"Good morning, sweetheart," Rosemary said with a grand sweep of her hand and a big smile on her face.

"Good morning," Lee replied. He chuckled and kissed her cheek. "Those eggs looks delicious."

"Thank you. I've been up since nearly six, I've cleaned, written, made breakfast, I even sat down to have a chance to read."

"Wow, sounds like you have a lot of energy. Perfect for a day outside in the snow, right?"

"That's a great idea! I love it!"

"You…" Lee paused, dumbfounded. "Love it?"

"I love it!"

"You want to go sledding with us?"

"Absolutely!"

"Are you okay?" Lee sat down in his chair.

"I'm fine; I'm…" Rosemary slowed. "Wonderful!"

"We're going to go sledding. You don't like sledding."

"I do now."

Just then, Patrick and Rachel came down the stairs. "Good morning, Aunt Rosemary and Uncle Lee," Patrick said.

"Good-" Lee began.

"Good morning!" Rosemary interrupted. "Isn't it a beautiful day?!"

"It's wonderful!" Rachel agreed.

"Today, Uncle Lee is going to take us all sledding. Isn't that going to be fun?"

Rachel and Patrick looked at each other. "Aren't we a little old to go sledding?" Rachel asked.

"Nonsense!" Rosemary flipped the spoon at them. "You are never too old. Now sit down and I'll serve you some breakfast."

"Okay." Patrick said. He and Rachel sat down.

Rachel turned to Lee. "Is she okay?" She asked in a lower voice.

"I have no idea." Lee returned.

"Alright then."

"Alright then, let's eat." Rosemary placed the pancakes in front of them all.

Jake and Susannah came down the stairs a few minutes later and Rosemary excitedly filled them in on the day's plans – sledding for all. They sat around for a while after breakfast while the ladies cleaned up. "Are you ready go?" Rosemary asked, literally bounding into the living room.

"As soon as you are." Lee replied quickly.

"We're ready."

They put on winter clothes and headed outside into the snow. It was a beautiful wintery morning, with layers of fluffy white snow against the background of a grey sky. It wasn't too cold, the perfect sledding temperature, and Lee led them along the path towards the big hills. "Isn't it just beautiful?" Rosemary exclaimed to Rachel and Susannah.

"It is." Rachel agreed.

"A little cold," Susannah added.

"Nonsense! It's perfect day," Rosemary said.

They pulled the sleds to the top of the hill and then took turns going down. Even Susannah had to admit that it was a good time. After a couple hours of going up and down, everyone was getting tired. "Last go!" Lee called as they stood on the top of the hill. They all made it down, and then they started heading back for home. "That was so much fun!" Rosemary puffed as she walked beside Lee.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it." Lee replied.

"I think it was the perfect thing to do and we'll all sleep good tonight because of it."

"I'd like to sleep now," Lee remarked.

"Lee! The day is yet young and there is lots to do." Rosemary sighed.

Lee laughed aloud. "Well, I never thought I'd see the day when you have more energy than me."

"Me neither," Rosemary admitted. "But the sky is beautiful, the world is white, it's not too cold out, and – ooh! – it's just a wonderful day, wouldn't you agree?"

"It is a wonderful day," Lee said. He looked around him, his eyes coming to rest on Rosemary's glowing face. "It is a wonderful day," he repeated softly.

"I told you," she replied with a smile.

"Who's ready for lunch?" She asked after they had gotten home.

"It's a bit early," Susannah replied.

"I know, but I'm sure we're all hungry and I don't want to eat too much either."

"Alright. I'll help you."

"Wonderful. Everyone else, go sit down." Rosemary shooed them out of the way and then her and Susannah began cooking. The smells of spaghetti rose from the kitchen as they fried the meat and put in the spices. Rosemary leaned over the pot and sniffed it in appreciatively. "Mmm, smells good."

"You have a good recipe," Susannah said.

"Lunch is served." Rosemary announced. "You all can sit down, and I'm just gonna grab something upstairs. Be right back." She bounced up the stairs and into her bedroom. She sat down on the bed and opened her dresser. As she was rifling through it to locate what she was looking for, all the energy that she had was suddenly gone. She leaned against the bedpost, feeling drained and empty. When she felt like she could stand again, she walked back downstairs – a bit slower this time. She moved demurely across the floor and sat down beside Lee.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"Of course." She planted an energetic smile on her face. "I'm fine. Let's eat!

"I think I'm going to do a bit of reading after lunch," she said near the end of the meal.

"I'll clean up if you'd like to get started right away," Susannah offered.

"Thanks, that'd be great." Rosemary pushed back her chair.

"Thanks for the food, sweetheart, it was great." Lee said.

"Not a problem." Rosemary smiled and walked towards the stairs. She walked back up to their bedroom and settled on the bed with a book in hand. She had meant to keep reading, but before long her eyelids felt heavy and the drained feeling came back. She gave in and closed them as the book slipped from her hands.

She moved restlessly. She could hear cries in her head, and she was running in the snow, looking for something even though she knew she couldn't find it. The cries were getting louder and louder, and she was trying to reach whatever it was, but then she fell forwards in the snow and she kept flailing. "Lee! Lee!" She called. "Lee!" And the cries grew louder. And she couldn't get out. "Lee!"

"Sweetheart, sweetheart, I'm right here." Lee's concerned voice dragged her out of her nightmare. His hand was on her arm.

Rosemary's eyes flew open. "Oh…Lee." She looked up at him.

"Rosie, what is going on? You're tired, then energetic, and now you had a nightmare."

"I don't know."

"You've got to go to Faith."

"I can't do that. I'm not sick, it'll be fine."

"No, it's not fine. You are sick."

"Alright, fine," Rosemary pushed herself up. "I'll go sometime."

"Soon." Lee pushed her back. "Stay there. Rest. What was your nightmare about?"

"I was running in the snow, and I heard cries, and I fell and I couldn't get up and you weren't coming even though I called your name, and…" Rosemary stopped. "Something was missing and I had to find it but I didn't know what it was." She looked straight at Lee. "Something is missing." He didn't answer, just put his arms around her. She felt like crying in his arms. "Something is missing," she repeated.

"Ssh," he gently patted her back and smoothed her hair. "I'm right here."

"I just know something is missing." She leaned her head against his shoulder and listened to the sound of his heart beating. It didn't take long, and it lulled her right back to an exhausted sleep. This time, she didn't have any nightmares.

She woke up breathing heavy that night again. "Sweetheart, sweetheart," Lee gently shook her awake.

She clutched his arm, her eyes wide with terror. "I heard the cries. I heard them!"

"Ssh, it's okay," Lee pulled her close. "Sssh, I'm right here. Just relax and breathe."

"I can't." She pushed away. "I have to go find out where those cries are coming from!" She lowered her voice. "Don't you hear them?"

Lee looked at her. He was really worried now. "No, I don't. Rosie, you're just imagining them." He pulled her back. "Just breathe. In and out."

Rosemary followed his directive and breathed in slowly, then let it all out. She laid her head against his chest. "I just feel so tired," she murmured quietly.

"Sleep. It'll be okay."

"Are you sure? What if…"

"It will be okay and," Lee looked down as saw that Rosemary was sleeping again. It will be okay…

"I can't believe this is your final breakfast," Rosemary said as she pushed back her chair.

"I know. Time sure has passed quickly." Susannah nodded, pulling back her own chair.

"I'll get the kitchen cleaned up, you should go pack." Rosemary offered.

"Okay. Thanks," Susannah disappeared up the stairs.

Rosemary sang quietly to herself while she worked, and before she knew it, the kitchen was clean, everyone was packed again, and it was time to bring them to the train station. Lee had borrowed Henry's car again and he helped Jake and Patrick put the luggage in it. They drove to the train station in relative silence, all aware of the goodbye that was coming much too quickly.

"I'm going to miss you guys so much," Rosemary confessed as she gave Susannah one last hug.

"Me too. Thank you so much for having us. We'll have to do it soon."

"Not a problem!" Rosemary stood back. "Yes, we absolutely will." She turned and gave Rachel one last hug too. "You are always welcome here," she said seriously as after she stepped back.

"I know." Rachel nodded. "I'm sure I'll come back with Christopher sometime."

"Alright, we'd better go," Jake said. They reluctantly turned to walk towards the train.

"Bye!" Rosemary waved for as long as she could.

They turned back around and waved, then disappeared into the crowd. Rosemary and Lee rode back home in silence again. "I can't believe they're actually gone," Rosemary said as they entered the house once more.

"It sure does seem quiet," Lee agreed.

Rosemary smiled. "I'm glad at least you're here. We can do the last bit of Christmas together."

"Absolutely." Lee smiled right back and gave her a hug. "I can't think of a better way to do it."

Rosemary woke up in the middle of the night, convinced that she heard something. She looked beside her and Lee was still sleeping. So quietly, she slipped out of bed and down the stairs. She paused on the main floor, listening quietly. There it was! She heard it again, the cries. She looked through the house in a panic, trying to find where they came from. She could still hear them as she opened the front door and looked out. There, sitting on her porch, was a shivering, crying child, wrapped in a dusty blanket. Rosemary knelt down and –

She woke up from her dream. She looked over at Lee, who was really still sleeping. Then she remembered her dream and she hurried downstairs. She didn't hear anything, but she threw open the front door anyway. And then she stopped and knelt down. There was a sleeping, shivering child on her front porch and she had no idea what to do. She just knelt there, looking at the child. The child, or rather, she, looked to be maybe six years old. Her brown hair was matted and she was covered in a dusty blanket, leaning against the wall of Lee and Rosemary's house. She awoke, and seeing Rosemary, jumped and cowered against the wall. "It's okay," Rosemary said softly, extending her hand to the child's shoulder. "I'm not going to hurt you, it's okay."

The child still cowered against the wall, not saying anything as her eyes searched Rosemary up and down.

"Now, what's your name?"

"Vivian." Came the quiet response.

"What a lovely name," Rosemary murmured. "Vivian, do you want to come inside? We can get you warmed up and get you some food." Vivian shook her head violently. "You've got to get warm," Rosemary said as she looked over Vivian. "You're freezing. Please come inside." Rosemary stood and offered her hand.

Vivian looked at the hand and then stood up herself. "I c-can do it," she said.

"Very well. Come in," Rosemary said as she opened the door. "Go ahead and sit down, I'll get you some food."

Vivian walked towards the settee and sat down on it, and Rosemary went to the kitchen. She turned on the lantern and got a few things. Then she turned and went back to Vivian, offering her the food. "Here you go."

Vivian accepted it and ate quickly, not saying a word.

"How did you get here?" Rosemary asked herself quietly as she got up to get more food. "How did you get here?" She asked aloud when she came back. She stopped when she realized that Vivian was asleep. She carefully covered the child in another blanket, then went upstairs and back to bed.

"Sweetheart?" It was Lee's voice again.

"Mm, What?" Rosemary sleepily opened her eyes. It felt like wink of time had passed since she had gone to bed.

"There's a child downstairs," Lee whispered.

So it hadn't been a dream. "I know." She replied.

"You know? How did it get there?"

"It is a she, her name is Vivian. I found her last night…it's a long story. I'm glad she's still here though," Rosemary sat up and swung her legs to the side of the bed. "I should go make sure she's okay and not scared."

"How did she get here?" Lee sat up too.

"I have no idea, I didn't ask. I promise, I'll give you the whole story later. Are you getting up?"

"Yes, I need to go to my office. The mayor's work doesn't stop, even this close to Christmas."

"Okay." Rosemary closed the door behind her and walked downstairs. Sure enough, Vivian was sleeping peacefully on the couch. Rosemary paused. There was something so beautiful and innocent about watching a child sleep. Just then, there was a big thump and Vivian sat up straight, rubbing her eyes and looking around. "Oh Lee…" Rosemary hissed to herself.

"Where am I?" Vivian asked.

Rosemary moved forward and quickly sat down beside her. "You're right here," she said, rubbing Vivian's shoulder. "It's okay, don't worry, just sleep."

Vivian's head fell onto Rosemary's lap, and she was asleep right away again. Rosemary just sat there, gently rubbing her hair and smiling to herself.