Author's note: Thanks to everyone who took the time out to read and review that first chapter. It's nice to know that it's worth it to continue on with the story. Here's the next part, I plan on updating it every other day to get it done before Christmas.


"Ally, are you almost ready, your mother will be here any second," Tommy said as he knocked on her bedroom door.

"Yeah, dad, almost done," Ally told him as there was a knock at the door.

"I'll get it," said Jack as he raced to the door.

"Hey Jack," Kat said once her son had opened the door.

"Hey Mom, why don't you come in for a minute," he said.

"Jack, we have to get to the ballet," Kat reminded him.

"Yeah, I know but you haven't seen Dad's new place and Ally's not ready yet," Jack replied.

"Alright, I'll come in but only for a minute," said Kat.

"Isn't it great, Dad living so close to us now," said Jack as he let her in.

"Yeah, it's nice," Kat told him.

"Come on, wait till you see my room, dad brought some of our things from home," Jack said as he grabbed his mother's hand and led her to his bedroom.

"It looks just like your old room," Kat remarked.

"I know isn't it cool," he said.

"Hey ballerina, welcome to my new home," Tommy said as he stood in the doorway.

"Hello Tommy, been a long time since you called me that," Kat responded.

"I'll go check on Ally," Jack said wanting to leave his parents alone together.

"What do you think of the place?" he asked.

"It's nice, it was really thoughtful of you to bring some of the kids' things from the house," she told him.

"I just wanted them to feel like this was their home too," he replied.

"So how long are you planning on staying?" she asked.

"As long as it takes," he answered.

"I imagine you'll have to get back to your job at some point," she said.

"I quit, I just couldn't take being in the house all alone, I missed the kids, I missed you," he told her.

"I should get Ally or we're going to be late, Raymond's in the car waiting for us," she said as she started to walk towards the door.

"Kat, wait, let's talk, tell me what you want," he said as he grabbed her arm and turned her back around to face him.

"Tommy, I want a divorce," she said.

"Well, that you haven't said," he replied as he let go of her.

"I'm saying it now, I don't want the kids to know until after the holidays," she said.

"Is this because you want to start dating Raymond?" he asked.

"He's got nothing to do with this, he's just a friend," Kat replied.

"Oh really, then why is he waiting for you in the car to take our daughter to The Nutcracker?" he questioned.

"He knows the father of one of the performers and they gave him front row seats and I mentioned that it's one of Ally's favorites so he invited us to sit with him," she answered.

"Oh and they just happened to give him three front row seats," Tommy scoffed.

"Tommy, please don't start," said Kat.

"You can't seriously be ready to end things with us, what about that night we spent together a few months ago, doesn't that count for anything," he told her.

"That night was a mistake, you woke up the next morning and went right back to that job like you always do, one night can't erase our problems," she replied.

"I know that but I'm here now it's a start isn't it," he responded.

"Mom, I'm ready," Ally said as she entered the room.

"You better go ballerina, the sugar plum fairies are waiting," said Tommy.


"Mom, why did he have to come?" Ally asked once they were at the theater.

"Listen Ally, Raymond did a very nice thing getting these seats for us, just try and enjoy yourself," Kat told her.

"These are our seats, right here in the middle," Raymond said as he directed them to the front row.

"Isn't this great Ally, we can practically just reach out and touch the stage," Kat told her as they took their seats and Ally made a point to take the seat in between Raymond and Kat.

"So Ally, I bet you don't know who composed The Nutcracker," said Raymond.

"Tchaikovsky," Ally said cutting him off.

"You know your mother danced as Clara back when we were in high school," Raymond told her.

"I know, can we not talk now, the show's about to start," she said.


"So Mom's seen the new place," Jack said as he and his father were having dinner.

"Right," said Tommy.

"I think she really liked it," said Jack.

"Jack, you and Ally like it here don't you, I mean you'll get used to staying here with me sometimes, won't you," said Tommy.

"Sure, Dad," Jack told him.

"Cause I want you to know that no matter what happens, you'll always have a home here," Tommy assured him.

"Mom wants a divorce, doesn't she," said Jack.

"I forget how old you are sometimes, I guess we can't hide things from you anymore," Tommy said quietly.

"So, what are you going to do about it?" Jack questioned.

"I don't know what I can do, Jack," Tommy responded.

"Come on dad, you're a smart guy, you're the smartest guy I've ever known, you can do anything, I know you can figure this out," Jack told him.

"Don't be so sure," said Tommy.

"No, no, I'm serious Dad, there has to be some way to change her mind," Jack replied.

"Your mom has a right to be happy and maybe I did kind of take for granted that she would always be there waiting for me and I put my job in front of what really mattered," Tommy told him.

"Well, did you ever tell that to her?" asked Jack.

"Jack, I…" said Tommy.

"No, no, just forget it, I'm just a kid, what do I know right," Jack interrupted.

"I never did tell her that, never. Maybe I could if we were trapped somewhere like a desert island," said Tommy.


"So Ally, I bet you want to be a ballerina when you grow up, huh?" Raymond asked later that night as he drove Kat and Ally home.

"I never said that," Ally responded.

"Well, it's every little girl's dream, isn't it, I mean your mom was a ballerina," said Raymond.

"I think I'm a little too young to be thinking about that," Ally told him.

"It's never too early to know what you want," Raymond told her.

"I know what I want, you to go away," Ally said in an annoyed tone and whispering that last part about him going away to herself.

"Honey, I think Raymond's just making conversation," said Kat.

"Maybe I will be a ballerina or maybe I'll be a paleontologist like my DAD," said Ally really emphasizing the word Dad.


A week later, everyone was gathered at the home of Katherine's mother where Marie was hosting a Christmas party for family and friends.

"Thanks so much for inviting us Marie," said Tommy's parents as they along with Tommy arrived at the party.

"Of course I invited you, you're family," Marie told them.

"Grandma, Grandpa, over here," Jack called to them.

"Enjoy the party," Marie told them as she was left alone with Tommy.

"What's he doing here?" Tommy asked seeing Raymond standing by the Christmas tree.

"My daughter invited him," Marie said in a tone that suggested she wished Kat hadn't invited him.

"Marie, lovely party," Raymond said walking towards them.

"I'm glad you're enjoying it, I didn't think you celebrated Christmas," she responded.

"I may be Jewish but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy a good holiday party," said Raymond.

"Hello Raymond," said Tommy.

"Hi Tommy, I wasn't sure if you'd be here," said Raymond.

"It's a family party and the last time I checked I'm still family," Tommy told him.

"Yes, well, I'm gonna go find Katherine," said Raymond.


"Come on Jack, you promised you'd sing it with me," said Ally an hour into the party.

"Well I've changed my mind," Jack responded.

"But everyone's expecting us to perform," Ally replied.

"So sing something else," he said.

"I didn't practice anything else, come on, we promised Grandma we'd do it," Ally pleaded.

"Sorry but there is no way I'm singing with you," said Jack.

"You're the worst brother ever," Ally said as she stuck out her tongue at him.

"What's the problem?" asked Tommy.

"Jack promised to sing "Baby, it's cold outside," with me and now he's backing out," Ally replied.

"Jack if you made a promise to your sister then you should keep it," Tommy replied.

"Ah come on Dad, some of my friends are here, they'll just make fun of me, why don't you sing it with her," said Jack.

"Because I'm terrible at singing, you know that," said Tommy.

"You've done it before, you sang it with mom remember," Jack told him.

"That was different, we were just trying to put you kids to sleep and that was in the privacy of our own home not with half the town watching," Tommy said.

"It's one of mom's favorites and just think of how happy it'll make her to see you and Ally perform it together," Jack replied.

"Please Daddy, I promised Grandma and I don't want to let her down," Ally said looking up at him with those beautiful blue eyes that looked so much like her mother's.

"Fine, I'll do it, but only because I love you," Tommy told her.

"Mom, mom, wait till you see who's singing with Ally," Jack said as he ran over to where Kat was standing with Raymond.

"Attention everyone, my granddaughter has agreed to perform a little something for us," Marie announced as the music began to play.

Ally- I really can't stay

Tommy-But baby, it's cold outside

I've got to go away

-But baby it's cold outside

This evening has been

Been hoping that you'd drop in

So very nice

I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice

My mother will start to worry

Beautiful, what's your hurry?

My brother will be there at the door

Listen to the fireplace roar

No really I'd better scurry

Beautiful, please don't hurry

Well, maybe just a little while more

Never such a blizzard before

I've got to get home

But, baby, you'd freeze out there

Say lend me a coat

It's up to your knees out there

I wish I knew how

Your eyes are like starlight now

To break the spell

I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell

I ought to say, "No, no, no, sir"

Mind if I move in closer?

At least I'm gonna say that I tried

What's the sense of hurting my pride

I really can't stay

Oh baby, don't hold out

But (Baby) it's cold outside

"Wasn't that great," said Jack after the performance was over and everyone was clapping and cheering.

"Ally's got a great voice," said Raymond.

"Did you like it Mom?" Ally asked running over to them.

"You were wonderful, you both were," said Kat who had tears welling up in her eyes.

"I'm a terrible singer, I don't know how I ever let her talk me into it," said Tommy.

"It was really sweet of you, you're a good father," she told him.

"Really, because lately I feel like I've been letting them down," he said.

"Well you made up for it a little tonight," Kat replied.

"I'm glad you think so," he said as music began to play.

"Kat, would you like to dance?" asked Raymond.

"Uh, sure, see you around Tommy," she said as she let Raymond lead her away.