A bleary eyed William awoke at half past five in the morning, blinking in the darkness of his room. But his fatigue soon gave way to joy and eagerness as he jumped out of bed and raced out of his room and down the hall to the large pair of double doors of the master bedchamber. Luckily for him, they hadn't been completely closed and he crept inside, grinning from ear to ear, barely able to contain his excitement while his parents slept soundly, blissfully unaware of their young son's presence. Stalking up to his father's side of the bed, little William gathered himself and leapt up onto the bed, right on top of Garrick's chest.

"William!" Garrick gave a muffled cry of surprise.

"It's Christmas, Father!" William cried with glee, wrapping small arms around his father's middle.

"Yes, it is. And it is still dark. Come now, William. Give us at least another thirty minutes."

"Oh Garrick, you do spoil the fun…" Katherine had awakened in the commotion and couldn't help but laugh at her husband's reaction as she reached out and pulled her son into her lap, tickling his sides and belly.

William let out a shriek of laughter, writhing in his mother's arms while Garrick groaned, turning over in bed.

"All right my dear, let us leave the room so your father can sleep in peace." Katherine spoke, kissing her son's forehead before pulling him up into a sitting position.

"Is there snow outside?" William asked, his bright eyes wide with enthusiasm.

"I have not looked, but we can see…"

To this, William gave a cry of glee and tugged at his mother's hand.

"Well, go on. I will be with you soon." Said Katherine, ruffling his hair.

William nodded and got off the bed, hurrying out of the room while Katherine momentarily turned her attention to Garrick.

"My apologies for the disturbance." She said quietly, resting a hand on Garrick's arm. "But he is only a boy. Can you honestly fault him for it?"

"I suppose not." Garrick turned to face her, the right corner of his mouth turned the slightest bit upwards. "Still, he is lucky he has you for a mother lest he be unable to find someone to help him out of trouble."

Katherine sighed before leaning down to kiss her husband's cheek.

"Only because you allow it, Garrick." She spoke softly in his ear. Then, rising from the bed, she got up and left the room, closing the door behind her to find William pacing in the hallway, arms crossed and chest puffed out in a look of irritation.

"Mother, you're taking too long!" He whined in an exasperating tone.

"My dear, I told you to go on ahead of me." She replied ruffling his hair once more to which he responded with an indignant squeak, clasping his hands tightly over his head.

"But I want you to see it with me." William replied emphatically.

"Darling, we hardly even know if it has snowed yet."

"But we will." William looked up and grinned at his mother. "Can we go get Kate?" He asked.

"If her mother allows it, and if she is not asleep." Katherine replied, putting careful emphasis on the last part of her sentence.

William nodded, still grinning, and tore off down the hall to the servants' wing of the house where he quickly located Blythe and Kate's room and raised a small fist to knock on the door. No response came, so he raced out of the wing, past his mother who was waiting outside the master bedchamber, and down to the kitchen, where he found both Blythe and her daughter hard at work on the morning meal with several other servants bustling about the kitchen as well.

"Kate!" William called across the kitchen.

The blonde-haired girl looked over her shoulder, her brow knitted in mild confusion before she recognized who had called to her.

"Will! What are you doing up so early?" She asked, wiping a spot of flour away from the tip of her nose.

"It's Christmas, and I wanted to go see the snow." William replied matter-of-factly.

"Well there should be plenty of it by now. Mama and I had to go outside this morning to fetch firewood a couple of hours ago, and it was up to my ankles." Kate declared with a laugh before her mother gestured for her to continue kneading dough for bread.

William let out an ecstatic squeak before turning to his mother who had decided to follow him down to the kitchen.

"I was right! It snowed!" He cried, jumping up and down. "Let's go outside, Kate!"

"Just one moment, young master." His mother chided gently. "You have yet to ask her if she even wants to go outside. And if she does, then you also must ask her mother if she is allowed." Katherine finished, squeezing her son's shoulder while his ears turned pink in embarrassment.

"Sorry Mother… Kate, would you like to go outside with me?" William asked.

The girl giggled and responded with a yes, though she looked up at her mother for final conformation.

Blythe smiled but shook her head, causing Kate to frown and look down at the floor.

"Not yet, my dear. You've still one more loaf of bread to bake. However, after that, if we're not too busy in here, you may go outside with the young master."

"Thank you, Mama." Kate replied with a tiny smile before turning to William. "Well, perhaps I'll see you once I'm finished. But you don't have to wait around for me; the snow will be here all day at least.."

"All right." William replied before turning to pull at his mother's arm. "Mother, let's go outside."

"We will, but first, you must find yourself something other than your nightwear to wear outside. After all, my dear, you just got over a cold less than a week ago, and I'll not have you ill again so soon after."

"Yes, Mother." William replied obediently before hurrying back up to his room with Katherine close behind. Anything to get out and enjoy the snow. It was perhaps his favorite thing about Christmas, apart from spending time with his mother, which he did already. He'd also found a playmate in Kate, though she was often busy helping her mother with housework, and as of late, Garrick had subtly discouraged his seeking her out to play, instead suggesting that he interact with some of the other boys of the aristocracy during gatherings where children were allowed. But William shied away from them, feeling out of place amongst boys who were bigger, taller, and at times, more intimidating, especially when they chose him for their nasty bits of amusement. His small, lean stature earned him the nickname "Teeny-Weeny Willie" amongst his peers, who would take advantage of him, shoving him around and forcing him to fight before they all but tired him out and left him outside in the cold, alone and sobbing, with his often new clothing torn and dirty, and his face and arms scratched and bruised from being poked and prodded with sticks they had used for swords. It was in these times where his mother was his saving grace, his closest friend. She would draw hot baths for him, personally cleaning whatever cuts he sustained, and allow him to nurse his injured pride in the safety of her arms. If for some reason Katherine could not be there for her son, then the responsibility would fall to Blythe, and Kate would sit in a chair by his bed and tell him stories until he was sedate enough to sleep.

"William, do remember to wear your red overcoat and brown boots instead of your new black boots and green overcoat. Those are not to be worn until later today." She finished. "And please, wear your mittens. Last time it snowed, you nearly got frostbite on your fingers because you didn't wait to put your mittens on before running outside."

William grinned guiltily.

"I will, Mother."

"Thank you, my dear." She smiled before leaving the room to grab a shawl, still dressed in her eveningwear, before meeting her son downstairs at the front door. The first hints of light were just beginning to show and little William was itching to get outside. As soon as she nodded to him that he could go outside, he all but flung the door open and bounded out into the snow, screeching and smiling with delight. Indeed, the snow looked to be at least half a foot. Father Winter had been generous.

"Mother, come outside!" He called to her while she watched from the entryway. "There's a whole big blanket of it!"

Katherine smiled but shook her head.

"Not yet, my angel; I am hardly dressed for such an occasion. But I will later. For now, I am content to watch you."

And she did as her son leapt and played about in the snow, lying down at one point to make a snow angel before pointing it out to her, grinning with pride at his own work.

"Wonderful, William. Well done." She complimented before turning suddenly at the sound of giggling behind her. Kate had donned a faded and worn hooded cloak to go outside in the cold weather.

"Finished with your chore, I see."

"Yes, milady." Kate replied with a small smile. "Mama said she would put it in the oven so that I might have some time to go outside before I help Papa with some of the other chores outside."

"Well enjoy yourself then." Katherine chuckled, squeezing the young girl's shoulder. "I believe William is waiting for someone to play with."

And he was. Catching sight of Kate, he greeted her with nothing less than a large snowball that was directed right to the middle of her dress, which was already partially covered in flour.

"Will!" Kate cried in surprise while the young master fell back in a fit of laughter.

William's mother only watched, shaking her head at her son's behavior and was not surprised when Kate retaliated, hitting William right in the chest with her own snowball.

"Little devil you are, William…" Katherine murmured with a sigh.

"Of course he is." A voice said softly in her ear while a hand came up to clasp her shoulder, causing her to startle momentarily before realizing that it was Garrick.

"Out of bed are you?" She asked, turning to kiss his cheek.

"The smell of the food cooking woke me, so I decided to get up and get ready for the day." He replied with a smirk as he watched his son and the servant girl throw snow at one another in front of the estate. "Well at least he is wide awake now… and Kate will most likely wear him out enough to sleep well tonight while we are away."

"I thought you did not want him playing with her anymore…" Katherine said, eyebrows furrowing. Though I disagree…

"Well yes, though if she can calm him down for the rest of today, I hardly mind it. Besides, has getting him to interact with the other boys been successful? Hardly…"

"Garrick, he is just shy is all." Katherine frowned.

"Yes, and that is hardly helping him one bit." Her husband sniffed.

Katherine sighed, shaking her head.

"Is there not one thing about your son that does not upset you in any way?" She asked, saddened by his dissatisfaction. William meant the world to her, but to his father, he was less of a son than he was an heir and to him, he wasn't even satisfactory in that area.

"Katherine…" Garrick frowned but did not answer the question.

"He loves you, Garrick. You are his father and he looks up to you and tries his hardest to earn your satisfaction. Please… do you not see any of his efforts?" There was a desperate note in her voice. "He greets you at the door whenever you arrive home from town, he tries not to disturb you when you are busy and for the most part succeeds. Today, yes, he got a bit excited, but on the whole, he stays out of your way."

Garrick pursed his lips and was silent for several moments while watching his son play.

"Well, perhaps I should give him his gift now, as we will be leaving later and I doubt he will want to part with it for anything when he receives it, though hopefully it has not already been spoiled by him wandering out to the stables." He finished with a slightly gruff edge.

"No. William has only been down to the kitchen and then outside in the front of the house."

Garrick nodded before calling his son over to him.

"Yes Father?" William asked, looking up at Garrick earnestly while Kate stood off a ways, keeping her distance from the master and young master of the household.

"I believe it is time you received your gift. Your mother and I will be gone later today and I am sure you will be wanting as much time as you can have to enjoy it."

"Really?" William squeaked in excitement, jumping up and down.

"Yes." Katherine spoke, bending down to pick up her son. "But first, you must close your eyes, and keep them closed until I tell you to open them." She finished, kissing his forehead.

William looked over at his father who nodded and said, "Do as your mother tells you to."

Reluctantly, William did as he was told while Katherine gestured for Kate to follow.

"You may come too, Kate."

"Are you sure, milady?" Kate asked cautiously.

"Of course." Katherine held out her free hand and Kate took it with a shy smile.

"Thank you, milady."

Holding tightly to her mistress's hand, Kate walked with Garrick, Katherine and William outside in the frosty air to the stables, feeling mildly uncomfortable with being in such close proximity to the master of the house, especially when she knew his thoughts towards her weren't exactly warm. But Katherine and William were there as well, and that was all the comfort she needed.

As they approached the stables, Kate began to smile as the realization of what William's Christmas present was dawned upon her. Obviously, her little gifts of new stockings and a bonnet from her mother and father seemed far less significant; both were homemade and it was all they could afford, though she was still grateful for the gifts, even if they weren't nearly as magnificent as a live animal. She was still happy for the young master, for he was her closest friend, even if he was a couple years younger. Other servants in the house had children as well, but none seemed quite as interesting to her as William Tavington, even if she wasn't allowed to interact with him as much as she used to.

Arriving at a last to the last stall on the left, Kate peeked out from her mistress's side to see a black Fell pony standing in the stall, fully groomed and saddled, waiting with warm expectant brown eyes while Katherine set William down on the ground and gave him permission to open his eyes.

"A horse…" He gasped softly, eyes wide. "My horse." William's voice began to rise with excitement. "Thank you, Father!" He squeaked.

"It is only a pony." Garrick murmured but said nothing more. His son wasn't paying any heed to him anyway, as he carefully opened the stall door and slowly approached the Fell, patting it on the nose when he reached it.

"May I get up on him?" William asked tentatively.

"Of course." Katherine nodded. "After all, we did make sure he was saddled before we brought you out here."

With swift and effortless grace, her son mounted his proud steed, positively beaming, though he only knew the very basics of horsemanship at best.

"So, what are you going to name him?" His mother asked curiously.

William frowned thoughtfully, but soon came up with a reply.

"I'll name him King." He spoke with a definitive tone, causing his mother to laugh while Kate nodded in agreement.

"He does look like a king." The blonde spoke shyly.

"Yes…" William agreed. "Kate, let's go ride in the snow." He spoke, leaning forward eagerly.

"I don't know, young master…" Kate chewed her lip. Horses tended to frighten her with their size and potentially unpredictable ways; it didn't help that Garrick's stallion had nearly trampled her once before it was done away with for having such a nasty disposition. Yet King, as Garrick had said, was a pony, and he looked friendly enough.

"Kate, you may decline if you do not wish to go." Katherine spoke, kneeling down so that she was eye level with the girl. "If you really would like it, I am sure the master can follow to make sure nothing unfortunate happens, though I am quite confident that you will be completely safe." She said encouragingly.

"But won't you be there as well?" Kate asked before leaning in so that only Katherine could hear her words. "Master Garrick doesn't like me."

Katherine frowned and took the girl's hands in her own.

"My dear, I really must go make myself presentable for the day, but if you wish it, I will return and watch you."

"Kate…" William pulled the servant girl's attention away from his mother as he waited for an answer.

"All right, I'll come with you. But I may need some help getting up."

Garrick, who had been standing by silently nodded and picked Kate up, setting her down behind his son and instructing her to put her hands around William's waist. Then, he took the reins and led King out of the stall before allowing William to guide the pony out of the stables, pausing to watch as they went.

"Well, at least he can find his way out of the stable well enough," he murmured, standing next to Katherine.

Katherine shrugged and replied, "I do not doubt that he will make a good horseman one day. He loves the animals enough."

Garrick gave a near imperceptible nod.

"Perhaps… Then he might be able to excel at something other than being a dreamer and having his nose stuck in Charles Perrault's Puss in Boots when he should be playing with toy soldiers."