In the last month or so my morning sickness has been marginally better but I say that generously. Performing was difficult, but I managed somehow. We were a few weeks away from the two week holiday when the opera would not require its cast to work day and night. With each passing day, my seamstress was increasingly frustrated with my expanding waistline. As was I. My pregnancy was becoming harder and harder to hide as I grew, the child within me growing at an alarming rate. I felt fat, bloated, and downright miserable for the most part these days. With each day that went in though, my hopes of making up with Erik waned as he refused to speak with me. The bruise on my eye had healed, but my pride was another story.

"Are you doing anything for the holiday?" Alice asked as I combed my hair absentmindedly, sitting in front of my vanity. My father had raised me catholic, but I had no one to celebrate Christmas with.

"No," I yawned. "That's alright. I haven't had a proper holiday in years. I'll just enjoy the time off." I shrugged.

A knock in the door caused Alice and I to both look up.

"Yes?"

A man opened the door. "Madam, you have a visitor."

"A visitor?" I mused, wonder who would want to see me besides Alice, and if it had been the manager, he would have just barged in here with no explanation. The man stepped aside and a woman with red hair and soft blue eyes entered the room.

"Alanna," she said levelly.

"Get out, I don't want you here." I snapped, jumping to my feet in an instant. I was not dealing with her today. Not ever.

"Alanna, would you just listen to me for just a moment?" She pleaded.

"No I don't want to hear anything you have to say, Amethyst."

My sister stared at me blankly, hands gripping handfuls of her skirts.

"I'm sorry, Alanna, I know what I did was wrong, but I need you to understand, I didn't mean any harm!"

"Sure you didn't," I spat. "What you did nearly killed our father, despite the disease."

"I know!" She cried out. I took a good look at her, blinking a few times. Her skin was pale and blotchy, and my usually plump, healthy sister was uncharacteristically thin. "I need you to listen to me for just a moment! Please?" Tears shone in her eyes and I gave in.

"Alice, can you give us a moment?" I murmured. Once she was gone, I turned away from my sister.

"I'm dying, Alanna. I've got... I have what he had. I started showing symptoms a few months ago. They come and go, but... I couldn't go on knowing I'd isolated my sister. I'm here to say I'm sorry. I was young and stupid, and my memories of you and father were hazy, so I believed everything mother said about the two of you. And I-"

I held up a hand, turning back to her.

"Wait a second... Mother put you up to it?"

She nodded, wiping her eyes. "She said some pretty horrible things... And I listened. And I was an idiot for doing so."

I considered her for a moment. "You... You were... She manipulated you?"

"I wouldn't put it so harshly, but-"

I shook my head. I wrapped my arms around her, burying my face into her shoulder. She had always been taller than me.

"That bitch," I murmured. "I appreciate you coming here to apologize, I know that must have been difficult."

She hesitated for a moment, apparently shocked. After a moment she put her arms around me.

"Does that mean you forgive me?" Amethyst said, pulling away slightly.

I nodded. "God, I've missed you, and forgiving you is easier than hating you. I need someone on my side."

She smiled warmly, brushing red hair out of her face. "I missed you too."

I took her hands in mine. "Are you staying near by?"

"I'm staying at an inn." She nodded.

"Well, I'll have the manager make you up a bed here." I said. I hesitated slightly. "Is Agatha here?" I didn't feel right in calling her my mother.

Amethyst shook her head. "I came alone."

I nodded. I pulled her back into another hug, holding her tightly. "Come on, you probably need rest."