Hello! Here's the 19th story! Thank you so much for the lovely reviews Hawk, ChibiDawn23, Lizbet2008 and Smacked Caskett :D

After regretting his instruction to Holly regarding a kitten, Mac hoped desperately he'd have time to warn Stella before Holly got to her.

He didn't.

Stella opened the front door as they pulled up. Before Mac had even undone his seatbelt, Holly had scrambled out of the car.

'Mommy! Oreo at the store has Christmas kittens! Daddy said I got to ask you if I can have one,' she shouted as she bounced up the steps and into Stella's waiting arms.

'Did he now, baby?' The look Stella shot him almost laid Mac out.

Wincing, he approached as Stella lifted Holly into her arms, who beamed back at him, unaware of the impending storm. 'He did, mommy! Can I have a kitten? Please? Oreo has five so she won't mind if I have one.'

'Let's go inside first, then we can talk about it later, OK?' Giving Mac another blistering look, Stella carried Holly indoors, leaving Mac with the grocery bags and a feeling of doom.

Once indoors, Mac managed to divert Holly by suggesting she draw a Christmas card for Oreo and her babies, which she rushed off to do eagerly.

Stella, packing away the groceries in a very eloquent silence, finally turned to face Mac.

'So, our daughter wants a kitten?'

'She does,' Mac said and related events at the bodega to his wife, who, to his relief softened somewhat at his description of the kittens bedded down on the pile of Santa hats.

'We can't have a kitten, Mac,' Stella said quietly, glancing across to where Holly lay on her front, engrossed in her artwork.

'Can't we?' he said, stepping closer to her.

Stella frowned, studying him. 'How much have you thought about this?'

'I haven't…' Stella raised her eyebrows, and he gave in. 'All right, a bit, while we were driving home.'

'And what were your thoughts?' She leaned back against the counter, arms folded, waiting to hear. 'And by the way, I'm still mad at you for telling Holly to ask me for a kitten.'

Mac had the wisdom to look contrite. 'I'm sorry about that. But, I don't think getting a kitten is a crazy idea.'

Stella pursed her lips, but said, 'Go on, I'm listening.'

Checking off on his fingers, Mac told her, 'Cats are great pets, and Holly's old enough to take some responsibility for a pet; they're independent enough to be at home while we're at work, and they're long-lived, too.'

'All good points,' Stella said, 'But what about practicalities – kittens are hard work, and what if the novelty wears off and Holly loses interest?'

'You think she would?' Mac challenged and Stella looked thoughtful.

'Possibly…'

'I don't think she would, you know how much she loves animals, I think she'd view a cat as a surrogate sibling.'

A wry look crossed Stella's face. 'You might be right about that.'

Mac grinned. 'Glad you think so.' There was a thoughtful silence briefly. Touching her arm, he asked Stella, 'So how about it?'

Uncertain, Stella tugged at her fingers. 'I don't know… it's a big decision, Mac.'

'Of course. We all have to be happy with it.'

Pointing her finger at him, Stella narrowed her eyes. 'And we'd have to decide who takes responsibility for emptying the litter box.'

'Of course.' Mac nodded seriously, but with a curve to his lips as he met Stella's gaze. 'So, what are we going to go tell Holly?'

A few moments of silent communication passed between them.

Moments later, they walked through to find Holly, and broke the news to her, which she took with squeals of joy and a dance of pure delight.

Yesterday's story was going to be a stand-alone, but it ended up having a sequel, so please do let me know what you think :D Lily x