Mary quickly ran into her room, breathlessly laughing. She quickly climbed into bed, buried under the covers, chest heaving. She tried to remain as quite as possible, in order that she might hear better. After a few minutes of silent waiting, Mary heard the clopping of hooves on the hard floor.

Mary held her breath, hoping her daddy couldn't see the inconspicuous lump on the bed. The footfalls went from running to walking, slowly. A smile broke out on Mary's face as she waited impatiently.

She closed her eyes tightly, a giggle threatening to burst out. She could hear her daddy searching around the room, muttering to himself as he did so.

Mary could feel the blood pounding in her ears, her breathing had slowed but her body was shaking from anticipation.

She squealed when Tumnus flung away the covers only to lean down and tickle his daughter as she yelled for help. She laughed, helpless to her daddy's touch. Her daddy ceased his tickling her and hoisted her up into his arms, spinning her around as she squealed in delight.

Pausing in mid-spin, Tumnus held the little girl up in the air, and looked up into her face. "I love you honey." Mary threw her arms around her daddy's neck, one hand reaching up to stroke his ear. "I wuv you too Daddy." Tumnus held her close, breathing in the scent of dirt and flowers. The scent of a young child playing outside on a nice day.

Tumnus looked over his daughter's brown head of hair when he saw his wife come in.

"Mary. Tumnus." Lucy scolded, although she had a smile on her face. "I could hear you all the way down the corridor."

Tumnus walked up to his wife and, still holding Mary, he placed a arm across her shoulders and said, "I'm sorry. Maybe we were being to loud. Do you think so Mary?" He asked, looking at his daughter. Mary shook her head, her short curls swaying back and forth.

"No daddy. We wasn't be'en loud. We's was just playen Mama."

Lucy laughed and reached up to pinch Mary's cheek. "You little trouble-maker."

Tumnus smiled. Turning to his wife he mimicked his daughter, "We's just playen Mama."

Lucy snorted softly and leaned in to give her family a hug. What would she do with out them? She thought as they hugged. What would she do if something happened to her daughter, or to Tumnus? They were her life, her everything.

Tumnus leaned forward, letting go of Lucy and allowing Mary to slip from his strong arms. Then, taking her hand and Lucy's, he lead them out of Mary's room, saying, "What say we go on a picnic today?"