Finally updating!

I promise the action starts soon. Just a bit of fluffy introduction :)

Shay still didn't like that there were no tags on her presents, and Carrie could see that it was upsetting her. It upset Carrie, too. Not in the same way, of course- she'd long forgotten dreams of Santa Claus and his reindeer-pulled sleigh. It bothered her because the name-tags on presents was always her mum's signature when she wrapped presents. She always added that little extra bit in for them. And now she wasn't here, and Carrie was reminded of that every single day. But she kept a brave face for her little sister, faked a few smiles and managed a few laughs here and there throughout the morning as they unwrapped box after box. When they were finished, their dad told them to get ready so they could go with their Uncle Connor to the hospital to visit their Aunt Niamh. They hurriedly did as they were told - they still hadn't seen their cousin and were completely excited to greet the newest McManus.

"Carrigan, wait up a sec, lass." She turned to see her dad and uncle sitting at the kitchen table, each with matching looks that made Carrie want to run and lock herself in her bedroom. There was bad news and she didn't want to hear it. Not on Christmas. Not today. She waved to Shay, and her sister ran off to the car ahead of her.

"Yea?" She saw the serious look on their faces and took a seat across from them. Something was wrong. Her eyes fleeted to the window, at her granddad helping her little sister into their car. "What is it?" She asked.

Connor looked to his brother and sighed. "Well, ye see, Carrie-"

"Carrie it's yer mum." Murphy interrupted him. There was no point in putting it off any longer. She needed to know. He saw his daughter flinch and watched her eyes flash as each dark assumption played behind them. Her face held a silent question - 'Is she dead?'

"She's alright," He assured her, "Jus'... she needs some help."

"Help? Like what?"

"Yer uncle and I've got te go back te the States."

"Why? You said you'd never-"

"Carrie, someone killed yer grandfather." Murphy shot his brother a glare, Way to put it delicately, Connor.

Carrie sucked air.

"Who-" She started, shaking her head. Her light ginger curls bounced as she moved. "Why..." And then the tears hit. Murphy moved to her side and held her while she sobbed. "Why would someone do that? Granddad worked at the church! Who would want to kill him?"

Connor gave a sad look to his brother and left the room silently to go get to the car with his niece. Murphy turned back to trembling Carrie.

"We don't know anythin' yet, but we're definitely finding out."

She nodded and choked back another sob, wiping her eyes.

Murphy continued, "Listen, Carrie, this means I'm goin te depend on you to watch yer sister, right? While we're gone... ye stay with yer granddad, but you make sure she's okay, alright? And yer Aunt Niamh as well. She'll be needing help with the new one."

"But, dad you can't go."

"I have to, Carrie. We've got to figure this out."

"But I-"

"Carrigan." His eyes bore into hers and she looked away. Suddenly she was angry with him. All this time it was 'fend for yourself' and 'assert your independence', and now she had to look after her baby sister while her dad left her alone? Granted, they'd be living with their granddad, but when was he ever home anyways? Carrie had lost her mother not long ago and now her father was running, too? Why did everyone had to leave? And why did they put it all on her?

Shay squirmed impatiently in her seat. Carrie was taking way too long. She just wanted to leave already and go see her new baby cousin. She was curious what the baby looked like, if it looked like her Aunt Niamh or if it was more of a McManus. She was curious what color eyes the baby had, what color hair. She'd always wanted a younger sibling, but never got one, so she was completely excited to not be the youngest anymore.

"Uncle Connor!" She complained, "What's she doing?"

Connor shook his head and smiled, "She'll be out in a minute, Shay. Jus' wait."

"Ugh!" Shay groaned. "She needs te hurry up!"

"Calm down, lass. Yer da's tellin' her something."

"What? What's that important!"

"I'll let him explain that one, darlin. Not my place."

"What?"

Connor looked away. Shay might have been young, but even she knew something was bothering him.

Then Carrie opened the passenger's side door and climbed in the front seat. Shay could see her eyes were red from where she'd been crying, and her hands were trembling as she shut her door and put on her seatbelt.

"Y'alright?" Connor asked her, giving her a sympathetic look.

"Aye, I'm fine." Carrie said in a small voice.

Connor looked passed her to the house out the window, "Yer dad not comin'?"

"He says he's got things te do." She answered quietly.

Connor nodded and started the car, driving them down towards the small local hospital to Niamh and the new baby. He was dead excited. Niamh had been through a relatively easy labour and Connor smiled to himself while he remembered holding his son in his arms for the first time last night. A Christmas Eve baby. Aidan McManus.