Skeeter was sitting on the stairs in the lodging house waiting for Andy to return. Les had fussed at her for yelling at Andy and ordered her to wait until he got back and apologize. She looked up when she saw Andy walk in with a woman at his side.

"Skeeter..." Andy said, excitedly. "Momma said you could come hide at our house..."

She stared at him like he had just said the sky was falling.

"Who told you?" she demanded.

"Um..."

Skeeter huffed.

Rae sat down beside her. "We have a lot of room at our house and we'd love to have you come stay with us. There are two other little girls there that are about your age..."

She sneaked a brief peek at Rae. "My age?"

Rae nodded. "Andy has a twin sister named Annie...and Sippi's youngest sister Ginny is staying with us as well..."

"She's not anything like HIM is she?" She pointed to Andy. "Annie, I mean."

"Not usually," Rae said with a slight laugh.

Skeeter considered this for a long time. "Okay..."

The door opened and Sippi walked in. "Jackson told me that you were here...and that you found Andy."

Rae nodded.

Skeeter looked up at him. "Can I go stay with them?" she asked.

Sippi thought about this and nodded. "All right. You may. It is probably best to get you out of town."

"Spot and I will take good care of her," Rae said, looking up at her friend.

"I know you will." He smiled.

"Want to stick around long enough for these two to pack their things," she said shifting James in her arms, "and then walk us to the station?"

He nodded. "I can do that."

Andy and Skeeter scampered upstairs to pack their bags.

"We found a little place to use for our bookstore," Rae said as Sippi sat next to her on the stairs.

"That's great! So you really are going to do the bookstore, eh?"

She nodded. "We have the books already...and we both need something to keep our minds busy..."

"Then a bookstore is perfect, I'd say."

"You'll have to come see it once we get it open."

He smiled. "I will."

He reached over and took James. "He's gotten so big since the last time I saw him."

She smiled a little. "I know... they've grown so much... It's like I blink and they're already walking, talking... arguing back..."

He slipped his arm around her shoulder and gave her a slight squeeze. "I'll find them...I promise..."

She sniffled. "Thank you so much for your help."

"You're welcome."

"We're ready!" Andy called as he tromped noisily down the stairs.

"Where's Skeet?" Sippi asked, standing.

"Sheee... " He glanced back. "Well, she was right behind me."

"SKEET..." Sippi yelled.

"Coming, coming!" she shouted back, lugging a bag downstairs with her.

He took the bag from her. "Let's go..."

She nodded and followed them out the door.

~*~

Spot was sitting on the porch reading while Sam, Ann and Ginny played in the yard the next morning. He looked up from his book when he heard Ann squeal. "ANDY!!!!!!!!!"

Andy ran to his sister and gave her a hug until he realized that... he just ran to his sister and gave her a hug!

After a moment she pulled back and hit him. "Don't ever do that again!"

He was brushing himself off and gave her a look that said, 'Don't worry, I won't!'

Spot, Sam and Ginny joined them. Andy looked up at Spot and said, "Hello Daddy..."

"You know you caused us a lot of worry," Spot said.

Andy nodded. "I'm sorry," he said, hanging his head.

"You should be. But we're glad you're safe."

Andy threw his arms around Spot. "I love you Daddy."

He smiled and hugged him back. "I love you too, little man."

He glanced up and saw Rae and a little girl walking toward them. He could tell that the girl was very nervous. "Hello there!" he called out.

Rae rushed forward with a smile, but the girl hung back. Something about her was very familiar.

"And who is this.... she strikes me as familiar.."

Rae leaned up on her toes to kiss him on the cheek. "Her nickname is Skeeter...she worked in the factory with you..."

"Ahhh, yes, I thought I recognized you!"

"Hi Mr. Spot," she squeaked shyly.

He smiled at her. "You don't have to call me that, Miss Marty."

"That's a better name than Skeeter," Andy commented.

She blushed. "It's really Martha...but my daddy always called me Marty..."

"Still better soundin' than Skeeter..." But that was Andy for you.

She hit him.

"Stop hittin' me!" he snapped.

Spot put his hand on Andy's shoulder. "Why don't you girls take Marty up to your room..."

"'Kay. C'mon," Ann said, motioning for her to follow her and Ginny.

Once the girls where gone Spot turned to Rae. "Where did you find her?"

"She was at the Manhattan Lodging House."

"What was she doing all the way over there?"

"Apparently Sippi had her hiding there."

"Somebody killed her momma and daddy..." Andy piped up. "And she saw it..." He frowned a bit.

He slipped his arm around Rae. "Another one huh?"

She looked up at him. "Do you mind?"

He laughed a bit. "I don't suppose I do..."

"She needs us Spot...I think she's hurting more than she lets on..."

He nodded. "I didn't say I was turning her away."

She sighed. "I know..."

He put his arms around her and kissed her forehead gently.

"She cries at night," Andy said.

They looked down at him. "What are you talking about?"

"Skeet...Marty...cries at night sometimes...I heard her..."

"Did she ever talk to you about it?"

Andy shook his head. "Nope."

Spot frowned a bit.

James began to fuss. Gently Rae patted his back. "Shhh baby..."

"Let's get him inside..." Spot said. "The wind is picking up."

She nodded, holding him close. "Come along Andy."

"Yes ma'am," he said, running after her.

She glanced back one more time and whispered a quiet prayer that Sippi would find her children before she closed the door behind them all.

~*~

Spot was going over some papers in the study when the door opened and Skeeter walked in. She squeaked in surprise and started to back out of the room. "It's alright, Marty. Come here," he said.

She bit her lip and entered the room again, staring at anything but him.

"I won't bite..."

"I know..."

"Are you scared of me because of my face?"

"No..."

"Then come here..."

Slowly she walked over to him.

He lifted her onto the desk and opened a drawer. He pulled out an envelope. "Do you still like lemon drops?"

After a moment, she nodded a bit shyly.

He opened the envelope and held it out to her. "Have one."

She took one out and popped in her mouth.

He smiled at her. "Rae and I talked...and you can stay with us as long as you want..."

"Really?"

"Yep."

She reached out and then paused. "C-can I hug you?

"Anytime you want, Miss Marty."

She hugged him tightly. "Thank you..." she whispered.

"You're welcome," he said, ruffling her hair.

"Can I have another lemon drop?"

"One more...we don't want you to ruin your supper."

She smiled and took another. "Can I go now?"

"Yes."

Turning, she dashed out the door.

Chuckling, he put the envelope back in the drawer and went to find Rae. He found here where he thought he might, in the kitchen, trying to make dinner. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

She jumped, startled. "You scared me!"

He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "I'm sorry, sweetheart."

"It's all right..."

"Why don't you go into town tomorrow and buy some fabric to make new dresses for Marty..."

She paused and then nodded. "Yes.. that might be a good idea."

"Christmas is in a couple of weeks..." he reminded her.

She blinked in surprise. "It seems like it came up on us so quickly this year."

"We've had a lot going on."

"Yes, we have," she agreed, taking a deep breath.

He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ears. "I know you don't feel much like celebrating...but I think we need do what we always do...for Sam, and Andy and the girls...I doubt Marty has every really had a Christmas."

She nodded slowly. Yes... I suppose you're right.

He pulled her close, leading her head to rest on his shoulder. "We'll just have to keep praying that Sippi is able to find them."

SHe nodded again. "I do... with all my heart."

He kissed her forehead. "If you finish dinner, I'll teach Marty how to set the table."

"All right."

He kissed her again and left the room in search of their newest "child"

He found her standing warily in the corner of the playroom, seeming to be uncertain of Ginny and Ann's beckons to play with them. He walked over and knelt in front of her. "What's wrong, Marty?"

"Nothin'..."

"I need some help setting the table...wanna help?"

She glanced at him and then shrugged. "I guess."

He stood and held his hand out to her.

She stood, taking his hand hesitantly.

~*~

"Daddy?" Annie asked after dinner.


"Yes?"

"Ginny and Marty haven't heard the story you and Momma read to us on the big boat..."

He smiled. "You mean Beauty and the Beast?"

She nodded. "Uh huh."

"Well, perhaps we ought to read it to them, eh?"

"Yes sir!"

"Why don't you go find it, okay?"

"Okay," she chirped, jumping up from her seat.

"Annie..." Rae said.

"Huh?" She paused and looked at Rae.

"Put your dishes in the sink."

"Oh! Yes ma'am." She scampered to do so and then dashed off to find the book.

"Are you gonna come listen too, Andy?" Spot asked.

He shrugged. "I might..."

Spot nodded and stood. He leaned down to kiss Rae's forehead. "Good cookin', sweetheart."

She smiled a little. "Thank you... Learned from the best."

He poked her in the ribs and then put his dishes in the sink.

"Chris, can you help clear the table?" Rae asked.

He nodded mutely.

"We're ready, Daddy!" Ann bellowed from the living room.

"Have patience!" he yelled back as he walked that direction.

Rae smiled a little and shook her head.

She took her plate and carried it over to the counter. "Are you alright, Chris?"

"Oh... what?" He looked up at her.

"I was wondering if you were all right..."

He sighed deeply. "It's Molly..."

"Do you miss her?"

"A lot."

She nodded understandingly. "If... If you wanted, you could go and visit her..."

"Rae..."

"What?"

"When did you know that Spot was who you wanted to marry..."

She smiled a little, understanding where this could be going. "I don't really know... "

"I know we're too young to get married...but..."

With a nod, she said, "You'll know when you're really ready, Chris."

He leaned against the cabinet. "Do you think it would be alright if I go ahead and ask her...as long as we wait until we're both eighteen to get married..."

She nodded. "It sounds all right to me."

"Is it still alright for me to go see her?"

"Yes... just don't do anything you shouldn't be doing, if you know what I mean..."

He nodded.

"And Chris..."

"Yes?"

"I would talk to Blank first if I were you."

"Oh... right..." He made a slight face, as if the idea didn't appeal much to him.

"He won't bite...too badly anyway..."

"That's not terribly reassuring."

She laughed and started to wash the dishes.

"I'll leave in the morning, okay?"

"That's fine with me..."

He nodded.