Part One: In the Bleak Midwinter

Melanie turned around to face the staff's bathroom mirror while adjusting the black tie around her neck, making sure that the hotel's chain logo was carefully imprinted dead centre of the tie as was staff policy. The tight shirt only just fitted her, "Show's how much Grandma favours Lillith, hey?" and the black skirt was shorter than hotel policy as well, but the pay wasn't very good and she had to pay for anything she needed as well. According to her Grandma, even though her Grandad had a very good job and was able to provide everything for his family, it is good for a young woman to know how to get through her life on her own, and that Lillith had to pay for her stuff as well, "Fat chance," Melanie thought, "Just because Lillith is their daughter and I'm not doesn't mean I shouldn't get the same privileges, I'm their Granddaughter for damn's sake!"

Melanie pulled down her skirt as far as she could so as not to get told off by her boss, and well you didn't know what might happen with some men you get on the late shift, adjusted her tie once more and ran her finger through her long chestnut brown locks – a trait that, according to her Mother when she was a child, she had acquired from her Father – and then left the bathroom.

It was 9pm and it was time to start her late shift at the Grand Carlton Hotel and it was Christmas Eve in 2022.

- DW –

All Melanie's job consisted of was working between 9pm and 6am in the morning at the hotel, waiting on any residents needs and making sure everything was in working order for the days shift. It also meant that she didn't get much sleep apart from when she could grab half and a half shut-eye in the staffroom. Her Grandma also made her go to work on school nights as well, but at least she went to a school that didn't start until 10am so at least she got a few hours sleep.

It was 11pm and she had already had to survive two pervy old men and an old woman asking where the toilet was – in which the reply was, you're already in the bathroom ma'am. "Sometimes," Melanie wondered as her feet carried her up to the second floor to room 203, "I'd love it if this hotel didn't open over Christmas. Surely these people have families to go to? It's Christmas Day in two hours for Christ's Sake! If they are visiting families surely they can put them up, don't they realise that the people that work in the hotels need to have some 'me' time as well?"

Reaching the door of room 203, Melanie knocked, sighed, waited and then knocked again before a tall, brown-haired man opened the door to her and beckoned her in. "I swear, if he's another perv I'm leaving I don't care what Grandma says."

"Hi, Miss…"

The guy seemed nervous, which could go both ways she thought, well, here goes.

"I'm Melanie sir, just Melanie. How may I help you on this Christmas Eve?"

"No surname, Miss Melanie?"

This guy seemed genuine enough, but from her bedtimes stories that her Mum had told her as a child, she knew that not everything could be judged from what you first see and hear.

"Hotel policy, sir. No person under the age of eighteen is allowed to give out personal details apart from their first name and age. It used to just be this company that had that policy but I think the government is enforcing it on all companies soon. They said something about the New Year."

"Ahhhh, alright then. Age? Sorry if I seem to be asking a lot, many people have said that I can come across quite rude. I don't mean to be. I just sometimes… do. I'm rambling aren't I?"

"I'm 16 sir, and it's alright, guests at the hotel tend to ask. And yes to answer your question politely, you were rambling Mister."

"Call me Dr Smith, or John if you'd prefer, but stop with the sir it makes me feel old, although I might be old, I'd rather feel young and youthful."

"Company policy says that titles and surnames must always be used when a member of staff is talking to a guest, under no circumstances is a member of staff under the age of eighteen to call a guest by their first name…"

"Look Melanie, I don't mean to be imposing, but you're 16, you should lead your own life, stuff company policy, if a guest asks you to do something surely that is the first rule? So what's it going to be Dr Smith or John?"

"John, I'd like that, and it's a nice name. Mum always said if I were going to be a boy she would call me John."

"I'm glad you like the name and I'm glad your Mum likes it as well."

Noticing the clock on the bedside table that every room had, she noticed that over half an hour had past since she had first started talking to John. She seemed comfortable with him and she felt like she trusted him but she didn't know why.

"So Melanie, what's a young 16 year old girl like you, doing working at a hotel on the late shift on Christmas Eve?"

"No offence, sir…John but did you call me here for something or just to talk?"

"Oh…" John didn't know how to act he looked uncomfortable, and Melanie hated herself for making him feel like that. "Erm… no it's just I'm new to this area, and it's Christmas Eve just though I could do with the company and that somebody here might as well. I'd perfectly understand if you wish to get back to work. I won't keep you."

"That's alright John, to be perfectly honest, I'd rather be in here talking with you than out there helping an old woman to the bathroom when she's already in it."

Laughing, John sat down on the chair next to the window and motioned for her to sit in the one opposite him. Distantly out of the window she could hear a church with it's bells ringing, no doubt starting Midnight Mass, there was only half an hour till Christmas Day after all. It pained her, this would be her ninth Christmas without her Mother.

"So, answer to my questions, what are you doing here this Christmas Eve? Shouldn't you be home with your family, most likely trying to let your parents stay up too late, and them trying to persuade you that Santa is real? What is it with humans believing Santa isn't real, of course he's real?" John started rambling again after seeing the pain flicker across her face when she sat down, awaiting her answer he studied her face, and then only did he realise that he recognised those eyes, but where? He'd seen so many eyes, but he knew they were important in something.

"Well, I live with my Grandparents and their daughter, Lillith, she's three months younger than me. I've always lived with them but before there was Mum with me as well, but she went missing just two days after my eighth birthday so I've been properly living with them since then. They are still searching for her, but all hope has been lost. When I turned 14 my Grandma got me this job and I've been working here ever since, although until I was 16 I could only do Saturdays during the day. Grandma says Lillith has got a job as well, but I've never seen her with one, she's always spoiled over me. I don't get it from what Mum used to tell me, when Mum started going out with guys, Grandma would slap everyone of them, that Grandma would have died if it meant protecting her daughter. So why now when her daughter is missing, for eight years now, does she favour her other daughter over her granddaughter, the daughter of the daughter that she swore to protect. And another thing I don't get, why am I telling you all of this?"

John chuckled, "We trust each other I guess, believe me I don't realise I'm rambling unless I'm conscious and trust the person in front of me."

Then looking out of the window, she looked across and saw Big Ben, the clock stroked midnight and the wind drifted sounds of music from the church up to them and they heard 'In the bleak Midwinter' start to be sung by the church-goers. In that moment the heavens opened and the snow fell in gallons, in a few minutes the roads and houses were completely covered.

"Merry Christmas John Smith. Have a very Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas to you too Melanie, and a white one at that!"

"Yes, the last time it snowed on Christmas Day was the one when I was seven, my last Christmas with Mum, although I didn't know it at the time."

"Maybe it's a sign, some people are still found after long periods of time, there is still chance."

"You know it's funny that is," Melanie stood up to retreat out of John's room to carry on her work, upon reaching the door, she turned back to him and said, "Every year up until my eighth Christmas I wished for the same thing, that my Dad would swing in on Christmas morning to surprise me saying he loved me, then when I was eight and up until now that's carried on but Mum's been included in it. The last Christmas it snowed, was the last Christmas I spent with my Mum and the first time my Mum told me my Dad's name, well the name he went by. That's the most strange part, sometimes he went as Mr or Dr John Smith, but mostly he went by as the Doctor. Strange I've never heard of a title like that. So maybe the snow is signalling to something, that my Dad is going to swing in and tell me he loves me, say he's sorry for missing out on my childhood, and then whisk me off to find and rescue Mum like he did in those bedtime stories she used to tell me and we'd all be a happy family again."

Melanie wasn't looking at John when she said this, she was staring hard out of the window, watching the snow falling down heavier than before. If she had been looking at John she would have seen how his face paled when she mentioned the Doctor, saw him in take a gasp when he saw the ornate gold thorn-less rose hanging on a chain around her neck. A one of its kind rose that had been made especially for him to give to a special someone.

As he watched her turn to face him, he saw silent tears making their way down her beautiful, rosy cheeks and then that was when he finally realised where those eyes had been when he had last seen them. On the face of the most gorgeous woman he had ever met. She had her eyes, she had her Mother's eyes. She had Rose's eyes.

"Oh and John you said about leading my own life, well here goes, you'll see me soon leading my own life. Remember my name Dr John Smith, never forget it. Miss Melanie Rose Tyler."

And with that she shut the door and made her way back down the corridor, before running back to the bathroom to the tears that were quickly falling down her cheeks, leaving behind the Father that she didn't know she was talking to, who was slowly falling to sit at the edge of the bed in the guest room, who was slowly lowering his head into his hands, letting the tears make crystal tracks down his cheeks, for a love lost. The words of his daughter – he couldn't believe it, his daughter – echoing through his head. They are still searching for her, but all hope has been lost.

I'm sorry I haven't updated my other fics yet, but I actually dreamt this the other night and I just had to write it, it isn't finished, but you know what I'm like with my other fics, I really need encouragement guys. School is so stressful at the moment I just really don't have the time, I'll try to do this in any spare time I have.

I don't like to boast, but I really love the start of this and it nearly made me cry writing it - although I'm not sure why - but please review and let me know what you think. And good reviews please, not just Great, update soon. That's not going to help me. If I have a really good review I'll dedicate Part 2 to that person. Thanks

-MyForever-