted me to come in the winter. The Swiss Family Treehouse covered in snow! It’s beautiful. I don’t suppose you’ll let me go up there now.”

Wolf clapped him on the shoulder. “Tomorrow, Walt. When it’s nice and sunny and warm. I just wanted you to see the beauty of the Park in winter.” He looked over at Omah. “You all set to take us to the Disneyland Hotel?” Wolf knew to leave the minute details of their trip to Omah. Even though he had been using her traveling technique for over a year now, this trip with Walt was too important, too fragile, to possibly mess up.

“Yes, all set. I already checked into the room so we don’t have to go through registration, and the scooter will come with us. We just have to find a quiet spot to, uh, go.”

As Wolf and Omah looked around for a good place to vanish from sight, Walt continued to gaze longingly at the Treehouse. ‘Tomorrow’ seemed like such a long ways away. When he heard “inside Skull Rock,” he reluctantly followed them along a smooth walkway. As they meandered behind the Pirate Ship, he was reminded of the Chicken of the Sea ship moored back home in Fantasyland. Once they entered the darkened, empty corridors of Skull Rock, his stomach growled. “Hey, any chance of getting a tuna fish sandwich? I’m hungry.”

The Skull vanished from sight before he could get an answer.

“No, it’s not right. Omah should have the bedroom. I’ve slept on sofas before. You’ve slept on worse.”

“It’s all right, Boss. The sofa pulls out into a sleeper, just like in your apartment.”

“But, you and Wolf can’t share…” Walt broke off and looked away. Omah and Wolf were adults and it wasn’t up to him to say what they could or couldn’t do.

Before Wolf could say anything else, Omah motioned at him. “I think I know what’s bothering him.” She walked over to the red and white-striped sofa where Walt had positioned himself. Heavy burgundy swags framed the window behind them. As she sat next to him, she held out her left hand. “I guess you’ll be the first to know, Walt. Wolf and I got married!” She wiggled her ring finger to show off a two-carat princess-cut diamond nestled in a filigree bed of emeralds.

Walt’s face broke out in a wide grin as he took her fingers and examined the beautiful ring. “You did? Why didn’t you let me know? I would have sent…” Her hand was dropped as he reached up to scratch his head. “Well, I guess I wouldn’t be able to send a wedding present, now would I? Well, anyway, best wishes to you both. Tell me about the ceremony. I love a good story.” When Omah started to laugh, he looked at them both with an odd expression on his face. He didn’t think he had said anything remotely funny. “Did I miss something?”

Omah waved her hand as she went over to Wolf. He wasn’t sure why she found their ceremony so amusing, either. “Oh, don’t scowl, Wolf. You’ll get worry lines.” She took him by the arm and drug him over to the matching sofa across from the one where Walt still sat. “I’ll tell it. You would have loved it, Walt. You know about Wolf’s family, right? Oh, maybe I should have asked about that first…” She broke off and looked to Wolf for clarification.

“Yeah, Wolf’s mentioned his father is the Shaman and how the Friendly Village on the Rivers of America represents them. They’re his link to the past. Right, Wolf?” Receiving a nod, Walt had another intriguing thought. “Any chance of meeting them now that you know you can take me places?”

Wolf’s groan was accompanied by rolling eyes. “I knew I’d create a monster by allowing you to go with us on one trip. We’ll see,” was his only answer to Walt’s question.

“I’ve been a dad and a grandfather long enough to recognize that as meaning no.”

“Hey, can we get back to my wedding?”

“Our wedding.”

“Yes, dear.” Omah flashed a bright smile as she pushed her blaze of crimson hair off her shoulder. “Our wedding.” She turned back to Walt, her face lit up by the enthusiasm of the telling. “You see, we were just planning to visit with his family and showed up as wolves just for the fun of it. You should have seen his father’s face fall when he saw Wolf’s big, black body run into camp. He had been so happy his son could travel as a man that he thought something had gone wrong and he’d never get to see Wolf’s charming face again. So, we just went into one of the tents and popped back out as humans.”

“You can change that quickly?”

The grin on Omah’s face had a bit of superiority in it. “Oh, I learned how to do that years ago…”

“A LOT of years ago.”

Into her story, Omah ignored Wolf’s mumble. “Now, the last time I had seen his father, we had a bit of miscommunication. I had mentioned that Wolf and I had been fighting and that Wolf had beaten me…”

“What?”

“Yeah, his father’s face looked just like yours, Walt.”

“Maybe I should take over the story. You’re drifting.”

“I am not, Wolf. I’m telling the backstory. Right, Walt?”

Walt still looked disapproving. “What do you mean that Wolf beat you?”

“Well, we were wolves, and you know I’ve had a bit of a temper…”

“A bit?”

She shot a look at her husband. “Fine. I had a temper. Anyway, it was just the natural thing to do under the circumstances and Wolf ended up the victor due to his larger size…”

“Fighting ability…”

“Don’t interrupt, dear. Anyway, as I was saying, his father was happy to see us again and under friendlier terms. When he found out a year had passed since he had seen us, well, one thing led to another, and we told him we were engaged. So, he insisted on us getting married right then. At least, that’s what I think he said. I’m still rusty on my Lakota.”

Wolf’s face was a blank mask of pure innocence. “Yeah, that’s what he said.”

Eyes narrowed, Omah didn’t quite believe him. “The Cooking Woman…”

“The one stirring the big pot?” Engrossed in the tale and the connection to the scene on the River, Walt had to interrupt for clarification.

“Yes, that’s the Cooking Woman. She got the women together and hauled me into one of the tipis to get me ready for the wedding.” Omah smiled at the remembrance. The whole camp had been so pleased Wolf had finally found someone. She had been dressed in an off-white, fringed dress, and feathers were arranged in her hair. The entranced look on Wolf’s face when she emerged was also something she would likewise never forget. “You know the rocky outcrop where the Shaman tells his story, Walt? That’s where the ceremony was held. The whole camp stood behind us. I’m not sure what all was said, but Wolf’s father united us in holy matrimony. At least, that’s what I think he did…”

“Sure thing, honey.” Wolf patted her hand as he winked at Walt. “There’s nothing my father likes better than long, drawn-out ceremonies. Yep, that’s where she promised to love and obey me for the rest of her life.”

“Obey? That was in there?”

Wolf put an arm around her shoulders to give her a squeeze. “Yeah, that and a few other things. Hey, don’t look at me like that. Maybe you should have brushed up on your Lakota.”

Now that the story was over and before they could get into it, Walt stood and yawned. “Well, I’m happy for you both. I think you’ll have a grand time together. So, if we’re all set on the rooms now, I will go to bed. I want to be ready for tomorrow.” Walt headed for the cream-colored door that separated the two rooms. Hand on the golden doorknob, he stopped and turned back. “And, thank you. You have no idea what this means to me.”

“What do you think he’s doing now? Think he’s asleep?”

Wolf let out a small chuckle. “As excited as he was, I’d bet any amount he’s standing at the window staring out at the Park.”

“You’re probably right.” Omah smiled as she looked at the connecting door. “Did you see the look on his face when we pointed out that this suite was called Walt’s Apartment? It hadn’t sunk in how much it looks like his place over the Fire Station back home.”

“We just have to make sure he doesn’t grab any souvenirs to take back with him. I don’t know what effect that would have on the future.”

The fond smile had turned into a worried frown. “Wolf? Do you think we did anything wrong by bringing him here? Do you think there’ll be any changes when we take him back?”

Wolf thought for a few moments before he answered. “I hope not. I went over all of that with him before I agreed to make the trip. Walt said he understood the seriousness. If anything is said or done when he goes back, he could affect this whole future.” He had to shrug his shoulders. “We’ll just have to make sure when this is over.”

“You told me what happened when you, Lance, and Peter went back to the Haunted Mansion and met the Gracey’s. When you came back to our time, the Mansion was gone.”

“Yeah, there was that.” Wolf let out a long breath. “We’ll have to rely on our memories, too. Last time, no one else realized anything had changed. We won’t be able to ask Lance or Kimberly. Even though they’re the Guardians, they won’t know any different.”

“We’re taking a big chance.”

Wolf glanced over at the closed door. “Yeah, but I think it’s worth it. You didn’t see how dejected he was when I went to get Peter’s quest. He doesn’t know how little time he has left. I’d rather give him a happy memory—albeit a secret one—than let him continue to be depressed.”

Omah went over for a hug. “I think you’re right. We’ll just deal with whatever we have to later.”

The ringing of Wolf’s phone ended their discussion for the moment. After glancing at the caller ID, he put it to his ear. “What’s up, Lance?”

Omah listened in the half of the conversation she could hear.

“I wasn’t in the Park today… Well, not Disneyland, anyway….Paris…No, Paris, France. Not Paris, Texas.” Wolf smiled over at Omah. Apparently Lance hadn’t expected that. “Yes, I mean France… With Omah… What do you mean how soon can I be home? Why? What’s wrong?” Omah watched as Wolf’s grin faded to a look of concern. “What happened to Catie? Is she all right? What… Yes, I can be there in a couple of minutes. Where are you exactly? I need exacts, Lance, or it won’t work. What’s the date and time… Okay, see you in a few.”

“What’s wrong? What happened to Catie?”

Wolf still stared at his phone even though Lance had already ended the call. “I…I don’t know. There’s been some kind of accident. I have to go. I can be back before the morning. I think…” Wolf ran a hand through his hair as he looked at her. “I think I can be back. Can’t I?” Usually the one to stay calm in a crisis, Wolf’s emotions had begun to cause doubts in his abilities. He had heard Beth and Kimberly in the background and they both had been crying.

Knowing Catie held a soft spot in Wolf’s heart, Omah held his hands in a steady grip, a composed expression on her face. “You can do this, Wolf. But, you can’t let your sentiments get in the way. You won’t end up where you want to.” She spoke slowly and clearly. “Focus on Lance and what he just told you. You can react when you get there.” She could see Wolf’s uneasiness and wondered what he hadn’t told her about the situation. Torn by the desire to go to her friends, she looked over at the suite’s door. “I want to go with you, but I think I’d better stay here in case Walt wanders out during the night.”

“You have your phone, too, right? If I mess up, I can still find you?”

“You’ll do fine, Wolf. Go see your friends. They need you.”

Wolf took a step away from Omah and closed his eyes in concentration. His focus solely on Lance, he took a deep breath.

Then, in an instant, he was gone.